The San Diego alligator lizard is a slender, snake-like reptile found along the coasts of California and Baja California. It has a brown, gray, red or yellow coloration with dark crossbars and white spots. When threatened, it will open its mouth wide to display teeth as a defense. It feeds primarily on insects but will also eat small invertebrates and snails. Females lay 5-20 eggs between May and July which hatch around 11 weeks later. The alligator lizard can be found under vegetation or near water in forests and grasslands from sea level to 7,500 feet.

1. San Diego Alligator Lizard

2. Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Family: Anguidae Subfamily: Gerrhonotinae Genus: Elgaria Species: multicarinata Subspecies: webbi

3. Physical Appearance Body length: 7.8-18.4 cm Tail length: up to twice the body length Slender, snake-like body Strong jaws – aids in gathering air-borne scents, which are transferred to roof of mouth General coloration: brown, gray, red, and yellow; dark, vertical crossbars spotted with white Eyes are usually yellow or black

4. Behavior Mostly active in cool temperatures and during the day When threatened by a predator, the lizard will open its mouth widely, showing teeth Sheds tail when attacked

5. Habitat Lives mostly on coasts, in grasslands, oak woodlands, pine woodlands, and other forests. Can be found under plant cover and near water sources in dry zones Abundant in places that are highly condensed with trees and other natural organisms.

6. Distribution Found in places from Washington to Baja, California and west of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Crest Can only be found in the United States and Mexico Found from sea level to 7500 feet in elevation

7. Diet Carnivores Feed on insects, especially beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and wasps Also feed on arthropods, such as spiders, centipedes, and scorpions Other animals that alligator lizards feed on are snails and tadpoles.

8. Reproduction and Development Lays 5-20 eggs between May and July Eggs will usually hatch after 11 weeks. Young lizards differ from adults – the stripes on their back are less distinct, and are beige or tan. Life span: up to 11 years

9. In the News… http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215191631.htm

10. Relationship to Humans Many people keep these animals as pets. They are not usually harmful toward humans, but can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, as well as ticks.

11. Works Cited http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/alligator_lizard/alligatorlizard.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/ http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Biology/Zoology/Animals__Insects__and_Pets/