rangermicah's Favourites
Photos / Sounds
What
Holzner Cottontail (Sylvilagus holzneri)Observer
brirosaDescription
Above ~7,100 ft in elevation
Not entirely sure how to tell the difference between S. audubonii and S. holzneri in this instance. But I am leaning toward holzneri based on elevation and my recollection that this rabbit struck me as moving a bit differently than other cottontails I saw on trail--like its back legs were oversized and their motion emphasized. Unfortunately, the lighting situation and my not-so-great photos make it difficult to differentiate according to nape color, not that I really could do that anyway...The shorter ears relative to the body and head size (at least in my estimation) also make me think holzneri, but I'm no rabbit expert, just a curious observer!
Photos / Sounds
What
Arizona Singleleaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla ssp. fallax)Observer
rangermicahDescription
50/50 mixture of 1 and 2 needled bundles.
Photos / Sounds
What
Subgenus PromusObserver
rangermicahDescription
May be the species endemic to the Park but I don't have the key handy at this time.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Mountain-Mahogany (Cercocarpus breviflorus var. breviflorus)Observer
lejones417Description
Wikipedia, Kew's Plants of the World Online, and SEINet all recognize this variety as Cercocarpus breviflorus, which in iNat is currently an "Inactive Taxon"
UPDATE: iNat will make a taxon change to C breviflorus
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxon_changes/98681
Photos / Sounds
What
Redberry Buckthorn (Rhamnus crocea)Observer
torres-grantDescription
Coastal canyon, San Luis Obispo County
Photos / Sounds
What
Pinkbract Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. pringlei)Observer
mckeejoDescription
A gray-green leaved shrub with smooth, mahogany-colored bark. Leaves are simple, ovate, alternate, and petiolate with smooth margins. Leaves and stems have fine, glandular hairs. Evergreen.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pinkbract Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. pringlei)Observer
ecologistchris
Photos / Sounds
What
San Francisco River Leatherpetal (Graptopetalum rusbyi)Observer
thamnelegans24
Photos / Sounds
What
Giant Agave Bug (Acanthocephala thomasi)Observer
petercflynnDescription
Acanthocephala thomasi, a frequent visitor this time of year. The head has structural reinforcement, illustrated in a previous specimen, presumably to provide mechanical strength for piercing agave.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
rangerhallieDescription
The claretcup cactus can form large mounds covered with these trumpet shaped scarlet flowers. The cylindrical stems are densely spined. There are up to twelve spines per areole.
Photos / Sounds
