Lizards in California: A Guide to the Common Species

As a state with diverse landscapes including coastal areas, forests deserts, and mountains California is home to a wide variety of lizard species. From tiny geckos to large chuckwallas, these reptiles have adapted to fill ecological niches across the state. This article provides an overview of the most common lizards found in California, including details on their identification, habitat, diet, and behavior.

Alligator Lizards

California has two native species of alligator lizards – the Northern Alligator Lizard and the Southern Alligator Lizard. As their names suggest, they are most easily distinguished by their geographic ranges, with the Northern species in northern California and the Southern species in southern California and Baja.

These medium to large lizards have flattened bodies and long tails. Their scales are smooth and shiny, unlike the spiny scales seen on fence and sagebrush lizards. Coloration varies from brown to yellowish-green, often with light stripes running down the back. Dark blotches may form bands across the back as well.

Alligator lizards are predominantly terrestrial found in a variety of habitats including woodlands chaparral, and stream sides. They are diurnal and often seen basking on trails or under debris. An ambush predator, the alligator lizard waits motionless for prey like insects, spiders, smaller lizards, and even small mammals. When threatened, they may open their mouths wide to expose a bright pink tongue and hiss.

Fence Lizards

The common western fence lizard is aptly named, as these small lizards are often seen perched on fences, logs, rocks, and trees. They have rough, keeled scales and a somewhat elongated body with a very long tail. Coloration is brown or grayish with dark blotches, and mature males develop bright blue patches on their bellies and throats.

Sometimes called “swifts” due to their speed, fence lizards inhabit a wide range of habitats including deserts, woodlands, farms, and suburban areas. This species is active during the day, frequently basking in the sun and doing “push-ups” to communicate with other lizards. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Fence lizards are one of the most widespread and commonly encountered lizards in California.

Skinks

Skinks are smooth-scaled lizards in the family Scincidae. Two species are native to California – the western skink and Gilbert’s skink. These small to medium-sized lizards have shiny, overlapping scales and slim, snake-like bodies with small legs. Coloration is brown, gray, or olive, often with yellow or white stripes down the back. The tails of juveniles are bright blue but fade as they mature.

Western and Gilbert’s skinks prefer moist habitats like stream sides, woodlands, and meadows. They are secretive, spending much time under fallen logs, rocks, and leaf litter. Skinks eat a variety of small prey including insects, spiders, snails, and eggs. They are terrestrial but can climb into low vegetation. When caught, they may lose all or part of their tails through caudal autotomy.

Whiptail Lizards

Whiptails are slim, graceful lizards with extremely long tails that comprise over half their total length. They live throughout the arid deserts and grasslands of California. Coloration is variable, ranging from solid light brown to a striped or spotted pattern of light and dark marks down the back.

Active during the day, whiptails can often be seen darting across roads or through the sparse vegetation of their habitat. Their diet is insectivorous, consisting mainly of ants, termites, beetles, and other small arthropods. Most whiptail species in California are parthenogenetic – females reproduce asexually so all individuals are female clones. This is believed to have evolved as a reproductive strategy in marginal desert environments.

Horned Lizards

The aptly named horned lizards are low-bodied with blunt snouts and an array of horns and spines around the head and body. California has several species, most notably the coast horned lizard and the desert horned lizard. Coloration ranges from gray to reddish-brown, often with pale edged dark blotches on the back.

These well-camouflaged lizards inhabit a variety of dry, open areas including deserts, grasslands, and coastal flats. They forage on the ground for ants and other insects, relying on their spines and ability to flatten their bodies to the ground when threatened. A unique defense mechanism is squirting blood from the corners of their eyes at predators. Horned lizards are diurnal, active at warmer times of day.

Collared Lizards

Collared lizards are large, boldly marked lizards of the desert southwest. In California, they are restricted to dry eastern parts of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. As their name suggests, they have a black collar which contrasts with the grayish-tan body. The tail is grey with black bands.

These lizards inhabit rocky outcrops and arid valleys, often observed perching atop boulders. Powerful hind legs allow them to run on their rear feet over short distances. Collared lizards prey on other reptiles and arthropods, even smaller rodents on occasion. They are territorial, with males displaying head-bobs and arm push-ups toward intruders.

