Coal Skink

Eumeces anthracinus

This is a heavy-bodied species that prefers to live in moist woodlands with a heavy layer of leaf litter. Like other skinks, it feeds during the day, rooting through leaves and loose soil for insects. It will sometimes escape capture by jumping into shallow water and hiding under stones on the bottom. Females are often active earlier in the spring than males.

Look For : A 4-lined skink with broad, light-edged side stripes running from the eye onto the tail.

Length : 5-7".

Habitat : Moist, rocky woodlands near springs and streams.

Range : Southwestern U.S.; scattered populations in East.