preview

Genus:Elgaria. Species: Elgaria Coerulea. Common Name:

Better Essays
GENUS: Elgaria SPECIES: Elgaria coerulea COMMON NAME: Northern Alligator Lizard CITES: No listing. IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least concern. INTERNATIONAL STATUS: No listing. NATIONAL STATUS: No listing. REGIONAL STATUS: No listing. DESCRIPTION: DESCRIPTION: V-shaped head with rounded snout. Ranging from 7 to 13.6 cm in length with an elongate body (Stebbins 2003). The tympanum is visible. Front limbs and hind limbs are about equal in size, with the hind limbs slightly larger than the front. All four limbs are short with no visible webbing between the toes. The ring and middle fingers are longer than the other fingers, and the toes are all a similar size. Tails are slightly shorter than the length of the torso and taper at the tip.…show more content…
DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT: The following information was obtained from Stebbins (2003): this species and its subspecies can be found on the pacific coast of the United States from mid-California up through southern Canada. Predominately found near the coast, however, some can be found in northern Idaho, western Montana, western Nevada, and eastern California; and from sea level up into the mountains at 3,200 meters. The Northwestern Alligator Lizard covers the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Canada region, the Shasta Alligator Lizard is found in northern California, southern Oregon, and northwestern Nevada. The Sierra Alligator Lizard is found in eastern California and near Reno, Nevada. The San Francisco Alligator Lizard can be found near the bay area in western California. They tend to frequent the forests and woodlands, but have less often been seen in sagebrush and grassland. They can often be found in cool, dark habitats under wood, bark, or rocks or in dense plant habitat. LIFE HISTORY, ABUNDANCE, ACTIVITY, and SPECIAL BEHAVIORS: The species is diurnal, and hibernation occurs in the winter months and they are present from April through September (Guide). It is stable with large, tolerant, and widespread populations (Hammerson 2007). Feeds on insects, insect larvae, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, snails, spiders, ticks, and worms (Stebbins 2003). The breeding season is June through September; the females
Get Access