An Overview of the Fascinating Skinks Found in Florida

Skinks are a unique type of lizard found throughout many parts of Florida With over 15 different species, skinks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors From the large and vibrantly colored Broadhead Skink to the small and secretive Florida Sand Skink, skinks showcase an impressive level of diversity and adaptation.

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of these remarkable lizards, discussing identification tips, behavior, habitat, fun facts and conservation status By the end, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for these charismatic creatures that call the Sunshine State home

What Are Skinks?

Skinks belong to the family Scincidae, representing over 1,500 species found on all continents except Antarctica. Most skinks are terrestrial, though some are semi-aquatic or arboreal. They are characterized by smooth, shiny scales; elongated, cylindrical bodies; small legs or in some cases, no legs at all; and long, tapering tails.

Skinks use their tails for balance, defense and fat storage. When threatened, they can detach their tail through a process called autotomy. The wriggling tail distracts predators while the skink makes its escape. Later on, they can regenerate a new tail.

Native Skink Species in Florida

Here are some of the most notable skink species native to Florida:

Southeastern Five-Lined Skink

With five distinctive stripes lining its body, this 8-inch long skink is aptly named. Juveniles have bright blue tails that fade to brown with age. Adults may develop reddish-orange coloration on the head. This ground-dwelling species inhabits forests and wooded areas statewide.

Broadhead Skink

The largest skink species in Florida, adults reach up to 13 inches long. Males develop vibrant orange heads during mating season. With their wide jaws and triangular heads, broadhead skinks resemble mini monitors. They prefer humid forests with ample logs and leaf litter.

Peninsula Mole Skink

A small species growing to 6 inches, its brown body is lined with yellow stripes. Found along the sandy coastal dunes on the peninsula, it has a vivid blue, pink or orange tail. This skink “swims” through the sand with ease.

Coal Skink

Found in the Florida panhandle, this 7-8 inch skink has four tan stripes lining its brown body. Look for them in shady, humid forests with loose rocks and debris. When threatened, they dive into shallow water and hide below stones.

Florida Sand Skink

A threatened species, this skink is specially adapted for a subterranean lifestyle in central Florida’s sandy scrub habitat. With a silver-gray body reaching 5 inches long and a wedge-shaped head, it essentially “swims” through the sand.

Ground Skink

One of the smallest skinks in Florida at just 5 inches long, it has a light brown body with a dark stripe on each side. This native ground-dweller ranges throughout the state, sheltering under logs and leaf litter.

Introduced & Invasive Skinks

In addition to native species, Florida is home to several exotic skink species, mostly introduced through the pet trade:

African Five-Lined Skink

Named for the stripes lining its glossy body, this skink was discovered in Florida after escaping or being released from captivity. Growing to 8 inches long, it comes in a rainbow of colors depending on age and sex. They inhabit fields, forests, human structures – anywhere with sufficient hiding spots.

Ocellated Skink

Native to Africa, southern Europe and Asia, this large skink measures up to 12 inches long. It has a small head, streamlined bronze body and short legs. With unique patterning that resembles eye-spots, it thrives in hot, arid regions of the state.

Many-Lined Sun Skink

First reported in Hawaii in the 1990s, this Asian skink likely hitchhiked to the mainland in cargo. Adults reach 6-8 inches long with yellow and brown striping over its entire body. It occupies forest edges, yards, parks and disturbed habitats.

While threatened native skinks struggle against development and habitat loss, these adaptable exotics flourish across an array of urban and rural settings. Their long-term ecological impacts remain unknown.

Identification Tips

Here are some key features to help identify the different skink species:

• Color pattern – Striping, spots, solid or variable coloration

• Tail color – Bright blue, orange, pink or brown

• Body length – Ranges from 4 to 13 inches

• Head shape – Wedge-shaped, triangular, small and rounded

• Habitat – Sand scrub, pine flatwoods, coastal dunes, forests, urban areas

• Behavior – Terrestrial, fossorial, semi-aquatic, arboreal

Look for skinks lifting their heads and flicking out long, forked tongues as they search for food. All lack venom and pose no danger to humans. When threatened, most will rapidly make for the nearest cover though some larger species may hiss or attempt to bite in self-defense.

Habits & Habitat

Skinks spend much of their time actively foraging for food across the ground, vegetation and trees. They will also periodically bask in the sun which helps regulate their body temperature. Most species are diurnal, hiding out at night in burrows, rock crevices, fallen logs and leaf litter.

Different skink species occupy diverse habitats in Florida including pine flatwoods, rosemary scrub, coastal dunes, hardwood hammocks, xeric oak scrub, marshes, cypress swamps, mixed forests and human-altered environments. Some strictly terrestrial species have adapted to frequent loose sand and soil, whereas arboreal skinks are agile climbers.

Diet & Hunting

Skinks are carnivorous, feeding on a smorgasbord of small prey. Stalking through their habitat, they grab insects like beetles, crickets, grubs and termites as well as spiders, earthworms, small lizards, snails and carrion. Larger species may eat frogs, rodents, eggs and berries. With excellent vision, they snatch their prey with lightning speed.

To detect food, skinks constantly sample the air and ground using their forked tongues and sensory pits on the snout and lips. Once prey is spotted, they give rapid chase. Powerful jaws allow them to bite down and subdue struggling insects and snails. Venomous species seize their prey and then deliver toxic, immobilizing bites.

Reproduction & Life Cycle

Reaching sexual maturity around 1-2 years old, skinks breed from spring through summer. Some species exhibit mating rituals where the male grabs the female and drags her before copulation. Fertilized eggs develop inside the female who later excavates a nest chamber in loose soil to lay her clutch.

The leathery, soft-shelled eggs incubate for 1 to 2 months, with warmer temperatures speeding up development. Babies hatch using an egg tooth which later falls off. Early on, juveniles have bright blue tails that transform to adult coloration with age. Most reach their maximum size within the first few years. Average skink lifespan is 5-10 years depending on the species.

Conservation Status

While some skink species remain widespread and abundant, others face serious threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation across their limited ranges:

• The Florida Sand Skink is listed as state threatened and vulnerable to extinction. Ongoing development in its scrub habitat has led to dramatic declines.

• The Florida Keys Mole Skink is endangered with its island habitats facing pressure from human activities and rising sea levels.

• The Bluetail Mole Skink is state threatened as its scrub habitat disappeared. Once thought extinct, it was rediscovered in the 1950s but remains imperiled.

• The Cedar Key Mole Skink only occupies two small islands off Florida’s Gulf coast, putting its future survival in jeopardy.

Protecting remaining scrub habitat and mitigating barriers between populations offer important conservation measures for vulnerable skinks with small, fragmented distributions. Continued research, surveys, and monitoring help track skink populations over time. Filling key knowledge gaps about the natural history and habitat needs of Florida’s rare skinks also aids management efforts.

Through public education and community science initiatives, people can get involved in skink conservation. Simple actions like photographing and reporting observations to online databases expand our understanding of these cryptic lizards. Being mindful of skinks around the home and discouraging free-roaming pets from harassing native wildlife make a difference too.

Final Thoughts

Ranging from the giant Broadhead to the tiny Ground Skink, Florida is home to a remarkable diversity of skinks occupying every kind of habitat. These streamlined lizards fill an important niche as mesopredators that help regulate insect, snail and rodent populations. While some species remain common, habitat loss has driven several toward extinction. Protecting and restoring Florida’s native ecosystems offers the best hope for conserving its rare and unique skink fauna.