Exploring Arizona
Finally got around to exploring Arizona and was lucky to spot many targets. For me, my targeted species are animals that extend their distribution into California, but are so rare in that state, that they are extremely rare or possibly extirpated. These included Sonoran Desert Toad, Lowland Leopard Frog, Sonoran Mud Turtle, and Gila Monster. About the Gila Monster, one person put it this way; Gila Monsters are everywhere, but nowhere. Unfortunately, on this trip, they were nowhere to be seen.
On September 8th, the night I started road cruising, a thunderstorm hit hard. Flooding roads and washes, lighting brightened the horizon, thunder rattled the truck, and wind tossed up rocks and sand making visibility – ZERO. That’s right! Awesome weather if you’re a toad.
Question #1: Anyone had their car struck by lighting?
Question #2: What in the world are those ominous “truck-tank things” I saw at the Papago Indian Reservation?
Animals pictures, are posted in order of discovery. Thanks again, to all those that helped out with the preparation for this trip.
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0300.jpeg'>
Woodhouse’s Toad (Yuma Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0314.jpeg'>
Sonoran Desert Toad (Yuma Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0299.jpeg'>
Couch’s Spadefoot (Maricopa Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0306.jpeg'>
Sonoran Green Toad (Pima Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0304.jpeg'>
Great Plains Toad (Pima Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0310.jpeg'>
Sonoran Lyre Snake (Pima Co.) Unfortunately, this snake and nearly all the snakes I came across were recently struck by cars and throbbing about the highway. In one case, the Border Patrol Officer that finished pulling me over, drove off and ran down an Arizona Glossy Snake that was crossing the road in the distance. The Lyre snake looks alive in the picture, however it’s lower body had been smashed into the asphalt and would eventually die.
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0316.jpeg'>
Sonoran Gopher Snake (Pima Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0319.jpeg'>
Sonoran Mud Turtle (Santa Cruz Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0302.jpeg'>
Lesser Earless Lizard (Santa Cruz Co.) Anyone know what subspecies this is?
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0301.jpeg'>
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail (Santa Cruz Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0303.jpeg'>
Black-necked Garter Snake (Santa Cruz Co.)
<img src='http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0904/0320.jpeg'>
Lowland Leopard Frog (Santa Cruz Co.) Although, possibly extirpated from California, this population appears to be doing well, a dozen transformed individuals counted and no Bullfrogs detected. However, a huge Sonoran Desert Toad nearby had a guilty look on his face and a full tummy.
Below is a list of all the animals encountered on the trip:
Desert Spiny Lizard (1)
Ornate Tree Lizard (1)
Long-tailed Brush Lizard (1)
Side-blotched Lizard (4)
Woodhouse’s Toad (4)
Couch’s Spadefoot (TMTC)
Sonoran Desert Toad (TMTC)
Mohave Rattlesnake (1)
Arizona Glossy Snake (1)
Sonoran Green Toad (1)
Great Plains Toad (1)
Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (3)
Sonoran Lyre Snake (1)
Sonoran Gopher Snake (2)
Bullfrog (TMTC)
Sonoran Mud Turtle (8)
Leopard Frog ?? (TMTC)
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail
Lesser Earless Lizard (1)
Lowland Leopard Frog (12)
Sonoran Whipsnake (1)
Black-necked Garter Snake (1)
Clark’s Spiny Lizard (2)
Zebra-tailed Lizard (1)
Field Observations of California Amphibians and Reptiles
Linear Mode
