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Reptiles of the United States
Snakes of the U.S.

Northern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus)


Adult Size: 8¾" to 13"

Description: Dark eyes with distinct fold along the sides. Olive to bluish; indistinct crossbands on back or transverse blotches or darker brown. Dark stripes along edges of underside scales. The young have a broad light stripe down the back and no crossbands.

Habitat: Under rotten logs, rocks, or loose bark in cool, moist woodlands to about 10,500 feet.

Breeding: Live Bearing. Mates in April at low elevations and in June in the highlands. Litters of 2 to 15 young are born in 7 to 10 weeks.

Range: Along the coast and in the Sierra Nevada range, northern California to southern British Columbia, southeast into northern Idaho and western Montana. Disjunct populations in extreme northeastern California (Modoc County) and southern Oregan (Lake County).

Diet: Insects, Millipedes, spiders, and snails.

Behavior: Diurnal. This psecies prefers cooler termperatures than most lizards, hence its occurence at high elevations. It remain active throughout the day searching for prey.

Conservation Status: The primary threat may be outright destruction of habitat. The species tolerates some habitat disturbances such as logging. Nussbaum et al. (1983) stated that the introduction of the cinnabar moth for weed (tansy ragweed) control may have adverse effects on northern alligator lizards. The moths are reported to be highly poisonous to the lizards.

Additonal Notes:

Subspecies:

San Francisco Alligator Lizard (G.c. coeruleus) - dark blotches on back, occasionally fused into a legnthwise band, back scales strongly keeled. Found on the California coast north and south of San Francisco Bay. Photo...

Northern Alligator Lizard (G.c. principis) - nearly unmarked or black on sides with light mid back lengthwise bacd, back scales are weakly keeled. Found in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington to Victoria Island, southeast into northern Idaho and western Montana. Photo...

Shasta Alligator Lizard (G.c. shastensis) - many dark blotches on back (sometimes in irregular crossbands), back scales weakly keeled. Found in southern Oregon into the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California. Photo...