Do alligator lizards live underground?
They are diurnal and usually do their hunting in the mornings and evenings. The rest time is spent hiding under rocks, logs or in the brush. During cold winter months, they hibernate in underground burrows or in rock crevices and emerge only in the early spring.
Are alligator lizards territorial?
Because of this relatively small territory size, the alligator lizard exhibits territorial behavior, protecting its home and habitat. A term to describe this behavior is “site tenacious” (McBrayer and Anderson 2007).
What do baby alligator lizards look like?
Juvenile alligator lizards are often mistaken for skinks, (especially by those from the Southeast where similar-looking Ground Skinks are common). Hatchlings or newborns are very thin and small, roughly 4 inches long, with smooth shiny skin with a plain tan, light brown, or copper colored back and tail.
What eats a alligator lizard?
Predators include snakes, coyotes, bobcats, and hawks. The lizard’s tail can be detached as a mechanism to escape, and it is eventually regrown. They may also bite and defecate when handled.
How big does a juvenile alligator lizard get?
Juvenile Alligator Lizards. Juvenile alligator lizards are often mistaken for skinks, (especially by those from the Southeast where similar-looking Ground Skinks are common). Hatchlings or newborns are very thin and small, roughly 4 inches long, with smooth shiny skin with a plain tan, light brown, or copper colored back and tail.
What kind of eyes does an alligator lizard have?
Compare with the dark belly stripes of the Northern Alligator Lizard which occur between the scales here and here and below. Southern Alligator Lizards have yellow or light eyes. Compare with the darker eyes of the Northern Alligator Lizard.
Can a juvenile alligator be a different species?
Juvenile alligator lizards are often mistaken for different species, so they are included here separately. Northern and Southern Alligator lizards are very similar in appearance, but observing the color of the eye and the position of the dark stripes on the belly can help you differentiate them. Check the range, also.
Where to find alligator lizards in Southern California?
Alligator lizards do not typically bask in the sun out in the open or on top of a rock like many other lizard species. They seem to prefer sunny spots with some cover nearby. This is a lizard that is often seen in yards and garages in Southern California.
When do northern alligator lizards have their babies?
In northern parts of the world, northern alligator lizards will remain near their dens all year round. After the female’s mate, her babies will develop inside her body and are born after three months after their eggs are fertilized, which is usually around mid-August and mid-September.
Juvenile Alligator Lizards. Juvenile alligator lizards are often mistaken for skinks, (especially by those from the Southeast where similar-looking Ground Skinks are common). Hatchlings or newborns are very thin and small, roughly 4 inches long, with smooth shiny skin with a plain tan, light brown, or copper colored back and tail.
Are there any problems with a northern alligator lizard?
Here are the common problems that Northern Alligator Lizards experience: Reptiles like lizards come with parasites that at first may have no effect on their health, but when the lizard feels stressed or suffer any immune system condition, these parasites can cause dangerous life-threatening diseases.
Compare with the dark belly stripes of the Northern Alligator Lizard which occur between the scales here and here and below. Southern Alligator Lizards have yellow or light eyes. Compare with the darker eyes of the Northern Alligator Lizard.
