les and Amphibians of Yosemite National Park (1946) by Myrl V Myrl V. Walker none

Transcription

1 les and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V Myl V. Walke none

2 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Table of Contents Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...1 About the Autho...2 Bibliogaphical Infomation...3 Yosemite Natue Notes...4 REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS...5 INTRODUCTION...5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...6 Inteest in Reptiles and Amphibians...6 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...9 AMPHIBIANS...9 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...11 SALAMANDERS...11 SIERRA NEWT Tituus sieae...12 SIERRA NEVADA SALAMANDER Ensatina sieae...13 MOUNT LYELL SALAMANDER Hydoinantes platycephalus...15 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...17 TOADS...17 CALIFORNIA TOAD Bufo boeas halophilus...18 YOSEMITE TOAD Bufo canous...19 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...21 TREE TOADS...21 PACIFIC TREE-TOAD Hyla egilla...21 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...24 FROGS...24 CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG Rana auoa daytonii...25 YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS Rana (See key fo species)...26 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...29 REPTILES...29 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...32 TURTLES...32 WESTERN POND TURTLE Clemmys mamoata...33 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...35 LIZARDS...35 THE SPINY SWIFTS, FENCE LIZARDS OR BLUE-BELLIED LIZARDS Scelopous (See key fo species)...36 CALIFORNIA HORNED LIZARD Phynosoma blainvillii fontale...38 ALLIGATOR LIZARDS Gehonotus (See key fo species)...40 CALIFORNIA WHIP-TAILED LIZARD Cnemidophous tessellatus tessellatus...41 YOSEMITE SKINK Eumeces gilbeti gilbeti...42 i

3 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Table of Contents Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...45 SNAKES...45 PACIFIC RUBBER SNAKE Chaing bottae bottae...47 CORAL-BELLIED RING-NECKED SNAKE Diadophis amabilis pulchellus...48 PACIFIC RATTLESNAKE Cotalus viidus oeganus...49 PACIFIC GOPHER SNAKE Pituophis catenife catenife...51 WHIPSNAKES AND RACERS Colube (See key fo species)...53 THE GARTER SNAKES Thamnophis (See key fo species)...54 SPOTTED NIGHT SNAKE Hypsiglena ochohyncha ochohyncha...57 SIERRA CORAL ICING SNAKE Lampopeltis multicincta multicincta...58 CALIFORNIA KING SNAKE Lampopeltis getulus califoniae...59 SHARP-TAILED SNAKE Contia tenuis...61 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...64 A SIMPLIFIED KEY* TO THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK...64 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...71 SELECTED REFERENCES*...71 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...74 Back Cove...74 YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION...74 Yosemite Natue Notes...74 $1.00 pe yea...75 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke...77 About the Autho...78 Bibliogaphical Infomation...79 ii

4 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Cove Intoduction Amphibians Salamandes Reptiles Toads Tee Toads Fogs Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 1

5 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Tutles Lizads Snakes Simplified Key Selected Refeences Back Cove About the Autho Myl V. Walke, 1931 Myl V. Walke was bon Mach 20, He maied Wilda O. Walke in the 1920s. He also began collecting fossils in the 1920s as a student of D. Geoge F. Stenbeg, an ealy Kansas fossil collecto, and late studied unde D. L. D. Wooste, a paleonthologist. Walke began teaching Junio High at Potection, Kansas, while attending Fot Hays State College duing summe and late full time. He eceived his bachelo s degee in Afte gaduating, Walke taught high school at Plainville, then at the biology About the Autho 2

6 depatment at Kansas State Teaches College in 1929 (now Fot Hays State Univesity). In 1930 he was high school pincipal, coach, and science instucto. He eceived his maste s degee in vetebate paleonthology fom the Univesity of Kansas in Walke became a seasonal ange natualist in In 1944 he was appointed as Associate Pak Natualist in Yosemite National Pak. He tansfeed in 1933 to Petified Foest National Monument, then to Zion National Pak, Cate Lake National Pak, and Glacie National Pak, and back to Yosemite in In 1951 he was head of intepetation at Zion and Byce National Paks. Besides this booklet, Walke wote a study His specialty was paleontology. While employed fo the National Pak Sevice he wote of Tiassic insects in Petified Foest National Monument (1940), whee he also discoveed vetebate tacks. He also wote an intepetative pogam study fo Dinosau National Monument (1943), and Acheology of Zion Pak (1955). Duing he was diecto of the Division of Paleontology at Fot Hays Kansas State College Museum. Walke maied Wilda Opdyke in They had one child, Magaet Jean Walke. Wilda Walke died in Myl V. Walke died May They ae buied at Ft. Hays Memoial Gadens, Hays, Kansas. In 1988 a seies of paleontology papes wee published as Aticles in Hono of Myl V. Walke, Fot Hays Studies, 3d se. v. 10 (Science seies). Ft. Hays Alumnus Seves as National Paks Natualist, Hays, Kansas Daily News, Febuay 18, 1951 M. V. Walke Tansfes to Zion National Pak, Utah, Yosemite Natue Notes 26(5) (1947) 1931 M. V. Walke photogaphs in Michael J. Evehat, Use of achival photogaphs to ediscove the locality of the Holyood elasmosau (Ellswoth County, Kansas), Tansactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 110(1/2): (2007) Bibliogaphical Infomation Myl V. Walke ( ), Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (Yosemite: Yosemite Natual Histoy Association, 1946) Special Numbe of Yosemite Natue Notes 25(1) (Januay 1946). 48 pages. Illustated. 24 cm. Saddle stitched with yellow pape wappes. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Bibliogaphical Infomation 3

