Reptiles
Southeastern Five-Lined Skink
Plestiodon inexpectatus · also called southeastern five-lined skinks
A juvenile skink with an electric-blue tail darts across a patch of sandy coastal soil, and even an experienced herper would need to count scale rows to confirm whether this is a southeastern five-lined skink or one of its two near-identical relatives.
Overview
The southeastern five-lined skink, Plestiodon inexpectatus, is an active, insect-hunting lizard native to forest and sandy coastal habitat across the southeastern United States. Its near-identical resemblance to two closely related skink species, combined with a vivid blue juvenile tail and a seasonal orange-red male head, make it a genuinely tricky but rewarding species for close identification.
Three skinks, one puzzle
Alongside the common five-lined skink and the broad-headed skink, this species forms a trio so alike that field guides often resort to scale counts, leaving casual observers to simply enjoy the blue-tailed youngsters darting through the leaf litter.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable forest and coastal habitat throughout the southeastern United States.
Southeastern Five-Lined Skink: common questions
How can you tell a southeastern five-lined skink from a common five-lined skink?
The two species are extremely similar in appearance, and distinguishing them reliably in the field often comes down to counting scale rows rather than relying on colour pattern alone, since both show a young blue tail and an orange-red male breeding head; range and habitat, with the southeastern species favouring sandier coastal plain terrain, can offer a useful additional clue.
Why do young southeastern five-lined skinks have blue tails?
A juvenile's vivid blue tail is thought to draw a predator's attention and attack toward the tail rather than the more vulnerable body, and since skinks can shed the tail and regrow a replacement, this sacrifice lets the young lizard escape with its life even after a close call.
Why do male southeastern five-lined skinks turn orange-red?
Adult males develop a striking orange-red flush across the head specifically during the breeding season, a temporary colour change likely tied to territorial display and signalling reproductive readiness to potential mates, fading again once breeding activity ends.
What habitat does the southeastern five-lined skink prefer?
This species shows a stronger association with sandy soils and coastal plain habitat than some of its closely related look-alikes, though it is also found more broadly across forested areas of the southeastern United States wherever suitable cover and prey are available.