The snout is more pointed and the legs are longer than in both skinks. Range Racerunners are found in all the counties bordering the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa northward into southeastern Minnesota. Habitat Racerunners come from sandy prairie areas, open rocky bluff prairies similar to good milk, ringneck, racer, and rattlesnake habitat on the eastern side of the state. In western Iowa, they are found in the open, dry, rolling, loess hills. Habits Racerunners may wait until May to begin their seasonal activity period.
Racerunners bask atop rocks or logs and actively forage for their food.
They are diurnal, but they often take refuge under rocks or logs during the hottest parts of the day in mid-summer, however, somewhat less so than the skinks. They are accomplished burrowers, and racerunners especially, may construct burrows with entrances that form shallow dugouts under rocks or similar cover. Breeding occurs in spring. The male grasps the skin of the females neck during copulation. I have seen gravid females in late May in Iowa.