Ensatina

Ensatina eschscholtzii

The Ensatina is a famous ring species — populations around California's Central Valley form a chain of intergrading subspecies, a living demonstration of speciation in progress. It has a constricted tail base used in defensive displays.

Habitat

Moist coniferous and oak forests in the Pacific Coast ranges

Diet

Insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates

How common

Common

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