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"
Lithobates palustris
Warm day in early Feb.
Crotalus horridus
Plenty of rain this year made for good reproduction of these two species:
Ambystoma tigrinum
Male
Female
Lithobates capito
And hopefully drowned a few of these
Solenopsis invicta
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.
Just after hatching
Hemidactylium scutatum just before hatching
Pseudacris ornata
Lampropeltis getula
Nerodia sipedon
Pseudacris crucifer
Terrapene carolina
Malaclemys terrapin
Virginia valeriae
Graptemys barbouri
male
Juvenile
Apalone spinifera
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.
Macrochelys temminckii
Heterodon comparison
Heterodon simus
Lampropeltis getula
Pantherophis obsoletus
Spent most of the summer in the mountains.
Metamorph Pseudotriton ruber
Yearling Regina septemvittata
Black-throated green warbler
with chick
Agkistrodon contortrix
Crotalus horridus
Lithobates sylvaticus
Sceloporus undulatus
Agkistrodon contortrix
Crotalus horridus
Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Unknown ants
Myotis leibii
Crotalus horridus
Agkistrodon contortrix
Back in the coastal plain
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Yearling Farancia abacura, found along side Stereochilus marginatus and Siren intermedia
This pair of hercules beetles (Dynastes tityus) were found beneath a street light were a barn owl was foraging.
Whitish tiger beetles [Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) gratiosa]
Erythrodiplax minuscula
male
immature
More mountains
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Crotalus horridus and Agkistrodon contortrix
Crotalus horridus
That's it for now. Thanks for looking.
-Kevin
2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Rich in Reptiles
- Posts: 494
- Joined: November 30th, 2012, 7:45 am
- Location: Missouri
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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!
- Fieldherper
- Posts: 252
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 10:46 am
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Awesome! What else is there to say!?
FH
FH
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- Posts: 2248
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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.
The diamondback terrapin shot took my breath away.
Thank you for sharing your remarkable images.
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- Posts: 1165
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:25 am
- Location: Mobile, AL
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
That chorus frog tadpole certainly is interesting looking.
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- Posts: 362
- Joined: June 2nd, 2011, 4:17 am
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
The salamander egg photography is nothing short of incredible! