List of species endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area facts for kids

The San Francisco Bay Area is a special place in California. It's made up of nine counties around the beautiful San Francisco Bay. This area is home to many unique plants and animals. These are called endemic species. An endemic species is a type of plant or animal that lives only in one specific place in the whole world. The Bay Area has many different natural areas, like mountains and wetlands. These different habitats allow many special species to thrive here.

Plants of the Bay Area (Flora)

The Bay Area is rich in unique plant life, also known as flora. Many of these plants are found nowhere else on Earth!

Amazing A-Plants

• The Acanthomintha duttonii, also known as San Mateo thornmint, is a small plant. You can find it on Montara Mountain in San Mateo County.
• Amsinckia grandiflora, or large-flowered fiddleneck, is a beautiful flower. It grows near the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Alameda County.
• There are several types of manzanita shrubs in the Bay Area. Manzanitas are known for their smooth, reddish bark.
  • Arctostaphylos bakeri (Baker's manzanita) lives in Sonoma County.
  • Arctostaphylos densiflora (Vine Hill manzanita) is protected near Sebastopol.
  • Arctostaphylos hookeri (Franciscan manzanita) grows in The Presidio, San Francisco.
  • Arctostaphylos imbricata (San Bruno Mountain manzanita) and Arctostaphylos montaraensis (Montara manzanita) are found on San Bruno Mountain.
  • Arctostaphylos pallida (Oakland Hills manzanita) grows in the eastern Bay Area.
  • Arctostaphylos virgata (Bolinas manzanita) is found in Marin County.

Cool C-Plants

• Calochortus tiburonensis, called the Tiburon mariposa lily, is a stunning flower. It grows on Ring Mountain in Marin County.
• Ceanothus ferrisiae, or coyote ceanothus, is a shrub. It can be found on Mount Hamilton in Santa Clara County.
• Ceanothus masonii is another unique ceanothus.
• Chorizanthe valida is a rare plant found only here.

Delicate D-Plants

• Delphinium bakeri is a type of larkspur.
• Dudleya setchellii is a succulent plant.

Helpful H-Plants

• Hesperolinon congestum, known as Marin dwarf flax, is a small, delicate plant.

Lovely L-Plants

• Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense is a beautiful lily.
• Limnanthes vinculans is a type of meadowfoam.

Outstanding O-Plants

• Oenothera deltoides subsp. howellii is the Antioch Dunes evening primrose.

Pretty P-Plants

• Phacelia breweri is a type of phacelia.

Special S-Plants

• Streptanthus niger is a rare mustard plant.

Amsinckia grandiflora (large-flowered fiddleneck)

Arctostaphylos montaraensis (Montara manzanita)

Calochortus tiburonensis (Tiburon mariposa lily)

Ceanothus masonii

Chorizanthe valida

Delphinium bakeri

Dudleya setchellii

Hesperolinon congestum (Marin dwarf flax)

Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense

Limnanthes vinculans

Oenothera deltoides subsp. howellii (Antioch Dunes evening primrose)

Phacelia breweri

Streptanthus niger

Animals of the Bay Area (Fauna)

The Bay Area is also home to many unique animals, known as fauna. These animals have adapted to live in the specific environments found here.

• The Apodemia mormo langei is a type of butterfly.
• The Bay checkerspot is another famous butterfly. It has a beautiful checkered pattern on its wings.
• The California lizardfish is a fish found in the waters around the Bay.
• The Mission blue butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly. It is known for its bright blue wings.
• The California clapper rail is a bird that lives in the salt marshes. It's a shy bird that is very important to the Bay Area's wetlands.
• The Salt marsh harvest mouse is a tiny mouse that lives in the salt marshes. It's specially adapted to live in salty environments.
• The San Bruno elfin butterfly is a very small butterfly. It lives on San Bruno Mountain.
• The San Francisco garter snake is one of the most colorful snakes. It has bright red, black, and yellow stripes. It lives in San Mateo and northern Santa Cruz counties.
• Syncaris pacifica is a type of freshwater shrimp.
• The Thicktail chub is a type of fish.

Endangered or Extinct Species

Some species in the Bay Area are in danger. Endangered means there are very few of them left. They could disappear forever if we don't protect them. Extinct means a species has completely vanished from Earth.

• The Xerces blue butterfly is an example of an extinct species. It used to live in San Francisco. Sadly, it is no longer found anywhere.

Images for kids

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  Apodemia mormo langei

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  Bay checkerspot

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  Mission blue butterfly

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  Reithrodontomys raviventris (salt marsh harvest mouse)

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  San Francisco garter snake

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  Syncaris pacifica

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  Thicktail chub

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  Xerces blue specimens