These long-tailed lizards are found throughout the Northwest and west coast. Their range includes northern Idaho, western Montana, southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern and central California. Like alligators, their scales are reinforced by bones.
The life of a northern alligator lizard
Northern alligator lizards grow 10 to 11 inches long, with six inches of tail. They weigh about two ounces and live about 10 years. They prefer forest habitats with lots of vegetation and rocky areas.
Northern alligator lizards hibernate during the winter and begin breeding in mid-April, continuing through mid-June. Although most lizards lay eggs, female northern alligator lizards give birth to live young, as many as 15 at a time.
Northern alligator lizards are carnivores with a diverse diet. They feed primarily on insects including grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, roaches, moths, beetles and millipedes. They also eat snails, spiders, baby mice, bird eggs and smaller lizards.
Although they spend most of their time on land, northern alligator lizards are skilled swimmers. They often flee into water to evade predators. When attacked, they can also detach their tails to distract predators while they escape. The tail regrows but is shorter than the original. Predators include snakes, birds of prey, weasels, bobcats, coyotes and domestic cats.
Northern alligator lizards at the zoo
Located in the Cascades Building.
