Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the San Diego Region [Reprint 2020 ed.] 9780520939035

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CALIFORNIA NATURAL HISTORY GUIDES

FIELD GUIDE TO A M P H I B I A N S AND R E P T I L E S OF THE SAN DIEGO REGION

California Natural History

Guides

Phyllis M. Faber and Bruce M. Pavlik, General Editors

Field Guide to

A M P H I B I A N S and R E P T I L E S of t h e S A N DIEGO R E G I O N Jeffrey M. Lemm

For Matthias, Mom, and Dad We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children. —CHIEF

SEATTLE

University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the U C Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. California Natural History Guide Series No. 89 University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England © 2006 by the Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lemm, Jeffrey M., 1971— Field guide to amphibians and reptiles of the San Diego region / Jeffrey M. Lemm. p. cm. — (California natural history guides; 89) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN-13: 978-0-520-24573-0 (cloth : alk. paper)—ISBN-10:0-520-24573-3 (cloth: alk. paper) ISBN-13:978-0-520-24574-7 (pbk.: alk. paper) —ISBN-10:0-520-24574-1 ( p b k . : alk. paper) 1. Amphibians—California—San Diego Region. 2. Reptiles—California— San Diego Region. I. Title. II. Series. QL653.C2L46 2006 597.909794'98—dc22 2006005065 Manufactured in China 23 22 21 20 19 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

3 2

The paper used in this publication is both acid-free and totally chlorine-free (TCF). It meets the m i n i m u m requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R 1997) (Permanence of Paper). Cover: Large-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina klauberi). Photograph by Jeffrey M. Lemm.

The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions to this book provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Fund in Environmental Studies and the General Endowment Fund of the University of California Press Foundation.

CONTENTS

Preface Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION Geography and Climate Geologic History of San Diego County

ix xi

1 2 3

Major Habitats of San Diego County

11

Animal Diversity

20

Problems and Conservation

21

Arrangement of the Species Accounts

28

Identifying Features

35

Key to the Herpetofauna of San Diego County

43

by Jay M. Savage

AMPHIBIANS

57

Salamanders ( C a u d a t a )

58

Lungless Salamanders (Plethodontldae)

58

Newts (Salamandridae)

66

Frogs and Toads (Anura)

70

True Toads (Bufonidae)

70

Tree Frogs (Hylidae)

77

Spadefoots (Pelobatidae)

82

Tongueless Frogs (Pipidae)

85

True Frogs (Ranidae)

88

REPTILES ¡¡¡¡¡Turtles and Tortoises (Testudinata) Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae)

97 98 98

Sea Turtles (Dermochelydidae)

105

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

107

Box and Water Turtles (Emydidae)

109

Land Tortoises (Testudinidae)

116

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae) Squamate Reptiles (Squamata) Lizards (Sauria)

118 121 121

Anguid Lizards (Anguidae)

121

Crotaphytid Lizards (Crotaphytidae)

126

Eyelid Geckos (Eublepharidae)

132

Geckos (Gekkonidae)

138

Iguanid Lizards (Iguanidae)

140

Phrynosomatid Lizards (Phrynosomatidae)

145

Skinks (Scincidae)

173

Teiid Lizards (Teiidae)

177

Night Lizards (Xantusiidae)

184

|H Snakes (Serpentes) Boas and Pythons (Boidae)

190 190

Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)

193

Sea Snakes (Hydrophiidae)

240

Blind Snakes (Leptotyphlopidae)

242

Vipers and Pit Vipers (Viperidae)

246

Amphibian Chytridiomycosis, by Gretchen E. Padgett-Flohr Snakebite and Venom, by Sean Bush Species Checklist Glossary References Art Credits Index

