California Lizards

Below is a complete llst of lizards occuring naturally in California, including introduced species with well-established populations.
The list is organized by families and ordered by scientific name and also by common name.
Follow the links for information and pictures illustrating each animal and its habitat.

This list is based on the lists published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. This taxonomy is not universally accepted. For comparison, the names used by two other authorities - Robert Stebbins' Western Field Guide, and the Center for North American Herpetology - are listed to the right.

Listed by Scientific Names
Following the SSAR list	Following Robert Stebbins' 2003 Western Field Guide	Following the CNAH online list (updated 11/07)

Squamata - Lizards

Anguidae - Alligator Lizards & Allies
Elgaria - Western Alligator Lizards
E. coerulea - Northern Alligator Lizard
E. c. coerulea - San Francisco Alligator Lizard	E. c. coerulea - San Francisco Alligator Lizard	E. c. coerulea - San Francisco Alligator Lizard
E. c. palmeri - Sierra Alligator Lizard	E. c. palmeri - Sierra Alligator Lizard	E. c. palmeri - Sierra Alligator Lizard
E. c. shastensis - Shasta Alligator Lizard	E. c. shastensis - Shasta Alligator Lizard	E. c. shastensis - Shasta Alligator Lizard
E. c. principis - Northwestern Alligator Lizard	E. c. principis - Northwestern Alligator Lizard	E. c. principis - Northern Alligator Lizard
E. multicarinata - Southern Alligator Lizard
E. m. multicarinata - California Alligator Lizard	E. m. multicarinata - California Alligator Lizard	E. m. multicarinata - California Alligator Lizard
E. m. scincicauda - Oregon Alligator Lizard	E. m. scincicauda - Oregon Alligator Lizard	E. m. scincicauda - Oregon Alligator Lizard
E. m. webbii - San Diego Alligator Lizard	E. m. webbii - San Diego Alligator Lizard	E. m. webbii - San Diego Alligator Lizard
E. panamintina - Panamint Alligator Lizard	E. panamintina - Panamint Alligator Lizard	E. panamintina - Panamint Alligator Lizard

Anniellidae - North American Legless lizards
Anniella - North American Legless Lizards
A. pulchra - California Legless Lizard	A. p. pulchra - Silvery Legless Lizard and A. p. nigra - Black Legless Lizard (2 subspecies)	A. p. pulchra - Silvery Legless Lizard and A. p. nigra - Black Legless Lizard

Crotaphytidae - Collared and Leopard Lizards
Crotaphytus - Collared Lizards
C. bicinctores - Great Basin Collared Lizard	C. bicinctores - Great Basin Collared Lizard	C. bicinctores - Mojave Black-collared Lizard
C. vestigium - Baja California Collared Lizard	C. vestigium - Baja California Collared Lizard	C. vestigium - Baja Black-collared Lizard
Gambelia - Leopard Lizards
G. copeii - Cope's Leopard Lizard	G. copeii - Cope's Leopard Lizard	G. copeii - Cope's Leopard Lizard
G. sila - Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard	G. sila - Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard	G. sila - Bluntnose Leopard Lizard
G. wislizenii - Long-nosed Leopard Lizard	G. wislizenii - Long-nosed Leopard Lizard	G. wislizenii - Longnose Leopard Lizard

Gekkonidae - Geckos
Coleonyx - Banded Geckos
C. switaki - Switak's Banded Gecko	(No subspecies recognized)
C. s. switaki - Peninsular Banded Gecko	C. switaki - Barefoot Gecko	C. s. switaki - Peninsular Barefoot Gecko
C. variegatus - Western Banded Gecko
C. v. abbotti - San Diego Banded Gecko	C. v. abbotti - San Diego Banded Gecko	C. v. abbotti - San Diego Banded Gecko
C. v. variegatus - Desert Banded Gecko	C. v. variegatus - Desert Banded Gecko	C. v. variegatus - Desert Banded Gecko
Phyllodactylus - Leaf-toed Geckos
P. nocticolus - Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko	P. xanti nocticolus - Leaf-toed Gecko	P. n. nocticolus - Peninsula Leaf-toed Gecko
Hemidactylus - House Geckos
H. turcicus - Mediterranean House Gecko I	H. turcicus - Mediterranean House Gecko	Not listed
Tarentola - Wall Geckos
T. mauritanica - Moorish Wall Gecko I	T. mauritanica - Moorish Wall Gecko	Not listed

