California Lizards



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This is a complete llst of lizards that occur naturally in California, including introduced species with well-established populations.

Lizards are listed by scientific name and sorted by family, and below that, by common name only on a second list.
The blue links lead to an information page for each type of lizard found in California.
Follow the links for information about each animal along with pictures of animals and their habitat and some videos.

This list is based on the lists published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.

A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California



 

Scientific Name
Common Name Original Description Former or Other Name
       
Squamata Lizards    
       
Anguidae Alligator Lizards and Allies    
       
Elgaria Western Alligator Lizards Gray, 1838  
Elgaria coerulea Northern Alligator Lizard Wiegmann, 1828  
Elgaria coerulea coerulea San Francisco Alligator Lizard Wiegmann, 1828  
Elgaria coerulea palmeri Sierra Alligator Lizard Stejneger, 1893  
Elgaria coerulea principis Northwestern Alligator Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Elgaria coerulea shastensis Shasta Alligator Lizard Fitch, 1934  
Elgaria multicarinata Southern Alligator Lizard Blainville, 1835  
Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata California Alligator Lizard Blainville, 1835  
Elgaria multicarinata scincicauda Oregon Alligator Lizard Skilton, 1849  
Elgaria multicarinata webbii San Diego Alligator Lizard Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Elgaria panamintina Panamint Alligator Lizard Stebbins, 1958  
       
Anniellidae North American Legless lizards    
       
Anniella North American Legless Lizards Gray, 1852  
Anniella pulchra California Legless Lizard
Gray, 1852 Anniella pulchra nigra -
Black Legless Lizard
Anniella pulchra pulchra -
Silvery Legess Lizard
       
Crotaphytidae Collared and Leopard Lizards    
       
Crotaphytus Collared Lizards Holbrook, 1842  
Crotaphytus bicinctores Great Basin Collared Lizard Smith and Tanner, 1972  
Crotaphytus vestigium Baja California Collared Lizard Smith and Tanner, 1972  
       
Gambelia Leopard Lizards Baird 1859 “1858”  
Gambelia copeii Cope's Leopard Lizard Yarrow, 1882  
Gambelia sila Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard Stejneger, 1890  
Gambelia wislizenii Long-nosed Leopard Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
       
Gekkonidae Geckos    
       
Coleonyx Banded Geckos Gray, 1845  
Coleonyx switaki Switak's Banded Gecko Murphy, 1974  
Coleonyx switaki switaki Peninsular Banded Gecko Murphy, 1974  
Coleonyx variegatus Western Banded Gecko Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Coleonyx variegatus abbotti San Diego Banded Gecko Klauber, 1945  
Coleonyx variegatus variegatus Desert Banded Gecko Baird, 1859  
       
Phyllodactylus Leaf-toed Geckos Gray, 1828  
Phyllodactylus nocticolus Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko Dixon, 1964  
       
Hemidactylus House Geckos    
Hemidactylus turcicus   I Mediterranean House Gecko Linnaeus 1758  
       
Tarentola Wall Geckos Gray, 1825  
Tarentola mauritanica   I Moorish Gecko Linnaeus 1758  
       
Helodermatidae Venomous Lizards    
       
Heloderma Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards Wiegmann, 1829  
Heloderma suspectum Gila Monster Cope, 1869  
Heloderma suspectum cinctum Banded Gila Monster Bogert and Martín del Campo, 1956  
       
Iguanidae Iguanian Lizards    
       
Dipsosaurus Desert Iguanas Hallowell, 1854  
Dipsosaurus dorsalis Desert Iguana Baird and Girard, 1852  
Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis Northern Desert Iguana Baird and Girard, 1852  
       
Sauromalus Chuckwallas Duméril, 1856  
Sauromalus ater Common Chuckwalla Duméril, 1856  
       
Phrynosomatidae Zebra-tailed, Earless, Fringe-toed, Spiny, Tree, Side-blotched, and Horned Lizards    
       
Callisaurus Zebra-tailed Lizards Blainville, 1835  
Callisaurus draconoides Zebra-tailed Lizard Blainville, 1835  
Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus Western Zebra-tailed Lizard Cope, 1896  
       
Petrosaurus California Rock Lizards Boulenger, 1885  
Petrosaurus mearnsi Banded Rock Lizard Stejneger, 1894  
Petrosaurus mearnsi mearnsi Mearns' Rock Lizard Stejneger, 1894  
       
Phrynosoma Horned Lizards Wiegmann, 1828  
Phrynosoma blainvillii Blainville's Horned Lizard Gray, 1839 Coast Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma coronatum
Anota blainvillii
Phrynosoma douglasii Pygmy Short-horned Lizard Bell, 1829 Tapaja douglasii
Phrynosoma mcallii Flat-tail Horned Lizard  Hallowell, 1852 Anota mcallii
Phrynosoma platyrhinos Desert Horned Lizard Girard, 1852 Doliosaurus platyrhinos
Phrynosoma platyrhinos calidiarum Southern Desert Horned Lizard  Cope, 1896 Doliosaurus platyrhinos calidiarum
Phrynosoma platyrhinos platyrhinos Northern Desert Horned Lizard Girard, 1852 Doliosaurus platyrhinos platyrhinos
       
Sceloporus Spiny Lizards Wiegmann, 1828  
Sceloporus graciosus Common Sagebrush Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Sceloporus graciosus gracilis Western Sagebrush Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Sceloporus graciosus graciosus Northern Sagebrush Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus Southern Sagebrush Lizard Cope, 1896  
Sceloporus magister Desert Spiny Lizard Hallowell, 1854  
Sceloporus occidentalis Western Fence Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Sceloporus occidentalis becki Island Fence Lizard Van Denburgh, 1905  
Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus San Joaquin Fence Lizard Hallowell, 1854  
Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii Coast Range Fence Lizard Boulenger, 1885  
Sceloporus occidentalis longipes Great Basin Fence Lizard Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis Northwestern Fence Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Sceloporus occidentalis taylori Sierra Fence Lizard Camp, 1916  
Sceloporus orcutti Granite Spiny Lizard Stejneger, 1893  
Sceloporus uniformis Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard Phelan and Brattstrom, 1955  
       
Uma Fringe-toed Lizards Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Uma inornata Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard Cope, 1895  
Uma notata Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Uma scoparia Mohave Fringe-toed Lizard Cope, 1894  
       
Urosaurus Tree and Bush Lizards Hallowell, 1854  
Urosaurus graciosus Long-tailed Brush Lizard Hallowell, 1854  
Urosaurus nigricaudus Baja California Brush Lizard Cope, 1864  
Urosaurus ornatus Ornate Tree Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus Colorado River Tree Lizard Baird, 1859 “1858”  
       
Uta Side-blotched Lizards Baird and Girard, 1852  
Uta stansburiana Common Side-blotched Lizard Baird and Girard, 1852  
Uta stansburiana elegans Western Side-blotched Lizard Yarrow, 1882  
Uta stansburiana nevadensis Nevada Side-blotched Lizard Ruthven, 1913  
       
Scincidae Skinks    
       
Plestiodon Toothy Skinks Duméril and Bibron, 1839 Eumeces
"Plestiodon gilberti" Gilbert's Skink Van Denburgh, 1896 Eumeces gilberti
Plestiodon gilberti cancellosus Variegated Skink Rodgers and Fitch, 1947 Eumeces gilberti cancellosus
Plestiodon gilberti gilberti Greater Brown Skink Van Denburgh, 1896 Eumeces gilberti gilberti
Plestiodon gilberti placerensis Northern Brown Skink Rodgers, 1944 Eumeces gilberti placerensis
Plestiodon gilberti rubricaudatus Western Red-tailed Skink Taylor, 1935 Eumeces gilberti rubricaudatus
Plestiodon skiltonianus Western Skink Baird and Girard, 1852 Eumeces skiltonianus
Plestiodon skiltonianus interparietalis Coronado Skink Tanner, 1958 “1957” Eumeces skiltonianus interparietalis
Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus Skilton's Skink Baird and Girard, 1852 Eumeces skiltonianus skiltonianus
       
Teiidae Whiptails and Racerunners    
       
Aspidoscelis Whiptails Fitzinger, 1843 Cnemidophorus
Aspidoscelis hyperythra Orange-throated Whiptail Cope, 1863 Cnemidophorus hyperythrus
Aspidoscelis hyperythra beldingi Belding's Orange-throated Whiptail Stejneger, 1894 Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingi
Aspidoscelis tigris Tiger Whiptail Baird and Girard, 1852 Cnemidophorus tigris
Aspidoscelis tigris munda California Whiptail Camp, 1916 Cnemidophorus tigris munda
Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri Coastal Whiptail Van Denburgh, 1894 Cnemidophorus tigris stejnegeri
Aspidoscelis tigris tigris Great Basin Whiptail Baird and Girard, 1852 Cnemidophorus tigris tigris
       
