Editing Plestiodon laticeps (section)

==Description==
Together with the [[Great Plains Skink|Great Plains skink]] it is the largest of the "''[[Plestiodon]]'' skinks", growing from a total length of {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} to nearly {{convert|33|cm|in|abbr=on}}.

[[File:Eumeces laticepsMHolbrookV2P16A.jpg|left|thumb|A male broad-headed skink, illustration from [[John Edwards Holbrook|Holbrook's]] ''North American Herpetology'', 1842.]]
The broad-headed skink gets its name from the wide jaws, giving the head a triangular appearance. Adult males are brown or olive brown in color and have bright orange heads during the mating season in spring. Females have five light stripes running down the back and the tail, similar to the [[Plestiodon fasciatus|Five-lined Skink]]. However, they can be distinguished by having five labial scales around the mouth, whereas Five-lined skinks have only four.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Division. |first=Connecticut. Department of Environmental Protection. Connecticut. Wildlife |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/43556290 |title=Five-lined skink |date=1997 |publisher=Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division |oclc=43556290}}</ref> Females can also retain their blue juvenile tails, unlike males.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=James |last2=Hibbitts |first2=Toby |last3=Irwin |first3=Kelly |last4=Malone |first4=John |date=August 3, 2000 |title=A new coloration in the broadhead skink, Eumeces laticeps (Sauria: Scincidae) |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A128663287/SCIC?u=clemsonu_main&sid=summon&xid=94dcdf0f |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Gale}}</ref> Juveniles are dark brown or black and also striped and have blue tails.