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).
Additional Information
Notes
The Southern Alligator Lizards in Shasta County exhibit physical characteristics associated with two different subspecies. On the one hand, many (but not all) specimens in Shasta County express the red pigment on back associated with the California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata) but completely lack the head mottling of the California Alligator Lizard, a trait often associated with the Oregon Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata scincicauda).
Henry Fitch classified Shasta County specimens he examined as the California Alligator Lizard (Fitch 1938 pg 391) subspecies, 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.
However, some recent examination of the species on a genetic level casts some doubt on the validity of the Oregon Alligator Lizard as a valid subspecies (citation needed). Even though Fitch classifies our population as California Alligator Lizards and there is doubt to the validity of the Oregon Alligator Lizard subspecies, until the taxonomy is resolved this web site will ignore subspecies.
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/42sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Belly shot of Southern Alligator Lizard. Notice the dark lines go down the middle of the scales. Keswick Area near Sacramento River.
![[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/98sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Notice the yellow eyes that readily distinguish this species from the Shasta 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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