Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's another shot of Red, my southern alligator lizard

Here's a southern al I caught in my backyard last month, I'm not sure of the sex, but it looks like a keeper

Here's a golding juvenile Southern Alligator Lizard I caught 3 months ago.

Here's a pic of Red, the barred red one and the gold juvi

Here's another Southern Al from my backyard. When I cuaght her she had a thorn stuck in her jaw. She was thin, but obviously gravid. I removed the thorn and fattened her up. Prior to her release she laid 15 eggs which I'm presently incubating.

Here's a really dark little Southern Alligator Lizard I found and photographed on Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA.

Do you visit Vandenburge a lot? I dont believe that is to far away from were I live. Maybe we can go fielde collecting some time? I live Just outside of Lake Comanche neer Ione Ca, From my front deck we watch the rockets lift off from Vandenburge
RR

I work as a wildlife biologist for SRS Technologies in Lompoc, they do a lot of environmental work for the base so I visit Vandenberg on an almost daily basis. I actually live in Orcutt. The dark juvi (who I did not keep) and the gold juvi (who I kept) both came from Vandenberg. I found the other three in my backyard.

-Alice

Are you finding these near Vandenberg? A few years back I found 2 huge male fighting in the oak leaves just outside of Ojai. They were pretty good looking, but the biggest I'd ever seen. Heads pushing 1.25" wide at the jaws. Are those Southerns in that area or san Diegos? I never did the homework to see. Good luck with your eggs, I just hatch 9 screeming red SD's here in Utah, they originated around wrightwood ca. Fortunatly I can sell mine legally here!
Chuck

I found the dark juvi (who I photographed and released) and the gold juvi (who I kept) on Vandenberg. I found the other three in my backyard in Orcutt. I released the "Mamma" a couple months ago after she had laid her eggs and put some weight back on. I ran into her again in my backyard last week and she was looking great. As far as the eggs go, they all look viable. Unless a real screamer hatches out or I run into someone who wants a couple I'll probably just release them.

As far as classification goes, the San Diegos are a subspecies of the Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata webbii). Mine, which all originate from Santa Barbara County are members of the California subspecies (E. m. multicarinata). So far Californias are all that I've encountered. I've never seen any individuals as large as you describe. Here a male approaching 1" at the jaws is huge.

-Alice

Alice,
If you plan to sell your beautiful reds, or the hatchlings, or any fine healthy gator lizard, pls put me on your list.
LG

Do you live in California? I think that the fishing regs allow you to give away offspring as long as they stay in state and the recipient stays within the legal bag limit. In order to sell them I'd have to get a captive breeding permit. Then I could sell them out of state or to other permit holders in state. I'm considering applying for a permit, but by the time I get around to it the eggs will probably have hatched

-Alice

I live in the bay area. There are redbacks here, but not as defined as yours. Actually, there are many colored variations of multicarinatus within the area. I believe you can just breed out the colors. Alligator lizards doesn't seem to be as popular as your leopard geckos, chameleons, bearded dragons..etc. Maybe because of CA's absurd laws. Its the pet owners that gets pinged rather than the land developers that would wipe out their environment. I'd love to start breeding them, but I'd need a lesson in genetics.