Little Brown Skink
Scincella lateralis
Reptilia
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 2-3 yrs
- Size
- Small
- Diet
- Insectivore
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Temperate forest
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Slithering
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Camouflage
- Status
- Common
About
A tiny, secretive lizard of eastern North America's leaf litter, the Little Brown Skink rarely exceeds 5 inches including its tail and moves in quick, snake-like darts rather than typical lizard scurrying. Its smooth, glossy scales give it an almost polished sheen as it hunts small insects among damp forest debris.
Life cycle
- 1.hatchlingA miniature lizard cuts itself free from its egg and starts hunting tiny insects within days.
- 2.juvenileA juvenile sheds repeatedly as it grows, often duller-colored than adults and quick to dart for cover.
- 3.adultFully grown with adult coloration and size.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Scincidae
- Genus
- Scincella
- Species
- Scincella lateralis