Six-Lined Racerunner

This is a fast moving and wary species. In fact it is considered to be one of the fastest moving lizards in the world, being clocked up to 18 mph. This species is common in the dry regions in the eastern part of the state but is rarely encountered in the upper piedmont and foothills. However, there is a small population that lives near the Surry Co. Airport in the southern part of the county. Like most lizards they are insect eaters.

Coal Skink

This is a species that is found only in the western part of the county. It is not a common species in this area. They are usually found along rocky ledges near the forest edge. They seem to be more secretive than the Five-Lined Skink. Like other skinks they feed on insects and females lay eggs in late spring to early summer.

Five-Lined Skink

This species is another common occurence in this area. However, unlike the fence lizards they prefer moisture more shady areas but they may found basking on warm days. They are often found around buildings and the more shaded areas in the forest. I was ble to find specimens throughout the county. This is a wary species that is often difficult to approach closely. Their tails are easily shed if grapsed. They feed mainly on insects. Females are egg layers.

Young specimens have blue tails that fade with age. Adult males may have no visible stripes and sport a bright red head during the breeding season. A lot of older people call them scorpions and believe them to be poisonous, which is not true.

Eastern Fence Lizard

This species is a common lizard in dry open areas. I was able to fins several at Raven Knob on the fences near the amphitheater.

This species is active and often seen sunning on fences or rocks on warm days. They feed on a wide variety of insects. Males can be distinguished from females by the blue markings on their underside. Females lay eggs in late spring or early summer which hatch after a two month incubation period.

Unlike some other species of lizards, fence lizards will sometimes allow you to get rather close before running off.