A slender brown lizard with a long tail and small legs that walks with a sinuous, almost serpentine motion. Common in Pacific Northwest gardens, where they control insect pests.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The northern alligator lizard is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the North American west coast.
Source: Wikipedia — Northern alligator lizard Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Slender lizard with brown back marked with darker crossbands; pale belly; rounded snout.
Similar species. Other alligator lizards. Western Fence Lizard (different scale pattern).
Voice. N/A.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, spiders, small invertebrates.
Behavior. Pacific Northwest lizard of moist coniferous forests. Live-bearing (vs. egg-laying of most US lizards). Cold-tolerant; active at low temperatures.
§ Range
Pacific Northwest
§ Habitat
Coniferous forests, oak woodlands, gardens
§ Threats
Habitat loss to development, outdoor cat predation, garden pesticides.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern alligator lizard is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain garden cover. Keep cats indoors. Skip pesticides.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Northern alligator lizard
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Elgaria coerulea
- IUCN Red List · taxon 178309
- iNaturalist · taxon 36531
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Elgaria coerulea
§ Sources cited
- Oregon State University
- Davidson College Department of Biology
- IUCN Red List 2010
