Theme 6 - Camouflage

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BillMcGighan
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Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

Theme 6 - Camouflage

The spirit of this theme is to show herps (or maybe even other creatures), that you may have encountered, that show an ability to blend into a surrounding.
Any pics that can show a really good example might want to be followed by a pic that points out the camouflaged individual, if possible.

An added caveat might be for pics of herps that didn’t really quite make it, like a bright green anole who was sure he wasn't seen on a brown piece of wood.



Resist pics that are so far away, you can’t see the animal, but it’s not because it’s camouflaged, it’s just too far to see.


Example:

Do you see the Rat Snake in the picture?
You’re good if you do.

Image


It is not really camouflaged; it’s just too far to see.


Image

Image


General guidelines:
. One post per day.
. No more than 3 pics per post.
. Pics can be of great or poor quality, as long as they communicate the theme.
. Pics can be from any time in your library.
. If you like, paint a picture with any interesting short story that includes the theme and enhances your pics.


Theme 7 – “Photo bombs” will follow next week on Saturday, unless contribution momentum slows to a crawl, then we’ll start it sooner.



Theme lineup for first group of themes:

Theme 7 Photo bombs (human or otherwise) that get into the frame as you are taking the picture. These would include inadvertent herps that you didn't realize were there when you took the picture.
Theme 8 Dealing with the public, either a lesson or a lecture to a group of non-herpers, LE encounters, etc. The common thread here being a herper in an interaction with non-herper
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Josh Young
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Josh Young »

Juvenile gray rat snake, displaying it's common name here in south Georgia, oak snake, as it blends in with a oak tree in my yard.

ImageGray rat snake. by Joshua W. Young, on Flickr

A large rough green snake, that baffled a few herpers as to if it were indeed a snake or leaves. It took taking a photo and zooming in on it to see scalation to determine it was indeed a snake.

ImageRough green snake sleeping. by Joshua W. Young, on Flickr

And a brooks kingsnake that thought he was a little more blended in that he really was.

ImageBrooksi Florida kingsnake. by Joshua W. Young, on Flickr
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

An Oldie, but a Goodie.
circa 1979, Copperhead in my yard.


Image

Image

Image
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Stohlgren
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Stohlgren »

Copperheads are certainly one of the best camouflaged snakes in the east.
Image
One of these copperheads is pretty obvious (as is the rattlesnake), but it wasn't until I viewed my photos on the computer that I realized there was a second copperhead hiding under the leaves (in the middle of the frame).
Image
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

Wow, Kevin,
That second is an accident waiting to happen to some herper who's overconfident and has to touch everything seen!!
simus343
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by simus343 »

These critters can be a lot harder to find than this picture makes it look when walking through a swamp submerged to my chest. The effort I put in to find these critters makes me feel like they belong here as being camouflaged haha.
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I looked right over this Narrow-mouth. I would have never found it had it not moved onto the grass. Sitting amongst the wet, burnt ground, allows the brown and black of the frog to really break up its body shape. Not to mention the debris stuck to it.
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This one I'm calling camo because I can't ID the darn critter! It was along a creek that has both Agkistrodon piscovorus and Nerodia taxispilota. If it was a Nerodia, it used its natural camo well because I left it alone thinking it was an Agkistrodon at the time. Anyone care to wager? Can't see the head or tail.
Image
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Rich in Reptiles
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

ImageGreen frog in situ by Bethany Avilla, on Flickr

Imagerough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Bethany Avilla, on Flickr

The ultimate camouflaged animal- the green salamander! Thanks to Joseph Jenkins for helping me track down this amazing species last summer!
ImageGreen salamander (Aneides aeneus)!!!! by Bethany Avilla, on Flickr

ImageGreen salamander in rock crevice by Bethany Avilla, on Flickr

Have a great week everyone!
-Bethany
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JakeScott
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by JakeScott »

Some good ones. I've always tried to be careful, especially in the fall, in copperhead country. There are some perfect examples here.

Here's an animal that takes its adaptation to dominant substrate to an extreme. Crotalus lepidus lepidus blending into it's pinkish sandstone home. I think C. lepidus ssp. are interesting in that you can almost know specifically where a certain animal came from just by it's coloration, which will generally match it's rocky habitat.

