What Kind of Lizard is This? How to Identify a Species of Lizard

© 2015, Brandon Cornett | All rights reserved

What kind of lizard is this? How can I identify a lizard species I found in my yard? These are some of the more common questions we get from readers. In this article, I'll give you some tips for identifying a lizard in your area.

First, a quick lesson in reptile classification...

Did you know there are more lizard species than all other reptile species combined? It's true. Under the current system of reptile classification (which is always changing, by the way), there are nearly 3,800 species of lizard on the planet. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica, for obvious reasons. This makes it hard to identify a certain type of lizard you come across in the wild. But not to worry. By the time you finish this article, you'll know how to find out what kind of lizard it is.

Use Local Resources to Identify a Lizard

Gila monsterGenerally speaking, the warmer your climate, the more lizards you'll find there. For example, you'll find a lot more lizards in Arizona than in Vermont. That's not to say there aren't any types of lizards in Vermont (there are). But there are many more kinds of lizards living in the warmer climate of Arizona.

Why is this true? Because reptiles are ectothermic. They rely on their environment for warmth. They cannot warm their bodies from within, like you and I can. So a cooler climate does not support reptile life very well. Some types of lizards have adapted to colder weather. But most of them simply cannot survive long, cold winters. That's why you can find more types of lizards in warmer states than cooler ones.

Horned LizardSo when you're tying to find out what kind of lizard it is, you need to use local resources. With so many different species in the world, you would have a hard time finding a book or website that lists all of them. You'll find better and more detailed information if you use local resource.

How do you find these resources? With so many different kinds of lizards, how do you identify a particular lizard that you found in your area? Start by using Google.

For example, if I want to find a list of species that occur in Arizona, I would simply do a Google search for lizards of Arizona. You might even find some results if you search for your city or county. But you'll certainly find some good websites if you search by state. Keep an eye out for local university websites, government wildlife services, and herpetological organizations. There's bound to be one or more of these in your area, and they usually have the best photo and information on local lizard species.

Whiptail lizard

But What Kind of Lizard is This, In My Yard?

When you see a lizard in the wild, and you want to identify it when you get home, you will need to make certain observations about the animal. Here are some things you need to observe:

  • Size -- How big is the lizard you saw? If you're not good at making visual measurements in terms of centimeters or inches, think of a common household object. Is it as long as your TV remote control, from nose to tail? Then make a note of that, and measure the remote when you get home. Most websites that list the kinds of lizards in your area will list the size as well. So this is helpful in identifying the exact species.
  • Color and Pattern -- Color and pattern are often used to distinguish the different kinds of lizards that inhabit a certain area. What color was the lizard you saw? Was it solid in color, or did it have a pattern? What kind of pattern? Did the stripes run down the length of the body, or were they bands that went across the body? The more you can remember, the easier it will be to identify the lizard when you get home.
  • Habitat and Behavior -- Where did you see the animal? Was it near a body of water? Was it climbing up a wall outside your house, like a green anole or a gecko? Did it scurry into a hole in the ground when it saw you coming? If you want to know what kind of lizard it is, you should make mental notes about where you found it.

I hope this information helps you identify the lizards and other reptiles in your area. The more you can learn about your local wildlife, the more you'll enjoy seeing it in the wild!