Virginia is home to a varied population of native lizards, which are a noticeable part of the local ecosystem, thriving in environments from the coast to the mountains. The majority of Virginia’s lizard species belong to the skink family, alongside the distinct Eastern Fence Lizard, which is the region’s only native iguanid. Understanding these reptiles requires knowing their specific types, the unique places they inhabit, and how humans can coexist with them safely.
The Most Common Virginia Lizards
The Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) is easily recognized by its rough, spiny, and keeled scales. This species is typically gray or brown, but adult males display striking bright blue patches on their throat and belly, used in territorial displays and courtship. As the state’s only native spiny lizard, its behavior is often arboreal, with individuals frequently seen basking on fence posts, logs, and tree trunks.
The most encountered group is the skinks, which includes the Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), the Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps), and the Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis). Juvenile Common Five-lined and Broad-headed Skinks share a distinctive appearance: five narrow, pale stripes running down a dark body, culminating in a vibrant blue tail. This bright tail color serves as a distraction for predators and typically fades as the lizards mature.
Identifying the larger skinks as adults often relies on subtle features, as the stripes fade to a more uniform olive or brown color. Adult male Broad-headed Skinks, the largest native lizard in Virginia, develop noticeably swollen, reddish-orange heads during the breeding season. The smallest of the group is the Little Brown Skink, a slender, coppery-brown species that lacks the blue tail of the other juveniles and has a transparent scale on its lower eyelid, allowing it to see even when its eye is closed.
Preferred Habitats and Geographic Range
Virginia’s diverse geography supports these species, with distribution often linked to specific environmental factors. The Eastern Fence Lizard has a widespread range across Virginia, absent only from the highest elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. This lizard prefers dry, open woodlands, particularly pine forests, utilizing sunny spots like rocks, logs, and artificial structures for basking.
Skinks generally prefer more humid conditions. The Common Five-lined Skink is found statewide in moist, forested areas where debris and leaf litter provide both shelter and foraging grounds. The Broad-headed Skink is also found across the state, excluding the high mountains, but is more arboreal than its relatives, often seeking refuge in tree cavities and decaying wood. This species is often encountered in open forests that provide both canopy and fallen timber.
The Little Brown Skink, also known as the Ground Skink, is primarily found in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions, though it is largely absent from the Appalachian Mountains. This tiny species is a ground dweller, spending most of its time “swimming” through the thick leaf litter of deciduous forests. Its preference for loose soil and ground cover makes it less likely to be seen climbing on vertical surfaces compared to the larger skink species.
Safety and Conservation Status
Virginia’s native lizards are harmless to people and pets, as none of the species are venomous. Their primary defense mechanisms are speed and the ability to detach their tails, which wiggle to distract a predator while the lizard escapes. These animals are beneficial to the local environment because their diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates.
Most native lizard species in Virginia, including the Common Five-lined Skink and the Eastern Fence Lizard, have a stable conservation status. They are abundant and tolerant of many disturbed habitats, such as suburban yards and forest edges. However, they face localized threats from habitat loss and the use of pesticides that remove their insect food source.
State regulations protect native reptiles, making it unlawful to collect or possess more than one individual of any native species per physical address. Additionally, collection from state or federal land is prohibited. These lizards should be left undisturbed to fulfill their ecological role.