Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

Common throughout most of NC, Five-lined Skinks and Southeastern Five-lined Skinks are difficult to distinguish unless you have them in-hand, therefore I'm just assuming these are a Five-lined based on habitat & region.
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Orange Co., NC
25 April 2004
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Orange Co., NC
25 April 2004
Orange Co., NC
2 June 2006

Along with Broad-headed and Southeastern Five-lined Skinks, Five-lined Skink juveniles have blue tails. Distinguishing the 3 species is difficult in the field without having the animal in hand and examining characters like the underside of the tail.

Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Orange Co., NC
2 June 2006
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Orange Co., NC
27 May 2005

As they age, the stripes fade and the blue tail turns gray-brown.

Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Orange Co., NC
27 May 2005

Males, especially, develop a lot of orange around the head.

Five-lined Skink (Eumeces sp.) Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

Pettigrew State Park, Washington Co., NC
30 June 2006

Five-lined Skink (Eumeces sp.) Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Durham Co., NC
3 Sep 2007
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces sp.) Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Durham Co., NC
3 Sep 2007
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces sp.) Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Durham Co., NC
29 Mar 2009
Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
4 Aug 2018

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Created on ... May 18, 2004 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com