Sierra Garter Snake

Reptiles > Snakes

The Sierra Garter Snake (Thamnophis couchii) is a highly specialized, semi-aquatic colubrid snake endemic to the pristine granite river systems and tumbling snowmelt streams of California’s Sierra Nevada. Unlike terrestrial garter snakes that hunt in grassy...

Pacific Spiketail

Invertebrates > Dragonflies

The Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis) is a colossal, powerful mountain dragonfly that patrols the clear, rushing mountain torrents and cascading creeks of the western cordillera. Wielding immense, glowing turquoise-green compound eyes and a long, dagger-like...

Black Mountain Salamander

Amphibians > Salamanders & Newts

The Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welteri) is a stout, semi-aquatic lungless salamander endemic to the rugged Cumberland Mountains of the central Appalachian chain in the United States. Named after Black Mountain—the highest peak in Kentucky—this powerful...