Photos / Sounds
What
Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata)Observer
roherynDescription
Growing in small clusters in garden. Red stems, highly lobular leaves, not shiny. Hoping it’s not poison oak! Maybe young valley oak?
Photos / Sounds
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House Centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata)Observer
roherynDescription
Creature is about 1.5-2 inches body length with very long anterior and posterior antennae. Segmented body has striping, and clearly multiple legs. Found inside house near an open window. Released to backyard open space.
Photos / Sounds
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Typical Spiders (Suborder Araneomorphae)Observer
roherynDescription
Maybe 1.25” body, legs are about 2” width. hanging out on a wall at night. Looks like a wolf spider but bigger than ones I’ve seen before. Remote area outside Yosemite.
Photos / Sounds
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False Tarantula (Calisoga longitarsis)Observer
roherynDescription
seen scurrying on a sidewalk in Oakland hills
Photos / Sounds
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Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)Observer
roherynDescription
About 12 inches shell, plus maybe 5-6 inch tail. No pond nearby, found sitting in driveway. After about half hour, it slowly crossed the street to the neighbors yard and disappeared
What
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)Observer
roherynDescription
As large as a baseball, it lives in the barn and keeps the bug population down
Photos / Sounds
What
Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax)Observer
roherynDescription
about 1 inch, black and a bit fuzzy with green palps and bright white spots on the back.
Photos / Sounds
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Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris)Observer
roherynDescription
Black with small gold spots. Belly is bluish. Larger one was about 3 inches
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California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus)Observer
roherynDescription
Found under a rock in the back yard, it is very tiny and active. Approximately 2.5 inches long.
Photos / Sounds
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Pepsis grossaObserver
roherynDescription
Very large wasp-looking creature, at least 2.5 inches head to tail
Photos / Sounds
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California Toad (Anaxyrus boreas ssp. halophilus)Observer
roherynDescription
California Toad seems to match description and photos online. Greenish toad, approximately 2 inches. Found at late dusk, captured long enough to photograph and returned to capture location for release. While we carried it, we heard small squeaks.
Dark green circles around raised red bumps (warts). Pale strip down spine. Reddish parotid glands behind eyes.
What
Eastern Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii ssp. angustomarginatus)Observer
roherynDescription
Found climbing in small backyard rocks with a second matching bug (sorry for the slightly indistinct photo) Abdomen is orange red, black eyes and black heart shape on back. Very faint red line on head.
Photos / Sounds
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Western Leaf-footed Bug (Leptoglossus clypealis)Observer
roherynDescription
Approximately 1.2" bug sitting on play structure in backyard.
What
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)Observer
roherynDescription
About 4" long x 3.5" wide shell, brownish shell with raised spines. About 8" head to tail (with head only slightly exposed) Tail has projections (which is why we think it is a common vs. alligator snapping turtle). Found in backyard pond, burrowing in the mud.
What
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)Observer
roherynDescription
Small burrowing owl sitting on a row of shopping carts at dusk. Several people were taking photos, getting quite close. It didn't seem to have any injuries, and when approached, made small hissing sounds and opened its wings a little. Strange place for this little guy!
Photos / Sounds
What
White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata)Observer
roherynDescription
approximately 3.5" long, bright green with distinctive red/yellow/black markings along the sides. Yellowish "horn" at the posterior. Found at school with 3 others near some flowers.
What
Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis)Observer
roherynDescription
slender red snake with brighter red along the sides. Belly seems to be black. Approximately 6 inches long.
Photos / Sounds
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California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata ssp. multicarinata)Observer
roherynDescription
Largish lizard, approximately 9" from snout to tail. Reddish brown stripes down the back with large scales and white patches along the sides of the stripes. Very long tail and toes. Yellowish eyes.
Found in a bag of coals early evening, I think he scared us as much as we scared him! Quickly transferred to a bug box for identification, then released into our open space back yard.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)Observer
roherynDescription
Large leather-like soft shell turtle, maybe 14" long, pointed snout, dull, dark green color. Seen trying to cross the road to a creek. Very aggressive, displaying and snapping. Successfully moved it to the creek.
What
Western Banded Glowworm (Zarhipis integripennis)Observer
roherynDescription
Looks like a firefly without the light, long abdomen extends beyond wing covers. Bright orange head, legs and abdomen ending in black. Antennae are feathered, I can't find anything like this in any photos I've seen, but it appears to be some sort of soldier bug...
What
Common Desert Centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha)Observer
roherynDescription
approximately 2 inches long, tan and brown segments, long greenish tentacles on back end, legs also somewhat translucent green. Head uniform tan, tan/green antennae. (red item is a dried flower petal)
What
Genus EremorhaxObserver
roherynDescription
Large spider-like creature, maybe 3 inches long. Found on patio at midnight. Large segmented abdomen, brown and tan, pale tan legs, large palps with dark tips, longer than any of the legs. "Hairy" head above eye clusters, hair on legs, face and abdomen. Tips of legs have "pincers"
What
Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider (Zoropsis spinimana)Observer
roherynDescription
Large wolf-like spider with unusual markings. Found in hallway inside house near open space in Martinez. After looking extensively online, we think this may be an invasive species Zoropsis spinimana. It is originally from the Mediterranean region, but was introduced the the San Francisco Bay Area recently and is spreading. We contacted a specialist at the CA Academy of Science for confirmation (he is a specialist on this particular spider) but did not receive an answer. Marks and body structure match female.
Photos / Sounds
What
Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris)Observer
roherynDescription
~ 2.5" from nose to tail, found under rock in rock wall, very moist. Reddish brown with gold or copper dust-like flecks along sides of body and in a v-like pattern from base of neck to eyes. Very pale underside, toes squared off. Possible immature, seems rather small. Seems to have damaged tail, (possibly from 5yo capture)