Phrynosoma in Kern Co

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sonora
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Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by sonora »

Hello,
Does anyone hear know if P. blainvillii occurs in the Desert Tortoise Natural Area? I have seen many P. platyrhinos there, but this past Saturday, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a horned lizard that appeared too large for platyrhinos, so I was curious to know if both species occur there.
Steve
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Silence Dogood
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by Silence Dogood »

As far as I know, Blainville's are not found east of the sierras for Kern County. I have seen them in Kern County on the Sierra foothills toward the desert flats but never in the flats. On the desert floor, is pretty much desert horned lizard territory. So this would be news to me. All of the range maps that I have seen say the same thing...
craigb
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by craigb »

from CaliforniaHerps.com

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/ ... iimap2.jpg


When in doubt ..... :?
craigb
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by craigb »

mark buck
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by mark buck »

From what I know the Coasties that make it into the desert are associated with sagebrush,

I don't think they occur in creosote habitats.

Maybe just a big female...
craigb
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by craigb »

I used to see coasties in Cabazon/Banning (Riverside Co.) where there are now 50-100 windmills. It was all creosote and sandy washes. They made it close to Palm Springs. They were up near the base of the mountains. We also photographed Petrosaurus mearnsi in the rocks there.

craig
mark buck
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by mark buck »

Craig

That's cool about Coasties near Cabazon, never thought to look for them there.

Then again that whole transition area is really interesting, I've always wondered about how far certain desert species make it west toward Banning and how far certain coastal species make it east toward Palm Springs.
mark buck
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by mark buck »

Also it must have been awesome to herp there before the windmills...

What a shame
craigb
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by craigb »

But on a positive note. I bet the reptiles are still there, and always will be.
To everything there is a season.....
I have twin sons in their twenties. Maybe in twenty years the windmills will be replaced with some other technology. Hell, I should still be mobile.

That area was a really cool place in the 70s, and 80s. I once came around an outcrop and saw a Golden Eagle fly off with a squirming C. helleri in it's talons !!

Good Old Days :beer:
Robert Hansen
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by Robert Hansen »

Unless somebody released a coastal, none naturally occur at the DTNA. The lowest I have seen coastals on the desert slopes is the southern flank of the Tehachapis, where they occur in a mixed shrub/Joshua Tree community. There are no known instances where blainvillii and platyrhinos occur together, at least in this region.
sonora
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by sonora »

I greatly appreciate all the replies. Thanks!
Steve Z
craigb
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Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Post by craigb »

Well, a few of us really enjoy seeing them. It reminds us of younger and simpler days. Many of the coastal places covered in Hubbs "Common Kingsnakes" book overlap with Phrynosoma blandvillii. They were common in many of the oilfields in Long Beach and North Orange Co.. Most of those places are tract housing, shopping centers, or golf courses now.
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