Northern alligator lizard
Northern alligator lizard | |
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Elgaria coerulea | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Anguidae |
Genus: | Elgaria |
Species: | E. coerulea
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Binomial name | |
Elgaria coerulea (Wiegmann, 1828)
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Synonyms | |
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The northern alligator lizard (Elgaria coerulea) is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the North American west coast.
Taxonomy
The northern alligator lizard was formerly known by the scientific name of Gerrhonotus coeruleus Wiegmann, 1828, but more recently has been assigned to the genus Elgaria.
Subspecies
Four
- E. c. coerulea (Wiegmann, 1828) – San Francisco alligator lizard
- E. c. palmeri (Stejneger, 1893) – Sierra alligator lizard
- E. c. principis Baird & Girard, 1852 – Northwestern alligator lizard
- E. c. shastensis (Fitch, 1934) – Shasta alligator lizard
A
The subspecies E. c. principis is one of seven species of
Etymology
The subspecific name, palmeri, is in honor of American zoologist Theodore Sherman Palmer.[3]
Description
The northern alligator lizard is a medium-sized slender lizard. Adults reach a
Diet
The typical diet of E. coerulea includes crickets, slugs, beetles, spiders, and moths, but it will also take larger prey, such as small lizards, and will even eat small baby mice if given the opportunity.
Reproduction
The northern alligator lizard is live-bearing, producing up to 15 young (typically 4–5), between June and September.[4] During the spring breeding season, a male lizard grasps the head of a female with his mouth until she is ready to let him mate with her. They can remain attached this way for many hours, almost oblivious to their surroundings. Besides keeping her from running off to mate with another male, this probably shows her how strong and suitable a mate he is.[5]
Distribution
Ranges of
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The northern alligator lizard occurs along the
The species is widely distributed along the
As winter sets in, colder temperatures force northern alligator lizards to undergo brumation. Brumation allows them to reduce caloric usage and retain body heat during winter.[6] Often, western alligator lizards choose to hide under rocks—though logs and burrows are occasionally used—to undergo this process. [7]
See also
References
- . Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Species Elgaria coerulea at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Elgaria coerulea palmeri, p. 200).
- ISBN 978-0-395-98272-3. (Elgaria coerulea, pp. 332-333 + Plate 41 + Map 126).
- ^ "Northwestern Alligator Lizard - Elgaria coerulea principis". Californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "Definition of BRUMATION". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ISSN 0022-1511.
Further reading
- Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Anguidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (Gerrhonotus cæruleus, pp. 273–274).
- Wiegmann AF (1828). "Beiträge zur Amphibienkunde ". Isis von Oken 21 (4): 364-383. (Gerrhonotus coeruleus, new species, p. 380). (in German and Latin).
External links
- Images from Californiaherps.com
- Description and range map from the California Department of Fish and Game.
- Taxonomical Information
- Description, photos, and information from the British Columbia Ministry of Environment