7 Digitized by Dan Andeson, July 2005, fom a pesonal copy. These files may be used fo any non-commecial pupose, povided this notice is left intact. Dan Andeson, Next: Intoduction Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Intoduction > Yosemite Natue Notes Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Amphibians Contents THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION Yosemite Natue Notes 4

8 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke VOL. XXV JANUARY, 1946 NO. 1 REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS INTRODUCTION of YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK By Myl V. Walke, Associate Pak Natualist Numeous books, bulletins and notes have been published on the Amphibians and Reptiles of Noth Ameica, Westen Noth Ameica, and the Pacific Coast. No effot has been made in this publication to pesent new data, but athe to take the infomation aleady available and to apply it to a atheesticted geogaphic unit in the Siea Nevada egion of Califonia. The technical hepetologist may be disappointed when he finds that this bulletin has failed to indicate oiginal authos and name changes by pope use of paentheses. He will also notice that a middle of the oad couse has been followed in the selection of specific and sub-specific names. No attempt has been made in this bulletin to justify o defend the specific names used, fo such is not the pimay pupose of this publication. The goal of this bulletin is to povide fo the geatest numbe of people a guide to the eady ecognition of foms in a limited aea, and futhemoe, to emphasize the value of the ecognition of foms and thei inte-elationships as an influence in the maximum utilization of the intepetive eceational values peseved in such aeas as ou National Paks. REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS 5

9 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To the Univesity of Califonia Pess and the Califonia Academy of Sciences special thanks ae given fo the loan of cuts, photogaphs, and othe assistance. The wite appeciates the assistance, counsel and guidance of John R. Slevin, Joseph S. Dixon, Hecto H. Lee, Robet C. Stebbins, Betha Lutz, Leo F. Hadsall, William G. Hilton, C. P. Russell, C. Fank Bockman, and all othes who eithe assisted in secuing cuts o gave of thei time tooad and check the manuscipt. To Pak Photogaphe Ralph H. Andeson special cedit is due fo his patience and skill in secuing cetain photogaphs. Inteest in Reptiles and Amphibians Fo the most pat the aveage peson s inteest in eptiles and amphibians is negative athe than positive. Many people ae fa moe inteested in the tall-tales commonly ciculated about eptiles and amphibians than they ae in thei life habits, theielationships, o thei economic value. Some people listen with inteest to the stoies of joint-snakes; snakes that swallow thei young; hoop snakes, and milk snakes, but thei inteest soon lags when they delve into these mysteies and find them vanishing one by one into thin ai. Although we know that toads do not cause wats just because they ae handled, thee ae some who still like to fighten the childen with this old whip of paental contol, which may if ove-woked, develop into a phobia of consideable consequence. This latte fact is often a geat deteent to the pope undestanding and appeciation of this division of vetebate animals, and causes many to avoid even the casual study o obsevation of this inteesting goup. Pactically all young childen show little o no fea of snakes, but athe a genuine inteest. This attitude is cetainly fa diffeent than the hysteical behaviou of those who have aleady developed a phobia because they have been fightened by olde people. All snakes ae canivoous in thei habits and theefoe belong to the goup called pedatos, meaning that they pey upon othe animal foms. This fact is of geat impotance in any study of snakes, fo food supply is a limiting facto in thei economic value, thei abundance, and thei distibution. Although some snakes ae geneally pesent in any given locality, thei abundance o scacity is limited lagely by the thee equiements: tempeatue, food and cove. A numbe of ou snakes pey almost exclusively on amphibians, so in a study of this kind one soon ealizes the contol effect of snakes on toads, fogs and salamandes. Changing conditions, such as the daining of swamps o the disappeaance of wet meadows which esult in a sudden dop in toad, fog o salamande populations, will in tun soon act to lowe the numbe of snakes of cetain species. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 6

10 The lizads ae fo the most pat less distubing to the aveage peson than ae the snakes, and since most of them have fou legs and un,athe than cawl, they occupy a highe place in the scale of human toleance. Few ealize, howeve, thei economic value fo they feed lagely on invetebate foms, many almost exclusively on insects. Many lizads in tun seve as food fo cetain snakes. The amphibians toads, fogs and salamandes occupy a bette place in the scale of toleance, although thee ae some people who do not hesitate to destoy even these hamless foms. Thei economic value detemined by this lage numbe of invetebates, especially insects, which they destoy. The amphibians ae kept in contol by the snakes and othe animals which pey upon them. The snakes ae not without thei natual enemies. Many snakes ae destoyed by canivoous mammals and by bids of pey. Some hawks ae known to destoy many snakes each season. The most ecent and pehaps the most devastating enemy of the snake is the automobile. Many snakes ae killed by cas taveling at high speed on asphalt sufacedoads which etain heat at night and theeby attact the snakes, o pehaps the snakes ae attacted by the lage numbe of odents gound squiels and mice that have also fallen victim to this moden age of speed and moto ca. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Amphibians Contents Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Amphibians > Inteest in Reptiles and Amphibians 7

11 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Salamandes Contents Pevious: Intoduction Inteest in Reptiles and Amphibians 8

