Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus)

Adult Size: 6" to 10½"

Description: Slender with 6 or 7 light stripes separated by dark greenish brown to black bands without spots. Sometimes a narrow light stripe down the middle of the back. The back scales are small and granular. The throat is green or blue in males and white in females. The underside is white or blue-white with 8 lengthwise rows of large, smooth, rectangular belly scales. The tail is brown, prominently stripes on the sides; light blue in juveniles.

Habitat: Dry sunny areas, grasslands, open woodlands, usually on well-drained soils.

Breeding: mates in April to June. A clutch of 1 to 6 eggs are laid in June to July with a 2nd clutch 3 weeks later. The eggs hatch in June to September.

Range: Delaware south through Florida, west to Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, South Dakota.

Diet:

Behavior:

Video

Conservation Status:

Additonal Notes:

Subspecies: Two in our range.

Six-Lined Racerunner (C.s. sexlineatus) - 6 light stripes. Found along the Atlantic coast to eastern Texas and central Missouri. Photo...

Prairie Lined Racerunner (C.s. viridis) - 7 light stripes, head and body bright green. Found in central Texas and western Missouri to southeastern Wyoming, eastern Colorado and New Mexico. Photo...