2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

Moderator: Scott Waters

Post Reply
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Stohlgren »

The title says it all. Pretty much my year to date, in more or less chronological order. Too many pictures, not much commentary.

My year started very slowly, with not much time in the field.
Necturus "lodingi"
Image

Lithobates palustris
Image

Warm day in early Feb.
Crotalus horridus
Image

Image

Plenty of rain this year made for good reproduction of these two species:
Ambystoma tigrinum
Male
Image

Female
Image

Lithobates capito
Image

Image

And hopefully drowned a few of these
Solenopsis invicta
Image

Ambystoma maculatum just before hatching. It is pretty well known that spotted salamanders have a symbiotic relationship with a green algae called Oophila amblystomatis, which grows within the egg mass. The algae provides oxygen to the salamanders while the salamanders provide carbon dioxide to the algae. Interestingly, it has recently been discovered that the algae even grow within the cells of the salamander itself, which is the first time this has been documented in a vertebrate.
Image

Just after hatching
Image

Hemidactylium scutatum just before hatching
Image

Pseudacris ornata
Image

Lampropeltis getula
Image

Nerodia sipedon
Image

Pseudacris crucifer
Image

Terrapene carolina
Image

Malaclemys terrapin
Image

Virginia valeriae
Image

Graptemys barbouri
male
Image

Juvenile
Image

Apalone spinifera
Image

Dipped a gigantic leaf pack, expecting Necturus, found this ammocoete state southern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon gagei) instead. A non-parasitic species of lamprey. The ammocoetes are blind, have a hood shaped mouth, and feed on detritus. Once they metamorphose, adults will breed and die without feeding.
Image

Image

Macrochelys temminckii
Image

Heterodon comparison
Image

Image

Image

Heterodon simus
Image

Lampropeltis getula
Image

Pantherophis obsoletus
Image

Spent most of the summer in the mountains.
Image

Image

Metamorph Pseudotriton ruber
Image

Yearling Regina septemvittata
Image

Black-throated green warbler
Image

with chick
Image

Agkistrodon contortrix
Image

Crotalus horridus
Image

Image

Lithobates sylvaticus
Image

Sceloporus undulatus
Image

Agkistrodon contortrix
Image

Crotalus horridus
Image

Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Image

Image

Unknown ants
Image

Myotis leibii
Image

Crotalus horridus
Image

Agkistrodon contortrix
Image

Back in the coastal plain
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Image

Yearling Farancia abacura, found along side Stereochilus marginatus and Siren intermedia
Image

This pair of hercules beetles (Dynastes tityus) were found beneath a street light were a barn owl was foraging.
Image

Image

Whitish tiger beetles [Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) gratiosa]
Image

Erythrodiplax minuscula
male
Image

immature
Image

More mountains
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Image

Crotalus horridus and Agkistrodon contortrix
Image

Image

Crotalus horridus
Image

Image

Image

That's it for now. Thanks for looking.

-Kevin
User avatar
Rich in Reptiles
Posts: 494
Joined: November 30th, 2012, 7:45 am
Location: Missouri

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

The photography on this forum never ceases to blow my mind, and this post certainly blew my mind! I didn't know about the symbiotic relationship between algae and spotted salamander egg masses. I will definitely look more into that, it sounds really captivating. You must have put a lot of time and patience into every photo, thanks for sharing!
User avatar
Fieldherper
Posts: 252
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 10:46 am

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Fieldherper »

Awesome! What else is there to say!?

FH
Tamara D. McConnell
Posts: 2248
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

So much beauty in one post...amazing! This is truly art.
The diamondback terrapin shot took my breath away.
Thank you for sharing your remarkable images.
Coluber Constrictor
Posts: 1165
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:25 am
Location: Mobile, AL

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

That chorus frog tadpole certainly is interesting looking.
Carl D. May
Posts: 362
Joined: June 2nd, 2011, 4:17 am

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Carl D. May »

The salamander egg photography is nothing short of incredible! Speechless!
User avatar
pjfishpa
Posts: 123
Joined: June 2nd, 2013, 6:51 am
Location: NW Ohio / SE Michigan

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by pjfishpa »

Your pics are amazing! Examples of what I strive for every year. Fine job man. Love that kingsnake pic and those timbers and that timber site are great too! Nice post.
User avatar
BillMcGighan
Posts: 2362
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
Location: Unicoi, TN

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by BillMcGighan »

Sensory overload, Kevin.
too much good stuff! :thumb:

I always appreciate pics showing field marks for later showing newbies. The hog comparison is first class.
will lattea
Posts: 160
Joined: August 30th, 2010, 11:39 am
Location: East Coast

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by will lattea »

woot woot! :beer:

i nominated your maculatum egg phor foto oph the week because it's mega.

my only complaint is that you aren't finding/ taking photos of enough dark phases :P

W
User avatar
PNWHerper
Posts: 667
Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by PNWHerper »

Wow, I am so impressed with this collection of images. What an AWESOME series of photos. Your quality is top notch!

