Tennessee is home to several native lizard species found across the state’s diverse geography. These small, quick-moving reptiles are a natural part of the local ecosystem but are often overlooked. Lizards are sometimes mistaken for snakes or blend into their environment effectively. Tennessee’s woodlands, fields, and rocky areas provide suitable habitats for lizard life.
Identifying the True Lizards of Tennessee
Lizards commonly encountered in Tennessee fall into two major groups: spiny-scaled fence lizards and smooth-skinned skinks. The Eastern Fence Lizard is the only spiny lizard species in the state, recognizable by its rough, keeled scales. These medium-sized lizards have a grayish to brown coloration, often with dark, wavy lines across the back, which are more prominent in females.
Sexual dimorphism is distinct. Males feature bright, iridescent blue patches bordered by black on their throats and bellies, which they flash during territorial displays and courtship. Females may have only faint blue coloration, or none at all, on their undersides. Eastern Fence Lizards range from four to over seven inches in total length and are frequently seen basking on vertical structures like fence posts, logs, and trees.
Skinks are characterized by their smooth, shiny scales, contrasting with the fence lizard’s rough texture. Several species inhabit Tennessee, including the Common Five-lined Skink, which is the most widespread. Juveniles are striking, sporting five distinct yellowish or white stripes on a dark body, along with a bright blue tail that serves to distract predators.
As skinks mature, the blue tail color fades, and the stripes become less defined. Adult male skinks, such as the Broadhead Skink and the Common Five-lined Skink, develop an orange or reddish coloration on their heads during the breeding season. The Broadhead Skink is notable for its wide, triangular-shaped head, especially in large, breeding males.
The Unique Case of Legless Lizards
The Eastern Slender Glass Lizard is a limbless species often confused with snakes due to its elongated, serpentine body, which can reach lengths of over three feet. Legless lizards possess several distinct morphological features that snakes lack, making them easily distinguishable.
Unlike snakes, the glass lizard has movable eyelids and can blink. Another distinguishing feature is the presence of external ear openings, located just behind the eyes, which are absent in all snakes. Furthermore, the glass lizard has a rigid body due to bony plates, called osteoderms, under its scales, giving it a stiff feel.
The name “glass lizard” refers to their defense mechanism: the ability to easily detach their tail when threatened, a process known as autotomy. The tail can break into multiple pieces that distract a predator, allowing the lizard to escape. Although the tail will regenerate, the replacement is usually shorter and often a different color than the original.
Preferred Habitats and Geographic Distribution
Native Tennessee lizards occupy specific ecological niches reflecting their needs across the state’s varied terrain. Eastern Fence Lizards are associated with dry, open woodlands, rocky outcrops, and areas with vertical structures for basking. They are found on fallen logs, stumps, and rock piles where they can absorb heat and quickly retreat to cover.
Skinks generally prefer moist environments, such as forest floors, finding refuge under leaf litter, rocks, and decaying logs. This preference is tied to their reproductive cycle, as female skinks utilize rotting wood and loose soil for laying their eggs. The Common Five-lined Skink is found statewide, while the secretive Coal Skink is restricted to moist hillsides near streams.
Legless lizards, including the Eastern Slender Glass Lizard, are found in dry grasslands, sandhills, and dense thickets, where they can burrow into loose soil. They are active during the day, foraging for insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, a role shared by all native lizard species. By consuming pests, these reptiles perform a continuous service to the ecosystem.