Helodermatidae - Venomous Lizards
Heloderma - Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards
H. suspectum - Gila Monster
H. s. cinctum - Banded Gila Monster	H. s. cinctum - Banded Gila Monster	H. s. cinctum - Banded Gila Monster

Iguanidae - Iguanian Lizards
Dipsosaurus - Desert Iguanas
D. dorsalis - Desert Iguana	(No subspecies recognized)
D. d. dorsalis - Northern Desert Iguana	D. dorsalus - Desert Iguana	D. d. dorsalis - Desert Iguana
Sauromalus - Chuckwallas
S. ater - Common Chuckwalla	S. obesus - Common Chuckwalla	S. obesus - Chuckwalla

Phrynosomatidae - Zebra-tailed, Earless, Fringe-toed, Spiny, Tree, Side-blotched, and Horned Lizards
Callisaurus - Zebra-tailed Lizards
C. draconoides - Zebra-tailed Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)
C. d. rhodostictus - Western Zebra-tailed Lizard	C. d. draconoides - Common Zebra-tailed Lizard	C. d. rhodostictus - Mojave Zebratail Lizard
Petrosaurus - California Rock Lizards
P. mearnsi - Banded Rock Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)
P. m. mearnsi - Mearns' Rock Lizard	P. mearnsi - Banded Rock Lizard	P. mearnsi - Banded Rock Lizard
Phrynosoma - Horned Lizards
P. (Anota) blainvillii (coronatum) - Blainville's (Coast) Horned Lizard	P. coronatum - Coast Horned Lizard	P. coronatum - Coast Horned Lizard
P. (Tapaja) douglasii - Pygmy Short-horned Lizard	P. douglasii - Pigmy Short-horned Lizard	P. douglasii - Northwestern Short-horned Lizard
P. (Anota) mcallii - Flat-tail Horned Lizard	P. mcallii - Flat-tailed Horned Lizard	P. mcallii - Flat-tail Horned Lizard
P. platyrhinos - Desert Horned Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)
P. (Doliosaurus) p. calidiarum - Southern Desert Horned Lizard	P. platyrhinos - Desert Horned Lizard	P. p. calidiarum - Southern Desert Horned Lizard
P. (Doliosaurus) p. platyrhinos - Northern Desert Horned Lizard	P. platyrhinos - Desert Horned Lizard	P. p. platyrhinos - Northern Desert Horned Lizard
Sceloporus - Spiny Lizards
S. graciosus - Common Sagebrush Lizard
S. g. gracilis - Western Sagebrush Lizard	S. g. gracilis - Western Sagebrush Lizard	S. g. gracilis - Western Sagebrush Lizard
S. g. graciosus - Northern Sagebrush Lizard	S. g. graciosus - Northern Sagebrush Lizard	S. g. graciosus - Northern Sagebrush Lizard
S. g. vandenburgianus - Southern Sagebrush Lizard	S. g. vandenburgianus - Southern Sagebrush Lizard	S. vandenburgianus - Southern Sagebrush Lizard
S. magister - Desert Spiny Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)	(No subspecies recognized)
S. m. uniformis - Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard	S. magister - Desert Spiny Lizard	S. magister - Desert Spiny Lizard
S. m. transversus - Barred Spiny Lizard	S. magister - Desert Spiny Lizard	S. magister - Desert Spiny Lizard
S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)
S. o. becki - Island Fence Lizard	S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	S. becki - Island Fence Lizard
S. o. biseriatus - San Joaquin Fence Lizard	S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	S. o. biseriatus - San Joaquin Fence Lizard
S. o. bocourtii - Coast Range Fence Lizard	S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	S. o. bocourtii - Coast Range Fence Lizard
S. o. longipes - Great Basin Fence Lizard	S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	S. o. longipes - Great Basin Fence Lizard
S. o. occidentalis - Northwestern Fence Lizard	S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	S. o. occidentalis - Northwestern Fence Lizard
S. o. taylori - Sierra Fence Lizard	S. occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard	S. o. taylori - Sierra Fence Lizard
S. orcutti - Granite Spiny Lizard	S. orcutti - Granite Spiny Lizard	S. orcutti - Granite Spiny Lizard
Uma - Fringe-toed Lizards
U. inornata - Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard	U. inornata - Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard	U. inornata - Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
U. notata - Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard	U. notata - Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard	U. notata - Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard
U. scoparia - Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard	U. scoparia - Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard	U. scoparia - Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
Urosaurus - Tree & Bush Lizards
U. graciosus - Long-tailed Brush Lizard	U. graciosus - Long-tailed Brush Lizard	U. graciosus - Brush Lizard
U. nigricaudus - Baja California Brush Lizard	U. nigricaudus - Black-tailed Brush Lizard	U. nigricaudus - Blacktail Brush Lizard
U. ornatus - Ornate Tree Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)	(No subspecies recognized)
U. o. symmetricus - Colorado River Tree Lizard	U. ornatus - Ornate Tree Lizard	U. ornatus - Tree Lizard
Uta - Side-blotched Lizards
U. stansburiana - Common Side-blotched Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)
U. s. elegans - Western Side-blotched Lizard	U. stansburiana - Common Side-blotched Lizard	U. s. elegans - California Side-blotched Lizard
U. s. nevadensis - Nevada Side-blotched Lizard	U. stansburiana - Common Side-blotched Lizard	U. s. nevadensis - Nevada Side-blotched Lizard
U. s. stansburiana - Northern Side-blotched Lizard	U. stansburiana - Common Side-blotched Lizard	U. s. stansburiana - Northern Side-blotched Lizard

