Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

[Rman]

With the passing of another terrific year in the field, it's time again to reflect with photos and recall good times with great friends.

Some Southeast Louisiana salamanders in January.
Webster's Salamander Southeast Louisiana, January 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Slimy Salamander. Southeast Louisiana, January 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Mole Salamander. Southeast Louisiana, January 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Things started to get going a bit early in Louisiana last February.
Texas Rat Snake. Southeast Louisiana by Armin, on Flickr

Louisiana Milk Snake. South Louisiana, February 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, February 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Some Louisiana finds in March
Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr
Huge canebrake. Near 6'
Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Louisiana Milk Snake. South Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Louisiana Milk Snake. South Louisiana March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Buttermilk Racer. North Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Louisiana Milk Snake. North Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Prairie Kingsnake, Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King Snake. North Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattle Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled Kingsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

isatchie (Slowinski) Cornsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

isatchie (Slowinski) Cornsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Kisatchie (Slowinski) Cornsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2015 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

April in Louisiana
Prairie Kingsnake. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Buttermilk Racer. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Coachwhip. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn snake. Southeast Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Juvi Canebrake Rattlesnake. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Slowinski Corn snake. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Prairie Kingsnake, Central Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Louisiana Pine Snake. Louisiana 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

May in Louisiana
Southern Copperhead. Southeast Louisiana May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Prairie Kingsnake. Northern Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Scarlet Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Western Mud Snake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King snake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Fl

Southern Copperhead. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Northern Louisiana, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Terrestrial Snail Sucker (Sibon sartorii), Yucatan, Mexico June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Redback Coffee Snake (Ninia sebae). Yucatan Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Variable Coral Snake (Micrurus diastema) Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Rainforest Cat-eyed Snake. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Casqueheaded Tree Frog by Armin, on Flickr

"Temple of Kukulcan" in Chichen Itza by Armin, on Flickr

Peninsular Ratsnake. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Peninsular Ratsnake. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Variable Coral Snake. Yucatan, Mexico 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Hognose Viper. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Blanchard's Milk Snake. Yucatan Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Morelet's Crocodile. Quintana Roo, Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Morelet's Crocodile. Quintana Roo, Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Herpers with crocosmiles! Morelet's Crocodile. Quintana Roo, Mexico June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Tzabcan. Yucatan, Mexico June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Untitled by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Banded Gecko. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Tzabcan. Campeche, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Hognose Viper. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Puffing Snake. Quintana Roo, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Snail-eating Thirst Snake. Quintana Roo, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Blunthead Snake. Yucatan Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Boa Constrictor. Yucatan, Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Another Tzabcan. Campeche, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Variable Coral Snake, Quintana Roo, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Banded Snail Sucker. Campeche, Mexico July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Cloudy Snail Sucker. Campeche, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Tzabcan. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Tzabcan. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Fer-de-lance. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Fer-de-lance. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Back to Louisiana

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Took the family to Texas and New Mexico for vacation. Huh, There were some snakes there. Who knew?

Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Eddy Co. NM. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Regal Ringneck Snake. Culberson Co. Tx. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Back home again
Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, August 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana August 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, August 2016 In situ by Armin, on Flickr

"I Want Mow King Snakes!". Baton Rouge, La. August 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, September 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, September 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King Snake. Southeast louisiana, September 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Snake Road trip with side trip to Missouri.

Dusty Hognose Snake 1. October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Dusty Hognose Snake 2. October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Southeast Louisiana

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Southern Copperhead. Southeast Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Southern Copperhead. South Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Southern Copperhead. South Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Southern Copperheads. Southeast Louisiana, November 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, November 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake2. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Speckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake1. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Corn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Looking forward to what 2017 holds.

[dwakefield]

I know I said it on Facebook already, but you had a great year of finds, Armin! Hard to pick favorites, but I love all those Canebrakes and Lampros.......and the Louisiana Pine and Tzabcan Rattlesnake are stunning. Any big targets for 2017?

[Jeff]

Armin

It appears that all of your commentary was deleted.

Jeff

[Rman]

Thanks Daniel!
Two targets for 2017. A Mole king and rainbow snake from Louisiana. Both are really tough finds here. I think there are only 5-6 accounts of mole kings in Louisiana so I'm looking forward to that challenge.


Jeff,
Thanks for your generous observation. I will be glad to comment in great detail about you in next year's post. Haha

[achillesbeast]

Awesome post, Armin. Your photos are superb.

[Soopaman]

You popped a good year, bud!

Your photography has really become fantastic. All these images are great, it's hard to pick out a favorite.

That Blanchardi has me itching to get to Mexico!

[johnwe3]

Great getting to meet and herp with you this year!!

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

All great, but the exotic Mexican candy is of course refreshingly attractive!

[brennan]

awesome pics Armaniac! looking foreward to another great field season man. BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!! probably because you left out all your commentary.......

