Common LowCountry Lizards

Lizards are a group of reptiles that have eyelids and ear openings. The glass lizard is a species of legless lizard that resembles a snake; unlike a snake, it does have ear openings and eyelids. These are the most common Lowcountry species. If a species does not fit into these categories, please visit the herpetology page of the Savannah River Ecology Lab for further identification help.

1. Does it have no legs? Eastern Glass Lizard

2. Does it have legs? Click here

3. Does it have rough scales? Eastern Fence Lizard

4. Does it have smooth scales, fast speed, and six stripes along its back and sides? Six-lined Racerunner

5. Does it have smooth scales and short legs? Click here for skinks.

6. Is it brown with a dark stripe along the sides of it body? Ground skink

7. Is it tan with a wide, red/orange head? Male broad-headed skink

8. Does it have five yellow or white lines down its back, sometimes with a bright blue tail? Click here.

9. There are three species of skinks that have 5 yellow/white stripes down the back, sometimes with a bright blue tale. Unfortunately, they are almost identical and can only be identified in the hand. First, look under the tail. Does it have an enlarged row of scales on the underside of its tail? If not, then it is a Southeastern Five-Lined Skink.

10. If it does have an enlarged row of scales under its tail, click here.

11. Look along the upper lip of the lizard between the nose and the eye. There should a row of scales there. These are called labial scales. Are there four labial scales? Five-lined Skink. Males often develop a red-tinted head but their jaws are not as wide as the broad-headed skink.

12. Are there five labial scales? Female or young broad-headed skink.