Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus [Aspidoscelis] sexlineatus)

Description: Six-lined racerunners are a medium sized lizard. It has a dark gray to nearly black streamlined body with six yellow or white stripes running down the length of its body. Its tail is normally brown having only one to two light stripes on the side.  Females and juveniles have a white belly while adult males have a bluish hue.

Range and habitat:  Six-lined racerunners can be found throughout most of the southeast (see range map). They prefer open and dry habitats from coastal sand dunes, longleaf pine, and some agricultural fields and forest clearcuts.

Habits: Six-lined racerunners are typically active on warm or hot days. They appear later from their winter burrows than many other lizards in the area. They are often active even when their internal temperatures rise to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prey: They are mainly insectivores eating beetles, caterpillars, butterflies, grasshoppers, termites, and scorpions.

Reproduction:  Six-lined racerunners mate in April and May. The male’s underside becomes a darker blue during this period. Females lay between 2 to 8 eggs in late May and June in underground nests. It takes around 60 days for incubation.

Conservation status: Some conservation concerns for this species include habitat loss, domestic pets, and herbicides and pesticides, which can disrupt the hormonal activity necessary for reproduction.