12 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke AMPHIBIANS The wod amphibian is geneally intepeted as meaning two-lives, and as applied to the salamandes, toads, and fogs, we usually visualize these foms as living the fist life in wate, the second life on land. The fist life is called the laval o tadpole stage and is odinaily spent in the wate. Thee the lava beathe mainly though gills; they ae without legs in the fist stages, and have a peculialy flattened tail which popels them though the wate. When these lava matue we expect them to lose thei gills, gow some legs, and in the case of toads and fogs, to absob thei swimming tails. These genealizations may be wholly acceptable, but when we study the amphibians moe caefully we find that vaious foms have made shot-cuts o have decided to shoten one o the othe of thei two lives, so as to enable them to suvive in what would othewise be an unfavoable envionment.. The amphibians ae divided into two goups, one possessing and etaining tails thoughout thei entie life (the tailed amphibians), and the second (the tailless amphibians) which ae without this appendage in the adult stage. The salamandes belong to the fome, the toads and fogs to the latte division. Amphibians ae usually distinguished fom the eptiles by the fact that they have a moist skin which may be eithe slimy o waty, but in no case do they possess dy scales. Fo all geneal puposes this will seve to distinguish these two goups of vetebates. Salamandes Toads Tee Toads Fogs Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 9

13 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Salamandes Contents Pevious: Intoduction Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Salamandes > Next: Toads Contents Pevious: Amphibians AMPHIBIANS 10

14 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke SALAMANDERS The name salamande pobably bings to the aveage mind one of two thoughts; eithe a slimy, ceeping ceatue, vey epugnant and to be avoided, o stoies of fie-loving amphibians that emege fom the flames vey unexpectedly. Those who ae inteested in. the confusion bought about by common names know that the name salamande has been used athe feely, even being applied to cetain mammals (gophes o moles) in some of the southen states. Salamandes have fo the most pat a vey smooth and moist o slimy skin. They ae amphibians and many species spend a potion of thei life in wate (laval stage), but when matue they usually leave the wate and live on land but not on dy land. Thei body pocesses ae dependent upon a cetain amount of moistue, so thei skin must always emain moist o slimy; and fo that eason they ae to be found only in moist o damp habitats, undeocks, nea steams o ponds, in dead o decaying logs, in caves o cevices in the ocks. Futhemoe, some species of salamandes ae known to give off a slimy secetion, especially when handled o iitated. This secetion may be slightly poisonous o distasteful to cetain of thei enemies, but it does not odinaily affect man unless it eaches delicate membanes such as in the eyes. The association of salamandes with fie is not without some significance, fo undoubtedly many of the pionees, in addition to the ancients, wee occasionally stuck with awe to see salamandes cawl fom buning logs in the fie place. These obseves wee not awae that cetain salamandes live unde the bak of otten logs, o within the moist cente of the otten log itself. Pobably the salamande was just as supised as his human obseve to find himself suddenly subjected to a apid incease in body tempeatue, and pehaps his only thought was to depat fom his impopely selected abode and to locate a moe moist and cool situation fo a eteat. It is unfotunate that so many people have developed a fea of salamandes. Many seem to have only the one desie that is, to kill the slimy ceatue. All salamandes ae hamless as fa as human beings ae concened. Moeove, they ae of consideable economic value because of the lage numbes of insects, spides, and lavae that they destoy in secuing thei food. They ae wothy of some potection. On the othe hand it is fotunate fo the salamandes that so few ae eve seen by man. Thei habit ofeteating to the moist o damp situations, undeocks, logs, o in caves o cevices, seems to give them a cetain degee of secuity. Few people, except expeienced collectos ae awae of the fact that faily lage numbes of salamandes ae pesent in many localities. They ae sometimes found whee conditions appeaathe Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 11

15 unfavoable. Anotheeason salamandes ae seldom seen by the aveage peson is because twice each yea cetain foms ae foced to eteat fom the suface due to seasonal change. Some hibenate, disappeaing fom the suface with the beginning of cold weathe. These may buow down into the soil oeteat downwad in cacks in ocks o logs to a point whee they avoid feezing tempeatues. Othes eteat in a simila fashion duing the late summe and ealy fall months, especially in egions whee thee is a long dy o extemely wam peiod. This summeeteat is called aestivation, and it caies them ove until the fall ains make it possible fo them to move aound feely when moistue is again abundant fo thei sensitive thin skins. Only thee species of salamandes have thus fa been collected fom within the boundaies of Yosemite National Pak, although at least two othes appoach quite closely and may someday be taken within the Pak. The geat divegence in adaptations and habitats of the thee foms found in this aea is most inteesting. Only one possesses lungs, the othe two ae without nomal lungs. Only one lays its eggs in wate. Thee they hatch and the young pass though a laval stage with feathey gills, a stage equiing seveal months. One spends most of its time unde o inside moist, damp and otten logs, and neve even goes to wate to deposit its eggs. Although not definitely known, it is believed that the eggs ae laid singly o in clustes and attached to the undeside of old damp logs. Thee the young pass entiely though thei laval stage within the egg and emege as fully developed but immatue young. This fom seems peculia in not possessing lungs, although it lives entiely on land. The thid species is even moe stange than the othe two fo it lives fa fom eithe wate o logs, usually unde flatocks whee thee is damp soil, yet it possesses no lungs. Thee is a possibility that this fom does not lay eggs and that the young ae bought foth alive, fully developed, but small and immatue. A bief desciption of each of these salamandes is given in the following paagaphs; howeve, those who ae paticulaly inteested should ead some of the efeences listed at the end of this publication. SIERRA NEWT Tituus sieae Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke The Siea newt, often commonly called wate dog o mud puppy, is pobably the most common salamande found in Yosemite National Pak. This is due lagely to the fact that this salamandeetuns to the wate each yea to lay its eggs and causes the individuals to become faily abundant in the vicinity of good wate holes o ponds. When the young hatch they ae typical lavae with feathey gills. They must emain in the wate a yea o so befoe they develop to the point whee they can leave the wate and live on land. SALAMANDERS 12

