2 Types of Alligator Lizards in Oregon! (ID Guide)
“How many ALLIGATOR lizards are there in Oregon?”
If you’ve ever seen a photo of a baby alligator, you will immediately know how Alligator Lizards got their name!
These small, thick-bodied lizards with long tails look just like shrunken-down alligators, with their brightly colored eyes and hard, ridged scales.
Unlike alligators though, they stay small and are relatively hard to find in the wild. If you do see one, you’ll have to be quick to catch a glimpse! Alligator Lizards are fast, agile, and prone to hide when they are threatened.
Today, you’ll learn the 2 kinds of Alligator Lizards in Oregon.
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#1. Southern Alligator Lizard
- Elgaria multicarinata
Identifying Characteristics:
- 2.75-7 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- The coloring is brown, gray, or reddish with dark bands and sometimes white spots.
- The eyes are pale yellow.
- The tail is long; often twice the length of the body.
The Southern Alligator Lizard’s habitat is primarily open grassland and pine forest. They will sometimes go into the water to escape a predator but live on land.
You may even find one around your house if you live in their range – they particularly like woodpiles and trash heaps!
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Southern Alligator Lizards in Oregon have a dangerous favorite food – the Black Widow Spider!
This highly venomous spider doesn’t have very many predators, but Southern Alligator Lizards eat them frequently.
There are three subspecies of the Southern Alligator Lizard:
- California Alligator Lizard (E.m. multicarinata) has red blotches on its back.
- San Diego Alligator Lizard (E.m. webbii) is larger, and the scales have a more prominent ridge than others.
- Oregon Alligator Lizard (E.m. scincicauda) has smooth scales and lacks mottling on the head.
#2. Northern Alligator Lizard
- Elgaria coerulea
Identifying Characteristics:
- 2.75-5.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is variable; gray, olive, brown, rust-red, greenish, or blue are common.
- Dark crossbands are common, and sometimes a middle stripe is present.
Northern Alligator Lizards in Oregon are the most varied in appearance.
The four subspecies all have slightly different characteristics and different ranges. If you find a Northern Alligator Lizard in the wild, the easiest way to tell which subspecies you have found is by location.
All the subspecies prefer woodland and forested areas in a damp, cool climate. They eat insects, ticks, centipedes, slugs, and spiders. Yum!
The four subspecies of the Northern Alligator Lizard are:
- San Francisco Alligator Lizard (E.c. coerulea) Large, dark blotches appear on the back and sometimes look like crossbands.
- Shasta Alligator Lizard (E.c. shastensis) The most variable in color, and most colors besides brown and gray are Shasta Alligator Lizards.
- Northwestern Alligator Lizard (E.c. principis) Smaller than other subspecies with a broad, tan stripe on the back.
- Sierra Alligator Lizard (E.c. palmeri) The only visual difference is the number of scale rows on the back – location is your best tool for identification.
Do you need additional help identifying Alligator Lizards?
Try this field guide!
Which of these Alligator Lizards have you seen in Oregon?
Leave a comment below!