Scincidae - Skinks
Eumeces - Great Skinks (=Plestiodon - Toothy Skinks)
E. "gilberti"- Gilbert's Skink
E. (Plestiodon) g. cancellosus - Variegated Skink	E. g. cancellosus - Variegated Skink	E. g. cancellosus - Variegated Skink
E. (Plestiodon) g. gilberti - Greater Brown Skink	E. g. gilberti - Greater Brown Skink	E. g. gilberti - Greater Brown Skink
E. (Plestiodon) g. placerensis - Northern Brown Skink	E. g. placerensis - Northern Brown Skink	E. g. placerensis - Northern Brown Skink
E. (Plestiodon) g. rubricaudatus - Western Red-tailed Skink	E. g. rubricaudatus - Western Red-tailed Skink	E. g. rubricaudatus - Western Redtail Skink
E. skiltonianus - Western Skink
E. (Plestiodon) s. interparietalis - Coronado Skink	E. s. skiltonianus - Skilton's Skink	E. s. interparietalis - Coronado Island Skink
E. (Plestiodon) s. skiltonianus - Skilton's Skink	E. s. skiltonianus - Skilton's Skink	E. s. skiltonianus - Western Skink

Teiidae - Whiptails & Racerunners
Aspidoscelis - Whiptails (formerly Cnemidophorus)	Cnemidophorus - Whiptails	Cnemidophorus - Whiptails
A. hyperythra - Orange-throated Whiptail	(No subspecies recognized)	(No subspecies recognized)
A. h. beldingi - Belding's Orange-throated Whiptail	C. hyperythrus - Orange-throated Whiptail	C. hyperythrus - Orange-throated Whiptail
A. tigris - Tiger Whiptail
A. t. stejnegeri - Coastal Whiptail	C. t. stejnegeri - Coastal Whiptail	C. t. stejnegeri - Coastal Whiptail
A. t. munda - California Whiptail	C. t. mundus - California Whiptail	C. t. mundus - California Whiptail
A. t. tigris - Great Basin Whiptail	C. t. tigris - Great Basin Whiptail	C. t. tigris - Great Basin Whiptail

