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The following description of reptiles of the reserve is modified from the California Department of Fish and Game website on California's Wildlife An additional excellent reference is J. D. Shedd, 2005, Amphibians and Reptiles of Bidwell Park. Quadco Publishing Co. Chico, CA. Western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) are the only aquatic turtles native to California. They are usually found near water but females may travel up to a quarter mile from water to lay eggs. They could as well be called "stream turtle" since they frequent streams as much as ponds. Pond turtles feed on aquatic plants, fish, invertebrates and carrion. They are commonly seen basking on logs or rocks along Big Chico Creek on the reserve. Preliminary research suggests that pond turtles are much more abundant on the reserve than in adjacent Bidwell Park where human disturbance is greater. Western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) are the common lizards seen on trees and rocks of the reserve. They have jagged stripes of brown, tan, and black on their backs against a tan or gray background. Males have blue bellies and sometimes small blue blotches on their backs. They reach 20 cm in length. Western fence lizards often perch in open areas on top of rocks, logs, or fence posts and display by doing "push-ups". They feed on arthropods, particularly insects. Eggs are deposited mid-May to mid-July (Stebbins 1954) and the incubation period (Davis 1980) is about 60 days. They are most common in oak woodland but can be found in a variety of habitats. Western Skinks (Eumeces skiltonianus) are slender lizards, often encountered under leaf litter. They have dark black bodies with two white stripes down their backs. Their tails are blue and can be dropped in an attack; remaining to wiggle violently and perhaps divert the predator while the rest of the lizard escapes. Their scales are smooth and give skinks a shiny appearance. Their legs stick out to the side, giving the lizard a snake-like appearance when in motion. Southern alligator lizards (Elgaria multicarinata) have a big alligator-like head and a long body (up to 30 cm), with patches of reddish brown, dark brown, and light greenish tan on their backs. Their heads are a light greenish-gray with yellow eyes. Their habitat is open grassland, woodland, and chaparral. They can often be found in shaded thickets, or hiding under rocks or logs, but also sometimes climb in dense, shrubby vegetation. Alligator lizards eat mostly insects and other arthropods but will take larger food items, especially other lizards. Sharp-tailed Snakes, Contia tenuis, are common on the reserve but seldom seen because most of their activity takes place under surface objects such as flat rocks,woody debris and loose bark on logs; they are seldom seen in the open. They are most often encountered during warmer periods of early spring, and following the first rains of fall. The Sharp-tailed Snake appears to be specialized for eating slugs but small slender salamanders may also be taken. Little information on reproduction is available, but it appears that eggs are laid in the summer and hatching occurs in the fall. Females probably produce 3 to 5 eggs. Sharp-tailed snakes are occasionally eaten by other snakes, diurnal birds, and small mammals. Coral-bellied ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus) are almost never seen in the open but can be found under rotting logs, boards or other objects. They are small, slender, olive to nearly black on the back and yellow to orange underneath, with bright orange neck bands. They emit a foul odor when disturbed. Ringneck snakes forage on the surface and under surface objects taking earthworms, salamanders, treefrogs, small lizards, and small snakes. They inhabit chaparral, grassland, and woodland. California whipsnakes, also known as Striped racers (Masticophis lateralis) are slim, fast-moving snakes with large eyes. Their heads are held well above the ground when hunting. They are plain black or dark brown above, lighter on the tail, and have a pale yellow stripe on each side, bordered below by a dark stripe. They are cream below and coral pink on the underside of the tail. They are easy to mistake for garter snakes, but lack the median dorsal stripe and have smooth scales. They feed on a wide variety of vertebrate prey including frogs, lizards, nestling birds, and rodents They inhabit chaparral, grassy patches and rocky gullies. Western yellowbelly racers (Coluber constrictor mormon) get their common name from their speed, moving faster than humans can run and possibly being the fastest snake species. Adult racers are blue-gray to olive green above and light yellow below with a small head and large eyes. They often exceed 1 m in length. The young are dark brown and light gray, similar to rattlesnakes. Racers eat small rodents, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. They mate in spring and the young hatch in the summer. They are found in grasslands and grassy river borders. Gopher snakes (Pituophis catinifer) have markings similar to rattlesnakes, with dark brown to black patches against a lighter background. They sometimes vibrate their tails in leaves to even mimic a rattler's buzz. However, gopher snakes have small, streamlined heads rather than the large, diamond-shaped heads of rattlesnakes, and their tails are narrow and pointed. Gopher snakes also have round pupils while rattlesnakes have vertical slits. Total length for gopher snakes can be over 2 m. Adults forage chiefly in mammal burrows but also on the ground, or in shrubs. eat small animals such as gophers, mice, squirrels, and small rabbits, first killing them by constriction. Mating occurs in spring and eggs hatch in late summer or early fall. Clutch sizes range from 3 to 18 and average about 7 or 8. Gopher snakes can be found in most habitats. Common kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getulus) can be easily identified by their striking pattern of black (or dark brown) and white stripes. They have small heads and a slender, smooth appearance and can reach 1.5 m in length. Kingsnakes feed on other snakes, birds eggs, nestlings, salamanders, lizards, and small mammals. Mating occurins in spring and early summer. Clutch sizes range from 2 to 12 (usually 9) with eggs hatching in about 70 days. Common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are brown to black with light stripes in the center of their backs and along the sides with red spots lining the lateral stripes. They are usually small but can be over 1 m long. They eat small rodents, lizards, birds, frogs, salamanders, tadpoles, and fish. When captured, garter snakes often release a bad smelling anal fluid. Mating occurs in spring and live young are born in summer in litters of 3 to 20. The common garter snake is usually found near water. Western terrestrial garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) have three light stripes similar to the common garter snake but lack the red markings. While more common at higher elevations, they can be found in most habitays in the reserve. Their diet is similar to that of the common garter snake. Sierra garter snakes (Thamnophis couchii) are usually very dark with a pale yellow, cream or whitish gray stripe on the sides but no red, and are never found far from water. They feed chiefly on fish and amphibians. They are common in and near Big Chico Creek in the reserve. Western rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) are the only venomous snakes on the reserve, They can be easily identified by the loud buzz of their rattle, but they often lie quietly, depending on their excellent camouflage to avoid being seen. Their color is variable, but their diamond-shaped heads, blotched pattern on the back, and blunt tail ending in a rattle (or button in very young ones) are distinctive. They ambush prey, taking primarily rodents, but also, rabbits and birds, injecting venom with a lightning-like strike, then leisurely following up and eating the victim. Rattlers seldom bite humans, but will defend themselves. The most commonly bitten people are young males under the influence of alcohol. Like the gopher snake, the rattlesnake can be found in most habitats. Return to:BCCER Home Page Last Updated August 4, 2007 Web Page by Paul Maslin email:(pmaslin@csuchico.edu)
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