Reptiles of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

NC Records
Scincidae Members:
Plestiodon inexpectatus - Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Photo: K. Bischof

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Scincidae

Subfamily: Scincinae

Synonym: Eumeces inexpectatus


Taxonomic Comments: One of thirteen species in this genus currently recognized in North America (SSAR, 2017); four occur in North Carolina
Species Comments: Taylor (1932a,b) split Eumeces fasciatus into three species, including E. inexpectatus and E. laticeps in addition to E. fasciatus.

Identification

Description: Our five species of skinks can be identified as such by their smooth, polished scales and relatively short legs. Species in the genus Plestiodon can be highly similar to one another in coloration and pattern and photographs can be used to identify them only when specific parts of the body are shown in detail. Photographs submitted as records should include a close-up lateral view of the head, a close-up dorsal view of the stripes, taken at the mid-body region; and a close-up ventral view of the scale rows on the tail. For Broad-headed Skinks, length measurements also enable identification.

Field Marks: Five-lined Skinks, as the name implies have five light lines on their bodies, particularly as juveniles; in adults, these lines may fade, particularly in males. In addition to a dorsal line running from the back of the head down onto the tail, there is also a dorsolateral and lateral pale line. In the Southeastern Five-lined Skink, the dorsal line is often narrower than the two lateral lines, unlike the lines of the Common Five-lined Skink where the dorsal line is similar in width to the other two. In inexpectatus, the subdorsal line follows the outer edges of the fourth and inner third of the fifth row of scales (counting from the mid-dorsal row) (Taylor, 1932a), whereas in the Common Five-lined Skink, the subdorsal line is located on rows 3 and part of 4.

Morphological Features: This species is most conclusively identified by the uniformity of the scales on the underside of the tail; in the other two members of this genus, the median row is wider than those that border it. Maximum head-body length in NC: 3.2" (82.4mm), males; 3.0" (77.1mm), females (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). Adults are slightly larger than the Common Five-lined Skink but are much smaller -- by as much as two inches -- than Broad-headed Skinks.

Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995)

Field Guide Descriptions: Beane et al. (2010); Powell et al. (2016)

Online Photos: Google iNaturalist GBIF

Observation Methods: Often heard foraging through the leaf litter or observed basking. They can also be found by turning over cover. Like our other species of Plestiodon, inexpectatus escapes predators by climbing trees although otherwise it is much less arboreal than our other two species.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution Comments: This species is most common in the Coastal Plain but has records extending westward to at least the foothills of the Blue Ridge; a few records also exist from the mountains but from below 2000 ft. Unlike the Common Five-lined Skink, the Southeastern Five-lined Skink occurs commonly on the barrier islands (Engels, 1949; Palmer and Braswell, 1995).
Distribution Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); NCMNS Herpetology Collection Database (accessed 2023-02)
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Key Habitat Requirements

Habitat: Southeastern Five-Lined Skinks prefer drier, more open woodlands than Common Five-lined Skinks. In the Coastal Plain, they are most common in pine-oak sandhill habitats and maritime forests (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). In the Piedmont and low mountains, they are associated with dry, upland stands of oak-hickory forest or mixed forests of pines and dry hardwoods (Beane et al., 2010).

Environmental and Physiological Tolerances: Engels (1949) and Ober (1969) noted the commonness of Southeastern Five-lined Skinks on barrier islands and the virtual absence of Five-lined and Broad-headed Skinks. Ober speculated that the greater resistence of inexpectatus to dessication explained their ability to both colonize the islands by rafting across salt water on driftwood and to thrive on the very dry islands once reaching them.

Adaptations to Natural Disturbances: This species is common in fire-maintained habitats but Mushinsky (1992) found that densities were lower in frequently burned stands, probably due to the reduction in leaf litter and woody debris resulting from burn rotations that are too short to allow the deep build-up of the litter layer this species needs for foraging and shelter. Burn rotations of 5-7 years appeared to be optimal for this species.

Biotic Relationships: No dietary study appears to have been done on this species in North Carolina, but Palmer and Braswell (1995) mention that spiders, insects, and other arthropods are likely prey. In Georgia, Hamilton and Pollack (1961) found that orthopterans (probably mainly crickets and grasshoppers), beetles, and spiders made up the majority of their diet, with at least one Ground Skink also observed to have been eaten.

Life History and Autecology

Terrestrial Life History: Palmer and Braswell (1995) noted that this species has been observed in all months other than January, with peak activity occurring during April and May.

As in the Five-lined and Broad-headed Skinks, Southeastern Five-lined Skinks occupy home ranges but these are not defended as territories (Wilder, 1962). Males are aggressive towards one another and establish dominance-subordinance relationships. Aggressive behavior consists of neck arching and tail vibration. Subordinant behavior involved tail waving and moving away (Wilder). Both females and males display these behaviors but the interaction between males is more frequent and prolonged.

General Ecology

Adverse Environmental Impacts

Habitat Loss: Vast areas of the state that once supported the forests occupied by this species have been converted to agriculture or urbanized areas and no longer support this species.

Habitat Fragmentation: As in our other terrestrial reptiles, major highways probably represent impassible barriers to the movements of this species.

Effects of Introduced Species/Induced Increases of Native Species: As in other ground-dwelling reptiles, this species may be vulnerable to nest predation by the Imported Red Fire Ant. Predation by Armadillos may become important as that species moves into the state. However, populations of Southeastern Five-lined Skinks in Florida remain robust despite a long history of association with that species.

Status in North Carolina

NHP State Rank: S5

Global Rank: G5

Populations: Populations in the Coastal Plain may be fairly continuously distributed. They may be much more disjunct, however, in the the Piedmont, particularly in the western portion, and this species appears to be known only from historic records in the mountains.

Status Comments: This species appears to be secure in the Coastal Plain and consequently, secure within the state. However, west of the Fall-line, populations appear to be much more disjunct and may be in need of local conservation efforts to maintain the species in those areas.

Stewardship: This species probably benefits from periodic burning of its woodland habitats, keeping the canopy open and allowing the sun to reach the ground. However, Mushinsky (1992) recommended burn return periods of 5-7 years as optimal for this species; more frequent burning removes the deep litter and woody debris this species needs for foraging and shelter.

Photo Gallery for Plestiodon inexpectatus - Southeastern Five-lined Skink		11 photos are shown.
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment:	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment:

Plestiodon inexpectatus - Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Photo Gallery for Plestiodon inexpectatus - Southeastern Five-lined Skink

11 photos are shown.