Eastern Fence Lizard

Description:

The Eastern Fence Lizard is a medium-sized species of lizard. It can grow from 4.0 to 7.2 inches long. It is typically colored in shades of gray or brown, and has keeled scales, with a dark line running along the rear of the thigh. A female is usually gray and has a series of dark, wavy lines across her back. The belly is white with black flecks, with some pale blue on the throat and belly. The male is usually brown, and during the summer, has a more greenish-blue and black coloration on the sides of the belly and throat than the female has. The young look like the females, but are darker and duller.

Habitat:

It is found along forest edges, rock piles, and rotting logs or stumps in the eastern United States. This one was observed in the Sumter National Forest in McCormick County, SC.

Notes:

Eastern fence lizards mate in spring, and lay three to 16 eggs in late spring or early summer. The young hatch in summer and fall.