Discover Unique Lizards In North & South America

Lizards are unique animals in the reptile family. Lizards are intriguing and interesting to see. Their habitat and characteristics vary as per the lizard. The surroundings vary as per the lizard you see.

Have you ever thought of thinking about different species of lizards and how mesmerizing they can look? If not, continue reading this interesting article. In general, there are approximately 6000+ species of lizards found in different corners of the world.

They are incredibly unique and look perfect to see. Although, these species combine into an umbrella of massive monitor lizards, geckos, and small lizards. Although, there are five main groups of lizards that we can categorize them.

However, it doesn’t sound well with the title of the article. Every species of lizards in America has something different that makes them stand out among others. Lizards are interesting in their way.

Every design on their body depicts their varied”⁰ habitat and characteristics of it. So, in this article, we will explore different species from South and North America. We will get to know them in depth. So without further ado, let’s get into the article.

10 Unique Lizards In North America

North America is home to many lizards out there. You can see a wide range of lizards with addition of beauty and active lifestyle into it. Each species of lizard possesses unique characteristics that make them stand out among others. Also, these lizards vary in terms of their adaptation. Some of the lizards are:

1) Green Anole

Scientific Name	*Anolis Carolinensis*
Size	5-8 inches
Habitat	In very high humidity
Location	Southwestern United States to Florida, Virginia, and Oklahoma

Green anoles are small arboreal species of lizard that can change their colors and has a dewalp like throat structure present on their neck.

You will get to see the beauty of this species when you encounter them fluffing their throat.

Also, the color combination of this species is unique in every way. You will get to see the beauty of them once you see them through your eyes.

2) Western Fence Lizard

Scientific Name	*Sceloporus Occidentalis*
Size	2.2-3.4 inches
Habitat	Grassland, Sagebrush, Broken Chaparral, Woodland, Coniferous Forest, and even farmland
Location	Oregon, Nevada, Columbia River

Western Fence Lizard is one of the common species of lizard found in America.

Although, you can specifically find them in the western part of the North American region that has distinctive spiky scales and blue bellies.

This lizard is unique and flourishes your mind with immense beauty.

3) Eastern Fence Lizard

Scientific Name	*Sceloporus Undulatus*
Size	4-7.25 inches
Habitat	Woodlands, Grassland, and Shrublands
Location	New York, Florida, Ohio, and Arkansas

Similar to their sibling western fence lizard, Eastern Fence Lizard is another species found in North America. However, the only difference lies here they are suitably found in the eastern part of North America. Like its sibling, this species is beautiful too.

4) Five-Lined Skink

Scientific Name	*Plestiodon Fasciatus*
Size	5-8.5 inches
Habitat	Steep, Rocky areas, Patchy tree, Shrub covers, and rotten logs
Location	New England and Connecticut

A beautiful sleek species of lizard that shows a wide range of beauty in its body. Here is a five-lined skink lizard found in North America.

This species is well known for the body linings it has. Also, as the name says, five-lined it has five stripes running on its body.

The lines covered on its body make them easily spottable and unique. You will get to see a wide variety.

5) Collared lizard

Scientific Name	*Crotaphytus Collaris*
Size	Up to 10 inches
Habitat	Pinyon juniper, Sagebrush, Desert scrub, grassland
Location	Mexico, Arizona, and Southeastern California

Have you ever seen a lizard showing a collar on its neck? Here is a collared lizard, one of the colorful lizards showcasing a collar on its neck.

This species of lizard is commonly found in arid regions of the southwest part of North America. You will be mesmerized by seeing the vibrant colors on its body with the addition of a collar.

6) Texas Horned Lizard

Scientific Name	*Phrynosoma Cornutum*
Size	2.5-4 inches
Habitat	Arid and semi arid habitats
Location	South Central US to northern Mexico

Texas Horned Lizard is another species of lizard that has a varied body type along with its beauty of it. This stunning species of lizard shows a wide range of colors along with the flattened body and spines.

This species of lizard can squirt blood from its eyes in case it feels any threat. Another name by which you can call this species is “horny toad”.

