Reptiles of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Snakes: Southern Pacific Rattlesnake | Gopher Snake | Kingsnake | Striped Racer
Lizards: Western Fence Lizard | Side-Blotched Lizard | Orange-Throated Whiptail
Skink: Western Skink

Introduction

While eight species of lizards and at least eight species of snakes occur in the Reserve, visitors will usually see only two or three species of lizards and rarely a snake. However, it is not uncommon for first-time visitors to report sightings of rarely observed species, so the recommendation to visitors is always be alert for unexpected viewings of these animals.

Thanks to an authorized reptile survey in 1995-97 by the Biology Dept. of the U. of Calif. at San Diego (UCSD), the Reserve has recent data on species abundance and distribution. This survey, believed to be the most extensive ever done in the Reserve, provides a base from which to evaluate species status in the future. The data unfortunately confirmed observations in recent years that suggested significant declines in some species populations, such as of the coast horned lizard. For more information on the survey, see the lizard notebook comment in the next section.

Because of the mild year-around climate here, lizards may be observed throughout the year, but they are most active during spring and early summer, when two species in particular (Western fence lizard and side-blotched lizard) are very common on and near trails.

Rattlesnake caution: The Reserve is a natural undeveloped area and does have a small population of Southern Pacific rattlesnakes, which may be active even during winter on warm days. While visitors are unlikely to encounter a rattlesnake, they should always watch where they are walking, the same precaution as in all undeveloped areas in Southern California.

NOTE TO VISITORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHILDREN:
ALL ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED.
PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB THE REPTILES IN ANY WAY.
ENJOY THEM BY JUST WATCHING AND OBSERVING THEM.

Visitor Center Information

In the main room of the Visitor Center there is a bookcase containing notebooks on the Reserve’s plant and animal life. Look here for a notebook titled “Lizards (and a Snake Summary).” (The Docent on duty or Reserve staff can point out the bookcase location.) This notebook was prepared to help visitors identify the Reserve’s lizards. It contains a brief overview of the UCSD reptile survey, descriptions and color photographs of the lizard species here, a summary of lizard biology, a summary of the snakes here, and a photograph of a Southern Pacific rattlesnake.

Snakes

While 18 species have been reported in the Reserve, snakes are rarely seen by visitors (many snakes are mainlv nocturnal). The four species that are most likely to be seen are the southern Pacific rattlesnake, gopher snake, kingsnake, and striped racer. The latter two are relatively easy to identify: the kingsnake is black with (usually) yellowish annular bands (in some specimens the bands are replaced by longitudinal stripes); the striped racer is a slender snake, dark brown to black, with a thin, well-defined longitudinal stripe on each side (note: the striped racer resembles the two-striped garter snake except that the latter's stripes aren't so well defined). The coloration and pattern of the gopher snake are similar to that of the southern Pacific rattlesnake. When threatened, it mimics rattlesnake behavior by coiling, shaking its tail in the brush to make noise, and expelling air to make a hissing sound. But the gopher snake has the small head and round eye pupil typical of non-venomous snakes. Learn to recognize the rattler to avoid snakebites.

Past snake surveys in selected parts of the Reserve indicated that there were up to 18 species here. The UCSD survey found only 8. It is probable that at least a few more species are still in the Reserve but in such small numbers and in such restricted locations that their sightings are very rare. The species caught during the survey in order of decreasing abundance are the striped racer, San Diego gopher snake, Southern Pacific rattlesnake, Western ringneck snake, Calif. kingsnake, night snake, Western yellow-bellied racer, and the two-striped garter snake. The striped racer, also called the Calif. whipsnake, constituted half the specimens caught in the survey. But as its name suggests, it moves rapidly, so it is seen less often than several lesser abundant species. The ringneck snake is very localized and is unlikely to be seen, and the last three are here in such small numbers that they are also unlikely to be observed.

Keeping in mind that snakes are not often observed in the Reserve, the Southern Pacific rattlesnake and the gopher snake are the species most likely to be seen, followed by the Calif. kingsnake and the striped racer. Brief descriptions of these are given below.

Click on each photo for larger view

Photos by Todd Nordness

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Southern Pacific Rattlesnake: The colors vary from somewhat bright to dull, depending on the time since shedding. The main pattern consists of brown to blackish blotches separated by yellowish borders. Key features, characteristic of rattlesnakes, are a head considerably larger that the body and rattles on the tail. Lengths observed in the Reserve are usually up to about 3 feet, although this species can be longer.

