Alligator Lizards 3 
Natural History of the 
Alligator Lizards 
Henry S. Fitcu 
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 
University of California 
INTRODUCTION 
In 1931, I undertook a systematic revision of the Alligator 
Lizards (Gerrhonotus). During the course of my study of the 
forms inhabiting the Pacific Coast region, field work was done 
in Oregon and California. It has seemed advisable to incorporate 
the natural history observations made at that time in a separate 
paper as here set forth 
I have personally made observations and taken specimens 
in Wasco, Lane, Coos, Klamath, Jackson, Josephine and Curry 
counties in Oregon, and in Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Humboldt, 
Tehama, Nevada, Eldorado, Amador, Alameda, Contra Costa, 
San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Fresno counties 
in Californ Many of the observations here included were 
made in the soae of my home near Medford, Jackson County, 
Oregon, and at Daly City, San Mateo County, California. 
Many friends contributed material and information used in 
this ie I am especially grateful to Doctors Joseph Grinnell 
and Jean M. Linsdale whose counsel and suggestions have 
pak frequent aids. 
A brief explanation of the systematic status of the forms 
discussed will be given. (See also Fitch, 1934a and 1934b.) Two 
distinct species, Gerrhonotus coeruleus and Gerrhonotus multi- 
carinatus occur in the region studied. G. coeruleus is found in 
its typical form only in the coastal region of central California, 
from Monterey County to Sonoma County. In Sonoma County 
it intergrades with G. c. shastensis, which ranges north along the 
coast to Humboldt Bay, and northeast in mountainous regions 
around the aches end of the sane ocd to the 
Peak region and to Lake County, Ore c. palmeri is re- 
sees to the Siete Needs of California, me Ge: pans 
curs along the Oregon and Washington coasts, north in 
British Columbia, and northeast into Montana. 
