The Steppe Racerunner is a lizard native to arid regions of eastern Europe (mainly Ukraine, south Russia), Turkey and Central Asia through to north-western China and Mongolia.

The Kazakhstan-Mongolia subspecies (potanini) shown has a distinctive lateral chain-links pattern on its body. Some subspecies or individuals also have longitudinal stripes.

  

The Rapid Racerunner has longitudinal stripes on its body as well as some slight chain-links on the flank. Its distribution is through much of Central Asia including south Russia through to Afghanistan and across to north-western China and Mongolia. The photo above left was taken by Alexandra Makhnina and the others by me. All were taken in southeast Kazakhstan.

  

The Striped Racerunner has narrow longitudinal stripes on its body. Its distribution is through much of Central Asia including Afghanistan and Iran. The photos above were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in southern Kazakhstan.