The broad-headed skink is the largest skink in the Chesapeake Bay region. It gets its name from the large, swollen jowls males develop as they mature.
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Trees, preferring open forests, but they can be found hunting, mating and nesting on the ground
Broad-headed skinks live in the eastern half of the United States, from Pennsylvania to Florida and Indiana to Texas. They reside in the lower half of the Chesapeake region year round, in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.
Broad-headed skinks are the largest skinks in the Chesapeake region. They range from six to 13 inches in length, and the males are larger than the females. Juveniles are dark brown to black with five cream to orange stripes running the length of their bodies. They have vibrant blue tails.
Adult broad-headed skinks generally fade to a uniform olive-brown and lost their blue tails, but females may retain their stripes. Males develop swollen jowls and heads that become a bright orange-red when breeding.
Broad-headed skinks look very similar to their cousins, five-lined skinks, and must be examined up close to determine the species. Broad-headed skinks have an enlarged row of scales under their tails and five labial scales along their upper lip (between their nose and eye).
Broad-headed skinks eat mainly insects, spiders and other invertebrates, but will also eat mollusks, rodents and small reptiles, including juveniles of their own species. They find food through visual and chemical signals which they can detect by flicking their tongues.
Predators include birds, large reptiles and some mammals. Skinks have tails that can break away when they’re grabbed by predators. The wiggling of the detached tail can then distract the predator, giving it a chance to escape. They also escape predators by climbing trees, swimming or hiding under debris.
Lizards with orange or red heads can be found in various parts of the world, from North America to Africa and Asia Their vibrant head colors make them stand out, but there’s more to these lizards than meets the eye. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common orange and red-headed lizard species.
Why Do Some Lizards Have Orange or Red Heads?
The bright orange or red heads displayed by certain lizards serve an important purpose – attraction and communication. During breeding seasons, the heads of males turn vibrant colors to attract females and intimidate rival males. The flashy colors also communicate domination and fitness to competitors. Outside of mating seasons, the bright colors may help with species recognition and social signaling.
A Closer Look at 10 Orange or Red-Headed Lizards
Here are some of the most common lizard species that exhibit orange or red heads
1. Red Headed Agama
Native to sub-Saharan Africa, these lizards are also known as red-headed rock agamas. Males have striking red heads and can grow up to 12 inches long. Females are less colorful but have light patches. These agile climbers are active during the day and feed on insects, small mammals and vegetation.
2. Broadhead Skink
The largest skink species in the southeastern United States. Males develop bright orange heads during breeding seasons in spring. They use their wide, triangular heads and vivid colors to attract females. Outside of mating seasons, they are olive or brown
3. Five-Lined Skink
A common lizard found across the US and Canada. As they mature, juveniles lose their distinct striped pattern and develop red heads and olive bodies. The younger lizards are very noticeable with their blue tails.
4. Oriental Garden Lizard
A common garden lizard found in Asia. Males are green with black throats that turn bright red during mating periods. They bob their heads to ward off competing males. Unlike other lizards, these are able to change color from brown to red rapidly.
5. Common Green Forest Lizard
A large arboreal lizard found in India and Sri Lanka. Identifiable by its concave head and green body with stripes. During breeding seasons, the male’s yellow head turns a striking solid red.
6. Galapagos Lava Lizard
A stout, blunt-headed lizard from the Galapagos Islands. Males have gray-blue bodies with orange-red heads and females are smaller with speckled bodies. These lizards flatten their bodies and expand their orange patches when defending their territories.
7. Northern Caiman Lizard
A heavy-bodied freshwater lizard found in South America. It has a large broad head that can be vivid red or orange. Adept at swimming and diving, they use their long flattened tails for propulsion.
8. Orange-Throated Flat Lizard
A aptly named flat bodied lizard from southern Africa that has an orange throat. Males are brightly colored with blue-green bodies and red tails to attract females and defend territories during mating periods.
9. Regal Horned Lizard
Found in Mexico, this spiky body lizard has splashes of red on its head and large crown-like horns. The red markings likely help with species recognition and social signaling. They are adapted to dry, desert conditions.
10. Yellow-Headed Gecko
A tropical gecko with a vivid yellow to orange head found in Central and South America. The male’s striking head helps attract mates and stand out among the duller females. They are mainly active at night.
