The term “blue-tailed skink” is a common name applied to the juvenile stage of several North American lizard species, most often the Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) and the Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus). These reptiles belong to the family Scincidae, characterized by their smooth, glossy scales and streamlined bodies. The vivid blue tail is a striking, temporary coloration that marks the younger skinks, meaning adult forms are rarely recognized by the same name.
Identifying the Blue Tail and Stripes
Juvenile skinks are easily recognized by their coloration, which involves a black or dark brown body contrasted by five distinct, light-colored stripes running longitudinally from the snout to the tail. These stripes are typically white or yellowish and cover the length of the body. The blue-tailed stage is relatively small, with hatchlings measuring approximately 5 to 6.4 centimeters in length from snout to tail tip.
The most distinguishing feature is the bright, sometimes iridescent blue tail, which is particularly noticeable against the dark body. This coloration is a form of visual defense, designed to draw the attention of potential predators away from the skink’s vulnerable head and torso. As they mature, the brilliant coloration gradually fades, leading to a significant change in appearance.
Geographic Location and Preferred Environment
These skinks are widely distributed across the eastern United States, ranging from the Northeast down through the Southeast and into parts of the Midwest. The Common Five-lined Skink is one of the most common lizards throughout this range, extending as far north as southeastern Canada. The Southeastern Five-lined Skink is concentrated in the southeastern portion of the country, often preferring drier habitats such as pine forests and coastal areas.
Skinks generally seek out moist, wooded habitats, particularly deciduous forests, where they find ample cover and foraging opportunities. They are often found on the ground among leaf litter, under logs, or in rock crevices, which provide shelter and basking spots. These lizards also inhabit areas near human development, frequently taking refuge in woodpiles, old buildings, or under debris.
Skink Behavior and Foraging Habits
Blue-tailed skinks are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, especially in warmer months when they can be seen basking in the sun to regulate their body temperature. Despite their daytime activity, they are generally secretive and quick-moving, often retreating under cover when disturbed.
A remarkable defensive behavior is the ability to drop their tail, a process called caudal autotomy. If a predator grabs the tail, the skink detaches it, and the brightly colored, severed tail continues to twitch, creating a distraction while the lizard escapes. The skink will then regenerate a new tail, although it will typically be duller in color. As active foragers, their diet consists mainly of small invertebrates, including insects, spiders, crickets, and beetles, which they hunt by moving through the leaf litter and under objects.
Developmental Changes and Reproduction
The blue tail color is an indication of immaturity, and it begins to fade as the skinks approach sexual maturity, which usually occurs around two or three years of age. As the blue color diminishes, the juvenile’s dark body color lightens to a brown, gray, or olive hue, and the five longitudinal stripes may also become less distinct. Adult males often experience the most dramatic color change, losing their stripes almost entirely and developing a reddish or orange coloration on their head during the breeding season.
Reproduction involves the female laying a clutch of eggs, typically numbering between five and 18, in a moist location such as a rotting log or under a rock. The female skink exhibits parental care by brooding her eggs for the incubation period, which can last from 24 to 55 days, and she will actively defend the clutch against smaller predators. The young hatchlings emerge with the characteristic dark body and bright blue tail, beginning the life cycle anew.