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In Kansas, home range diameter of Eumeces fasciatus was approximately 27 m in males, 9 m in females; individuals sometimes shifted home range after hibernation (Fitch 1954). <br><br>Fitch (1955) found that Eumeces obsoletus generally is rather sedentary in the short term; most live in home ranges not more than 30 m in diameter. Adult males are more mobile than females and juveniles. Sometimes individuals make longer movements of 100 m or more. Home range location is rather fluid. Individuals often live in one area for awhile, then shift to another area.  Hall (1971) reported a maximum home range size of about 800 sq m. <br><br>According to Ashton and Ashton (1991), home range size of Scincella lateralis may be less than 20 sq m. <br><br>The separation distance for unsuitable habitat reflects the nominal minimum value of 1 km. The separation distance for suitable habitat attempts to reflect the limited home ranges of these lizards, their secretive habits and consequent apparent absence in areas where they do in fact occur, their tendency to occur throughout patches of suitable habitat, and the likely low probability that two locations separated by less than several kilometers of suitable habitat would represent truly independent populations.","versionDate":"2004-09-21","versionAuthor":"Hammerson, G.","versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-04-30T02:04:13.034802Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":104988,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":106425,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T02:27:57.745563Z"}],"references":[{"id":134853,"citation":"Barbour, R. 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Partitioned Bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards. Systematic Biology 54:373-390.","shortCitationAuthor":"Brandley et al.","shortCitationYear":2005,"referenceCode":"A05BRA01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:58.69455Z"},{"id":1066884,"citation":"Brandley, M. C., H. Ota, T. Hikida, A.Nieto, M. De Oca, M. Feria-Ortiz, X. Guo, and Y. Wang. 2012. The phylogenetic systematics of blue-tailed skinks (<i>Plestiodon</i>) and the family Scincidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165(1):163-189.","shortCitationAuthor":"Brandley et al.","shortCitationYear":2012,"referenceCode":"A12BRA02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-11-11T02:01:37.636393Z"},{"id":137880,"citation":"Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Collins","shortCitationYear":1990,"referenceCode":"B90COL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:15.579798Z"},{"id":645334,"citation":"Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2009. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Sixth edition. The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrance, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Collins and Taggart","shortCitationYear":2009,"referenceCode":"B09COL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:58.69455Z"},{"id":140525,"citation":"Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Conant and Collins","shortCitationYear":1998,"referenceCode":"B98CON01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:57.819328Z"},{"id":621810,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2008,"referenceCode":"B08CRO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:20.142383Z"},{"id":722484,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2012,"referenceCode":"B12CRO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.08501Z"},{"id":943912,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. 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Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},{"id":154284,"citation":"Oldfield, B., and J. J. Moriarty. 1994. Amphibians & reptiles native to Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. xv + 237 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Oldfield and Moriarty","shortCitationYear":1994,"referenceCode":"B94OLD02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:26.951601Z"},{"id":152359,"citation":"Palmer, W. M., and A. L. Braswell. 1995. Reptiles of North Carolina. 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M. 2005. <i>Plestiodon</i>: a replacement name for most members of the genus <i>Eumeces</i> in North America. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 14:15-16.","shortCitationAuthor":"Smith","shortCitationYear":2005,"referenceCode":"A05SMI01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:18.040312Z"},{"id":272848,"citation":"Trauth, S. E., H. W. Robison, and M. V. Plummer. 2004. The amphibians and reptiles of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press.","shortCitationAuthor":"Trauth et al.","shortCitationYear":2004,"referenceCode":"B04TRA01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:58.163079Z"},{"id":132339,"citation":"Vitt, L. J., and W. E. Cooper, Jr. 1986. Skink reproduction and sexual dimorphism: <i>Eumeces fasciatus</i> in thesoutheastern United States, with notes on <i>Eumeces inexpectatus</i>. J. Herpetol. 20:65-76.","shortCitationAuthor":"Vitt and Cooper","shortCitationYear":1986,"referenceCode":"A86VIT02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:23:55.111421Z"},{"id":132352,"citation":"Vogt, R. C. 1981c. 