Sierra Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea palmeri
-
- E. c. palmeri – Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis
-
- E. c. palmeri – Tuolumne Co, CA – photo by Chad Lane (www.naherp.com)
-
- E. c. palmeri – Tuolumne Co, CA – photo by Chad Lane (www.naherp.com)
-
- E. c. palmeri – Sierra Co, CA – photo by John Stephenson (www.naherp.com)
-
- E. c. palmeri – Sierra Co, CA – photo by John Stephenson – Juvenile (www.naherp.com)
-
- E. c. palmeri – Kern Co, CA – photo by Steve Zimmerman (www.naherp.com)
-
- E. c. palmeri – Butte Co, CA – photo by John Stephenson (www.naherp.com)
-
- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Elgaria c. palmeri occurs in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains from Plumas County south to Kern County, and in extreme western Nevada.
LEGAL STATUS: Elgaria c. palmeri is protected in the state of Nevada.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Elgaria coerulea palmeri (Stejneger – 1893)
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: coerulea, Latin = dark colored
Subspecies: palmeri, honors Theodore S. Palmer
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962