(American) Five-Lined Skink

One of the most common lizards where I live is the one called the Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus). The word "American" is usually added to the beginning of the common name to differentiate it from the African Five-Lined Skink (Trachylepis quinquetaeniata). Sometimes this species is confused with a similar species of the same genus, the Southeastern Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus), but I think this one is the former.

The brightly-colored tail indicates that this is probably a juvenile, not yet fully matured. As with all lizards, the Five-Lined Skink is a reptile, and thereby an ectotherm that needs to periodically warm itself in the sun. That is exactly what the little guy in the above photo is doing on our patio.