California Tiger Salamander

description: large and stocky, broad round snout, black with yellow/cream spots or bars

range: endemic to central CA

migration: moves to breeding bonds during winter storms

habitat: annual grasslands and open woodlands, adults usually underground in mammal burrows

diet: general

clutch: up to 8000

repro: breeds Dec-Feb in vernal ponds (dry in summer), neotony common (called axolotl)

status: DECLINING, CA species of concern, Sonoma pop. endangered

Long-toed Salamander

description: dark body with light speckles, *golden dorsal stripe, long toes esp. on back feet

range: Northwest US and southwest Canada

migrates to ponds to breed

varied habitat, arid grasslands and sagebrush to alpine meadows and lake shores

diet: general

clutch: up to 400 eggs per clutch

repro: in ponds with quiet water, Jan-July depending on climate

status: subspecies Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander (nearly black with light speckles, broken stripe) federally endangered since 1969

Desert Slender Salamander

description: silvery/ brassy flecks above, dark on sides

range: a palm range oasis in Santa Rosa Mountains, CA

habitat: moist canyon in desert landscape

status: federally endangered (highest protection levels)

Southwestern Toad

description: warty and stocky, pale stripe across head/between eyes, paratoid glands pale towards front

range: isolated populations in SW US, Arroyo subspecies in coastal CA and Baja CA

habitat: washes, streams and arroyos in semi-arid areas

clutch: 4000 eggs/clutch

repro: breeds in summer in streams, doesn't depend directly on water for breeding

nocturnal except during breeding season

status: Arroyo Southwestern Toad federally endangered

Red-legged Frog

description: dark area near whitish jaw stripe, prominent dorsolateral folds, dark bands on legs, red on underside of legs and abdomen

range: west of Cascade/Sierra crest from British Columbia to Baja  (N and S subspecies)

habitat: ponds in humid areas with good cover in lowlands and foothills

clutch: up to 4000 eggs/clutch

repro: 1-2 week breeding period Jan-April

status: CA Reg-legged Frog (southern subspecies) is federally threatened

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog

description: few facial markings, vague dorsolateral folds, underside of hind legs is yellow, pretty non-descript

range: foothills of Cascae/Sierra Crest, Oregon and CA

habitat: streams or rivers in woodlands, chapparel, forest

clutch: up to 1000 eggs/clutch

repro: March-June after high waters subside, male croaks underwater

status: DECLINING, disappearing form native habitat in CA

Mountain Yellow-legged Frog

description: black or brown spots, indistinct dorsolateral folds, underside of legs yellow/orange, toe tips dusky, smells like garlic

range: Sierra Nevada 4500'-12,000'+, Mtns. of S. CA 1200'-1500' (co-occurs with Foothill Yellow-legged Frog in S. CA)

habitat: mountain rivers, streams, pools and lakes, ALWAYS CLOSE TO WATER, diurnal (acitve during day)

clutch: approx. 500/clutch

repro: breeds as soon as meadows and lakes are free of snow (May-Aug), tadpoles may overwinter up to 2 years

status: DECLINING, esp. in CA, CA species of concern (predation by trout considered major problem, fungus)

Bullfrog

description: olive green or borwn, light green head, conspicuous eardrums outlined by fold starting at eye, NO dorsolateral folds, black stripes on back legs

range: across US, not native West of Rockies

habitat: areas with permanent quiet freshwater and thick vegetative cover

clutch: up to 20,000 eggs/clutch, can have multiple clutches in good year

repro: breeds Feb-July in West, tapole smay overwinter

status: abundant game species, introduced to W. US for food, predation by bullfrogs has severely impacted native frogs

American Alligator

description: large, broad-nosed, eyes stick up, lots of teeth

range: Southeastern US

non-migratory

habitat: freshwater, slow moving rivers, swamps, marshes, lakes

diet: carniverous, ambush predator

clutch: 35-50 eggs, temperature-dependent sex determination

repro: polygynous, nest built of vegetation on higher ground, mother guards nest and removes vegetation after young hatch

status: stable game species (skin and eggs are valuable), 1967=endangered, 1977=threatened, cousin Am. crocodile is endangered

Western Pond Turtle

description: dark flecks and lines emanating from center of shields on shell

range: West of Sierra crest from Washington through Baja

resident/non-migratory

habitat: water courses with muddy bottoms, woodland, grassland, open forest

diet: plants, insects, worms, fish, carrion (will eat hamburger in captivity)

clutch: 3-11 eggs

status: DECLINING due to ag. development, water diversion, urbanizaiton, CA species of special concern

Desert Tortoise

range: Southwest US south into Mexico

non-migratory

habitat: desert oases, riverbanks, washes, dunes, associated with creosote brush in SW US

digs burrows in sand during hot weather

diet: herbs, grasses, cacti, likes flowers

clutch: 1-15 eggs

repro: 2 or rarely 3 broods in a good year

status: federally threatened, pop. impacted by habitat loss, over collecting, disease and harassment

Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard

description: black spots on sides, fringe scales on hind toes ("snowshoes for sand")

range: Coachella Valley, Riverside, CA

non-migratory

habitat: fine, loose, windblown sand dunes

"swim" underneath the sand

diet: general, some vegetation

clutch: 2-4 eggs

reproduction: bury eggs under sand

status: federally endangered, 75% of habitat lost, 10% of known habitat on preserves administered by gov, agencies and nature conservancy

Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard

description: pattern of dusky spots and crosshairs, blunt snout, long toes with big claws

habitat: grasslands, alkalai flats and washes of San Joaquin Valley, Carrizo Plains area of S. SJ Valley

general diet

clutch: 1-6 eggs

frequently takes refuge in small rodent burrows

status: federally endangered, habitat loss due to ag. and housing development, hybridizes with long-nosed leopard lizard

Striped Racer

"Calafornia Whipsnake"

description: plain black or dark brown above, orange/pale yellow/white stripe on side, very fast

range: throughout CA west of Sierra crest, absent from valley floor

resident/non-migratory

habitat: scrublands broken by grassy patches, rocky hillsides

diet: general, spiny lizards esp. important prey

clutch: 6-11 eggs

**Alameda  subspecies

-has orange stripe and anterior ventral surface

- is federally threatened

-needs open areas created by fires (fire supression is a concern)

Common Garter Snake

description: distinct side stripes (3), colors can be quite varied

range: Pacific to Atlantic coasts, absent from much of desert SW

non-migratory

habitat: found in many habitats, usu. near water

general diet

clutch: 12-18 LIVE young (eggs held within body of female and hatch inside)

status: overall STABLE

**SF subspecies

-bluish-green belly

-federally endangered

-found only on SF penninsula

Giant Garter Snake

description: 18-48", patterened side stripe

range: San Joaquin Valley from Los Banos to Colusa County, believed extinct further south

non-migratory

habitat:streams and sloughs, usu. with muddy bottoms

general diet

clutch: 7-25 LIVE young

status: federally threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation

Red Diamond Rattlesnake

description: tan/pink/reddish with diamonds on back, triangular shaped head, rattles on tail

range: peninsular ranges, generally at lower elevations

habitat: variety of habitats and semi-arid regions

diet: general, mostly small vertebrates

clutch: 3-20 LIVE young

status: CA species of concern (impacted by urban and ag. development), similar habitat and range as CA gnatcatcher