McMartinVille--Reptiles

 
NO NEED FOR A CAR, CLICKED YER MOUSE... AND HERE YOU ARE! "McMartinVille"
 

San Diego Alligator Lizard

Order:  Squamata (scaled reptiles)
Suborder:  Lacertilia (=Sauria) (lizards)
Family:  Anguidae (alligator and legless lizards)
Genus:  Elgaria (western alligator lizards)

Scientific Name:  Elgaria multicarinata webbi (Baird, 1858)

Habitat:  Grasslands to open woodlands where ample shelter is available.

Elgaria=perhaps an adaptation of "alligator," multi="many," carinata="keeled," webbi in honor of Dr. Thomas H. Webb who collected the type specimen

Length: To almost 17 inches total, most of which is tail. Former Scientific Name: Gerrhonotus multicarinatus webbi
Food:  Just about anything it can swallow! Southern Alligator Lizard Range

I found numerous alligator lizards under boards and discarded tin sheets in valleys near Carlsbad and Riverside in January 2004.  Expelled fecal matter (the lizard's, not mine!) can be seen in this picture near the lizard's hind foot--upon capture, most of the alligator lizards I encountered discharged the contents of their bowels as a defensive tactic, and maneuvered in an attempt to smear it all over my hands.  Some were successful!

San Diego Alligator Lizard
This is a closeup of one of the lizards' heads.  Some specimens are large enough to inflict a painful bite. San Diego Alligator Lizard