Kansas is home to a diverse array of lizards, with 16 species found across the state From the small and secretive skinks to the large and flashy collared lizards, these reptiles occupy a variety of habitats and fill important ecological niches.
In this complete guide, we will explore the natural history identification, and distribution of all 16 lizard species found in the Sunflower State.
Overview of Lizards in Kansas
The 16 lizard species found in Kansas belong to 5 families:
- Phrynosomatidae (2 species)
- Scincidae (9 species)
- Teiidae (1 species)
- Anguidae (1 species)
- Gekkonidae (3 species)
The most frequently encountered lizards in the state are the 6-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata), prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus), and eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris). These three species have widespread distributions across Kansas.
Meanwhile, species like the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) and slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) have more restricted ranges in the state.
Kansas is also home to three introduced lizard species: the Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), Western green lacerta (Lacerta bilineata), and Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). These non-native species are established in localized populations.
In terms of habitat, six species prefer grassland, eight species woodland, and two species rocky desert scrub. Four of the lizards are primarily ground-dwellers, while five species climb trees and seven prefer sunny basking spots like rocks, logs, and fence posts.
Lizards of Kansas Identification Guide
Below we provide photos, descriptions, and key identification tips for all 16 lizard species found in the state:
Six-lined Racerunner
- Light stripes on a brown, black, or green background
- Males brighter green with light blue belly
- Up to 9.5 inches long
- Found statewide in varied habitats
The six-lined racerunner lives up to its name, sprinting rapidly across the ground up to 18 mph in pursuit of prey like termites and beetles.
Prairie Lizard
- Light brown with dark zig-zag bands
- Blue throat in breeding males
- Up to 7 inches long
- Found statewide in grasslands and open woodlands
The prairie lizard is an adept climber, often perching on fence posts, sunflowers, and trees as it surveys for insect prey.
Great Plains Skink
- Brown to gray with dark blotches
- Orange heads in breeding males
- Hatchlings black with blue tails
- Up to 13 inches long
- Found statewide in grasslands
The largest skink in Kansas, the Great Plains skink is an aggressive hunter that will eat any small animal it can capture and swallow.
Coal Skink
- Four light stripes on brown body
- Up to 7 inches long
- Found in east and south central Kansas in forested habitats
The secretive coal skink spends much of its time hidden under leaf litter and logs, seldom emerging except on rainy nights.
Common Five-lined Skink
- Five light stripes on black body
- Orange heads in breeding males
- Up to 9 inches long
- Found statewide in wooded areas
The five-lined skink is one of the most frequently encountered lizards in Kansas. Females attend constantly to their eggs from laying through hatching.
Broad-headed Skink
- Light stripes fade with age
- Orange heads in breeding males
- Up to 13 inches long
- Found in southeast Kansas in wooded wetlands
The broad-headed skink has a distinct triangular head. It often climbs trees unlike related skink species in Kansas.
Southern Prairie Skink
- Tan with dark stripe bordered by white
- Up to 8 inches long
- Found statewide in grasslands
Rarely seen due to its secretive habits, the southern prairie skink stays hidden in grass thatch and rodent burrows.
Northern Prairie Skink
- Olive brown with light stripes
- Up to 9 inches long
- Found statewide in grasslands and streambeds
The northern prairie skink burrows below the frost line each winter to avoid freezing.
Little Brown Skink
- Golden brown with dark stripes
- Up to 6 inches long
- Found statewide in wooded areas
This small skink swims through leaf litter on the forest floor in search of insect prey. It has small legs and an elongated body.
Six-lined Racerunner
- 6 yellow stripes on brown or green
- Bright green sides in males
- Up to 9.5 inches long
- Found statewide in open and sandy areas
Living up to its name, the six-lined racerunner can sprint up to 18 mph across open ground in pursuit of insects and spiders.
