Lizards, Snakes, and Frogs Oh My!

This last Saturday we held the second annual Lizard Hunt at Malibu Creek State Park! Dr. Greg Pauly, Museum Herpetologist, and Dr. Bobby Espinoza, CSUN Herpetologist, took a group of 25 lucky people out to observe, catch, and identify local herps.

Are you looking at me?

Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentatlis

Here is a list of all the herps we encountered:

Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis

Common Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana

Tiger Whiptail, Aspidoscelis tigris

Western Skink, Plestiodon skiltonianus

Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus helleri

Gophersnake, Pituophis catenifer

Striped Racer, Masticophis lateralis

Pacific Treefrog, Pseudacris regilla (heard calling)

American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana (heard calling)

Dr. Greg Pauly lets an aspiring herpetologist

touch a Western Fence Lizard

Dr. Bobby Espinoza shows off a striped racer,

Masticophis lateralis

One of the primary goals of this field trip is to increase participation in our Lost Lizards of Los Angeles (LLOLA) project. Currently we have about 250 submissions, but for us to be able to do anything interesting with the data, we need at least 2,000 submissions. Hopefully we were able to inspire at least 25 more people to participate at this field trip. Are you inspired?

One last thing for all you ultra herp-nerds—you can now get your daily herp dose by visiting the Museum's new herpetology section facebook page. Go get 'em Tiger Whiptail!