Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata
October 2008

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TAXONOMY & NOMENCLATURE
(Macey et al 1999) (Wiens and Slingluff
2001)


Describer and Date: Weigmann 1828 for Elgaria; Blainville 1835 for Elgaria multicarinata; Baird 1858 for E. m. webbi (Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Philadelphia 1858: 253-256)

Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Reptilia
             Order: Squamata
                Family: Anguidae
                    Subfamily: Gerrhonotinae
                           Genus: Elgaria
                                  Species: Elgaria multicarinata
                                        Subspecies: E. m. webbi (San Diego Alligator Lizard)
                                        Subspecies: E. m. multicarinata (California Alligator Lizard)
                                        Subspecies: E. m. scincicauda (Oregon Alligator Lizard)
                                        Subspecies: E. m. nana (Los Coronados Alligator Lizard)
                                        Subspecies: E. m. ignava (San Martin Alligator Lizard)


Taxonomic History and Nomenclature
Phylogeny

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT
(Hammerson & Hollingsworth IUCN 2008) (Stebbins 2003)

Distribution
Habitat:

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
(Ditmars 1933) (Lemm 2006) (Stebbins 1966) (Wiens and Slingluff 2001)


Body Length: Snout to Vent Length is 7.8 to 18.4 cm (3.1 to 7.25 in)
Tail Length: Up to twice the body length
General
Sexual Dimorphism Other Physical Characteristics

BEHAVIOR & ECOLOGY
(Brattstrom 1965) (Cowles 1946) (Kingsbury 1994) (Morey 2008) (Pough et al 1998)
(Rutherford & Gregory 2003) (Stebbins 1972)

Activity Cycle
Territory/Range Size Territorial Behavior Vocalizations Locomotion Interspecies Interaction

DIET & FEEDING
(Behler and King 1979) (Cunningham 1956) (King 1931) (Lemm 2006)


REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
(Burrage 1965) (Goldberg 1972) (Lemm 2006)

Courtship
  • Not well studied
  • Mating in early spring
Life Stages
      Egg
      Hatchlings       Young       Adults Longevity Mortality 
  • Snakes, loggerhead shrikes, red-tailed hawks, domestic cats are some reported predators on alligator lizards (Morey 2008)


DISEASES AND PATHOLOGY
(Goldberg & Bursey 1990) (Wright et al 1998)


MANAGED CARE


POPULATION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
(IUCN 2008) (Lemm 2006) (Rutherford & Gregory 2003)

Conservation Threats to survival
Important Web Resources:

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