16 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke The Siea newt is about seven inches in length when full gown; howeve, the tail accounts fo about half of this length. The colo of the back and sides is a chocolate-bown to bunt umbe, sometimes vey dak, but the undeside is in shap contast, being eithe bunt oange o in some instances a shade of light ed. This species is neve spotted and is easily distinguished fom the othe salamandes in this aea. This species and some of its closeelatives ae quite unique among the salamandes since the skin of individuals living on land away fom wate actually becomes ough, due to the development of many tiny wat-like tubecles, but when theyetun to the wate fo depositing eggs, the skin again becomes smooth and slimy. A few newts have been taken on the floo of Yosemite Valley, along the oad below the Wawona Tunnel, and nea Fen Sping; howeve, most of ou collection came fom the vicinity of Swamp Lake, Venon Lake, N. P. S. Photo by Andeson SIERRA NEWT Lauel Lake, and in the Miguel Meadows. This may not be a tue index of distibution but athe a esult of conditions favoable fo collecting. SIERRA NEVADA SALAMANDER Ensatina sieae The Siea Nevada salamande is the only spotted salamande found within the boundaies of Yosemite National Pak. The geneal body colo is blackish o deep bown on the back and sides, but with many lage and small iegula spots o blotches of dull oange to oange yellow. The undeside of the body is a faily unifom pale slate fading to gay on the tail. The adults aveage about five inches in length. SIERRA NEWT Tituus sieae 13

17 These salamandes ae inteesting due to the fact that, although they seldom go nea pools of wate but live entiely on land, they have no lungs. Futhemoe, they do not deposit thei eggs in wate, but pesumably lay them singly o in small clustes which ae attached to the undeside of damp ootten logs and bak. If like a closely elated species the females will sometimes emain and eithe stand guad o actually cul thei tails aound the cluste, pehaps to aid in keeping the eggs moist by means of glandula secetions. Some obseves believe that the eggs ae well advanced in development befoe they ae deposited. The young do not spend a laval stage in wate, but pass though this entie stage within the egg and emege as fully developed but immatue foms. It seems a bit stange that this salamande, which neve spends any potion of its life in wate, should have such a vey fine, delicate, smooth and slimy skill. But when it sacificed its lungs it became necessay that it do a cetain potion of its beathing though the skin. It must always stay whee sufficient moistue is available to keep its skin moist. These foms ae usually found unde the damp and moist bak of oldotten o decayed logs, beneath the logs themselves, o occasionally in cavaties within the otting logs. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke This salamande has a peculia constiction nea the base of the tail which makes it possible fo the animal N. P. S. Photo by Andeson SIERRA NEVADA SALAMANDER to eadily elease its tail when attacked by an enemy. The enlaged potion of the tail contains poison glands which secete a fluid that pobably seves to potect these salamandes to a cetain degee. Although nowhee abundant, these salamandes appea to be widespead ove the Pak below 7500 feet. They have been taken on the floo of the Valley, above Inspiation Point, at Wawona, in the Maiposa Gove, in Miguel Meadows, and in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. SIERRA NEVADA SALAMANDER Ensatina sieae 14

18 MOUNT LYELL SALAMANDER Hydoinantes platycephalus Of all the foms of vetebate life found in Yosemite National Pak, pobably no othe is so well known to the scientific wold, yet so little known to the aveage Pak visito, as this vey stange species of salamande. It was not known to scientists until 1915 when the fist two specimens wee accidentally caught in a mouse tap at a camp nea the base of Mount Lyell. It was nealy twenty yeas late befoe anyone leaned of its abundance within the Pak. Even today thee is still much to be leaned of its life histoy. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke The Mount Lyell salamande is the smallest of the thee species of salamandes found hee, being less than five inches in length when fully matue. They ae a geneal dak chocolate o slate colo on body and sides but with many lighte makings thoughout the dak except on the undepats back of the thoat, which is a unifom dilute chocolate to slate. The head appeas to be quite boad N. P. S. Photo by Andeson MOUNT LYELL SALAMANDER and flattened, and thee is consideable webbing between the toes. The Mount Lyell salamande diffes fom the moe common salamandes by not possessing lungs, and in being able to live fa fom ponds o wate. It is pesumed, that like a Euopean elative, it does not deposit eggs, but athe the young ae bon alive. Its isolation along the west slope of the Siea Nevada mountains is indeed significant, fo its neaestelatives ae found not in the New Wold but in Italy and Fance of the Old Wold. Duing the past few yeas this salamande has been taken at widely sepaated localities in Yosemite National Pak; howeve, most of the specimens came fom above 7000 feet in elevation. Due to the fact that they ae in no way dependent onunning wate, pools, o fallen and decaying logs, but ae found unde flat ocks that ae esting on soil kept wet by seepage wate, many times by melting snow wate, they ae found in such unexpected places as on the vey top of Half Dome. Aegula colony make thei home MOUNT LYELL SALAMANDER Hydoinantes platycephalus 15

