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Alabama Lizards: Identification Guide With Pictures

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. All 17 lizards
  2. Lookalikes
  3. When they are active
  4. How to report
  5. About this list
  6. Sources

This page lists 17 lizards. 4 are nonnative.

All 17 lizards

From A to Z.

Broad-headed Skink
Photo: Laura Gaudette · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Broad-headed Skink

Plestiodon laticeps

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
About 6.5 to 12.75 inches in total length. Oklahoma gives about 12 inches for large adults and SREL up to 13 inches. Males are larger than females.
How to recognize it
  • Large, wide head; breeding males have swollen orange-red jowls.
  • Smooth, glass-like scales, short legs and a stocky body.
  • Upper-lip scales separate it from five-lined skinks: Maryland, Tennessee and North Carolina count five labial scales between the nostril and the eye rather than four. Oklahoma and Missouri count differently, around 8 or 9 in the full lip row.
Where in Alabama
Common statewide and frequently encountered in areas with rotting logs, stumps, and tree cavities. Alabama's largest and most arboreal skink. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Lowest Conservation Concern

Full Broad-headed Skink guide

Brown Anole
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Brown Anole

Norops sagrei

Not stated Nonnative

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
About 5 to 8.5 inches (12 to 21 cm) total length (SREL); Alabama DCNR says up to 9 inches, and the tail may be longer than the body.
How to recognize it
  • Males have an orange or red throat fan (dewlap) with a white edge.
  • Brown to grayish with whitish or yellowish markings on the back; variable dark spots, half moons, triangles or lines.
  • Fairly stout body and a shorter head than the green anole; slightly expanded toe pads.
Where in Alabama
The species has recently been reported from a few locations in extreme southern Alabama. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Exotic
What the sources say

Habitat: Brown anoles are habitat generalists and can be found in practically any three-dimensional tropical or sub-tropical (year-round warm temperature and relatively high humidity) habitat type within their range. (Outdoor Alabama)

Full Brown Anole guide

Coal Skink
Photo: Thomas Koffel · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Coal Skink

Plestiodon anthracinus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
Those from other areas of Alabama belong to southern subspecies … Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
HIGH CONSERVATION CONCERN; Protected: Alabama Reg. 220-2-.92
What the sources say

Range: Those from other areas of Alabama belong to southern subspecies. Latter known to occur in eastern Alabama only at two sites in Rus­sellCounty, but has a more extensive distribution in the central and southwestern portions of the state.

Habitat: In northern Alabama, hilly sites with mixed pine hardwood forests. (Outdoor Alabama)

Eastern Fence Lizard
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Eastern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus undulatus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
About 4 to 7.25 inches total length (SREL, Ohio DNR); Illinois gives up to about 19 cm (7.5 in).
How to recognize it
  • Rough, spiny, keeled scales: the only native lizard in North Carolina (and in Georgia and South Carolina) that looks rough or spiny
  • Often on fences, trees, logs, stumps, rocks and buildings; dashes up a tree and keeps to the far side when approached
Where in Alabama
Common and statewide in occurrence. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Lowest Conservation Concern
139 records by month.

Full Eastern Fence Lizard guide

Eastern Glass Lizard
Photo: Semiv87 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Eastern Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus ventralis

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
In Alabama, they are most common in the Coastal Plain and locally abundant in the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Ridge and Valley regions. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Low Conservation Concern
What the sources say

Habitat: The eastern glass lizard is a good burrower. (Outdoor Alabama)

Eastern Six-lined Racerunner
Photo: Anne Parker · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Eastern Six-lined Racerunner

Aspidoscelis sexlineatus sexlineatus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
In Alabama, they are located statewide in suitable habitat. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Low Conservation Concern
What the sources say

Habitat: Six-lined racerunners inhabit well-drained upland sites, preferring loose soil or sand. (Outdoor Alabama)

Eastern Slender Glass Lizard
Photo: Peter Paplanus from St. Louis, Missouri · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Eastern Slender Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
Uncommon to rare statewide in Alabama, though most occurrences are north of the Fall Line Hills … Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Protected: Alabama Reg. 220-2-.92
What the sources say

Range: Uncommon to rare statewide in Alabama, though most occurrences are north of the Fall Line Hills. The slender glass lizard photographed above was captured in Baldwin County.

