Northern Alligator Lizard

About the Northern Alligator Lizard

The northern alligator lizard (Elgaria coerulea) is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to the North American west coast. There are four recognized subspecies. 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.

Four subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. Elgaria coerulea coerulea (Wiegmann, 1828) – San Francisco alligator lizard Elgaria coerulea palmeri (Stejneger, 1893) – Sierra alligator lizard

Elgaria coerulea principis (Baird & Girard, 1852) – Northwestern alligator lizard Elgaria coerulea shastensis (Fitch, 1934) – Shasta alligator lizard A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Elgaria.

The subspecies E. c. principis is one of seven species of lizards in Canada. The subspecific name, palmeri, is in honor of American zoologist Theodore Sherman Palmer. The northern alligator lizard is a medium-sized slender lizard. Adults reach a snout-to... Wikipedia →