California is the most biodiverse state in the United States, with its forests, grasslands, mountains, deserts, and even coastal habitats. Though it is best known for its lizard and snake population, you can also see many large animals in this state, like black bears, coyotes, elks, seals, whales, and sharks.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in California
The majority of the animals in this list are native to the state of California, with a few exceptions, like the American Bullfrog, which is considered invasive in the state. But even these animals have now become widely recognized as part of the state’s wildlife.
Being the third largest US state, its terrains can be divided based on the different regions:
Northern California
Southern California
Coastal California
The state’s mountain animals live in the mountainous regions of the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains in this part of the state. Lake Tahoe is also part of Northern California.
This part of the state includes both the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. It is known for its reptile population, including the two most deadly rattlesnakes in the country.
The coastal regions include the coasts of both Northern and Southern California
Mammals: Black bear, gray fox, bobcat, cougar, black-tailed deer, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, Roosevelt elk
Reptiles: Mojave rattlesnake, western diamondback rattlesnake, glossy snake, California kingsnake, desert tortoise, common side-blotched lizard, desert iguana
Reptiles: Giant garter snake, Pacific Northwest rattlesnake (the only rattlesnake native to Northern California)
Mammals:Gray fox, cougar, American black bear
Fishes: Tiger shark, great white sharks (there are over 30 shark species found in these waters)
Amphibians: Redwood salamander, mudpuppy
Invertebrates: California tarantula, western black widow, giant desert hairy scorpion
Birds: California gull, double-crested cormorants
Birds: Gray-crowned rosy finch, American robin, California gull, bald eagle, Clark’s nutcracker, Anna’s hummingbird
Birds: Western screech-owl, roadrunner, cactus wren
Amphibians: Coast range newt
FAQ
1. What is the most dangerous animal in California?
The state is full of deadly and venous animals, with all the rattlesnake species and mammals like black bears, cougars, gray wolves, and coyotes being some of the most dangerous to humans.
2. Are there any extinct animals in California?
The State Animal, the California grizzly bear, has been recorded as extinct since 1924 by the IUCN.
3. What is the rarest animal in California?
The gray wolf, California condor, giant kangaroo rat, Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, and Pacific pocket mouse are only a few of the rarest animals considered endangered or threatened by the IUCN.
