Clam Shrimp
A Clam Shrimp looks like a small clam. Two shells cover its body. Between the shells you can see two body sections below the head. The front section is the…
Seed Shrimp
Many different species of Seed Shrimp live in vernal pools. They come in many colors. They have a single eye. The body of a Seed Shrimp is protected by two…
Pacific Chorus Frog
The Pacific Chorus Frog is the only green or brown frog in our area with a dark “mask” across its eyes and “suction cups” on its toes. Often called the…
Western Spadefoot
The Western Spadefoot is small and squat. Its back is olive-brown or gray with dark blotches and little red bumps. The skin on its back is mostly smooth, unlike that…
California Tiger Salamander
The most remarkable feature of the California Tiger Salamander is its striking coloration. Adults are black with yellow or cream spots. The body is thick, with a rounded nose and…
Mallard
Mallards are medium-sized ducks. The male and female have different color patterns. The male has a shiny green head, a narrow white band around the neck, a brown chest, and…
Teacher’s Quick Links
…showcases magnified images and videos of freshwater invertebrates, insect larvae, crustaceans and tadpoles so students can feel as though they are looking through the microscopes themselves. This video is dedicated…
Learning Resources
…pools. We know little about them and less than half have been named. Microlife Invertebrates Crustaceans Insects Other Invertebrates Amphibians Reptiles Mammals Birds Wading Birds Ducks & Waterfowl Raptors (Birds…
Copepods
There are many different species of Copepods. Few of the species in vernal pools have been named. You are most likely to spot the bright red Diaptomus and at least…
Fairy Shrimp
Fairy Shrimp are pale-colored (normally gray-white) and transparent. They have a long, narrow body with 11 pairs of paddle-like legs. Females have a brood pouch which holds eggs, located directly…