By Peter Vankevich
If you’ve read novels by Carl Hiaasen, you’ve likely come across Skink—his eccentric, one-eyed former governor turned environmental vigilante. While the character is pure fiction, the name itself comes from a very real animal.
Skinks are reptiles—members of the lizard family Scincidae—found across the globe, including North Carolina. Unlike Hiaasen’s larger-than-life character, real skinks are small, shy and harmless to humans.
On Ocracoke Island, however, the most likely lizard to encounter is the green anole (Anolis carolinensis), frequently seen basking on porch rails, tree trunks and branches. Despite being called “chameleons” by some because they can change their color rapidly between green and brown, they are not true chameleons.
Skinks are present as well, though they tend to be more elusive.
The species most likely found on Ocracoke is the southeastern five-lined skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus).
It closely resembles its relative, the five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), which is more common on the mainland. Juveniles of both species are nearly identical, with dark bodies, five pale stripes and bright blue tails designed to distract predators.
As noted by Jeff Beane, collections manager for Herpetology of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, the southeastern five-lined skink is likely the only striped skink species found on Ocracoke.
Another species, the ground skink (Scincella lateralis) —North Carolina’s smallest reptile—may occur on the island, though confirmed records are lacking.
Habitat helps explain these patterns. The inland five-lined skink prefers moist, wooded areas with plenty of logs and leaf litter.
By contrast, the southeastern species is better suited to the dry, sandy conditions of barrier islands. It thrives in maritime forests, dunes, and scrub habitats—landscapes that define barrier islands like Ocracoke.
Adult skinks can be harder to distinguish. Southeastern five-lined skinks often retain more of their striping into adulthood, but males have a stronger tendency for their striped patterns to become obscured as they grow older.
The mainland five-lined skinks may lose their stripes and develop a more uniform color. Even so, these differences can be subtle, and accurate identification often requires close inspection.
If you spot a striped or deep brown lizard in the sandy habitats or among leaf litter on Ocracoke, it’s most likely the southeastern five-lined skink.
Alongside the more visible green anoles, these secretive lizards are part of the island’s ecosystem: They help control insects and offer a glimpse into the adaptations that allow wildlife to thrive along North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
