California Reptiles & Amphibians

Identifying California Lizards

Click on a picture for a larger view

This is not a scientific key to identifying lizards found in California. It is meant to be used as a basic tool for the novice who wants to identify a lizard primarily by appearance and the location in California where it was seen.

In order to help you to identify a California native lizard, the different species have been separated into some basic groups. Since many lizards look similar, they are grouped by type, rather than appearance. Look at the thumbnails (click on them to see a larger version) and read the brief descriptions until you find something similar to the lizard you are trying to identify, then click on the link.

Keep in mind that many species look alike, and that there are other factors that can help you identify a lizard besides appearance, such as geographical location, behavior, and habitat. Juveniles often do not look exactly like adults. If you are trying to identify a juvenile, look at the body shape, and try to find a picture of an adult with a similar appearance, not necessarily the same colors or patterns.

Be aware that a lizard you find may not be native, but an introduced animal, such as an escaped pet, especially if it is found in or near an inhabited area. Currently there are few reproducing populations of introduced lizards in California, but that can change, and some of these populations, such as the Mediterranean gecko, are spreading.

You might also want to check the California Lizards Range Maps page to find what lizards occur in the area where your lizard was observed.
There is also a California Lizards Photo Index page with one picture of all forms of lizard found in the state that might also be helpful.

The only dangerously venomous native lizard found in California is the Gila Monster, which is extremeley rare and has only been found in a few locations in the eastern Mojave Desert.

Alligator Lizards	Banded Rock Lizard	Brush Lizard	Chameleons	Chuckwalla
Collared Lizards	Desert Iguana	Fence Lizards	Fringe-toed Lizards	Geckos
Gila Monster	Horned Lizards	Legless Lizards	Leopard Lizards	Night Lizards
Sagebrush Lizards	Side-blotched Lizards	Skinks	Spiny Lizards	Tree Lizard
Whiptails	Zebratail Lizards

Alligator Lizards

Large smooth scales, and a long alligator-like snout. Found almost anywhere except in the deserts, mosty during daylight.
Frequently found underneath debris. Commonly found in suburban yards, especially in Southern California.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Western Fence Lizards and Sagebrush Lizards

Small, diurnal lizards with sharp spines, Western fence lizards (also known as swifts or bluebellies) are very
common, found in a variety of habitats, while Sagebrush lizards are generally found at higher elevations.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Western Fence Lizards

Sagebrush Lizards

Skinks

Smooth, shiny skin, snake-like movement. Can be solid color or striped. Juveniles can have stripes and blue or pink tails.
Generally fond of moist habitats. During daylight, most often found underneath rocks and other debris.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Legless lizards

Resemble small snakes. Rarely found crawling in the open, except at night.
Typically found under objects or leaves, often in gardens in Southern California. Not commonly seen.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Collared Lizards

Large, diurnal, rock-dwelling desert lizards with large heads and a dark collar around the neck.
Usually seen sitting on top of desert rocks.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Whiptails

Diurnal, long-talied lizards of hot, dry, flat open spaces. Can be striped, or spotted, or both. Almost always in motion.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Jackson's Chameleon

Introduced to Morro Bay and Laguna Beach, and possibly more a humid locations along the southern coast. Mostly seen on shrubs and trees, occasionally on the ground.

Geckos

Active at night in deserts or semi-arid locations. Often seen on roads at night or underneath debris in daytime.

Peninsular Banded Gecko (aka Barefoot Gecko)

Very rarely encountered. Found only in a few rocky locations in the desert near the Baja California border.

Western Banded Gecko

Commonly seen running across desert roads at night.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko

Not commonly seen. Found on desert rocks at night in a limited area in the southern peninsular range.

Mediterranean Gecko

Active in and around human dwellings, especially under lights at night. So far in California, found
only in the far southern deserts and agricultural areas in the Imperial Valley, but may be spreading.

Fringe-toed Lizards

Found in areas of the southern deserts with fine wind-blown sand, especially large dunes.
Will run under a bush or dive into the sand to escape.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Zebra-tailed Lizard

Typically found on the ground in hot, flat, sandy desert locations, such as dry washes.
Often seen sitting on low rocks when the temperature is very high. Active in daytime.

Desert Iguana

Diurnal. Typically found on the ground in hot, flat, sandy desert locations, such as dry washes and dunes.
Occasionally seen basking on low rocks or other objects. Able to continue activity during extreme heat.

Leopard Lizards

Large, diurnal lizards, preferring open desert or semi-arid habitats.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Gila Monster

Extremely rare in California. Venomous. Found only in the extreme eastern Mojave Desert near the Nevada border.

Horned Lizards

Small, wide, flattened, with many spikes, and horns surrounding the head. Diurnal.
Typically found in open sandy areas in deserts, chaparral, grassland.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Banded Rock Lizard

A medium-sized greenish lizard, found on large rocks in the peninsular range, from the Baja California Border to near Palm Springs. Usually found near creeks and oases. Diurnal.

Chuckwalla

A very large, conspicuous lizard, seen on large rocks in rock outcrops and boulder piles in the deserts. Active during the day.

Desert Spiny Lizards

Found in desert and semi-arid habitats, usually seen on rocks or trees. Diurnal.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Granite Spiny Lizard

Found in rocky coastal semi-arid and desert habitats, usually seen on large boulders. Diurnal.

Brush and Tree Lizards

Brush lizards are diurnal desert-dwellers. Tree lizards are only found near the Colorado
River in the extreme southeast. Typically found on trees, bushes, and rocks.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.

Side-blotched Lizard

Small lizards inhabiting deserts, grassland, or other hot, dry open locations. Very commonly seen during daylight.
This lizard can be abundant where it occurs. Probably the most commonly seen lizard in the desert.

Night Lizards

Active day and night in deserts, semi-arid, and mountainous habitats south of the Bay Area, and a few of the Channel Islands.
Common, but rarely observed. During the daytime they are typically found only underneath objects or in rock cracks.

If the lizard you want to identify resembles one of the lizards shown below, go here to continue your search.