[Ecto Hunter]

beautiful shots, Armin

- Robb Herrington

[chrish]

Awesome stuff. I can't believe I had to back out of the Yucatan trip! Way to rub it in!

All of that aside,....ruthveni!!! Damn! Are they more "common" in LA than they are in TX?

[Jeff]

BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!!

Like the number of mosquito bites fielded while waiting for the retinue to set up and arrange the camera/flash studio in preparation for R-Man to spend 15 minutes forcing a tired speckled king to perform a balancing act on a small log with its head 'just right'. If I had a nickel....

Speaking of Bothrops atrox, it occurred to me that the big Yucatan guy really shows why they are called "Barba Amarilla."

[gretzkyrh4]

Dear God, Man! Do you ever work?!

Looks like a great year. Hopefully 2017 will allot me a little more time out in the field with you guys.

Chris

[Rman]

Awesome post, Armin. Your photos are superb.

Thank you! I enjoy making them.

You popped a good year, bud!

Your photography has really become fantastic. All these images are great, it's hard to pick out a favorite.

That Blanchardi has me itching to get to Mexico!

Thanks bud! It'll be a great time when Mexico fits into your schedule. Can't wait.

Great getting to meet and herp with you this year!!

Heck yeah John! That's was a blast. Too bad you had to move shortly after. We'll have to cross paths again some time.

All great, but the exotic Mexican candy is of course refreshingly attractive!

Thanks a bunch Jeroen! Mexico was a blessing and a curse. Herping there is a magical experience, but after leaving I'm constantly jonesing for more.

awesome pics Armaniac! looking foreward to another great field season man. BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!! probably because you left out all your commentary.......

Thanks man! I think..
The good news is that I know it's going to be another good season. Really looking forward to it. But honestly, who wants to read commentary about three drunk "women" fighting in the street at 10am and blocking us from leaving a dead end street. "Bitc#! You broke into my mufukn house!" Haha

beautiful shots, Armin

- Robb Herrington

Thank you Robb!

Awesome stuff. I can't believe I had to back out of the Yucatan trip! Way to rub it in!

All of that aside,....ruthveni!!! Damn! Are they more "common" in LA than they are in TX?

'

Thanks Chris. I'm sorry you didn't make the Yucatan trip with us. It's very tough to get around rubbing it in when there are so many great things to find there.
Ruthveni are very tough to find in either state but they could be gone from Texas all together at this point and they're very spotty in the small remaining good habitat in Louisiana. Future very uncertain I'm afraid.

BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!!

Like the number of mosquito bites fielded while waiting for the retinue to set up and arrange the camera/flash studio in preparation for R-Man to spend 15 minutes forcing a tired speckled king to perform a balancing act on a small log with its head 'just right'. If I had a nickel....

Speaking of Bothrops atrox, it occurred to me that the big Yucatan guy really shows why they are called "Barba Amarilla."

It usually only takes me 5 minutes to get a nice photograph but the snakes become very anxious and agitated in your presence. I wonder if thats from being terrified of pickle jars that must cost more than a nickel. LOL

I'm guessing that Bothrops asper are called the same. Definitely some nice yellow though.

Dear God, Man! Do you ever work?!

Looks like a great year. Hopefully 2017 will allot me a little more time out in the field with you guys.

Chris

Thanks Chris, It was a great year. Hope you can make some time for the field too.

[sjohn]

Really nice post.....there are milkheads doing backflips over the Blanchard's Milk.

[NACairns]

Spectacular post, I couldn't buy a snake in Louisiana last spring but from your collection here looks like I was just looking in the wrong places. The SE US stuff would have been enough to inspire intense jealousy from me but add on the Mexican diversity is ridiculous. So many Tzabcan and corals. Congrats on a great year for herps and thanks for sharing.
Best,
Nick

[Rman]

Really nice post.....there are milkheads doing backflips over the Blanchard's Milk.

Thank you very much!
We found a few very painful milk DORs on the trip but when we found that incredible, and live! blanchard in the road, we were blown away. I'm sure we looked ridiculous jumping around and cheering on the highway that night but it had to happen. Another trip down there is a must.

Spectacular post, I couldn't buy a snake in Louisiana last spring but from your collection here looks like I was just looking in the wrong places. The SE US stuff would have been enough to inspire intense jealousy from me but add on the Mexican diversity is ridiculous. So many Tzabcan and corals. Congrats on a great year for herps and thanks for sharing.
Best,
Nick

Thanks Nick!
Louisiana can be very tough for herping. Road cruising is much less reliable than most places I've herped. Finding cover is really the only way to get success. Many of the best finds are stumbled upon while walking to the flip sites as well.

There were so many corals in the Yucatan that we started turning them away unless there was something unusual about them. They were beautiful snakes for sure. On the other hand, it took a few days before the tzabcan got going. When they did, we were on top of the world.

[ClosetHerper]

That is one massive Canebrake that guy is holding and the Blanchards Milk is beautiful. Great collection. Great Finds. great pics!