261 271 277 283 289 307 309

PREFACE

While going through my files looking up references for this book, I came across some old school papers. Most were from college, and a couple were from high school, but the ones that stood out were from elementary school—from my second grade class in 1978. The old yellow folder was about five pages thick and contained some old family photographs taped to some poorly handwritten pages; the title of the work was "My Autobiography—by Jeff Lemm." I was quite interested after reading this title because I didn't remember writing an autobiography, and second, what business did a seven-year-old have in writing one anyway? Amused, I started reading about my trips to the zoo, the desert, and the various other places my family often traveled to. The real surprise came when I read the final paragraph of the autobiography I had written 28 years ago: "I am going to go to San Diego State University and get a degree in Biology, and then I will work with reptiles at the San Diego Zoo." Amazingly enough, that's exactly what I did. I've always had an interest in animals, and specifically in reptiles and amphibians. Animals were something I saw often, as my childhood was spent outdoors with my family. We also were weekly visitors to the San Diego Zoo, and the Klauber-Shaw Reptile House is where my herpetological interests began. As I grew up, my hunger for knowledge about reptiles increased, and few books discussed the myriad species I found on the family outings to the desert, mountains, and canyons nearby. In addition, very few sources could be found about the plight of our native species. In high school I worked in the San Diego Zoo's gift shops while craving more information about the creatures I saw during my lunch breaks at the zoo. When I got my driver's license, I spent much of my spare time in the field acquiring information and

ix

photos of native reptiles and amphibians. I also saw firsthand the unfortunate devastation of habitats and the animals that live in them. Vast amounts of information have been published on reptiles around the world, but there was yet to be a book about herpetofauna in San Diego and the problems they face. Keys and published papers existed on these taxa, many by famous San Diego Zoo herpetologists Laurence Klauber, Charles Shaw, and C. B. "Si" Perkins. They also produced a number of books including the famous Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankindby Laurence Klauber (1956). However, most books and papers were written on single species or particular groups of species, and most were written over 30 years ago. No single book has detailed all of the herpetofauna of San Diego County, and new taxa continue to be discovered. The idea of writing a book never occurred to me until many years later, when I had found nearly every taxon in San Diego and photographed and researched most of them. With the urging of herping friends and colleagues, I started to put together a photo guide to the local species, but that did not satiate my desire. A photo guide does little to outline some of the problems the creatures and habitats of San Diego face. Living in one of the world's few biodiversity hotspots has its advantages, but our region is now facing a number of conservation problems. The information assembled here is just a starting point, and I am certainly not the authority on the creatures or habitats described herein. I do hope, however, that the information provided will in some way be educational and foster a fond awareness of the many animals and habitats that share our home.

x

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A number of talented individuals assisted in this endeavor. Without the professional guidance of many local herpetologists and biologists, as well as amateur herpetologists, this book would not have been possible. First I would like to thank University of California Press, Kate Hoffman, Doris Kretschmer, and Jenny Wapner for taking on this project and guiding me through the publication process. For his precise work and time on the taxonomic keys, I would like to thank Jay Savage. I would also like to thank Sean Bush for his information on snakebite, snake venom, and its effects, and Gretchen Padgett-Flohr for her section on amphibian decline. Thanks to the County of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use for providing the vegetation map of San Diego County. Thank you to Steve Steward for providing the illustrations and Joe Lemm for assistance with the range maps. Special thanks to Sam Sweet, Matt Anderson, and Chris Brown for making the tadpole photos a reality. For reviewing the manuscript or individual species accounts I thank Allison Alberts, Joey Betzler, Tracey Brown, Eric Dugan, Tandora Grant, Lee Grismer, Karen and Scott Eckert, Robert Lovich, Jeff Opdycke, Jay Savage, Jeffrey Seminoff, and Sam Sweet. For their assistance and companionship in the field, for providing animals for photos, or for providing unpublished information, I would like to thank Robert Applegate, Cameron Barrows, Brett Baldwin, Chris Brown, Tracey Brown, John Dillon, Ed Ervin, Robert Fisher, Bill Haas, Brad Hollingsworth, Chris Jackson, Jason Jones, Carolyn Lemm, Joe Lemm, Lee Lemm, Jean-Pierre Montagne, Rick Olsen, Tommy Owens, Gary Sipperley, Stephen Steward, Rick Sturm, Kim Thomas, Sam Sweet, and the many individuals who have shared time howling at the coyotes on "Barefoot Mountain" (you know who you are!). Photographs were provided by Richard

xi

Bartlett, Chris Brown, Sean Bush, Kim Cliffton, Scott Eckert, Tandora Grant, Jason Jones, Valentine Lance, Jeffrey Seminoff, and Mike Sredl. For time allowed to prepare the manuscript and for additional support, I thank the Zoological Society of San Diego and the Department of Herpetology at the San Diego Zoo. I would also like to thank my family for their never-ending support. I thank my father, Joe Lemm, for teaching me the beauty of nature and for the many outings to places far and wide. I thank my mother, Judy Lemm, for teaching me that computers are a part of every job, even a zoo job, and for her guidance in education (sorry about the rodents in the freezer!). I thank my brother, Patrick Lemm, and sisters, Kristen Hickmon and Kelly Lemm, for putting up with the smells and sounds associated with keeping animals at home and for their nurturing, companionship, and understanding. Thank you to Nancy Lemm for her technical support, and JM Chromacolor for their many years of excellence in film processing. Above all, I am indebted to my beautiful wife Carolyn for her encouragement and understanding. She has been my friend, traveling companion, herping partner, coparent, and love. All illustrations are by Steven Steward and all photos are by Jeffrey Lemm, unless otherwise noted.

xii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

MOST OF MY WORK o n a m p h i b i a n s a n d reptiles in California has

been done in San Diego County; however, animals have a way of ignoring political boundaries, and most of the species described in this book can be found in a much larger area of southern California. In fact, many of them can be found in other parts of the United States and Mexico. Without claiming a detailed knowledge of the herpetofauna outside San Diego County, I believe this book will be useful to anyone living in or visiting the area encompassed by map 1 and the range maps, which show the area bounded by the Tehachapi Mountains to the north, the eastern Mojave Desert and the Arizona border to the east, and northern Baja California to the south. Islands off the coast of southern California and northern Baja California are also shown, as well as the extreme northeastern corner of mainland Mexico. Many of the following introductions to geography and climate, geologic history, major habitats (map 2), animal diversity, and conservation, while they focus on San Diego County, are relevant to many of the areas in southern California.

Geography and Climate San Diego County stretches from the Orange County line near Camp Pendleton to the U.S.-Mexico border roughly 70 miles to the south. Its western boundary is the Pacific Ocean, and its eastern border nearly reaches the Salton Sea in the Colorado Desert. The area of the entire county is 4,255 sq mi (2,723,200 acres [1,102,000 ha]) and includes beautiful beaches and wetlands, mesas and canyons, cool mountain lakes and streams, rocky peaks, and desert badlands. Contained within San Diego County are vast open areas of public land, including part of the Cleveland National Forest, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, numerous square miles of Bureau of Land Management land, and a multitude of natural and developed parks. The Cleveland National Forest encompasses about 1,015 sq mi (650,000 acres [263,000 ha]), 400 sq mi (256,000 acres [ 103,600 ha]) of which are located in San Diego County. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California's largest state park, boasting 937.5 sq mi (600,000 acres [242,800 ha]), 802 sq mi (512,000 acres [207,200 ha]) of which are located in San Diego County. Both areas are popular destinations for

