Field Herp Forum

The April and July thing is probably whats going on. July is the time to avoid California's Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, especially if no T-storms have hydrated the environment. Even then, T-storms produced very little activity, when compared to Arizona's flourishing systems. As for the Great Basin D...

Steve, in California one was found at 6600' and we thought that was high, at 7545' thats a record breaker. Thanks for bringing that observation forward.

I received a copy of this book today and I have yet to put it down. I have one word to describe it — OUTSTANDING!

Another amazing post and now im hoping there's more. That campsite in the lower section of the park looks familiar, as if i once camped there. A person must have amazing eyes to roadcruise a Night Lizard—pretty cool. :beer: One of those Desert Spiny Lizard, more precisely the 3rd one down is S. occi...

http://www.naherp.com/vouchers/262506-342146.jpg A record elevation for C. bicinctores at 2780 m (9123 ft) in the White Mountains, Inyo County. Insight to this location was courtesy of B. Alexander and R. Staub, who in 2008 found Crotaphytus at 2682 m (8800 ft.). During a recent trip to the White M...

WoW, amazing shots of some very cool species ...The chorus frog requires a second look.

hmmm, that's interesting.

One sea turtle death is concerning, regardless of the age. However, to ease the thought of this tragedy, mortality of young sea turtles is often massive. I suspect, this will not be duplicated next fourth of July (2017).

That was awesome--video–-fun way of documenting a field trip. I'll be watching for more.

I explore the Santa River quite often, simply because its close to my house. I don't particularly like the river basin because its not very "natural," its filled with people sleeping in debris huts, introduced herps, and the water itself, is more like sewage by the time it reaches Riverside and Oran...

Years back, there was the discovery of an Crotalus oreganus out by Barstow, who found that one? That's also bizarre.

Coachwhips are variable in tone and I expect any color anywhere. In general, no matter the tone C. f. pisceus has a dark neck, behind the head. Most that I have seen in the deserts are tan, brown, yellowish, or reddish. My favorite color are bright red, and I have seen the reddest snakes in coastal ...

Funny intersection post, my dad once owned that house on the corner of Tinnemaha and Goodale. As for the Coachwhip, I've seen countless in the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert and feel that the specimen pictured above is typical for the desert. I'll post a couple below. As for a golden Coachwhip, soun...

Ric: Just reiterating the genetic analyses (fig. 4) by Wood, D.A., R.N. Fisher, and T.W. Reeder, 2008. Novel patterns of historical isolation, dispersal, and secondary contact across Baja California in the Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) Interesting to hear the young appear as roseofusca. If your in...

Despite the boa's tarnished appearance, San Gabriel Mtn boas are genetically linked more to L. t. gracile than to roseofusca. Stripes tend to disfigure with age, this boa may have had perfect, gracile stripes when smaller. Its stripes are pretty clear now, even for such a big, mature specimen.

I'm guessing the one with the ridges (left) is a False Map Turtle, middle a Red-eared Slider, and the larger one to the right is an old Red-eared Slider that has lost much of its color.

WoW! that is thrilling; great picture to boot!

Those are some big shoes to fill--the next guy is going to need big feet.

Some great shots!

WOW! Simply WOW!! top notch photographs of some quality animals. Even the pictures of the sun are spectacular, i was blinded looking at them through my computer,
as if i was really there. Im looking forward to your next post

Pretty sure that people are not suppose to construct board lines anywhere, except on their own or permitted properties. Otherwise, it might constitute littering.

The whiptail pictured above is a Great Basin Whiptail.

Too bad, sounds like the Tejon Ranch doesnt really want people there, it only takes an hour to clear a half dozen fallen trees.. They are really missing out on a wealth of free research, well worth clearing that road sooner. But then, isn't the Tejon Ranch planning to build over that property soon; ...

Where are the Fringe-toed Lizard and Long-tailed Brush lizards shots; they are common on those dunes? Brad (Monklet) found a Lyre Snake in the Providence Mtns that disappointedly turned out to be lyrophanes and not lambda that could have been there. Brad's finding, but in question, what species is f...