Xantusiidae - Night Lizards
Xantusia - Night Lizards
X. gracilis - Sandstone Night Lizard	X. h. gracilis - Sandstone Night Lizard	X. gracilis - Sandstone Night Lizard
X. henshawi - Granite Night Lizard	X. h. henshawi - Granite Night Lizard	X. henshawi - Granite Night Lizard
Xantusia riversiana - Island Night Lizard	(No subspecies recognized)
X. r. reticulata - San Clemente Night Lizard	X. riversiana - Island Night Lizard	X. r. reticulata - San Clemente Night Lizard
X. r. riversiana - San Nicolas Night Lizard	X. riversiana - Island Night Lizard	X. r. riversiana - San Nicolas Night Lizard
X. sierrae - Sierra Night Lizard	X. v. sierrae - Sierra Night Lizard	X. v. sierrae - Sierra Night Lizard
X. vigilis - Desert Night Lizard	X. v. vigilis - Yucca Night Lizard	X. v. vigilis - Desert Night Lizard
X. wigginsi - Baja California Night Lizard	X. v. wigginsi - Baja California Night Lizard	Not listed

Chamaeleonidae - Chameleons
Chamaeleo - Chameleons
C. jacksonii - Jackson's Chameleon
C. j. xantholophus - Yellow-crested Jackson's Chameleon I	C. j. xantholophus - Yellow-crested Jackson's Chameleon	not listed


I = Introduced - not native to California
F = Formerly present, now probably extinct in California

Listed by Common Names
Following the SSAR list	Following Robert Stebbins' 2003 Western Field Guide	Following the CNAH online list (updated 11/07)

Alligator Lizards

Northern Alligator Lizards
Northwestern Alligator Lizard	Northwestern Alligator Lizard	Northern Alligator Lizard
San Francisco Alligator Lizard	San Francisco Alligator Lizard	San Francisco Alligator Lizard
Shasta Alligator Lizard	Shasta Alligator Lizard	Shasta Alligator Lizard
Sierra Alligator Lizard	Sierra Alligator Lizard	Sierra Alligator Lizard

Southern Alligator Lizards
California Alligator Lizard	California Alligator Lizard	California Alligator Lizard
Oregon Alligator Lizard	Oregon Alligator Lizard	Oregon Alligator Lizard
San Diego Alligator Lizard	San Diego Alligator Lizard	San Diego Alligator Lizard

Panamint Alligator Lizard	Panamint Alligator Lizard	Panamint Alligator Lizard

Brush Lizard
Long-tailed Brush Lizard	Long-tailed Brush Lizard	Brush Lizard

Chameleons
Jackson's Chameleon I	Jackson's Chameleon

Chuckwallas
Common Chuckwalla	Common Chuckwalla	Chuckwalla

Collared Lizards
Baja California Collared Lizard	Baja California Collared Lizard	Baja Black-collared Lizard
Great Basin Collared Lizard	Great Basin Collared Lizard	Mojave Black-collared Lizard

Fence Lizards (Blue-bellies, Swifts)
Western Fence Lizard
Coast Range Fence Lizard	Coast Range Fence Lizard	Coast Range Fence Lizard
Great Basin Fence Lizard	Great Basin Fence Lizard	Great Basin Fence Lizard
Island Fence Lizard	Island Fence Lizard	Island Fence Lizard
Northwestern Fence Lizard	Northwestern Fence Lizard	Northwestern Fence Lizard
San Joaquin Fence Lizard	San Joaquin Fence Lizard	San Joaquin Fence Lizard
Sierra Fence Lizard	Sierra Fence Lizard	Sierra Fence Lizard

Fringe-toed Lizards
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard	Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard	Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard	Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard	Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
Sonoran Fringe-toed Lizard	Sonoran Fringe-toed Lizard	Sonoran Fringe-toed Lizard

Geckos
Desert Banded Gecko	Desert Banded Gecko	Desert Banded Gecko
Mediterranean House Gecko I	Mediterranean House Gecko	Mediterranean House Gecko
Moorish Wall Gecko I	Moorish Wall Gecko	Moorish Wall Gecko
Peninsular Banded Gecko	Barefoot Gecko	Peninsular Barefoot Gecko
Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko	Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko	Peninsula Leaf-toed Gecko
San Diego Banded Gecko	San Diego Banded Gecko	San Diego Banded Gecko