2

INTRODUCTION

wildlife viewing and outdoor activities. With a variety of environments situated so close to one another, it is no wonder that San Diego is both a world-renowned tourist destination and home to over 2.9 million people. The population of the city of San Diego is about 1.2 million, and in addition to being among the 10 largest cities in the country (usually fluctuating between sixth and eighth), San Diego is the second most populous city in California. The Mediterranean climate on the coastal plain where the majority of the population lives is mild and sunny, with an average of seven of 10 days bathed in full sun. Average maximum and minimum annual temperatures are 71 degrees F (21.6 degrees C) and 58 degrees F (14.4 degrees C), respectively. Average annual rainfall is usually less than 10 in. (25.4 cm) but varies due to successional droughts and El Niño events. Climate also varies tremendously with location within the county. For instance, at Cuyamaca, which lies in the heart of San Diego's mountains, average annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 66 degrees F (18.9 degrees C) and 40 degrees F (4.4 degrees C); however, it often snows there in winter and has reached temperatures belowO degrees F (-17.7 degrees C). Precipitation is much higher in this region than on the coastal plain and averages 34.5 in. (87.6 cm) a year. Conversely, the Colorado Desert, which lies just east of the Cuyamaca Mountains, reaches extremes in both temperature and precipitation. Annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 87 degrees F (30.5 degrees C) and 58 ° F (14.4 degrees C), respectively; however, temperatures routinely soar to over 115 degrees F (46.1 degrees C) in the summer and to freezing in the winter. Rainfall is usually less than 5 in. (12.7 cm) a year.

Geologic History of San Diego County The topography of San Diego County is the result of many different factors. The appearance of the land's surface is constituted by the surface material, or the rock types and their resistance to weathering. Another controlling agent is the large-scale movements of tectonic plates—large sections of the earth's crust that move from faulting or volcanic episodes. Fault motions and continued on page 8 INTRODUCTION

3

wildlife viewing and outdoor activities. With a variety of environments situated so close to one another, it is no wonder that San Diego is both a world-renowned tourist destination and home to over 2.9 million people. The population of the city of San Diego is about 1.2 million, and in addition to being among the 10 largest cities in the country (usually fluctuating between sixth and eighth), San Diego is the second most populous city in California. The Mediterranean climate on the coastal plain where the majority of the population lives is mild and sunny, with an average of seven of 10 days bathed in full sun. Average maximum and minimum annual temperatures are 71 degrees F (21.6 degrees C) and 58 degrees F (14.4 degrees C), respectively. Average annual rainfall is usually less than 10 in. (25.4 cm) but varies due to successional droughts and El Niño events. Climate also varies tremendously with location within the county. For instance, at Cuyamaca, which lies in the heart of San Diego's mountains, average annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 66 degrees F (18.9 degrees C) and 40 degrees F (4.4 degrees C); however, it often snows there in winter and has reached temperatures belowO degrees F (-17.7 degrees C). Precipitation is much higher in this region than on the coastal plain and averages 34.5 in. (87.6 cm) a year. Conversely, the Colorado Desert, which lies just east of the Cuyamaca Mountains, reaches extremes in both temperature and precipitation. Annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 87 degrees F (30.5 degrees C) and 58 ° F (14.4 degrees C), respectively; however, temperatures routinely soar to over 115 degrees F (46.1 degrees C) in the summer and to freezing in the winter. Rainfall is usually less than 5 in. (12.7 cm) a year.

Geologic History of San Diego County The topography of San Diego County is the result of many different factors. The appearance of the land's surface is constituted by the surface material, or the rock types and their resistance to weathering. Another controlling agent is the large-scale movements of tectonic plates—large sections of the earth's crust that move from faulting or volcanic episodes. Fault motions and continued on page 8 INTRODUCTION

3

m

San ' ,,.„ , Miguel

v

.---'

•'

Santa

Rosa

„ -' Anacapa

.. , Santa Cruz

Santa Barbara

^

San Nicolas

°Vntainesl

o

C o

Santa Catalina

o o f§

San demente

The California Red-legged Frog, once common in San Diego County, may now be extinct there.

20 1

4 0 miles

—I

4 0 kilometers

1

The Red Diamond Rattlesnake, the San Diego Region's largest venomous snake, is also found in Baja California.

