American five-lined skinks are common on our Columbia, Missouri, property and I have surely seen hundreds of them over the past two decades. But, for the first time, I observed a tiny hatchling while sitting on the porch last evening.
No larger than an earthworm, the newborn skink, sporting the bright blue tail of a juvenile, foraged within the crevices of our brick walkway. Its mother was impregnated back in May, laid her eggs (up to 18) in June and cared for them until they hatched (after an incubation of 4-6 weeks). The youngster that I encountered was surely no more than a few days old but may live for up to six years.
Five-lined skinks feast on a wide variety of spiders and insects in addition to fruit and vegetable matter. They, themselves, are potential prey for crows, jays, herons and a host of small mammals. My best wishes for our newborn neighbor.
