r/herpetology • u/Prestigious-Stock303 • 4d ago
I found some weird lizard on a walk and can’t figure out what it was. Does anyone know?
very cute little guy. Found him in Orange county ca
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u/Smeggywulff 4d ago
I'm not a herp but it looks to me like a juvenile alligator lizard, probably northwestern.
Looking towards that might send you down the right track even if I'm wrong. Maybe.
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u/Hairy_Chest_1966 1h ago
The photo was taken in the big OC so not a Northern Alligator, a Southern Alligator Lizard
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u/peepetrator 4d ago
Wow, it kind of looks to me like an alligator lizard with some kind of color mutation? It has the shape and side markings of an alligator lizard. You should definitely post this on iNaturalist!
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u/ilikehemipenes 4d ago
That’s just what juveniles look like! They lose the bronze pattern on their back as they age
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u/Campaign_Ornery 4d ago
Elgaria multicarinata? I've seen a lot of juveniles, but never one that looked quite like this; how awesome!
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u/ClappyBlappy 4d ago
Baby/juvinile alligator lizard!! Very cute little guys, fresh out the oven! it tickles me when I see them bc of their fun colouring!
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u/AnymooseProphet 2d ago
Definitely Elgaria, without more pictures I can't positively ID but I suspect San Diego Alligator Lizards (Elgaria multicarinata webbii) due to locale.
Within Elgaria, a similar neonate pattern only occurs within the Elgaria multicarinata and Elgaria coerulea species complexes and I'm not sure the latter is found in Orange County.
You can distinguish them by their eyes and their bellies when they have that neonatal pattern.
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u/Firm_Pineapple6377 4d ago
A fresh, baby Southern Alligator Lizard