[4] The southern coal skink as a subspecies has posterior supralabials with light centers and dark edges, producing a spotted appearance.

[5] Courting for this species usually involves the male's initial investigation and recognition of a potential female through pheromonal cues.

Coal skinks' habitat may also include areas around springs, rocky bluffs overlooking creek valleys, and mesic sites.

The northern coal skink (blue in the figure) occurs in western New York and central Pennsylvania and in isolated colonies in the Appalachians.

Their current natural threats include a number of small mammals, snakes, and larger species of lizards.