Endemic Animals of California








Mohave Ground Squirrel
The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis ) is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in California. The squirrel was first described in 1886 by Frank Stephens of San Diego. It is listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act, but not under the federal Endangered Species Act. The IUCN lists this species as near threatened.
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Mohave Ground Squirrel
Giant Kangaroo Rat
The giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens ) is an endangered species of heteromyid rodent endemic to California.
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Giant Kangaroo Rat
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
The salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris ), also known as the red-bellied harvest mouse, is an endangered rodent endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in California. The two distinct subspecies are both endangered and listed together on federal and state endangered-species lists. The northern subspecies (R. r. halicoetes ) is lighter in color and inhabits the northern marshes of the bay, and the southern subspecies ...
(R. r. raviventris ) lives in the East and South Bay marshes. They are both quite similar in appearance to their congener species, the Western harvest mouse, R. megalotis, to which they are not closely related. Genetic studies of the northern subspecies have revealed that the salt marsh harvest mouse is most closely related to the plains harvest mouse, R. montanus, which occurs now in the Midwest. Its endangered designation is due to its limited range, historic decline in population and continuing threat of habitat loss due to development encroachment at the perimeter of San Francisco Bay.
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Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
Alpine Chipmunk
The alpine chipmunk (Neotamias alpinus ) is a species of chipmunk native to the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada of California.
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Alpine Chipmunk
Sonoma Chipmunk
The Sonoma chipmunk (Neotamias sonomae ) is a small ground-dwelling rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to northwestern California in the United States. Members of Neotamias are characterized by having 2 premolars, transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. Sonoma chipmunk has 2 subspecies: Neotamias sonomae alleni and Neotamias sonomae sonomae.
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Sonoma Chipmunk
San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel
The San Joaquin antelope squirrel or Nelson's antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni ), is a species of antelope squirrel, in the San Joaquin Valley of the U.S. state of California.
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San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel
Island Fox
The Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) is a small fox native to six of the eight Channel Islands of California. There are six subspecies, each unique to the island it lives on, reflecting its evolutionary history. They are generally docile, show little fear of humans, and are easily tamed. Island foxes played an important role in the spiritual lives of native Channel Islanders. They have been likely semi-domesticated as pets, used as pelts, or for ...
other functions, like pest control.
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Island Fox
Vampire squid
The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis, lit. 'vampire squid from hell') is a small cephalopod found throughout temperate and tropical oceans in extreme deep sea conditions. The vampire squid uses its bioluminescent organs and its unique oxygen metabolism to thrive in the parts of the ocean with the lowest concentrations of oxygen. It has two long retractile filaments, located between the first two pairs of arms on its dorsal side, which ...
distinguish it from both octopuses and squids, and places it in its own order, Vampyromorphida, although its closest relatives are octopods. As a phylogenetic relict, it is the only known surviving member of its order.The first specimens were collected on the Valdivia Expedition and were originally described as an octopus in 1903 by German teuthologist Carl Chun, but later assigned to a new order together with several extinct taxa.
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Vampire squid
Yellow-billed magpie
The yellow-billed magpie (Pica nuttalli), also known as the California magpie, is a large bird in the crow family that is restricted to the U.S. state of California. It inhabits the Central Valley and the adjacent chaparral foothills and mountains. Apart from its having a yellow bill and a yellow streak around the eye, it is virtually identical to the black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) found in much of the rest of North America. The scientific ...
name commemorates the English naturalist Thomas Nuttall.
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Yellow-billed magpie
California red-sided garter snake
The California red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis ) is a subspecies of the common garter snake. This slender subspecies of natricine snake is indigenous to North America and is one of three recognized subspecies of Thamnophis sirtalis found in California. While commonly confused with the subspecies T. s. concinnus, it is biologically part of the population of the subspecies T. s. tetrataenia, as pointed out by Boundy and ...
Rossman (1995), but was preserved as T. s. infernalis as a neotype under ICZN code Article 75 in a 2000 decision by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) in 2000 in order to preserve the existing subspecies taxonomy. Most California red-sided garter snakes have a pattern of blue stripes on a black and red background. Their average total length is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 100 cm (39 in).