I have spent a fair amount of time in the Kern Plateau and found flipping boas relatively easy in early to mid-July. Perhaps, the high elevation (5930-7780 ft.) permitted the late-season discoveries, or luck. Moist meadows are scattered on Kern Plateau and boas have been found beneath soggy logs in ...

Awesome shots of some cool creatures!!

Interesting post

Horned Lizards are common on the dirt roads, Chuckwalla and Desert Spinys in the rocks, and if you study the branches of Creosote Bush, in sandy locations, you may happen to see a Long-tailed Brush Lizard.

Lava beds is an awesome place, for herpers as well as Big Foot enthusiast, for it is remote and a lot of strange things happen in the woods of nearby Medicine Lake. The Lava beds, nearby Tule Lake have pretty neat creatures, it is also possible to night drive that area on warm nights to find stuff--...

Great pictures, just like a pro!

Due to the dark, bold ventral crossbars it appears to be Contia tenuis -- Interesting find.

I read attacked, but couldn't imagine the turtle actually kill and ate it too; that is amazing! I can imagine reading about this one in a future Herp Review.

When I'm serious about herp'n, that's what i wear (Desert Eagles). Got'a say they are the best boots that I've ever owned and they were only $15 bucks. Second hand Military issue at the Santa Fe Swap Meet. The guy had a bunch of them, my only regret is that i didn't buy a second pair. I will be head...

VertNet: 1939 record form Santa Cruz Islands (Santa Barbara Co.) off the coast of Southern California.

No Night snake has been found since.

Could that "Gopher/King" is an average Great Plains Rat Snake or something else?

This does look daunting... A. Red-backed B. Red-backed C. Del Norte D. Siskiyou E. Red-backed F. Red-backed (yellow stripe reaches tail tip) G. Dunn's H. Red-backed I. Dunn's J. Larch Mtn (backdrop rock and moss) K. Red-backed L. Siskiyou M. Dunn's N. Dunn's (Stripe does not reach tail tip) 0. Siski...

There is a similar island account on Santa Cruz Island. Many, many, many years ago one was found on that island, but none have been found since.

good point; so I don't and I won't.

Regal, you have a lot of good points, but its hard to follow the jargon.

Pretty cool, reminds me of finding them at Stoddard Ridge decades ago. Also found a juvenile banded gecko, Giant hairy Scorpion, and some chucks that day.

Interesting post!!

I dont know of any precise locations, but if you want to see more than Side-blotched Lizards your best bet is to flip. Especially where there are old deposits scattered boards. Google earth can help find with locating some. Chuckwallas will be out, if its sunny and warm.

Dang, those are some awesome creatures, and to think you find this stuff while working. Those frogs are incredible

Steve Bledsoe wrote:...be careful with cholla cactus. Cholla spines seem to have the ability to penetrate anything!

I lost a new tire after a thin cholla spine poked through the sidewall to produce a slow leak. I refused to believe it, but it was true, and that new tire was trashed--bummer

WoW, you're like an Australian local, you found a tone of cool stuff. Many, many years ago my brother and I got a flat at Alamo Lake, Arizona, the lugs were frozen and the tow truck driver that arrived to help, simply took out a hammer and broke them off. I had never forgot that, and as long as not ...

Pretty cool. Those "few people" you mentioned must be pulling your leg or just extremely jealous of your blockbuster stardom. I didn't notice anything to be concerned about, but please, do let me know if everyone starts partying at that rock with a fissure in it.

1. Coast
2. Copes
3. Coast
4. Copes
5. Copes
6. Coast
7. Coast
8. Coast
9. Coast

I mainly look at the gill, tail fin, and overall bulk.

Amazing variety of herps with some great shots. I'm glad that i didnt skip this post!

Now that's and Aneides. Thats pretty cool--buffy head. Decades ago when finding my first Arboreals, all were rather small, and then I found a large adult, like the one pictured, I was shocked--Holy Moly!! I no idea they got so massive.

Saw the post earlier when it was a poll, so I'm chiming in with an unbias response. 1). Dunn's (looks a lot like a Del Norte, but that wasnt an option.) 2). Long-toed (well, its the "long-toe"). 3). Clouded (large jaw muscles, rusty color on tail.) 4). Clouded (clouded brassy tone as well as coagula...