Common Five-Lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
A smooth-scaled native lizard whose juveniles show five bright stripes and an electric-blue tail.
Common Five-lined Skinks occupy wooded areas, fallen logs, stumps, rock piles, and shaded yards in northern and central Florida. They need sun for warming and nearby cover for escape.
Young skinks use their bright blue tail to divert predators from the body. The tail can detach and later regrow, though the replacement is often shorter and differently colored.
Habitat:
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Florida Panhandle, North Florida, Central Florida
Diet:
Eats crickets, beetles, spiders, roaches, caterpillars, and other small invertebrates.
Behavior:
Active by day and quick to hide beneath bark, logs, stones, or structures. Males defend breeding areas, while females guard eggs until hatching.
Daytime
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Warm daylight hours on logs, tree trunks, fences, and sunny edges near cover.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Not federally or state listed; locally common in suitable wooded habitat.
Safety Level:
Low
Safety Information:
Harmless to people and pets. Avoid grabbing the tail, and guide indoor skinks outside with a container.
Benefits to Property:
Consumes insects and spiders in gardens, wooded yards, and around structures.
Property Concerns:
Causes little property damage. Individuals occasionally enter garages or screened areas while chasing prey.
Fun Fact:
- Juveniles have a brilliant blue tail.
- Females guard their eggs until they hatch.
- A dropped tail may continue moving and distract a predator.
Wildlife Laws:
Native wildlife should not be harmed or collected without checking current Florida rules. Avoid disturbing occupied logs and nesting sites.
Identification:
Juveniles and many females have five pale lines running down a dark body with a vivid blue tail. Adult males become olive-brown and may develop orange-red jaws during breeding season.