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California red-sided garter snake
San Francisco garter snake
The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia ) is a slender multi-colored subspecies of the common garter snake. Designated as an endangered subspecies since the year 1967, it is endemic to San Mateo County and the extreme northern part of coastal Santa Cruz County in California. Some researchers estimate that there are only 1,000 to 2,000 adult snakes of the subspecies T. s. tetrataenia remaining. However, the full extent of ...
the snakes' habitat has not been fully documented, and many snakes may utilize creeks and other waterways that are currently unexplored. This garter snake prefers wet and marshy areas, and because of its elusive nature, it is difficult to see or capture.
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San Francisco garter snake
Giant Garter Snake
The Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas ) is the largest species of garter snake. Relatively rare, it is a semi-aquatic venomous snake with a limited distribution in the wetlands of central California.
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Giant Garter Snake
San Joaquin kit fox
The endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica ) was formerly very common in the San Joaquin Valley and through much of Central California. Its 1990 population was estimated to be 7,000. This subspecies is still endangered, after nearly 50 years of being on the Endangered Species List. Officially this subspecies was listed March 3, 1967. On September 26, 2007, Wildlands Inc. announced the designation of the 684-acre (2.77 km2) ...
Deadman Creek Conservation Bank, which is intended specifically to protect habitat of the San Joaquin kit fox. However, the population continues to decline mostly due to heavy habitat loss. Other factors include competition from red fox, and the extermination of the gray wolf from California has left the coyote as the dominant meso-predator in kit fox territory bringing an imbalance in ecosystem relationships. Sarcoptic mange has also constituted a significant threat, specifically to the Bakersfield population of the subspecies, with 15 confirmed cases reported by the end of 2014.
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San Joaquin kit fox
Aleutian cackling goose
The Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia ), is a small subspecies of the cackling goose averaging 1.7 to 2.1 kilograms (3.7 to 4.6 lb) in weight. It was one of 122 species of animals, birds, and fish first documented for science by the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corps of Discovery).
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Aleutian cackling goose
Gymnogyps varonai
Gymnogyps varonai, sometimes called the Cuban condor, is an extinct species of large New World vulture in the family Cathartidae. G. varonai is related to the living California condor, G. californianus and the extinct G. kofordi, either one of which it may have evolved from. The species is solely known from fossils found in the late Pleistocene to early Holocene tar seep deposits in Cuba. G. varonai may have preyed upon carcasses from large ...
mammals such as ground sloths.
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Gymnogyps varonai
San Clemente loggerhead shrike
The San Clemente loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi ) or San Clemente Island loggerhead shrike is a subspecies of the loggerhead shrike that is endemic to San Clemente Island, California.
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San Clemente loggerhead shrike
Phoenicopterus minutus
Phoenicopterus minutus is an extinct species of flamingo which inhabited California during the Late Pleistocene. It was originally discovered in San Bernardino County, California. At the time of discovery, it was the smallest flamingo on record.
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Phoenicopterus minutus
Buteogallus daggetti
Buteogallus daggetti, occasionally called "Daggett's eagle" or the "walking eagle", is an extinct species of long-legged hawk which lived in southwest North America during the Pleistocene. Initially believed to be some sort of carrion-eating eagle, it was for some time placed in the distinct genus Wetmoregyps, named for Alexander Wetmore. It probably resembled a larger version of the modern-day savanna hawk, with its long legs possibly used like ...
the secretarybird of Africa to hunt for small reptiles from a safe distance. It died out about 13,000 years ago.Fossils of B. daggetti were discovered in the La Brea and Carpinteria lagerstätte in southern California, and in Nuevo León in Mexico. Its habitat included grasslands, marshlands, brushy savannas and ponds. It probably ate mostly small reptiles such as snakes. As is often the case with birds of prey, the female seems to have been larger than the male.
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Buteogallus daggetti
Grus pagei
Grus pagei is an extinct crane reported from the upper Pleistocene asphalt deposits of Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles, California. It is one of three cranes present at Rancho La Brea, the others being the living whooping crane (Grus americana ) and sandhill crane (Grus canadensis ). It is the smallest of the three cranes, and it had a relatively longer, more slender skull than the living cranes. At least 11 individuals are represented by 42 fossil ...
bones. Described by Kenneth E. Campbell Jr. in 1995, it was named after the philanthropist responsible for the museum at the tar pits, George C. Page.
