Five-lined Skink

Eumeces fasciatus

The Five-lined Skink is a common visitor to rock gardens, patios, and woodsheds. It is quite agile and difficult to catch. The juvenile's bright blue tail is an anti-predator device. It breaks off easily and twitches for a period of time. This draws the predator's attention to the tail and often allows the skink to escape an attacking bird, snake, or larger lizard. The tail then grows back.

Look For : A shiny-scaled black lizard with 5 yellowish stripes and a blue tail. Older skinks lose stripes; blue tail fades to dull purple or brown. Males turn all brown with an orange head.

Length : 5-8 1/2".

Habitat : Damp woodlands, hardwood forests, pine woods, gardens, sawdust heaps.

Range : Southern New England to northern Florida, west to eastern Texas, north to Kansas and southern Wisconsin.