Most Hoosiers go their whole lives without noticing a single lizard, and that’s not surprising. Among the many types of snakes in Indiana, lizards are the far quieter cousins, and the state’s cooler climate limits how many species can survive here year-round.
Understanding the types of lizards in Indiana starts with a simple fact: the Hoosier Herpetological Society notes that lizards are Indiana’s rarest reptile group, with just six native species calling the state home, most found in the warmer, sandier, and rockier corners of southern Indiana.
Five of those species show up often enough that a curious hiker, gardener, or backyard naturalist has a real shot at spotting one. This guide walks through each of those five lizards native to Indiana, covering how to tell them apart, where they live, and what makes each one worth a second look.
1. Eastern Fence Lizard
The eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) is one of the more textured-looking lizards you’ll find crawling along a log or fence post in southern Indiana. Its rough, keeled scales give it a spiny, almost armored appearance that separates it instantly from the state’s smooth-scaled skinks. Coloring runs from gray to brown, often with a mottled or barred pattern that blends seamlessly into bark and leaf litter…