Prairie racerunner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Teiidae |
| Genus: | Cnemidophorus |
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C. s. viridis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis Lowe, 1966
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The prairie racerunner is a type of lizard. Its scientific name is Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis. It is a special kind of six-lined racerunner lizard. This lizard lives only in the United States. This means it is endemic to the U.S.
Where Prairie Racerunners Live
Prairie racerunners live in the middle of the United States. They like areas with short grass, called prairies. You can find them from Colorado to Nebraska. They also live south into northern Texas. Interestingly, some are even found in southern New Jersey.
What Prairie Racerunners Look Like
The prairie racerunner is usually dark green or dark brown. It has seven bright yellow stripes. These stripes run all the way from its head to its tail. The underside of its body is white. These lizards have a slender body. Their tail is almost twice as long as their body!
How Prairie Racerunners Behave
Prairie racerunners are a type of whiptail lizard. Like most whiptail lizards, they are diurnal. This means they are active during the day. They mostly eat insects, so they are insectivorous. They are most active in the early morning. As the day gets hotter, they find places to hide.
