# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 60 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Common Five-lined Skink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eumeces_fasciatusPCCA20040425-1563A.jpg&width=800) Photo: Patrick Coin, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eumeces_fasciatusPCCA20040425-1563A.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Scincidae - **Genus:** Plestiodon ## 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 - **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. - **The Bright Blue Beacon:** Juvenile skinks have a vivid blue tail that likely distracts predators, drawing attention away from their body. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crow) (*Corvus brachyrhynchos*) — Birds often snatch skinks from open areas. - **Eats:** [House Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-cricket) (*Acheta domesticus*) — A favorite meal of various small insects. - **Eats:** [Yellow Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Eats spiders found in its hunting grounds. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## 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? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Brookfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookfield-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Cedarville State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarville-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Central Shelby Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-shelby-historic-district) — North Carolina, US · Historic District [View all places to see Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-five-lined-skink) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) - [Northern Curly-tailed Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-curly-tailed-lizard) (*Leiocephalus carinatus*) --- Source: [Common Five-lined Skink: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink)