Types of Lizards in Illinois

Illinois has seven main categories of lizards -- six natural species and one that was introduced. These species represent four families: Phrynosomatidae, Scincidae, Teiidae and Anguidae. No lizard is reported as threatened in Illinois. No one type of lizard is found throughout Illinois; the species are localized in regions or counties.

  1. Types

    • The seven types of lizards commonly found in Illinois are the slender glass lizard, fence lizard, collared lizard, ground skink, five-lined skink, broad-headed skink and six-lined racerunner. The collared lizard, normally found in Arizona, has been introduced in Johnson County, Illinois.

    Features

    • The common characteristics of lizards are claws, eyelids, four legs, ear openings and scales. Lizards are land-based creatures and climb trees, rocks and even logs. They run fast to escape from danger and also drop part of their tail. They normally eat insects. They lay their shelled eggs under rocks or in rotten logs. They change their colors to some degree.

    Size

    • The slender glass lizard, collared lizard and broad-headed skink are long lizards. Their length from nose to tail varies from 9.8 inches to 35.4 inches. The broad-headed skink is the smallest in this group of Illinois lizards, and the slender glass lizard is the longest.

      The five-lined skink and six-lined racerunner are medium-size lizards, with a length ranging from 7.5 to 7.9 inches. The shortest of all lizards in Illinois is the ground skink, with a maximum length of 5.1 inches.

    Appearance

    • The names of the Illinois lizards depend mostly on their color and pattern. The slender glass lizard got this name because its tail is easily broken like glass. They also have dark longitudinal stripes that flank a groove on each side of their body. They look similar to snakes, but can be distinguished by their movable eyelids and external ear openings.

      Fence lizards have rough, spiny scales with five to eight dark and wavy bands on the back. Collared lizards are green, blue-green or yellow. They have two collars on the back of their neck. Ground skinks are copper to chocolate brown in color. The five-lined skink's color and pattern change based on age and sex. They are similar to the broad-head skink. Six-lined racerunners have six stripes on the back that are white, blue, light gray or yellow.

    Food

    • Glass lizards and collared lizards feed on invertebrates and small lizards. Fence lizards eat insects and other invertebrates. The ground skink's prey includes insects, spiders and earthworms, while five-lined skinks and broad-headed skinks mainly eat arthropods.

    Considerations

    • Slender glass lizards are seldom encountered in Illinois. Fence lizards, five-lined skinks and broad-headed skinks are common, especially in the southern third of the state. Collared lizards are limited to an area in Johnson County. Ground skinks are common, especially in extreme southern Illinois. Six-lined racerunners are rare in the northern hill prairies but common in other parts of its range, especially the Shawnee Hills.