ALLIGATOR LIZARD Gerrhonotus multicarinarus

Reptiles don't do very well in the city. They do much better in their natural habitat. There are plenty of bugs and small rats for them to eat in Southern California. Many kinds of reptiles once lived here in large numbers anyway. Then something big happened. Scientists think that the best habitats for the reptiles, which are lots of tall grasses, low bushes, and rivers with gravel and rocks at the bottom, began to disappear. Not only that, but people kill a lot of reptiles because they think reptiles do not look very nice and friendly. For these reasons, many reptiles do not do well in the city.

The alligator lizard is one cold-blooded creature that does quite well in the city. There are a lot of alligator lizards in Southern California. This lizard is call an alligator lizard because it has a large head with big jaws. This lizard opens its mouth, looks mean and tries to bite if it thinks someone is going to hurt it. The alligator lizard really looks like a mix up between a lizard and a snake. It is a yellowish-tan color with black stripes and a gray belly. Its body is 12 inches long or more. Most of the 12 inches is its tail. It has four very small, weak legs that push it along in a snake-like motion. Its tongue flicks in and out like a snake. Alligator lizards walk very slowly.

Alligator lizards really like ground that is covered with lots of thick grasses and plants. Most California lizards live in the open spaces, but, like snakes, they hide to protect themselves.

When the weather gets hot, alligator lizards look for shade and water. In the summer, they turn up in swimming pools, houses and bathtubs where it is cool. In the spring, they are ready to start a family so they come out of hiding.

Alligator lizards do not eat the scraps and garbage left by people. They eat slugs, snails and bugs that crawl on the ground in your backyard. We should be happy to have alligator lizards. They keep the bugs and snails from destroying our gardens!