Kenneth L. Krysko photo.
Southeastern Five-lined Skink, Eumeces inexpectatus
Young southeastern five-lined skinks in Fort Matanzas National Monument can be identified by their fluorescent blue tails. The tail color fades as the lizard grows older. The 5 narrow light stripes on the body also fade until old adults are uniform brown. These shiny lizards are primarily terrestrial, but they readily climb trees in the live oak hammock in search of insects. They also are frequently seen on the Nature Trail boardwalk that runs through the hammock south of the Visitor Center parking area.
