Common Five-lined Skink

Plestiodon fasciatus

Description:

Juveniles are black, have 5 yellow stripes down their backs, and a bright blue tail - earning it the nickname "blue-tailed skink". The blue color fades as they age and adults are brown in color.

Notes:

Full disclosure, this identification is an educated best guess. The juveniles of the common five-lined skink, Southeastern five-lined skink (P. inexpectatus), and broadheaded skink (P. laticeps) are almost identical. There are minute differences in scales that can only be seen upon close observation. We have never seen the other two in our immediate area and so went with P. fasciatus.