Five-lined Skink

Description:

Juvenile spotted in Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. Adults range from 5 - 8.5 in (12.5 - 21.5 cm). Young have a bright blue tail while adult males often loose their stripes and develop reddish or orange coloration on the head.

Habitat:

Five-lined skinks may be found in almost any habitat, but are most common in wooded areas with an abundance of fallen trees and stumps to hide in. Five-lined skinks prefer moister habitats that the similar southeastern five-lined skink, and are particularly common in bottomland forests and along wooded river margins.

Notes:

This species is very similar in appearance to the southeastern five-lined skink and broadhead skink and is usually only identifiable by close examination of the scales: five-lined skinks have an enlarged row of scales under the tail and four labial (along the upper lip between the nose and eye) scales.