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Split into two populations in April 2007, the Carolinian population (pop. 1, Endangered) and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence population (pop. 2, Special Concern). The designation for the species was de-activated in April 2007.","usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":null,"completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[{"id":113814,"synonym":"Eumeces fasciatus","synonymAuthor":"(Linnaeus, 1758)","formattedSynonym":"<i>Eumeces fasciatus</i>"}],"infraspeciesList":[{"infraspeciesId":800945,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800945","formattedScientificName":"<i>Plestiodon fasciatus </i>pop. 1","scientificName":"Plestiodon fasciatus pop. 1","primaryCommonName":"Common Five-lined Skink (Carolinian population)","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800945/Plestiodon_fasciatus_pop_1"},{"infraspeciesId":800948,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800948","formattedScientificName":"<i>Plestiodon fasciatus </i>pop. 2","scientificName":"Plestiodon fasciatus pop. 2","primaryCommonName":"Common Five-lined Skink (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population)","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800948/Plestiodon_fasciatus_pop_2"}],"ebarId":null,"ebarCanadianScope":false,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Amphibians and Reptiles","caGeneralStatusId":"GS000797"},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":104988,"reproductionComments":"Courtship and mating occur in spring. Clutches of 4-14 eggs are laid mostly in May-June. The female attends the eggs during incubation. Eggs hatch in 4-7 weeks (mid-July to mid-August in South Carolina). Individuals become sexually mature in their second year (Vitt and Cooper 1986, Fitch 1954). Multiple and communal nests are common in some areas (Hecnar 1994).","ecologyComments":"In Kansas, home range diameter approximately 27 m in males, 9 m in females; may shift home range after hibernation (Fitch 1954). Aggregations may occur during the breeding season.<br/><br/>As is true of other skinks, the tail of this species is readily detached if the skink is attacked. A detached tail initially wiggles vigorously and may attact the attention of a would-be predator as the lizard escapes. Later, if the tail was not eaten by the predator, the skink may return to the site, find its detached tail using chemical cues, and eat it.","habitatComments":"Habitats include wooded areas of many kinds, especially those that are humid, well-drained, supply abundant cover (rocks, logs, stumps, leaf litter), and have a patchy canopy; also seasonally flooded lowlands in some areas (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). Most activity occurs on the ground, but these lizards also climb trees and are distinctly arboreal in Texas. Generally secretive, five-lined skinks spend much time under cover<br/><br/>Eggs are laid in or under rotting logs, stumps, or humus, or under rocks (Fitch 1954, Vogt 1981). In Ontario, preferred nest sites were large, moderately decayed logs with high substrate moisture (Hecnar 1994). Oviposition sites may be outside the non-nesting home range (Seburn 1993).","generalDescription":"The scales on the back are smooth and shiny. The middle of the underside of the tail has a row of enlarged scales. Coloration varies with age. Adult males are almost uniformly brown or olive and may have \"faded\" light stripes; the tail is gray and the jaws are orange-red during the breeding season. Adult females have a gray tail, and the back has five white or yellowish stripes on a dark background. Hatchlings are black with five white or yellowish stripes on the back and sides; the tail is bright blue. Maximum snout-vent length is about 3.4 inches (8.6 cm).","diagnosticCharacteristics":null,"speciesMarineHabitats":[],"speciesTerrestrialHabitats":[{"cagTerrHabId":-111522,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":1,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Forest - Hardwood","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Bosque - Madera dura","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Forêt — Feuillu","displayOrder":2}},{"cagTerrHabId":-111523,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":4,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Woodland - Hardwood","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Lote de madera - Madera dura","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Terrain boisé — Feuillu","displayOrder":6}}],"speciesRiverineHabitats":[],"speciesPalustrineHabitats":[{"cagPalusHabId":-103330,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":6,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"Riparian","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"Ribereño","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"Riverain","displayOrder":6}}],"speciesLacustrineHabitats":[],"speciesSubterraneanHabitats":[],"speciesEstuarineHabitats":[]},"primaryReference":{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},"predecessors":[],"elementGlobalThreatAssessments":[]}