In the mountains, lush forest communities cover most of Sierra Nevada, Central and Northern Coasts, and Transverse Mountain Ranges. In these forest environments, various animals appeared. Some animals encountered include Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile), Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis), and Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata). Exploring foothill roads during treacherous stormy conditions allowed the observer to encounter great variety of creatures that are seldom exposed in the open, such as California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii), Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii), Western Spadefoot (Spea hammondii), California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense), and Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis). Surprisingly, the Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris), a species generally found at moderate elevations was discovered at night climbing a moss covered cliff at 6500 ft. (1981 m). In Sierra Nevada, Blainville’s Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma blainvillii) were located in Pinyon-Juniper habitat of Inyo and Tulare Counties, far beyond previously published distribution. When exploring remote wilderness areas, secretive snakes such as Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus), California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata), California Rosy Boa (Lichanura orcutti), and even Coast Night Snake (Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha) were observed crawling abroad in daylight. Mountain regions possess a wealth of undiscovered species and only with persistent research, will biologists truly be able to reveal the extraordinary animals that frequent our mountains.

Unlike mountain regions, deserts and neighboring territories are seemingly barren. Four distinct regions were studied, Basin Mountain Range, Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran Deserts. Research produced much data from these desolate regions, from the widespread Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum) to the seldom seen Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps campi) and Panamint Alligator lizard (Elgaria panamintina). To gain greatest amount of data possible, studies were conducted during extreme-midday heat and cool, pitch-black nights. One pattern observed was Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) active with its prey, the Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) during full moonlit nights. Oddly, the snake and gecko were the only strictly nocturnal reptiles regularly found during bright moonlit nights in the Mojave Desert. Another unusual behavior observed was repugnant defensive maneuvers performed by nocturnal snakes. Several times, Glossy Snakes (Arizona elegans) swayed their body in bizarre, wounded motion when illuminated with artificial-light at night. While the Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) exhibited an extraordinary mock-death act by coiling on its back and expelling blood from its cloaca. The desert’s extreme temperatures require searching in harsh human conditions. However, such efforts are necessary to record surprising and seldom seen animal behavior.