19 unde the flat ocks in the little valley on top of Half Dome, whee the snow field lasts well into July, and whee they ae kept moist by the cold snow wate seeping along in the soil beneath the flat ocks. Moe Mount Lyell salamandes have been collected fom the top of Half Dome than fom any othe simile locality in Yosemite National Pak. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Toads Contents Pevious: Amphibians Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Toads > Next: Tee Toads Contents Pevious: Salamandes MOUNT LYELL SALAMANDER Hydoinantes platycephalus 16

20 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke TOADS Nealy eveyone is acquainted with ou common toads. The toads have become quite toleant of civilization and have found the gaden a good place to secue food and with the necessay moistue to keep thei waty skins functioning popely in the pocess of espiation. The gadene is also well awae of thei economic value, fo he has no doubt seen them snap up many bugs, beetles, and othe pests of the gaden. Often they goge themselves until they ae hadly capable of hopping, but instead thei movements ae limited to an awkwad cawl. Although thei waty skin helps to pevent loss of body moistue, they ae still somewhat limited in thei ange. They ae moe active at night than in the day time. They spend most of the day in a small buow o shelte that they have fomed by liteally backing down into the moist soil. The toads have a shap tubecle on the inne sole of the hind foot that assists them geatly in this backwad digging activity. The adults live on land, often some distance fom wate, but once each yea they etun to the ponds and steams to deposit thei long double-stand sting of eggs. Hee the young tadpoles (lava) hatch and fo some time live in the wate vey much like a fish, fo they have only gills no lungs o legs in the tadpole stage. Some toad tadpoles equie seveal months to gow up and do not acquie thei legs o lose thei tail until the next summe season olls aound. In all aeas whee seasonal vaiations ae sevee, the toads hibenate in the winte time, buowing down in the soil, in old gopheoles, o in cacks alongside buildings, until they each a point whee they ae safe fom fost and feezing weathe. Although toads have wats, they do not cause wats to gow on human hands that touch them. The wats on the toad help him to conseve his skin moistue, and secondaily may secete a substance that is somewhat poisonous if taken intenally, o if it touches delicate membanes like those in the eyes; but on the hands it is geneally hamless. Any dog that makes a mistake and takes a toad in his mouth suffes fo his foolishness. This secetion seems to affod the toad some measue of potection. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 17

21 Toads have also developed a athe lage bladde-like ogan which is used fo wate stoage. This is something that the toad can daw upon to keep his skin moist if he gets too fa fom moist soil o leaves. The almost clea, cololess liquid often dischaged by toads when fist picked up is this supply of stoage wate, fo its weight often geatly hindes the movements of the toad. He simply lightens his load by dischaging this wate, which has absolutely no poisonous o iitating popeties. Only two species of toads ae found in Yosemite National Pak. They ae usually easily distinguished, not just because of thei colo vaiation and size, but because they each occupy a paticula altitudinal ange o habitat. CALIFORNIA TOAD Bufo boeas halophilus Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke N. P. S. Photo by Andeson CALIFORNIA TOAD This lage toad is commonly found in Yosemite Valley and othe aeas in the Pak at compaable elevations. It does not appea to live above 4,500 feet in elevation, so that thee is an unoccupied space of nealy 2,000 feet, that is, between 4,500 and 6,500 feet whee few if any toads ae found, fo the othe species of Bufo, the Yosemite toad, does not descend to elevations below 6,500 feet. The Califonia toad has a much heavie body than the Yosemite toad; in fact, they ae so bulky that they seldom hop as do most toads, but instead move fowad in a most inteesting slow awkwad cawl. In the daytime they hide unde boads o fallen logs, unde flat stones, o even occupy the open buows of field mice o gound squiels. At night they come out to feed, and ae often seen unde the steet lights whee they have been attacted by the lage numbe of insects which often gathe aound the lights. TOADS 18

22 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke These lage toads have suffeed geatly because of ou moden age. The asphalt sufaced highways which etain many small pools of wate afte light summe showes, especially evening showes, seem to attact many toads. Hee they ae killed by the hundeds because with thei slow awkwad cawl they cannot escape the wheels of the moto cas that dash down the oads at teific speed. YOSEMITE TOAD Bufo canous This small toad with its peculialyounded paotoid glands and stange sexual dimophism has been found thus fa only in o nea the Yosemite National Pak. Within the Pak itsange seems to be vey limited, that is, to aeas at o above 6,500 to 7,000 feet, and only in wet meadows. The Yosemite toad was fist discoveed by membes of the Univesity of Califonia N. P. S. Photo by Andeson YOSEMITE TOAD scientific expedition when they wee making thei study of the fauna of the Yosemite National Pak egion in The Yosemite toad diffes fom the Califonia toad in many espects. They ae consideably smalle, they have fewe and smalle wats, and they have a vey peculia sping song, a long melodious till, hence thei specific name canous. As they live at high elevations whee the wintes ae long and snow emains on the gound fo seveal months, these toads must hibenate fo five o six months each yea. They appea to be solitay at all times except duing the spawning season when both males and females may be found nea pools in the lage meadows. Yosemite toads in ou collection have come fom nea Mount Dana at 10,000 feet elevation, Reseach Reseve at 8,300 feet, Keick Meadow at 9,300 feet, Slide Canyon at 10,000 feet, Lyell Base Camp at 10,400 feet, Viginia Canyon at 10,000 feet, and nea Uppe McCabe Lake at 10,600 feet. CALIFORNIA TOAD Bufo boeas halophilus 19