Image

-Jake
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Soopaman
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Soopaman »

Not a whole lot ever happens in the south central forums, so I figured I'd add some Texas flavor to our neighboring chapter.

This one is small in the frame, but it should be obvious in the focal plane:

Image
Coluber constrictor flaviventris (Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

A little bit more obvious but well hidden Pygmy rattlesnake:

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Sistrurus miliarus streckeri (Western Pygmy Rattlesnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

Canebrake from central Louisiana:

Image
Crotalus horridus (Canebrake Rattlesnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
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Stohlgren
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Stohlgren »

BillMcGighan wrote:Wow, Kevin,
That second is an accident waiting to happen to some herper who's overconfident and has to touch everything seen!!
Yep. That is from a gestation site. It is imperative to scan the leaf litter very carefully before putting your hands anywhere or when trying to set up for a photo session to make sure there isn't one of those guys hiding nearby.
simus343 wrote:I left it alone thinking it was an Agkistrodon at the time.
Good thing, because it definitely is a cottonmouth.
Soopaman wrote:Not a whole lot ever happens in the south central forums, so I figured I'd add some Texas flavor to our neighboring chapter.
Nice stuff, Kyle. You went a tad over the 3 photos per day limit, but it was well worth it.

Here are a couple eastern diamondbacks.
Image

Image
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Soopaman
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Soopaman »

Thanks, Kevin! Sorry, I didn't fully read the rules and missed the three per day part. I removed some photos and will post them later.
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

To pick up on Jake's concept, that some west Texas, variable toned animals sometimes resemble their rock habitats:

Image

Image

(Actually, I found this animal, while taking pics of a "lepidus", and while moving for a different angle, I backed up near these rocks. In the middle of setting the camera, a buzzing started a few feet behind me.
My wife was really confused because she heard the rattle, but it did not make sense that it came from the "lepidus" between us!)
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Noah M
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Noah M »

I have photos to share, but they are on my home computer. But, this was shared with me recently so I'll share it here.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2015/ ... hotos.html
NACairns
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by NACairns »

I didn't realize how few shots I've taken displaying crypsis. I have to rectify this.
There are some very cool shots on this thread but Kyle that canebrake is outstanding I also love Josh's juv ratsnake.
Phrynosoma hernandesi
ImageIMGP2664 by nacairn, on Flickr

This guy showed his hand but with his head down was very hard to see.
Apalone spinifera
ImageIMGP8308 by nacairn, on Flickr

Nerodia sipedon
ImageIMGP0517 by nacairn, on Flickr
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

When everything else on earth eats you, you have to be quick and hidden:


Image


Image



Or quick and not so hidden:
A boolean condition: camo NOT:

Image
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Soopaman
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Soopaman »

Here's a few more:

Image
Crotalus horridus (Canebrake Rattlesnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

In this photo a 4ft western diamondback is visible. I nearly stepped on this snake while looking for them on the Texas coast. Almost the entire body is in the photo, if you can find it.

Image
Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondbacked Rattlesnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

A little bit closer and easier to see:

Image
Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondbacked Rattlesnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
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SnakeStick
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by SnakeStick »

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Noah M
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Noah M »

Eastern Slender Glass Lizard. I saw it before it darted into the brush.

Image

Image
Coluber Constrictor
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

.
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BDSkinner
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BDSkinner »

Spooky how well these vipers can just disappear. The only good examples I have personally seen were mud covered cottonmouths. Never got a decent picture before they were disturbed.

As for other herps, I love fence lizards. This is during the 'show and tell' part of our excursion. I should have snapped a quick one when I first saw it from around thirty yards on a sunny tree trunk (it's tiny shadow gave away a lizard outline that interested my brain to look that way).

Image

How about a non herp shot? Found at the entrance to one of my favorite herping spots, a true chicken of the woods.

Image

This isn't the best hiding spider, but they can be invisible on rocks along a river. Never see them until you about put your hand on it. That's when you notice they are the same size as your palm.

Image


-Brad
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Stohlgren
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Stohlgren »

A couple more eastern diamondbacks:

Image

Image
And a large timber (canebrake) that I almost stepped on:

Image
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SnakeStick
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by SnakeStick »

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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

I thought Copperheads would dominate this, but it looks like EDBs win out!

