Common Five-lined Skink
ExploreReptiles
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
The Common Five-lined Skink is a small, shiny lizard with five bright stripes running down its body. It loves to bask in the sun and can often be seen darting around in gardens and forests.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Common Five-lined Skink has a sleek, shiny body, typically dark brown or gray with five distinct cream or yellow stripes running from head to tail. Juveniles are striking, boasting a brilliant iridescent blue tail that often fades as they mature into adults. Males develop an orange-red head during breeding season.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyScincidaeGenusPlestiodon
Category
ReptilesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
60
Interesting facts
During mating season, male skinks flash bright orange-red heads to attract a mate!
Female skinks are amazing mothers, guarding and even cleaning their eggs until they hatch!
Skinks have smooth, shiny scales, making them look almost like they're covered in polished armor!
These skinks are excellent sunbathers, carefully warming up their bodies for energy!
Special abilities
Ability
The Great Escape Artist
Common Five-lined Skinks can detach their tail when grabbed by a predator, allowing them to escape while the tail wiggles.
Ability
The Bright Blue Beacon
Juvenile skinks have a vivid blue tail that likely distracts predators, drawing attention away from their body.
Ability
The Agile Acrobats
Common Five-lined Skinks can climb trees and structures using their strong claws, helping them find food and evade danger.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 12.5-21.5 cm
- Weight
- 0.005-0.015 kg
- Lifespan
- 5-6 years
- Top Speed
- 6.4 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 4-10
- Incubation
- 24-55 days
Diet & Feeding
These speedy lizards love to munch on all sorts of small insects and other tiny creatures!
Age differences: As they grow, skinks will eat larger prey items, but their diet remains primarily insectivorous.
Primary Foods
- Crickets
- Grasshoppers
- Spiders
- Small Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Earthworms
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
A common snake predator in its habitat.
eaten by
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Birds often snatch skinks from open areas.
eats
House Cricket
Acheta domesticus
A favorite meal of various small insects.
eats
Yellow Garden Spider
Argiope aurantia
Eats spiders found in its hunting grounds.
Traits
Striped
Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Arboreal
Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Regenerative
Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always watch where you step in nature, and don't try to catch wild lizards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Common Five-lined Skink?
The easiest way to identify Common Five-lined Skink is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Common Five-lined Skink?
12.5-21.5 cm
How much does Common Five-lined Skink weigh?
0.005-0.015 kg
How long does Common Five-lined Skink live?
5-6 years
How fast can Common Five-lined Skink move?
6.4 km/h
What does Common Five-lined Skink eat?
These speedy lizards love to munch on all sorts of small insects and other tiny creatures!
Where is Common Five-lined Skink usually found?
Forests
How does Common Five-lined Skink hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Jun 7, 2026
Locust Grove State Historic Sitei
Photo attribution
(c) Brandon Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 16, 2026
Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardeni
Photo attribution
(c) Leigha S, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 1, 2026
Columbia Canali
Photo attribution
(c) Raven Dandridge, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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