Lizards Aren’t Just Down South: They Are Native To Michigan, Too

But it turns out, I’ve just been oblivious this whole time; Michigan is actually home to two native lizard species, and one of them is threatened. Six-lined Race Runner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) / Getty Images Six-lined Race Runner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) / Getty ImagesMichigan's Two Lizard SpeciesMichigan has two lizard species: the five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) and the Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus). Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) / Getty Images Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) / Getty ImagesRead More: University of Michigan Releases Michigan Flora Plant ID AppThe six-lined racerunner is far less common than the five-lined skink because its population is labeled threatened, having only been found in one county (Genesee) since 2016. The five-lined skink is generally seen in Northern Michigan. iNaturalist iNaturalistWhen it comes to winter, since these lizards are cold-blooded, cold weather leads to lizards entering a dormant state under rocks, logs, and leaves until spring temperatures return.