:beer:
Image
I could stare at this one for a long time. Great shot. Are there other ambystomids that have similar or the same relationship with this kind of algae?
User avatar
Kelly Mc
Posts: 4529
Joined: October 18th, 2011, 1:03 pm

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Kelly Mc »

Each one so very Perfect, but you actually injured me with the Ambystoma in egg -

some photos hit me hard and make me love life so much.
jspreitzer
Posts: 20
Joined: July 31st, 2013, 8:39 am
Location: North Jersey

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by jspreitzer »

Incredible photography!!! You should be very proud of what you've shared with us!!!

THANKS!
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Stohlgren »

Thanks for the compliments, guys. The maculatum egg photos is certainly one of my favorites from this year.
Rich in Reptiles wrote:You must have put a lot of time and patience into every photo, thanks for sharing!
Probably more than I should.
BillMcGighan wrote:I always appreciate pics showing field marks for later showing newbies. The hog comparison is first class.
Thanks. I was glad to have that opportunity. Definitely more useful to have a side-by-side photo than having two photos, side-by-side.
will lattea wrote:i nominated your maculatum egg phor foto oph the week because it's mega.
Thanks, man. It's kind of funny, I always see the option to nominate a photo of the week , but have never actually seen a photo of the week on this site. Or maybe I am just missing it?
will lattea wrote:my only complaint is that you aren't finding/ taking photos of enough dark phases :P
Those shots encompass most of the variability I see in this region. You get dark ones, lighter ones, and brown ones, but you don't see the extremely dark or high yellow like I've seen photos of further north. Wish I could get up there with you, but I don't think it will happen this year due to some recently unforeseen circumstances.
PNWHerper wrote:Are there other ambystomids that have similar or the same relationship with this kind of algae?
Not that I am aware of.


-Kevin
User avatar
Steve Barten
Posts: 162
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 5:13 pm
Location: NE Illinois

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Steve Barten »

There is a lot of really nice photography on this forum but yours is just outstanding. Your composition, exposure, depth of field, and focus really raise the bar for the rest of us. I particularly liked the salamander eggs photos and Heterodon comparison ones. The juvenile Mudsnake also was beautiful.
I usually lurk, but this excellent post prompted me to comment. Hope to see more from you in the future.
Great stuff.
Steve B
User avatar
Bostaff of Asclepius
Posts: 43
Joined: January 29th, 2013, 9:21 am
Location: Central Coast of California

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Bostaff of Asclepius »

Wow, good stuff, I particularly liked the Crotalus and Pantherophis shots. Keep up the great work!
User avatar
Josh Holbrook
Posts: 2196
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:11 am
Location: Western North Carolina
Contact:

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Josh Holbrook »

Wow - what a great set! How are you getting some of the egg shots? Aquarium set-up and a big lens?
User avatar
Blacktail31
Posts: 50
Joined: March 2nd, 2013, 4:47 pm
Location: Tucson Arizona

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Blacktail31 »

Sweet post! That first C. horridus looks like a beast! Also love the Gopher frog. I don't see those very often. Great diversity!
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Stohlgren »

Josh Holbrook wrote:How are you getting some of the egg shots? Aquarium set-up and a big lens?
Using a homemade glass-bottomed tupperware thingamajig and a 100mm macro.
User avatar
CCarille
Posts: 380
Joined: January 8th, 2011, 5:51 am
Location: NY

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by CCarille »

Fantastic post Kevin! Some really great shots in there... I especially love the panorama over the mountains with the mist. Stitched together or a wide angle lens?

I'm also glad you answered Josh's question because the salamander larvae/egg shots are just outstanding! You've made me want to get out and experience with aquatic egg photography.
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Stohlgren »

Thanks, Chris. I used my cameras pano mode for that photo. I would have preferred to stitch it manually if I had brought my tripod. Have fun trying out some egg photography.
User avatar
Kevin McRae
Posts: 110
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:28 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Kevin McRae »

Amazing photos, great post!
User avatar
Mike VanValen
Posts: 2074
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:41 pm
Location: Connecticut
Contact:

Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina

Post by Mike VanValen »

Yeah, definite sensory overload! The hoggie face to face is so awesome. I appreciate all the turtles!
Post Reply