Family: Teiidae, Whiptails view all from this family

Description 6-10 1/2" (15.2-26.7 cm). Slender, with 6 or 7 light stripes separated by dark greenish brown to black bands without spots. Sometimes a narrow light stripe down middle of back. Back scales small and granular. Throat green or blue in males, white in females. Belly white or blue-white; 8 lengthwise rows of large, smooth, rectangular belly scales. Tail brown, prominently striped on sides; light blue in juveniles.

Subspecies Eastern Six-lined Racerunner (C. s. sexlineatus), 6 light stripes; Maryland to Florida, west to e. Missouri and e. Texas.
Prairie Racerunner (C. s. viridis), 7 light stripes, head and body bright green; c. Texas and w. Missouri to se. Wyoming, e. Colorado and New Mexico.
Texas Yellow-headed Racerunner (C. s. stephensae), small, lacking light midback stripe; yellow on face and sides of neck; s. Texas plains and South Padre Island.

Breeding Mates April to June. Clutch of 1-6 eggs, laid June to July; 2nd clutch 3 weeks later. Eggs hatch June to September.

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

Range In East, Maryland to Florida Keys and from upper Mississippi River region in se. Minnesota and Wisconsin to s. Texas; in West from se. Wyoming through e. Colorado and New Mexico to c. Texas.

Discussion Diurnal. The Racerunner is most active in the morning, when it can be seen basking or hunting for insects. It avoids cool seasonal and night temperatures by burrowing into the soil.