Southern Alligator Lizard

Elgaria multicarinata

Summary 2

The Southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) is a lizard native to the Pacific coast of North America. It is common throughout Southern California and can be found in grasslands, chaparral, and forests as well as urban areas. In dry climates, it is likely to be found in moist areas or near streams. Three subspecies can be distinguished: the California alligator lizard (E. m. multicarinata), the San Diego alligator lizard (E. m. webbii), and the Oregon alligator...

Habitat 3

Comments: Habitats are diverse and include grassland, chaparral, oak woodland, and open pine forest; in drier regions, the species most often occurs along streams or in other moist, vegetated areas (Stebbins 2003). Microhabitats include logs, thickets, rocks, and old woodpiles and trash heaps around houses (Stebbins 2003). This is a basically terrestrial lizard that sometimes climbs bushes and trees. Egg-laying sites include burrows or stable talus (Nussbaum et al. 1983).

Hastings NHR Notes 4

Well known around the reserve, especially around the buildings, this is a common lizard. Surprisingly poorly observed and has yet to have an observation created!

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Éamonn O'Brien-Strain, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/35034364763@N01/175614908
  2. Adapted by Michelle S. Koo from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgaria_multicarinata
  3. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29108267
  4. (c) Michelle S. Koo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Taxonomy:family Anguidae
Iucn status Least_Concern