More Five-lined Skinks *PICS*

[Removed_2815]

Here is a little montage of some Eumeces fasciatus that were studied in my favourtie secret skink habitat in Ontario. We collected, studied, and released over 100 skinks in three days at this site.
The instrument is just a digital measuring device (morphometric measurements).

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/29845-lined_skink__mouth_.jpg
A little upset at the camera being so close.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2984big_male.jpg
A large 3-4 year old male.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2985first_male_skink.jpg
Another large 3-4 year old male.

I hope you enjoyed the photographs.

Cheers,
Ryan

[Matt]

you took some nice shots there Ryan, congrats!

[ohh_kristina]

great pictures! I love the one with his mouth open! :D :D

[sparkon16]

young uns still with the blue tail! looks like one of then likes ya so much he wants ta give ya a kiss!

Shaggy

[Repti]

Wow nice pics!! I specially love the second picture!! That tail is awsome!!

Repti

[BlkMambaVenom]

Looks like that tail has been spray painted blue...lol...its just weird how is his tail is bright blue with no other blue on him. :) I agree that the shot with the mouth open is great. Nice pics!
Brittany

[burmer]

Great pics!!! The one with the blue tail is incredible. Thanks for posting them.

[Bartman]

nice pics! do they all turn brown when they turn older though? They would be much nicer if they retained the blue tail color

[Removed_2815]

Bartman,
When fully mature, Eumeces fasciatus typically do not retain any of their blue juvenile colouration. People might say they have seen an adult with some blue on their tail, but, because of this blue colouration, these skinks are not yet a fully mature adult.
For example:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/28155-lined_skink.jpg
This male skink has both juvenile and adult characteristics: a blue tail, some dorsal striping, and an orange throat (typical of a male during breeding season). This male was adult size but because of the coloration I would guess he is a two year old male (and thus not fully adult). Next year he should be a more uniform brown like this one:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2985first_male_skink.jpg

Mature female five-lined skinks typically retain the dorsal striping and are a darker bown (closer to black). Mature females also do not have the orange swollen jaws during breeding season.
Aside from the tail, this is a typical female:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/29842_tailed_5-lined_skink.jpg

I hope this helped!

Cheers,
Ryan