Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer): The Gopher Snake is a non-venomous, non-aggressive snake that is identified by its large eyes, wide heads, markings that graduate from brown to dark brown, and yellow underbellies. California Kingsnakes inhabit chaparral, deserts, marshes, and urban areas. Lacking venom, these snakes kill their prey using constriction. California Kingsnakes feed on rodents, lizards, and other snakes. These snakes range from 35.82 to 41.73 inches in length (91 to 106 centimeters). Reptiles breathe using lungs, lay eggs, and their bodies are covered in dry skin, scales, or hard plates.Ĭalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae): The California Kingsnake is a non-venomous, non-aggressive snake identified by its alternating light and dark bands of black, white, and brown, and white underbellies. Reptiles are vertebrate animals that rely on their surroundings for warmth, and are referred to as cold-blooded because of this characteristic vertebrate animals have backbones. Western Toads inhabit a wide variety of environments, including desert streams, meadows, forests. Western Toad eat a variety of insects and arachnids, and sometimes crayfish. These toads are between 2.2 and 5.1 inches in length (5.6-13 centimeters) and are considered to be large toads. Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas): Western Toads are gray-green with dark brown to black markings, a cream-colored stripe down their back, and large warts that rise from the dark markings. The California Slender Salamander occupies a diverse range of habitats, from forests, chaparral, woodlands, and urban areas. They range in length from 1.77-5.43 inches (4.5-13.8 centimeters). Their bodies are primarily brown to black with a thick red stripe that trails from their heads to the end of their tails. Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus): The California Slender Salamander has a worm-like appearance with a long, skinny body and very short limbs. Pacific Tree Frogs are found in forests by streams, ponds, swamps, and other water sources. Tadpoles feed on plant matter while adult frogs eat small insects, like flies and mosquitoes. These frogs are predominantly green with brown to black markings vertically covering their eyes and backs. Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla): Pacific Tree Frogs are small frogs that range in size from 1-1 ⅞ inches with females being slightly larger than males. After mating, females lay their eggs in the shallows of lakes, ponds, and streams. Characteristic of amphibians, these newts inhabit woodlands and chaparral and small ponds and streams. California Newts measure between 4.9-7.8 inches (12.5-20 centimeters) and males are bigger than females. An animal that is called “cold-blooded” is one that depends on its environment to stay warm and cannot internally regulate their body temperature.Ĭalifornia Newt (Taricha torosa): California Newts have yellowish brown to dark brown backs and pale yellow to orange bellies. In the Pismo Preserve, you will find cold-blooded vertebrate animals that are between fishes and reptiles vertebrates are animals that have backbones. What is an amphibian? Amphibios is derived from the Greek language meaning “living a double life.” Any organism that is able to live both on land and in water is an amphibian. Before you go, don’t forget to observe the Hiking Safety Guidelines listed after the animals and plants section!
If you enjoyed the “I SPY” activity for finding the woodland creatures at the Pismo Preserve, then you will really enjoy learning more about the many other species that live there! California’s oak woodlands are home to the greatest diversity of species of any terrestrial ecosystem in the state and you can see many of these native animals and plants at the Pismo Preserve.
WOODLAND CREATURES: FLORA & FAUNA IN THE PISMO PRESERVE
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