Northern alligator lizard

Appearance

Sierra alligator lizards are medium-sized slender lizards. Adults reach a snout-to-vent length of about 10 cm and a total length of roughly 27.5 cm. They have a distinct skin fold on their sides, separating the keeled scales on the back from the smooth ventral scales.

Their skin varies in color, but can be brown and white or greenish yellow and brown. They are brownish in color and often have dark blotches that sometimes blend together into bands. The throat and mouth area of some young individuals can be yellow. The belly is light gray. The eyes are dark. Their typical diet includes crickets, mealworms, and moths, but they will also take larger prey, such as small lizards, and will even eat small baby mice if given the opportunity.

Naming

The subspecific name, ''palmeri'', is in honor of American zoologist Theodore Sherman Palmer.

Distribution

The Northern alligator lizard occurs along the Pacific Coast and in the Rocky Mountains from southern British Columbia through Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana south through Oregon to the coastal range and the Sierra Nevada in central California.

Habitat

The species is widely distributed along the Pacific coast and can be found from sea level up to elevation of about 3,350 m. It is found in a variety of forested habitats and montane chaparral.

Reproduction

The Northern Alligator Lizard is live-bearing, producing up to 15 young, between June and September. During the spring breeding season, a male lizard grabs on to 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.