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Reptilia    Squamata (part-other lizards)    Scincidae  
African Five-lined Skink
Trachylepis quinquetaeniata (Lichtenstein, 1823)
TRAH-kee-LEP-iss — kwin-kweh-tay-nee-AH-tah
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SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
 Native to sub-Saharan Africa. It was introduced via the pet trade during the 2000s and is established in Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County, Florida (Krysko et al., 2010, Reptiles & Amphibians 17: 183–184; Krysko, 2019, Trachylepis quinquetaeniata quinquetaeniata. Pages 404–406 in Krysko et al. (Editors) Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida). (Krysko, Kenneth and Travis W. Taggart. 2025. Established Exotic Species. Pages 64-87 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)

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Open icons indicate questionable records, including those with coordinate uncertainty greater than 10,000 m (approximately 6 miles). Click a marker to view metadata.
Occurrences:; 91 Total; 76 Museum; 15 Other

The locality database contains 8,094,832 records, and geographic and taxonomic errors exist. Logged-in, registered users may report a potential issue directly from the marker popup.
Shaded range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH. (Version: 2024.07.03.10.32.33)
Download map data (GeoJSON):
Polygon Range File Museum Literature Fossil Personal Observation Citizen Science

Province/State Distribution:
United States: Florida

Taxonomic Etymology:
A shiny lizard with five distinct stripes.
Trachylepis — From Greek trachys (τραχύς), “rough,” and lepis (λεπίς), “scale.” Refers to the rough texture of the scales in comparison to other skinks.
quinquetaeniata — From Latin quinque, “five,” and taenia, “band” or “stripe.” Refers to the five longitudinal stripes commonly visible along the body.

First instance(s) of published English names:
Five lined Galley-wasp (Tiliqua guinquetaeniata: Gray, John E. 1830. A synopsis of the species of the class reptilia. Pages 1-110 in The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization by the Baron Cuvier, member of teh Institute of France, with Additional Descriptions of all the Species Hitherto Named, and of many not before noticed. Ninth Volume. Whittaker, Treacher, and Company, London, England. pp.);


Selected References:
1823 Lichtenstein, M. Hinrich C. Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der Königl. Universität zu Berlin nebst Beschreibung vieler bisher unbekannter Arten von Säugethieren, Vögeln, Amphibien und Fischen. [ist of doubles from the Royal Zoological Museum. University of Berlin with a description of many previously unknown species of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish.]. Königl. Preuss. Akad. Wiss./ T. Trautwein, Berlin, Germany. 118pp.
2010 Krysko, Kenneth L., Steve A. Johnson, Kyle E. Giddens, Kurt H. Gielow, Travis S. Lowke, William M. Moore, Eric Suarez, Cailey D. Thomas, Alec S. Shoeslon, Joseph P. Burgess. Catherine A. Smith, and Brittany A. Garner. The African Five-lined Skink, Trachylepis quinquetaeniata (Lichtenstein 1823): A new established species In Florida. Reptiles & Amphibians 17(3):183-184

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