FieldHerpForum

Hi all, here's the second installation of photos from this summer: (see http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25132 for background info)

the drive into camp








"tubing" a rattler






anesthetizing






view over abandoned walnut orchard




setting up surveillance camera on a rattlesnake den




a look inside


camera in place


sometimes we have to be more creative to get the perfect shot


reviewing footage back at camp





some more miscellaneous drift fence captures



Pacific Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis)




pair of racers (Coluber constrictor mormon)


trying to look intimidating


young Alameda Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus)






Skilton's Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus)






Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer)








face-off




bat with parasites (anyone know what kind?)


California Ground Squirrel skull (Spermophilus beecheyi)


fox got stuck after climbing into trashcan (jumped out a second after this was taken)


friendly fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)


St. Helena Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata zonata)










Does anyone know if this species has been reported in Alameda County before? Peterson's range map is a little ambiguous:


abandoned ground squirrel pup










thanks for looking,

-Zach

Zach, that's some good stuff once again. You're right about that zonata though... There have been rumors of them reaching Alameda county, but that is the first one I've actually heard of being found. Do you know how long some of us locals have been trying to find that first Alameda county Z!?? Great find! I assume that was from one of the pit traps?

David

Thanks David - actually the zonata was not from one of the traps, it was found under a log by a nearby stream. Can anyone fill me in on the protocol for officially reporting this find?

-Zach

I haven't yet found anything particularly notable of officially recording myself... but maybe someone who knows specifics will chime in. You could also try reaching the herpetology dept. at U of Cal, Berkeley, or the California Academy of Science in SF.

Zach,

They've been found in Ohlone before. Not many, but they have been found. The animal you found is actually part of an intergrade population that probably spans the length of the Diablo range (Mt. Diablo proper is the big place to find them.). It looks just like the animals found a bit farther south on Mt. Hamilton. Nice looking snake! I've been doing research on L. zonata here at UC Santa Cruz for quite some time now. I'd like to ask you a bit more about the animal in a PM. Once again, nice snake and congrats.

Mitch

If you kept it, the scientific collection permit may allow you to donate it to the UCB vertebrate museum as a voucher (I assume it was inside the regional park, if outside the regional park, only a fishing license is necessary)

However - I would love to see it reported to the NAFHA database - http://www.naherp.com/ - which does NOT require the specimen be pickled.

-=-=-=-=-

Comment on the skink - if you aren't aware (and you might be), Gilbert's skinks also are in your area and can look extremely similar to western.

Here are some Gilbert's from Black Diamond Regional Park - which I think is not *that* far from you (a lot of the habitat shots are identical type of habitat):

http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=22832
http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=22833

I originally thought they were western, but they are Gilbert's Skink.

The easiest way to distinguish the two is from the striping on the tail - which can't be seen in your photo:

From - http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/ ... losus.html

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/ ... ipe604.jpg

The side stripe stop abruptly right after the hind legs.

From - http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/ ... ianus.html

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/ ... is3062.jpg

The side stripe extends down the tail past the legs.

Both species occur in your area.
Only mentioning it because I had to correct my ID of the Black Diamond skinks I found in March. I grew up in the Bay Area, it was rather embarrassing for me to have messed up a bay area ID

Nice finds and great post. You should be able to make a photo voucher for the zonata at the MVZ or Cal Acad. Very nice find.

Neat post. Those "parasites" look like to be bed bugs.

thanks for the info on the Gilbert's skinks - unfortunately as this is the only photo I have of this individual I don't believe we can say for certain as to whether its a Gilbert's or Skilton's.

-Zach

Another great post...

The parasites are bat bugs (Cimicidae), close relatives of the bed bug. Very common parasites of bats. I've seen many, but never lined up on the arm like that. Very cool.

I'm sorry, but at some point parasites have to make the transition to predator. If I had a mosquito that was that large in relation to my body, I'd poop myself!


Sleep tight,
Don't let the bat bugs bite.

DAN

Looks like someone might need to read my book...

Here's the species map for zonata from the book:


and the cover:


Heh heh...

Thanks for posting these. Great find on the zonata, a beautiful snake as were all the others shown here. You must be taunting Hubbs with that Peterson guide and locations on the zonata...it was like dangling a juicy nightcrawler in front of a large hungry bass. As I read your interesting post, I said to myself..."how long before Hubbs takes the bait?" Great posts. Peter B.

very cool. I'm surprised the bat doesnt just eat the Cimex sp.

Russ

I was gone and didn't even see the post until last night. I was impressed by his 3rd post and searched out the other two. That led to my seeing the zonata stuff. I figured Rulon Clark was involved...

Great post!
I've done quite a bit of herping in the Ohlone and Sunol Wilderness area. I used to do 20 mile hikes in the area when I was in Boy Scouts then started going back to herp it later on.

You're Alameda striped racer is actually a Calfornia striped racer (Masticophis lateralis lateralis)
The Alameda's stripes compose 2 full scale widths, or rather, one full scale with a half scale above and below, while your California's side stripes only compose 2 half scales in width.


Thanks for sharing and congrats on the Zonata!