Elgaria multicarinata

Southern Alligator Lizard

Identification/Variations: A large -bodied lizard that is usually a dark green with black markings across the back and white and markings on the side. There are 3 documented regional variations of this lizard with the California and San Diego Alligator Lizards living in California, but only the Oregon Alligator Lizard lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Range/Habitat: Seems to prefer open oak woodlands. These lizards prefer slightly warmer and drier conditions than Northern Alligator Lizards. They range from Baja California north through western Oregon and enter Washington on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.

Notes: The males of this species get quite large compared to the other lizards that live in western Oregon and Washington. They will occasionally stand their ground and open their mouths in warning rather than run away. These lizards seem to do alright even in urban areas. They may be found in the backyards or parks of the outskirts of small communities.