Coal Skink

Range

Patches of range stretching through the eastern United States from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. A large patch of range is located in the central US from eastern Kansas and central Missouri down to eastern Texas and western Louisiana.

Habitats

This species likes humid wooded hillsides with lots of leaf litter near streams. It can also be found near springs and rocky bluffs. They're known to dive underwater and hide under rocks at the bottom when threatened.

Identification

A medium-sized skink with a thick body and skinny legs. Its scales are smooth and shiny. It has a total of 4 thin light lines running the length of its body; 2 on each side, with darker coloration between them on the skink's sides. These lines fade with age. The dark coloration between the lines breaks down into dark speckles about half way down the tail. It grows to a length of 5-7 inches. The lack of a central stripe down its back distinguishes this species from other skinks.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians