Reptile · GBIF taxon 2468262
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinataAlso known as California Alligator Lizard, San Diego Alligator Lizard
Southern alligator lizards forage through thick leaf litter and low vegetation using a slow, snake-like body wriggle aided by sturdy limbs. When cornered, they puff up their bodies, hiss, and clamp down with powerful jaws that refuse to let go easily. Females lay clutches of up to two dozen eggs in moist soil or decaying organic matter, often using communal nest sites during dry summer months.
ReptileInsectivorePrehensile Tail
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Spiders
- Snails
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawk
- California Kingsnake
- Domestic Cat
ThreatsDomestic cat predation, urban development, and vehicle strikes
HabitatsChaparral, oak woodland, grassland, riparian corridors, and suburban yards
Life span10–15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAnguidae
- GenusElgaria
- SpeciesElgaria multicarinata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Delivers a painful clamp with strong jaws if handled; observe from a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Strong jaw muscles allow for a stubborn, painful bite that can break skin and cause minor surface infection.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a long stiff body, yellow eyes, keeled dorsal scales, and a flexible lateral skin fold.
- What to do
- Leave wild individuals undisturbed and keep domestic pets away from yard rock piles where lizards shelter.
Responsible observation
- Garden Watch: Check under woodpiles, potted plants, and landscape rocks where they hunt garden pests.
- Give Space: Keep hands clear when clearing yard debris, as cornered individuals bite fiercely.
- Tail Safety: Never grab the tail, which detaches readily as a escape mechanism against predators.
Predator (c) Connor Long, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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