A Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) was spotted during a photowalk at Occoquan Regional Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
11 JUL 2018 | Occoquan Regional Park | Common Five-lined Skink
This individual is a juvenile as indicated by its dark brown color and bright blue tail.
11 JUL 2018 | Occoquan Regional Park | Common Five-lined Skink
Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
A skink was spotted during a photowalk along the Potomac River at Riverbend Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. The lizard is either a Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) or an adult male Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus).
27 APR 2017 | Riverbend Park | Broad-headed Skink
This individual appears to have five (5) supralabial scales between the snout and the front of its eye, a field mark that indicates it’s probably a Broad-headed Skink.
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Skink
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
20 MAY 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Broad-headed Skink
This individual is either a Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) or an adult male Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus); it is probably the former, as indicated by a field mark used to differentiate the two species.
20 MAY 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Broad-headed Skink
Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
I spotted a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) eating a spider during a photowalk along the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park on 18 May 2014. The spider appears to be a Wolf spider (Family Lycosidae).
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
The following photos show a lizard spotted on 09 May 2013 during a photowalk at Meadowood Recreation Area, near the “Wood Thrush” trail-head. This individual is either a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) or Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus). None of the photos show a clear view of a field marker used to differentiate the two species. This lizard may be a sub-adult, as indicated by its lighter brown color and light blue tail.
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
The following photos show two Common Five-lined Skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus) spotted during photowalks through Huntley Meadows Park on 30 May 2012 and 03 October 2013.
30 May 2012
These individuals are juveniles as indicated by their dark brown color and bright blue tail.
03 October 2013
Editor’s Note: This is Part 5 in a five-part series of posts featuring two types of lizards commonly seen at Huntley Meadows Park: Broad-headed Skinks; and Common Five-lined Skinks. Bonus post: “Common Five-lined Skink (sub-adult).”
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
There is a tree stump located along “Cedar Trail” at Huntley Meadows Park that I have dubbed “Skink stump” because it seems to be a hotspot where skinks like to hang out.
The following gallery features photos of a lizard spotted at “Skink stump” during a photowalk on 25 April 2012. This individual is either a Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) or an adult male Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus). None of the photos show a clear view of a field marker used to differentiate the two species.
The next gallery shows a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) spotted at “Skink stump” during a photowalk on 24 May 2012. This individual is a juvenile as indicated by its dark brown color and bright blue tail.
The last photo shows another juvenile Common Five-lined Skink spotted at “Skink stump” during a photowalk on 04 September 2013. The tail of this skink is extraordinarily blue!
04 September 2013
Editor’s Note: This is Part 3 in a five-part series of posts featuring two types of lizards commonly seen at Huntley Meadows Park: Broad-headed Skinks; and Common Five-lined Skinks. Next post: “Broad-headed Skink.”
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
The following gallery features photos of a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) spotted during a photowalk through Huntley Meadows Park on 10 May 2012. This individual is an adult male.
Common Five-lined Skinks are similar to Broad-headed Skinks (Plestiodon laticeps) in shape and size. Their coloration and markings can be similar too; a field marker can be used to differentiate the two species.
Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 in a five-part series of posts featuring two types of lizards commonly seen at Huntley Meadows Park: Broad-headed Skinks; and Common Five-lined Skinks. Next post: “Skink stump.”
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
The following gallery features photos of a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) spotted during a photowalk through Huntley Meadows Park on 27 September 2013. The species name fasciatus
… is derived from the Latin word fascia meaning “stripe” and the Latin suffix -inus meaning “pertaining to.” Source Credit: Virginia Herpetological Society.
This individual is a juvenile as indicated by its dark brown color and bright blue tail.
Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 in a five-part series of posts featuring two types of lizards commonly seen at Huntley Meadows Park: Broad-headed Skinks; and Common Five-lined Skinks. Next post: “Common Five-lined Skink (adult male).”
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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