Eumeces sp.

Five-lined skinks reside in much of the eastern United States, including the eastern Piedmont, sandhills, and coastal plain of North Carolina. The females and young are black with yellow stripes and bright blue tails, while older males are brown with red heads. Usually found under the bark of dead trees, these lizards have the amazing ability to shed their tails when caught by predators. The squirming tail diverts the predator’s attention while the skink makes a quick getaway.

Cool Link:

The Five-Lined Skink - basic but informative species account with photos and distribution map.

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