# Southeastern Five-lined Skink (*Plestiodon inexpectatus*) The Southeastern Five-lined Skink is a small, colorful lizard with five bright stripes. They love to bask in the sun and can be found scurrying around in gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Southeastern Five-lined Skink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Southeastern_Five-lined_Skink%252C_adult_male%252C_FL.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southeastern_Five-lined_Skink%252C_adult_male%252C_FL.jpg) ## Appearance The Southeastern Five-lined Skink has a sleek body with five distinctive light stripes running down its darker brown or olive back. Juveniles feature a strikingly bright blue tail. Its scales are smooth and shiny, giving it a somewhat wet appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Scincidae - **Genus:** Plestiodon ## Interesting facts - Female skinks guard their eggs until they hatch, being a super mom! - Juvenile skinks flash a brilliant blue tail to confuse attackers! - These skinks are sunbathers, needing warmth to stay active! - They have clear scales over their eyes, like built-in goggles! ## Special abilities - **Tail Ejector:** Southeastern Five-lined Skink can drop its tail to distract predators, allowing it to escape harm's way. - **Rapid Regrowth:** Southeastern Five-lined Skink has the ability to regrow a lost tail, repairing itself after an escape. - **Arboreal Acrobat:** Southeastern Five-lined Skink can climb trees and shrubs to find food and escape danger quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-21 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-10 - **Incubation:** 30-50 days ## Diet & Feeding They love munching on insects and other small invertebrates! - **Primary Foods:** Crickets, Grasshoppers, Spiders, Beetles, Snails, Slugs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Racer (*Coluber constrictor*) — A common snake that preys on skinks. - **Eaten by:** [American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel) (*Falco sparverius*) — Small raptors may catch these ground-dwelling skinks. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Nocturnal mammals sometimes prey on skinks. - **Hunts:** [Fall Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fall-field-cricket) (*Gryllus pennsylvanicus*) — Skinks actively hunt and eat various crickets. - **Hunts:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Spiders are a regular part of the skink's diet. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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 your step when exploring, and be gentle if you see a skink. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southeastern 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 Southeastern Five-lined Skink? 12-21 cm ### How much does Southeastern Five-lined Skink weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Southeastern Five-lined Skink live? 3-6 years ### How fast can Southeastern Five-lined Skink move? 15 km/h ### What does Southeastern Five-lined Skink eat? They love munching on insects and other small invertebrates! ### Where is Southeastern Five-lined Skink usually found? Forests ### How does Southeastern Five-lined Skink hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Ortega](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ortega) — Florida, US · Neighborhood - [Fort Norfolk](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-norfolk) — US · Historic Site ## 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*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Southeastern Five-lined Skink Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southeastern-five-lined-skink)