No information on water requirements. This lizard occurs in areas of low rainfall and often far from any source of standing water. This species occurs most commonly in open canopy stages of suitable habitats. Basically diurnal, this species is active at cooler temperatures than most other lizards with which it coexists. They are active earlier and later in the day than most lizards, sometimes venturing onto warm roads at night.
Activity is reduced during the hot periods of summer.
In cooler areas a period of winter inactivity occurs but elsewhere individuals may be active all winter long. Predictable seasonal movements have not been recorded for ths species in California. No information is available regarding the nature of the home range. No evidence for the territorial defense of resources has been reported. Racers, rattlesnakes, garter snakes, loggerhead shrikes, red-tailed hawks, and domestic cats have been reported among the predators of alligator lizards.