Dangerfield Herps

[El Garia]

We've all got them; herps that get no respect. Sometimes people refer to these abundant, easily found herps as 'trash herps', but we won't use that phrase, here. I'm talking about the common stuff that you don't really give a second thought to and rarely bother to photograph. When I herp with visitors to the Bay Area, I see the appreciation that others have for our commonly encountered herps, and it can't help but rub off a little on me. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the common but seldom-posted herps from other regions across the country and globe.
Please, add your resident 'Dangerfields' to the thread!

The California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus)
Batrachoseps attenuatus by Mo'o, on Flickr

[Tamara D. McConnell]

I love this idea! Will be following this avidly, and will find some things to contribute after work.

[krismunk]

Copenhagen, Denmark

Common toad, Bufo bufo



You will of course see these posted quite often in northern European reports but that's just because our diversity is so low we have to post everything


...kinda looks like Rodney too.

[AndyKraemer]

Great post idea! I can't help but post two photos. The first is a common species from Ohio, while the second is the most common herp one will see in Galápagos.

Plethodon cinereus by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr


Microlophus duncanensis by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr

[cbernz]

I can't think of a better candidate in my area than Green Frog:



This photo is from 2005, and I'm pretty sure I haven't shot one since. I pay about as much attention to them as I do to dandelions in a field.

[cbernz]

BTW that cinereus is a stunner!

[justinm]

Cottonmouths are cheap to be sure but they're fascinating and beautiful and after years of not photographing them, I decided I was the one missing out.

Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This was a real bruiser doing it's thing and just being observed from a distance.
Western Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

During a photoshoot at Snake Road this one was so upset it tried to fool us into thinking that it's a Cobra.
Western Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This one is showing off it's namesake, it's all a threat they're not aggressive at all.
Western Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

[AndyKraemer]

BTW that cinereus is a stunner!

Thanks! It was a partial-erythristic from near Cleveland. Red-backs comes in so many beautiful hues!

For example:

Plethodon cinereus by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr

[JAMAUGHN]

I love this idea, too. Here are a few:

California Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus, with a Tylobolus Millipede by JAMES MAUGHN, on Flickr

Coast Range Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii by JAMES MAUGHN, on Flickr

...and a Bangkok raccoon:
Common Water Monitor, Varanus salvator by JAMES MAUGHN, on Flickr

JimM

[Tamara D. McConnell]

Rough greens, common denizen of the foliage:
green1 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
green by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
The ubiquitous moc:
moc tongue by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Coupla corns:
grumpy corn by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
corn by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Can’t have common stuff without a racer:
racer by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Or a rat:
ratball by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
And lastly, the most Dangerfield of all of the snakes here, the banded water snake:
juv nerodia in situ by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr

[Kyle from Carolina]

Tamara, that corn with the silvery background might be one of the prettiest corns I've ever seen. Is that typical for your locale?

[Soopaman]

I've entertained quite a few folks from various parts of the country, and almost always they excitedly want to see copperheads. I always try to urge them to focus on something else, and we'll come across copper heads even if we wish to avoid them!

Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix (Southern Copperhead) by Kyle, on Flickr

[Tamara D. McConnell]

Tamara, that corn with the silvery background might be one of the prettiest corns I've ever seen. Is that typical for your locale?

I do not usually see them with that much silver, no.

[AndyKraemer]

This thread is a lot of fun. One thing I've learned here is how much more I need to get out! So many of these species haven't yet made it to my life list. Case in point, the copperheads. I know, right? I have the worst luck finding vipers.

Keep posting your favorite 'Dangerfield Herps' (I love the thread name)!

Cheers,
Andy

[intermedius]

This is a great thread. Here's some of the common amphibians from New Jersey / Northeast

Northern Two-lined Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Northern Two-lined Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Northern Two-lined Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Two-lined Salamander Egg Mass by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Weird Redback Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Fowler's Toad by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Fowler's Toad by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Bullfrog by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

- Justin

[Zach_Lim]

Sierra Tree Frog (Pseudacris sierra)



California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)



Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus)

[NACairns]

Great idea.
Gartersnakes (Thamnophis) in general seem to be commonly written off, despite their colours and diversity.
Growing up on the west coast people ignored T. ordinoides:
Thamnophis ordinoides by N Cairns, on Flickr
Few people back in Saskatchewan and Manitoba give T. radix a second look:
Thamnophis radix by N Cairns, on Flickr
Now that I'm out east(ish) it's Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis:
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (hypermelanistic) by N Cairns, on Flickr

Peepers often seen to be written off they happen to be the focus of my research so I've really noticed that.
Pseudacris crucifer by N Cairns, on Flickr

[Aneides Aeneus]

This is one the best thread idea I've seen in a while!

I think the herp I see the most of is the red-spotted newt:


Seal salamander:
Seal salamander by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Slimy:
Northern slimy salamander by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Few things fit better into the "trash herps" category than american toads (of course, no herps are truly trash):
American toad by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Garter snake:


Ringneck:
Northern ringneck snake by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Queen snakes were once very common in my neighborhood, and there used to be a thriving population less than a block from my house. They were some of the first snakes I ever saw, and for a long time I assumed they were common everywhere. Now that they have become scarce in my neighborhood, I am beginning to realize that they are way cooler than I thought:


-Ananth

[Tamara D. McConnell]

This might be my favorite thread ever. Am loving it so much.

[pjfishpa]

C. serpentina. Someone said this on here before, I don't remember who... "If they weren't so common they'd be everyone's favorite!" I couldn't agree more.

[Muchobirdnerd]

Storeria dekayi dekayi by MUCHMORE DESIGN LLC., on Flickr

Storeria dekayi dekayi

[JAMAUGHN]

I love how many of these I'd give my eye teeth to see. (Rough Green Snakes! Queen snakes! I mean, really...) Anyway, here's a Western Side-blotched Lizard I saw yesterday:

Western Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr


JImM