California Squamata

lizards only

Coleonyx variegatus

small, soft skin, moveable eyelids, no toe pads, classic gecko patterning

Hermidactylus turicicus

invasive, small, bumpy skin, normal toe pads, no eyelids

Phyllodactylus xanti

small, triangular toe pads, has eyelids

Plestiodon gilberti

scincidae, red head as adult, no stripes or at least no tail stripes

Plestiodon skiltonianus

scincidae, stripes

Xantusia vigilis

small, plates on top of head, small scales on side, gular fold, square ventral scales

Aspidoscelis tigris

plate scales on head, extremely long tail, granular scales

Diposaurus dorsalis

iguana face shape, pale, tiny dorsal ridge

Sauromalus ater

huge, iguana face shape, large, loose skin folds, chuckwalla

Crotaphytus bicinctores

medium, iguana face shape, black collar pattern

Gambelia sila

medium, iguana face shape, leopard pattern, shorter spots on throat

Gambelia wislizenii

medium, iguana face shape, long streaks down throat

Callisaurus draconoides

medium, iguana face shape, extremely striped underside of tail

Uma scoparia

iguana face shape, back spots irregular, black armpit belly spots, crescent throat marks

Uma inornata

iguana face shape, back spots form lines, no belly markings, faint throat marks

Uma notata

iguana face shape, back spots form lines, black armpit spots and orange on belly, faint throat marks

Phrynosoma blainvilli

horned lizard, 2 rows spiked side ridge, 2 rows chin spikes, massive head spikes

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

horned lizard, 1 row spiked side ridge, short head spikes

Phrynosoma douglassi

horned lizard, no side ridges, no head spikes, small

Phrynosoma mcallii

horned lizard, no side ridges, long skinny head spikes

Scleoporus magister

spiny lizard, bar on neck/shoulder, no gular fold, southern CA

Scleoporus graciosus

spiny lizard, small shoulder bar, armpit color, no gular fold, broken tail, northern CA

Scleoporus occidentalis

spiny lizard, no shoulder bar, sometimes blue belly, no gular fold, widespread CA

Uta stansburiana

spiny lizard but smoother, side blotches, gular fold

Urosaurus graciosus

spiny lizard but smoother, long tail, gular fold, no side blotch

Elgaria coerulea

keeled scales, lateral fold, stripes through edges of ventral scales

Elgaria multicarinata

keeled scales, lateral fold, stripes through center of ventral scales

Anniella pulchra

legless, lateral stripes

Gila monster

large body, beaded black and orange scales