Habitat: Typically found in dry, open woodlands or grasslands. (Outdoor Alabama)

No confirmed photo of Five-lined Skink

Five-lined Skink

Plestiodon faciatus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
The common five-lined skink occurs essentially statewide in Alabama. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Lowest Conservation Concern
What the sources say

Habitat: The common five-lined skink inhabits damp woodlands, hardwood forests, pine woods, and is also common in gardens, under stumps, rocks, wood piles and trash piles. (Outdoor Alabama)

Ground Skink
Photo: Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Ground Skink

Scincella lateralis

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
They are most common in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont regions. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Lowest Conservation Concern
44 records by month.
What the sources say

Habitat: Ground skinks inhabit dry, open, deciduous and mixed deciduous/coniferous forests which have abundant leaf litter. (Outdoor Alabama)

No confirmed photo of Indo-Pacific Gecko

Indo-Pacific Gecko

Hemidactylus garnotii

Not stated Nonnative

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
They have been introduced to many tropical areas including parts of India, Polynesia, Philippines, Australia, Hawaii, and now Florida, Georgia, and Alabama … Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Exotic
What the sources say

Range: They have been introduced to many tropical areas including parts of India, Polynesia, Philippines, Australia, Hawaii, and now Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. In Alabama, sporadic populations, especially in the southern half of state.

Habitat: In the United States the Indo-Pacific gecko generally inhabit areas associated with human development, urban and suburban areas alike. (Outdoor Alabama)

No confirmed photo of Mimic Glass Lizard

Mimic Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus mimicus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
Lower Coastal Plain from southeastern North Carolina to the Pearl River in Mississippi; apparently not in peninsular Florida (Palmer 1987, Moler 1992) … Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
HIGHEST CONSERVATION CONCERN; Protected: Alabama Reg. 220-2-.92
What the sources say

Range: Lower Coastal Plain from southeastern North Carolina to the Pearl River in Mississippi; apparently not in peninsular Florida (Palmer 1987, Moler 1992). Alabama specimens exist from Baldwin, Covington, and Mobile Counties (Palmer 1987).

Habitat: Apparently strongly associated with endangered longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem. (Outdoor Alabama)

Northern Green Anole
Photo: Mgoodyear · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Northern Green Anole

Anolis carolinensis carolinensis

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
Common and statewide in occurrence, but relatively scarce in extreme northern portion. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Lowest Conservation Concern
What the sources say

Habitat: Green anoles are commonly found in Alabama around homes, in flower gardens, in low bushes or shrubby areas, on rock walls, in the woods and in trees. (Outdoor Alabama)

Northern Mole Skink
Photo: Glenn Bartolotti · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Northern Mole Skink

Plestiodon egregius similis

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
Known from east of the Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Ridge and Valley … Outdoor Alabama
Southeastern Five Lined Skink
Photo: Kai Squires · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Southeastern Five Lined Skink

Plestiodon inexpectatus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
More abundant in the Coastal Plain, but inhabits a wide variety of physiographic provinces (Martof et al. [...] Occurs on southeastern coastal islands in both the … Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
HIGH CONSERVATION CONCERN; Protected: Alabama Reg. 220-2-.92
What the sources say

Range: More abundant in the Coastal Plain, but inhabits a wide variety of physiographic provinces (Martof et al. [...] Occurs on southeastern coastal islands in both the Atlantic and Gulf; some of these islands have no freshwater and only sparse vegetation (Martoff et al.

