# Southern Alligator Lizard (*Elgaria multicarinata*) The Southern Alligator Lizard is a fun little reptile that loves to bask in the sun. With its long body and cool scales, it can often be found in gardens or under rocks. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Southern Alligator Lizard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/LIZARD%252C_ALLIGATOR_%28Elegaria_multicarinata%29_%286-22-10%29_canet_rd%252C_morro_bay%252C_slo_co%252CCA_-1_%284747274015%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LIZARD%252C_ALLIGATOR_%28Elegaria_multicarinata%29_%286-22-10%29_canet_rd%252C_morro_bay%252C_slo_co%252CCA_-1_%284747274015%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Alligator Lizard has a long, slender body with short legs and a long tail. Its overlapping, keeled scales are typically brown, grey, or olive, often with darker crossbands. A distinct fold of skin runs along each side of its body, and its belly is usually pale yellow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Anguidae - **Genus:** Elgaria ## Interesting facts - Despite their name, Southern Alligator Lizards are not related to alligators at all! - Some females can store sperm for months to fertilize eggs later, how cool is that? - These lizards can live in gardens, helping control pests like slugs and snails! - They can 'play dead' when threatened, lying still until danger passes, wow! ## Special abilities - **Escape Artist Tail:** Southern Alligator Lizard can drop its wiggling tail to distract predators, which helps them make a quick getaway! - **Expandable Body:** Southern Alligator Lizard has a unique skin fold along its sides that helps them expand to eat larger meals or carry eggs. - **Powerful Jaws:** Southern Alligator Lizard has strong jaws that help them crush exoskeletons of insects and hold onto squirming prey. - **Climbing Claws:** Southern Alligator Lizard can climb well using sharp claws and scaly skin, which helps them scale trees and rocks for hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-50 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-20 - **Incubation:** 30-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These carnivorous lizards eat a variety of insects, spiders, and even small rodents or other lizards. - **Primary Foods:** crickets, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, spiders, beetles - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — Snakes hunt these lizards for a meal. - **Hunts:** Two-spotted Cricket (*Gryllus bimaculatus*) — The lizard actively preys on many types of insects. - **Hunts:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — A common garden pest that these lizards enjoy eating. ## Traits - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see one, watch it from a distance and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Alligator Lizard? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Southern Alligator Lizard? 15-50 cm ### How much does Southern Alligator Lizard weigh? 0.01-0.1 kg ### How long does Southern Alligator Lizard live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Southern Alligator Lizard move? 10 km/h ### What does Southern Alligator Lizard eat? These carnivorous lizards eat a variety of insects, spiders, and even small rodents or other lizards. ### Where is Southern Alligator Lizard usually found? Urban areas ### How does Southern Alligator Lizard hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-diamond-mines-regional-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Ruth Bancroft Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruth-bancroft-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Sonoma Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-plaza) — California, US · Park - [Gaviota State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gaviota-state-park) — California, US · State Park - [Sacramento Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sacramento-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Alta Vista Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alta-vista-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Southern Alligator Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-alligator-lizard) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Southern Alligator Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-alligator-lizard)