What's happening in this photo?
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Bryan Hamilton
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 9:49 pm
What's happening in this photo?
I found this on inaturalist. Pretty cool feeding observation from Arizona.
I'm looking for corroboration on the species involved in this photo.
Thank you.
Edit: The photographer asked me to take the photo down.
Follow the link to see the photo.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observation ... nt_2730489
I'm looking for corroboration on the species involved in this photo.
Thank you.
Edit: The photographer asked me to take the photo down.
Follow the link to see the photo.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observation ... nt_2730489
Re: What's happening in this photo?
It looks like a shovel nosed snake Bryan and what its doing is strongly similiar to what I see snakes doing in enclosures where they are exposed to ubv wavelengths.
I have dozens and dozens of photos of this discreet behavior.
I think it is a basking behavior or a way of 'testing' temperature and lighting conditions with less risk than 1rst quadrant head/heart/lung body exposure to predators.
I have dozens and dozens of photos of this discreet behavior.
I think it is a basking behavior or a way of 'testing' temperature and lighting conditions with less risk than 1rst quadrant head/heart/lung body exposure to predators.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I wont be embarrassed - well maybe a little - if i saw the gray object as something inorganic, in front of, a snake's tail exposed out of cover.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I have never seen a live blind snake, but if that is a blind snake eating a shovel nosed snake, then I am hopeful that my theory of caudal exposure doesnt seem as crazy as it sounds.
I swear that thing looks like a piece of wire fence. I didnt focus on it and in my excitement just saw the snake's tail, which turns me into a perception theory in itself!
Is that what that is??
I swear that thing looks like a piece of wire fence. I didnt focus on it and in my excitement just saw the snake's tail, which turns me into a perception theory in itself!
Is that what that is??
-
- Posts: 116
- Joined: July 9th, 2010, 5:39 pm
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Seems to be a Ring-necked Snake preying on either a Ground Snake or Banded Sand Snake. More info would help, but with the characters to be seen in the photo, I come down on the side of Chilomeniscus with Sonora running a close second.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Theres nothing like the quick sear of an enthusiastic mistake to inspire one to learn more - now Im impelled to better learn about the small banded guys of Arizona.
Thanks!
I do hope though that my caudal exposure observation is someday shared/ looked into and that I havent marred its potential as a 'thing'
Thanks!
I do hope though that my caudal exposure observation is someday shared/ looked into and that I havent marred its potential as a 'thing'
- Bryan Hamilton
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 9:49 pm
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Here's a link to the observation on inaturalist.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3540904
Folks are trying to say both snakes are ground snakes. To me the "eater" is definitely not a groundsnake. I've never seen that pattern or color combination in a groundsnake and I love to look at pictures of groundsnake variability....
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3540904
Folks are trying to say both snakes are ground snakes. To me the "eater" is definitely not a groundsnake. I've never seen that pattern or color combination in a groundsnake and I love to look at pictures of groundsnake variability....
Re: What's happening in this photo?
In the link pic i can easily see the scalation, eyes and even head musculature of the Grey Snake, even the slight compression of the banded snake being eaten.
But what is the grey snake?
But what is the grey snake?
- Kookamongus
- Posts: 25
- Joined: September 18th, 2018, 12:31 pm
- Location: San Francisco Bay area
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Looks to be a really large ringneck snake eating a ground snake.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
The ringneck snake eating a snake makes that most likely, instead of a freak eating event and looking more like a standard snake in a clearer pic but could someone apply some clarity to me about the cryptic banded sand/ground snake species of SW?
Im not clear on identifying those. Its muddled to me.
Im not clear on identifying those. Its muddled to me.
- Bryan Hamilton
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 9:49 pm
- Fieldherper
- Posts: 252
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 10:46 am
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I think it's a Regal ringneck eating a ground snake. The larger ringneck are notorious snake-eaters. In AZ, ringnecks can occur in semi-arid and even arid areas at higher elevations, but they are very unlikely to occur in the same habitat as banded sand snakes or shovel nosed snakes. The small amount of habitat visible in the photo suggests against lower desert.
FH
FH
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Neat observation of a Diadophis eating a Chilomeniscus. I’ve heard there are “ringless” ring necks in some parts of AZ but have as yet to find one.
- Paul Freed
- Posts: 130
- Joined: November 10th, 2013, 12:14 pm
- Location: Pacific Northwest (Oregon) U.S.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I photographed an all grey Sonora semiannulata in Study Butte, west Texas back in 2004 (see below) that looks similar to the one in the posted observation. What do you all think?
Paul
Paul
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Re: What's happening in this photo?
Sometimes hints or flecks of pigment can be a clue, when a solid mutation is compared to a phenotypically solid colored snake of contention, which will Always have a typically pigmented iris.
