The Desert Tortoise

The Desert Tortoise (gopherus agassizii) is a large tortoise that is endemic to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. They are the only tortoises to live in the area. They can live up to 80 years and live very reclusive lives. They eat many plants including grasses, flowers and fruit. These tortoises dig very large shell shaped burrows in the sides of mountains or into the ground. They emerge from these burrows in the morning to scavenge the desert floor. They are active during the day (diurnal) and are inside their burrows at night. They do not have many predators because of their hard shells, but the juveniles with softer shells are preyed upon by coyotes.

These tortoises are vulnerable and are a protected species. Their habitat is threatened by urban progress. If you see one, keep at a distance and don’t disturb it.

Red Spotted Toad

The Red Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) is a medium sized toad covered in red spots. They can reach 1 to 3 inches in size. These toads live around streams and ponds that may dry up at different times of the year. They live in burrows, under rocks and logs in wait for spring rains, when they emerge to breed. Their eggs will hatch into aquatic tadpoles and then metamorph into young toads.

They will eat anything they can fit into their mouth, but insects are a common food. Their only defense is their paratoid glands behind their eyes that secrete a poison that deters most predators.

Image from Gary Nafis of CaliforniaHerps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Painted Lady Butterfly

A Painted Lady “drinking Milk Thistle

The Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is a medium sized butterfly that lives in open areas like fields and parks in the southwest USA. It has a wingspan of 5.1 – 7.3 cm depending on gender and genetics. They eat many different kinds of plants as caterpillars, including thistle, burdock and hollyhocks. The caterpillars themselves are black with branching spines that can be yellow.

They migrate all over the world, including the United States, Europe and Africa. They usually migrate in the fall.

They are a common food source almost all over the world, they are eaten by spiders, mantids, lizards, you name it. There abundance doesn’t help.

 

Greater Road Runner

The Greater Road Runner (Geococcyx californianus) is a medium sized bird that is native to the southwestern United States. They are generally a common sight but can be difficult to track. 

These birds nest in trees and forage the ground below. They are omnivores that will eat anything from seeds and insects to mice and snakes! These birds can eat poisonous and venomous animals, including toads and rattle snakes. This is why they were exalted in native american culture, they had speed and courage. They can chase prey by running up to 20 miles per hour, running at this speed allows for evasion from predators. 

These birds leave behind an “x” footprint into the sand, and the native Americans said that the footprints ward off evil spirits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image from Charles Lyon, a great photographer.

The Joshua Tree

The Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) is a type of Yucca found only in the Mojave Desert. They grow in sandy soils in arid areas and can grow in 1,300 and 5,900 ft elevation. They are hardy plants that can go without water for a long time and is thought to have a lifespan of 140 years! The amount of time it can live is unknown because the Joshua tree has no growth rings, which makes telling it’s age almost impossible.

The Joshua trees leaves are sharp with a pointed spear-like tip at the end to deter predators. The Joshua trees flowers grow on large stalks upward on the tops of it’s branches, and are the main food source of the Yucca Moth.

The fruit are eaten by lots of things including birds and insects. The older fruits are all seeds, where as the newer fruits have very little, the Native Americans used to bake these and eat them.

 

Photo credits go to Bernard Gagnon for the first image. Delange.org for the second image, and Pascal Buadar for the third image.

Variable Ground Snake

The Variable Ground Snake is a small rear fanged snake that is commonly found in the Mojave Desert. It can be found under rocks and logs in semi-arid to arid habitats.

This snake eats insects and small lizards, and isn’t big enough to eat larger things like mice. These can snakes get between 4 and 8 inches in length. They are preyed upon because of their small size. Also because of their small size, they are able to fit into small spaces like insect burrows.

These snakes can come in many different colors, they can be striped, banded, or have none of the above.

Here is a banded individual we found when rock flipping.

