yellow stripes, purple tail ... what is it?

We live in southeast Texas, wooded area, just north of Houston. Lots of lizards/geckos/salamanders in and around our house.

Spotted something this afternoon with a long narrow body, bright yellow stripes on a black background, brillant purple tail and small legs. Wondering what kind of gecko/lizard/salamander/newt etc. it might be???

Can anyone help?

Thanks very much.

Maggie

 

wow if only you had a pic sounds gorgeous

 

My husband spotted it just outside dining room sliding door. Ran under doorsill. We went out to try to find it but no luck. Camera was upstairs. Will move cam downstairs to have at the ready.

 

lol sounds like a plan if you get a pic definitely post it it sounds pretty cool looking

 

We haven't see the critter again but a moderator in the General Amphibians forum suggested a few things and we found a picture of the creature online. Looks like it's a young five-lined skink. Found pic on this site: http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLanding...lined_skink.htm ... also some good images at Google Images but a lot of the skinks there have bluer tails.

 

i alway's thought most reptile's that had bright yellow colours with black or red in them ment they wer dangerou's

 

no way i see those things all the time my dad catch one too.

 

Sounds like a 5-lined skink to me, I had one when I was younger, he was fast! But once you got him out he'd sit on your hand and just chill out with you, they don't have much in the way of teeth, but once they bite down they dont like to let go!

 

wow sounds beautiful, i bet its some sort of swift might wanna se http://prehistoricpets.com/ they might have a pic of it. i think they sell reptiles but they might be selling one and have its pic.

 

house geko

 

I saw the exact same thing over here in Kentucky. When it saw me, it froze, and twitched it's brilliant tail, as if to make sure I'd bite that end if I were so inclined. It was tiny, and really neat.

 

sounds like a skink