Introduction:

Here are twenty plants and animals to look for during BioBlitz! 2012. This list is to help guide citizen scientists who may find the BioBlitz! inventory overwhelming. This list is to help you focus on organisms that we might see during BioBlitz! 2012. By doing background research on these twenty organisms before the event, you will be preparing yourself to recognize them during BioBlitz!

Check out the links for each species to familiarize yourself with these organisms and increase the chances that you'll be able to identify them in the field. Learning about the overall appearance, size, and habitat of an organism can be very helpful. Keep in mind that males and females within a species may look quite different. There is no guarantee that these organisms will be easy to sight. For instance, early October is the earliest Sandhill Cranes have been spotted flying over this area and these birds may not appear during our BioBlitz! weekend.

Have fun learning about Oklahoma's diverse species!

1. Texas Horned Lizard (aka Horny Toad) - Phrynosoma cornutum
Background Information from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
National Wildlife Federation Article on a Unique Method of Acquiring Water
An Oklahoma Sighting on Project Noah
KFOR Video Segment on Field Research at Tinker Air Force Base

2. Plains Leopard Frog - Rana blairi
Oklahoma Sighting on Project Noah
Read a Profile and Listen to the Breeding Call at this Colorado State University Site

3. Tiger Salamander - Ambystoma tigrinum
Texas Sighting on Project Noah
Profile from National Geographic
Profile from National Wildlife Federation

4. Common Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina
Article on Aquatic Turtles from the Noble Foundation
Profile from the National Aquarium
How to Tell the Difference Between the Common Snapping Turtle and the Alligator Snapping Turtle
Coloring Sheet

5. Western Massasauga Rattlesnake - Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus
Profile from OK Snakes
Article on Venomous Snakes from the Noble Foundation
Oklahoma Sighting on Project Noah

6. Spotted Gar - Lepisosteus oculatus
Profile from Animal Diversity Web at University of Michigan
Texas Sighting on Project Noah
Compare the Spotted Gar to the Alligator Gar

7. Bobcat - Lynx rufus
Profile from National Geographic
Article from the National Wildlife Federation
Article About Bobcats in Urban Areas from the Arizona Game & Fish Department

8. Black Tailed Prairie Dog - Cynomys ludovicianus
Profile from the Prairie Dog Coalition
Profile from the National Wildlife Federation:
CBS Video Segment of Prairie Dogs at the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge
Article from the National Wildlife Federation on the Interaction between Ranchers and Prairie Dogs
Classroom Activity from the National Wildlife Federation for Grades 6-12

9. Red Breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis
Profile with Audio and Video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Profile from National Geographic

10. Sandhill Crane - Grus canadensis
Profile from National Geographic
Profile with Links for Sound and Video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Washington Sighting on Project Noah

11. Swainson's Hawk - Buteo swainsoni
Profile with Audio and Video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Watch List Article from Audubon
Kansas Sighting on Project Noah

12. Gadwall - Anas strepera
Profile with Audio and Video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology

13. Blue Winged Teal - Anas discors
Profile with Audio and Video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Oklahoma Sighting on Project Noah

14. Green Winged Teal - Anas carolinensis
Profile with Audio and Video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Arizona Sighting on Project Noah

15. Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola
Profile with Audio and Video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology

16. Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
Profile with Audio and Video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Texas Sighting on Project Noah

17. Kentucky Coffee Tree - Gymnocladus dioicus
In Depth Background from USDA and NRCS
Profile with Photos of Some Identifying Characteristics
Article from Nebraska Forest Service

18. Blue Grama - Bouteloua gracilis
Profile from USDA and NRCS
Profile from Wildflower.org
Image Gallery from the Noble Foundation
Texas Sighting on Project Noah

19 & 20. Yucca - Yucca spp. & Yucca Moth - Prodoxidae spp.
Illinois Sighting on Project Noah
Yucca Profile from USDA
Yucca Moth Profile from Desert USA
Great Blog Post about their ecological relationship