There are 3 species of
similar-looking skinks in the southeast. The southeastern
five-lined skink is the only one normally found in scrub.
It can be differentiated from the eastern five-lined
skink (E. fasciatus) and the larger broad-headed
skink (E. laticeps) in having all the
scales on the underside of the tail about the same size
instead of a central row of wider scales. Five-lined
skinks have blue tails as juveniles and many people
believe they are poisonous, some even calling them
"scorpions." Of course they are not poisonous
and there is no evidence that cats are poisoned by eating
them. Five-lined skinks spend most of their time on the
ground, under leaf litter and rotting logs where they
forage on any small invertebrates, spiders, insects,
etc., they can find. They often take up residence on
patios and porches where they find an abundance of prey.
Skinks are themselves eaten by snakes, birds-of-prey and
mammals such as raccoons, skunks, possums, foxes and
house cats. Females lay 8-12 eggs under a log in spring
and guard them until they hatch. Then the babies, with
their bright blue tails, are on their own.
There are 3 species of
similar-looking skinks in the southeast. The southeastern
five-lined skink is the only one normally found in scrub.
It can be differentiated from the eastern five-lined
skink (E. fasciatus) and the larger broad-headed
skink (E. laticeps) in having all the
scales on the underside of the tail about the same size
instead of a central row of wider scales. Five-lined
skinks have blue tails as juveniles and many people
believe they are poisonous, some even calling them
"scorpions." Of course they are not poisonous
and there is no evidence that cats are poisoned by eating
them. Five-lined skinks spend most of their time on the
ground, under leaf litter and rotting logs where they
forage on any small invertebrates, spiders, insects,
etc., they can find. They often take up residence on
patios and porches where they find an abundance of prey.
Skinks are themselves eaten by snakes, birds-of-prey and
mammals such as raccoons, skunks, possums, foxes and
house cats. Females lay 8-12 eggs under a log in spring
and guard them until they hatch. Then the babies, with
their bright blue tails, are on their own. 
