Prairie Lizard at a campsite in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, Oklahoma

Prairie Lizard Images, Facts and Information:

Sceloporus consobrinus

  • Prairie Lizards are medium-sized lizards with rough, keeled, pointed, and overlapping scales, no “horns” at the back of the head, and a tail longer than the body. Their coloration varies from gray to brown, often with chevron-shaped lines or stripes. Adult males display distinct green-blue patches bordered by black on the belly and throat.
  • Prairie Lizards are year-round residents throughout much of the central United States, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Texas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois, and extending east to New York. Their range also extends south into northern Mexico.
  • Prairie Lizards thrive in a variety of habitats including grasslands with sparse vegetation, sandy soils, rocky outcrops, open woodlands, woodland edges, and prairies. They are often seen basking on rocks, logs, tree trunks, and fence posts.
  • Prairie Lizards eat a variety of insects, including ants, beetles, spiders, and other small arthropods. They are ambush foragers and rely on basking in direct sunlight to maintain their body temperature.
  • Prairie Lizards lay 4 to 17 eggs in shallow burrows or under surface objects from mid-April through July. Females may lay one or two clutches per season. Eggs hatch in about 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Prairie Lizards are territorial during the breeding season and display bright blue throat and belly patches while performing head bobs and push-ups to ward off rivals.
  • The lifespan of Prairie Lizards in the wild is likely up to four years.

I hope you enjoy viewing my Prairie Lizard photos.