Category: Animals

Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the kingdom Animalia, characterized by their ability to move voluntarily (at least at some life stage), lack of cell walls, and heterotrophic nutrition, meaning they consume other organisms or organic matter for energy. They range in size from microscopic plankton to massive blue whales, occupying nearly every habitat on Earth—land, sea, air, and even extreme environments like deep-sea vents or polar ice. Animals exhibit diverse forms, from simple sponges with no true tissues to complex mammals with advanced nervous systems. Most reproduce sexually, though some, like certain jellyfish, can reproduce asexually. They play critical roles in ecosystems as predators, prey, pollinators, and decomposers. Behaviors vary widely, from solitary hunters like tigers to highly social species like ants. Major groups include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates like insects and mollusks, each adapted to specific ecological niches.

Raven ( Corvus corax )

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The Raven ( Corvus corax ) is one of eight subspecies of Ravens distributed throughout the world. Also known as western or northern raven, this large black bird is a member of the Corvidae family of birds which also contains crows, jays and magpies. This bird is a rather large and features solid black feathers which offers a dramatic and ominous appearance.

Raven ( Corvus corax ) sitting on a coral fence at the Grand Canyon Western Ranch.
Raven ( Corvus corax ) sitting on a coral fence at the Grand Canyon Western Ranch.

The raven is a large bird, known to average 25 inches in length and 2.6 pounds in weight and heaviest of the passerine or perching birds. This species is renowned for its intelligence and commonly used to test animal problem solving ability. This species has a world wide distribution and can thrive in a large variety of climates. The bird is an opportunistic omnivore finding sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion insects, grains, berries, fruit, small animals, other birds, and food waste. The are common features around campgrounds for the food sources left by human activity.

Range map of the Common Raven
Range map of the Common Raven

The raven has a long history with man in culture, literature and superstition. Many Native American tribes cultures regard the bird as a trickster or a cosmic messenger. Edgar Allen Poe’s infamous poem forever linked this bird with ominous overtones and symbolism for in western culture. The National Football Team even has a football team named for this special mischievous bird.

Field Guide Description

“Large with a long, heavy bill and long wedge-shaped tail. Most common call is a low drawn-out croak. Larger than the Chihuahuan Raven; note thicker, shaggier throat feathers, and that nasal bristles to not extend as far our on the larger bill. Range: Found in a variety of habitats, including mountains, deserts, coastal areas. Numerous in western and northern part of range; uncommon and local, but spreading in Appalachians.”

Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Third Edition, pg 318

Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyCorvidae
Genus Corvus
Speciescorax

References

Stellars Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri )

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The Stellars Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri ) is a common character found in the forests of the western half of the United States. The bird is an opportunistic omnivore and closely related to the Blue Jay. The Stellars Jay has a black crested head and a vibrant blue body which is commonly about between eleven and twelve inches long. This bird has a lot of variations depending on location.

Stellars Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri )
Stellars Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri )

The Stellars Jay is commonly, mistakenly, called a “Blue Jay” in the Pacific Northwest. The Stellar, however, is a distinct species from the Blue Jay ( Cyanocitta cristata ). The major differentiating characteristic is the Blue Jay does not have a crest.

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.

This bird commonly feeds upon seeds, nuts and acorns. Speaking from first hand information, they also love unsalted peanuts. The will also eat insects and other small invertebrates, including mammals. They are also known to raid other birds nests and can be very aggressive with other birds.

Stellars Jay breed in monogamous pairs and a clutch of eggs is typically 3 – 5 in number. Both parents are active is feeding the young.

Distribution

The Stellar’s Jay is a common bird located primarily in pine-oak woodlands and coniferous forests. The dark blue and black coloring of the species helps aid in camouflage in the shadows of the forest.

The species is fairly bold and aggressive in its behavior and it is quite common to encounter them around campgrounds and picnic areas.

This animal is found across most of the western states. The bird is known to cross breed with the Blue Jay when their ranges overlap.

The range of this bird is as far north as Alaska and to the south in Nicaragua. The Eastern boundary in the United States for this bird is Colorado and New Mexico.

A Stellar's Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri ) stealing peanuts in Big Bear, California
A Stellar’s Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri ) stealing peanuts in Big Bear, California

Field Guide Description

“Crested; dark blue and black overall. Some races, including nominate from coast to northern Rockies are darker backed; have blueish streaks on forehead. Central and southern Rockies race, C.s. macrolopha, have long crest, paler back, white streaks on forehead, white mark over eye; largest race, carlottae, resident of Queen Charlotte Island off British Columbia, is almost entirely black above. Where ranges overlap in the eastern Rockies, Stellar’s Jay occasionally hybridizes with Blue Jay. Calls include a series of shack or shooka notes and other calls suggestive of Red-tailed Hawks. Range: Common in pine-oak woodlands and coniferous forests. Bold and aggressive; often scavenges at campgrounds and picnic areas. Casual winter visitor of lower elevations of the Great Basin, southern California and southwestern deserts.”

Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Third Edition, pg 312

Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyCorvidae
Genus Cyanocitta
Speciescristata

References

Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

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One of  the more unique and quite frankly cool animals found in the Mojave Desert is the Desert Tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ).  My family has a connection with this nomad of the dessert in that during the spring of 1942, my grand parents inherited three desert tortoises when they purchased and moved into a house in Ontario, CA.

Hands Off
Hands Off

My grandmother quickly named and adopted her new pets.  She and my grandfather struck up a deal with a local grocery store to donate lettuce and other vegetables to my grandmother to care for the tortoises.  By the time I was born, the three tortoises became a populations of about 20 animals.  Some of my earliest memories was to help her wake up the “turtles” from their hibernation, during which she stored the animals in a  large box along with a bunch of news paper clippings to help insulate them a little bit from the California winters.

Over the years, those three tortoises expanded their family and ours into a breeding population of over 70 animals.   Eventually, we donated the captive born tortoises to several zoo’s, shelters, and rescue to care for the animals.  All in all, my family raised and cared for desert tortoises for about 60 years, the ownership of which was legal because family documentation and the fact that all of the animals were born in captivity.

California Desert Tortoise emerging from a hiding place...
California Desert Tortoise emerging from a hiding place…

Oddly enough, despite my best efforts I did not a desert tortoise in the wild until the late 1990s when I ran into the one emerging from a den during one of the Toyota Four Runner Jamborees which was located out of Stoddard Wells Road.  Surrounded by others, most of whom I did not know, I quietly photograph the tortoise and pointed him out to my brother and two friends.  I chose not to point him out for fear of someone in the group would take it after we left.

Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in its burrow
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in its burrow

Since this initial sighting, I have found four more in the wild.  One sighting occurred while driving the old Mojave Road with my father.  The animal was just walking down the trail.  We stopped and waited about 45 minutes for the animal to clear the road.  The other animal were spotted while driving at speed along various highways in the Mojave.  One animal I found walking down the middle of the road and had I not stopped and moved the animal off the road, it surely would not have survived long.

A juvenile desert tortoise lost its battle for life in the harsh desert environment. Photo by James L Rathbun
A juvenile desert tortoise lost its battle for life in the harsh desert environment. Photo by James L Rathbun

When born, the tortoises shell is thin and fragile which makes it an easy food source for Ravens, Gila monsters, kit foxes, roadrunners, coyotes, and fire ants.  Only about 2% are expected to reach maturity and the population in the Mojave is listed as threatened.  Should you be lucky enough to see one in the wild, take your time. Enjoy the moment. Snap a photograph and then leave the tortoise along.  I can tell you the exact spot of each of the five sightings I have had the good fortune to have experienced.  Each sighting of this timeless desert nomad is unique, and should be protected.

Resources

Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

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The Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), often immortalized in cartoons as a speedy trickster, is a fascinating avian species native to the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This long-legged member of the cuckoo family is renowned for its terrestrial lifestyle, impressive running speed, and opportunistic predation, including on venomous snakes. With a distinctive crest, mottled plumage, and a penchant for darting across open ground, the roadrunner embodies adaptation to harsh environments.

Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Map data are provided by NatureServe in collaboration with Robert Ridgely, James Zook, The Nature Conservancy - Migratory Bird Program, Conservation International - CABS, World Wildlife Fund - US, and Environment Canada - WILDSPACE.
Map data are provided by NatureServe in collaboration with Robert Ridgely, James Zook, The Nature Conservancy – Migratory Bird Program, Conservation International – CABS, World Wildlife Fund – US, and Environment Canada – WILDSPACE.

Classification

The Greater Roadrunner belongs to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Cuculiformes, and family Cuculidae (cuckoos). It is one of two species in the genus Geococcyx, alongside the Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox), which is found primarily in Mexico. The scientific name Geococcyx californianus translates to “Californian earth-cuckoo,” reflecting its ground-dwelling habits and historical association with California. Fossil evidence from the Pleistocene and Holocene periods indicates that the species once inhabited sparse forests before adapting to arid conditions around 8,000 years ago. It is classified as a Nearctic species, native to the northern part of the New World, and exhibits characteristics such as bilateral symmetry, endothermy, and omnivory.

Physical Description

This medium-sized bird measures 50–62 cm (20–24 inches) in total length, with a wingspan of 43–61 cm (17–24 inches) and a weight ranging from 221–538 grams (7.8–19 ounces). Standing 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 inches) tall, it is the largest cuckoo in the Americas. Its plumage is predominantly brown with black streaks and occasional pink spots on the upper body, transitioning to white or pale brown with dark streaks on the neck and upper breast, and a pure white belly. A bushy blue-black crest adorns the head, which can be raised or lowered, and bare patches of orange and blue skin (with white in adult males) surround the bright yellow eyes. The long, stout bill is grayish-brown to gray with a hooked tip, ideal for capturing prey, while the zygodactyl feet—two toes forward, two backward—are brown with pale gold spots, aiding in perching and running. Sexual dimorphism is minimal; females are slightly smaller, but plumage is identical across sexes. Juveniles lack the colorful postocular streaks and appear more bronze-toned. The bird’s streamlined body and long tail, carried at an upward angle, enhance its agility on the ground.

Behavior

Greater Roadrunners are predominantly terrestrial and diurnal, active from sunrise to mid-morning and late afternoon to evening in hot climates, resting in shade during the midday heat. They prefer walking or running at speeds up to 20–26 mph (32–42 km/h), using their long tails as rudders for steering, braking, and balance, and rarely fly except for short distances or to hover briefly. Vocalizations include a descending series of low coos by males, short shrills by females resembling coyote squeals, and chatters during incubation. They communicate via acoustic, visual, tactile, and chemical signals. Thermoregulation is key in arid habitats: they pant to evaporate water, enter nocturnal hypothermia (dropping body temperature from 104°F to 93°F or 40°C to 34°C to save energy), reabsorb moisture from mucous membranes, and excrete salts via nasal glands. Sunbathing involves spreading wings to absorb solar heat through black skin patches, often for hours in cooler weather. They are curious, sometimes approaching humans, and defend territories year-round, with males being more aggressive. In winter, they seek shelter in dense vegetation or among rocks.

Physical Description

This medium-sized bird measures 50–62 cm (20–24 inches) in total length, with a wingspan of 43–61 cm (17–24 inches) and a weight ranging from 221–538 grams (7.8–19 ounces). Standing 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 inches) tall, it is the largest cuckoo in the Americas. Its plumage is predominantly brown with black streaks and occasional pink spots on the upper body, transitioning to white or pale brown with dark streaks on the neck and upper breast, and a pure white belly. A bushy blue-black crest adorns the head, which can be raised or lowered, and bare patches of orange and blue skin (with white in adult males) surround the bright yellow eyes. The long, stout bill is grayish-brown to gray with a hooked tip, ideal for capturing prey, while the zygodactyl feet—two toes forward, two backward—are brown with pale gold spots, aiding in perching and running. Sexual dimorphism is minimal; females are slightly smaller, but plumage is identical across sexes. Juveniles lack the colorful postocular streaks and appear more bronze-toned. The bird’s streamlined body and long tail, carried at an upward angle, enhance its agility on the ground.

Behavior

Greater Roadrunners are predominantly terrestrial and diurnal, active from sunrise to mid-morning and late afternoon to evening in hot climates, resting in shade during the midday heat. They prefer walking or running at speeds up to 20–26 mph (32–42 km/h), using their long tails as rudders for steering, braking, and balance, and rarely fly except for short distances or to hover briefly. Vocalizations include a descending series of low coos by males, short shrills by females resembling coyote squeals, and chatters during incubation. They communicate via acoustic, visual, tactile, and chemical signals. Thermoregulation is key in arid habitats: they pant to evaporate water, enter nocturnal hypothermia (dropping body temperature from 104°F to 93°F or 40°C to 34°C to save energy), reabsorb moisture from mucous membranes, and excrete salts via nasal glands. Sunbathing involves spreading wings to absorb solar heat through black skin patches, often for hours in cooler weather. They are curious, sometimes approaching humans, and defend territories year-round, with males being more aggressive. In winter, they seek shelter in dense vegetation or among rocks.

Food Sources

As opportunistic omnivores, Greater Roadrunners consume a diet that is about 90% animal matter, supplemented by fruits, seeds, and other plant material. Prey includes insects, spiders (such as black widows and tarantulas), scorpions, centipedes, lizards, snakes (including young rattlesnakes), mice, small birds like hummingbirds and sparrows, eggs, and occasionally larger carrion like bats or rabbits. They hunt by scanning while walking rapidly, then dashing or jumping to capture items, often bashing prey against rocks before swallowing whole. Plant foods, such as prickly pear cactus, provide hydration in water-scarce areas. Their ability to subdue venomous snakes by using cactus pieces or rapid strikes highlights their predatory prowess.

Breeding

Greater Roadrunners form monogamous pairs that may last for life, breeding from mid-March to early September, with variations based on regional rainfall and food availability. Courtship involves males chasing females, wagging tails, play-fighting, bowing, and offering food like lizards during mating displays, accompanied by whirring or cooing sounds. Pairs defend territories of about 700–800 square meters (7,500–8,600 square feet). Nests, built collaboratively (males gather materials, females construct), are compact platforms of thorny sticks lined with grasses, feathers, snakeskin, or even manure, placed 1–3 meters (3–10 feet) above ground in bushes, cacti, or low trees. Clutches consist of 2–8 white or pale yellow eggs, incubated by both parents for about 20 days, with asynchronous hatching leading to size variations among chicks. Altricial young are fed by both parents, developing rapidly to run and forage at 3 weeks, fledging in 18–21 days, and remaining with parents for up to 40–50 days. Sexual maturity is reached at 2–3 years, and second broods may occur in favorable conditions. Occasionally, they practice brood parasitism, laying eggs in nests of other birds like ravens or mockingbirds.

Habitat and Range

Greater Roadrunners inhabit arid and semiarid regions with scattered vegetation cover under 50% and heights below 3 meters (10 feet), from elevations of -60 meters (-200 feet) below sea level to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Preferred habitats include deserts, dunes, chaparral, scrub forests, arid grasslands, coastal sage scrub, and edges of woodlands, often with open areas for foraging and brush for cover. They are non-migratory and sedentary. Their range spans the Aridoamerica ecoregion, encompassing southwestern U.S. states like California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri, as well as northern Mexican states including Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and others down to San Luis Potosí. Recent expansions have occurred eastward due to human-altered landscapes and historical adaptations from forested to desert environments.

Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderCuculiformes
FamilyCuculidae
Genus Geococcyx
Speciescalifornianus

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Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis )

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The Western Fence Lizard ( Sceloporus occidentalis ) is perhaps one of the most common lizards in the desert southwest and is also known as a “Blue belly”. Perhaps this commonality is the reason for its name. The Western Fence lizard is found in a variety of habitats and common at elevations up to 10,800 feet. They can be located in forests, desert sage, farmlands and grasslands. This species is typically not found in harsh desert climates and moist forests.

Western Fence Lizard
Western Fence Lizard

This animal is typically between 2 inches and 3.5 inches in length. They are typically black to brown in colors with stripes on their backs. They have blue colored patches on their ventral abdomen. This reptiles will lay clutches of eggs between 3 and 17 eggs in the spring between April and July. The eggs will hatch within two months of feralization.

This animal are known to eat insects including ant, beetles, flies, spiders and some caterpillars. They typically can be found sunning themselves on rocks, fences and paths. The are a prey item for other animals including larger lizards, birds and also some a mammals. As is common with most reptiles, the lizard is known to hibernate in cooler winter months.

Resources