Share your Elgaria pics!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I love alligator lizards! Here is my favorite sighting for 2009! It's a Shasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) from Denny, CA in Trinity County

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

other sightings...

E. c. shastensis/principis intergrades
(South Jetty, Humboldt Bay, Humboldt County, CA)





Northwestern (E. c. principis) (Hunter Creek, Del Norte County, CA)

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Shasta Alligator Lizard (E. c. shastensis) (Willow Creek, Humboldt County, CA)

Shasta Alligator (Bald Hills, Redwood National Park, Humboldt County, CA)



Oregon Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata scincicauda)
(Hiouchi Flat, Jed Smith Redwood SP, Del Norte County, CA)

[ConcinusMan]

The fourth pic is definitely a northern alligator lizard, pretty close to adult size, and live bearing.(notice his scales aren't heavily keeled like the southern, larger ones) They tend to be brown, like that, too.Tons of them can be found around my area. In early spring, when they are in breeding mode, the males' heads turn a sort of pinkish/coppery color and they will fight to the death if placed together.

In San Diego, in more inland "desert" like areas, as opposed to coastal scrub, I found southern alligator lizards that were downright monsterous! close to 2 feet long (snout to vent) with monsterous skulls/jaws. They would hiss loudly if cornered, with an open mouth. If captured, they would smear feces and deliver and painful, bleeding bite! I kept a few that size. They ate pinkies and baby birds! and occasionally lay eggs for me. My northern's were smooth, small, ate crickets and were live bearing. Sorry, no pics though. They are buried somewhere, lord knows where.

[ssssnakeluvr]

very nice lizards!!!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

The fourth pic is definitely a northern alligator lizard, pretty close to adult size, and live bearing.(notice his scales aren't heavily keeled like the southern, larger ones) They tend to be brown, like that, too.

The Northwestern Alligator Lizard is a subspecies of the Northern Alligator Lizard. Northerns (the live-bearers) usually have brown eyes and their ventral scales are divided by dark pigmentation; Southerns usually have yellow eyes and their ventral scales have dark pigmentation running down the center of the scale.

This is a Northern Alligator Lizard (principis/shastensis intergrade zone)


This is the belly of a Southern Aligator Lizard (scincicauda ssp.)

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

In San Diego, in more inland "desert" like areas, as opposed to coastal scrub, I found southern alligator lizards that were downright monsterous! close to 2 feet long (snout to vent) with monsterous skulls/jaws. They would hiss loudly if cornered, with an open mouth. If captured, they would smear feces and deliver and painful, bleeding bite!

I grew up in San Diego, so I know exactly what you are talking about. The San Diego Alligator Lizard (E. multicarinata webbi) is a monster! Bloodthirsty, stinky, dragons from hell... just kidding... My finger has fallen victim to their jaws many a time!

When you find an old male with an intact tail, it is truly a magnificent sight to see.

[ConcinusMan]

It would be interesting to see if those "intergrades" lay eggs or bear live young since all Southern's I had laid eggs, all northerns bore live.

[ConcinusMan]

True, true. I had moved from the Northwest to San Diego and was used to the Northwestern alligator lizards (The only lizard to be found in my county) so imagine my shock the first time I saw one of those San Diego monsters! I fully expected the huge gopher snakes and king snakes, but had no idea at the time that an alligator lizard could be so huge and vicious! I can't credit myself with finding the largest one I had. A cat had cornered it against a church and was swatting at it. Man, was that lizard ticked off! (22 inches, snout to vent)

[Stefan-A]

Interesting-looking natricines.