Reptiles and Amphibians of Coal Oil Point Reserve

Black-bellied slender salamanders, Batrachoseps nigriventris, are endemic to California and range from southern Monterey County to the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County, with a small population on Santa Cruz Island (1). They are found in both chaparral and woodland habitats. Black-bellied slender salamanders have an earthworm-like appearance with a slender body, long tail, short legs, and four toes on each foot. They can be identified by their coppery speckled back and spotted dark gray sides and belly. On average, black-bellied slender salamanders are between 3 and 4.5 cm (1–1.75 in) long.

Slender salamanders are part of the lungless salamander group, and breathe through their skin and tissue in their mouth. Black-bellied slender salamanders tend to hide in burrows of other animals or under rocks and logs (2). By using a projectile tongue to catch prey, black-bellied slender salamanders can easily capture small invertebrates, which are their primary food source (1)(3). Predatory behavior typically occurs at night since the species is primarily nocturnal less ↑

Baja California treefrogs, Pseudacris hypochondriaca subsp. hypochondriaca, are native to California, Nevada, Arizona, and Northern Baja California (1). They can be observed in Southern California, both inland and along the coast, from Santa Barbara County into Northern Baja California (2). Baja California treefrogs vary from green to brown in their body color. They also exhibit characteristic dark stripes running from the nostrils behind the eye and generally have a pale yellow underside. They are approximately 2–5 cm long (1–2 in).

Baja California treefrogs occupy a variety of habitats including forests, streams, chaparral, and grasslands (1). They are normally active during the day and night, but become mostly nocturnal during dry periods (2). When hunting, Baja California treefrogs lunge at their prey, using their long, sticky tongues to catch insects. Loud mating calls produced by male frogs can be heard distinctly at night, and occasionally during the day. Baja California treefrog reproduction occurs in aquatic settings such as streams and ponds, where clusters of sticky eggs are laid. less ↑

Coast Range fence lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis subsp. bocourtii, also known as blue-bellied lizards, are a subspecies of the western fence lizard. While western fence lizards can be found throughout the western United States, the Coast Range subspecies is endemic to California’s coastal counties, ranging from Ventura to Sonoma (1). Coast Range fence lizards can live in many habitats, including grasslands, sagebrush, woodlands, and open coniferous forests (2). Coast Range fence lizards have blotchy brown, gray, or black patterns on their backs, sometimes forming stripes or bands. While adult males have bright blue patches on the sides of their bellies, juveniles and adult females generally lack blue coloration, or only display faint blue markings. On average, adult body length is between 5.7 and 8.9 cm (2.25–3.5 in).

The Coast Range subspecies can be differentiated from other subspecies of the western fence lizard by the yellow-orange scales lining the back of the hind legs (1). Coast Range fence lizards are diurnal and spend the day basking in the sun and hunting for insects, spiders, and other small lizards. Like many other lizard species, males are territorial. Males will defend their home range from other male Coast Range fence lizards and attempt to attract females by bobbing their heads and performing a push-up display. less ↑

Southern alligator lizards, Elgaria multicarinata, are native to the Pacific Coast of North America. Several subspecies of southern alligator lizard are present in California, but San Diego alligator lizards, Elgaria multicarinata subsp. webbii, are the subspecies present along the central coast (1). They can be found in California’s coastal counties from San Diego to Monterey.

San Diego alligator lizards live in a variety of habitats including grasslands, chaparral, and forests. In drier climates, they are likely to be found in moist areas, near streams, or under logs and rocks. The slender body of a San Diego alligator lizard can reach a length of 17 to 30 cm (7–12 in), and the tail can be more than half the body length (2). On the top side of the body, San Diego alligator lizards can be brown, gray, or yellow, with 9–13 dark horizontal bands and occasionally red or orange patches (1). The underbelly is typically a pale gray or pale yellow. Their scales are keeled, meaning each scale has a ridge that runs down the middle. San Diego alligator lizards possess a large head and powerful jaws used to feed on insects, small mammals, and other lizards (2)(3). less ↑

Gopher snakes, Pituophis catenifer, are found in Canada, the United States, and Mexico (1). San Diego gopher snakes, Pituophis catenifer subsp. annectens, are one of six subspecies of gopher snake native to California and are usually observed in the southern coastal counties from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. They can be found from the coast to the mountains in desert, grassland, coastal sage scrub, woodland, riparian, and farmland habitats (2). San Diego gopher snakes can be observed in tall grass, hiding under logs, and in the burrows of their prey.