23 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Tee Toads Contents Pevious: Salamandes Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Tee Toads > Next: Fogs Contents Pevious: Toads YOSEMITE TOAD Bufo canous 20

24 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke TREE TOADS Anothe of ou inteesting amphibians is the small tee-toad o tee-fog which is so often head but seldom seen by the aveage peson. Although the tee-toad is the smallest of all the amphibians found in Yosemite National Pak, it is, nevetheless, one of the most inteesting. The tee-toad does not spend all its life in tees, as one might infe fom the name. Instead the tee-toad must go to ponds and steams to deposit eggs which hatch into tiny tadpoles that spend two o thee months in the wate befoe being able to maintain themselves on land. Of all ou toads and fogs, the tee-toad is the only one equipped with the necessay tools to climb up into tees o bushes. This it does quite often as an adult and it may occasionally be found sitting on a leaf patiently waiting fo some insect to come along. This special equipment consists of small ound sucke-like discs which it has on all its toes, both foe and aft, and these make it possible to climb with ease; in fact, it seems to delight in walking up the glass panes of the aquaium ja, and out, if the cove is not always kept in place. But the most inteesting featue, as fa as ou amphibians ae concened, is the fact that it can change skin colo to match the colo of the backgound; hence, it is quite inconspicuous among the low leaves of vines o shubs. Only when it visits the wate holes in the sping, o afte sudden ain stoms, ae we awae of its pesence, but at that time it puffs out its thoat and sings a song no one can mistake, a non-melodious cack-it which is all out of popotion to the size of the individual making the noise. Although the tee-toad is an expet in the at of camouflage, thee is one colo featue of its anatomy that seems to change vey little, and that is the dak black line o ba that extends fom the snout though the eye and back though the ea membane nealy to the shoulde. This tell-tale mak is always pesent foeady identification of the little tee-toad. PACIFIC TREE-TOAD Hyla egilla In one espect the Pacific tee-toad diffes fom all othe of ou amphibians, fo it seems to pay no attention to life zones, changes in elevation o foest cove, but is found fom the lowest elevations in the pak up to ove 10,000 feet. No othe amphibian has been able to adapt itself to such Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 21

25 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Fom Slevin: The Amphibians of Westen Noth Ameica. Coutesy of the Califonia Academy of Sciences PACIFIC TREE TOAD divegent life zones o habitats. Even in aeas whee conditions seem to be extemely aid, it manages to absob enough moistue fom the ealy moning dew, o fom the leaves and foliage, so as to keep its skin moist and functioning popely. The tee-toad is small and usually measues less than two inches in length, and is always eadily ecognized by the small ounded discs on the ends of all toes. The colo is vaiable, being gay, geen, o nealy black. The undeside is less vaiable, being nealy white and unspotted, but with a blackish patch on the thoat of the males. They ae usually found singly except duing the spawning season. Tee-toads have been taken on the floo of Yosemite Valley, in the pools along the Meced Rive, and even aound the houses whee wateing of lawns and shubs povides an attaction. They have been taken at Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Reseach Reseve, Lukens Lake, Yosemite Falls, Miguel Meadows, and even on the back poch of the Museum. They seem to be abundant nealy eveywhee, but it takes quick, keen eyes and a little knowledge of tee-toad habits to be able to locate them at the vaious seasons of the yea. Next: Fogs Contents Pevious: Toads PACIFIC TREE-TOAD Hyla egilla 22

26 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Fogs > Next: Reptiles Contents Pevious: Tee Toads PACIFIC TREE-TOAD Hyla egilla 23

27 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke FROGS The fogs, unlike the toads and tee-toads, must always emain close to pemanent pools of wate. Although thei skin allows them to leave the wate tempoaily and to bask on floating logs o debis, they must eve so often moisten themselves by plunging into the pool. When it comes to the matte of potection, fogs ae fa moe dependent on pools of wate than ae the toads and tee-toads, fo they escape fom most of thei enemies by diving into the wate and hiding eithe undeocks, o going down to the bottom of the pool whee they eithe patially o completely buy themselves in the muddy ooze and ae lost to the sight of most enemies. Unlike the toads, they ae not waty no do they cay an exta supply of wate with them. They do not have digging tools on thei hind feet, no have they developed any poison glands compaable to the toads. They ae fa moe at home in wate than on land, and thei long hind legs push them though the wate with emakable speed. Nealy eveyone has at some time o anothe seen the lage jelly-like masses of fogs eggs in quiet steams o pools, and upon etuning a few days late, noticed the geat numbe of tiny tadpoles. In the wame egions these lava matue at the end of the fist summe, but in the highe and colde elevations, whee the summe seasons ae shot, they pass the fist winte as tadpoles, becoming adults some time the second summe. Thee species of fogs ae found in Yosemite National Pak, although one fom is confined to the lowe elevations. One of these fogs eaches sufficient size to be consideed of some value fo food, and outside the Pak these fogs have sometimes been collected in lage numbes and funished to the makets. The othe two fogs found in the pak ae much smalle and ae of economic value only because of the numbe of insects o insect lavae they destoy, o in thei value as fish food. It has been found that tout in the highe mountain lakes and steams feed heavily on the small fog tadpoles, and in many instances, soone o late, almost eliminate the fogs fom these lakes. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 24

