Fingernail Clam

Posted on August 8, 2025 by tspuckler

While catching tadpoles in the pond across the street from me, I’d occasionally net what looked to be a small tan pebble. Closer examination revealed something different though. Fingernail Clams, also called Pill Clams or Pea Clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common, but rarely noticed.

Like other clams, Fingernail Clams have two mirror-image shells that are hinged together that are generally rounded to triangular in shape. Their shells are thin and fragile, often translucent, the outsides typically shiny, fairly smooth, and gray, tan, yellowish, or whitish. Fine growth lines are often visible, but they are not strongly raised, ridged, or rough.

Fingernail Clams are found in a variety of aquatic habitats, usually in places with mucky or sandy substrates, and usually at or just under the bottom substrate. Some species of fingernail clams are adapted to live in vernal pools — temporary ponds, usually in woodlands, that fill with water in Springtime, then dry up during Summer. As the pool dries, the Fingernail Clam burrows down several inches into the soil, where it is moist enough for it to survive until the next Spring.

Like other clams, scallops, mussels, oysters, and most other bivalve mollusks, they are filter feeders that remove suspended organic materials from water, such as algae, tiny planktonic animals, and plant and animal detritus.

They have tubelike siphons that draw in water and tiny, drifting food particles into their shell cavity. A pair of flaplike, mucous-covered gills collects the food and channels it into the animal’s mouth.

Like its relatives, the Fingernail Clam has a foot, which is used to dig down into the pond bottom where it can burrow. Fingernail Clams (like most other mollusks) are hermaphrodites: each individual can produce both eggs and sperm. Fingernail clams are able to fertilize their own eggs.

Apparently Fingernail Clams can move from one isolated vernal pool to another by clamping on to a finger or toe of a salamander, frog, or other animal. Since they can fertilize their own eggs, only one individual can start a population.

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Sow Thistle

Posted on August 1, 2025 by tspuckler

I recently saw this plant growing on the corner of my street. Sow Thistle is native to Eurasia, but has spread to other countries. In the United States, grows in areas such as pastures, roadsides, bushlands and the shorelines of lakes, rivers, and sea coast.

Many people tend to confuse Sow Thistle with Dandelions. Sow Thistle usually has many flowers sprouting out on each stalk, while Dandelion only has one flower per stalk. Sow Thistle leaves grow all the way up the stalk, as well as at the base of the plant. Dandelion leaves are only at the base.

Sow Thistle’s flowers are grouped in loose clusters at the end of stalks. A plant may have up to 20 flower heads, with only a few blooming at once. The flowers open two to three hours after sunrise and close around noon.

The flowerheads mature to form fluffy spheres that are three to four inches diameter and comprised of seeds with long, slender beaks on white, umbrella-like structures that aid in their dispersal by wind. The fluffy sphere of seeds looks similar to that of a Dandelion, only much larger.

This plant’s leaves are alternate, simple, and are the broadest near or above the middle – they can be up to a foot long. They are deeply lobed along the margin and the spiny toothed, lobed leaf bases clasp Sow Thistle’s stem. Its stems are filled with milky white sap.

This plant is also known as Field Milk Thistle, Field Sow Thistle, Perennial Sow-thistle, Corn Sow Thistle, Dindle, Gutweed, Swine Thistle, or Tree Sow Thistle.

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Black Vine Weevil

Posted on July 25, 2025 by tspuckler

I’ve come across this curious creature on several occasions. Weevils are beetles that known for their elongated snouts. Approximately 97,000 species are known.

Black Vine Weevils are oval in shape, about ½ inch long and have a short, broad snout with elbowed antennae. These insects earned their name “vine” weevil because they were first documented on grapes in Germany.

These insects are parthenogenic (can reproduce without a male). As a result, their population can grow very quickly. Only females are produced.

The Black Vine Weevil is a serious pest in nurseries and established landscape plantings. It and its larvae stunt or kill plants by feeding on the roots – it has been recorded on more than 100 species of cultivated and wild plants.

They are active night feeders and when disturbed, adults drop quickly to the ground. During daylight hours adults hide in dark places on stems of plants with dense foliage or in leaf litter and mulch.

A native of Europe, this species was first reported in Connecticut in 1910.

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Sandhill Crane

Posted on July 18, 2025 by tspuckler

Although it’s not very often, I occasionally see these big birds while out and about in my home state of Ohio. This is among the oldest living species of birds, dating back 2-1/2 million years. Sandhill Cranes are currently listed as a threatened species in Ohio, though they have made a comeback after being extirpated in the mid-20th century. They returned to Ohio in 1987 to breed in Wayne County and have expanded their range since.

