Family: Scincidae, Skinks view all from this family
Description 5-8 1/16" (12.7-20.5 cm). Black or brown with 5 broad light stripes, including dorsolateral stripe along 3rd and 4th scale rows counting from middle of back. Stripes fade with age; adults may be uniform brown. Tail blue to gray. Wide lengthwise row of scales under tail. Breeding males usually have red-orange head. Juveniles have brilliant striping, bright blue tail.
Breeding Mates April to May. Clutch of 4-15 eggs is laid in nest excavation, May to June; hatches June to August. Female tends eggs.
Habitat Humid woodlands with decaying leaf litter, stumps, logs. May be seen in gardens and around houses.
Range S. New England to n. Florida, west to e. Texas, north to Kansas, Wisconsin and s. Ontario.
Discussion Diurnal. Terrestrial; the Five-lined Skink climbs only to bask on stumps or the lower reaches of tree trunks. It feeds on insects and their larvae, spiders, earthworms, crustaceans, lizards, even small mice.