Habitat: In Alabama, frequents xeric ridge tops and other places with well-drained sandy soils (Mount 1975). (Outdoor Alabama)

Southern Prairie Lizard
Photo: Peter Paplanus · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Southern Prairie Lizard

Sceloporus consorbrinus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
Likely occurs west of Mobile and Tombigbee rivers. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Hypothetical
Texas Horned Lizard
Photo: Gabriel Campbell-Martinez · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Texas Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum

Not stated Nonnative

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alabama
It is accidental in Alabama, but may occur in the coastal areas where sand dunes mimic their natural desert habitat … Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Exotic
What the sources say

Range: It is accidental in Alabama, but may occur in the coastal areas where sand dunes mimic their natural desert habitat. One hatchling had been collected in a field in Shelby County.

Habitat: Prefers hot, dry, sandy habitats that are mostly open. (Outdoor Alabama)

Turkish (Mediterranean) House Gecko
Photo: Stephanie Tran · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Turkish (Mediterranean) House Gecko

Hemidactylus turcicus

Not stated Nonnative

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
Adults about 4 to 5 inches long in total (Missouri gives 3.9 to 5.0 inches); up to 2.4 inches from snout to vent.
How to recognize it
  • Warty skin, large bulging eyes with vertical pupils, and wide toe pads for climbing.
  • Large eyes without eyelids, covered by a clear scale.
  • Unlike any native lizard in Georgia and South Carolina, geckos have sticky toe pads, vertical pupils and lidless eyes.
Where in Alabama
In Alabama, populations have been found sporadically in the southern half of the state. Outdoor Alabama
Conservation
Exotic
74 records by month.
What the sources say

Habitat: Found locally in and near buildings of urban areas. (Outdoor Alabama)

Full Turkish (Mediterranean) House Gecko guide

Lizards people confuse

Broad-headed skink or Southeastern five-lined skink?

Broad-headed skink
Photo: Laura Gaudette · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Broad-headed skink Not stated

Southeastern five-lined skink
Photo: Kai Squires · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Southeastern five-lined skink Not stated

Tennessee: the southeastern five-lined skink does not have an enlarged middle row of scales under the tail; positive identification requires examining the scales.

Mediterranean house gecko or Indo-Pacific gecko?

Mediterranean house gecko
Photo: Stephanie Tran · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Mediterranean house gecko Not stated

No confirmed photo of Indo-Pacific gecko

Indo-Pacific gecko Not stated

The Mediterranean gecko has bumpy or warty skin; that is the easiest way to tell it from the similar Indo-Pacific gecko.

Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.

When lizards are active in Alabama

Records of lizards in Alabama peak in March to May and August to September. They show when people record lizards, not how many there are (about month bars).

1,020 records of lizards in Alabama by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

How to report

Nuisance wildlife: permitted Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators or the WFF district office; Wildlife Section 334-242-3469. Sea turtle strandings 1-866-732-8878. Dolphin and whale strandings 877-942-5343. Manatee sightings 866-493-5803. Invasive carp [email protected] or (256)-353-2634. Outdoor Alabama

About this list

The species list comes from Lizards (Outdoor Alabama) (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama), undated page; as of retrieval 2026-11-03). 17 more entries come from other official sources named on each card.

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in Alabama.

Want a paper copy? Print the Alabama lizards ID chart.

Sources

  1. Watchable Wildlife. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  2. Lizards. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  3. Broad-headed Skink. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  4. Brown Anole. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “The brown anole has a fairly stout body and a less elongated head than the green anole”
  5. Coal Skink. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  6. Eastern Fence Lizard. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  7. Eastern Glass Lizard. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  8. Eastern Six-lined Racerunner. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  9. Eastern Slender Glass Lizard. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  10. Five-lined Skink. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  11. Ground Skink. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  12. Indo-Pacific Gecko. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  13. Mimic Glass Lizard. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  14. Northern Green Anole. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  15. Northern Mole Skink. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  16. Southeastern Five Lined Skink. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  17. Southern Prairie Lizard. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  18. Texas Horned Lizard. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  19. Turkish (Mediterranean) House Gecko. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “They have large elliptical eyes, but no eyelids. Their open eyes are protected by a transparent scale called a ‘spectacle’.”
  20. Report Aquatic Invasive Species. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Reports can be submitted at: [email protected] or by phone at (256)-353-2634.”
  21. GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.