Sandhill Cranes are wading birds characterized by long legs, necks, and bills. An adult sandhill crane stands about 4 feet tall, sports a 6 foot wingspan and weighs up to 12 pounds. Perhaps the most unique characteristic of the sandhill crane is its tendency to dance. Although an integral part of their courtship, they can be seen dancing any time of the year. The dance of the sandhill crane includes many quick steps around each other, wings half spread with an occasional leap into the air up to eight feet off the ground.

These birds are primarily a wetland-dependent species. Sandhill Cranes live on a diet of small rodents, reptiles, amphibians, grains, insects, and berries. On their wintering grounds, they will utilize agricultural fields; however, they roost in shallow, standing water or moist bottomlands. On breeding grounds they require a rather large tract of wet meadow, shallow marsh, or bog for nesting.

Sandhill Cranes, the most abundant of the world’s cranes, are found throughout most of North America. They spend most of the year in Canada and the northern United States, migrating to the southern United States and Mexico for the winter. In Ohio, Sandhill Cranes are listed as an threatened species due to habitat loss.

The beauty of Sandhill Cranes has permeated cultures all over the world, and the species has captured the attention of many groups throughout history. There are at least ten annual Sandhill Crane festivals around the United States, from Tennessee to Washington. Colorado has two.

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Stonecat

Posted on July 11, 2025 by tspuckler

While looking for cool creatures in a creek in Lisbon, Ohio this month, I caught a fish that I have never encountered before. Stonecats are small, slender, flat-headed catfish. Stonecats typically reach four to eight inches in length, but can reach 12 inches.

While the dorsal and pectoral spines of most members of this family cause wounds that irritate, the Stonecat has venom glands, particularly on the bases of the pectoral spines, that cause extreme pain similar to that of a wasp sting.

These fish reside in freshwater environments, and are found from large creeks to small rivers. They occasionally are found in tiny creeks, or rivers as large as the Lower Mississippi. Stonecats occupy gently to fast-moving riffle areas with rocky substrates.

The Stonecat is an opportunistic feeder, using its sensitive barbels during the night to search for food. They eat a variety of food items, such as aquatic insect larvae, mollusks, minnows, fish eggs, isopods, amphipods, crayfish, plant material, and worms.

Because Stonecats cannot tolerate heavy siltation or pollution, their presence or absence in a stream is an indicator of water quality. It was neat to come across this fascinating fish while herping.

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California False Wolf Spider

Posted on July 4, 2025 by tspuckler

I found this cool creature while on my visit to California. It is often misidentified as the Brown Recluse Spider, due to similarities of coloration, body proportions, leg length, and even leg positioning prior to movement. Their common name False Wolf Spiders comes from their physical similarity to Wolf Spiders, though they can be distinguished from Wolf Spiders by their two rows of eyes that are more equal in size than those of true Wolf Spiders.

This species is often found in areas of dense human population. They are most common from the northernmost portions of California to the southern portions just north of the mountains near Los Angeles Basin. They often reside in redwood forests and present in cabins in the woods. Due to its large size, the False Wolf Spider is one of the most commonly feared species, though the venom of these spiders is not toxic to people.

False Wolf Spiders are a small spider family, with only 181 known species. Like true Wolf Spiders they hunt their prey freely without a web. However, unlike Wolf Spiders, they are cribellate spiders, meaning they produce a very fine, crimped spider silk known as cribellum wool. However, this is no longer used to build webs for capture ng prey, but instead is used only in the area of the retreat and to protect the eggs.

This particular specimen was found in a house. Even if you are not a fan of spiders, leaving a False Wolf Spider and other hunting spiders you find indoors might actually help reduce not only the number of insects in your home, but also its overall spider population. Mostly nocturnal, it is shy and tends to avoid humans. This species is Titiotus californicus, all 16 species of the genus Titiotus can be found residing in California.

This eight-legged wonder was a neat and unexpected find on my trip.

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Acorn Woodpecker

Posted on June 27, 2025 by tspuckler

I saw this fine bird several times over the years when I have visited California. My most recent sighting were these two seen on Mount Hamilton. When flying, they take a few flaps of their wings and then drop a foot or so.

This bird is mostly black with a red cap. The white neck, throat, and forehead patches are distinctive identifiers. Its habitat is forested areas with oaks in the coastal areas and foothills of Oregon, California, and the southwestern United States, south through Central America to Colombia.