7) Side blotched lizard

Scientific Name	*Uta Stansburiana*
Size	1.5-2.5 inches
Habitat	Arid and semiarid area
Location	Washington south to baja California and North mexico

Like the name says blotch, the Side-blotched lizard is a small species of lizard that shows a blotch mark on its neck.

You can easily identify this species due to the presence of the mark on its neck. This species found in the North American region of the world. You will surely be amazed by seeing this creature.

8) Greater Earless Lizard

Scientific Name	*Cophosaurus Texanus*
Size	3-7 inches
Habitat	Arid and semi arid regions
Location	Southwestern United States

Can you imagine seeing an animal without an ear-opening? If not, the Greater Earless Lizard is a perfect example of a species without an ear.

This species is commonly found in arid regions of North America. The unique body design and coloration are enough to make your mind keep yourself away from it. Overall they look unique and cute at the same time.

9) Western Skink

Scientific Name	*Plestiodon Skiltonianus*
Size	2-3 inches
Habitat	Dry open forests, shrub-steppe, and grassland
Location	Southern California

Western skink is a beautiful species of lizard found in the North American region of the world. Don’t be surprised by seeing. This beautiful creature is beautiful just by seeing it.

This lizard has a smooth body with a long, slender body which is commonly found in the Rocky regions of North America. Western skinks are beautiful just by the presence of different patterns on their body.

10) Mediterranean Gecko

Scientific Name	*Hemidactylus Turcicus*
Size	4-5 inches
Habitat	Coastal regions and shrublands
Location	Florida

Geckos are small animals that possess a wide range of beauty additions to their look that enhances them. Mediterranean geckos are nocturnal animals that have adhesive toe pads.

So you can see them sticking to the leaves of the plants. Due to the presence of these adhesive toe pads, they can easily stick to any place.

Lizards in Tennessee

1) Common Five-lined Skink
2) Six-lined Racerunner
3) Eastern Fence Lizard
4) Coal Skink
5) Green Anole
6) Broadhead Skink
7) Slender Glass Lizard
8) Little Brown Skink

Lizards in Indiana

1) Eastern Fence Lizard
2) Little Brown Skink
3) Slender Glass Lizard
4) Common Five-lined Skink
5) Broadhead Skink
6) Six-lined Racerunner
7) Skink

Lizards in California

1) Southern Alligator Lizard
2) Western Fence Lizard
3) Desert Iguana
4) Desert Spiny Lizard
5) Northern Alligator Lizard
6) Great Basin Collared Lizard
7) Desert Iguana
8) Horned Lizard
9) Common side-blotched Lizard
10) California Legless Lizard
11) Coast Horned Lizard
12) Western Alligator Lizard
13) Western Whiptail
14) Western Skink
15) Common Chuckwalla

Lizards in North Carolina

1) Green Anole
2) Common Five-lined Skink
3) Broadhead Skink
4) Eastern Fence Lizard
5) Slender Glass Lizard
6) Little Brown Skink
7) Texas Horned Lizard
8) Six-Lined Racerunner
9) Mimic glass Lizard
10) Mediterranean House Gecko
11) Alligator Lizard
12) Anoles
13) North America Spiny Lizard
14) Coast Horned Lizard

Lizards in Aruba

1) Green Iguana
2) Green Anole
3) Whiptails
4) Cnemidophorus Arubensis
5) Iguanas
6) Plumed Basilisk
7) Ameiva ameiva
8) Anolis Lineatus
9) Cnemidophorus Murinus
10) Cnemidophorus Arenivagus

Lizards in South Carolina

1) Eastern Fence Lizard
2) Green Anole
3) Texas Horned Lizard
4) Slender Glass Lizard
5) Broadhead Skink
6) Common five-lined Skink
7) Little Brown Skink
8) Southern Five-lined Skink
9) Coal Skink
10) Mimic glass Lizard
11) Brown Anole
12) Glass Lizard
13) Mediterranean House Gecko
14) Spiny Lizards
15) Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Lizards in NC

1) Slender Glass Lizard
2) Eastern Fence Lizard
3) Green Anole
4) Southeastern Five-lined Skink
5) Little Brown Skink
6) Six-lined Racerunner
7) Scincidae
8) Mimic Glass Lizard
9) Mediterranean House Gecko
10) Eastern Glass Lizard