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Grus pagei
San Clemente wren
The San Clemente wren (Thryomanes bewickii leucophrys) was a subspecies of Bewick's wren. It was mainly distributed on San Clemente Island, off the southern coast of California. The San Clemente wren is extinct, with the last sighting in 1941.
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San Clemente wren
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum ) is an endangered subspecies of the long-toed salamander, which is found only close to a few isolated ponds in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in California. It has a black body, broken yellow or orange irregular striping along its spine, and a tail fin well evolved for swimming. Like other mole salamanders, it is found near pools or slow-moving streams and has a very ...
secretive lifestyle, making it difficult to find.
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Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
Coastal Range newt
The Coastal Range newt (Taricha torosa torosa ) is a subspecies of the California newt (Taricha torosa ). It is endemic to California, from Mendocino County south to San Diego County.
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Coastal Range newt
Gambelia sila
Gambelia sila, commonly known as the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Crotaphytidae. The species is endemic to southern California.
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Gambelia sila
Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii
Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii, commonly known as the Coast Range fence lizard, is a subspecies of Sceloporus occidentalis, the Western fence lizard.
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Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii
Island night lizard
The island night lizard (Xantusia riversiana ) is a species of night lizard native to three of the Channel Islands of California: San Nicolas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and San Clemente Island. A small number of island night lizards also live on Sutil Island, near Santa Barbara Island.
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Island night lizard
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard
The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (Uma inornata ) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.
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Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard
Panamint alligator lizard
The Panamint alligator lizard (Elgaria panamintina ) is a species of lizard in the Anguidae family.
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Panamint alligator lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis longipes
Sceloporus occidentalis longipes is a subspecies of the western fence lizard, commonly called the Great Basin fence lizard. Several subspecies of the western fence lizard, a species of phrynosomatid lizard, are found in the far western part of North America.
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Sceloporus occidentalis longipes
San Diego mountain kingsnake
The San Diego mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata pulchra) is a subspecies of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Southern California. Its state-level conservation status is "Species of Special Concern".
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San Diego mountain kingsnake
Sceloporus occidentalis becki
Sceloporus becki, also known as the island fence lizard, is an endemic lizard to the Channel Islands of California.
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Sceloporus occidentalis becki
Anniella stebbinsi
Anniella stebbinsi, the Southern California legless lizard, is a small, slender lizard, and, as the name suggests, is legless. Not much is known about the Southern California legless lizard as a separate species, with most observations conducted while it was not recognised as separate from Anniella pulchra.
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Anniella stebbinsi
Crotalus mitchellii muertensis
Crotalus mitchellii muertensis is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to El Muerto Island, Mexico. It is sometimes treated as a full species, Crotalus muertensis.
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Crotalus mitchellii muertensis
Pacific pocket mouse
The Pacific pocket mouse, Perognathus longimembris pacificus, is endemic to California. It lives in sandy coastal soils of the coastal sage scrub ecoregion. It eats seeds and some insects. It was believed to be extinct until 1993, when a small population was discovered. It is now a federally listed Endangered animal species.
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Pacific pocket mouse
Perrin's beaked whale
Perrin's beaked whale (Mesoplodon perrini ) is part of the toothed whale suborder and is one of over 90 known cetaceans in existence today. Beaked whales are part of the family Ziphiidae, which are the second most diverse group out of all marine mammals with over 20 species currently recognized. Although diverse, little is understood about these timid, deep divers that can dive for up to two hours. The whales are partially named after their beak ...
shaped jaw, which extends from their small head. The genus name Mesoplodon comes from the Greek meanings of meso - (middle), - hopla (arms), - odon (teeth), and may be translated as 'armed with a tooth in the center of the jaw'.Perrin's beaked whale was described as a new species in 2002 by Dalebout et al. based on five animals stranding on the coast of California between 1975 and 1997, which were initially identified as other species. The common and specific names of Mesopledon perrini are a tribute to cetologist William F. Perrin. As of May 2019, only six specimens have ever been examined. The first two specimens were found stranded on the California coast in May 1975, other specimens were found in 1978, 1979, September 1997 (a strong El Niño year), and October 2013. The first four individuals were initially identified as Hector's beaked whales (Mesoplodon hectori ), but the mtDNA sequence database of beaked whales revealed the specimens were genetically distinct. The fifth was assumed to be a neonate Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris ).
