Lizards - squamates

lizard families in Kansas

Anguidae

Crotaphytidae

Phrynosomatidae

Scincidae

Teiidae

species in Anguidae

slender glass lizard

slender glass lizard distribution

eastern 2/3 of Kansas

slender glass lizard physical characteristics

eyelids

external ear openings

grooved side

hard, will drop tail

1/3 body, 2/3 tail

slender glass lizard life-history

diurnal

insectivore

frequents rodent burrows

species in Crotaphytidae

eastern collared lizard

eastern collared lizard distribution

3 populations: north central, south central, and southeast

eastern collared lizard physical characteristics

big head

1-2 dark bands around neck

males - orange throat, brighter colors

gravid females - transverse orange bars

eastern collared lizard life-history

territorial (males are bigger)

common in rocky areas (perch and watch)

eats anything that fits in their mouth

females protect nests

species in Phrynosomatidae

common lesser earless lizard

Texas horned lizard

prairie lizard

common lesser earless lizard distribution

western 2/3 of KS (not seen in Wichita since 1955)

common lesser earless lizard physical characteristics

blunt face, no ear opening

paired dark blotches along light dorsal line

2 black bars behind front legs

males - blue outline on side bars, yellow tint on sides

gravid females - peach tint, yellow throat patch

common lesser earless lizard life-history

diurnal

eats invertebrates

potentially declining

Texas horned lizard distribution

south KS and along I-70 corridor

Texas horned lizard physical characteristics

flat body

big spikes

Texas horned lizard life-history

diurnal

females are larger

prefers to eat harvester ants

eggs are laid in burrows

toxigenic - bad tasting toxin is squirted onto predator’s body

capillary action in skin brings water to mouth

prairie lizard distribution

localized populations in rangeland, sandy riparian corridors

prairie lizard physical characteristics

breeding males - iridescent blue sides

alternating dark and light stripes

SE KS - transverse zigzag lines

other populations - stronger stripes, weaker zigzags

prairie lizard life-history

diurnal

insectivores

likes to climb and perch

species in family Scincidae

coal skink

prairie skink

common five-lined skink

broad-headed skink

great plains skink

little brown skink

coal skink distribution

east of Flint Hills

coal skink physical characteristics

single postmental scale

brown with black side strip with thin cream border

juveniles - jet black with purple tail

coal skink life-history

forage under leaves or cover near streams

rare in KS

prairie skink distribution

patches of eastern 2/3, but not in SE

prairie skink physical characteristics

two postmental scales

northern - gray/tan, eye stripe runs down tail

southern - tan/copper, eye stripe stops around hind legs

juveniles - darker/black, with blue tails

prairie skink life-history

potentially 2 species

secretive - under cover in sandy soil grasslands

eats invertebrates

females guard eggs

common five-lined skink distribution

forrested eastern 1/4

common five-lined skink physical characteristics

4 supralabials, 2 postlabials

five cream colored stripes

males - no stripes, orange head when breeding

juveniles - blue tail

common five-lined skink life-history

blue tail is neurotoxic to cats

eats insects

broad-headed skink distribution

easternmost counties south of Johnson County

broad-headed skink physical characteristics

5 supralabials

five cream colored stripes

males - no stripes, orange head when breeding

juveniles - blue tail

broad-headed skink life-history

associated w/ mature oak woodlands

twice as big as common five-lined skink

KS threatened

great plains skink distribution

probably statewide

great plains skink physical characteristics

mottled (chainmail) appearance

scales run diagonal

males - heads swell, some orange

great plains skink life-history

eats anything (including smaller lizards)

stay close to burrows

close to water in arid regions

little brown skink distribution

rivers of eastern 1/3 and central KS

little brown skink physical characteristics

small, with thin legs

copper back, dark eye stripe to tail

cream/yellow belly

little brown skink life-history

eats small invertebrates in leaf litter

swims through litter and sand

species in family Teiidae

six-lined racerunner

six-lined racerunner distribution

statewide

six-lined racerunner physical characteristics

green sides

6 light cream stripes

big hind legs, small granular scales

males - blue on jaws and belly

six-lined racerunner life-history

fast and alert, active

diurnal invertebrate hunter

abundant wherever there is loose soil, open habitat