A welcoming, laugh-out-loud, conservation-minded guide to California's salamanders and frogs.
Frisky frogs and secretive salamanders: For these marvelous creatures, California is one massive wild water park. With California Amphibians and How to Find Them, expert herpetologist Emily Taylor presents an accessible guide to the part-water, part-land denizens of the Golden State. From Wandering Salamanders who glide between the tops of towering redwood trees, to Red-spotted Toads who drink water through their lower bellies, to Pacific Chorus Frogs who throw rowdy all-night parties, this book puts the curious lives of amphibians on full display.
Profiling over 50 native and introduced species, Taylor gives practical guidance for finding, watching, and responsibly catching amphibians. She shares hilarious descriptions of frog and salamander behavior, and she draws attention to amphibians' keen vulnerability in the face of environmental destruction, offering advice for how people can help protect them. Featuring over 125 full-color photographs and a pocket-size design for everyday use, this guide is for anyone who wants to know more about amphibians’ wondrous and watery world.
Preface
Introduction
California: Amphibians’ Wild Water Park
What are Amphibians?
Some California Amphibians Are in Trouble
What Can We Do To Help California Amphibians?
To Have and To Hold Amphibians
THE SALAMANDERS
Family Ambystomatidae
California Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma californiense
Northwestern Salamander, Ambystoma gracile
Long-toed Salamander, Ambystoma macrodactylum
Western Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma mavortium
Family Dicamptodontidae
Giant Salamanders, Dicamptodon ensatus and D. tenebrosus
Family Plethodontidae
Clouded and Wandering Salamanders, Aneides ferreus and A. vagrans
Black Salamanders, Aneides flavipunctatus, A. iecanus, A. klamathensis, and A. niger
Arboreal Salamander, Aneides lugubris
Slender Salamanders, Batrachoseps spp.
Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii
Web-toed Salamanders, Hydromantes brunus and H. platycephalus
Shasta Salamanders, Hydromantes samweli, H. shastae, and H. wintu
Woodland Salamanders, Plethodon asupak, P. dunni, P. elongatus, and P. stormi
Family Rhyacotritonidae
Southern Torrent Salamander, Rhyacotriton variegatus
Family Salamandridae
Rough-skinned Newt, Taricha granulosa
Red-bellied Newt, Taricha rivularis
Sierra and California Newts, Taricha sierrae and T. torosa
THE FROGS
Family Ascaphidae
Coastal Tailed Frog, Ascaphus truei
Family Bufonidae
Western Toad, Anaxyrus boreas
Arroyo Toad, Anaxyrus californicus
Yosemite Toad, Anaxyrus canorus
Great Plains Toad, Anaxyrus cognatus
Black Toad, Anaxyrus exsul
Red-spotted Toad, Anaxyrus punctatus
Woodhouse’s Toad, Anaxyrus woodhousii
Family Eleutherodactylidae
Common Coquí, Eleutherodactylus coqui
Family Hylidae
California Chorus Frog, Pseudacris cadaverina
Pacific Chorus Frog, Pseudacris regilla
Family Pipidae
African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis
Family Ranidae
Red-legged Frogs, Rana aurora and R. draytonii
Rio Grande Leopard Frog, Rana berlandieri
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, Rana boylii
Cascades Frog, Rana cascadae
American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana
Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs, Rana muscosa and R. sierrae
Northern and Southern Leopard Frogs, Rana pipiens and R. sphenocephala
Family Scaphiopodidae
Couch’s Spadefoot, Scaphiopus couchii
Western Spadefoot, Spea hammondii
Great Basin Spadefoot, Spea intermontana
Acknowledgments
Recommended Further Reading
About the Author
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