Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

Hieroglyphic Trail

Superstition Mountains

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

Hieroglyphic Trail

Superstition Mountains

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

Hieroglyphic TrailFlycatcher waiting for a meal.

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

First Water CreekSuperstition Mountains

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

First Water CreekBees + other arthropods take advantage of the available water.

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

First Water CreekAlgae forms the basis of the aquatic food chains.

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

Ostracods are: known as “seed shrimp” Around 1 millimeter in size Able to swim Drought resistant eggs Parthenogenic

reproduction

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

Fairy Shrimp Are fresh water crustaceans

known as Branchiopoda Lay eggs that will survive

drought for years and hatch in 30 hours

Swim”upside down”filtering organic matter or scraping algae

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaWaterpockets/ Kissing pools

Triops

1-2” crustaceans commonly called “tadpole shrimp”

Are living fossils that reach back 300 million years

Water HolesDesert Water Holes - Tinajas

Predaceous Beetles Are water beetles with short,

sharp mandibles that deliver digestive enzymes

Prey on insects + small fish Larvae are commonly called

“water tigers”

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaSinkholes and stock ponds

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaSinkholes and stock ponds

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaSinkholes/ and Stock Ponds

Tiger Salamander

Ambystoma tigrinum

Larvae and Adult

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaSinkholes/ and Stock Ponds

Stock Pond

Terrestrial Garter snake

Thamnophis elegans

North Kaibab Plateau

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaSinkholes/ and Stock Ponds

Stock PondNear Camp Verde

Water HolesWater holes – Northern ArizonaSinkholes/ and Stock Ponds

Stock Pond

What critters are these?