Lizard Info

Seems it was an alligator lizard, a species native to northern California. They _can_ bite, so I guess I'm glad this one didn't.

   The California Herps website www.californiaherps.com has some good information and lots of clear photos. This shot of a San Francisco alligator lizard (note that this one is brown, while the one I saw was quite greenish) was taken by Gary Nafis.

If I ever see another one in a space as unsuitable as a parking lot, I will capture it, put it in a safe container overnight, and drop it off in Golden Gate park or somewhere similar, free of cars.

-- Rachel

Sad postscript: no more lizard

My co-worker Bill reported seeing the lizard, dead in the parking lot, having been killed by a parking car. -- Rachel

Lizard in the Office Parking Lot

At first he tried to hide against the side of the building.



Then he turned to face me, and ran across the driveway.



I tried to "herd" him back to the building, since it seemes like a safer place for him to be. At one point, we both just stood there, and then he astonished me by walking towards me, and climbing up my foot and finally up my leg to about my knee. I began to slowly walk back across the driveway, and he stayed on my leg for most of the trip. Eventually he turned around and walked back down my leg (I was wearing jeans), and went back to a sunny pad of concrete. When I came back later, he was gone, and I haven't seen him since.

Can anyone tell me what kind of lizard this one, and what is its normal habitat? Thanks.

-- Rachel