Lizards in Georgia

1) Anolis Carolinensis
2) Ophisaurus Ventralis
3) Broadhead Skink
4) Texas Horned Lizard
5) Eastern Fence Lizard
6) Common Five-lined Skink
7) Little Brown Skink
8) Mole Skink
9) Anolis Sagrei
10) Island Glass Lizard
11) Indo-pacific Gecko
12) Mimic Glass Lizard
13) Coal Skink
14) Six-Lined Racerunner
15) Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Lizards in Florida

1) Green Anole
2) Green Iguana
3) Brown Anole4) Nile Monitor
5) Eastern Fence Lizard
6) Argentine Black and White Tegu
7) Skink
8) Florida Scrub Lizard
9) Knight Anole
10) Reef Gecko
11) Texas Horned Lizard
12) Tokay Gecko
13) Tropical House Gecko
14) Common Five-lined Skink
15) Slender Glass Lizard

10 Unique Lizards in South America

It is well known that species love to reside in those places where the diversity is rich. It is welcome to the unique and fascinating lizard species in South America. Let’s have a look at these species and discover their beauty.

1) Green Iguana

Scientific Name	*Iguana iguana*
Size	Upto 60 inches
Habitat	Shrubs, Suburban development, and Ground
Location	Mexico through Central and South America

A large, vibrant, and arboreal species of lizard that are well known for their green body color. This species of lizard also possess a dewlap-like structure on its throat.

You can easily spot this species in the tropical rainforest of South America. The vibrant green color you see on their body gives them distinct looks, you will love to see.

2) Tegu Lizard

Scientific Name	*Salvator marianae*
Size	Up to 60 inches
Habitat	Tropical rainforest, Woodlands, Savannah, and semi desert habitats
Location	Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Uruguay and northern Argentina

Tegu Lizards are easily spottable species that can be found in South America. This species is large and robust in appearance with a muscular body that engrosses you to touch them.

If you want to feel their strength, don’t do that as they can be potentially harmful to you. This species is easily spottable in different habitats in South America.

3) Gila Monster

Scientific Name	*Heloderma Suspectum*
Size	Upto 22 inches
Habitat	Semiarid Rocky regions of desert scrub and grasslands
Location	Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Utah

Gila monsters are mostly found in North America. However, in recent times, it was discovered that a majority of Gila monsters are found in South America.

This little species among the lizards in america is well known for its beauty and attractive appearance.

If you want to see this species, you can find them in the northwestern part of South America. Gila Monster is a unique species of lizard that has a small petite body but with a distinct look.

4) Gold Tegu

Scientific Name	*Tupinambis Teguixin*
Size	24-36 inches
Habitat	Tropical forest
Location	the tropical forests of northern and central South America, as well as in Panama

Gold Tegu are cute-looking species with a golden coloration on their body. This species is truly amazing in every way. Just a look at them is enough to make your day.

They are medium-sized species of lizard showcasing a distinct pattern on their body with black bands covering uniformly. This species is mostly found in Amazon rainforest and other tropical forest in South America.

5) Common Basilisk

Scientific Name	*Basiliscus basiliscus*
Size	Up to 24 inches
Habitat	Tropical rainforest
Location	tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama

Here is a common Basilisk species of lizard commonly known as the Jesus Christ lizard is well known for its ability to run in water. You will find them funny as they run on water. The wiggly steps they follow are funny in every way.

This lizard is commonly found in the Amazon basin of South America. Also, you will see a crest present on their body that mesmerizes your mind. The green body color on their body has a hue of different shades of green color.

6) Giant Ameiva

Scientific Name	*Ameiva Praesignis*
Size	18-20 inches
Habitat	Subtropical forests
Location	Martinique

Amazon whiptail is a colorful species of lizard found with a patterned and colorful body.

This lizard shows a wide range of patterns on their body that gives you extraordinary looks that you can never find in any other species. Like other lizards, this species is also found in arid regions of South America.

7) Turnip Tailed Gecko

Scientific Name	Thecadactylus Rapicauda
Size	4.76- 8.66 inches
Habitat	Lowland Humid Forest
Location	Central and South America

Gecko is a mid-sized lizard found in South America. This species of lizard is commonly found in the grasslands of America. You can witness the colorful bands present on its body that you can never miss seeing.