Night Lizards

California is home to several species of night lizards in the genus Xantusia. They are small, cryptic lizards of the deserts and coastal regions, nocturnal but possibly active in day as well. Coloration is drab grays and browns with dark mottling to match the rocks they inhabit. Their toes have adhesive pads suited for climbing smooth surfaces.

Secretive and difficult to observe, night lizards spend daytime hidden in rock crevices, emerging at night to hunt small prey like insects, spiders, and scorpions. Their populations are localized to rocky outcrops. Conservation efforts focus on preserving these unique microhabitats.

Geckos

Geckos are small, nocturnal lizards with large eyes and various adhesive structures on their toes that allow them to climb vertical surfaces. Native species in California include the western banded gecko and California leaf-toed gecko, while several non-native species are introduced in limited areas. Coloration ranges from light tan to reddish-brown, often with darker bands, spots, or striping.

The native geckos are found in rocky arid habitats and canyonlands, sheltering in crevices by day and emerging at night to feed on insects around lights and vegetation. The Mediterranean house gecko and Asian tropical house gecko are recent invaders associated with human dwellings, especially around exterior lighting that attracts their insect prey.

Legless Lizards

California hosts several species of legless lizards in the genus Anniella. They resemble snakes but have eyelids and external ear openings like other lizards. Coloration varies from light brown to silvery gray, and scales have a smooth, glossy appearance. Legless lizards are small, typically under a foot in length.

These secretive lizards spend much time buried in loose soil or underneath debris. They are rarely observed moving unless unearthed while gardening or digging. Legless lizards prey on small invertebrates like insects, spiders, and larvae. Their populations are geographically localized and some species are of conservation concern.

Chuckwallas

The common chuckwalla is a stocky, round-bodied lizard reaching up to 18 inches long. Coloration is grayish to reddish-brown with dark blotches on the back and sides. The loose skin folds of this species enable it to inflate itself as a defensive posture. Males develop black throat patches and orange to red color on their sides during breeding season.

Chuckwallas inhabit rocky outcrops and boulder piles in arid desert habitats. They are well adapted to hot, dry conditions. These herbivorous lizards feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits of desert plants. Primarily crevice dwellers, they lounge at rock openings or bask on top of boulders. When threatened, they rapidly take cover in rock fissures.

Desert Iguana

The desert iguana is a large grayish lizard reaching up to 16 inches long. It has a slight pink or orange blush on the jowls and sides during breeding season. The blunt tail has wide black and white bands below. Juveniles have bright green color that fades as they mature.

This iguana inhabits sandy flats and washes of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. A herbivore, it feeds on buds, fruits, leaves, and flowers of desert vegetation. The desert iguana excavates burrows in loose soil for shelter and laying eggs. When inactive, it wedges deeply into soil or a burrow during periods of extreme heat or cold.

Zebra-tailed Lizards

The zebra-tailed lizard is a small species found in sandy desert habitats like washes and dunes. It has a brownish body with white and black bands on its very long tail, reminiscent of a zebra stripe pattern. The underside is white and the blunt snout has a tiny spine at the tip.

Zebra-tails have an insectivorous diet, feeding on various ants, beetles, moths, and other small arthropods. They shelter at the base of bushes and may bury themselves in sand when threatened. These lizards are diurnal but possibly crepuscular as well. Their unique tail acts as a fat storage organ for lean times.

Tree Lizards

In the extreme southeast corner of California, two species of tree lizards occur – the desert tree lizard and the ornate tree lizard. These lizards inhabit trees and large shrubs, especially near watercourses, in the hot Sonoran desert. Coloration is variable but often gray, brown, or olive green with light striping or mottling on the back. The long tail may be twice the body length.

Agile climbers on trunks and branches, tree lizards forage for a variety of insects as well as plants, flowers, and fruits in their arboreal habitat. When seen, they often slowly creep head-first down a trunk before freezing or abruptly leaping out of sight. Males defend territories in trees and display with head-bobs and push-ups.

The diverse natural environments of California support an impressive assemblage of native lizards along with a few introduced species. These reptiles showcase a fascinating array of adaptations to habitats ranging from rocky deserts to dense forests. Observing lizards in the wild reveals an integral part of California’s ecology and natural heritage. With habitat loss threatening some sensitive species, appreciation and thoughtful stewardship of our native lizards are vital for their conservation.