I saw a lizard today that was probably 10 to 12 inches long, brownish grey color and fairly hefty. I have seen alligator lizards here but they were 4 or 5 inches, they were the only lizard I have seen locally. Do you have any insight on what it could have been.

Baby alligator

We have a few down here that long, but they are more green patterned. maybe a salamander?

In Western Oregon I have seen some pretty big alligator lizards, they seem to chase the little gecko looking ones around. Mostly just shorten the tails of them.

wws

Google: Long Nosed Leopard Lizard, can be up to 17 inches long, has a dark color phase.

I saw those but they weren't listed as being this far north. Also the pics I saw showed them as being spotted, pretty sure the one I saw wasn't spotted. Thanks for the replies, also pretty sure it wasn't a salamander but I have been known to be wrong before.

Sundance -

Thanks much for the observation! If what you saw was genuinely a lizard, pretty much has to be a northern alligator. I can't think of another lizard in your country that it might be. The larger guys (leopard lizards and collared lizards) don't get very far north of the snake river plains, so it wouldn't be them. Could it be an Idaho giant salamander that you saw. I've caught a few of them on the Pond Oreille, the n. fk.Clearwater, and the St. Joe, but always closely associated with water. Also, could it have been a tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)??? Were you on Priest River? Lets figure this out, man!!

Jack

I caught a 9 to 10 inch northern alligator lizard today(biggest one I have positively identified) near where I saw the bigger one the other day so I am guessing that is what I saw. I was at my house 5 miles west and north of the confluence of the Priest and Pend Orielle rivers. I live on a dry south slope a couple hundred yards above a seasonal creek. I don't post pictures but if you are interested in pictures P.M. me your number and I will text you pictures. My parents had a giant salamander that hung out in their yard probably 40 years ago. They got a positive identification on it.