The exciting look it gives you wants to make you touch them. However, don’t try to touch them until you know everything about them. This species carries brown colored bands all over its body which makes it easily recognizable.

8) Yellow headed gecko

Scientific Name	*Gonatodes Albogularis*
Size	2.7-3.5 inches
Habitat	Tropical dry forest
Location	warm parts of Central and South America, Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica

Geckos are small lizards found in different regions of the South and North America. Specifically targeting Yellow headed gecko, it is a species that is commonly found in forests and Savannah of South America.

You will be mesmerized by the beauty of this Species as the bright yellow color is enough to make your day. The drizzling yellow color makes this species beautiful and unique in every way.

9) Crocodile Tegu

Scientific Name	*Crocodilurus Amazonicus*
Size	Upto 60 inches
Habitat	Subtropical and tropical moist lowland forest
Location	Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield in South America

Can you imagine seeing a combination of crocodiles and lizards together? If not, Crocodile Tegu is a perfect answer to this. The crazy visual this species gave you is enough to make your day of finding bizarre species in lizards.

Crocodile Tegu is commonly found in South America. Also, they are quite large. Like a crocodile, you can see a variety of different patterns on its body.

10) Emerald Swift

Scientific Name	*Sceloporus Malachiticus*
Size	6-8 inches
Habitat	Tropical and subtropical regions
Location	Mexico’s Yucatan region, Belize Guatemala

Emerald Swift is another species of lizard found in South America. This species of lizard appears in bright green found in Cloudy forests of the Andes Mountains of South America.

The crazy and vibrant visuals this species gave you are enough to make your day more amazing.

Overall, you will be pleased after seeing this beautiful lizard. Also, their beautiful body coloration makes this species easily recognizable.

Lizards in Brazil

1) Green Iguana
2) Whiptails
3) Iguanids
4) Gymnophthalmidae
5) Ameiva ameiva
6) Polychrotidae
7) Amphisbaenia
8) Hoplocercidae
9) Leiosauridae
10) Tropidurus

Lizards in Colombia

1) Common Basilisk
2) Anolis Auratus
3) Anolis Anchicayae
4) Green Iguana
5) Blue Anole
6) Anolis Fuscoauratus
7) Polychrus Marmoratus
8) Anolis Agassizi
9) Anolis Ortonii
10) Anolis Granuliceps

Lizards in Argentina

1) Gold Tegu
2) Monitor Lizard
3) Caiman Lizard
4) Salvator
5) Argentine Black and White Tegu
6) Bothrops Ammodytoides
7) Liolaemus Darwinii
8) Lead Worn Lizard
9) Aurivela Longicauda
10) Big-headed pantanal Swamp turtle

Lizards in the Amazon Basin

1) Corallus Horulana
2) Green Iguana
3) Common Basilisk
4) Green Anole
5) Caiman Lizard
6) Horned Woodlizard
7) Anolis Fuscoauratus
8) Anolis Ortonii
9) Forest Gecko
10) Ocellated Tegu

Conclusion

After going through the detailed information about each lizards in America, there is a wide range of species found in the world.

Most of the species live in different regions of America. You will see the beauty of each that will emphasize your mind about how a creepy species can look much better than you imagine.

These lizards are truly commendable in every way. All the species of lizards in America possess some unique characteristics that make them stand out among other lizards in the world. This reptile can be a creepy monster to you or it can be a cute friend to you.

We have covered everything about the lizards and their varied habitation. Most of the species rely on the specific environment. This article showcases the different species of lizards and how they are different from each other despite living in the same region in America. We hope that you like this article.

We will be back with another article soon. Till then, stay tuned with us.

Also Read:

16 Extraordinary Blue Lizards In The World

15 Incredible Red Lizards: The Beauty of Diversity

Anushri Varshney

An engineering student turned into a writer. Expressing thoughts into words is what i prize the most. Being able to conclude my thoughts through my articles is my prime intention. If i am not engaging myself with animal content, you can always find me doing coding. I am an engineer by profession but a writer by heart.