Habitats and Behaviors
The habitats of red and orange headed lizards vary greatly depending on the species. Some like the Northern caiman lizard and Five-lined skink prefer moist, wooded areas. Others like the Regal horned lizard thrive in hot, dry deserts. There are also rock dwelling species like the Red headed agama.
These lizards employ their bright colors for mating purposes but also for territory defense. Males frequently use eye-catching head bobbing, push ups, and color changing to intimidate rivals and attract females during breeding periods. Their flashy heads signal dominance and fitness.
While many lizards display drab browns and greens, those with brilliant orange and red heads by contrast grab our attention. The vibrant colors play an essential role in mating and territorial displays in various species. So next time you come across a Crimson headed lizard, take a moment to appreciate the swath of color adorning its scaly head!
Reproduction and life cycle
Broad-headed skinks breed once a year in June or July. Females look to mate with large males with the brightest orange heads. Males are very territorial during breeding; a male will guard a female for about a week after mating to prevent another male from mating with her, aggressively fighting any males that approach.
Females nest in areas with plenty of dead or decaying wood, branches and leaves. Their nests are made of leaf debris or are located in a decaying tree and contain eight to thirteen eggs. A female remains with the eggs for three to eight weeks, circling the nest with her body to protect it and only leaving to feed. She stays with the eggs until they hatch usually in September, and then she leaves. Young broad-headed skinks remain in the nest for a few day before leaving.
In the northern parts of their range, broad-headed skinks hibernate from October to March. It is not known what the lifespan of a broad-headed skink is in the wild. A similar species, the five-lined skink, lives for about four years in the wild, and it’s assumed that broad-headed skinks live about as long.
- The broad-headed skink, or Plestiodon laticep, was formerly classified as Eumeces laticeps.
- Laticepes is derived from the Latin word latus meaning “broad” and the suffix ceps meaning “head.”
- Broad-headed skinks are diurnal (active during the day) and solitary animals.
- The broad-headed skink is the second largest skink. Only the Great Plains skink, found in the southwest, is larger.
- Broad-headed skinks are also known as “red-headed scorpions.”
Unusual red-headed reptile spreading across South Florida
FAQ
What kind of lizards have orange heads?
African redhead agamas are hard to miss. The male lizards have bright orange heads, dark blue bodies, multicolored tails and can grow up to a foot long.
Are red-headed agamas venomous?
Fortunately, agama are not toxic, venomous or aggressive to people and typically flee when approached.
How to get rid of red headed agama?
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Is it a pet?If you own a red-headed agama and can no longer care for it, consider the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program offered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to rehome non-native pets.
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Is it an invasive species?If you are dealing with a wild, invasive Peter’s rock agama, you may need to consider removal or humane capture and euthanization, depending on the location and local regulations.
What is the most common orange or red headed lizard?
Continue reading to find the most common orange or red headed lizards. 1. Agama Agama There are a number of lizards with orange or red heads throughout the United States and Canada.
What lizard species has a red head?
One lizard species with a red head is the red headed rock agama. There are several Agama Agama species, including the red headed rock agama, common agama, and the rainbow agama. These lizards are found in sub-Saharan Africa and can grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) in length.
Are oriental garden lizards red?
Gradient red is specific to male Oriental Garden Lizards (Calotes versicolor). While females are green, males are partly red. The head and the upper back of the male Oriental Garden Lizard show a bright red nuance. Its lower body and hind legs have gray or gray-brown nuances, similar to their very long tails.
What color are female orange throated flat lizards?
The females are brown to black in color with white stripes. The males are colorful with blue green bodies, red tails, and orange heads. They have a black collar on the throat. These can be found in Southern Africa where they live in sandy outcrops.
Are orange lizards invasive?
This big lizard is orange and blue, and invasive. It may live in your Florida neighborhood What can pull off an orange head and indigo blue body and is probably living in your neighborhood? Say hello to the Peter’s rock agamas, also known as the red-headed agamas.
What lizards have red nuances?
Some of the following red lizards of the world show at least partial red nuances. They can vary from orange-red to blood-red and other rare red nuances. With some of these species, red is the dominant pigmentation while others only come in red morphs. 1. Rock Dragon