| Wetland species identification
cards The following ID cards feature just a few of the numerous species found in and around San Diego County wetland habitats. Some of these are common while others are rare. As a teacher, you may use these cards to enhance your classroom or field trip curriculum. Because so many other wonderful species make their homes along our coastlines, we recommend you and your students research some of them:
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| pickleweed Salicornia spp. size: to 1.2 m (4 ft.) habitat: salt marsh information: Three species of pickleweed can be found along coastal Southern California. This plant expends a great deal of energy excreting and storing excess salt. |
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fiddler crab Uca crenulata crenulata size: females to 1.7cm (0.7 in.) males to 2 cm (0.8 in.) habitat: salt marsh information: males have one greatly enlarged claw, or chela, which they use in confrontations with other males, and to lure females. |
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striped mullet Mugil cephalus size: to 1 m (3 ft.) habitat: salt marsh information: Striped mullet school in bays and estuaries, where they are often seen leaping out of the water. |
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light-footed clapper rail Rallus longirostris levipes size: 37 cm (14.5 in.) habitat: salt marsh information: endangered—only 500 left. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a captive breeding program for the light-footed clapper rail at the Chula Vista Nature Center. |
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common cattail Typha latifolia size: 0.9 to 2.7 m (3-9 ft.) habitat: freshwater, brackish marshes information: Cattails were used for food by Kumeyaay Indians. Red-winged blackbirds often nest in cattails. |
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two-striped garter snake Thamnophis couchi hammondi size: 46 to 145 cm (18-57 in.) habitat: freshwater marsh information: special status animal
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red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus size: 22 cm (8.75 in.) habitat: freshwater marsh information: Males sing and display their red shoulder patches during the spring. |
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raccoon Procyon lotor size: 60 to 95 cm (23-37 in.) habitat: freshwater marsh information: Raccoon tracks resemble the hand prints of human babies. Raccoons wash all their food before eating it. |
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california buckwheat Eriogonum fasiculatum size: to 1.8 m (6 ft.) habitat: upland information: Buckwheat is a common sage scrub plant in San Diego, but it is not used in pancakes. |
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western fence lizard Sceloperus occidentalis size: body only: 57 to 89 mm (2.25-3.5 in.) habitat: upland information: Western fence lizards have a special blood factor that controls lyme disease carried by ticks |
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California gnatcatcher Polioptila californica size: 11 cm (4.5 in.) habitat: upland status: threatened—as few as 2,000 pairs are left in the United States. The gnatcatcher’s call is a distinctive meow. |
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coyote Canis latrans size: 102 to 152 cm (40-60 in.) with tail; habitat: upland information: The coyote is one of the top predators in San Diego. They are important in controling rodent populations. |
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arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis size: to 4.6 m (15 ft.) habitat: riparian information: This and other willow species were used by Kumeyaay Indians for making baskets and frames for their houses. |
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pygmy blue butterfly Brephidium exilis size: to 0.96 cm (0.38 in.) habitat: riparian information: This butterfly species is the smallest in the western United States. |
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least Bell’s vireo Vireo bellii pusillus size: 12 cm (4.75 in.) habitat: riparian status: endangered—a migratory bird that nests in riparian zones April through August. |
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red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis size: 48 to 63 cm (19-25 in.) habitat: riparian, upland information: Red-tailed hawks are very common. They are often seen on exposed perches such as lamp posts and power lines. |
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