This page lists 14 lizards: all from N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's 2025 SWAP Appendix 3 Table 3-7 REPTILES SGCN and Priority Species List.
3 are nonnative.
About 6.5 to 12.75 inches in total length. Oklahoma gives about 12 inches for large adults and SREL up to 13 inches. Males are larger than females.
How to recognize it
Large, wide head; breeding males have swollen orange-red jowls.
Smooth, glass-like scales, short legs and a stocky body.
Upper-lip scales separate it from five-lined skinks: Maryland, Tennessee and North Carolina count five labial scales between the nostril and the eye rather than four. Oklahoma and Missouri count differently, around 8 or 9 in the full lip row.
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69 records by month.What the sources say
Venom: “Although a large adult may deliver a noticeable bite, broad-headed skinks are non-venomous and pose no danger.” (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission)
Venom: “These animals are non-venomous and pose no danger to humans, although adults can deliver a firm bite if handled.” (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission)
Enlarged middle row of scales under the tail (separates it from the southeastern five-lined skink)
Tail breaks off easily and twitches to distract predators; it grows back shorter
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330 records by month.What the sources say
Venom: “All three of these skinks are sometimes known as ‘scorpions’ in rural folklore and erroneously regarded as venomous.” (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission)
Venom: “All three of these skinks are sometimes known as ‘scorpions’ in rural folklore and erroneously regarded as venomous.” (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission)
Young and females are very similar. Missouri: five-lined skinks do not grow as large, to only 5 to 8.75 inches. Illinois: the only reliable way to tell them apart is by counting lip scales, which usually requires a hand lens.
Broad-headed skink or Southeastern five-lined skink?
Tennessee: the southeastern five-lined skink does not have an enlarged middle row of scales under the tail; positive identification requires examining the scales.
Brown anole or Green anole?
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
The native green anole is green or lightly patterned brown, has a pinkish throat fan and a longer snout, and is generally arboreal (lives in trees), while brown anoles are usually on the ground or in low vegetation. The brown anole is brown to gray with back markings, and males have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge.
Common Five-lined Skink or Southeastern Five-lined Skink?
The middle row of scales under the tail is about the same size as the other rows (distinctly wider in the common five-lined skink). N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Brown anole Not stated
Brown anoles are brown to grayish, usually with whitish or yellowish patterns on the back. Males have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge. The green anole is green or lightly patterned brown and has a pinkish throat fan. The brown anole also has a shorter snout and is more often on the ground or in low plants.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When lizards are active in North Carolina
Records of lizards in North Carolina peak in April to June and August to September. They show when people record lizards, not how many there are (about month bars).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2,384 records of lizards in North Carolina by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
“All three of these skinks are sometimes known as ‘scorpions’ in rural folklore and erroneously regarded as venomous.”
“The middle row is distinctly wider than the other rows in the five-lined (and the broadhead) skink, and about the same size as the other rows in the southeastern five-lined skink.”
Have a Wildlife Problem? N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“The Wildlife Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call: 866-318-2401”
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