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Habitat loss is the main threat to the bluetail mole skink (U.S. In Florida, bluetail mole skinks are found in Highlands, Polk, and Osceola counties along the Lake Wales Ridge (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). The bluetail mole skink is a small, slender lizard that occupies xeric upland habitats of the Central Ridge in peninsular Florida. Rare blue-tongued skinks such as Centralian and shingle backs may cost between $1,500 and $5,000 each. High-colored or rarer forms may cost more. Northern blue-tongued skinks range in price from $150 for babies to $250 for adults. The critically endangered blue-tailed skink became virtually extinct back in 2009, but a breeding program run by Parks Australia and Taronga Zoo has seen their numbers swell to about 1,500 in captivity. Most skinks are active during the day and prefer hanging out on the ground rather than climbing trees. Skinks are very beneficial to the garden because their prey includes grasshoppers, snails, slugs, cockroaches and even small mice. Texas, Alabama, and Florida each are home to half a dozen or more. At least one or more kind of skink is native to 47 states. Many skinks on the other hand are abundant and commonly seen in daytime. Interestingly, they are virtually never found in natural wildlife habitats. It is relatively small with a black body with yellow stripes going to a bright blue tail. 5 What is the fafnai rank of a mole skink?.The scientific genus name, Plestiodon, comes from the Greek language and means “toothy.Females may urinate on the eggs to maintain the necessary level of humidity. Eggs need to incubate in a humid environment.During the winter months, they hibernate. Skinks are active during the day and are solitary outside of mating season.These species can bite, so only those with experience should attempt to get close enough to count them. Five-lined skinks have four labial scales. Broad-headed skinks have an enlarged row of scales under their tails and five labial scales along their upper lip (between their nose and eye). Five-lined skinks look very similar to their cousins, broad-headed skinks, and must be examined up close to determine the species.They reach sexual maturity at two or three years of age.
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The young leave the nest after only a couple of days, at which point their parents no longer provide for them. In colder weather, the eggs may incubate for nearly two months. The incubation period depends on the temperature-in warmer weather, it can be as short as 24 days. They start out white and become more mottled and larger as they stay in contact with the nest and absorb water. The eggs have thin, papery shells and are about half an inch long. This allows females to communally care for and defend the eggs.įemales lay about 15 eggs between May and July. Often, they will place many nests close together. Skinks tend to choose large decaying logs or stumps in moist areas for their nests. Reproduction and Life CycleĪ male skink will find a partner and clamp his mouth around her neck before mating. The five-lined skink is able to disconnect its colorful tail, which continues to twitch and distract any predators while the skink runs away to hide. PredatorsĪ variety of birds, snakes, and many small mammals, including domestic cats eat five-lined skinks. Feedingįive-lined skinks feed primarily on insects or spiders, but may also eat snails or frogs. Males have larger heads than females and have orange coloring on their snouts that develop during mating season. They are between five and 8.5 inches in length. As they age, they tend to lighten and males’ stripes may fade. The rest of the body can be black, brown or olive. Appearanceįive-lined skinks are known for the five white or yellow stripes that run down their bodies from nose to tail. It can be found in damp forested areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The five-lined skink is a small reptile with five distinctive stripes running along the length of its body.