Northern Alligator Lizard © William P. Leonard

Lizards

Description 8 3/4-13" (22.2-33.0 cm). Eyes dark. Distinct fold along sides. Olive to bluish; indistinct crossbands on back or transverse blotches of darker brown. Dark stripes along edges of belly scales. Young have broad light stripe down the back, no crossbands.

Subspecies San Francisco (E. c. coerulea), dark blotches on back, occasionally fused into lengthwise band, back scales strongly keeled; California coast north and south of San Francisco Bay.
Sierra (E. c. palmeri), dark markings on back indistinct or absent, back scales strongly keeled; Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Northwestern (E. c. principis), nearly unmarked or black on sides with light mid-back lengthwise band, back scales weakly keeled; Cascade mountains of Oregon and Washington to Victoria Island, southeast into n. Idaho and w. Montana.
Shasta (E. c. shastensis), many dark blotches on back (sometimes in irregular crossbands), back scales weakly keeled; s. Oregon into Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountains of n. California.

Breeding Live-bearing. Mates in April at low elevations, in June in highlands. Litters of 2-15 are born in 7-10 weeks.

Habitat Under rotten logs, rocks, or loose bark in cool, moist woodlands to about 10,500' (3,200 m).

Range Along coast and in Sierra Nevada range, n. California to s. British Columbia, southeast into n. Idaho and w. Montana. Disjunct populations in extreme ne. California (Modoc County) and s. Oregon (Lake County).

Discussion Diurnal. This species prefers cooler temperatures than most lizards; hence its occurrence at high elevations. It remains active throughout the day, feeding on insects, millipedes, spiders, and snails.