Florida Keys Mole Skink
Plestiodon egregius egregius
The Florida Keys Mole Skink is a secretive sand-burrowing lizard native to beaches, hammocks, and sandy uplands of the Florida Keys.
This small skink lives in loose coastal sand beneath leaf litter, wrack, logs, and stones. It can occur in natural hammocks and lightly developed areas where sandy cover remains.
Sea-level rise, storms, development, and free-roaming cats threaten its narrow island range.
Habitat:
Beaches and Dunes, Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Florida Keys
Diet:
It eats ants, termites, spiders, beetle larvae, and other small ground-dwelling invertebrates.
Behavior:
It moves beneath loose sand and litter, emerging briefly to forage before disappearing under cover. It may shed its tail to escape a predator.
Day
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Warm, humid days in intact sandy habitat, without lifting or removing natural cover.
Florida Native Status:
Native endemic subspecies
Conservation Status:
A highly localized Florida endemic under federal status review. Coastal development, sea-level rise, storms, invasive predators, and habitat fragmentation are major concerns.
Safety Level:
Low Risk
Safety Information:
Harmless. Do not handle, collect, dig for, or move a skink from its site.
Benefits to Property:
It consumes small insects and contributes to the distinctive food web of Keys hammocks and beaches.
Property Concerns:
It causes no damage. Removing leaf litter, beach wrack, or native vegetation can eliminate shelter and prey.
Fun Fact:
Older references place this skink in the genus Eumeces; the accepted name is now Plestiodon egregius egregius.
Wildlife Laws:
Wild reptiles and their habitat are subject to FWC rules and protected-area regulations. Collection, possession, or habitat disturbance may require permits; check current state and federal status before any project.
Identification:
Look for a slim tan-to-brown skink with smooth shiny scales, tiny legs, a narrow head, and a pinkish, orange, or reddish tail. Young animals may show brighter tail color.