Map 1. S a n Diego County and surrounding region.

o

Barstow

Q

M o j a v

*

d e s e

ut

Lake Havasu O City

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS San Bernardino

f

^

^

Or

I

t

A ' ' / Borrego Springs !

v

%

¿ g ^

Jr,

\Sea

p Oceanside O SAN DIEGO Escondido qqumty

-C

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X

El Centro ; , 0 San Diego

Islas

1

>

13 San Andreas Fault, 9 San Diego Alligator Lizard. See Southern Alligator Lizard San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), 21 San Diego Banded Gecko, 135 (map), 135-136,137 (plates), 137-138 San Diego (city), 3 San Diego Coast Horned Lizard, 152 San Diego County, 4-5 (map) biodiversity in, 11-12 biodiversity loss in, 21-24 climate, 3 conservation efforts in, 24-26 conservation suggestions for, 27 geography, 2-3 geologic history, 3-11 habitats, 6-7 (map) San Diego Gopher Snake, 221 (map), 223 (plate), 223-224 San Diego Mountain Kingsnake, 32, 210 (map), 210-211 (plates), 210-212

San Diego Mountains Project (Nature Conservancy), 25 San Diego Natural History Museum, 26,30 San Diego Ring-necked Snake, 203-205,204 (map), 204 (plate) San Diego State University, 26 San Diego Zoo, 26 sandbars, 9 sandstone, 20

INDEX

321

Sandstone Night Lizard, 185 (map), 187 (plate), 187-188 sandy flats, 20 Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander, 266 Santa Rosa Mountains, 10 Sauria, 47-51 (key), 121-189 Sauromalus ater, 143-145,254 Savanna Monitor, 23 Sceloporus graciosus, 212 magister uniformis, 157—159 occidentalisy 21,212 occidentalis longipes, 159-160 orcuttu 161-162 vandenburgianus, 162-164 Scincidae, 173-177 scrub oak, 14 sea snakes family description, 240 venoms, 274 Yellow-bellied Sea Snake, 30,31, 240-242,241 (plate) sea turtles Black Sea Turtle, 102-104,103 (plate) environmental threats to, 31 family descriptions, 98,105 Green Sea Turtle, 38 (figs.), 100-102,101 (plate) Hawksbill Sea Turtle, 30 Leatherback Sea Turde, 106 (plate), 106-107 Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 98-100, 99 (plate) Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, 104 (plate), 104-105 range maps, 30 Serpentes, 51-54 (key), 190-260 Shovel-nosed Snake, Western, 199 (map), 199-201,200 (plates) Side-blotched Lizard, Common, 125, 171 (map), 171-172, 172 (plate) Sidewinder, Colorado Desert, 246-250,247 (map), 248-249 (plates) Sierra Nevada Mountains, 262

322

INDEX

Sierra San Pedro Mártir, 29 single-leafed pinyon pine, 18 skinks family description, 173 Gilbert's Skink, 173 (map), 173-175,174 (plates) Western Skink, 125,175 (map), 175-177,176 (plates), 212 slender salamanders Garden Slender Salamander, 60-62, 61 (map), 61 (plate), 62 (fig.) Black-bellied Slender Salamander, 62 Slider, Red-eared Pond, 22,32, 114 (map), 114-115,115 (plate) Small-scaled Tree Lizard. See Blacktailed Brush Lizard smoke tree, 20 snakebite, 271-275 treatment for, 271-273 venom and, 273-275 See also individual species snakes anal plate, 40 (fig.) benefits to humans, 21 Corn Snake, 23 environmental threats to, 31-32 key, 51-54 milk snakes, 23 nonnative species, 23 pythons, 23 scale row counts for, 41 (fig.) shed skin, and amphibian chytridiomycosis, 265 SVL measurement, 40 (fig.) TL measurement, 28-29, 40 (fig.) See also boas; colubrid snakes; pit vipers; sea snakes; individual species snapping turtles Alligator Snapping Turtle, 23 Common Snapping Turtle, 32,108 (map), 108-109 family description, 107-108 nonnative species, 22,23,32 snout-to-vent (SVL) measurements, 28,36 (fig.), 40 (fig.)

