A Common Five-lined Skink in Charles Co., Maryland (4/18/2010).

Photo by George Jett MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink showing the labial scales in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/21/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

An adult Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/12/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/12/2015).

View Record Details Photo by David Hilmy MBP List

An immature Common Five-lined Skink in Wicomico Co., Maryland (9/15/2014).

Photo by Mike Burchett MBP List

Common Five-lined Skinks in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/5/2012).

View Record Details Photo by Barbara Thurlow MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Kent Co., Maryland (4/12/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Nancy Wyman MBP List

Common Five-lined Skinks in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/4/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Ben Springer MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/22/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Richard Crook MBP List

An adult Common Five-lined Skink in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/25/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 739581 - Psn: 35)

An adult Common Five-lined Skink in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/25/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Emilio Concari MBP List

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/12/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 716212 - Psn: 44)

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/12/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). Verified by Scott McDaniel.

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

Common Five-lined Skink in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/23/2024). (c) Richard Kazmaier, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1187760 - Psn: 54)

Common Five-lined Skink in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/23/2024). (c) Richard Kazmaier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Richard Kazmaier via iNaturalist MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/21/2013).

Photo by Mark Johnson MBP List

An immature Common Five-lined Skink along the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/20/2005).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Close-up of the head of a Common Five-lined Skink found in Talbot Co., Maryland (10/3/2009).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/25/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Ashley Bradford MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/21/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

A female Common Five-lined Skink in Kent Co., Maryland (8/3/2010).

View Record Details Photo by Nancy Martin MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/19/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Richard Orr MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/26/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Bill Keim MBP List

Common Five-lined Skinks in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/24/2024). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>). (Photo ID: 1027125 - Psn: 78)

Common Five-lined Skinks in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/24/2024). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY).

View Record Details Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist MBP List

A juvenile Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/28/2010).

Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/19/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

Common Five-lined Skink with eggs in Charles Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 739775 - Psn: 110)

Common Five-lined Skink with eggs in Charles Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Scot Magnotta via iNaturalist MBP List

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/1/2020). (c) flgirl09, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 743402 - Psn: 145)

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/1/2020). (c) flgirl09, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by flgirl09 via iNaturalist MBP List

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/10/2026). (c) Ron Wertz, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/'>CC BY-NC-SA</a>) (Photo ID: 1484106 - Psn: 200)

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/10/2026). (c) Ron Wertz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

View Record Details Photo by Ron Wertz via iNaturalist MBP List

Common Five-lined Skink in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/31/2009). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 703785 - Psn: 222)

Common Five-lined Skink in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/31/2009). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by jugbayjs via iNaturalist MBP List

A Common Five-lined Skink being consumed by a spider in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/28/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

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2,599 Records

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Status

Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) is the most familiar Plestiodon in Maryland, and it is distributed statewide in suitable habitat, but more commonly in the coastal plain. It generally favors relatively humid woodland habitats, especially in rocky areas, or near logs or tree stumps, rotting wood, or sawdust piles. This species is much more terrestrial than its relative, the Broad-headed Skink (Conant & Collins, 1998; Maryland DNR site).

Description

Although there are several useful marks for distinguishing Common Five-lined Skink from the larger Broad-headed Skink, the most reliable method involves counting facial scales. Close-up head shots can sometimes be used to ID confidently to species. Common Five-lined show four labial scales anterior to the subocular scale on the face, and two postlabial scales in front of the ear canal. Broad-headed shows five labials, and no large postlabial scales (Conant & Collins, 1998).

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Citations

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Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Charles Co., Maryland (4/18/2010). Media by George Jett.

A Common Five-lined Skink showing the labial scales in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/21/2017). View Record Details Media by Jim Brighton.

An adult Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/12/2014). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/12/2015). View Record Details Media by David Hilmy.

An immature Common Five-lined Skink in Wicomico Co., Maryland (9/15/2014). Media by Mike Burchett.

Common Five-lined Skinks in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/5/2012). View Record Details Media by Barbara Thurlow.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Kent Co., Maryland (4/12/2017). View Record Details Media by Nancy Wyman.

Common Five-lined Skinks in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/4/2016). View Record Details Media by Ben Springer.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/22/2020). View Record Details Media by Richard Crook.

An adult Common Five-lined Skink in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/25/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Emilio Concari.

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/12/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). Verified by Scott McDaniel. View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

Common Five-lined Skink in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/23/2024). (c) Richard Kazmaier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Richard Kazmaier via iNaturalist.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/21/2013). Media by Mark Johnson.

An immature Common Five-lined Skink along the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/20/2005). Media by Bill Hubick.

Close-up of the head of a Common Five-lined Skink found in Talbot Co., Maryland (10/3/2009). Media by Jim Brighton.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/25/2017). View Record Details Media by Ashley Bradford.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/21/2017). View Record Details Media by Jim Brighton.

A female Common Five-lined Skink in Kent Co., Maryland (8/3/2010). View Record Details Media by Nancy Martin.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/19/2014). View Record Details Media by Richard Orr.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/26/2015). View Record Details Media by Bill Keim.

Common Five-lined Skinks in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/24/2024). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). View Record Details Media by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist.

A juvenile Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/28/2010). Media by Robert Aguilar, SERC.

A Common Five-lined Skink in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/19/2015). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

Common Five-lined Skink with eggs in Charles Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Scot Magnotta via iNaturalist.

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/1/2020). (c) flgirl09, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by flgirl09 via iNaturalist.

Common Five-lined Skink in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/10/2026). (c) Ron Wertz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA) View Record Details Media by Ron Wertz via iNaturalist.

Common Five-lined Skink in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/31/2009). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by jugbayjs via iNaturalist.

A Common Five-lined Skink being consumed by a spider in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/28/2018). View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.