Gopher Snake: The gopher snake somewhat resembles the rattlesnake in color and pattern, and it will even mimic the rattlesnake when threatened by coiling, shaking its tail in the brush, and hissing. But it is quite harmless. It differs from the rattlesnake by having a head about the size of its body, a round eye pupil, and of course no rattles. Specimens up to 4 feet and longer have been seen here. return to top

Kingsnake: The most common form has a black body with yellow bands, but ones with brownish bodies are also found here. Sometimes the bands, which can also be white, are replaced by longitudinal stripes or even a combination of bands and stripes. The coloration and patterns are so distinctive that this snake is readily identified. Lengths up to 3 feet and more are here.

Striped Racer: This is a long, slender snake with a black to dark brown color on top and distinguished by a thin yellow to whitish longitudinal stripe on each side. The underside from the vent to the end of the tail is rose colored. Lengths up to 4 feet have been seen here. This snake, which is diurnal, normally moves very rapidly when approached, so visitors usually just see a tail disappearing into the vegetation. While on a docent walk one time, this writer encountered a striped racer by the side of the trail. The snake, which appeared healthy, stayed by the trail giving the visitors time to see it up close, with even the rose color under the tail being visible because of the way it was lying on the ground. This was a very unusual viewing of this species.

To put snake observations into perspective, this writer saw (excluding the reptile survey) only about 6 rattlesnakes and only several kingsnakes and striped racers during several hundred walks over seven years. So visitors should not be disappointed if they don’t see snakes during a visit to the Reserve. - John Carson

Shh! The Snake May Hear You

Lizards

The species in order of decreasing abundance (UCSD reptile survey) are Western fence lizard, orange-throated whiptail, side-blotched lizard, Southern alligator lizard, Western skink, coast horned lizard, coastal Western whiptail, and Calif. legless lizard. The populations of the latter four are so small that they are rarely seen. In contrast to the survey results, the fence and side-blotched lizards are the two species most commonly seen; in spite of being here in appreciable numbers, the orange-throated whiptail is observed only occasionally, and the alligator lizard is rarely seen.

Brief descriptions of the first three listed species are given here with suggested areas to see them.

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Western Fence Lizard: The adult overall length is 6 to 8 inches. This lizard has a rough scaly skin with wide color and pattern variations. Colors may be gray, brown to blackish with a blotched pattern, sometimes somewhat striped. Adult males have blue patches on the underside and small turquoise spots on the top. In some springs most adults are almost solid black, with more normal colors and patterns returning in summer. They prefer to remain near dense ground cover to which they can retreat quickly if alarmed. They are often seen resting in the sun on rocks and logs around the Visitor Center and the east side of the Guy Fleming Trail. In late summer and fall, the small juveniles born in late July and August are present but only few adults are observed.

Side-Blotched Lizard: Adult overall length is 5 to 6 inches. This species is smaller than the fence lizard, has a smooth skin, and gets its name from a small bluish black spot on each side in back of the front legs. Colors vary from light tan to brownish, with gray in some specimens. Adult males and females have quite different patterns. Females usually have a chevron pattern on top with (sometimes) faint longitudinal stripes on each side. Males usually show a blue speckled pattern on top. This species prefers loose sandy soil and more open ground cover than the fence lizard. Suggested places to see this lizard are the west side of the Guy Fleming Trail, the Whittaker Garden, and especially the sandy trail at the southern entrance to the Reserve Extension.

Orange-Throated Whiptail: Although the UCSD survey found this species to be the second most abundant in the Reserve, it is not that easy to observe. This is a slender lizard with a very long and thin tail, which tapers to a tiny tip. Overall length is up to about 9 inches. It has tan and yellow longitudinal stripes, and in mating season the males have vivid orange color on the underside of both the throat and body (normally not visible when viewed on the ground). The juvenile has a blue tail. When not alarmed, this lizard moves about in a slow ambling way in contrast to the fence and side-blotched lizards, which usually are resting in the sun or running rapidly from what they perceive as threats. There is no easy way to find this whiptail. The only suggestion is to watch the ground near the trails in the coastal sage scrub areas where the vegetation is not too dense.

Skinks

Western Skink (Eumeces skiltonianus) Often heard rustling among dead leaves; 2.5 - 3..25"; body covered with smooth, shiny scales with rounded margins; tip of tail dull blue or slatey; glossy and slim-bodied.

USEFUL FIELD GUIDES

Western Reptiles and Amphibians by R. C. Stebbins, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1985.

A Field Guide to Snakes of California by P. R. Brown, Gulf Publishing Co., 1997.

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