Posted by bibi jack on July 31, 2007

Q: We have these lizards/salamanders in our yard ranging in size from a couple inches to maybe about 6 or 7 inces. They have just recently started coming in the house and i have been collecting them in cups and putting them back outside. They are black with stripes going down their bodies starting as a orange color on their heads fading to yellow going to turquois and then finally merging into the tail which is electric blue. I can count 5 stripes from one side to the other but can't see his belly. Do you have any idea what these are, and are they poisinous or not. I am a big animal person and have never been afraid to pick up very much of anything(until recent years after getting bit by a bat and suffering through rabies shots) and am afraid that I have somehow passed that trait on to my child. Just want to make sure if she actually catches one and picks it up she won't be hurt if bit. Thank you.

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Virginia

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: You gave me a nice description of your animals and the photo really helped too - thanks. These are lizards that you have in your yard and are either the Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)or Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus) - I can't be sure which. These are definitely NOT poisonous and although they may bite if picked up, it may hurt but won't do any real harm. The animals you're describing are young skinks and as they mature will lose much of their blue tail coloring. Lizards have scales and dry skin but salamanders lack scales and their skin is moist so are not too difficult to tell apart.

Skinks are nice little animals to have around as they'll feed on a variety of creepy crawlies in your area so I trust you'll be able to enjoy them now that you know they're safe. Thanks for asking.

John Wiessinger ( August 1, 2007)