Lizards and Crocodiles of North America

©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org

Five-lined Skinks are in southeastern Canada, and sporadically in the NE and Midwest down to Texas and Florida in wet forests, swampy areas, drier rocky places, rotting stumps and woodpiles. They are up to 8” long with 5 lights stripes on their dark body. Their scaly skin is shiny. Young skinks have a blue tail. As they get older the blue fades away and males get a reddish head.

Green Iguanas are found in southern Florida and Hawaii (introduced), but are native to Central and South America living in the forest canopy (arboreal). They are often found in trees along rivers and will drop into the water to escape predators. Adults can weigh up to 18 lbs. They have a patch of hanging skin under the chin along the throat, called a dewlap and a line of soft spines that run down the back from behind the head to the base of the tail. They vary in color from gray to bright green.

American Alligators are found in the Southeastern U.S. through Texas in freshwater swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and ponds. They can reach up to 15’ long. When their mouth is closed, the edge of their upper jaw overlaps the teeth in the lower jaw, so all you see are down-pointing teeth. They can have up to 80 teeth.

Texas Horned Lizards are native to the southwestern U.S. where they live near ant nests in scrubby grasslands, deserts and sandy areas. They have a flattened body and short legs and are covered with scales, some of which point outward forming protective spines all over the body. Females can reach 4.5” and males are smaller.

American Crocodiles are found in the southern U.S., Mexico, Central and South America in freshwater rivers, lakes and slightly salty (brackish) waters along the coast. Males can be up to 15’ long. They are a greenish-brown color and have a puffy spot in front of each eye. They have up to 68 teeth.

Chuckwallas are found in the deserts of southwestern U. S., south into Mexico in open and rocky areas. They are large, stout lizards up to 1.5’ long with a long, thick tail. They have loose skin folding around the neck and shoulders. Their coloring varies, but males are brighter in color with a dark front half and reddish-yellow back half.

Gila Monsters are found in the deserts of the southwest in areas with gravel and sandy soils and bushy brush. They often hide under rocks and in burrows or holes. They are stout lizards that grows up to 2’ long. They have a black face, feet and stripes across its body with pinkish orange to yellow stripes, spots and blotches down its body too. Its skin is bumpy. It has a poisonous bite that will make its prey sleepy and sluggish.

Green Anoles are found in the Southeastern U.S. west to Texas in a wet, green, shady habitat, in trees and shrubs. They are long, thin lizard with a pointed snout with a pointed snout. They reach up to 8” long including long, thin tails. They are a bright green color, lighter yellow underneath. They can change to browner coloring to blend in. Males have a pink flap of skin under their necks called a dewlap that they use to display.