...and what a year it was! Full of both highs and lows, I've met some amazing people, traveled to some stunning places, and seen some absolutely incredible animals.
I was able to herp 12 states this year (From AZ to FL to NJ to MI) and finally figured out my (ex)home state of North Carolina. Overall, I saw 71 different species of snake alive this year (and many more dead, including 5 DOR rainbow snakes), 46 species of salamander (40 from the state of NC itself), 33 species of frog/toads, 19 species of turtles/tortoises, and an untold amount of lizards (due to whiptails/scelops of AZ and exotics of FL). The best part definitely was being able to spend time with good friends!
I am just going to post a photo review, but feel free to look at my previous posts this year for a more detailed write-up of my adventures:
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=20395
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=20199
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=20076
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=19938
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... 11&t=19760
I'll start with my Florida trip from last December
Gopher Tortoise and Habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Corn Snake portrait by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Gopher Frogs at home by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Starry Night in Central Florida by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Sand Skink by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Hemidactylus portrait by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Day Gecko on a palm by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Striped Crayfish Snake portrait by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Tokay portrait by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Golden Gecko portrait by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Stars over Picayune by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake in situ by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Everglades Racer in situ by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake in situ by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Oustalet's Chameleon by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
My FOY Snake of 2014 was a lifer to boot...Queen Snake in NC
Queen Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Some early spring amphibs
Marbled Salamander and Vernal Pool by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Spring Peeper by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
My friend and I then made a few trips down to GA in March, and we were treated with these jewels
Eastern Indigo Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Indigo Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Jawga Gator by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose crossing the road by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
We then focused heavily on NC later in the spring and summer
NC Gator by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Coachwhip Periscoping by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Outer Banks Kingsnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Pine Barrens Treefrog by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Canebrake Rattlesnake crossing the road by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Pair of Northern Pine Snakes by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Southern Hognosed Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Top-down of a Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Scarlet Kingsnake and habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Top-down of a Southern Hognosed Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Southern Hognosed Snake and habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Yonahlossee Salamander by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Canebrake Rattlesnake crossing a road by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Red-phase Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
After that was a summer roadtrip to Arizona
Portrait of a Speckled Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Tiger Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of a Sonoran Lyresnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of a Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Variable Sandsnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Tiger Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Milky Way over Tonto National Forest by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Mohave Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Pajarito Mountains by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Mohave Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake in threat posture by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Mohave Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake in ambush by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Green Rat Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of a Sonoran Coral Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Sonoran Coral Snake on the crawl by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of a Sonoran Lyresnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Following AZ, I went home to Michigan to visit the family and was able to sneak in some herping
Prairie Fen in Southeast Michigan by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Blue Spotted Salamander by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake in situ by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Fox Snake in habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Blue Racer by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Blue Racer in habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Fox Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake in habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
After that, I moved to Maryland for school, so of course I had to make some herp trips to PA and NJ.
Long-tailed Salamander and habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of a Black-phase Timber Rattlesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Spring Salamander and habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake on a trail by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake in a Mountain Stream by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Eastern Milk Snake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Black-phase Timber Rattlesnake in situ by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
"Pinebrake" in situ by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Portrait of a "Pinebrake" by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Northern Pinesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Northern Pinesnake in habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
After that, I made a quick trip back to NC for the Orianne PYNH5
North Carolina "Cloud Forest" by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Weller's Salamander by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Green Salamander by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Green Salamander climbing a mossy rock face by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
That has pretty much been my herp year...can't wait for next year!
My real 2014 year in review...
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Screw you and your Saddled leaf.
Great shots, Santosh. Very very well done. I like your use of shadows.
-M
Great shots, Santosh. Very very well done. I like your use of shadows.
-M
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
If there was still a picture of the week...I would nominate your eastern coachwhip periscope shot in a heart beat. Great series, outstanding photography.
- Mike Pingleton
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
I am right there with you. That shot is sick.chad ks wrote:If there was still a picture of the week...I would nominate your eastern coachwhip periscope shot in a heart beat. Great series, outstanding photography.
Great work, Santosh.
-Mike
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Wow... what a year! some great shots of iconic herps. And now I know (hopefully) what to call the dor king I found just inland in SC... an outer banks king? I find myself intrigued by the Sand Skink... can you elaborate and hopefully post more pics? again... great post...jim
- chris_mcmartin
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Very, very nice.
