There are four skinks in Ohio. These are the little brown skink (Scincella lateralis), the broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps), the common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), and the coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus).
The coal skink is found in an isolated range in southern Ohio. The broad-headed and little brown skinks are also found in southern Ohio. The common five-lined skink is found statewide.
Apart from skinks, other lizards in Ohio are the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis).
So what are skinks? Skinks refer to lizards of the family Scincidae.
These lizards are usually slender with no pronounced necks and tiny legs. While some skinks are stocky such as the broad-headed skinks, most are slender.
Table of Contents
Skinks in Ohio
1. Coal Skink
- Trinomial Nomenclature: Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus
- Adult Size: 5.1 to 7.1 inches (13 to 18 cm)
- Adult Snout-To-Vent Length: 2.8 inches (7.1 cm)
- Population Trend: Stable
- Conservation Statuses: S1 (Critically Imperiled), Least Concern on IUCN Red List
Within Ohio, the species can be found in the south in an isolated colony. There are two subspecies and these are the northern coal skink and the southern coal skink. The coal skink endemic to Ohio is the northern coal skink.
The species inhabit humid wooded areas close to waterbodies such as sloughs, rivers, and streams. They also inhabit rocky hillsides and areas close to springs. They are often found under groundcovers such as rocks and logs close to water.
P. a. anthracinus is a medium-sized lizard that reaches adult lengths of 5 to 7 inches. The background color of the species is brown to olive-gray. There is a darker-colored stripe that runs down each side of the body. These stripes have thin lightly colored borders.
The underside of the species is gray. During mating season, adult males have a reddish or orangish coloration on the sides of the head.
The coal skink is similar in appearance to the five-lined skink.
The coal skink feed on small invertebrates such as insects.
2. Common Five-lined Skink
- Binomial Nomenclature: Plestiodon fasciatus
- Adult Size: 5 to 8.5 inches (12.7 to 21.6 cm)
- Adult Snout-To-Vent Length: 3 inches (7.6 cm)
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Population Trend: Stable
- Conservation Statuses: SNR (No Status Rank on NatureServe), Least Concern on IUCN Red List
This species is endemic to a large portion of the eastern United States. Its range starts in southern Ontario and New England all the way to southeastern Texas.
From east to west, the range extends from New York to Kansas. Within Ohio, the species is endemic to the entire state. The five-lined skink is found statewide.
The species is endemic to humid wooded areas. They are often found under groundcovers such as rocks and logs.
You can also find them in abandoned buildings. Although they prefer to be on the ground, they will climb trees to avoid predators.
The lizard is medium-sized to large. It can reach an adult length of 5 to 8.5 inches. The body of this reptile is shiny and it comes in a variety of colors.
Juveniles have a blue tail and distinct white stripes. This blue color faces as they ade. Similarly, the stripes also fade.
The tails of adults are more grayish. The body of the species is brownish with light-colored stripes. The species have five stripes.
These stripes give the species its common name. Adult males develop a reddish or orangish tint on its head during mating season.
P. fasciatus is similar in appearance to the broad-headed skink. Males can b indistinguishable without the examination of the scales.
The species feed mostly on insects and occasionally small vertebrates, snails, and slugs. The invertebrates it feeds on include beetle larvae, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, termites, crickets, millipedes, and spiders.
The small vertebrates it feeds on include pinky mice, small lizards, and frogs. P. fasciatus has a lifespan of 6 years.
3. Broad-headed Skink
- Binomial Nomenclature: Plestiodon laticeps
- Adult Length: 6.5 to 12.5 inches (16.5 to 31.8 cm)
- Maximum Snout-To-Vent Length: 5.5 inches (14 cm)
- Lifespan: 8 years
- Population Trend: Stable
- Conservation Statuses: SNR (No Status Rank on NatureServe)S3 (Vulnerable), Least Concern on IUCN Red List
P. laticeps is one of the largest skinks in North America and the largest in Ohio. Unlike other skinks, the broad-headed skink is not slender. Instead, it is stocky.
This means that for its length, it is heavier than other skinks. It is also quite lengthier than other skinks. It has a range length of 6.5 to 12.5 inches.
The species gets its common name from the shape of the head of adult males. They have large swollen heads. During the mating season, their heads develop a reddish coloration.
The rest of the coloration is similar to that of the five-lined skink. Their body is brownish. Adult females lack the red tint to their heads.
