Old male Eastern Fence Lizard

 

Last Friday, April 22, was Earth Day - first held on 4/22/1970 - and I went afield in southern Ohio with a nice, knowledgeable group of friends. We found many interesting animals and plants, not the least of which was this beautiful old lizard.

At least I think he was old. An Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) six inches in length would be a whopper, and this one was about five inches. I figure it must have taken some time for him to attain those proportions. Males have patches of iridescent hyacinth-blue scales underneath, which they flash to woo the girls.

This one was inhabiting a rock pile, and by slowly creeping around that into a depression, I was able to get below his level, the better to show some of his bright scaling.

I find that many people are surprised to learn we have lizards in Ohio. This species is one of the more common species, along with the Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus). Fence Lizards occur commonly (at least locally common) throughout parts of the southern third of Ohio, while Five-lined Skinks can be found - at least formerly - over much of the state, excepting most of southeastern/eastern Ohio.

Much more local is the Ground Skink, or Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis). It's only been recorded in about four southern counties. I've seen this little beauty but once, and wrote about HERE. The largest species is another locally distributed species, the Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps). This skink is a bruiser, with big ones reaching a foot in length. It's been found in about 14 southern counties, but probably doesn't occur in them all anymore.

I think there is an old record for Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus), but I can't remember where. Eastern Ohio probably, as this species ranges near the state in Pennsylvania. Finally, we have the Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis), an import from Europe that thrives in the Cincinnati region and shows signs of spreading. I wrote about the interesting story of Wall Lizards RIGHT HERE.