Acorn Woodpeckers, as their name implies, depend heavily on acorns for food. Acorns are such an important resource to the California populations that Acorn Woodpeckers may nest in the Fall to take advantage of the Autumn acorn crop, an uncommon behavior in birds. Although acorns are an important back-up food resource, these birds primarily feed on insects, sap, and fruit.

Their acorns are stored in small holes drilled especially for this purpose in “granaries” or “storage trees”— usually snags, dead branches, utility poles, or wooden buildings. Storage holes are always in non-living tree tissue, such as bark or dead limbs and are used year after year.

They are cooperative breeders, living and breeding in family groups of up to 15 individuals. Cooperative breeding, defined as more than two birds taking care of nestlings in the nest, is a relatively rare evolutionary trait that is thought to occur in only nine percent of bird species.

Walter Lantz is believed to have patterned the call of his cartoon character Woody Woodpecker on that of the Acorn Woodpecker, while basing his appearance on that of the Pileated Woodpecker, which has a prominent crest.

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Whitehead Mule-ear

Posted on June 20, 2025 by tspuckler

While exploring a clearing in the woods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this plant really stood out. It is a short, low-growing, golden-rayed wildflower that resembles a sunflower.

Whitehead Mule-ear occurs chiefly in California’s North Coast Range, Central Coast Range and some parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills. It is typically found in an understory habitat associated in sunny clearings of mixed oak forests.

This is a relatively short plant, usually less than 24 inches tall, with long leaves for which the plant gets its common name. The leaves may up to 16 inches long.

Whitehead Mule-ear can grow in large, dense colonies in moist meadows, creating a beautiful display. In my situation it was growing with just a few plants that added texture, shape and color to the landscape.

These produce excellent flowers for pollinators and other wildlife, attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the blooms and birds and small mammals to the seeds.

With both a deep tap root and strong laterals, these slow-growing, but long-lived perennials also are good for controlling erosion.

Although I have visiting this particular meadow a number of times over the years, this was the first time that I’ve ever encountered this wildflower.

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California Mountain Kingsnake

Posted on June 13, 2025 by tspuckler

This is perhaps the most widely sought after serpent by herpers in the Golden State. It’s attractive colors and elusive nature make it a prize worth finding.

It is secretive, but not rare in suitable habitat. This reptile spends most of the time underground, under surface objects, or inside rock crevices. It is occasionally seen active on the ground in the daytime, especially near shaded streams on hot sunny days.

California Mountain Kingsnakes have a banded pattern that consists of red, black, and white crossbands. The bands are always arranged in the same order with each red crossband being surrounded by two black crossbands, forming what is called a triad.

Adults are usually 24 to 36 inches long and are found in a wide variety of habitats, including coniferous forests, oak-pine woodlands, riparian woodlands, chaparrals, and coastal sage scrubs.

California Mountain Kingsnakes are constrictors that have a diet which includes lizards, small mammals and snakes, as well as small birds. As their “mountain” name implies, they live in an elevational range from 1,500 – 8,000 feet.

This species is found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coast Ranges north of Monterey Bay, California, north into the Klamath Mountains, in Oregon, plus an additional, disjunct population along the Columbia Gorge, in Washington.

It is always a thrill to come across this fine snake species while in the field.

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Behr’s Pero

Posted on June 6, 2025 by tspuckler

I found this cool moth while visiting the Golden State. A member of the Geometridae Family, their larvae, or inchworms, appear to measure the earth as they move along in a looping fashion.

This large family contains about 23,000 described species. Their caterpillars lack legs in the middle of their bodies, instead only having them at the front and back of their body.

To move, the caterpillar clasps with its front legs and draws up the hind end, then clasps with the hind end and reaches out for a new front attachment, creating the impression that it measures its journey.

The caterpillars are accordingly called “loopers,” “spanworms,” or “inchworms” after their characteristic looping gait. Most adult versions of moths from this family have broad wings which are held flat with the hindwings visible.

The moth’s colors and patterns tend to blend into the background, often with intricate, wavy patterns on their wings. Most species are of a moderate size. Adults fly from April to October, depending on location.

The habitat of the Behr’s Pero is pine forests and the caterpillars feed on several genera of pine tree needles.

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Tim Spuckler's Blog

Reptile Ramblings and More

Yearly Archives: 2025

Fingernail Clam

Sow Thistle

Black Vine Weevil

Sandhill Crane

Stonecat

California False Wolf Spider

Acorn Woodpecker

Whitehead Mule-ear

California Mountain Kingsnake

Behr’s Pero