Head to head
Five-lined Skink vs Spotted Salamander
A small, smooth, long-tailed animal darts across a path, or is found under a flowerpot, and the question is always the same: lizard or salamander? Skinks and salamanders have ended up looking similar despite being only very distantly related, one a reptile and one an amphibian. The five-lined skink and the spotted salamander, both common in eastern North America, show the differences clearly.
| Five-lined Skink | Spotted Salamander | |
|---|---|---|
| Animal class | Reptile (lizard) | Amphibian |
| Skin | Dry, with smooth overlapping scales | Moist, soft, smooth, no scales |
| Toes | Clawed | No claws |
| Ear openings | Visible on the sides of the head | None visible |
| Activity | Fast; active by day; basks in sun | Slow; nocturnal and secretive; avoids drying out |
| Eggs | Shelled, laid on land | Jelly masses, laid in water |
| Young | Miniature adults, terrestrial from hatching | Aquatic larvae with external gills |
| If handled | Warm, dry, wriggly; may drop its tail | Cool, slippery, delicate; skin absorbs chemicals easily |
Skink vs Salamander: common questions
Is a skink a salamander?
No. A skink is a type of lizard, which makes it a reptile, in the same broad group as snakes, turtles, and crocodiles. A salamander is an amphibian, more closely related to frogs than to any reptile. They look alike because both have a similar basic body plan, four short legs, a long body, and a long tail, that works well for moving through leaf litter and tight spaces, and evolution has arrived at it more than once. The lineages have been separate for well over 300 million years.
How can I tell which one I found under a log or flowerpot?
Touch and behaviour, if you can look closely and safely. A skink feels dry and firm and its body is visibly covered in fine scales that catch the light; it will usually try to dash away fast and may leave its wriggling tail behind. A salamander feels cool, moist, and slightly slippery, its skin looks smooth and rubbery with no scales, and it moves in a slow, deliberate walk or a feeble wriggle rather than a sprint. A skink often has obvious little ear holes behind the eyes; a salamander has none. If you must pick up a salamander, wet your hands first and be quick, because its skin absorbs substances readily.
Do both of them drop their tails?
Yes, and it is another source of confusion. Many skinks, including the five-lined skink, have a tail that breaks off easily along built-in fracture planes and then thrashes on its own to distract a predator while the lizard escapes, later regrowing a shorter version. A number of salamanders can also shed and regrow the tail, or parts of limbs, and salamanders are in fact famous among biologists for being able to regenerate whole limbs, which no lizard can do. So a tailless individual of either could be one that recently had a narrow escape.