An ensatina salamander (Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis) from Pt Reyes Peninsula in California. This salamander species is best known for as a ring species, there are multiple subspecies of this salamander around California. These subspecies are generally able to interbreed with the neighboring subspecies of salamander but are too genetically distinct to reproduce with more distant subspecies. An example of speciation in action.
The California slender salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), these salamanders have some of the smallest ranges of all vertebrates usually moving less than 10 m away from their birth site throughout their lives.
Oil Beetle
A male oil beetle (Meloe strigulosus) from the East Bay hills. These beetles are flightless and slow but they secrete Cantharidin which can cause chemical burns and blisters.
A northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), this species is a conservation success story having nearly gone extinct in the early 1900s. Its thought that less than 40 individuals remained. However once they were protected populations grew and continue to grow to this day. There are now over 175,000 of these seals.
The Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) active on a rock wall in the hills of Contra Costa County.
Snail eating beetles (Scaphinotus interruptus), Millipede (Class Diplopoda) & mites. The beetles and millipede were feeding on the unidentifiable mush on the ground . The beetles at least are a species endemic to California and despite the name feed on much more than just snails.
The Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) active on a rock wall in Contra Costa County.
A vernal pond in California, this type of habitat is under threat due to development and degradation by livestock. It is home to several species of endangered animals including tiger salamanders, conservancy shrimp, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, etc
Black necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) foraging in a vernal pool with wind turbines in the background.
A gopher snake coiled at the edge of a wetland in Solano County, California.
The vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi), an endangered species found in the little remaining vernal pool habitat in the central valley of California. Each year all the adults of this species die when their seasonal pools dry but they leave behind eggs in the mud. The next year when the rains come the eggs hatch and the cycle repeats itself.
Sun setting on a skunk
A skunk which has likely been depredated by a great horned owl. Its remains sit along the edge of vernal pool habitat.
A red velvet mite (family Trombididiidae) moves across wet mud near a vernal pool.
A desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) munches on dry vegetation in Death Valley National Park.
A desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) from Death Valley National Park.
Southern Alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) forages in the underbrush as the sun begins to set. Its a generalist that will eat a wide variety of invertebrates, strong jaws can crush beetle or snail shells even.
A juvenile Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) from Contra Costa County county. Its rattle is still only a nubbin and too small to produce the rattling sound these snakes are known for.
A juvenile Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) basking in the tall grass on a hillside in Contra Costa County county.
Southern Alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) basking on a rocky hillside as the sun sets.
A juvenile Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) from Contra Costa County.
Poecilochirus species mites on a dying Scaphinotus species ground beetle. The mites probably did not cause this beetles death as this genus of mite is well known for riding on beetles - particularly carrion beetles (which this is not). While the exact relationship between this type of beetle and mite is not known in the published literature. Their reltionship with carrion beetles on the other hand is well documented. The carrion beetles deliver the mites to a food source which the mites then disembark on. There they feed on fly larvae and eggs which compete with the beetle's larvae for food.
Poecilochirus species mites on a Scaphinotus species ground beetle. This genus of mite is well known for riding on beetles - particularly carrion beetles (which this is not). While the exact relationship between this type of beetle and mite is not known in the published literature, their relationship with carrion beetles is well documented. The beetles deliver the mites to a food source which the mites then disembark on. There they feed on fly larvae and eggs which compete with the beetle's larvae for food.
A young slime mold growing on a log near Berkeley, CA. These slime molds are neither fungus, plant nor animal. Instead they are considered protists and embody characteristics of the other 3 mentioned kingdoms.
A tiny slime mold in the Stemonitis genus. These molds are collectively known as Chocolate tube slimes due to the brown color of many. Not a fungus, plant or animal this is actually considered a protist.
A gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer), perhaps California's most common snake species. When threatened it can put on quite a show, hissing and rearing up but is in fact harmless. It is an adept predator of small rodents and can be found nearly anywhere that voles & gophers occur.
A soil centipede in the genus Strigamia, displays parental care by attending its offspring which have recently hatched and barely resemble centipedes at this point. Soon the young will disperse and go on their way.
Pacific Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis), one of the 13 subspecies of Diadophi punctatus in North America and of the 7 in California. This subspecies occurs from just north of the San Francisco Bay down to Monterey Bay. Although there is some contention about the taxonomy and subspecies of this snake.
A gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer), it can be found in nearly every habitat type in the Bay area. Adults feed largely on rodents although small birds may be consumed, juveniles often feed on lizards.
The mouth parts of a drowned mosquito provide a convenient perch for a springtail (Isotomurus).
Seed shrimp (ostracods) and mosquito larvae mingle in a rapidly drying puddle in a Berkeley backyard. The mosquitoes will soon metamorphose and fly away whereas the seed shrimp will lay eggs which will remain dormant until the area is once again inundated.
The coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii), A flat bodied lizard that is found in chaparral habitat where it feeds predominantly on ants, development and the spread of nonnative argentine ants are its main threats. Not a particularly fast runner, this lizard relies on its excellent camouflage.
Seed shrimp (ostracods) feeding on a dipteran in a rapidly drying puddle in a Berkeley backyard. The seed shrimp seem to readily scavenge anything in the puddle from decaying vegetation to animal matter like mosquito larvae and this drowned midge.
The coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii), A flat bodied lizard that is found in chaparral habitat where it feeds predominantly on ants, development and the spread of nonnative argentine ants are its main threats.
A particularly dark northern pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) basks after eating a large meal. Mostly hidden under a log only a portion of its body is exposed. This allows it to thermoregulate while remaining safe from predators.
Hidden in tall grass and with a portion of its body within a rodent burrow, a rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) is well concealed from any potential threats.
The California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) in habitat, quite a secretive snake they spend much of their time underground and are rarely encountered.
A macro of the scales and triad pattern of a California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) from the Santa Cruz mountains. Many snakes with this pattern are called coral snake mimics but these kingsnakes live many 100s of miles from the nearest species of coral snake. The different colors may help break up the snake's shape when it moves.
A foothill yellow legged frog (Rana boylii) with a dragonfly nymph that it attempted to eat. These frogs are associated with high quality stream habitat but have sadly declined across much of their range due to disease, habitat degradation, introduced species, and climate change.
A dusky footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) active by night and climbing low vegetation.