softshell turtles family description, 118 as invasive species, 22,32 Texas Spiny Softshell Turtle» 32, 118-120,119 (plate) Sonoran Gopher Snake, 221 (map),

spiny lizards Granite Spiny Lizard, 161 (map), 161 (plate), 161-162 Yellow-backed Desert Spiny Lizard, 157 (map), 157-159,158 (plates) Spiny Softshell Turtle, Texas, 32,

221-223,222 (plate), 224 South Coast Garter Snake. See California Red-sided Garter Snake Southern Alligator Lizard, 123 (map),

118-120,119(plate) Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake. See Western Leaf-nosed Snake Spotted Night Snake, 205 (map),

123-126,124 (plates) Southern Desert Horned Lizard, 152, 154,155 (map), 155-156, 156 (plate) Southern Illinois University, 265 Southern oak woodland, 15-16,

205-207,206 (plates) Spur-thighed Tortoise, African, 23 Squamata, 121-260

16 (plate), 32 Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, 257-260,258 (plates) bites from, 274 (plates) description, 257-258 natural history, 224,258-260 range, 257 (map) venom of, 260,273-274 Southern Sagebrush Lizard, 162 (map), 162-164,163 (plate), 212 Southwestern Blind Snake, 243 (map), 245 (plate), 245-246 Southwestern Pond Turtle, 23, 110-112,111 (plates) Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, 253-257,254 (map), 255-256 (plates), 259 Southwestern Thread Snake. See Southwestern Blind Snake Southwestern Worm Snake. See Southwestern Blind Snake spadefoots family description, 82 Western Spadefoot, 82-84,83 (map), 83 (plates), 84 (fig.), 266 Spea hammondiy 82-84,266 species accounts, arrangement of, 28-33 Speckled Rattlesnake, Southwestern, 253-257,254 (map), 255-256 (plates)

See also lizards; snakes streams, 10 Striped Whipsnake, California, 217 (map),217-219,218 (plates) sugar bush, 14,16 sugar pine, 17 sumac, laurel, 13 Switak's Banded Gecko, 132 (map), 132-135,133 (plates) sycamore, western, 15 tadpoles, 43,197 African Clawed Frog, 84,86, 87 (plates) American Bullfrog, 92,92 (plates) Arroyo Toad, 74 (plates) California Chorus Frog, 78 (plates), 79 California Red-legged Frog, 90 (plates) Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, 94 (plates) Pacific Chorus Frog, 81 (plates) Red-spotted Toad, 76,76 (plates) Western Spadefoot, 83 (plates) Western Toad, 70 (plates) tamarisk, 15,22 Tamarix, 15 Tantillaplaniceps, 231-233 Tarentola mauritanica, 23 Taricha torosay 266 torosa torosa, 66-69 taxonomy, 30 Tehachapi Mountains, 2,29

INDEX

323

total length (TL) m e a s u r e m e n t s ,

teiid lizards Belding's O range-throated W h i p -

2 8 - 2 9 , 4 0 (fig.)

tail, 178 ( m a p ) , 178-180,

Toxicodendron

179 (plates)

Trachemys scripta elegans, 22,32,

Coastal Tiger Whiptail, 180-182, 181 ( m a p ) , 182 (plates) family description, 177 Great Basin Tiger Whiptail, 181, 181 ( m a p ) , 183 (plate), 1 8 3 - 1 8 4 Teiidae, 1 7 7 - 1 8 2 temperatures, average, 3 Testudinata, 4 6 ^ 7 (key), 9 8 - 1 2 0 Testudinidae, 1 1 6 - 1 1 8 Texas Spiny Softshell Turtle, 32, 1 1 8 - 1 2 0 , 1 1 9 (plate)

