Northern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea
![[Northern Alligator Lizard]](/images/86ds.jpg)
Description
Distribution Range
General range map taken from CWHR.
Museum records taken from following institutions: CAS Herps, MVZ Herps.
Found throughout most of Shasta County except for the lower Sacramento River Valley, where it is too hot and dry for this species.
Typical Elevation
We do not yet have enough records from distinct localities to calculate typical elevation. We need 6 more distinct localities.
Reproduction and Young
This is the only known species of lizard in Shasta County that is viviparous, meaning it does not lay eggs but rather gives birth to live young. Mating takes place in the spring, females give birth in the summer or early fall to typically 5 to 7 young, though much larger broods have been observed.
When giving birth, the female tucks her hind legs up above her tail (personal observation) and deposits the young one at a time encased in a thin membrane they quickly break out of. Adults do not care for the young. Once they are out, they are on their own.
Young Northern Alligator Lizard are patterned differently than adults, usually with a plain golden brown dorsal that may have a series of small dots running down the spine that eventually expand into the irregular bands found on some adults of this species.
At least in captivity, young Northern Alligator Lizards seem to prefer hiding above ground level in humid vegetation such as ferns rather than under cover objects. They also tend to drink from moisture on the vegetation rather than from sitting water.
Taxonomy
The subspecies that occurs in our area is the Shasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis).
In the extreme south eastern portion of the county, some specimens may be intergrades and exhibit some traits that are characteristic of the Sierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri).
Pronunciation
The assumed IPA pronunciation of this species: /ɛl ˈgɑr iɑ/ /koʊ rul ˈi ɑ/
Taxonomic Etymology
Elgaria is of unknown origin. Possibly named for an “Elgar” or a pun on “alligator.” (Beltz 2006).
coerulea -
shastensis - the Latin suffix -ensis indicates of or from a place. The type specimen for this subspecies was collected in Shasta County, two miles west of Burney (MVZ 15047).
palmeri honors Theodore S. Palmer (Beltz 2006).
Taxonomy Notes
Historically, this species was classified in the genus Gerrhonotus and may be referred to as Gerrhonotus coeruleus in some literature.
Additional Information
Images
Unless otherwise noted, all images are of wild specimens in Shasta County.
Please be kind, do not hotlink images and do not use images without permission of the copyright owner.
![[Northern Alligator Lizard]](/images/86sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Gravid Female. Intergrade between Shasta and Northwestern subspecies. Jackson County, OR.
![[Northern Alligator Lizard]](/images/109sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Captive born neonate basking on a fern. This specimen was born in captivity but is from the integrade zone between the Shasta Alligator Lizard and Northwestern Alligator Lizard in Jackson County, OR. This species likes higher humidity than the Southern Alligator Lizard and is usually found denser more humid forests than the Southern Alligator Lizard.
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
There currently are no images to display.
Similar Species
Southern Alligator Lizard
In the Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) the lengthwise stripes on the belly run down the center of the scale rows. In the Northern Alligator Lizard the stripes run between the scale rows.
Additionally, Southern Alligator Lizards have much more distinctive crossbands on the back and have much paler (often yellow) eyes.
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