California Lizard Species

Phrynosomatidae Lizards

• The Phrynosomatidae family is more commonly known as North American spiny lizards. In California 18 species from this family can be found. The western zebra-tailed lizard has a distinctive black-and-white striped tail. Mearns rock lizard is found only in a small range in southern California. Blainville's, pygmy short-horned, flat-tailed and the desert horned lizards are all natives. Spiny lizards such as the common sage-brush, desert spiny, western fence, granite spiny and yellow-backed spiny belong to this family as well. Other native lizards include Coachella valley, Colorado desert and Mojave fringe-toed lizards. The long-tailed brush, Baja California brush, Colorado River tree and common side blotched lizards are also natives.

Anguidae Lizards

• Members of the Anguidae family are more commonly called alligator lizards, so named for their gator-like body shapes. The northern alligator lizard is represented by four subspecies in the northern part of the state, The southern alligator has three subspecies, found mainly in the west of California. The panamint alligator is found in just one small area in the east of the state.

Xantusiidae Lizards

• The Xantusiidae family is more commonly known as night lizards. Six species from this family live in the state, including the sandstone and granite night lizards. Both species are small, pale-colored lizards with dark spotted patterns. The two subspecies of island nigh lizard are found on islands just off of California's southwest coast. Other night lizards in the state include the Sierra, desert and Baja California varieties.

Scincidae and Gekkonidae Lizards

• Two species from the Scincidae, or skink family, live in the state, including four subspecies of Gilbert's skink. They are small, stout-bodied lizards with smooth and shiny scaled skin. The western skink has two subspecies in the state and are more slender. The state is also home to five gecko species, two of which are introduced species. The Mediterranean house and Moorish geckos are both nonnatives that live wild in the state. Other native geckos include Switak's, western banded and the leaf-toed varieties.

Crotaphytidae and Teiidae Lizards

• Crotaphytidae lizards are commonly known as collared or leopard lizards. The Great Basin and Baja California collared lizards get their names because of dark bands on their necks. Named for dark blotched body patterns with striped tails, three species of leopard lizard live in the state. These are the blunt-nosed, long-nosed and Cope's varieties. Two species from the whip-tail, or Teiidae family, live in the state as well. Belding's orange-throated and three subspecies of tiger whip-tail are natives.

Other Lizard Species

• The other six lizards in the state include two nonnative invasive species. The largest Californian species is also the only venomous lizard in the state, the Gila monster, which grows to over a foot in length. Two members of the iguana family are natives: the common chuckwalla and northern desert iguana. The California legless lizard is entirely without limbs and resembles a snake. The yellow-crested jackson chameleon and southern Italian wall lizards are both introduced species.