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Perrin's beaked whale
Stephens's kangaroo rat
Stephens's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi ) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to the Southern California region of the United States, primarily in western Riverside County. The species is named after American zoologist Frank Stephens (1849–1937).The natural habitat of Stephens's kangaroo rat is sparsely vegetated temperate grassland. This habitat has been destroyed or modified for agriculture throughout the s ...
pecies' range; as a result, Stephens's kangaroo rat is listed as an threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It occurs sympatrically with the agile kangaroo rat, but tends to prefer few shrubs and gravelly soils to the agile's preference for denser shrubs.
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Stephens's kangaroo rat
Yellow-cheeked chipmunk
The yellow-cheeked chipmunk (Neotamias ochrogenys ), also known as the redwood chipmunk, is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is endemic to areas near the coast of northern California in the United States where it inhabits coastal coniferous forest.
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Yellow-cheeked chipmunk
Channel Islands spotted skunk
The island spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis amphialus ) is an insular endemic carnivore and a subspecies of the western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis ). Little is known about their exact variations from the mainland spotted skunk and variations between locations, resolution of which awaits further genetic and morphologic evaluation. The skunk is only currently found on two islands off the southern coast of California (Santa Cruz Island, and ...
Santa Rosa Island, where its occurrence is rare). Its presence has been recorded on San Miguel Island, but it has since been declared extinct in that area. The Channel Island skunk is one of two terrestrial carnivores on the islands, the other being the island fox. It is designated as a species of special concern by the state of California.
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Channel Islands spotted skunk
Fresno kangaroo rat
The Fresno kangaroo rat or San Joaquin kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides ) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to areas within and near the San Joaquin Valley of California in the United States. Habitat destruction due to agricultural development and urbanization has put this species at risk, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "vulnerable".There are three ...
subspecies of D. nitratoides :D. n. exilis (Merriam, 1894): 113  (Fresno subspecies), D. n. nitratoides (Merriam, 1894): 112–113  (Tipton subspecies),D. n. brevinasus (Grinnell, 1920) (short-nose subspecies).
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Fresno kangaroo rat
Tipton kangaroo rat
The Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides ), is a subspecies of the San Joaquin kangaroo rat, a rodent in the family Heteromyidae.
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Tipton kangaroo rat
Northern fin whale
The northern fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus physalus ) is a subspecies of fin whale that lives in the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean. It has been proposed that the northern Pacific population represents a separate subspecies, B. p. velifera. At least one other subspecies of fin whale, the southern fin whale (B. p. quoyi ), exists in the southern hemisphere.
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Northern fin whale
Heermann's kangaroo rat
Heermann's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni ) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. Their long smooth pelage resembles typical kangaroo rats, with their dorsal side showing a mixed range of olive, black and orange colors. There are 9 distinguished sub-species of Dipodomys heermanni : D.h. arenae, D.h. berkeleyensis, D.h. dixoni, D.h. goldmani, D.h. heermanni, D.h. jolonensis, D.h.morroensis, D.h. swarthi, and D.h. tularensis. The ...
dental formula of Dipodomys heermanni is 1.0.1.31.0.1.3 × 2 = 20.It is considered "broad-faced", unlike many other species of kangaroo rats, which are considered to be "narrow-faced". It has five toes on each hind foot, and this small characteristic is important in distinguishing it from similar species such as Dipodomys californicus and Dipodomys nitratoides. Additionally it is smaller than Dipodomys ingens, Dipodomys venustus, and Dipodomys elephantinus.Heermann's kangaroo rat averages a total length of 250–313 mm (9.8–12.3 in), with their tail measuring 160–200 mm (6.3–7.9 in), their hind foot measuring 38–46 mm (1.5–1.8 in), and their ear measuring 10–17 mm (0.39–0.67 in). Additionally when looking at all standard external measurements it has been found they demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism.
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Heermann's kangaroo rat
San Joaquin pocket mouse
The San Joaquin pocket mouse or Salinas pocket mouse (Perognathus inornatus ) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to California in the United States where it lives in desert and semi-desert habitats.
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San Joaquin pocket mouse
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