Spotting a lizard darting across a sunny rock in the Ozarks or scurrying along a porch railing in Little Rock is a common experience for Arkansas residents, yet most people can only name one or two species. Fifteen lizard species call the state home, and understanding the types of lizards in Arkansas helps homeowners, hikers, and backyard naturalists tell a harmless native skink from a fast-spreading introduced gecko.
Fifteen lizard species live in Arkansas. 13 of them are native to the state, while the other two – the Mediterranean house gecko and the brown anole – are exotic lizards brought to Arkansas as a result of human activity.
None of them pose a venom threat to people or pets. There are no poisonous lizards in Arkansas. This guide walks through nine of the most recognizable species found across the state, covering how to identify each one, where it lives, and what makes it stand out from its neighbors…