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Skinks are among the fastest reptiles in the world, and when encountered they dart quickly for cover. Individuals almost always bite when first captured, but their extremely small teeth cannot penetrate the skin. The tail, which is blue in young specimens, serves as a most unusual defense mechanism. If a skink is grabbed by the tail, the tail breaks off. While the would-be capturer's attention is held momentarily by the vigorously wiggling tail, the skink makes a speedy getaway. In time, the skink will grow a new tail, although it will not be as long or as brightly colored as the original one. |
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Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
At-a-Glance
• Peak Breeding Activity: May-July
• Gestation period : 55 days
• Number of offspring: 15-18
• Typical Foods: insects, such as spiders, crickets, termites, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles |
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Description
This species has five yellow to cream colored stripes running dorsally and laterally from the snout to tail. The tail is blue to gray.
Habitat and Habits
Five-lined skinks occur throughout Ohio. They can often be located under the bark of decaying logs, or in stumps, rock piles, or decaying plant material. They are also found along Lake Erie, and in similar moist locations.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Females will lay their eggs in a cavity beneath a rock or stump, or wherever the soil is moist. The female tends to the eggs until one or two days after hatching, when the young leave the nest. |
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