Santa Cruz garter snake, Thamnophis atratus atratus (Thamnophis couchii atratus), eating tadpole of California red-legged frog, Rana aurora draytonii, a Federally listed Threatened Species. After capturing the tadpole in deeper water, the snake brings it to shore and swallows it, then stretches its jaw before returning to the water. Foothills of Mount Diablo, California. Once abundant throughout California, red-legged frog populations have been dramatically reduced by habitat destruction,...
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Santa Cruz garter snake, Thamnophis atratus atratus (Thamnophis couchii atratus), eating tadpole of California red-legged frog, Rana aurora draytonii, a Federally listed Threatened Species. After capturing the tadpole in deeper water, the snake brings it to shore and swallows it, then stretches its jaw before returning to the water. Foothills of Mount Diablo, California. Once abundant throughout California, red-legged frog populations have been dramatically reduced by habitat destruction, water pollution, suburban sprawl, and predation by non-native bullfrogs. Red-legged frogs and garter snakes have always occupied the same habitats; predation by these native snakes is not considered a significant factor in the frogs' decline.
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