CNDDB News Blog

Courtesy of U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0) via flickr

The California Natural Diversity Database is updating our element (species) records to reflect the 3 federal Distinct Population Segments (DPS). We had previously tracked California tiger salamander as a single species concept with notes about different statuses (Federally Endangered/Federally Threatened, State Threatened):

CNDDB will now be tracking the individual populations:

California Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern (Thomson, Wright, and Shaffer 2016), a collaborative project of California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the University of California, Davis, is now available for PDF download. The publication provides a synthesis of the conservation risk faced by California’s amphibians and reptiles that qualify as Species of Special Concern. Using a full list of the native amphibian and reptile taxa known to occur in the state and eight metrics that capture key elements of declining and at-risk species, 73 nominee taxa were scored based on an extensive literature review and evaluation by a Technical Advisory Committee. Peer-reviewed species accounts for each of the resulting 45 Species of Special Concern, now available in PDF format, provide available information on their basic biology, known or hypothesized reasons for decline, proposed management, and future research needs. The result is a clear, transparent publication that explicitly states why decisions were made, supports them with a summary of the best available science, and contributes in a meaningful way to the conservation goals of our State Wildlife Action Plan.

Gambelia sila – blunt-nosed leopard lizard
Submitted by Kai Medak

This lovely lizard was observed basking in the sun by Kai Medak in Kern County. The blunt-nosed leopard lizard is a relatively large lizard that can be distinguished from other species by its truncated snout, narrow head, and differing color and scale patterns. Habitats with patchy shrubs or grasslands are ideal for these animals as they allow shade without providing too much cover that would reduce the lizard’s ability to detect predators. Burrows are also incredibly important in the lifecycle of this species as they are utilized for brumation, nesting, and shelter from predators and extreme temperature. Individuals have been known to create their own burrows, but the old burrows of small mammals are primarily used.

Blunt-nosed leopard lizards are endemic to California and can be found in the San Joaquin Valley as well as in the foothills of the Coast Range. Unfortunately, this species’ current range has been restricted to 15% of its historical range due to habitat fragmentation and urban development. The blunt-nosed leopard lizard is listed as Federally Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, State Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act, and Fully Protected under the Fish and Game Code. Thank you, Kai, for sharing such a great photo!

Penstemon albomarginatus – white-margined beardtongue
Submitted by Alice L. Miller

Alice L. Miller found this rare desert plant while doing surveys in San Bernardino County. Penstemon albomarginatus is a perennial herb that is often found in desert dunes and Mojavean desert scrub habitats where it blooms from March to May. When in bloom, this plant displays purple to pink tubular flowers that are surrounded at the base by pointed, white-edged sepals and attract several species of bees, butterflies, and beetles. P. albomarginatus is known to inhabit the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in eastern California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona, but it is very rare in California with a California Rare Plant Rank of 1B.1 (rare or endangered in California and elsewhere; seriously threatened in California). This species is primarily threatened by the development of solar energy farms on desert lands, as well as other urbanization projects. A huge thank you to Alice for submitting data on this rare species!

Do you have some great photos of rare plants or wildlife detections? Submit them along with your findings through our Online Field Survey Form and see if your photos get showcased!