San Diego Alligator Lizard

Description:

There are two in this series. The last image shows my first glimpse of one in the dirt. One of these has a broken tail that has started growing back. The other has the typical long tail. "Large bony scales, a large head on an elongated body and powerful jaws probably give the lizards their common name. They are characterized by a slim body with short limbs and long tail. The tail can reach twice the length of its body if it has never been broken off and regenerated. Color is brown, grey, or yellowish above, sometimes with reddish or orange coloring on the middle of the back. Usually there are 9 - 13 dark bands on the back, sides, and tail, with adjacent white spots. On some lizards these dark bands are very pronounced, on others they are covered with reddish or yellowish color. Scales are keeled on the back, sides, and legs, with 14 rows of scales across the back at the middle of the body. The scales of this subspecies are more heavily keeled than with other subspecies, with the temporal scales also keeled. A band of small granular scales separates the larger bone-reinforced scales on the back and on the belly, creating a fold along each side. These folds allow the body to expand to hold food, eggs, or live young. The fold contracts when the extra capacity is not needed. The eyes are light yellow. The head is usually mottled with dark color. The head of a male is broader than a female's with a more triangular shape. Usually there are dark lines running lengthwise on the underside which run through the middle of the scales." - California Herps

Habitat:

These two were under leaves in a wood pile in the backyard. "Grassland, open forest, chaparral. Common in foothill oak woodlands. Commonly found hiding under rocks, logs, boards, trash, other surface cover. The subspecies Elgaria multicarinata webbii ranges from the border in San Diego County, north, primarily west of the transverse mountain ranges, to an intergrade range in Ventura County, and north along the Tehachapi mountains and the Sierra foothills to roughly Sacramento County. Also ranges north on the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains through the Owens valley where it is found in some isolated populations at Grant Lake, the Alabama Hills near Independence, Walker pass, and Walker Creek near Olancha. Also found in the Mojave Desert along the Mojave River, and on Santa Catalina and San Nicolas Islands." - California Herps

Notes:

My father moved some branches for me so I could find something hiding. bonus with two of these beauties! After taking some photo's, I opened the door and watched them run out. Juvenile can be seen at my other spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/687... This species "eats a variety of small invertebrates. Will also eat small lizards and small mammals. Occasionally feed on bird eggs and young birds. The scientific name means: Elgaria - obscure - possibly named for an "Elgar" or a pun on "alligator." / multicarinata - Latin multi many, and carinata keeled - refers to the keeled scales / webbii - honors" - California Herps