Southeastern Five-lined, Skink Plestiodon inexpectatus

The Southeastern Five-lined Skink distribution across Tennessee is poorly known. They occur from the Appalachian Mountains in the southeast corner to the Mississippi River in the western coastal plain.  They are a moderately large, shiny lizard (5.5 to 8.5 inches in length) with a highly variable color pattern.   Body color is usually brown or black with 5 white or yellowish stripes extending onto the tail.   The middle stripe is often thinner than the others.   Adult males have brown or bronze backs and often lose the middle stripe; they also have reddish or orange coloration on the head during the breeding season.   Adult females typically are more faded, but retain stripes and coloration. Juveniles have a bright blue tail and distinct stripes.

Similar Species: Easily confused with Broad-headed Skink and Common Five-lined Skink; positive identification can only be assured by examination of the scales.   Broad-headed Skinks have 5 labial scales (along the upper lip between the nose and eye), and Common Five-lined Skinks have an enlarged middle row of scales under the tail.

Habitat: Found in a variety of wooded habitats, but generally prefers drier sites than similar species.   Often seen on fallen trees, limbs, stumps, logs, fences, and rock piles; will occasionally climb trees when threatened.

Diet: Mainly a wide variety of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates.

Breeding information: Mating occurs in the spring.   Females lay 3-8 eggs under rotten logs, stumps, rocks, or leaf litter during the spring or early summer.   Females remain with the eggs during the 2-8 week incubation period.

Status in Tennessee: Very little information on population abundance or status.

Fun Facts:

• Both the five-lined skinks are mistakenly thought to be venomous.

Best places to see in Tennessee: Dry wooded sites with an abundance of fallen trees and limbs.