Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/124ds.jpg)
Description
Distribution Range
General range map taken from CWHR.
Museum records taken from following institutions: CAS Herps, MVZ Herps, LSUMZ Herps.
Typical Elevation
Based on records in our database, in Shasta County the Southern Alligator Lizard is typically found at all elevations up to 758m (2486ft). Maximum elevation we have a record for is 818m (2684ft).
Taxonomy
Every adult specimen I have personally encountered in Shasta County has lacked all head mottling, a trait consistent with the Oregon Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata scincicauda).
Most but not all adult specimens I have encountered in Shasta County have had some red pigment on the back, some very vividly. This is trait consistent with the California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata).
Henry Fitch classified Shasta County specimens he examined as the California Alligator Lizard (Fitch 1938 pg 391), but Fitch did not indicate an intergrade zone. I suspect if Fitch had examined the specimen in Record 311, he would have classified it as an Oregon Alligator Lizard as it seems to fit the description for that subspecies to every jot and tiddle. Other herpetologists have indicated an intergrade zone that includes at least part of the Shasta County population.
Pronunciation
The assumed IPA pronunciation of this species: /ɛl ˈgɑr iɑ/ /mʌl tɪ kɑr i ˈnɑ tɑ/
Taxonomic Etymology
Elgaria is of unknown origin. Possibly named for an “Elgar” or a pun on “alligator.” (Beltz 2006).
multicarinata is from Latin. The prefix multi- means many. The Latin carinata means keeled. This species has many keeled scales.
scincicauda is the combination of two Latin words.scinci is latin for “lizard”. cauda is latin for “tail”. It is likely a reference to the very long tails they can have (Beltz 2006).
Taxonomy Notes
The Oregon subspecies might end up being invalidated.
If the Oregon subspecies is not invalidated, it is my opinion that our population consists of the Oregon subspecies and a large intergration area with the California subspecies.
Historically, this species was classified in the genus Gerrhonotus and may be referred to as Gerrhonotus multicarinatus in some literature.
Additional Information
Notes
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.
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/46sm.jpg)
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/47sm.jpg)
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/55sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Shed skin found under a rotting log. Like snakes, Alligator lizards shed their skin in a complete pieces by literally crawling out of them, turning the shed skin inside out. Sulfur Creek Drainage. Redding, CA
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/42sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Belly shot of a Southern Alligator Lizard. Notice the dark lines go down the middle of the scales. Keswick Area near Sacramento River.
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/98sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Notice the yellow eyes that readily distinguish this species from the Northern Alligator Lizard. Adult female. Redding, CA.
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/124sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Adult male. Notice the very wide head that easily distinguishes the sex. Tamarack Rd, Shasta County, CA
![[Southern Alligator Lizard]](/images/125sm.jpg)
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
![[Southern Alligator Lizard habitat]](/images/99sm.jpg)
![[Southern Alligator Lizard habitat]](/images/126sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Pine habitat at a rather high elevation for the species (~ 800m, 2600 ft). Tamarack Rd, Shasta County, CA
Similar Species
Northern Alligator Lizard
In the Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea) the lengthwise stripes on the belly are between the scale rows. In the Southern Alligator Lizard the stripes run down the center of the scale rows.
Additionally, Northern Alligator Lizards have less distinctive crossbands on the back, if they have any at all, and have much darker eyes.
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