An atypically solid specimen may have irises that are also pigmented atypically ( a shade matching the body, or the blotches, bands, belly color that aint there)
This isnt like, something I picked up per captive morphs which I really dont follow, and dont think they would follow the same, in the applied genetic mish mosh..
Anyway someone with Regal and Ground Snake color forms would be able to peep more. Ive already screwed up with my initial jump in but I wonder if any one can resolute on the irises for a possible clue. Since they are both brightly marked usually my input may be moot but Im interested
An atypically solid specimen may have irises that are also pigmented atypically ( a shade matching the body, or the blotches, bands, belly color that aint there)
This isnt like, something I picked up per captive morphs which I really dont follow, and dont think they would follow the same, in the applied genetic mish mosh..
Anyway someone with Regal and Ground Snake color forms would be able to peep more. Ive already screwed up with my initial jump in but I wonder if any one can resolute on the irises for a possible clue. Since they are both brightly marked usually my input may be moot but Im interested
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I have to vote for another " Diadophis eating a Chilomeniscus."
On Gray Sonora ..... Have there been any records of ophiophagy by Chilomeniscus or Sonora?
On Gray Sonora ..... Have there been any records of ophiophagy by Chilomeniscus or Sonora?
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Hey guys, Im still quite struck by the absolute mathematical rigidity of the gray snake - could it also be a clue?
Would a Ringneck snake take on such an unusual conformation, or if its not a ringneck, could that be a kind of reactive physical - to ie; "biting off more than it bargained for" Or has it ever been seen with small species eating large, linear inverts?
Would a Ringneck snake take on such an unusual conformation, or if its not a ringneck, could that be a kind of reactive physical - to ie; "biting off more than it bargained for" Or has it ever been seen with small species eating large, linear inverts?
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Sometimes , when the prey snake stops struggling, a ringneck or king will backup to straighten out the meal that may well be longer than itself.
http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=264517
http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=161314
http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=264517
http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=161314
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Yes, Ive seen prey manipulation before, but that sure is a peculiar moment.
Like the King Cobra of his mini domain. Badass.
Like the King Cobra of his mini domain. Badass.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I think its important to let people see that the membership here operates in a dominatingly helpful spirit. I could have easily been shamed, or savaged, but that really doesnt happen here much, and its cool to share what we think, including odd esoterics. People here who are SW experts are patient and kind and Im stoked that Arizona is in my future plans.
I had started a notebook with Arizona Dreamin' on it and Fieldherper's post is written in it.
I had started a notebook with Arizona Dreamin' on it and Fieldherper's post is written in it.
- Brian Hubbs
- Posts: 4735
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
- Location: "Buy My Books"-land
Re: What's happening in this photo?
It is definitely a Regal Ringneck eating a Ground Snake. The locality precludes the victim being a Sand Snake.
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Brian, is this because of range or habitat?a Ground Snake. The locality precludes the victim being a Sand Snake.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
I'm with Hubbs. Ringer and a Sonora. That's a fun pic. I didn't go to the original source. In far NW AZ that is the only Sonora morph I've seen, but elsewhere they diversify.
Bryan - what county is the pic from?
Hubbs - what's shakin'?
Bryan - what county is the pic from?
Hubbs - what's shakin'?
- Bryan Hamilton
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 9:49 pm
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Hey Jimi,
Its from Montezuma Castle, Yavapai county.
Its from Montezuma Castle, Yavapai county.
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Thanks Bryan. I've never pulled in there for a look, though I drive by at least once a year. I like that ecotone as you run down the freeway through there into the desert. That seems pretty close to where the saguaros start / end.
There's some super fun herping a little farther down the hill there. Red speck land.
Is a Great Basin ringer still one of your white whales? Hey (here's a chance...) Mark and I are scheming a trip to not so far from Pioche this coming weekend; think you can make some time? I'd like to discover the Beaver Dam wash around the state line. Not sure what he's gonna advocate.
cheers
There's some super fun herping a little farther down the hill there. Red speck land.
Is a Great Basin ringer still one of your white whales? Hey (here's a chance...) Mark and I are scheming a trip to not so far from Pioche this coming weekend; think you can make some time? I'd like to discover the Beaver Dam wash around the state line. Not sure what he's gonna advocate.
cheers
- Bryan Hamilton
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 9:49 pm
Re: What's happening in this photo?
That sounds rad. Far enough south for mitchelli?
Re: What's happening in this photo?
Mos' defFar enough south for mitchelli?
Could call it a target...
Got time?
Re: What's happening in this photo?
If you see any snake tails on mild mornings, motionless for minutes on end before a foot fall, think about it.
Maybe soon I will be able to join yooz guys
Maybe soon I will be able to join yooz guys
Re: What's happening in this photo?
And take a pic!