Louisiana’s subtropical climate creates a reptile paradise that might surprise you. While most people think of alligators when they picture Louisiana wildlife, the state is actually home to over 115 species of reptiles, with lizards making up a fascinating portion of this diversity.
You’ll find these scaly creatures basking on fences, scurrying through gardens, and even changing colors right before your eyes.
Whether you’re a curious homeowner who’s spotted something darting across your porch or a nature enthusiast ready to explore Louisiana’s hidden reptilian residents, this guide reveals the nine most common lizards you’re likely to encounter.
From the iconic color-changing anoles to the lightning-fast skinks, each species has adapted uniquely to thrive in Louisiana’s warm, humid environment.
Green Anole
The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) stands out as Louisiana’s most recognizable lizard and serves as the state’s only truly native anole species. You’ll immediately notice their remarkable ability to shift from bright emerald green to chocolate brown, earning them the nickname “American chameleon” – though they’re not actually related to true chameleons.
These agile climbers reach 5-8 inches in total length and sport several distinctive features that make identification straightforward. Males display a vibrant pink dewlap (throat fan) during territorial disputes and courtship rituals, while females typically show a white stripe running down their backs. They primarily live in trees and are excellent climbers, commonly found high in trees and shrubs in forested areas or on buildings and fences in urban settings.
Key Identification Features:
- Bright green to brown color-changing ability
- Pink dewlap in males (extendable throat fan)
- White belly and lips
- Sharp claws for climbing
- Pointed snout and round tail
You’ll most often spot green anoles basking in sunny locations during morning hours or hunting insects around outdoor lights at night. They prefer dense vegetation and are particularly common in suburban areas with mature trees and shrubs.
Pro Tip: Green anoles turn brown when stressed, cold, or trying to blend with bark – not just for camouflage like many people assume.
Brown Anole
The brown anole (Anolis sagrei) represents Louisiana’s most successful invasive lizard species. Originally from Cuba and the Bahamas, these adaptable reptiles first appeared in Louisiana during the 1980s and have since established thriving populations throughout much of the state.
Brown anoles typically measure 4-7 inches and display more subdued coloration compared to their green cousins. Their base color ranges from gray-brown to dark brown, often featuring distinctive patterns including chevrons or diamond shapes along their backs. Males possess orange-red dewlaps with white edges, creating a striking contrast during territorial displays.
What makes brown anoles particularly interesting is their behavioral impact on native green anoles. The introduction of the Brown Anole has altered green anole behavior, making them almost exclusively arboreal as brown anoles dominate ground-level territories.
Behavioral Differences from Green Anoles:
- Prefer ground level and low shrubs
- More aggressive territorial behavior
- Active during hotter parts of the day
- Less color-changing ability
Brown anoles thrive in disturbed habitats, making them especially common in urban and suburban environments. You’ll frequently encounter them on sidewalks, patios, and around building foundations.
Eastern Fence Lizard
The eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) brings a completely different look to Louisiana’s lizard lineup with its rough, overlapping scales that create an almost armored appearance. These stocky reptiles measure 4-7 inches and inhabit various habitats from pine forests to residential areas with suitable hiding spots.
Male fence lizards showcase brilliant blue patches on their throats and bellies during breeding season, while females display more muted coloration with subtle patterns. Their gray-brown base color features darker crossbands that provide excellent camouflage against tree bark and wooden structures – explaining their common name.
Habitat Preferences:
- Wooden fences and decks
- Pine forest edges
- Rock piles and brush heaps
- Abandoned buildings
Eastern fence lizards are primarily insectivorous and play valuable roles in controlling pest populations. They’re particularly effective at hunting ants, beetles, and moths. Unlike anoles, fence lizards are terrestrial and prefer running across surfaces rather than climbing vertically.
Common Mistake: People often confuse young fence lizards with skinks, but fence lizards have keeled (ridged) scales while skinks have smooth, shiny scales.