Xantusiidae Night Lizards    
       
Xantusia Night Lizards Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Xantusia gracilis Sandstone Night Lizard Grismer and Galvan, 1986  
Xantusia henshawi Granite Night Lizard Stejneger, 1893  
Xantusia riversiana Island Night Lizard Cope, 1883  
Xantusia riversiana reticulata San Clemente Night Lizard Smith, 1946  
Xantusia riversiana riversiana San Nicolas Night Lizard Cope, 1883  
Xantusia sierrae Sierra Night Lizard Bezy, 1967  
Xantusia vigilis Desert Night Lizard Baird, 1859 “1858”  
Xantusia wigginsi Baja California Night Lizard Savage, 1952  
       
Chamaeleonidae Chameleons    
       
Chamaeleo Chameleons Laurenti, 1768  
Chamaeleo jacksonii Jackson's Chameleon Boulanger, 1896  
Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus I Yellow-crested Jackson's Chameleon Eason, Ferguson & Hebrard, 1988  
       
Lacertidae Wall Lizards    
       
Podarcis Wall Lizard Wagler, 1830  
Podarcis siculus Italian Wall Lizard Rafinesque, 1810  
Podarcis siculus siculus    I Southern Italian Wall Lizard     
       
Polychrotidae Anoles    
       
Anolis Anoles    
Anolis carolinensis    I Green Anole    




I = An established Alien species introduced into California


Organized By Common Name
   
Alligator Lizards  
   
Northern Alligator Lizards  
Northwestern Alligator Lizard  
San Francisco Alligator Lizard  
Shasta Alligator Lizard  
Sierra Alligator Lizard  
   
Southern Alligator Lizards  
California Alligator Lizard  
Oregon Alligator Lizard  
San Diego Alligator Lizard  
   
Panamint Alligator Lizard  
   
Brush Lizard  
Long-tailed Brush Lizard  
   
Chameleons  
Jackson's Chameleon I  
   
Chuckwallas  
Common Chuckwalla  
   
Collared Lizards  
Baja California Collared Lizard  
Great Basin Collared Lizard  
   
Western Fence Lizards
(Blue-bellies, Swifts)
 
Coast Range Fence Lizard  
Great Basin Fence Lizard  
Island Fence Lizard  
Northwestern Fence Lizard  
San Joaquin Fence Lizard  
Sierra Fence Lizard  
   
Fringe-toed Lizards  
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard  
Mohave Fringe-toed Lizard  
Sonoran Fringe-toed Lizard  
   
Geckos  
Desert Banded Gecko  
Mediterranean House Gecko  I  
Moorish Wall Gecko  I  
Peninsular Banded Gecko  
Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko  
San Diego Banded Gecko  
   
Gila Monster  
Banded Gila Monster  
   
Horned Lizards  
Blainville's (Coast) Horned Lizard  
Flat-tailed Horned Lizard  
Northern Desert Horned Lizard  
Pygmy Short-horned Lizard  
Southern Desert Horned Lizard  
   
Iguanas  
Northern Desert Iguana  
   
Legless Lizards  
California Legless Lizard  
   
Leopard Lizards  
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard  
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard  
   
Night Lizards  
Baja California Night Lizard  
Granite Night Lizard  
Sandstone Night Lizard  
Island Night Lizard  
San Clemente Night Lizard  
San Nicolas Night Lizard  
Desert Night Lizard  
Sierra Night Lizard  
Yucca Night Lizard  
   
Rock Lizards  
Mearns' Rock Lizard  
   
Sagebrush Lizards  
Western Sagebrush Lizard  
Northern Sagebrush Lizard  
Southern Sagebrush Lizard  
   
Side-blotched Lizards  
Nevada Side-blotched Lizard  
Western Side-blotched Lizard  
   
Skinks
 
   
Gilbert's Skinks  
Variegated Skink  
Greater Brown Skink  
Northern Brown Skink  
Western Red-tailed Skink  
   
Western Skinks  
Coronado Skink  
Skilton's Skink  
   
Spiny Lizards  
   
Desert Spiny Lizards  
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard  
Barred Spiny Lizard  
Granite Spiny Lizard  
   
Tree Lizards  
Baja California Brush Lizard  
Colorado River Tree Lizard  
   
Whiptails  
Belding's Orange Throated Whiptail  
California Whiptail  
Coastal Whiptail  
Great Basin Whiptail  
   
Zebra-tailed Lizards  
Western Zebra-tailed Lizard  
   
Wall Lizards (aka Ruin Lizards)  
Southern Italian Wall Lizard  I  
   
   
   




I = An established Alien species introduced into California
 


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