Practical 2 - Lizards

“Glass Lizard” family

Anguidae

“collared lizards” family

Crotaphytidae

“gecko” family

Gekkonidae

“lacerta and wall lizards” family

Lacertidae

“earless and horned lizards” family

Phrynosomatidae

“skinks” family

Scincidae

“racerunners” family

Teiidae

Anguidae general characteristics

long, legless, grooved side

Anguidae genera in KS

Ophisaurus

Slender Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus attenuatus

Ophisaurus attenuatus distribution

Eastern 2/3 of KS (patchy in middle 1/3)

Ophisaurus attenuatus characteristics

eyelids, external ear openings, grooved side, hard, drops tail, dorsal stripes, 1/3 body 2/3 tail

Ophisaurus attenuatus life history

diurnal insectivores (may eat small vertebrates), frequents rodent burrows

Crotaphytidae general characteristics

big head, black collar

Crotaphytidae genera in KS

Crotaphytus

Eastern Collared Lizard

Crotaphytus collaris

Crotaphytus collaris distribution

North Central, South Central, SE KS (3 main populations)

Crotaphytus collaris characteristics

big head, 1-2 dark collars, small granular scales, males have yellow throat/brighter colors, females have transverse orange bars

Crotaphytus collaris life history

males bigger (territorial), rocky areas, eat whatever fits in their mouths, females protect nests of 1-13 eggs

Gekkonidae general characteristics

gecko

Gekkonidae genera in KS

Hemidactylus

Mediterranean House Gecko

Hemidactylus turcicus

Hemidactylus turcicus distribution

scattered urban areas

Hemidactylus turcicus characteristics

large toe pads, bumpy cream/brown spots, clean belly, tail sometimes banded

Hemidactylus turcicus life history

introduced in KS, nocturnal (hangs out near lights at night), females lay several small clutches (~ 2 eggs) throughout summer, females identified by presence of eggs seen through belly

Lacertidae genera

Lacerta, Podarcis

Western Green Lacerta

Lacerta bilineata

Lacerta bilineata distribution

Topeka, between 470 and Washburn University

Lacerta bilineata characteristics

usually greenish, fast, powerful hindlimbs, small scales, males bright green with black specks and a blue throat, juveniles brown with spots and light lines, big

Lacerta bilineata life history

eats invertebrates, fruit, and fledgling birds, isolated patch in Topeka since 1970’s (not spreading)

Italian Wall Lizard

Podarcis siculus

Podarcis siculus distribution

Topeka, Hays, Lawrence

Podarcis siculus characteristics

small granular scales on back, large rectangular plates on belly, 2 green stripes bordering dark stripe, spotted sides, back stripe, males have red throats cheek and forelegs in spring

Podarcis siculus life history

urban areas (introduced), invertivore

Phrynosomatidae genera

Holbrookia, Phrynosoma, Sceloporus

Common Lesser Earless Lizard

Holbrookia maculata

Holbrookia maculata distribution

western 2/3 KS, last recorded in Wichita in 1955

Holbrookia maculata characteristics

blunt face, no ear opening, eyes on side of head, paired dark blotches down back, light dorsal line, 2 black bars on side behind front legs, males have yellow tint on lower sides and blue outline on side bars, gravid females have pink/peach tint and yellow throat patch

Holbrookia maculata life history

diurnal (except in peak of summer days), eats invertebrates and small vertebrates, potentially declining due to woody encroachment

Texas Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum

Phrynosoma cornutum distribution

S. KS, interior half of I-70 corridor

Phrynosoma cornutum characteristics

flat body, big spikes

Phrynosoma cornutum life history

larger females, diurnal, prefers harvester ants, eggs laid in burrows, toxigenic (squirts toxin onto body surface), toxin targets canids to taste bad, skin has capillary action to bring water to the mouth

Prairie Lizard

Sceloporus consobrinus

Sceloporus consobrinus distribution

localized in rangeland, sandy riparian corridors

Sceloporus consobrinus characteristics

alternating dark/light stripes, breeding males have iridescent blue sides, SE KS is gray/brown with transverse zigzags, rest of KS is stronger stripes with weak zigzags

Sceloporus consobrinus life history

2 potential species (western/eastern), diurnal, insectivore, sometimes called a fence swift or fence lizard

Scincidae general characteristics in KS

small shiny scales

Scincidae genera in KS

Plestiodon, Scincella

Coal Skink

Plestiodon anthracinus

Plestiodon anthracinus distribution

East of Flint Hills

Plestiodon anthracinus characteristics

small smooth scales, 5-7”, tan/brown, broad black side stripe with thin cream border, single postmental scale, juveniles are jet black w/purple tail

Plestiodon anthracinus life history

rare in KS, forage under leaves or cover near streams

Prairie Skink

Plestiodon septentrionalis

Plestiodon septentrionalis distribution

patches of eastern 2/3 KS, not SE

Plestiodon septentrionalis characteristics

two postmental scales, northern pop: light gray/tan, eye stripe runs down tail. southern pop: darker tan/copper, eye stripe stops around the hind legs

Plestiodon septentrionalis life history

2 potential species (southern/northern), eats invertebrates, secretive, sandy soil grasslands, females guard eggs, juveniles have blue tails and are darker/black

Common Five-Lined Skink

Plestiodon fasciatus

Plestiodon fasciatus distribution

forested eastern ¼ of KS

Plestiodon fasciatus characteristics

4 supralabials, 2 postlabials, brown/black body, 5 cream stripes, juveniles have blue tail, males brown with no stripes, males have orange head in breeding condition

Plestiodon fasciatus life history

insectivore, can drop tail, females guard nests, blue tail neurotoxic to cats

Broad-Headed Skink

Plestiodon laticeps

Plestiodon laticeps distribution

easternmost counties south of Johnson County

Plestiodon laticeps characteristics

5 supralabials, brown/black body, 5 cream stripes, juveniles have blue tail, males are brown with no stripes, males have orange head in breeding condition

Plestiodon laticeps life history

locally abundant in a few places, 2x the size of P. fasciatus, assoc w/ mature Oak woodlands, KS state threatened

Great Plains Skink

Plestiodon obsoletus

Plestiodon obsoletus distribution

statewide (probably)

Plestiodon obsoletus characteristics

big, tan/brown scales edged in dark brown/black gives mottled or chainmail appearance, scales run diagonal, males have swollen heads with some orange

Plestiodon obsoletus life history

stay close to burrows, will eat anything (including other lizards), close to water in arid areas, nest guarding, drops tail

Little Brown Skink

Scincella lateralis

Scincella lateralis distribution

rivers of eastern 1/3 and S. Central KS

Scincella lateralis characteristics

small, thin legs, tan/copper back, dark eye stripe to tail, cream/yellow belly, “eye window”

Scincella lateralis life history

eats small invertebrates in leaf litter, often heard rustling in leaves, “swims” through litter and sand instead of running

Teiidae general characteristics

fast, big hindlimbs, racing stripes

Teiidae genera in KS

Aspidoscelis

Six-Lined Racerunner

Aspidoscelis sexlineata

Aspidoscelis sexlineata distribution

statewide

Aspidoscelis sexlineata characteristics

fast, 6 light cream stripes on tan/brown, green sides, big hind legs, small granular scales, males have blue on jaws and belly

Aspidoscelis sexlineata life history

fast and alert, active diurnal hunter, eats invertebrates, abundant in loose soil and open habitat

light blue scales

supralabials

light green scales

post labials

red scales

mental scales

yellow scales

postmental scales