The photo gallery below provides information about lizards and skinks found in Illinois. Additionally, the Prairie Research Institute’s Illinois Natural History Survey has the Illinois Species page to help people figure out what species of lizard or skink they have found. If you don’t know what the species is, click on the text to work through the key. If you see a photo that looks like the species you saw, then you can click on the photo to get information about that particular species.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has a podcast about lizards.
Lizards and skinks are sometimes found around homes since they will hunt for insects and other invertebrates in gardens or near buildings. If a lizard or skink enters the building, gently catch it and release it outside. Be careful not to grab it by the tail to avoid injuring it.
If you have questions about reptiles or amphibians in Illinois, you can contact Scott Ballard, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Southern Region Endangered and Threatened Recovery Species Specialist/Herpetologist, at Scott.Ballard@Illinois.gov or 618-694-3398.
The Prairie Research Institute’s Illinois Natural History Survey provides species distribution maps and natural history information about the slender glass lizard.
Photo: Missouri Department of Conservation
Photo: Illinois Natural History Survey
Photo: Drew R. Davis
Photo: A.R. Kuhns
Photo: Illinois Natural History Survey
Plestiodon laticeps
Juveniles of this species are sometimes mistaken for Common Five-lined Skinks.
Photo: Todd Pierson
Photo: Ian Deery
The Wildlife Illinois website was authorized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in partial fulfillment of project W-147-T. The website was developed by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, 2wav, and the IDNR in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services and University of Illinois Extension to provide research-based information about how to coexist with Illinois wildlife.