Six-Lined Racerunner
The six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) lives up to its name as Louisiana’s fastest lizard, capable of reaching speeds up to 18 mph when escaping predators. These slender reptiles measure 6-9 inches and feature six distinct yellow or white stripes running from head to tail against a dark background.
Racerunners prefer open, sandy areas where their incredible speed provides the primary defense against predators. You’ll find them in prairies, field edges, sandy roadsides, and areas with sparse vegetation. Their active nature means they’re often visible during daylight hours, especially on warm, sunny days.
Identification Features:
- Six prominent longitudinal stripes
- Very long, thin tail (twice body length)
- Granular scales creating smooth appearance
- Bright yellow or green coloration on throat and chest
These lizards are ground dwellers that rarely climb, instead relying on their speed and ability to dart into vegetation or burrows when threatened. The warm southerly climate of Louisiana is ideal for cold-blooded lizards, making racerunners particularly active throughout the warmer months.
| Species | Top Speed | Primary Defense | Habitat Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six-lined Racerunner | 18 mph | Speed/Burrows | Open sandy areas |
| Green Anole | 5 mph | Camouflage/Climbing | Trees and shrubs |
| Brown Anole | 6 mph | Aggression/Hiding | Ground level cover |
Five-Lined Skink
The five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) represents one of Louisiana’s most widespread and recognizable skink species. Juveniles display the classic five bright yellow stripes against a black body with an electric blue tail, creating one of nature’s most striking color combinations. Adults typically measure 5-8 inches and undergo dramatic color changes as they mature.
Adult males develop bronze or brown coloration with faded stripes and may show orange-red coloring on their heads during breeding season. Females retain more prominent stripes throughout their lives. The brilliant blue tail serves as a distraction mechanism – if grabbed by a predator, the tail detaches and continues wriggling while the skink escapes.
Age-Related Color Changes:
- Juveniles: Bright yellow stripes, electric blue tail
- Adult females: Faded stripes, brownish body
- Adult males: Bronze coloration, orange head during breeding
Five-lined skinks are semi-arboreal, meaning you’ll find them both on the ground and in trees. They particularly favor areas with abundant cover like leaf litter, fallen logs, and rock piles. Many species lay eggs and then guard their nests, while some abandon them entirely and rely on location and planning to keep their eggs safe.
Key Takeaway: The blue tail is most vivid in juveniles and gradually fades with age – it’s not an indicator of species but rather maturity level.
Broad-Headed Skink
The broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps) claims the title as Louisiana’s largest native lizard species, with adults reaching impressive lengths of 8-13 inches. These robust reptiles are the powerhouses of the skink family, with males developing notably large heads and strong jaw muscles as they mature.
Adult broad-headed skinks show significant sexual dimorphism. Males develop bronze or olive-brown coloration with distinctly broad heads that turn orange-red during breeding season. Females maintain more subdued brown coloration with faint striping reminiscent of their juvenile patterns.
Size Comparison:
- Broad-headed Skink: 8-13 inches
- Five-lined Skink: 5-8 inches
- Southeastern Five-lined Skink: 5-7 inches
- Ground Skink: 3-5 inches
Broad-headed skinks are excellent climbers and often establish territories high in mature trees. You’re most likely to spot them sunning on branches or tree trunks during morning hours. Their size and climbing ability allow them to access food sources unavailable to smaller lizard species.
These skinks are particularly important ecologically as they help control insect populations and serve as prey for various bird species and snakes. Their substantial size makes them a valuable food source in Louisiana’s wildlife food web.
Southeastern Five-Lined Skink
The southeastern five-lined skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus) poses one of Louisiana’s greatest lizard identification challenges due to its remarkable similarity to the common five-lined skink. These species are so closely related that distinguishing them often requires close examination of scale patterns and habitat preferences.