28 CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG Rana auoa daytonii Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Fom Slevin: The Amphibians of Westen Noth Ameica. Coutesy of the Califonia Academy of Sciences CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG The Califonia ed-legged fog is by fa the lagest fog found in the Yosemite National Pak. They sometimes measue fou o five inches in length. The adults may be eadily identified by the ed and pink makings on the undeside and inne side of the big hind legs. They ae light to dak hi-ewe above and with lage o small black spots on the dosal suface and on the thighs. They appea to be much moe hump-backed than the othe two species of fogs found in Yosemite. The ed-legged fog seems to show a pefeence fo the big ponds alongside steams that ae filled to thei maximum duing the high wate and flood stages in the sping. They seem to he moe of a pond o lake fog, athe than a steam fog, and seldom ae found in association with swiftlyunning wate. The Califonia ed-legged fog does not appea to be vey abundant in Yosemite National Pak, and thus fa has been found only in the lowe elevations: in fact, ou fist museum accession of this fog was not made until 1938 when specimens wee taken at Swamp Lake. Othe specimens have since been taken in Miguel Meadows and Sand Pit Lake. Pehaps caeful collecting will pove that this fog is moe widespead than ouecods thus fa have seemed to indicate. CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG Rana auoa daytonii 25

29 YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS Rana (See key fo species) Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Photo coutesy Calif. Acad. of Sci. CALIFORNIA YELLOW-LEGGED FROG These two species of fogs appea to be so closely elated that it seems unnecessay to teat them sepaately; hence they ae discussed only in a geneal manne. They ae modeate sized fogs with an aveage length of thee inches o less. They ae blackish, dak geen o bown above, and with a few athe indistinct makings. The makings on the undeside ae moe distinctive, being yellow o whitish, with the yellow undeside of the hind Legs being thei most diagnostic chaacteistic. The most appaent chaacteistics which distinguish the two species ae as follows: The Califonia yellow-legged fog has an ea membane which is quite ough and with a pebbled textue; the hind leg is athe long, and in addition this fog lives lagely below 6,500 feet in elevation. The Siea yellow-legged fog has an ea membane which is elatively smooth, not pebbled; the hind leg is only modeately long, and they live at elevations mostly above 6,500 feet. The ange of the Califonia yellow-legged fog, especially in the lowe elevations, allows it to emain active thoughout the entie yea, but the Siea yellow-legged fog must hibenate fo long peiods eithe along the shoe lines o in the bottom of muddy pools and lakes in the high alpine county. These steams and lakes ae sometimes almost completely fozen fo seveal of the mid-winte months. YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS Rana (See key fo species) 26

30 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Photo coutesy Calif. Acad. of Sci. SIERRA NEVADA YELLOW-LEGGED FROG The yellow-legged fogs ae pobably the most common amphibians of Yosemite National Pak, especially in the vicinity of steams, pools, and lakes; and futhemoe, they ange fom the lowest elevations up to 11,500 feet whee specimens have been taken in the small lake nea the base of Mount Lyell. They ae of couse most abundant along steam banks and lake shoes as all fishemen and hikes ae well awae, not because they see the fogs, but athe because they hea them as they plunk into the wate, one afte anothe, to find shelte and potection. Next: Reptiles Contents Pevious: Tee Toads Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Reptiles > YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS Rana (See key fo species) 27

31 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Tutles Contents Pevious: Fogs YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS Rana (See key fo species) 28

32 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke REPTILES The few eptiles that live in the wold today ae but a small emnant of a once mighty ace o division of ou vetebate animals. Those people who today ae fightened at the sight of a little gate snake o spiny lizad would have been shocked beyond desciption had they met face to face some of the giant dinosaus o othe eptiles of the ancient past. Even if such a meeting had occued, thee is little doubt but that most of the eptilian giants would have been little inteested in thei human obseves. Many of the ancient eptiles wee fo the most pat hebivoous and subsisted on plant life. Only in ecent times (geologically speaking) and in a last effot to maintain theiace, have the majoity of eptiles become canivoous o flesh-eates,athe than hebivoous. If we could but piece togethe each and evey adaptation made by the eptiles of the past in thei effot to secue food, find shelte, and epoduce thei kind, we would unavel in detail a most mavelous stoy. This stoy would tell us why snakes have lost thei legs, why some lizads ae legless, blind, and buowing, why some lizads ae coveed with spines, and why some snakes have developed a poison appaatus fo use in secuing thei food. Taken all in all, the eptiles have not been outstandingly successful in thei effots to maintain themselves, and those few foms that we still have with us today ae all the moe inteesting because of thei vaied and often seemingly useless vaiations, habits o adaptations. We often wonde why some eptiles ae so billiantly coloed, why some eptiles play dead, and why some eptiles spead thei heads. And again why do some eptiles vibate thei tails, and why have otheeptiles developed a attle on the end of that vibating tail. Geneally speaking, eptiles may be identified by the fact that thei body coveing is composed of athe dy scales, easily ecognized in most common snakes and lizads, but somewhat modified in the tutles and totoises. They diffe fom the mammals and bids, above them in the scale of life, by having cold blood and theeby. being esticted in thei habitats by the tempeatue of thei suoundings. They ank above the amphibians and fishes since they ae fa less dependent on wate. They have no laval stage, and the development of thei bony skeleton, especially thei skull and jaws, often set with fimly attached teeth, is a specialization which distinguishes them fom the amphibians. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 29