Juveniles have blue tails and black bodies. Individuals especially females and juveniles have five stripes on their dorsum.
The species are endemic to humid wooded areas including the edges of wood lots and woodlands. They can be They are often found on rocks, stumps, fences, logs, and trees. You can also find them in abandoned buildings.
The species is endemic from central Ohio to southern Ohio. The species is found throughout most of the state.
Outside the state, the species is endemic to large portions of the eastern United States as far south as eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and central Florida, and as far east as Kanas. The species has a lifespan of 8 years.
4. Little Brown Skink
- Binomial Nomenclature: Scincella lateralis
- Other Common Names: brown-backed skink, ground skink
- Adult Length: 2.95 to 5.75 inches (7.5 to 14.6 cm)
- Adult Snout-To-Vent Length: 2.25 inches (5.7 cm)
- Lifespan: 2 to 4 years
- Population Trend: Stable
- Conservation Statuses: S4 (Apparently Secure), Least Concern on IUCN Red List
P. laticeps is a tiny skink. It is one of the smallest. The species is slender and reaches a length of 3 to 5 inches.
The scales are shiny and smooth and the legs are tiny. The background color of the species ranges from dark brown to golden brown.
The species generally have black stripes that run laterally on both sides of the dorsum. If you look closely, you can notice black specks on the back. The underside of the adult males, adult females, and juveniles are respectively yellow, white or gray, and yellow.
The species is found in humid wooded areas such as woodlands with an abundance of ground covers such as logs, pine needles, decaying wood, loose soil, and leaf litter.
The species is endemic to southern Ohio. outside of Ohio, the species is endemic from southern Indiana, southern Ohio to New Jersey to the east, and down south to Gulf Coast, Texas, Florida, and northeastern Mexico. The range of the species is quite extensive.
The species feed on small invertebrates such as worms, spiders, and small insects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there skinks in Muskingum County?
There are skinks in Muskingum County. The skinks endemic to the area include the broad-headed skink and the common five-lined skinks.
You can find the common five-lined skink under groundcovers such as rocks and logs. You can also find them in abandoned buildings.
Often, you can find broad-headed skink on rocks, stumps, fences, logs, and trees. You can also find them in abandoned buildings.
Where do skinks live in Ohio?
Skinks can be found across the entire state of Ohio. They live on the ground and generally inhabit wooded areas.
The coal skink has an isolated range in the south of Ohio. The species inhabit humid wooded areas close to waterbodies such as sloughs, rivers, and streams. They also inhabit rocky hillsides and areas close to springs.
The common five-lined skink is endemic statewide. They live in humid wooded areas. They are generally on the ground but do climb trees. They live underneath ground covers such as logs and even in abandoned buildings.
The broad-headed skink is endemic to southern Ohio. Here they live in humid wooded areas such as woodlands and the edges of wood lots. Here you can find them on rocks, stumps, fences, logs, trees, and abandoned buildings.
The little brown skink is endemic to southern Ohio. Here it also lives in humid wooded areas with abundant ground cover s such as logs, pine needles, decaying wood, loose soil, and leaf litter.
What are the different types of skinks in Ohio?
There are our types of skinks in Ohio. These include the little brown skink (Scincella lateralis), the broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps), the common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), and the coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus).
Are skinks poisonous?
Skinks aren’t poisonous. They also aren’t nonvenomous.
However, they may carry salmonella which is responsible for salmonella infections. While this infection is usually innocuous, it can lead to serious complications among people with compromised immune systems, children, and the elderly.
To prevent contracting salmonella infection from skinks, wash your hands properly after handling a skink, keep the skink away from places where food is prepared or stored, and do not put the skink in your mouth.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include headaches, chills, blood in the stool, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fever, and abominable cramps. Visit the doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Conclusion
The four skinks in Ohio are the little brown skink (Scincella lateralis), the broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps), the common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), and the coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus). All these four skinks belong to the family Scincidae alongside all other skinks.
Most skinks are slender with short legs and no pronounced necks. The broad-headed skink however is stocky. Apart from its stocky appearance, the broad-headed skink has short limbs and no pronounced neck.
The skinks in Ohio are endemic to southern Ohio with the exception of the common five-lined skink which is endemic statewide.
Skinks are actually lizards. The other lizards endemic to the state include the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis).