My first trip to southeastern Arizona during monsoon season was quit memorable. I thought the tropics ruled when it came to herp biodiversity but southeastern Arizona comes close. Some of the sites visited included Sabino Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Coronado National Memorial, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Stronghold Recreation Area, Kartchner Caverns, Saguaro National Park, San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, and Catalina State Park. The majority of the snakes and amphibians were observed in the region of the Chiricahua Mountains. The night cruises in the Chiricahuas were done with Tim Dayton and his friend Gary. I will put the lizards and desert tortoise in a subsequent post.
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) on road during night cruise
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) off trail
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) on road during night cruise
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) on road during night cruise
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) on road during night cruise
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), juvenile on road during night cruise
Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)on road during night cruise
Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) on road during night cruise
Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus), juvenile on road during night cruise
Sonoran Whipsnakes (Masticophis bilineatus) were seen at four locations
Sonoran Whipsnake (Masticophis bilineatus) close-up
Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) in campground while I was on route to the bathroom. Always carry a camera with you wherever you go just as in the tropics. I really did not have the camera with me but the snake was right at my campsite.
Sonoran Coral Snake (Micruroides euryxanthus) on road during night cruise
Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)
Eastern Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) dead on road
Nightsnake (Hypsiglena torquata) on a rain wet road during night cruise
Nightsnake (Hypsiglena torquata) on hiking boot along with "shoelace snake"
Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer) dead on road during night cruise
Desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) on road during night cruise
Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer) investigating log
So much for the snakes. Now for the toads and frogs which were mostly found in the Chiricahua Mountain region.
Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus)
Couch’s Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii), male
Couch’s Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii), female
Mexican Spadefoot Toad (Spea multiplicata)
Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) on road during night cruise
Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) in chorus
Sonoran Desert Toad (Bufo alvarius)
Chiricahua Leopard Frog (Rana chiricahuensis)
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbieana)
Last but not least here are a few invertebrates of note.
Stripe-tailed Scorpion
Preying mantis (species?)
Lubber Grasshopper
I will definitely be returning next monsoon season to pick up the species I missed this time. This trip was an incredible experience.
Southeastern Arizona Trip... snakes and toads
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Southeastern Arizona Trip... snakes and toads
looks like a fun trip. Your variable sand snake looks like the tail of a gopher snake and your female couch spadefoot is actually a great plains toad though.
- John Martin
- Posts: 515
- Joined: June 9th, 2010, 10:57 pm
- Location: North end of Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Re: Southeastern Arizona Trip... snakes and toads
Wow, you had a great trip! Agree with bgorum - that tail is definitely connected to a gopher snake. The scorpion is a Stripe-tailed Scorpion, Vaejovis sp., and the grasshopper is a Lubber Grasshopper. Those grasshoppers are out in hordes during a good summer rainy season. You must have seen some Desert Box Turtles too while in SE AZ?
Re: Southeastern Arizona Trip... snakes and toads
John,John Martin wrote:Wow, you had a great trip! Agree with bgorum - that tail is definitely connected to a gopher snake. The scorpion is a Stripe-tailed Scorpion, Vaejovis sp., and the grasshopper is a Lubber Grasshopper. Those grasshoppers are out in hordes during a good summer rainy season. You must have seen some Desert Box Turtles too while in SE AZ?
Thanks for the identifications of the scorpion and the grasshopper. You are absolutely correct about the gophersnake. Now I definitely must go back and find a variable sandsnake.
Re: Southeastern Arizona Trip... snakes and toads
Thanks for pointing out my mistakes. The mislabeled great plains toad has been corrected and I added a picture of a real female Couch's spadefoot. The "variable sandsnake" photo has been relabeled as a gopher snake. At least I label the photos which unfortunately some who post on this forum do not do.bgorum wrote:looks like a fun trip. Your variable sand snake looks like the tail of a gopher snake and your female couch spadefoot is actually a great plains toad though.
Mitch
Re: Southeastern Arizona Trip... snakes and toads
Looks like a successful first trip to Az!
You found some good stuff, especially the coral, they're cool snakes.
And your scorpion looks like Hoffmanius spinigerus (formerly Vaejovis spinigerus).
All the best, Jules
You found some good stuff, especially the coral, they're cool snakes.
And your scorpion looks like Hoffmanius spinigerus (formerly Vaejovis spinigerus).
All the best, Jules