1.7K views · 76 reactions | These two common five-lined skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus) were found battling it out on the Visitor Center plaza. Though skinks can be aggressive during mating, these two were likely fighting over territory because they haven’t reached sexual maturity. Over time, their bright blue tails will fade and they will develop a bright orange and red face, which gets brighter during summer months to attract a female companion. | Ijams Nature Center | Facebook

The broadhead skink, Eumeces (Plestiodon) laticeps, is the largest of our three species of five-lined skink native to North Carolina. A big foot-long male in his spring breeding finery, with a solid bronze body and bright orange head, is one of the most impressive-looking reptiles you're likely to encounter in the woods. The females look very similar to typical five-lined skinks, only larger. Any five-lined skink that is much over 8 inches long is going to be this species. Like other five-lined