Scincella gemmingeri

Scincella gemmingeri, commonly known as the forest ground skink, Cope's forest ground skink, and la escíncela de bosque de Cope in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.

Etymology
The specific name, gemmingeri, is in honor of German coleopterist Max Gemminger (1820–1887).

Geographic range
S. gemmingeri is found in the coastal regions of the Mexican state of Veracruz and various surrounding states.

Habitat
As its common name implies, the forest ground skink occurs primarily in forests, especially rainforests, oak forests, cloud forests, and tropical evergreen forests, at altitudes of 200 –, although it is also sometimes found on pastureland.

Conservation status
S. gemmingeri faced no major threats as of 2020.

Reproduction
S. gemmingeri is ovoviparous.

Description
Like all members of the genus Scincella, S. gemmingeri is long and cylindrical, with short limbs. Its color is dark gray, and it has a dark stripe originating at the snout and running dorsolaterally along its body. Its maximum snout-vent length (SVL) is about 45 mm.