Different Kinds of Lizards in Florida

Different Kinds of Lizards in Florida. Florida's ecosystem offers plenty of food, shelter and water for lizards of all types to survive near both the coastal areas and inland. Areas filled with hardwood hammocks, mangroves and scrubs offer the habitat needed for a lizard to nest and seek shelter. Depending upon the species, some lizards can be found in heavily populated areas, while others prefer quiet, secluded habitats.

Skinks

The southeastern five-lined skink is a large, chocolate brown lizard with a shiny complexion and five yellowish-white stripes on the back. This is Florida's most common skink, growing up to 8 inches long and can be found in trees, the walls of houses and in trash piles. The ground skink is a small coppery brown lizard with a wide dark stripe on its sides. This lizard grows up to 5 inches long and can be found in lawns. The mole dkink is a smooth, fast lizard that is found in dry hammocks or sand pine scrubs near homes. There are different types of mole skinks named for the area they are found, including Florida Keys, Cedar Key, peninsula and northern. The sand skink is listed as threatened and can be found in central Florida swimming through the loose sand of scrub areas. The broad-headed skink is the largest skink found in the state, growing more than 1 foot long and can be found in the hammocks or high up in the trees.

Geckos

The Mediterranean gecko is a small lizard with large lidless eyes, long tail and sticky pads on its toes. This type of gecko can change color ranging from a light gray to white during the nighttime and gray with light pink and brown spots in the day. The Indo-Pacific gecko grows 4 to 5 inches long with a row of scales along the edge of its tale. This type of gecko can be found near populated areas where there are a lot of lights.

Lizards

The Florida worm lizard, which can be found in sandy soil, gets its name from its similar appearance to a pink earthworm and can grow 6 to 12 inches long. The fence lizard grows to more than 5 inches long and can be found throughout northern Florida around rocks, wood piles, buildings and fences. The Florida scrub lizard is listed as threatened and can grow up to 5 inches long; it can be found throughout the state in sandy habitats. The eastern glass lizard is a legless lizard with a long fragile tale that breaks off when grabbed. This type of lizard lives in burrows and piles of leaves and can grow up to more than 3 feet long.

Anole

The Green Anole is a medium-sized lizard with a long tail and color-changing abilities. This type of lizard is easily tamed and sold as a pet. The brown anole can reach up to 8 inches in length and is found throughout the high canopy of trees throughout the state.

Six-Lined Racerunner

The six-lined race runner has six light blue to yellow lines running across its body and can grow up to 12 inches long. This type of lizard can be found in open grasslands and sandy areas throughout the state. This quick lizard can effortlessly outrun humans, is always alert and when scared, burrows in the ground to hide.

References

• South Florida Information Access: Florida Ecosystems
• Wild Florida: Florida Lizards
• Florida Museum of Natural History: Checklist of Florida Lizards
• Walking with Alligators: The Florida Lizards