Southeastern five-lined skinks typically prefer more humid environments and are commonly found near wetland edges, drainage ditches, and areas with consistently moist soil. They measure 5-7 inches and display the same juvenile blue-tail characteristic as their five-lined cousins.
Distinguishing Features:
- Slightly smaller average size
- Preference for wetter habitats
- Scale row differences (requires close examination)
- More secretive behavior patterns
The easiest way to differentiate these species involves noting their microhabitat preferences. While five-lined skinks occupy various environments from dry to moist, southeastern five-lined skinks show stronger associations with consistently humid conditions.
Pro Tip: Unless you’re conducting scientific research, focusing on habitat and behavior provides more reliable identification than attempting to count scale rows in the field.
Ground Skink
The ground skink (Scincella lateralis) brings Louisiana its smallest and most secretive lizard species. These tiny reptiles measure only 3-5 inches total length and spend most of their time hidden beneath leaf litter, logs, and debris where their bronze-brown coloration provides perfect camouflage.
Ground skinks display a distinctive dark stripe running from the nose through the eye and along the body’s sides, contrasting with their lighter belly coloration. Their legs are proportionally shorter than other skinks, reflecting their ground-dwelling lifestyle and preference for moving through rather than over surface debris.
Habitat Requirements:
- Thick leaf litter for cover
- Moist soil conditions
- Fallen logs and branches
- Areas with minimal disturbance
You’ll rarely see ground skinks in the open, as they’ve evolved as Louisiana’s most fossorial (ground-dwelling) lizard species. Some reptiles species give live birth and even have a placenta similar to mammals, while some hatch eggs inside their bodies, though ground skinks follow the typical reptilian pattern of laying eggs in hidden nests.
Their secretive nature means ground skinks are often overlooked, but they play crucial roles in Louisiana’s ecosystems by controlling small invertebrate populations and aerating soil through their burrowing activities.
Coal Skink
The coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) represents Louisiana’s rarest native lizard species, found only in limited areas of the state’s northern regions. These elusive reptiles prefer rocky habitats and are most commonly associated with forested areas containing sandstone outcrops or similar geological features.
Coal skinks measure 5-7 inches and display darker overall coloration compared to other Louisiana skinks. Adults show four light stripes against a dark brown or black background, creating a more subdued appearance than the bright patterns of five-lined species. Juveniles may show blue tails, though less vibrantly than their five-lined relatives.
Rarity Factors:
- Limited suitable habitat availability
- Specific geological requirements
- Secretive behavioral patterns
- Small population sizes
Finding coal skinks requires visiting specific habitat types during optimal conditions. They prefer rocky crevices and areas where they can quickly retreat into stone formations when threatened. Their rarity makes any sighting noteworthy for Louisiana naturalists.
Expert identification resources suggest that coal skinks may be more widespread than previously documented, but their secretive nature and habitat specificity make population assessments challenging.
Common Mistake: Coal skinks are sometimes confused with darker variations of five-lined skinks, but their stripe patterns and habitat preferences provide reliable distinguishing characteristics.
Conclusion
Louisiana’s lizard diversity reflects the state’s position at the intersection of multiple ecological regions, creating habitat niches that support both native species and successful invasive populations.
From the acrobatic anoles performing their territorial displays to the secretive skinks rustling through leaf litter, these reptiles contribute significantly to Louisiana’s ecosystem balance through insect control and their roles as prey species.
Understanding these nine species enhances your appreciation for Louisiana’s natural heritage while providing practical knowledge for backyard wildlife watching.
Whether you’re maintaining a garden that attracts beneficial lizards or simply curious about the creatures sharing your outdoor spaces, recognizing these species connects you more deeply with Louisiana’s rich reptilian community.
The next time you spot a lizard darting across your path or basking in a sunny spot, take a moment to observe its behavior and habitat.
You’re witnessing millions of years of evolutionary adaptation perfectly suited to Louisiana’s unique environmental conditions – and now you have the knowledge to identify exactly which remarkable species you’re observing.