Gila Monster
Banded Gila Monster	Banded Gila Monster	Banded Gila Monster

Horned Lizards
Blainville's (Coast) Horned Lizard	Coast Horned Lizard	Coast Horned Lizard
Flat-tailed Horned Lizard	Flat-tailed Horned Lizard	Flat-tailed Horned Lizard
Northern Desert Horned Lizard	Desert Horned Lizard	Northern Desert Horned Lizard
Pygmy Short-horned Lizard	Pygmy Short-horned Lizard	Northwestern Short-horned Lizard
Southern Desert Horned Lizard	Desert Horned Lizard	Southern Desert Horned Lizard

Iguanas
Northern Desert Iguana	Desert Iguana	Desert Iguana

Legless Lizards
California Legless Lizard	Silvery Legless Lizard/Black Legless Lizard (2 subspecies)	Silvery Legless Lizard/Black Legless Lizard

Leopard Lizards
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard	Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard	Bluntnose Leopard Lizard
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard	Long-nosed Leopard Lizard	Longnose Leopard Lizard

Night Lizards
Baja California Night Lizard	Baja California Night Lizard	Not listed
Granite Night Lizard	Granite Night Lizard	Granite Night Lizard
Sandstone Night Lizard	Sandstone Night Lizard	Sandstone Night Lizard
Island Night Lizard
San Clemente Night Lizard	San Clemente Night Lizard	San Clemente Night Lizard
San Nicolas Night Lizard	San Nicolas Night Lizard	San Nicolas Night Lizard
Desert Night Lizard
Sierra Night Lizard	Sierra Night Lizard	Sierra Night Lizard
Yucca Night Lizard	Yucca Night Lizard	Desert Night Lizard

Rock Lizards
Mearns' Rock Lizard	Banded Rock Lizard	Banded Rock Lizard

Sagebrush Lizards
Western Sagebrush Lizard	Western Sagebrush Lizard	Western Sagebrush Lizard
Northern Sagebrush Lizard	Northern Sagebrush Lizard	Northern Sagebrush Lizard
Southern Sagebrush Lizard	Southern Sagebrush Lizard	Southern Sagebrush Lizard

Side-blotched Lizards
Northern Side-blotched Lizard	Common Sideblotched Lizard	Northern Side-blotched Lizard
Nevada Side-blotched Lizard	Common Sideblotched Lizard	Nevada Side-blotched Lizard
Western Side-blotched Lizard	Common Sideblotched Lizard	California Sideblotched Lizard

Skinks
Gilbert's Skinks
Variegated Skink	Variegated Skink	Variegated Skink
Greater Brown Skink	Greater Brown Skink	Greater Brown Skink
Northern Brown Skink	Northern Brown Skink	Northern Brown Skink
Western Red-tailed Skink	Western Red-tailed Skink	Western Redtail Skink
Western Skinks
Coronado Skink	Skilton's Skink	Coronado Island Skink
Skilton's Skink	Skilton's Skink	Western Skink

Spiny Lizards
Desert Spiny Lizards
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard	Desert Spiny Lizard	Desert Spiny Lizard
Barred Spiny Lizard	Desert Spiny Lizard	Desert Spiny Lizard
Granite Spiny Lizard	Granite Spiny Lizard	Granite Spiny Lizard

Tree Lizards
Baja California Brush Lizard	Black-tailed Brush Lizard	Blacktail Brush Lizard
Colorado River Tree Lizard	Ornate Tree Lizard	Tree Lizard

Whiptails
Belding's Orange Throated Whiptail	Orange-throated Whiptail	Orange-throated Whiptail
California Whiptail	California Whiptail	California Whiptail
Coastal Whiptail	Coastal Whiptail	Coastal Whiptail
Great Basin Whiptail	Great Basin Whiptail	Great Basin Whiptail

Zebra-tailed Lizards
Western Zebra-tailed Lizard	Common Zebra-tailed Lizard	Mojave Zebratail Lizard

I = Introduced
F = Formerly present, now probably extinct in California

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