CNDDB News Blog

Cypripedium montanum – mountain lady’s-slipper
Submitted by Jacob Smith

This amazing little orchid was found by Jacob Smith in Madera county. This picture shows the characteristic slipper-shaped pouch that temporarily traps pollinators and forces them to crawl under the anther, causing pollen to be deposited on their backs and resulting in pollen being spread from one flower to the next as the pollinator works. Cypripedium montanum was originally listed in 1980 as a California Native Plant Society List 2 (rare or endangered) and is currently considered a California Rare Plant Rank 4.2 (limited distribution and moderately threatened in California). It ranges across northern California as well as several other northern states and into Canada. Cypripedium montanum is found in broadleafed upland forests, cismontane woodlands, lower montane coniferous forests, and North Coast coniferous forests. These little mountain lady's-slippers can be seen blooming from March through August. Thank you Jacob for this striking photo and the amazing work you share with us!

Rana draytonii – California red-legged frog
Submitted by Gary Kittleson of Kittleson Environmental Consulting

Gary discovered this California red-legged frog taking refuge in some freshwater foliage near Watsonville in Santa Cruz county. These amphibians can be hard to detect because of their immaculate ability to hide and blend in with their surroundings. This frog species can be seen in many colors but will have distinct red coloring on its legs and belly, giving it its name. California red-legged frogs have long back legs which give them the ability to leap far distances and to climb. Both are used to avoid and escape predators. Their diet consists of mainly small invertebrates and they use their long sticky tongue to grab their prey and bring it close to them. California red-legged frogs are endemic to the state, inhabiting the Coast Ranges as well as the Foothills and Sierra Nevada. They are a California Species of Special Concern and are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Currently, CNDDB has over 1500 California red-legged frog occurrences throughout its range. Thank you, Gary, for this great shot!

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!

What is the CNDDB? What species does the CNDDB track? How does one access CNDDB information? What is the best way to submit data to the CNDDB? These are some of the most common questions that CNDDB staff are asked. We have taken the answers to these questions, along with other important topics, and combined them into a single convenient resource: the CNDDB Management Framework (PDF). This document gives a general overview of the CNDDB including information on its background, products, and proper use. CNDDB staff can always be contacted for any questions but this document is a great place to start when it comes to understanding the CNDDB!

September 7th marks the second annual celebration of California Biodiversity Day, an event set to celebrate our beautiful and species-rich state. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level, and as the state with the most species of plants and animals in the U.S., we have a lot to celebrate!

Biodiversity Day is not only about celebrating our wildlife; it is also about protecting it. On September 7th, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown launched the California Biodiversity Initiative to integrate biodiversity protection into the state’s environmental and economic efforts in order to keep species secure and protect them from climate change and other threats. This initiative was the origin of California Biodiversity Day.

American black bear (Ursus americanus). Photo by Jan Dawson.

Along with being the state with the highest number of species, California is also one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and is classified by Conservation International as one of 36 Global Diversity Hotspots. California is home to over 30,000 species of insects, 6,500 plants, 650 birds, 220 mammals, 100 reptiles, 75 amphibians, and 170 species of fish and marine mammals. This species richness is likely due to our rich Mediterranean climate as well as our state’s complex geology and geography, allowing for the existence of many different habitats and biomes for a variety of different species to live in.

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Photo by Laura Shaskey.

This year, several partners will be hosting both virtual and in-person events from September 5th through September 13th in celebration of California Biodiversity Day 2020. These events include bioblitzes on iNaturalist, lectures highlighting various California species, and online arts and crafts activities for kids. For more information about this year’s events, please see the California Biodiversity Day 2020 web page.

We encourage you to get outside and celebrate the wonderful biodiversity that our state has to offer! If you happen to find a rare California plant or animal, be sure to submit your sighting through our Online Field Survey Form.