Northeast Slopes of Inyo Mountains

Joshua Flats (Fig. 10.12), at an elevation of about 6,200 ft (1,890 m) on the Eureka Valley Road, is covered with an extensive stand of Joshua Trees. Pinyon-juniper Woodland is present on the surrounding hills. Several narrow, rocky canyons drain into the flats.

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Figure 10.12
Joshua Flats, northeastern Inyo Mountains.

Lizards

Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides ). Diurnal; occurs in sandy or gravelly washes.

Great Basin Collard Lizard (Crotaphytus bicintores ). Diurnal; basks on boulders.

Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii ). Diurnal; basks on small rocks and under bushes.

Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos ). Diurnal; most common in sandy parts of Joshua Flats.

Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus ). Diurnal; active on ground around bushes; basks on small rocks and logs; occurs in Pinyon-juniper Woodland above flats.

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister ). Diurnal; very common at Joshua Flats; climbs high in Joshua Trees.

Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ). Diurnal; basks on rocks and fallen Joshua Trees.

Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana ). Diurnal; most common in sandy part of flats.

Gilbert Skink (Eumeces gilberti ). Diurnal but secretive; occurs under large rocks and in piles of Joshua Tree rubble.

Western Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris ). Diurnal; most common around bushes in sandy areas.

Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis ). Diurnal but secretive; should live in piles of Joshua Tree rubble but has not been found at this site.

Snakes

Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata ). Nocturnal; can be found during the day under fallen Joshua Tree logs; common along road at night.

Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula ). Diurnal during spring and fall, nocturnal during midsummer; occurs in all habitats.

Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ). Diurnal; occurs in all habitats but most common in sandy flats.

Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus ). Diurnal; occurs in all habitats.

Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer ). Nocturnal during midsummer, diurnal during spring and fall; occurs in all habitats.

Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei ). Nocturnal; expected in sandy areas of Joshua Flats.

Patched-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis ). Diurnal; most common in sandy areas but present in all habitats.

Ground Snake (Sonora semiannulata ). Nocturnal; occasionally found by turning rocks and fallen logs.

Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii ). Both nocturnal and diurnal but not active in heat of day during midsummer.