Who is this?

[noah]

Hi,

I found this little guy swimming in our pool. What is he?

-noah

 

[Daniel]

Where do you guys live around, I heard that you guys have lizards scorpions frogs all over your backyard. The only outside critter I see is the squirrels. We used to have rabbits a couple years ago, but I think the foxes kill all of them.

 

[FlytrapGurl]

***twists mouth*** Hmmm... he could be some sort of skink or something...

 

[schloaty]

I had the same thought as FTG....My first reaction was "skink."

 

[Slizarus]

He's just a southern alligator lizard they're highly variable ones I see in cali have a lot of red but the one you got looks like the 2nd picture in my field guide showing the S.gators except the black arrows/dots on the back are reduced

 

[sarracenialuver]

Hey,
Its definetly not a northern alligator lizard (elgaria coerulea) for it lacks the dark shiny brown color. As for the southern alligator lizard (elgaria multicarinata)......I would say a sub species of the below. Straight southerns have a brown/gray look to them or green. The juveniles have to much darker coloring, and a longer tail of yours. So my guess would be elgaria coerulea shastensis, or the shasta alligator lizard. The shasta alligator lizards are usually tan color, with black crossbands.
Kevin

 

[cephalotus88]

yeap, a little alligator lizard. Very common here in CA. Some stay small, but the average length is anout 5-6 inches, with extremes up to 10 (that was the largest one i saw while herping). Nice looking critter.

 

[ninja]

when i lived in southern cali. i caught a lot of them in the small canyon by or house and let them go in the park by our house...i was only 10