16

114-115 tree frogs California C h o r u s Frog, 77 ( m a p ) , 7 7 - 7 9 , 7 8 (plates), 79 (fig.) family description, 77 See also Pacific C h o r u s Frog Tree Lizard, Small-scaled. See Blacktailed Brush Lizard Trimorphodon

biscutatus

vanden-

burghi, 2 3 5 - 2 3 7 Trionychidae, 1 1 8 - 1 2 0 t r u e frogs

Thamnophis hammondii,

diversilobum,

233-235

family description, 88

sirtalis infernalis, 2 3 5 - 2 3 7

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, 266

thread snakes. See blind snakes

N o r t h e r n Red-legged Frog, 262

ticks, 21

Lowland Leopard Frog, 264 (plate)

tiger salamanders

See also American Bullfrog; Califor-

Barred Tiger Salamander, 23 California Tiger Salamander, 266 tiger whiptails Coastal Tiger Whiptail, 1 8 0 - 1 8 2 , 181 ( m a p ) , 182 (plates) Great Basin Tiger Whiptail, 181, 181 ( m a p ) , 183 (plate), 1 8 3 - 1 8 4

nia Red-legged Frog; M o u n t a i n Yellow-legged frog t r u e toads Arroyo Toad, 7 2 - 7 4 , 7 3 ( m a p ) , 7 3 - 7 4 (plates), 74 (fig.), 266 family description, 70 Red-spotted Toad, 75 ( m a p ) , 76 (plates), 7 5 - 7 7 , 7 7 (fig.)

toads e n v i r o n m e n t a l threats to, 266 key, 4 5 - 4 6 SVL m e a s u r e m e n t , 2 8 , 3 6 (fig.) See also spadefoots; t r u e toads tongueless frogs, 8 4 - 8 7 See also African Clawed Frog tortoises, 1 1 6 - 1 1 8

Western Toad, 7 0 - 7 2 , 7 1 (plates), 72 (fig.) Yosemite Toad, 266 turtles key, 4 6 - 4 7 m a p turtles, 23 n o n n a t i v e species, 2 2 - 2 3 , 3 2

African Spur-thighed Tortoise, 23

plastron, 37 (fig.)

Desert Tortoise, 116 ( m a p ) ,

TCL m e a s u r e m e n t , 2 8 , 3 7 - 3 8 (figs.)

1 1 6 - 1 1 8 , 1 1 7 (plate)

See also box/water turtles; sea t u r -

family description, 116

tles; s n a p p i n g turtles; softshell

key, 46—47

turtles; tortoises;

land tortoises, 1 1 6 - 1 1 8

species

Leopard Tortoise, 23 n o n n a t i v e species, 23

individual

Two-Striped Garter Snake, 233 ( m a p ) , 2 3 3 - 2 3 5 , 2 3 4 (plate)

plastron, 37 (fig.) TCL m e a s u r e m e n t , 2 8 , 3 7 - 3 8 (figs.) total carapace length (TCL) measurem e n t s , 2 8 , 3 7 - 3 8 (figs.)

324

INDEX

Uma notata notata, 164-166 United States Fish a n d Wildlife Service, 31

United States Geological Survey, 26,30 University of California (Berkeley), 265 University of California (San Diego), 26 urban/disturbed habitats, 12, 13 (plate) Urosaurus graciosus graciosus, 166-168 nigricaudus, 168-170 Uta stansburiana, 125,171-172 Varan us exanthematicus, 23 niloticus> 23 salvator, 23 venom, snake, 273-275 See also individual species Viperidae, 246-260,272 vipers, 246,272 See also pit vipers volcanic events, 3-8,10 washes (arroyos), 20 water consumption, 21,33 pollution, 21,24,33 Water Monitor, 23 water turtles. See box/water turtles Western Banded Gecko, 135 (map), 135-137,136 (plates) Western Black-headed Snake. See California Black-headed Snake Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, 30 Western Ecological Research Station (USGS), 26,30 Western Fence Lizard, 21,159 (map), 159-160,160 (plate) Western Leaf-nosed Snake, 219 (map), 219-221,220 (plate) Western Long-nosed Snake, 224-226, 225 (map), 226 (plates) Western Lyre Snake. See California Lyre Snake Western Painted Turtle, 22,32, 112 (map), 112-114,113 (plate) Western Patch-nosed Snake. See Coastal Patch-nosed Snake

