Observaciones de bewilderbeast

A single live Taricha granulosa was seen active in this seasonal pond.

Taricha torosa is also present at this locale. Several were observed in surrounding upland habitat but none were observed active in this pond at this time.

Dozens of newt carcasses were observed. Species was impossible to determine based on advanced decomposition of specimens.

California Chorus Frogs are normally so prevalent at this location that you must be careful not to step on them as you walk around the pond margin. Their mating choruses are usually deafening. No frogs were observed either visually or by ear.

This pond is well known for its large population of frogs and newts and is a popular destination to watch newt mating behavior because of the large numbers of amphibians that the pond usually attracts in the wet season.

I found a number of these terrestrial isopods along the Merced river west of Briceburg. They immediately caught my eye as something different because they reflected my headlamp beam and appeared to glow silver. There seemed to be some sort of waxy scale or coating that caused the reflection which rubbed off when I attempted to examine one.