Description: Elgaria coerulea ranges from 2 3/4 to 5 7/8 inches in length from snout to vent. They are characterized by a thick rounded body with short limbs and long tail. Large bony scales, a large head on an elongated body and powerful jaws probably give the lizards their common name. The tail can reach twice the length of its body if it has never been broken off and regenerated. Scales are keeled on the back, sides, and legs, with 16 rows of scales across the back at the middle of the body. (Compare with the 14 rows of scales found on the Southern Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata.) The temporals are weakly keeled. A band of small granular scales separates the larger bone-reinforced scales on the back and on the belly, creating a fold along each side. These folds allow the body to expand to hold food, eggs, or live young. The fold contracts when the extra capacity is not needed. The head of a male is broader than a female's with a more triangular shape.

Color is brown, gray, olive, or brown, above, with heavy dark blotches or irregular crossbands edged with white spots. Usually the dark bands on the back are so irregular that they cannot be counted. Some lizards have very little pattern, appearing to have only faint dark markings. Others have a broad stripe on the back. The underside is yellowish or greenish. The head is usually mottled with dark color. The eyes are relatively dark around the pupils compared with the light eyes of a similar species - the Southern Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata. Usually there are dark lines running lengthwise on the belly which run between the scales, along the edge of the scales. (Compare with the underside lines on the Southern Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata which run through the middle of the scales.) Newborn lizards are very thin and small, roughly 4 inches long, with smooth shiny skin with a plain tan, light brown, or copper colored back and tail. The sides are darker and sometimes mottled or barred as they are on adults. Juveniles gradually develop the large scales and heavy dark barring found on the back and tails of adults.

Habitat: Woodland, forests, grassland. Commonly found hiding under rocks, logs, bark, boards, trash, or other surface cover. Prefers wetter and cooler habitats than E. multicarinata, but generally found near sunny clearings.

Range: In California, the subspecies Elgaria coerulea principis is only found in the extreme northwest in Del Norte and Siskiyou counties, and possibly northern Humboldt County. Outside of California, the range extends north to British Columbia, including Vancouver Island, and east through northern Washington to extreme northwest Montana.

Found in these States: CA | ID | MT | OR | WA

Diet: Eats a variety of small invertebrates, including slugs, snails, and worms. Will also eat small lizards and small mammals. Occasionally feed on bird eggs and young birds.

Reproduction: After mating, the female carries her young inside her until they are born live and fully-formed, sometime between June and September. During the spring breeding season, a male lizard grabs on to the head of a female with his mouth until she is ready to let him mate with her. They can remain attached this way for many hours, almost oblivious to their surroundings. Besides keeping her from running off to mate with another male, this probably shows her how strong and suitable a mate he is.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of the wide distribution, large number of populations, the species' tolerance of some forms of habitat disturbance, and the relatively stable population trend.

Taxonomy: