Tag: Nevada

Nevada, often referred to as the “Silver State,” is located in the western United States. Renowned for its vast deserts and striking mountain ranges, the state boasts a diverse landscape that includes the arid Mojave Desert in the south and the forested Sierra Nevada mountains in the west. The state is famously home to Las Vegas, a vibrant city known for its bustling casinos, entertainment venues, and nightlife. Beyond the glitz of Las Vegas, Nevada offers rich history in its ghost towns, a legacy of the 19th-century mining boom. The state also features significant natural attractions, such as Lake Tahoe and Great Basin National Park, offering a wide range of outdoor activities. Nevada’s economy is driven by tourism, mining, and, increasingly, technology, making it a dynamic state with a blend of natural beauty and modern attractions.

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.

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Seven Troughs Nevada – Pershing County Ghost Town

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Seven Troughs Nevada 1907
Seven Troughs Nevada 1907

In 1894, Frank Ward a sheepman in the area, built seven water troughs to water his sheep. The name Seven Troughs came from this simple event. Seven Troughs is a ghost town and old mining camp in Pershing County, Nevada.

In the fall of 1905, gold was discovered in the upper parts of Seven Troughs Canyon area. This discovery led to the ability to raise capital investment and soon funding was in place for the young mining district. Discoveries were reported in excess of $100,000 per ton in 1907 attracted in miners from Tonopah and Goldfield.

In 1907 a townsite was plotted out and the tent city soon followed. Townsite plots sere sold for $500 a lot, and the small town supported 350 citizens. A water system and school was built to support the population in 1908. The previous year, 1907, saw the construction of the post office, stores and saloons to keep the population happy and give one an insight into the priorities.

At its height their was consideration to bring in rail with the Southern Pacific line from Lovelock, to near by Vernon and up to Seven Troughs. The rail never developed and the mine camp continued to the production of the Kindergarten mine until 1918 and World War I. The Kindergarten mining operations produced about two million dollars from 1908 until its end in 1918.

The post office followed the miners out of the area, and only lease operations continued past this time.

Seven Troughs Trail Map

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Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma iodius)

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Aphonopelma iodius, commonly known as the Desert Tarantula (also called Great Basin blonde, Mojave Desert tarantula, northern blonde, or similar regional names in the pet trade), is a medium to large-bodied tarantula. Adults typically have a diagonal leg span of 3–5 inches (7.6–12.7 cm), with a body length (carapace to abdomen) of about 1.5–2.5 inches. Females are generally stockier and larger overall than males, while males have longer, more slender legs and a slimmer abdomen.

Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma iodius)
Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma iodius)

The coloration is usually dark brown to blackish or grayish-brown, with a covering of lighter (blondish, reddish-brown, or golden) hairs, giving it a somewhat “blonde” appearance in many individuals—especially noticeable on the carapace and legs. Like other New World tarantulas, it possesses urticating hairs on the abdomen, which it can kick off as a defensive mechanism to irritate predators’ skin, eyes, or respiratory system. The spider has small eyes clustered on a raised tubercle, powerful chelicerae (fangs), and a robust, hairy build typical of theraphosids. Its venom is mild and not medically significant to humans, causing pain similar to a bee sting at most.

Scientific Taxonomy

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Subphylum:Chelicerata
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Infraorder:Mygalomorphae
Family:Theraphosidae
Genus:Aphonopelma
Species:A. iodius

The taxonomy of the genus Aphonopelma has been complex and subject to multiple revisions due to morphological similarities among species. A major 2016 integrative taxonomic revision (using phylogenomic, morphological, and geospatial data) consolidated several previously described species or synonyms (such as A. brunnius, A. chamberlini, A. icenoglei in some contexts, A. melanium, A. nevadanum, A. zionis, among others) into A. iodius, resulting in a broader species concept. This species is now recognized as valid in current classifications, including the World Spider Catalog.

Behavior

A. iodius is a reclusive, nocturnal ambush predator that spends the majority of its life in a silk-lined burrow dug into the soil, often under rocks, logs, or in desert flats. The burrow entrance may have a webbed mat or silken collar. It emerges primarily at night to hunt, ambushing passing prey such as insects (crickets, beetles, grasshoppers), other arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards.

This species is generally docile and avoids confrontation. When threatened, it may rear up to display its fangs, kick urticating hairs, or flee rather than bite. Bites are rare and not dangerous to humans. A notable behavioral trait is the seasonal activity of mature males: during late summer through fall (typically August–October, depending on region), males leave their burrows and wander openly during daylight or twilight hours in search of receptive females. This leads to frequent sightings of males crossing roads or open ground during this mating period. Females remain in or near their burrows. Lifespan varies significantly by sex—males live around 3–7 years (often dying shortly after mating), while females can live 15–20+ years or longer in captivity.

Range and Habitat

Aphonopelma iodius is native to the arid southwestern United States, primarily inhabiting desert and semi-arid environments. Its range includes:

  • Southern California (including parts of the Mojave Desert, Central Valley fringes, and areas as far north as the Bay Area and Diablo Range in some populations)
  • Nevada (especially the Mojave Desert region)
  • Western Arizona
  • Southwestern Utah

It is particularly common in the Mojave Desert west of the Colorado River, extending into parts of the Great Basin and adjacent arid zones. Habitats consist of dry, open areas with sandy or rocky soils suitable for burrowing, including desert scrub, grasslands, and rocky hillsides. It avoids extremely hot, low-elevation Sonoran Desert cores (where the related A. chalcodes, the Desert Blonde Tarantula, predominates). Populations are often localized but can be abundant in suitable microhabitats.

This species is well-adapted to desert conditions, remaining in burrows during extreme heat or cold to conserve moisture and avoid predators such as tarantula hawks (Pepsis wasps), birds, and mammals.

Pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana )

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The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), often mistakenly called an antelope, is the sole surviving member of the Antilocapridae family and North America’s fastest land mammal, capable of sustained speeds up to 55 mph (88 km/h). In the desert southwest of the United States, particularly the Sonoran Desert, the subspecies known as the Sonoran pronghorn (A. a. sonoriensis) exemplifies remarkable adaptations to arid environments, including efficient water conservation and heat tolerance. These graceful ungulates, with their distinctive pronged horns and white rump patches, roam vast open landscapes, evoking the untamed spirit of the American West.

A solitary Pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana ) found near Golbin Valley, Utah
A solitary Pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana ) found near Golbin Valley, Utah

Classification

Pronghorns belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates), family Antilocapridae, genus Antilocapra, and species americana. There are five recognized subspecies: the American pronghorn (A. a. americana), Mexican pronghorn (A. a. mexicana), Sonoran pronghorn (A. a. sonoriensis), Baja California pronghorn (A. a. peninsularis), and Oregon pronghorn (A. a. oregona). The Sonoran pronghorn, endemic to the desert southwest, is listed as endangered due to habitat fragmentation and human activities. Pronghorns are not true antelopes but are more closely related to giraffes and okapis, though they represent a unique evolutionary lineage that once included multiple species during the Pleistocene era.

Physical Description

Adult pronghorns measure 1.3–1.5 meters (4.3–4.9 feet) in length, stand 81–104 cm (32–41 inches) at the shoulder, and weigh 36–70 kg (79–154 pounds), with males typically larger than females. Their coat is tan to reddish-brown on the back and sides, with white underparts, throat, and distinctive white rump patches that flare as alarm signals. The namesake horns, present in both sexes but larger in males (up to 50 cm or 20 inches), are unique: they consist of a bony core sheathed in keratin that is shed annually, unlike true antlers or horns. Females’ horns are smaller and lack the forward-facing prong. Large eyes positioned on the sides of the head provide a 320-degree field of vision, aiding in predator detection, while long legs and cushioned hooves enable high-speed endurance running. Sonoran pronghorns are slightly smaller and lighter, adapted for desert life with enhanced heat dissipation through large ears and a slender build.

Behavior

Pronghorns are diurnal and crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk to avoid midday heat in desert regions. They are highly social, forming mixed-sex herds of up to 1,000 individuals during winter migrations, but in the southwest deserts, groups are smaller (5–20) due to sparse resources. Territorial males defend harems during breeding, using scent marking from glands on the head and rump, and engage in ritualized displays like parallel walking or horn clashing. Their legendary speed—sprints up to 98 km/h (61 mph) and sustained 55 km/h (34 mph) over distances—evolved to outrun extinct predators like American cheetahs, and they can leap 6 meters (20 feet) horizontally. In the desert southwest, Sonoran pronghorns exhibit nomadic behavior, moving in response to rainfall and forage availability, and they pant or seek shade to thermoregulate in extreme heat. Communication includes visual signals like rump flashing, vocalizations such as snorts or bleats, and olfactory cues.

Food Sources

As herbivores, pronghorns are selective browsers and grazers, consuming a diverse diet of forbs (broad-leaved herbs), shrubs, grasses, and occasionally cacti, with preferences shifting seasonally. In the desert southwest, they favor drought-resistant plants like chainfruit cholla, mesquite, and palo verde for moisture, and can digest toxic species unpalatable to other ungulates due to large kidneys and specialized gut microbes. Forbs dominate in spring and summer (up to 90% of diet), while shrubs like sagebrush provide winter sustenance. They obtain most water from vegetation, drinking infrequently but traveling up to 10 km (6 miles) to water sources in arid areas. This opportunistic feeding helps them survive in low-productivity deserts, where they forage by nipping plants at ground level.

Breeding

Pronghorns are polygynous, with breeding (rut) occurring from July to October in southern populations like the Sonoran subspecies, timed to monsoon rains for optimal fawn survival. Males compete for females through displays and fights, establishing territories of 0.5–5 km² (0.2–2 sq mi). Gestation lasts 235–250 days, with females typically birthing twins (singles for first-time mothers) in secluded spots, hiding fawns in vegetation for the first few weeks. Fawns are precocial, standing within hours and running soon after, weaned by 4–5 months, and reaching sexual maturity at 15–16 months. In the desert southwest, breeding success is tied to rainfall; drought can lead to high fawn mortality from predation by coyotes or bobcats. Lifespan in the wild averages 10–15 years.

Habitat and Range

Pronghorns thrive in open, arid to semi-arid habitats with low vegetation for visibility, including grasslands, shrublands, and deserts at elevations from sea level to 3,300 meters (10,800 feet). In the desert southwest, the Sonoran pronghorn inhabits broad alluvial valleys, bajadas, and dry plains of the Sonoran Desert, separated by granite mountains, with sparse creosote bush, saguaro cacti, and ocotillo. Their range spans southwestern Arizona (e.g., Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge) and northwestern Sonora, Mexico, with a small population in California potentially extinct. Overall, pronghorns occur from southern Canada to northern Mexico, but in the U.S. southwest, they are found in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of California and Texas. They prefer gentle, rolling terrain for spotting predators from afar and avoid dense forests or steep mountains. Human developments like fences and roads fragment habitats, posing threats to migration and genetic diversity in desert populations.

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Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Family:Antilocapridae
Subfamily:Antilocaprinae
Tribe:Antilocaprini
Genus:Antilocapra
Ord, 1818
Species:A. americana[

Coyote (Canis latrans)

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The Coyote (Canis latrans), commonly known as the prairie wolf, brush wolf, or American jackal, is a highly adaptable medium-sized canid native to North America.

Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park - Photo by James L Rathbun
Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park – Photo by James L Rathbun

The binomial name Canis latrans translates to “barking dog,” reflecting its vocal nature. It belongs to the genus Canis, which includes wolves, dogs, and jackals. Approximately 19 subspecies are recognized, with variations in size and coloration across regions (e.g., larger northeastern forms often show some historical hybridization with wolves).

Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Canidae
Genus:Canis
Species:C. latrans

Physical Description

Coyotes are smaller and more lightly built than gray wolves (Canis lupus), but larger than most foxes. Adults typically stand about 60 cm (24 inches) at the shoulder, measure 1–1.3 meters (3.3–4.3 feet) in total length (including a 30–40 cm bushy tail), and weigh 9–23 kg (20–50 pounds), with eastern populations often heavier.

The fur is long and coarse, usually grizzled buff, grayish-brown, or yellowish-gray on the upper parts, with whitish underparts, reddish tones on the legs, and a black-tipped tail. There is considerable variation; some individuals appear silver-gray or nearly black (melanistic forms are rare). Coyotes have pointed, erect ears, a slender muzzle, and a drooping bushy tail when running. They resemble a lean German Shepherd or collie but are distinguished by their narrower build and pointed features.

Behavior

Coyotes are highly intelligent, opportunistic, and adaptable. They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), though daytime activity occurs where undisturbed. They can reach speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph) and jump distances of 4 meters.

Social organization varies: many live solitarily or in pairs, while others form small family groups (often a mated pair and pups). They maintain territories, especially during denning season. Coyotes are famous for their vocalizations, including yips, barks, howls, and “serenades” at night for communication, territory defense, or coordination.

As efficient hunters and omnivores, they primarily prey on small mammals (e.g., rodents, rabbits, hares), but also take larger prey like white-tailed deer (especially in winter or packs), birds, insects, and carrion. They readily consume fruits, berries, and vegetation when animal prey is scarce. Hunting often occurs alone or in pairs, though packs form seasonally for larger prey. Keen senses of smell, hearing, and vision aid in locating food.

Range and Distribution

Historically centered in the western Great Plains and arid regions of North America, coyotes have dramatically expanded since the early 20th century. Today, they occupy a vast range from northern Alaska and most of Canada southward through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America (at least to Panama and parts of Costa Rica). They are found coast-to-coast in the U.S. and Canada, absent only from the northernmost tundra and some extreme southern peninsulas.

This expansion includes forests, urban areas, agricultural lands, deserts, and riparian zones, making the coyote one of the most widespread carnivores in the Americas. Highest densities occur in the Great Plains and south-central U.S. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its adaptability and stable/increasing populations.

The coyote’s success stems from its behavioral flexibility, omnivorous diet, and ability to thrive alongside human activity, making it a classic example of ecological resilience in modern landscapes.