Lizards in Tennessee: A Guide to the Common Species

Tennessee is home to a variety of lizard species, both native and introduced. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most common lizards found across the state.

Overview of Lizards in Tennessee

There are around 10-15 species of lizards that are considered native to Tennessee. Some of the most widespread and easily spotted species include skinks, anoles, fence lizards, and racerunners.

In addition to the native species, there are a few introduced lizard species that have established breeding populations in Tennessee, such as the Mediterranean House Gecko.

Most lizards in Tennessee are small, averaging 5-8 inches in total length. They occupy a range of habitats from forests to urban areas and can often be seen basking on rocks logs and man-made structures.

While none of the lizard species in Tennessee are venomous, they can bite in self-defense if threatened. Their bites are not medically significant to humans.

Below we’ll take a closer look at 7 of the most common lizard species found across the state.

1. Green Anole

The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is likely the most abundant and widespread lizard in Tennessee. It’s found in all parts of the state.

These small lizards reach a total length of 5-8 inches. They have a slender build, long toes, and a narrow head. The body color is typically green, ranging from bright green to brown.

Green anoles can rapidly change their color from green to brown to gray, helping them camouflage against different backgrounds.

Males have a bright red or pink throat fan called a dewlap, which they display to attract females and defend their territory. Females have a much smaller white dewlap.

Green anoles are highly arboreal, spending most of their time in trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. They can often be seen perched on branches, fence posts, and the exterior walls of buildings.

2. Eastern Fence Lizard

The eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) is another very common lizard across Tennessee. It inhabits open, sunny habitats statewide.

These lizards reach a length of 4-8 inches. They have keeled scales running along their back. The body is brown or gray with a pattern of darker blotches or lines.

Males have bright blue spots and bars on the belly, throat, and chin. Females lack the vibrant blue coloration.

Eastern fence lizards prefer rocky habitats and can often be observed basking on boulders, stone walls, and old logs. They’re adept climbers and frequently perch on fences, like their name suggests.

3. Five-lined Skink

Five-lined skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus) are common, medium-sized lizards found across Tennessee. They reach 5-8 inches in length.

As their name indicates, five-lined skinks have five prominent yellow or white stripes running down the length of their back and tail. The stripes are especially striking on younger individuals.

These skinks have a long tail that accounts for around half their total length. The tail is bright blue on juveniles before fading to pale blue in adults.

Five-lined skinks occupy moist, forested habitats with abundant leaf litter and woody debris. They’re often seen scurrying across the forest floor and hiding under cover objects.

4. Broad-headed Skink

The broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps) is the largest skink species in Tennessee, reaching up to 13 inches in total length.

True to their name, these skinks have a very wide, triangular-shaped head. The body is brownish or olive with an orange head in breeding males. Faint stripes may be present in juveniles and females.

Broad-headed skinks favor wooded habitats with moist soil and abundant ground cover. They spend most of their time on the forest floor but will climb into low shrubs and vines.

These large skinks are found across the state but are more common in the western half of Tennessee.

5. Six-lined Racerunner

The six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) is a slender, fast-moving lizard found in the western two-thirds of Tennessee.

As the name suggests, six-lined racerunners have six yellowish stripes extending from head to tail. The belly is blue in males and white in females.

These lizards inhabit open habitats like prairies, fields, and grasslands. They prefer areas with sandy soil for burrowing.

True to their name, six-lined racerunners can run extremely fast – speeds of 18 mph have been recorded! They rely on their speed to elude predators.

6. Eastern Slender Glass Lizard

The eastern slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) is a legless lizard species found sporadically across Tennessee. They reach 20-46 inches in length, making them the longest lizard in the state.

Despite their serpentine appearance, glass lizards are actually more closely related to skinks. Their long tail makes up around 2/3 of their total length. The body is brown with faint stripes along the back.

Glass lizards occupy open habitats with sandy soil, including pine forests, meadows, and stream edges. Their burrowing abilities are limited due to the lack of legs, so they often use crayfish burrows.

When threatened, glass lizards can detach their tail. The writhing tail distracts predators while the lizard makes its escape.

7. Mediterranean House Gecko

The Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is an introduced species now found across Tennessee. As their name suggests, these small geckos often live on and inside human structures.

Native to the Mediterranean region, house geckos were accidentally introduced to the southeastern United States. They are now common in urban and suburban areas of Tennessee.

These pale tan geckos have rows of dark spots on their back. They reach just 3-5 inches in total length. House geckos have large toe pads that allow them to climb smooth vertical surfaces.

At night, the high-pitched chirping call of male house geckos is often heard in areas where they occur.

The lizards profiled here represent some of the most common and widespread species found across Tennessee. There are additional native species that are more localized in their distribution, as well as a few introduced exotics.

Lizards occupy an important niche in Tennessee’s ecosystems and also provide an interesting glimpse into our native wildlife. With a little searching in suitable habitats, it’s possible to find a variety of lizard species across the state.