Northern Alligator Lizard

Research Objectives:

To examine the Northern Alligator Lizard's natural history and reproductive ecology.

1. Describe their natural history (e.g. body size, habitat preferences, movement patterns).

2. Determine basic life history traits (e.g. lifespan, survivorship, litter size)

3. Identify costs of reproduction.
   a) Fecundity costs: Do they have fewer offspring in a given year and instead invest energy into growth so that they might have more offspring in the following year?
   b) Survival costs: Do pregnant females run slower making them less able to escape predators? 

Preliminary Findings:

1. They make extensive use of cover (rocks and shrubs) and some   individuals are site faithful, remaining in the same area (within 25m radius) for three consecutive years.

2. They live up to 8 years of age, have variable litter sizes (1-8) and females are able to reproduce every year.

3. Fecundity costs:
   a) Individuals will invest in tail growth during reproduction and this decreases their reproductive output. They may do this because lizards with longer tails have larger litters.
   b) Survival costs: Pregnant females have slower sprint speeds than males and non-pregnant females. In addition lizards with shorter tails have slower sprint speeds.

Funding or Management Agencies:

Columbia Basin Trust
National Research & Engineering Council of Canada
University of Victoria 

For more Information on Habits & Habitat 
see the following web site:

Columbia Basin: Endangered Species & Spaces

For more information on the Tailed Frog research
projects contact:

Barry Bartlet
Public Relations Dept.
Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program
St.103 - 333 Victoria St.
Nelson, B.C.
V1L 4K3
Phone: 1-250-352-6874
Fax: 1-250-352-6178

Or get a copy of the Video:
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Columbia Basin

Pam Rutherford, MSc.