Characteristics:
The five-lined skink, although small in appearance, is one of the largest lizards in IL, growing up to ~8in long. The color of this lizard varies greatly depending on age and sex. Juveniles have the bright blue tail and five black stripes that are most commonly associated with this species. As they age, they lose the blue tail and the males even lose the stripes. During mating season the throat and jaws of the males become swollen and bright orange. The glossy scales give skinks a very "salamander-like" appearance. But don't be fooled,
the five-lined skink is a reptile. The five-lined skink is very similar in appearance to the broad-headed skink (Eumeces laticeps) and can often times only be distinguished by counting labial (lip) scales.
Habitat:
Most often encounterd in wooded habitats basking on fallen trees or rocks during the early afternoon. The five-lined skink can also be observed in and around abandoned buildings and junkyards.
Behavior:
This is a fast, alert, diurnal species of lizard. They spend much of their time basking and hunting. They feed primarily on insects and other arthropods. Mating occurs in early summer (around May) and eggs are laid a month or two later. The female five-lined skink often will remain with the eggs until they hatch. Young five-lined skinks have the characteristic bright blue tail that often gives them the name "Blue-tailed Skink". This striking tail is a defense mechanism used by the young skinks to distract predators. When attacked the tail will break off very easily and continue to wriggle around for quite some time. While the predator is focused on the tail, the skink makes a quick escape. As with many other species of lizard, the tail will grow back with time, but the beautiful blue color is lost forever. There is an old myth that the tail of a skink is "poisonous" and can sting you, but there is absolutly no truth to this at all. Skinks, and all of the other lizards in IL and MO are completely harmless.
Personal Remarks:
Illinois and Missouri have very few species of lizard, so seeing any of them is always a treat. This is probably the lizard I encounter most while herping. With that being said, this is also the lizard I have the hardest time photographing. They are very alert and very very fast. Most of the time they are long gone before I even see them! I hear a rustling in the leaves and look over only to see a blue tail dissappearing into a crack in a rock or under a large log. If handled great care must be taken not to break the tail off of these guys.
The five-lined skink, although small in appearance, is one of the largest lizards in IL, growing up to ~8in long. The color of this lizard varies greatly depending on age and sex. Juveniles have the bright blue tail and five black stripes that are most commonly associated with this species. As they age, they lose the blue tail and the males even lose the stripes. During mating season the throat and jaws of the males become swollen and bright orange. The glossy scales give skinks a very "salamander-like" appearance. But don't be fooled,
the five-lined skink is a reptile. The five-lined skink is very similar in appearance to the broad-headed skink (Eumeces laticeps) and can often times only be distinguished by counting labial (lip) scales.
Habitat:
Most often encounterd in wooded habitats basking on fallen trees or rocks during the early afternoon. The five-lined skink can also be observed in and around abandoned buildings and junkyards.
Behavior:
This is a fast, alert, diurnal species of lizard. They spend much of their time basking and hunting. They feed primarily on insects and other arthropods. Mating occurs in early summer (around May) and eggs are laid a month or two later. The female five-lined skink often will remain with the eggs until they hatch. Young five-lined skinks have the characteristic bright blue tail that often gives them the name "Blue-tailed Skink". This striking tail is a defense mechanism used by the young skinks to distract predators. When attacked the tail will break off very easily and continue to wriggle around for quite some time. While the predator is focused on the tail, the skink makes a quick escape. As with many other species of lizard, the tail will grow back with time, but the beautiful blue color is lost forever. There is an old myth that the tail of a skink is "poisonous" and can sting you, but there is absolutly no truth to this at all. Skinks, and all of the other lizards in IL and MO are completely harmless.
Personal Remarks:
Illinois and Missouri have very few species of lizard, so seeing any of them is always a treat. This is probably the lizard I encounter most while herping. With that being said, this is also the lizard I have the hardest time photographing. They are very alert and very very fast. Most of the time they are long gone before I even see them! I hear a rustling in the leaves and look over only to see a blue tail dissappearing into a crack in a rock or under a large log. If handled great care must be taken not to break the tail off of these guys.