 

 

Southern Desert Horned Lizard

The Southern Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos calidiarum) is a kind of horned lizard that lives in all of the Mojave Desert.  They range from California all the way to Arizona. They live in many different habitats but the most common place to find them is in a flat open desert.

They eat harvester ants and similar insects while searching the desert by day. Many animals eat these little guys including most hawks, owls, coyotes, large snakes you name it. They only have a few defenses. Their main defense is sharp spines on the back of their heads, it stops them from getting swallowed by snakes, and other animals.  This species is not know to squirt blood out of it’s eyes like it’s cousins. Also unlike it’s cousins it lays eggs instead of giving live birth. They use camouflage as their main source of hiding defenses, they come in many different colors. This species is also known for be able to run short distances very fast.

Try to find the little guy!

 

First Image from Gary Nafis of CaliforniaHerps. Go check their website!

 

Desert Banded Gecko

The Desert banded gecko is a unique type of Gecko that is only found in the southwest of North America and Mexico. These Geckos live in dry and dark places, like under rocks, leaf litter, and wood.

Desert Banded geckos have a silky smooth skin with small granulated scales, and are soft to the touch. They can have a variety of different patterns, they can be banded,  striped, checkered, and anything in-between. The one in the picture is a mix of all of these.

These geckos eat insects and other invertebrates they store the fat in their tails, and can preform caudal autotomy (break off their tails), and after they do this the tail will grow back after a few months.They are eaten by almost any predator. They are scared easily and may squeak if disturbed.

A younger Gecko without a tail

 

The Mojave Green Rattle Snake

The Mojave Green Rattle Snake is one of the most common rattle snakes in the Mojave Desert. With it’s range stretching from California to Arizona and down into Mexico. It is also one of the most venomous snakes in the world, with a neurotoxic venom that will leave you in the hospital or worse.

This rattle snake lives in holes or crevices in rocky terrain to keep cool and is rarely seen during the day. They come out at night in search of prey. These rattle snakes eat many things including, small mammals, birds, lizards, and even other snakes! They will eat anything that they can get their mouth around.

These snakes are somewhat different from other snakes in regards that they give live birth instead of laying eggs.

Rattle Snakes are born without rattles, they start out with what we call a “button”. Every time they shed their skin a new piece is added to the rattle.

An adult snakes rattle.

These snakes are commonly seen as blood thirsty demons that will strike at any chance they get, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Rattle snakes only want to be left alone, they see people as threats. If you see one, give it a respectful distance. If you hear one make sure to always jump backwards, there is a better chance that the snake is in front of you instead of behind. And always, watch your step!

Images from Bob Christopher, “Ghost32Writer” Snake Video from recurvirostridae on Youtube.

The Desert Tarantula

The Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma sp.) is one of the largest spiders in North America. This genus of spiders can only be found in the American continent.

These spiders mainly eat insects, but sometimes they eat small lizards and snakes! All Tarantulas have venom that they inject into their prey, but the desert tarantula’s venom is very mild, and is said to hurt like a bee sting.

Desert Tarantulas live in burrows that they line with silk, they use this silk to sense vibrations and the females use it to attract mates with pheromones. At night you can see them waiting for prey at the entrance.

Waiting at entrance.

When the males mature sexually, they leave their burrows in search of a willing female. They can walk for miles in search of one. If the lucky guy finds a willing female they will mate. The female may choose to eat the male if she wants to, if the male is lucky enough to run, she will retreat into her burrow leaving him unharmed.

After a few months the female will lay the egg sack and protect it until it hatches, then the spiders will break free and leave home and mom behind. The spiders will continue to molt and grow until they are as big as mom, the spiders start out at roughly half an inch long, at the end of their lives they can reach up to five inches!

 

The Desert Tarantula has also made an impact in the pet industry. Their size and normally calm and gentle nature makes them a great pet for beginners, and many people own one. (Including yours truly)

 

Images from George Grall, and Romero Canyon.