33 It is unfotunate that thee is not a moe genuine inteest in the study, obsevation and ecognition of eptiles snakes, lizads, and tutles. Many of these foms ae not difficult to captue, and ae easily kept in captivity; howeve, they should be kept in captivity only if the obseve is conscientious in his effots to secue wothwhile infomation on thei behaviou and food habits. Oueptiles in geneal ae just as wothy of adequate potection as ae the mammals and bids, and the hamless foms should be consideed an integal pat of the biotic pictue of any community. The few poisonous foms that do exist should be studied caefully so that they may be eadily identified and theieal dangeecognized. Only when thei pesence may actually constitute a dange to human life should we toleate the selective destuction of these foms that othewise ae of economic value and a pat of the balance of natue. Although epesentatives of each of the thee diffeent divisions of eptiles tutles, lizads, and snakes ae pesent in the Yosemite National Pak, thei numbes ae somewhat limited. Only one tutle has been ecoded fom this egion. The lizads ae moe numeous with nine species pesent, and at least thiteen diffeent snakes have thus fa been collected within the boundaies of the Pak. Tutles Lizads Snakes Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Tutles Contents Pevious: Fogs REPTILES 30

34 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Yosemite > Libay > Reptiles & Amphibians > Tutles > Next: Lizads Contents Pevious: Reptiles REPTILES 31

35 Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke TURTLES The tutles and totoises ae vey pooly epesented in the eptilian fauna of the Pacific Coast, and only one species eaches the Yosemite National Pak aea. This goup of eptiles is well known to nealy eveyone, fo thei vey specialized potective shell is a featue not found in any othe of ou Ameicaneptiles. The scaly body coveing of the eptile division is still plainly seen, especially on the legs; howeve, the uppe and lowe shells, commonly called caapace and plaston, ae so modified that thei scale chaacteistics ae pactically lost. Like most of the otheeptiles they possess shap claws on thei toes, a featue which helps to distinguish the eptiles fom the amphibians. Thei jaws ae quite unlike the lizads o snakes fo they do not possess teeth, and futhemoe, the jaws ae modified into a type of beak. A majoity of the tutles and totoises have not ventued fa fom wate, but a few have managed to exist on land, some actually going so fa as to adjust even to the aid desets of the southwest. All seem to be athe vaiable in food habits, with both animal and plant food being taken. Those foms that live in ponds o steams secue thei food eithe in the wate o nea the wate s edge, and some even seem to be unable to swallow unless the head is submeged beneath the suface of the wate. Fo potection the pond and steam types dive to the bottom of the pond eithe to patly buy themselves in the mud, o to become lost to view in the depths of the wate. In egions whee winte tempeatues dop athe low, tutles may hibenate duing the coldest winte months. In common with many of the eptiles, they deposit eggs that have a vey leathey shell. These ae buied in sand o decaying vegetable matte whee incubation takes place, the paent showing no inteest in the young. Unfotunately, pehaps, because of the bightly coloed shells of the young of many species of tutles, these tiny specimens ae now handled in the pet shops and each yea ae sold by the thousands. Because so few Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke 32

36 people know o seem to cae about them, afte the novelty has won off, they ae often left to stave, o in many instances, ae gently dopped out the back doo. A numbe of the latte find thei way to ponds whee they soon establish themselves, so that today the natualist can neve be sue that the tutles he obseves in the ponds and steams ae native thee, o whethe man has been involved in thei unnatual distibution. WESTERN POND TURTLE Clemmys mamoata The westen pond tutle is found only in the lowe elevations along the westen bounday of the Pak, and to date has been collected only fom the vicinity of Swamp Lake, nea Eleano Dam, and in the Miguel Meadows. These tutles ae faily abundant at lowe elevations in the San Joaquin Valley. This tutle is only about eight inches long when fully matue. The top shell (caapace) is dak bown o blackish in colo, but each individual plate is maked with yellowish spots o lines, the latte sometimes tending to adiate fom the cente of the plate. The plates of the caapace ae elatively smooth, not oughened. The individual plates in the undeshell (plaston) ae mainly yellowish in colo but ae often bodeed with black. The legs, head and neck ae geneally bownish, but often spotted with black o yellow. These tutles ae difficult to obseve because they seem to dive into the wate at the slightest distubance and emain submeged fo some time. They cawl out on logs oocks that poject above the suface of the wate and thee sun themselves fo long peiods unless distubed. Fishemen ae often supised to find that these tutles will take a small hook baited with meat o woms. These tutles ae sometimes utilized fo food, and occasionally will be found displayed in the makets along the Pacific Coast. It is doubtful if many visitos will eve see this tutle, fo its habits and the fact that its ange is limited in Yosemite causes it to be one of the least seen of oueptiles, except of couse, fo some of the noctunal snakes. Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Pak (1946) by Myl V. Walke Next: Lizads Contents Pevious: Reptiles TURTLES 33