Vernal Pool Animals

Vernal Pool Animals

Although most vernal pool animals are small, their complex food webs sustain many larger species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Most of the critters in vernal pools are native to California and many survive only in vernal pools. We know little about them and less than half have been named. 

Microlife

Invertebrates

Amphibians

Reptiles

Mammals

Birds

Aquatic insects

Dytiscid and Hydrophilid beetles are insects. About a million insect species have been discovered and researchers estimate that at least two million exist. The number of insect species on Earth is greater than the total of all other animal species combined.

Most insect species live on land. There are only about 20,000 species of insects that spend part or all of their lives in the water. That means that only 2% of insects live in aquatic environments! Most of them must have clean water environments to survive.

Sacramento Splash - Helping children understand and value their natural world picture
Science can be FUN!

100% of Splash teachers agree that their field trip to the vernal pools was both fun AND educational for their students.

If you're a fourth or fifth grade teacher, we can help make science fun for your students.