San Francisco Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea coerulea
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- E. c. coerulea – Marin Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis
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- E. c. coerulea – Santa Cruz Co, CA – photo by Lawerence Erickson (www.naherp.com)
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- E. c. coerulea – San Francisco Co, CA – photo by Zach Lim (www.naherp.com)
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- E. c. coerulea – San Francisco Co, CA – photo by Zach Lim (www.naherp.com)
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- E. c. coerulea – Contra Costa Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis (www.naherp.com)
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Elgaria c. coerulea occurs along the coast of central California from Sonoma County to Monterey County. It is also found on several of the islands in San Francisco Bay.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Elgaria coerulea coerulea (Wiegmann – 1828)
Genus: Elgaria, Obscure – possibly named after the Old English name “Elgar” meaning “elf spear” or “elf warrior” – pos. ref. to spear-shaped head of the genus
Species/Subspecies: coerulea, Latin = dark colored
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962