Reptiles of the Burns Pinyon Ridge Reserve

Class Amphibia
  Amphibians have not been recorded at the Burns Reserve.
Class Reptilia
  Order Testudinata
    Family Testudinidae
      Desert Tortoise Gopherus (Xerobates) agassizii
  Order Squamata, Suborder Serpentes (Ophida)
    Family Boidae
      Rosy Boa Lichanura trivirgata
    Family Colubridae
      Common Kingsnake Lampropeltis getulus
      Red Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum
      California Striped Racer(Whipsnake) Masticophis lateralis
      Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer
    Family Viperidae
      Speckled Rattlesnake Crotalus mitchellii
      Red Diamond Rattlesnake Crotalus ruber 
      Mohave Green Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus
  Order Squamata, Suborder Sauria
    Family Gekkonidae
      Western Banded Gecko Coleonyx variegatus
    Family Crotaphytidae
      Desert Collared Lizard   Crotaphytus collaris
      Leopard Lizard Crotaphytus wislizenii
    Family Iguanidae
      Desert Iguana  Dipsosaurus dorsalis
      Chuckawalla Sauromalus obesus
    Family Phyrnosomatidae
      Coast Horned Lizard Phrynosoma coronatum
      Desert Horned Lizard Phyrnosoma platyrhinos
      Sagebrush Lizard Sceloporus graciosus
      Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister
      Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis
      Side-blotched Lizard Uta stansburiana
    Family Xantusidae
      Desert Night Lizard Xantusia vigilis
    Family Scinidae
      Gilbert's Skink Eumeces gilberti
      Western Skink Eumeces skiltonianus
    Family Teidae
      Western Whiptail  Aspidoscelis (Cnemidophorus) tigris
         

These species were reported by Vasek, Johnson and Meyhew (1975), captured in the pitfall trap arrays of the USGS Division of Biological Resources, or were recorded or observed by Walt Sakai, other faculty, or graduate students.  I am grateful to Allan Schoenherr for reviewing this checklist, and he suggests that the Zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) is another potential for the site.  Allan believes that the skink at the Reserve is likely the Western Skink rather than GilbertÕs Skink, though it was reported by Vasek, et al. (1975) and Walt Sakai includes it in his list of species recorded at the Reserve. There are useful records and observations available at Walt SakaiÕs webpage http://homepage.smc.edu/sakai_walter/BURNS/Burns%20Reserve.htm or by contacting Walt directly (sakai_walter@smc.edu).

Vasek, F.C., H. B. Johnson, and W.W. Meyhew.  1975.  Pinyon Woodlands of the California Reserve System.   A Report to the University of California, Natural Land and Water Reserve System as Part of a Resource Inventory.  29 pages.  Unpublished.

Please send verified additions or interesting records to either Reserve Manager Bill Bretz (wlbretz@uci.edu) or Peter Bowler (pabowler@uci.edu).

This list was compiled by Peter Bowler in February, 2005.