Last updated on March 16, 2014 at 21:20 EDT  Broad-headed Skink
The Broad-headed Skink, Eumeces laticeps, is, along with the
Great Plains Skink, the largest skink in the family Eumeces.
Although these skinks occur in urban areas, their main habitat
is humid forest areas with abundant leaf litter. They
particularly like Oak forest. They are found in the southeastern
states of the United States, from the East Coast to Kansas and
eastern Texas and from Ohio to the Gulf Coast.  This species
grows to a total length of 6 to 13 inches. It has a wide jaw and
a triangular looking head. Adult males are brown to olive brown
in color and have bright orange heads during the mating season
in spring. Females have five light stripes running down the back
and the tail. The young are dark brown or black and also striped
with blue tails.  The Broad-headed Skink forages on the ground,
but can easily climb trees for shelter or sleep or even for
searching for food. Females are generally larger than the males,
and the larger the f