Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division: Although extensive, this list does not include all native wildlife that is prohibited.
This page lists 18 lizards: 14 from Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division's Laws Related to Native Wildlife — "Reptiles and Amphibians" list and 4 named in other official sources.
4 are nonnative.
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
FWC: can reach nearly 5 feet. UF/IFAS: 4 to 5 feet and as much as 10 pounds. Georgia DNR: up to 4 feet, with adults documented in the wild in Georgia averaging slightly less than 2 feet.
How to recognize it
Head and neck much thicker than a Nile monitor's; fleshy, forked red tongue
Rarely climbs more than a few feet off the ground; a strong swimmer
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.
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93 records by month.What the sources say
Venom: “The blue-tailed young of five-lined, southeastern five-lined, and broadhead skinks are widely referred to as ‘scorpions’ and are believed to have a venomous sting. While this belief is completely false, some scientists speculate that these skinks are bad-tasting to many predators.” (University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Herpetology)
Venom: “The blue-tailed young of five-lined, southeastern five-lined, and broadhead skinks are widely referred to as ‘scorpions’ and are believed to have a venomous sting. While this belief is completely false, some scientists speculate that these skinks are bad-tasting to many predators.” (University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Herpetology)
Venom: “The blue-tailed young of five-lined, southeastern five-lined, and broadhead skinks are widely referred to as ‘scorpions’ and are believed to have a venomous sting. While this belief is completely false, some scientists speculate that these skinks are bad-tasting to many predators.” (University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Herpetology)
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Brown anole Not stated
Brown anoles are brown to grayish, usually with whitish or yellowish patterns on the back. Males have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge. The green anole is green or lightly patterned brown and has a pinkish throat fan. The brown anole also has a shorter snout and is more often on the ground or in low plants. University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Herpetology
Young and females are very similar. Missouri: five-lined skinks do not grow as large, to only 5 to 8.75 inches. Illinois: the only reliable way to tell them apart is by counting lip scales, which usually requires a hand lens.
Broad-headed skink or Southeastern five-lined skink?
Tennessee: the southeastern five-lined skink does not have an enlarged middle row of scales under the tail; positive identification requires examining the scales.
Broad-headed skink or Argentine black and white tegu (invasive)?
Georgia DNR: tegus might be confused with native reptiles such as broadhead skinks, although even adult native lizards would be no larger than a hatchling tegu. Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
Common Five-lined Skink or Southeastern Five-lined Skink?
The native green anole is green or lightly patterned brown, has a pinkish throat fan and a longer snout, and is generally arboreal (lives in trees), while brown anoles are usually on the ground or in low vegetation. The brown anole is brown to gray with back markings, and males have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge. University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Herpetology
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When lizards are active in Georgia
Records of lizards in Georgia peak in March to May and August to September. They show when people record lizards, not how many there are (about month bars).
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2,552 records of lizards in Georgia by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
“The blue-tailed young of five-lined, southeastern five-lined, and broadhead skinks are widely referred to as ‘scorpions’ and are believed to have a venomous sting. While this belief is completely false, some scientists speculate that these skinks are bad-tasting to many predators.”
Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) – Introduced. University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Herpetology. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (5)
“Males generally have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge.”
“Brown anoles are brown to grayish in color, generally with whitish or yellowish patterning on the back.”
“Description: 5 – 8.5 in (12 – 21 cm).”
“Brown anoles are brown to grayish in color, generally with whitish or yellowish patterning on the back. Males generally have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge.”
“Although the brown anole has a shorter snout than the green anole (Anolis carolinensis), the two species are most easily distinguished by the green anole’s green or lightly patterned brown coloration and by range.”
Argentine Black and White Tegus. Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (4)
“Tell DNR when you see a tegu in the wild, alive or dead. … Phone: (478) 994-1438”
“Although not considered aggressive toward people, tegus will defend themselves if threatened. They can react fast and lash with their tails. They have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws.”
“Hatching in Georgia would be expected in June/July.”
“…tegus might be confused with native reptiles such as juvenile alligators (which are protected), broadhead skinks and eastern fence lizards (although even as adults, all native lizards would be no larger than a hatchling tegu)”
“Keep pets inside or leashed when outside. Monitor pets when they are outdoors, even in a fenced in yard. Be alert when walking at dawn or dusk with pets.”
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