Northern alligator lizard

Northern alligator lizard
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Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Anguidae
Genus:	Elgaria
Species:	E. coerulea
Binomial name
Elgaria coerulea (Wiegmann, 1828)

The northern alligator lizard (Elgaria coerulea) is a medium-sized lizard that occurs on the North American west coast.

Taxonomy

This lizard was formerly known under the scientific name of Gerrhonotus coeruleus (Wiegmann, 1828), but is nowadays classed as the genus 'Elgaria'. There are four subspecies:

• E.c. coerulea Wiegmann 1828: San Francisco alligator lizard
• E.c. palmeri Stejneger 1893: Sierra alligator lizard
• E.c. principis Baird and Girard 1852: Northwestern alligator lizard
• E.c. shastensis Fitch 1934: Shasta alligator lizard

The subspecies E.c. principis is one of five species of lizards in Canada.

Description

Northern alligator lizards are medium-sized slender lizards. Adults reach a snout-to-vent length of about 10 cm (3.9 in) and a total length of roughly 27.5 cm (10.8 in). They have a distinct skin fold on their sides, separating the keeled scales on the back from the smooth ventral scales. this skin varies in color, but can be brown and white or greenish yellow and brown. They are brownish in color and often have dark blotches that sometimes blend together into bands. the throat and mouth area of some young individuals can be yellow. The belly is light gray. The eyes are dark. Their typical diet includes crickets, mealworms, and moths, but they will also take larger prey, such as small lizards, and will even eat small baby mice if given the opportunity.

Reproduction

The Northern Alligator Lizard is live-bearing, producing up to 15 young (typically 4-5), between June and September. During the spring breeding season, a male lizard grabs on to the head of a female with his mouth until she is ready to let him mate with her. They can remain attached this way for many hours, almost oblivious to their surroundings. Besides keeping her from running off to mate with another male, this probably shows her how strong and suitable a mate he is.

E. coerulea shastensis

E. coerulea coerulea

E. coerulea

Distribution

Ranges of       E.c. coerulea,       E.c. palmeri,       E.c. principis, and       E.c. shastensis

The Northern alligator lizard occurs along the Pacific Coast and in the Rocky Mountains from southern British Columbia through Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana south through Oregon to the coastal range and the Sierra Nevada in central California. As the map shows, the different subspecies have quite different ranges, with E.c. principis being the most widely distributed, whereas the E.c. coerulea subspecies occurs only around the San Francisco area.

The species is widely distributed along the Pacific coast and can be found from sea level up to elevation of about 3,350 m (10,990 ft). It is found in a variety of forested habitats and montane chaparral.

See also

• Southern alligator lizard

External links

• Images from Californiaherps.com
• Description and range map from the California Department of Fish and Game.
• Taxonomical Information
• Description, photos, and information from the British Columbia Ministry of Environment