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
Best time to see a Ensatina
The best time to see a Ensatina is January–May, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 24,138 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Ensatina sightings near you
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5,300+species
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