San Diego San Diego Alligator LizardAlligator Lizard

ClassificationClassification

Kingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: Animalia

Phylum: ChordataPhylum: Chordata

Subphylum: VertebrataSubphylum: Vertebrata

Class: ReptiliaClass: Reptilia

Family: AnguidaeFamily: Anguidae

Subfamily: GerrhonotinaeSubfamily: Gerrhonotinae

Genus: Genus: ElgariaElgaria

Species: Species: multicarinatamulticarinata

Subspecies: Subspecies: webbi webbi

Physical AppearancePhysical Appearance

Body length: 7.8-18.4 cmBody length: 7.8-18.4 cm Tail length: up to twice the Tail length: up to twice the

body lengthbody length Slender, snake-like bodySlender, snake-like body Strong jaws – aids in Strong jaws – aids in

gathering air-borne scents, gathering air-borne scents, which are transferred to roof which are transferred to roof of mouthof mouth

General coloration: brown, General coloration: brown, gray, red, and yellow; dark, gray, red, and yellow; dark, vertical crossbars spotted vertical crossbars spotted with whitewith white

Eyes are usually yellow or Eyes are usually yellow or blackblack

BehaviorBehavior

Mostly active in cool Mostly active in cool temperatures and temperatures and during the dayduring the day

When threatened by When threatened by a predator, the lizard a predator, the lizard will open its mouth will open its mouth widely, showing teethwidely, showing teeth

Sheds tail when Sheds tail when attackedattacked

HabitatHabitat

Lives mostly on coasts, in grasslands, Lives mostly on coasts, in grasslands, oak woodlands, pine woodlands, and oak woodlands, pine woodlands, and other forests.other forests.

Can be found under plant cover and near Can be found under plant cover and near water sources in dry zoneswater sources in dry zones

Abundant in places that are highly Abundant in places that are highly condensed with trees and other natural condensed with trees and other natural organisms.organisms.

DistributionDistribution

Found in places from Found in places from Washington to Baja, Washington to Baja, California and west of California and west of the Cascade-Sierra the Cascade-Sierra Nevada CrestNevada Crest

Can only be found in the Can only be found in the United States and United States and MexicoMexico

Found from sea level to Found from sea level to 7500 feet in elevation7500 feet in elevation

DietDiet CarnivoresCarnivores Feed on insects, especially beetles, Feed on insects, especially beetles,

grasshoppers, crickets, and waspsgrasshoppers, crickets, and wasps Also feed on arthropods, such as Also feed on arthropods, such as

spiders, centipedes, and scorpionsspiders, centipedes, and scorpions Other animals that alligator lizards feed Other animals that alligator lizards feed

on are snails and tadpoles. on are snails and tadpoles.

Reproduction and Reproduction and DevelopmentDevelopment

Lays 5-20 eggs between Lays 5-20 eggs between May and JulyMay and July

Eggs will usually hatch Eggs will usually hatch after 11 weeks.after 11 weeks.

Young lizards differ from Young lizards differ from adults – the stripes on adults – the stripes on their back are less their back are less distinct, and are beige or distinct, and are beige or tan.tan.

Life span: up to 11 yearsLife span: up to 11 years

In the News…In the News…

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215191631.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215191631.htm

Relationship to Relationship to HumansHumans

Many people keep Many people keep these animals as these animals as pets.pets.

They are not usually They are not usually harmful toward harmful toward humans, but can humans, but can carry diseases such carry diseases such as Lyme disease, as as Lyme disease, as well as ticks.well as ticks.

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/alligator_lizard/alligatorlizard.htmhttp://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/alligator_lizard/alligatorlizard.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/ http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Biology/Zoology/Animals__Insects__and_Pets/http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Biology/Zoology/Animals__Insects__and_Pets/