Shasta Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea shastensis
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- E. c. shastensis – Humbolt Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis
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- E. c. shastensis – Siskiyou Co, CA – photo by Steve Zimmerman (www.naherp.com)
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- E. c. shastensis – Mendocino Co, CA – photo by Zach Lim (www.naherp.com)
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- E. c. shastensis – Mendocino Co, CA – photo by Zach Lim (www.naherp.com)
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- E. c. shastensis – Humbolt Co, CA – photo by Will Flaxington (www.naherp.com)
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Elgaria c. shastensis occurs in northern California from Sonoma County north to Humbolt County and east around the Central Valley into the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
LEGAL STATUS: Elgaria c. shastensis is protected in the state of Nevada.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Elgaria coerulea shastensis (Fitch – 1934)
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: shastensis, belonging to the Shasta Mountains – type locality, Shasta Co, CA 1932
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962