It's been a while since I posted on here, and I've done quite a bit of herping since that time, so I guess I'll just jump in where I last left off, starting in the late spring in Tennessee.
As things started to warm up in the mountains of southeastern Tennessee, I got out cruising and herping more and more,
Tennessee by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
I turned up a few animals, but nothing out of the ordinary other than this strangely colored Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)
Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
And the first of many Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapenne carolina) that I'd see over the next few months.
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapenne carolina) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The summer started with a weeklong trip into south Georgia and Northern Florida, hanging out with people and doing lots of herping.
First animal of the trip was this Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuates)
Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Followed by an Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornata)
Ornate Chorus Frog by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After cruising for a while, my friend Josh Young and I hit up a secret spot to find some cooler snakes,
one of which was this Black Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygea)
Black Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygaea) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Followed quickly by another
Black Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygaea) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
We soon turned up one of my favorite lifers from the summer, an Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura)
Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
We ended up finding three that night, which we kept till the morning to take photos of.
Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Next day cruising was slow, but did provide us with this Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
And this nice sized Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus)
Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
We then met up with a good friend, Nick Scobel, and photographed one of the Mudsnakes from the previous night.
Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Then we went back to cruising for the evening, not having much luck other than some Barking Treefrogs (Hyla gratiosa)
Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
and this Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous piscivorous)
Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next day we made our way towards Appalachicola National Forest, but not before releasing the Mudsnakes
Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Im never truly happy with my photos of these things.
Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
First snake in ANF was a welcome Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)
Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus milliarus barbouri) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Followed by a good sized Corn (P. gutattus)
Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
That night was slow, only turning up a Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next day we did some hiking and had some luck,
many a Cottonmouth was found and photographed
Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
One of the cooler things we found while traipsing around was a small wormlike amphibian known as a One Toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter)
One Toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Also seen were Three Lined Salamanders (Eurycea guttolineata)
Three Lined Salamander (Eurycea guttolineata) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
And a Brown Watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota)
Brown Watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
More cruising turned up another Dusky Pigmy (S. m. barbouri)
Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus milliarus barbouri) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
And a Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Cruising that night got us my lifer Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)
Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next night, Josh and I headed off on our own towards Osceola National Forest
First snake of the night was a massive Corn (P. guttatus)
Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Followed by two Glossy Crayfish Snakes (Regina regida) a lifer for me.
Number 1
Glossy Crayfish Snake (Regina regida) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Number 2
Glossy Crayfish Snake (Regina regida) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
A young Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spilodes) was also seen.
Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spilodes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Next snake of the night was another welcome Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura)
Eastern Mudnsake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Eastern Mudnsake (Farancia abacura) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The last snake we saw before turning in was another Scarlet Snake (C. coccinea)
Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next day I left Josh and headed to the sandhills for a day of herping by myself.
The first snake I saw was a wonderful lifer, a Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus)
Southern Hognose (Heterodon simus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Southern Hognose (Heterodon simus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Southern Hognose (Heterodon simus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
That night was slow, giving me only this tiny Scarlet Snake (C. coccinea)
Scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next morning held some luck for me, first came a Cornsnake (P. guttatus)
Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Followed buy a welcome lifer, a Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata)
Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After this, instead of heading home to Texas like I usually do in the summer, I returned up to Sewanee to do some research on salamanders.
The study had me spending a lot of time in streams, finding lots of the usual subjects
Spotted Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus conanti)
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
At night I'd often head to nearby pond to photograph calling amphibians
Folwers Toad (Anaxyrus fowlerii)
Fowlers Toad (Anaxyrus fowlerii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Copes Gray Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis)
Copes Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Copes Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Cricket Frogs (Acris crepitans)
Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
One of the better finds from that pond was this larval Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Also seen one of those nights was a healthy adult Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
I'd often go flip for snakes on my off days, one welcome flip was this old Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen), I'd see many more of these throughout the summer.
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
One day while surveying streams turned out to be quite snakey, giving me a young Northern Watersnake (N. sipedon)
Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
and this lovely Black Kingnskae (Lampropeltis getula nigra)
Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigra) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
One weekend in June I met up with Noah Fields and Daniel Thompson and headed to Alabama for a weekend of herping.
Northern Copper (A. c. mokasen)
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The highlight of the trip was our incredible success with Red Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum sypsilla), of which we found 4.
The whole bunch,
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
#1 sadly in shed
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
#2
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
#3
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
#4
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
#2 & 3
Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Also found were two Rough Greensnakes (O. aestivus)
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
We also found a few Cottons (A. p. piscivorous) hanging out in a mountain stream.
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostema) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostema) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Next was a welcome Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus)
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After that we left AL, and headed towards Sewanee Tennessee, where cruising turned up a heft Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
We also found a Black Kingsnake (L. g. nigra) who had been clipped by a car and saved her overnight to keep tabs on her condition and photograph the next day.
She made a good recovery and was released in the morning.
Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigra) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigra) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After that Noah and Daniel left, and as soon as they did I turned up a nice Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Salamander continued to take me around Eastern Tennessee for the next few weeks, letting me see stuff like this Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spilodes) taking a drink
Midland Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
More Northern Coppeheads (A. c. mokasen)
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
It was after a few weeks of doing research that my partner and I finally found on of our main study targets, the Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus abditus)
Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus abditus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
During down time I continued to check the frog pond, finding this Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) a welcome sight in the Tennessee mountains.
Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
I also continued cruising, finding more Black Kings (L. g. nigra)
Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigra) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The research I did took me to some beautiful places up in the mountains.
Stream by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Creek by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Other random animals were seen both while doing research and while herping on my own.
Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Eastern Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)
Eastern Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Spring Salamander larvae (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)
Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)
Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
One weekend I met up with Todd Pierson to check out a stream for salamanders, and got some welcome finds.
A young Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathis welteri)
Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welter) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Multiple Green Salamanders (Aneides aeneus)
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Green Salamanders (Aneides aeneus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus abditus)
Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus abditus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Southern Ringneck (Diadophis punctatus) eating a Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathis audits)
Southern Ringneck (Diadophis punctatus) eating a Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathis abditus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
A heftier Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welter)
Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welter) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Cruising got me another Timber Rattler (Crotalus horridus)
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
I took one last quick trip down to south Georgia, but nor much luck was had, we turned up only this Eastern Kingsnake (L. getula)
Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
And another Dusky Pig (S. m. barbouri)
Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Although, on my way back north I made a pitstop and got some Pigeon Mountian Salamanders (Plethodon patraeus)
Pigeon Mountain Salamander (Plethodon patraeus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Pigeon Mountain Salamander (Plethodon patraeus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
To end off the part of the summer in Tennesee I found many more salamanders
Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola)
Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti)
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus abditus)
Cumberland Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus abditus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After all that time in Tennessee I finally drove the 20 hours home to Central Texas, and then immediately left to go on a trip with my friend Ben Stupavsky,
Hanging out near his home in North Texas for a few days got me some welcome finds.
Couches Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii)
Couches Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Plains Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne olivaceous)
Plains Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne olivaceous) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Nightsnake (Hypsiglena jani texana)
Texas Nightsnake (Hypsiglena jani texana) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi)
Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Collard Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)
Collard Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Collard Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Collard Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Prairie Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus)
Prairie Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Prairie Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Emory Ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi)
Emory Ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After spending a few days there Ben and I headed west for Arizona.
On the way we stopped off in New Mexico to find some Sacramento Mountains Salamanders (Aneides hardii)
Sacramento Mountains Salamander (Aneides hardii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Sacramento Mountains Salamander (Aneides hardii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Sacramento Mountains Salamander (Aneides hardii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Sacramento Mountains Salamander (Aneides hardii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
We arrived in Arizona the next day and began herping with some people who know the area.
My first snake in Arizona was a species I'd been dreaming about seeing ever since I was little, when I first saw it on the crawl I could hardly get any words to come out.
Arizona Ridge Nose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi)
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
While I was photographing this guy, someone else turned up a Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi)
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Only seconds after we let the first Willardi go, I heard a slight buzzing noise coming from a few feet to my left, giving away the position of Willardi number two.
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After a bit more walking I spied this prettier Klaub (C. l. klauberi)
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Then, only minutes later Ben flipped up Willardi number 3
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Last snake of the area was this brilliant Klaub found crawling out in the middle of a grassy field.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Some of the AZ scenery
Huachuca Mountains by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Huachuca Mountains by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Huachuca Mountains by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
That night we cruised in the rain, finding a baby Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)
Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
And a big fat ole Sonoran Desert Toad (Incillius alvarius)
Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next morning cruising got us a nice sized Regal Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis)
Regal Ringneck Snake ( Diadophis punctatus regalis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
While cruising around noon turned up a beautiful Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus mollosus)
Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus mollosus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus mollosus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
That night we left the mountains for some lowland desert cruising.
First snake of the night was a Sonoran Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer affinis)
Sonoran Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer affinis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Sonoran Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer affinis) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Which was followed by an adorable baby Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombes)
Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Next up was a Sonoran Nightsnake (Hypsiglena chlorophaea chlorophaea)
Sonoran Nightsnake (Hypsiglena chlorophaea chlorophaea) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Followed by one more Sidewinder
Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
The next day we returned to the mountains and found a different Blacktail in almost the same place as we found the one the day before.
Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus mollosus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus mollosus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
That night as we cruised we saw something in the road that I'd been hoping to see all week.
Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)
Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Also cruised were another Blacktail
Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus mollosus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
and a Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) who we photographed the next morning.
Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Last snake of AZ for us was a Sonoran Whipsnake (Masticophis/ Coluber bilineatus)
Sonoran Whipsnake (Masticophis bilineatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
That night we headed back to Texas for one night of cruising in the Davis mountains where we found an Ornate Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus)
Ornate Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
and several Canyon Treefrogs (Hyla arenicolor)
Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
and the last snake of the trip was a young Bairds Ratsnake (Pantherophis bairdii)
Bairds Ratsnake (Pantherophis bairdii) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
After that I returned home to Central Texas, where random bouts of herping found me quite a few Texas Spring Salamanders (Eurycea troglodytes), including one albino.
