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Point Reyes National Seashore
Reptiles
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| California red-sided gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) |
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Today there are 6,800 reptile species on earth; the major groups are alligators/crocodiles, turtles, lizards, and snakes. All reptiles are cold-blooded, and have bodies covered in dry, horny scales. Some reptiles lay eggs; others give birth to live young. Reptiles are distinguished from amphibians by the presence of scales.
The 14 species of reptiles found at Point Reyes National Seashore are found in a wide variety of habitats. Turtles utilize habitats such as freshwater ponds, streams, drainage ditches, marshes, stock ponds and the open ocean. Lizards occur in almost every habitat except the dampest innermost forest and the tidal salt marsh. Snakes prefer warm and dry environments, therefore the humid environment at Point Reyes limits the population sizes of several species.
View Reptiles of Point Reyes National Seashore species list (15 KB PDF, required).
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Did You Know?
Marine biologists have identified nearly a third of all known marine mammal species in the waters surrounding Point Reyes. Blue whales and humpback whales feed here during spring and summer months. Gray whales migrate past our shores twice a year on their round trip from Alaska to Baja.
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Last Updated: September 24, 2007 at 19:27 EST |
