Yuba Field Guide

A look at our watershed’s sensitive and invasive animal species

---

---

 

Foothill Yellow Legged Frog (Rana boylii) Sensitive Native

 

 

 

---

---

 

California Horned Lizard (Phrynnosoma coronatum frontale) Sensitive Native

Description

• Flattened body with backwardly
  projecting head spines
• Large shelf above each eye with a
  spine-like scale, small scales on
  forehead, and two parallel rows of
  pointed scales on each side of its body
• Variable coloration, but usually gray,
  tan, reddish-brown or whitish

Habitat

• They can be found in various habitat
  types, including riparian habitats,
  grasslands, and oak woodlands
• Endemic to California

Tips for a confirmed sighting:

• Picture

---

---

Western Ridged Mussel (Gonidea angulata) Sensitive Native

Description

• Shell is yellowish-brown to black or
  brown and up to 5” in size
• Shell does not have rays or sculpturing
• Shell has angular ridge that runs along
  the posterior margin, while the
  anterior margin is generally straight

Habitat

• Bottoms of streams and rivers with
  substrates that vary from gravel to
  firm mud, and some sand, silt or clay
• Rarely seen in reservoirs or lakes

Tips for a confirmed sighting:

• Picture;
• Shell

---

 

Don’t confuse with….

California Floater (Anodonta californiensis) which has:

• Shell is elliptical or ovate; olive
  green, pale brown, reddish brown or
  black
• Has greenish rays on posterior slope;
  outside of shell is smooth with
  growth lines
• Native

---

---

River Otter (Lontra canadensis) Sensitive Native

Description

• Streamlined body adapted for aquatic life
• Short limbs with webbed, clawed paws and a broad muzzle
• Thick body with thick tapering tail
• Outer fur is brown to velvety black, underside paler grayish-brown to silver
• About the size of a medium dog; length of head and body about 26-30 inches

Habitat

• Must live near permanent water, but can live in a variety of aquatic habitats
• Generally live along river banks in holes

Tips for a confirmed sighting:

• Picture

---

Don’t confuse with….

Mink (Mustela vison)

• Slightly smaller than a domestic cat; length of head and body about 12-17 inches
• Medium to dark brown with a white chin patch
• Native

Beaver (Castor canadensis)

• Built in a shorter and stockier manner
• Elongated tail, flattened tail
• Native

---

---

 

Beaver (Castor canadensis) Sensitive Native

Description

• Largest rodents in North America
• Waterproof reddish brown or blackish brown coat
• Hind legs are longer than front legs, flattened tail
• Disproportionately large head and teeth; length of head and body about 25-30 inches

Habitat

• Often found in ponds and lakes
• Needs hiding and basking sites, nesting habitat, permanent slow-moving water with deep and shallow areas
• Live in lodges that they construct

Tips for a confirmed sighting:

• Picture of beaver or lodge

---

 

Don’t confuse with….

River Otter (Lontra Canadensis)

• Longer, thinner body
• Tail also long but tapered not flattened
• Native

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

• Thin, scaly tail, flattened on sides
• Length of head and body about 10-14 inches

---

---

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Sensitive Native

Description

• Large raptor with white breast and belly
• Black back and wings; crown and forehead white; dark eyestripe
• Long wings with wingtips angled slightly backwards.
• Larger than a hawk, smaller than a bald eagle

Habitat

• Lives near water bodies as they eat almost exclusively fish

Tips for confirmed sighting:

• Picture

---

 

Don’t confuse with….

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalu

• White head and tail feathers, no eyestripe
• Native, CA Endangered Species

Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

• Red tail, but juveniles and some adults can be light in color
• Native

---

---