After more than 40 years of herpetofaunal surveys , which continue during our visits to Kiawah Island , only five other native species of lizards have been confirmed to be on the island . All are relatively common and for the most part easy to identify , making lizards an obvious part of Kiawah Island ’ s natural biodiversity . Lizards can be enjoyed by residents and guests alike , and an understanding and appreciation for local animal species can readily complement anyone ’ s experience of the natural diversity of the region .
Among reptiles , the total number of lizard species inhabiting tropical and temperate parts of the world exceeds that of all snakes , turtles , and crocodilians combined . Despite the high global diversity of lizards ( more than 6,000 species placed in more than 40 families ) a relatively small proportion are native to the southeastern United States . The abundance of lizards in the U . S . Southwest is much higher compared to the Southeast , which has only 18 native species . Nonetheless , among these , some are distinctive , such as the legless glass lizards , anoles that change color from green to brown , and skinks that have metallic cobalt tails when young . Representatives of each of these are found on Kiawah Island
One feature of lizards is their frequent appearance and seeming self-assurance around human habitation . Most of the six Kiawah Island lizard species are as likely to be found on the grounds around residences as they are in the wilder habitats of the dunes , maritime forests , or margins of wetlands . Knowing where and when to look can almost guarantee that anyone on Kiawah will eventually come face to face with each of the species found on the Island . No native lizards vocalize or commonly come out at night . But with the exception of the racerunners , which disappear during winter , any of them could possibly be seen on a sunny day in any month . During spring and summer , a chance encounter with a lizard is a likely event
Get to Know the Lizards of Kiawah Anyone interested in natural history can quickly become an expert in identifying the six native lizard species inhabiting Kiawah Island . Four different lizard families are represented . No lizards on Kiawah are venomous , although all will usually bite if captured
Green Anole ( family Iguanidae ). The ubiquitous green anole , also known as the Carolina anole is the most commonly encountered and obvious lizard on Kiawah Island . Anoles are seen around houses almost year round on trees , shrubs , decks , and other structures and unlikely to be confused with any other native lizard . These prepossessing little creatures are usually aware of your presence and may even cock their head to take a more careful look at you as you observe them . An individual of any size may change color in a
few minutes from bright green to brown or gray or vice versa based on environmental conditions , social interactions , or even mood . Green anole females lay one egg at a time at twoweek intervals during late spring and summer . Anoles are the only Kiawah lizards in which the male displays a bright red throat fan ( dewlap ) as a territorial signal , even toward people
Broadheaded Skink ( family Scincidae ). Adult broadheaded skinks are by far the largest tree-climbing lizards on Kiawah Island . Very large specimens may reach a foot or more in length . The juveniles have shiny black bodies with five yellow stripes and a bright blue tail . The stripes become more obscure on females as they mature , and the body of males becomes a coppery brown . Adult male broadheaded skinks have comparatively larger heads than females , a feature that becomes more distinctive in spring and early summer when the head turns a dramatic red color . Broadheaded skinks often lay their eggs in hollows of large trees and are consequently often associated with the live oak trees on the island . A fascinating behavior to observe during the warm-weather mating season is adult males that engage in combat with each other over territory or females . Juveniles and young adults of the broadheaded skink can be confused with the southeastern five-lined skink , but adult male and female broadheaded skinks get much larger and can be distinguished from the latter by careful observation . If captured , an individual can easily be identified by a simple scale count .
Southeastern Five-lined Skink ( family Scincidae ). This species is a miniature version of the broadheaded skink but is more likely to be found in drier habitats and is usually less common . They are usually smaller and more slender , but southeastern five-lined skinks that can be captured and examined exhibit a trait that allows positive identification . The scales down the center underside of the tail are all small and of approximately the same size as the other scales . The central row of tail scales is much wider on the other species of blue-tailed skinks , including the broadheaded variety . Southeastern five-lined skinks usually lay between four and 11 eggs in rotting logs , and the female stays with the eggs , protecting them from small predators
Southeastern five-lined skink
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