Ground Skink

Scientific Name: Scincella lateralis

Photo Credit: Todd Pierson

The ground skink (Scincella lateralis) is North Carolina’s smallest lizard, reaching lengths of about 3 to 5.75 inches. Its body is smooth, slender, and typically colored in shades of brown that blend seamlessly with the forest floor leaf litter. A narrow dark stripe runs along each side, and the underside is pale yellow or white. Notably, this skink features a translucent lower eyelid disc, allowing vision even when its eyes are shut 

These skinks are insectivores that feed on tiny invertebrates such as insects, spiders, isopods, and millipedes. They forage within leaf litter, decaying wood, and detritus, relying on both sight and chemical cues to detect prey 

Ground skinks are most commonly found in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont regions of North Carolina, with occasional sightings in southern mountain areas. They favor humid woodland floors and spend most of their time among leaf debris, fallen logs, and the forest understory. During cold weather, they may burrow underground or seek refuge in shallow water when chased.

Ground skinks breed from April through July. Females typically deposit 1 to 5 eggs, most often 2 to 3, in moist soil, rotting logs, or under rocks. Clutches may be laid every 3 to 4 weeks, and the species can produce multiple clutches in a single season. Eggs hatch in approximately 22 days, usually in July or August, and hatchlings are independent upon emergence. Ground skinks reach maturity at around one year and may live up to four years in the wild 

These skinks are terrestrial and somewhat fossorial, rarely climbing. As a defense mechanism, they can autotomize (drop) their tails when captured. Though the wriggling tail draws a predator’s attention, it does reduce their escape speed and range until regrowth occurs. In winter, they hibernate underground, but may remain active year-round in milder areas.

Explore the full species profile, including their habitat, diet, and behavior on Herps of NC.