Slightly smaller than other gopher snake subspecies, the San Diego gopher snake has an average length of 1.22–1.52 m (4–5 ft) with a small head and narrow snout (1). Their body color varies between tan, gray, and yellow, with dark brown square-shaped blotches along the back and side (3). Small rodents make up the majority of their diet, but gopher snakes also eat lizards, eggs, and insects. When hunting, gopher snakes will intrude upon the burrows of small rodents in search of a meal. Gopher snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes, but unlike rattlesnakes, the bite of a gopher snake is not venomous (2). less ↑

California kingsnakes, Lampropeltis californiae, are found in all of California’s counties, as the name suggests, but also occur in northern Mexico and along most of the western coast of the United States, including southwestern Oregon, Nevada, Utah, southern Colorado, and Arizona (1). California kingsnakes thrive in many habitats, including forests, chaparral, grasslands, and deserts. They can also survive in urban edge habitats, allowing them to exist in fragmented landscapes that have been cut off from nature by human development (2).

California kingsnakes are about 0.75–1.2 m long (2.5–4 ft) and have many different color patterns, although most have a dark brown to black base with white or yellow stripes (1). Their diet consists of birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and other snakes. California kingsnakes are known to be resistant to rattlesnake venom. They are active during both night and day, but daytime activity is limited by cooler temperatures. less ↑

Western skinks, Plestiodon skiltonianus, can be found in southwestern Canada, the northwestern United States, and along the coast of California and Baja California, Mexico (1). Out of two subspecies in California, Skilton’s skinks, Plestiodon skiltonianus subsp. skiltonianus, is the subspecies present in Santa Barbara. While they have a broad range to the north, including most of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and northern Idaho, Skilton’s skinks are restricted to the coastal counties in Central and Southern California.

Skilton’s skinks prefer grassland, chaparral, and woodland habitats and are often found near or under rocks (1)(2). Ranging from 15 to 20 cm long (6–8 in), Skilton’s skinks can be recognized by the bright blue tail that comprises almost half of their long, slender bodies. Their tails can also easily detach as a defense mechanism; the eye-catching color distracts predators and provides the skink with a chance to escape. As the skinks age, their tail coloration can lose its saturation and become dull-blue to gray. Additionally, their backs have a set of three brown and three cream colored stripes. Another color change occurs during the breeding season when the males develop orange patches on the sides of their heads. The diet of Skilton’s skinks consists of insects and spiders. They are diurnal, but hibernate during cold winter weather (2). less ↑

Ring-necked snakes, Diadophis punctatus, are found in southern Canada, the United States, and central Mexico (1). The subspecies found in the Santa Barbara region is the Monterey ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus subsp. vandenburgii, which ranges from southern Santa Cruz county to Ventura county (2). Monterey ring-necked snakes tend to live in riparian environments but can also be found in meadow, chaparral, and grassland habitats. Monterey ring-necked snakes have solid-colored dorsal areas that range from dark olive to smoky black with a single red ring around the neck. The underside is a similar scarlet color to the neck ring.

Monterey ring-necked snakes grow to about 25–38 cm (10–15 in) long. They a nocturnal species. By incapacitating their prey with a mild venom, Monterey ring-necked snakes are able to hunt for salamanders, frogs, and insects, as well as other small reptiles and amphibians. Their venom is not thought to be used for protection from predators; instead, Monterey ring-necked snakes have been observed flashing their bright underbellies at predators when threatened rather than biting the attacker. less ↑

Common garter snakes are found throughout much of the United States, except in southwest regions (1). Valley garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis subsp. fitchi) are a subspecies of common garter snake that are found in the western United States and Canada (2). In California, they can be found along the central coast, in the southern Sierras, and throughout Northern California. Valley garter snakes live in grasslands, marshes, forests, and other habitats that are near sources of water. They average 0.88 m in length (2.9 ft) and have a black to brown base coloration. Valley garter snakes are characterized by three yellowish stripes that run down the length of their bodies along with a muted pattern of reddish scales that follow those stripes. They are a diurnal species.

Valley garter snakes eat a large variety of prey items, including fish, birds, small mammals, reptiles. Notably, valley garter snakes are able to prey on the poisonous pacific newt, unlike many other predators. There is evidence that after consuming this amphibian, valley garter snakes retain the newts’ toxin and become poisonous to their own predators for a few weeks (3). Valley garter snakes can also escape into bodies of water to swim away from predators (2). less ↑