Texas Spring Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Spring Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Spring Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Spring Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Spring Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Texas Spring Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Last thing I found was an amphibian I had spent the entire summer hopelessly searching for,
Balcones Barking Frog (Craugastor augusti latrans)
Balcones Barking Frog (Craugastor augusti latrans) by Saunders Drukker, on Flickr
Now, I've returned up to Tennessee, hopefully to find more animals.
Thanks for looking.
Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizona
Moderator: Scott Waters
- jack4rogers
- Posts: 33
- Joined: May 18th, 2015, 5:35 pm
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- Contact:
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Wow, what a great summer!! Stunning pictures and great herps!
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Great shots and awesome finds all around - lots of diversity, too!
I think your calling Fowler's Toad at Sewanee (where is that, by the way?) is an Eastern American Toad. The warts aren't in clusters like they are with Fowler's, and the toad pictured has spurs between the paratoid glands and cranial lobes.
I think your calling Fowler's Toad at Sewanee (where is that, by the way?) is an Eastern American Toad. The warts aren't in clusters like they are with Fowler's, and the toad pictured has spurs between the paratoid glands and cranial lobes.
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Man, what a great post. Amazing diversity and the photography is outstanding. Look forward to you fall post.
Thanks for posting,
Nick
Thanks for posting,
Nick
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Nice post, Saunders. You've gotten to see quite a lot of diversity this year!
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
mtratcliffe wrote:Great shots and awesome finds all around - lots of diversity, too!
I think your calling Fowler's Toad at Sewanee (where is that, by the way?) is an Eastern American Toad. The warts aren't in clusters like they are with Fowler's, and the toad pictured has spurs between the paratoid glands and cranial lobes.
I agree that it looks more like an American, but the reason I call it a Fowlers is cause I sat and watched it call for a good long while, and it was definitely making a Fowler's call.
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Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Fantastic! Just too much good stuff to pick any favourites, although that last frog is really cool.
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
WOW, what a great year you have had!
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Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Interesting. And it's not like their calls are easy to confuse with one another.Saunders wrote: I agree that it looks more like an American, but the reason I call it a Fowlers is cause I sat and watched it call for a good long while, and it was definitely making a Fowler's call.
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
I was very thrown off by it when I saw him call.mtratcliffe wrote:Interesting. And it's not like their calls are easy to confuse with one another.Saunders wrote: I agree that it looks more like an American, but the reason I call it a Fowlers is cause I sat and watched it call for a good long while, and it was definitely making a Fowler's call.
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Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
pretty epic year so far dude. awesome
Re: Summer 2015, Tennesee, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Arizo
Great year you've had so far! Fall has not even started yet though so there is still a lot more to see before next year!
Where you found that brown Heterodon platirhinos, is there Heterodon nascius in that range as well? I could see that throwing off someone that doesn't know snakes . It had an outstanding brown pattern to it.
About the unusual color of the first Plethodon ruber:
I use to keep a group of Plethodon ruber in a rather damp, acidic environment. When I collected them near my house they were red, as normal. Over time though, they began to turn more brownish. It wasn't fast (over a few days), it was gradual (about a month). The artificial habitat they were being kept in was a little more wet and acidic than where I collected them. Minus the color change, they all appeared perfectly normal. A few months later I ended up releasing them at the collection site - I kept them for a short while just for student education.
So, based on what happened with the group I had, there may have been something different with the soil chemistry in the site of your brownish Plethodon ruber compared to normal site-selection by the species. I know some amphibian populations change habitat preference based on coping with environmental stressors.
- in case anyone is concerned about contaminating a population with my release: 1) I was younger and more ignorant/unaware of this issue at the time, and 2) there is still an exceptionally dense population of P. ruber at the site.
Where you found that brown Heterodon platirhinos, is there Heterodon nascius in that range as well? I could see that throwing off someone that doesn't know snakes . It had an outstanding brown pattern to it.
About the unusual color of the first Plethodon ruber:
I use to keep a group of Plethodon ruber in a rather damp, acidic environment. When I collected them near my house they were red, as normal. Over time though, they began to turn more brownish. It wasn't fast (over a few days), it was gradual (about a month). The artificial habitat they were being kept in was a little more wet and acidic than where I collected them. Minus the color change, they all appeared perfectly normal. A few months later I ended up releasing them at the collection site - I kept them for a short while just for student education.
So, based on what happened with the group I had, there may have been something different with the soil chemistry in the site of your brownish Plethodon ruber compared to normal site-selection by the species. I know some amphibian populations change habitat preference based on coping with environmental stressors.
- in case anyone is concerned about contaminating a population with my release: 1) I was younger and more ignorant/unaware of this issue at the time, and 2) there is still an exceptionally dense population of P. ruber at the site.