Great stuff, folks.
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Stohlgren
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Stohlgren »

Or maybe copperheads are just so well camouflaged that we don't have as many photos showing it as we do diamondbacks?
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

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Noah M
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Noah M »

One of these sticks is not like the others. Pine Woods Littersnake.

Image
cherper
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by cherper »

I love these cryptic photos! Amazing how they use this defense and/or predatory mechanism. Here is one from last late Spring.

Image

Cary
Barry R
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Barry R »

Code: Select all

[img][/img]
Image105_4413 by Paleosuchus, on Flickr
Florida Pine, courtesy of Jimmy S.

Code: Select all

[img][/img]
Image105_1000 by Paleosuchus, on Flickr
Timber

Code: Select all

[img][/img]
Image105_0354 by Paleosuchus, on Flickr
Fence Lizard
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Noah M
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Noah M »

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) from last January

Image
Barry R
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Barry R »

Code: Select all

[img][/img]
Image105_4126 by Paleosuchus, on Flickr
Indiana Hog

Code: Select all

[img][/img]
Image105_3700 by Paleosuchus, on Flickr
Ky Timber

Code: Select all

[img][/img]
Image105_2613 by Paleosuchus, on Flickr
Illinois Timber
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Late in the game, but I've got a few contributions.
I love flounder- they are one of the most well camouflaged fish out there. I like snorkeling, and encounter them occasionally. I always watch them for a few minutes, they just fascinate me.

Here are some images of flounder taken in sea grass beds.
Imageflounder1 by bwboone, on Flickr

I do a yearly wildlife presentation for my sister's school, where she teaches second grade. After the big program, I stay and do a smaller presentation for her class. She tries to tie in my visit with her lessons on camouflage, and I created a powerpoint that shows images of camo animals. There are three pictures to each animal I show. The first is the animal in it's habitat:
Imageflounder (2) by bwboone, on Flickr

The second is the same picture, but with the animal circled in some obnoxiously bright color so that the outline can more easily be seen:
Imageflounder revealed by bwboone, on Flickr

The third image I show them is the animal that was in the pictures, but against a plain or a contrasting background so that the kids can see what the animal looks like by itself, and see how that camo helps it to blend in. They love it! (those are my three pics for today, so no 'blank' photo to show here....)

More camo photos later.
--Berkeley
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Do you see it? It is in plain sight.... ;)
Imagecamocritter by bwboone, on Flickr

A copperhead in motion, showing how their pattern and coloration helps to conceal them even as they escape:
Imagecoppainmotion by bwboone, on Flickr

Brad nearly stepped on this fellow as we poked around an old school building. This is in situ:
Imagecrohoratr by bwboone, on Flickr

--Berkeley

p.s.- the first one is Pseudacris ornata, just to the right of center.
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Sorry to drop all these posts all in a row...I've been out of town, and haven't gotten to contribute periodically!

Gaboon Vipers at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. (Great zoo, if you haven't been there). Gaboons have some superb camouflage!
Imagegaboon vipers by bwboone, on Flickr

And revealed, as I would show my sister's class:
Imagegaboon vipers revealed by bwboone, on Flickr

And one from the backyard:
Imagehylchr by bwboone, on Flickr

--Berkeley
Barry R
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Barry R »

It's been a good 10 years or so, but yes, Riverbanks has a good herp collection. I was particularly impressed with the "SC Gallery".
Except I recall a Pine Snake in an EDB exhibit, it could've caused an ID confusion for a less experienced person.
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Barry R wrote:It's been a good 10 years or so, but yes, Riverbanks has a good herp collection. I was particularly impressed with the "SC Gallery".
Except I recall a Pine Snake in an EDB exhibit, it could've caused an ID confusion for a less experienced person.
Agreed, Barry. That was my one hang-up that stood out to me as well.
--Berkeley
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

.
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

More good ones, James. :thumb:
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Stohlgren
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Stohlgren »

Since this one is still going a little bit, here are a few recent diamondbacks:

Image

Image
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Soopaman
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by Soopaman »

The other diamondback, to contrast with Kevin's.

He wasn't as camouflaged as he thought, but he never rattled or moved even when I brought the wide angle lens out and got close:

Image
Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondbacked Rattlesnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Theme 6 - Camouflage

Post by BillMcGighan »

These EDBs and WDBs are all great contributions, guys.
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