Reptiles of the Coachella Valley

The Coachella Valley region, extending from Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, to the northern third of Anza Borrego State Park, encompassing much of Joshua Tree National Park, and all of the Coachella Valley, has been identified as having the highest indigenous lizard species richness in all of North America, with at least 33 species found here. It is also an area where there could be impacts to that high biodiversity from climate change, increased wildfires in the mountains, and high levels of recreation. Our objective is to document the current distribution and abundance of reptiles occurring here, and then over time document any changes.

All of your observations will contribute to our ability to understand the impacts of drought and fire and human activity in general!

This project is administered by the CactusToCloud Institute, and data may be shared with researchers at the UC Riverside Center for Conservation Biology and Coachella Valley Conservation Commission.