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Contrary to some popular belief, the Broad-headed skink poses
no threat to humans and are quite beneficial at controlling pests.
They are ravenous feeders preying on insects, spiders and even
small lizards and mammals. Female skinks lay from 8 to 12 eggs
in the early spring in a rotten log or stump. They guard the
eggs for a couple of months until the 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 inch long
hatchlings emerge. Baby "Broadheads" have a bold striped
pattern and a bright blue tail which gradually fades as they
get bigger. Adult females retain some of the striped pattern
but males turn a solid olive to tan color with a red or orange
head. The bright red coloration signifies the breeding season
where males fight savagely with rivals to defend their territory.
The same jaws which easily subdue large insects and other invertebrates
aid in the fierce combat. In the southeastern U.S. we have three
very similar skink species. As juveniles the broadhead, the five-lined
and the southeastern five-lined all look very similar making
identification difficult. |