Texas Horned Lizard
- Spiky body with two prominent horns
- Gray to reddish brown
- Up to 6 inches long
- Found in western Kansas in open sandy areas
The Texas horned lizard, or “horny toad,” is best known for squirting foul-tasting blood from its eyes to deter predators.
Slender Glass Lizard
- Brown to black with pale stripes
- Up to 34 inches long
- Found in eastern Kansas grasslands and open woods
The slender glass lizard’s extra-long tail often breaks off when grabbed, confusing predators.
Eastern Collared Lizard
- Green with two dark neck bands
- Large heavy head
- Up to 11 inches long
- Found in eastern Kansas in rocky desert scrub
Aggressive and territorial, collared lizards will do push-ups and expand their throat pouches to deter intruders.
Common Lesser Earless Lizard
- Tan with pale stripes
- Females pink when gravid
- Up to 5 inches long
- Found statewide in prairies
As the name suggests, this lizard lacks external ear openings. It spends much time buried in loose soil.
Mediterranean House Gecko
- Bulging eyes with vertical pupils
- Two color phases: pale and dark
- Up to 3 inches long
- Introduced in eastern Kansas
The adaptable Mediterranean house gecko thrives in urban areas and is drawn to lights at night to feed on insects.
From tiny skinks to colorful collared lizards, Kansas hosts an impressive diversity of these fascinating reptiles. Each species fills an important niche, whether by controlling pest insects, moving seeds, or acting as prey for larger wildlife.
So next time you are out hiking across the prairie or exploring some woodlands, keep an eye out for lizards basking on logs or darting through the grass. Their varied shapes, colors, and behaviors make them one of Kansas’s most enjoyable wildlife groups.
Slender Glass Lizards live in dry grasslands and open forests in eastern Kansas.
They eat insects, spiders, small rodents, and small lizards. However, unlike snakes, they do not have flexible jaws, which means they can only eat prey smaller than their head!
Credit: United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Glass lizards are named for their extremely fragile tails, which can break off even without being touched. Slender Glass Lizards are rarely found with their original tail intact because they break so often! If you notice that the end of its tail is tan with no stripes, you can be sure the lizard lost its original tail.
You’re likely to find a Slender Glass Lizard in animal burrows or piles of debris.
There are two subspecies:
- Western Slender Glass Lizards (O. attenuatus attenuatus) have shorter tails.
- Eastern Slender Glass Lizards (O. attenuatus longicaudus) have longer tails.
# Southern Prairie Skink
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are up to 8 inches long.
- Coloring is brown to tan with a dark stripe bordered in white along each side.
- The stripes usually fade with age, and older, larger individuals may be almost uniformly brown.
- Hatchlings and young have blue tails.
The Southern Prairie Skink prefers streambeds for its habitat, and you can generally find them near clumps of prickly pear cactus. They are quick to hide from predators and eat small insects. Because of their skittish nature, it can be hard to find this species in the wild.
Some scientists consider the Southern Prairie Skink and the Northern Prairie Skink subspecies. But their ranges don’t overlap, and they’re different enough in appearance that full species status is generally given to both.
Collared Lizards mbo blog
FAQ
What type of lizards live in Kansas?
| Eastern Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus sexlineatus) | Prairie Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus viridis) |
|---|---|
| Northern Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis septentrionalis) | (I) Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus) |
| Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis) |
What are the little lizards in my house?
Answer: Small lizards like geckos are common pests in houses and buildings that are surrounded by vegetation or close to areas of dense plants. They are pests simply by their presence indoors. They do not live in or infest houses, but come in from surrounding vegetation to find insects (food).
Are lizards okay around the house?
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Natural pest control:Lizards, particularly geckos, are known to consume various insects, reducing potential pest infestations.
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May not be a threat to your home:Unlike some other pests, lizards typically don’t cause structural damage to houses, according to a post on Reddit.
Are lizards good to have in your yard?
… in your garden can prove that your garden (and any food grown in it) will have low levels of pesticides, heavy metals, and potentially harmful chemicals