Western Rattlesnake. See Southern Pacific Rattlesnake Western Red-tailed Skink. See Gilberls Skink Western Shovel-nosed Snake, 199 (map), 199-201,200 (plates) Western Skink, 125,175 (map), 175-177,176 (plates), 212 Western Spadefoot, 82-84,83 (map), 83 (plates), 84 (fig.), 266 western sycamore, 15 Western Toad, 70-72,71 (plates), 72 (fig.) Western Yellow-bellied Racer, 201 (map), 201-203,202 (plates) Whale, California Gray, 20 Whipsnake, California Striped, 217 (map), 217-219,218 (plates) whiptails Belding's Orange-throated Whiptail, 178 (map), 178-180, 179 (plates) Coastal Tiger Whiptail, 180-182, 181 (map), 182 (plates) Great Basin Tiger Whiptail, 181, 181 (map), 183 (plate), 183-184 white alder, 15 white fir, 17 white sage, 13 Wiggins Night Lizard, 189 Wildlands Project, 26 Wildlife Diseases List, 261 willow, 15 woodland habitats, 10 desert, 20 environmental threats to, 32 pine, 16-18,17 (plate), 32 pinyon-juniper, 18,18 (plate), 32 riparian, 15,15 (plate), 32 southern oak, 15-16,16 (plate), 32 World Organization for Animal Health, 261 worm lizards, 30 worm snakes. See blind snakes Xantusia gracilis, 187-188 henshawi, 185-187

INDEX

325

Xantusia (cont.) vigilis vigilis, 188-189 vigilis wigginisi, 189 Xantusiidae, 184-189 Xenopus laevis, 2 2 , 3 2 , 8 5 - 8 7 Xylococcus bicolor, 14 Yellow-backed Desert Spiny Lizard, 157 (map), 157-159,158 (plates) Yellow-bellied Racer, Western, 201 (map), 201-203,202 (plates) Yellow-bellied Sea Snake, 30,31, 240-242,241 (plate)

326

INDEX

yellow-legged frogs Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, 266 See also Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Yosemite Toad, 266 yucca, 14,18 Yucca Night Lizard. See Desert Night Lizard Zebra-tailed Lizard, C o m m o n , 146 (map), 146-148,147 (plates), 220

A B O U T THE AUTHOR

A native San Diegan, Jeff Lemm has been

herping San

Diego

County for more than 20 years and has been keeping and breeding

reptiles

and

amphibians

since the early 1980s. A graduate of the Department o f Biology at San Diego State University, Jeff is currently the research animal coordinator in the Applied Animal Ecology Division at the San Diego Zoo's

Conservation

and

Re-

search for Endangered Species, where he has been

employed

since 1990. Apart from native One of the author's favorite study subjects, the Red-diamond Rattlesnake.

herpetofauna, his research interests include West Indian iguanas (Cyclura and Iguana)

and moni-

tor lizards (Varanus).

Since 1994

he has focused on the conservation o f native herpetofauna and has been involved with field research on a number of taxa, including Coast Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma (Charina (Crotalus

trivirgata

roseofusca),

coronatum),

Coastal Rosy Boas

and Red-diamond

Rattlesnakes

ruber ruber). Jeff has published over 40 articles, both popu-

lar and scientific, in the field o f herpetology. An avid photographer, Jeff has traveled extensively in search of reptiles and amphibians. Some o f his herping/research destinations include Australia (where he and his wife, Carolyn, lived and worked for the year 2000), Indonesia, Micronesia, Cuba, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Fiji, Jamaica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and a number of other unique locales. Jeff currently resides in La Mesa with his wife, Carolyn, and son, Matthias.

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