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Thanks everyone! The coachwhip shot was probably my favorite capture of the year
As for the Sand Skink (Neoseps reynoldsi, but I think it has recently been reclassified) is an Federally Threatened species endemic to the Lakes Wales, Winter Haven, and Mount Dora ridges of central FL. It is primarily adapted to spending its life a few inches under the sand. These guys are super neat and can disappear into the sand in a heart beat. We found two, but were only able to catch one...along with a blue-tailed mole skink.
Now to focus on feathered "herps" until its warm enough to herp again!
The Outer Banks Kingsnake (L. g. sticticeps) is a subspecies found on Hatteras Island from Oregon Inlet Bridge south. A getula from SC is most likely just a regular eastern kingsnake (L. getula).hellihooks wrote:Wow... what a year! some great shots of iconic herps. And now I know (hopefully) what to call the dor king I found just inland in SC... an outer banks king? I find myself intrigued by the Sand Skink... can you elaborate and hopefully post more pics? again... great post...jim
As for the Sand Skink (Neoseps reynoldsi, but I think it has recently been reclassified) is an Federally Threatened species endemic to the Lakes Wales, Winter Haven, and Mount Dora ridges of central FL. It is primarily adapted to spending its life a few inches under the sand. These guys are super neat and can disappear into the sand in a heart beat. We found two, but were only able to catch one...along with a blue-tailed mole skink.
Now to focus on feathered "herps" until its warm enough to herp again!
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Agree w the coach pic! Great year for sure. Thanks for posting.
- Cole Grover
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Nice spread!
Your first "Hemidactylus" is unquestionably a Tarentola. Better find, actually.
Cole
Your first "Hemidactylus" is unquestionably a Tarentola. Better find, actually.
Cole
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Very nice! Thank you!
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Awesome thanks. My lizard ID skills are not the best lolCole Grover wrote:Nice spread!
Your first "Hemidactylus" is unquestionably a Tarentola. Better find, actually.
Cole
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Thx for the info... I love skinks and the idea of one adapted to life in sand is way cool. only saw some small brown ones, on my one herping excursion through that general area... although I did find a Tx horned Lizard on the Isle of Palms, which was a surprize. The DOR king I found was on a bridge to some sort of 'Pirate themed amusement park'... i always just figured Eastern King... it sure looks a lot like the outer banks one you posted. actual different sub-species you say? interesting... thought they were all just differing morphs of the same species... jim
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Yea the OBX kings are a subspecies of their own, and found only on Hatteras Island. Many look very similar to their mainland eastern king compatriots but exhibit broken "chains links" in their pattern. The stunner OBX kings look nothing like a regular getula though! I found 8 OBX kings this past spring and here is one of the prettier oneshellihooks wrote:Thx for the info... I love skinks and the idea of one adapted to life in sand is way cool. only saw some small brown ones, on my one herping excursion through that general area... although I did find a Tx horned Lizard on the Isle of Palms, which was a surprize. The DOR king I found was on a bridge to some sort of 'Pirate themed amusement park'... i always just figured Eastern King... it sure looks a lot like the outer banks one you posted. actual different sub-species you say? interesting... thought they were all just differing morphs of the same species... jim
Here is what a mainland king from just across pamlico sound looks like...notice the unbroken chain pattern. That is salt marsh in the background and one of my rainbow snake roads. I wonder how many rainbows this king has eaten over the course of its lifetime???
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Wow what great shots. That is a diverse year. Did that Micruroides make you work for that portrait? Great stuff all round.
Thanks for sharing
Nick
Thanks for sharing
Nick
- walk-about
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Re: My real 2014 year in review...
That Massasauga in the grass shot is just perfect! Also love the rock rattlers within their cryptic domain. Beautiful work indeed. I noticed you go with some fat ISO's and little 'flash on'. Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Dave
Dave
Re: My real 2014 year in review...
Thanks That Micruroides was a bitch to photograph hahaNACairns wrote:Wow what great shots. That is a diverse year. Did that Micruroides make you work for that portrait? Great stuff all round.
Thanks for sharing
Nick
Thanks so much! I loved the klaubs too, definitely my favorite finds from AZ.walk-about wrote:That Massasauga in the grass shot is just perfect! Also love the rock rattlers within their cryptic domain. Beautiful work indeed. I noticed you go with some fat ISO's and little 'flash on'. Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Dave
The D610 is full frame so I don't mind pushing the ISO. I usually start getting discernible noise around ISO 1600. As for flash, I try to shoot with natural light as much as possible...but sometimes that just doesnt work haha.