2 Types of Lizards Found in North Dakota! (ID Guide)

“What kinds of lizards can you find in North Dakota?”

I was amazed by the number of lizards in the United States – well over 150 species! Some species live only in a small area, and some are widespread over hundreds of miles.

Today, you’ll learn about 2 different kinds of lizards in North Dakota.

#1. Northern Prairie Skink

Plestiodon septentrionalis

Identifying Characteristics:

Adults are up to 9 inches long.
Their coloring is olive-brown with multiple light stripes bordered with dark brown.
Some individuals have a single stripe in the middle of the back, while others have a pair of stripes.
The belly is generally a lighter brown than the back and uniform in color.

You’re likely to find Northern Prairie Skinks in open plains and along streambeds in eastern North Dakota. They are one of the hardiest species of skinks and can survive extremely cold temperatures.

Northern Prairie Skinks have a fascinating way of staying alive during winter. They burrow below the frost line to stay warm enough not to freeze!

Some scientists consider the Northern Prairie Skink and the Southern Prairie Skink subspecies. However, they don’t live in the same area, and their appearance is so different that most references give both full species status.

#2. Greater Short-Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma hernandesi

Identifying Characteristics:

1.75 to 4.75 inches long from snout to vent (length does not include the tail).
Coloring is beige, tan, or reddish, speckled with white. There are large brown blotches on the neck and sides.
Horns are short and stubby, located on the back of the head and each side.

Greater Short-Horned Lizards prefer to live in southwestern North Dakota in shortgrass prairies and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Their habitat is generally semi-arid, with long dry spells and infrequent but heavy rain.

Greater Short-Horned Lizard Range Map:

Ants are a primary food source for Greater Short-Horned Lizards, but they have a varied diet. They also eat grasshoppers, beetles, wasps, caterpillars, spiders, and even snails!