Identification- 5-7" (13-18 cm) A medium sized skink. The back is medium brown. There is a dark lateral stripe that begins at the eye and runs the length of the body. The lateral stripe is bordered above and below by 2 light lines which extend onto the tail. The top of the head is unmarked. Young have a bright blue tail which fades by maturity while breeding males have a brick red chin and throat. A rare all black form is occasionally found.
    Similar Species- Range separates this skink from our other 2, but Coal Skinks may overlap with the Five-lined in the southern portion of their range. May be differentiated by dark head and light-bordered dark lateral stripe.

Range- Discontinuous and local. Found from central and western NY south to northern central and western Pennsylvania. Also from southwest Pennsylvania into Maryland and West Virginia.
 

Habitat- Moist open woodlands. Most common in rocky areas bordering streams, springs and other bodies of water.

Reproduction- Mates in spring and early summer. Laying takes place in June after the female excavates a nest into the soil in which she deposits 8-9 eggs. The eggs hatch 4-5 weeks later.

General Characteristics-
    Diurnal. Coal Skinks are uncommon and local in distribution. Like all skinks the tail easily detaches from the body making them difficult to handle. A buddy and I found this out the hard way.  The first one we ever caught autonomized its tail leaving us with a writhing blue mass (it was a juvenile.)  We have become moderately successful at handling them without causing them to drop the tail.  Coal Skinks are more terrestrial than Five-lined Skinks and they are often found beneath rocks or overturned logs. They are sometimes seen rummaging for insects in the leaf litter of the forest floor. Coal Skinks feed on insects spiders and other invertebrates.  Although I will still catch skinks it is best to leave them alone.  Individuals who have dropped their tail suffer higher mortality rates than those that have a full tail.