General Distribution
Generally common in suitable habitats, the southern alligator lizard is widespread in
northern and central California west of the Sierra-Cascade crest and in southern California
west of the desert regions. Apparently absent from the extreme northwestern part of the state
and from the southern San Joaquin Valley, isolated populations are known from western Inyo
Co. and a desert extension of the range occurs along the Mojave River. Populations are also
known from most of the Channel Islands. Elevation sea level to 2250 m (7500 ft). Occurs
most commonly in valley-foothill habitat types, mixed chaparral, and in open areas of mixed
conifer forest. Habitat Requirements
Cover is provided by surface objects such as rocks, logs, dense vegetation, and
human debris. Refuge may also be taken in crevices and rock fissures. Individuals
occasionally burrow in loose soil around or under surface objects such as flat rocks. This
species sometimes climbs in dense, shrubby vegetation. This species occurs most commonly in open canopy stages of suitable habitats. Reproduction
Little is known about specific habitat requirements for courtship, mating,
and egg-laying in this lizard. Nussbaum et al. (1983) reports that eggs are deposited in
"burrows or in stable talus." Eggs are reported by Shaw (1943) to have been laid in the
burrow of a pocket gopher.In southern California, the first clutch of eggs is laid early in June and
hatches in about 11 weeks (Goldberg 1972). Two or even three clutches eggs may be laid by
females during a single season (Burrage 1965). Clutch size is about 12 with larger females
laying more, larger eggs than small females (Goldberg 1972). Daily/Seasonal Activity
Basically diurnal, this species is active at cooler temperatures than most
other lizards with which it coexists. Active southern alligator lizards have been found by
Brattstrom (1965) with body temperatures as low as 11° C (52° F). They are active earlier
and later in the day than most lizards, sometimes venturing onto warm roads at night. Activity
is reduced during the hot periods of summer. In cooler areas a period of winter inactivity
occurs but elsewhere individuals may be active all winter long. Diet and Foraging
Alligator lizards take mostly insects and other arthropods as prey but will take
larger food items, especially other lizards (Cunningham 1956). Evidence for their voracious
feeding habits is provided by King (1931) who observed a captive adult female consume 20
immature grasshoppers, 11 katydids, 7 shield bugs and stink bugs, and 3 spiders at a single
feeding. Cannibalism has been reported. Territoriality/Home Range
No information is available regarding the nature of the home range.
No evidence for the territorial defense of resources has been reported. Predator-Prey Relations
Racers, rattlesnakes, garter snakes, loggerhead shrikes, red-tailed hawks, and
domestic cats have been reported among the predators of alligator lizards. Competition with
other lizards for food, space, or othe resources is probably minimized by the unique
physiological tolerances of this species, which allow them to be active at different times and to
utilize different microhabitats than other lizards. Competition may be further reduced because
of the large range of prey size available to alligator lizards. Literature Cited
Brattstrom, B. H. 1965. Body temperatures of reptiles. Am. Midl. Nat. 73:376-422.
Burrage, B. R. 1965. Notes on the eggs and young of the lizards gerrhonotus multicarinatus webbi and g. m. nanus. Copeia 1965:512.
Cunningham, J. D. 1956. Food habits of the san diego alligator lizard. Herpetologica 12:225-230.
Dawson, W. R., and J. R. Templeton. 1966. Physiological responses to temperature in
the alligator lizard, gerrhonotus multicarinatus. Ecology 47:759-765.
Goldberg, S. R. 1972. Reproduction in the southern alligator lizard gerrhonotus
multicarinatus. Herpetologica 28:267:273.
King, F. W. 1931. Food habits of alligator lizards. Yosemite Nat. Notes 10:76.
Nussbaum, R. A., E. D. Brodie, Jr., and R. M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of
the Pacific Northwest. Univ. Press of Idaho. 332pp.
Shaw, C. E. 1943. Hatching of the eggs of the san diego alligator lizard. Copeia 1943:194.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
