2013 End of Year post

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Tonia Graves
Posts: 212
Joined: December 8th, 2011, 2:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

2013 End of Year post

Post by Tonia Graves »

Hello everyone! Though I’m more of an accidental herper, I thought I’d share my end-of-the-year post with you all. Just a side note, any animals that were handled for photo purposes were released. Also if I got any of the ID’s wrong, please let me know. (Warning, some non-herp shots included.)


The first snake of the year was found stretched out on a dirt road and was holding up traffic (thankfully). I moved it out of the way so people could pass and it could survive.
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Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
Nearby habitat shot.
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Superstition Mountain Wilderness by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


Next were a pair of horned lizards found on the same day/same location.
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Regal Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma solare) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Regal Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma solare) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


This Yuma phase Kingsnake was found not too far from my home.
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R000520 by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


A couple common lizards for Southern Arizona…
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Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


A decent-sized Gophersnake near the house.
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Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


More local lizards.
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Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Sonoran Spotted Whiptails (Aspidoscelis sonorae) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Tiger Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


These herps were found while on vacation. The Gophersnake was incredibly docile and one of the larger ones that I’ve seen in awhile.
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Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Me & a Gophersnake by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
This Collared Lizard was fun to shoot, it would occasionally rush the camera when it saw its reflection in the lens.
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Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
A couple environmental shots for fun.
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S001126 by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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The Teepees by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


A couple more sonoran desert finds.
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R000588 by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Ornate Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Red-backed Whiptail (Aspidoscelis xanthonota) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


A trip to one of our infamous ‘Sky Island’ mountain ranges was also successful.
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Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


And finally our monsoon season got into full swing, bringing out the amphibians.
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Saguaro & Lightning by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


Things are starting to cool off and dry out around here, but the rattlesnakes are moving. I found this one without a rattle. Not sure if it was due to an old injury or congenital…
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Wester Diamondback sans rattle (Crotalus atrox) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Wester Diamondback sans rattle (Crotalus atrox) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
And one that strayed into my yard.
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Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


The rest of the images below are non-herp pics that I took throughout the season. Hope you all enyoy!

Mammals:
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White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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M000238 by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


Birds:
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Harris' Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


Invertebrates:
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Desert Centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Scorpion under UV light by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Beyer's Jewel Scarab (Chrysina beyeri) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Zuni Click Beetle (Alaus zunianus) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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walkingstick by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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walkingstick by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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Hubbard's Small Silkmoth Caterpillar (Sphingicampa hubbardi) by Tonia Graves, on Flickr


Good night everyone!
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Baboquivari Star Trails by Tonia Graves, on Flickr
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pjfishpa
Posts: 123
Joined: June 2nd, 2013, 6:51 am
Location: NW Ohio / SE Michigan

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by pjfishpa »

Looks like a pretty good year to me! Nice pics, that time lapse is really cool! Thanks for posting.
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Carl Brune
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Location: Athens, OH
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Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Carl Brune »

Nice post. That red-baked whiptail is really cool, almost looks exotic.
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pete
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Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by pete »

Some beautiful pictures there! The time lapse is awesome!
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azatrox
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Joined: June 9th, 2010, 6:51 am
Location: Arizona

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by azatrox »

Love the last time lapse and the lightning pic!

That walking stick is cool too!

-Kris
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AndyO'Connor
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Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:14 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by AndyO'Connor »

I'll echo fondness for the lightning and star trails shots! Some really nice animal shots as well. That red-backed whiptail DOES look like some of the central/south american species. Your tiger whip doesn't look like a tiger whip from what I can tell, looks too spotted in between the stripes, although they are really variable across their range and I haven't been to that area.
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Tonia Graves
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Joined: December 8th, 2011, 2:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Tonia Graves »

Thanks everyone for the kind comments so far. I'm really not that great with Whiptail ID's, so the Red-backed could be something else.... Not sure if they change coloration during breeding season like some of the other lizards do here.
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dery
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Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by dery »

The scorpion looks like a giant hairy scorpion.
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Rich in Reptiles
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Joined: November 30th, 2012, 7:45 am
Location: Missouri

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

Wow! Every shot looks awesome!! LOVE the star trails!!
ADCIII
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Joined: August 26th, 2010, 10:56 am

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by ADCIII »

Great Shots!!! Hope you don't mind if I borrow "Baboquivari Star Trails" for my next desktop background. Thanks, Art
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azatrox
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Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by azatrox »

The scorpion looks like a giant hairy scorpion.

The scorp is Vaejovis spinigeris, not Hadrurus arizonensis.

-Kris
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ThamnElegans24
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Joined: November 23rd, 2010, 6:44 pm
Location: Mesa, Arizona

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by ThamnElegans24 »

Great stuff!
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Tonia Graves
Posts: 212
Joined: December 8th, 2011, 2:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Tonia Graves »

azatrox wrote:The scorpion looks like a giant hairy scorpion.

The scorp is Vaejovis spinigeris, not Hadrurus arizonensis.

-Kris
Thanks for the ID Kris!
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Tonia Graves
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Joined: December 8th, 2011, 2:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Tonia Graves »

ADCIII wrote:Great Shots!!! Hope you don't mind if I borrow "Baboquivari Star Trails" for my next desktop background. Thanks, Art
I don't mind as long as you give me credit!
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Will Wells
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Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Will Wells »

Wow, I really like your herp and insect photos. The star trails shot is really spectacular!
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Mike Pingleton
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Re: 2013 End of Year post

Post by Mike Pingleton »

wow! great photos!

-Mike
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