Sierra Foothills Nature Guide
(Sierra College Press, 2004) A guide to the biology and ecology of the Sierra College Nature Trail:
191 finely-detailed original illustrations
57 species covered in detail
Complete index of common and scientific names
Detailed information about the mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and aquatic life that share our region
An identification guide for the flowers, trees and other plants of the Sierra foothills

Family Bufonidae
Bufo boreas
Western Toad
The most common toad of California is the western toad. It is dusky, gray, or greenish, with warts set in dark blotches and often tinged with rust. It can be found waiting for its prey (moving insects) in or near water. This 2 to 5 inch toad tends to walk instead of hop.

Family Hylidae
Hyla regilla
Pacific Tree Frog
The Pacific tree frog is a very vocal frog with a musical tone. It is small (1 to 2 inches), with toe pads and a noticeable black eye strip. It varies in colors from green, tan, gray, brown, or black. It prefers a riparian deciduous type habitat. The tree frog preys on small insects and other invertebrates in moist areas like meadows and stream edges.

Family Ranidae
Rana boylei
Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog
The foothill yellow-legged frog is typically slim waisted and is only 1 to 2 inches long. It has smooth olive skin with gray, brown or reddish warts. It is a true yellow-legged frog usually found near or in permanent foothill streams or ponds. This seldom heard frog preys upon any small animal, moving at the stream edge or in the water.

Rana catesbeiana
Bullfrog
A deep-pitched bellow quickly identifies this imported bullfrog. It is found year-round in or near permanent water and is California's largest frog (3H to 8 inches). It is olive, green or brown above, with spots on its back. A fold of its skin extends from around the eardrum onto its back.

Family Plethodontidae
Batrachoseps attenuatus
California Slender Sala-mander
Found in all successional stages of the foothill woodland, the California slender salamander is the only slender salamander found north of Merced. It is pale brown with a light belly, and often has its eyelids, snout and upper tail surface tinged with reddish-orange. It can be found in moist soil under logs and litter searching for small insects and other invertebrates. This salamander is approximately 3 to 5 inches long.

Family Salamandridae
Taricha torosa
California Newt
The California newt is found up to 6,000 feet in elevation and is 5 to 7 inches long. It has a light brown back with light-colored lower eyelids. It has teeth in the roof of the mouth, usually in a Y-shaped arrangement. Preferring riparian areas, it searches for insects under surface objects and in streams.

Family Emydidae
Clemmys marmorata
Western Pond Turtle
The western pond turtle is found year-round in foothill ponds and streams and survives long periods of drought by burrowing into the mud. It is olive, dark-brown or blackish and it usually has a pattern of spots, lines or dashes of brown that radiate from the growth centers of the shell shields. It searches for aquatic plants, carrion and insects in streams and ponds. This is the only native turtle found in the California interior.

Family Anguidae
Gerrhonotus multicarinatus
Southern Alligator Lizard
The southern alligator lizard is generally found in moist environments in the foothills. This lizard with brown, gray, reddish or yellowish coloration is 10 to 15 inches long with well-defined regular cross-bands on the back and tail and pale yellow eyes. When caught, it often attempts to bite. Avoid grabbing the tail-it is readily lost.

Family Iguanidae
Sceloporus occidentalis
Western Fence Lizard
The western fence lizard has a blotched pattern of black, brown and gray colors. It is 6 to 9 inches long and very noticable because of its blue belly. It may be found on the rocky outcrops in numerous habitats waiting for a variety of insects to eat.

Family Scincidae
Eumeces skiltonianus
Western Skink
The common western skink is noted for its dull blue (young) or gray (adult) tail. There are two conspicuous white stripes and a brown one in between that extend down the back from the nose to the tail. It seems to prefer rocky areas near streams, but it can be found on dry hillsides far from water. It feeds on insects, spiders, and sowbugs. Look for it under rotting logs along the trail and remember to replace the log and the skink just as you found it. Like the alligator lizard, it can drop its tail if caught by predators. Smooth shiny scales allow it to burrow easily.

Family Colubridae
Contia tenuis
Sharp-Tailed Snake
The best time to observe the sharp-tailed snake is on a warm day just after a rain. This snake prefers moist habitats, such as riparian areas. It retreats underground when the surface dries. The sharp-tailed snake is named because of the distinct point on his tail. It is 8 to 18 inches long, reddish-brown or gray above, with regular, alternating crossbars of black and cream below. Its diet consists largely of slugs, insects and slender salamanders.

Diadophis punctatus
Ringneck Snake
The ringneck snake, 12 to 30 inches long, is conspicuous due to its yellow or orange neck ring. Its undersides are also yellow-orange with a red intensifying the underside of its tail. When alarmed, it coils the tail and turns the red "alarm" side to threaten away possible enemies. Seldom seen in the open, this snake likes moist habitats and can usually be found underneath bark and rotting logs. It feeds on slender salamanders, small frogs, lizards, snakes, insects and worms.

Lampropeltis getalus
Common Kingsnake
Mostly known for killing and eating other snakes, along with lizards and mice, the common kingsnake is frequently seen in this area. It is 2 to 7 feet long and has a pattern of alternating dark- and light-colored rings. Usually gentle, this snake will occasionally strike, hiss and vibrate its tail.

Family Colubridae (continued)
Lampropeltis zonata
California Mountain Kingsnake
The California mountain kingsnake is probably one of the most colorful of snakes because of its black, white and red rings. The red rings are bordered on each side with black. It is usually found in the moist woods, mountain meadows and streams of the upper foothills. It kills by constriction, feeding mainly on small snakes, lizards, small rodents, young birds and eggs. Unfortunately, its handsome colors make it a target for collectors. This has made the mountainsnake a rather uncommon sight in the foothill region.

Masticophis lateralis
Striped Racer, California Whipsnake
The striped racer is found mostly in chaparral and deciduous riparian areas. It is plain black or dark brown above with a pale yellow stripe along each side. Also known as the "chaparral snake," it may be seen with its head held high foraging for frogs, lizards, rodents and young birds. This snake is 30 to 60 inches long.

Pituophis melanoleucus
Gopher Snake
Often mistaken for a rattlesnake, the gopher snake is probably one of the most common residents of this area. It is yellow- or cream-colored with black or brown blotches on his back. It searches for small mammals to eat, such as squirrels, mice and gophers. The gopher snake is a good climber and burrower. When aroused, it hisses loudly and occasionally flattens its head and vibrates its tail.

Family Colubridae (continued)
Thamnophis sirtalis
Common Garter Snake
The most widely distributed North American reptile is the common garter snake. This 2 to 4 foot snake is found commonly along streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and in frequently irrigated pastures, looking for a meal of fish, toads, frogs, tadpoles and salamanders. If frightened, it will enter the water to retreat, but if caught, it will bite.

Family Viperidae
Crotalus viridis
Western Rattlesnake The western rattlesnake is Northern California's only venomous snake. It is often found in the rocky outcrops of many habitats in the Sierra Nevada. At higher altitudes, it may den in the rock crevices in large numbers. The rattlesnake feeds on the ground, primarily on mice and small rodents. The rattlesnake is an important ecological constituent because they help to eradicate plague-ridden rodents. Although the snake is venomous, it represents only a small hazard to man because of its secretive habits.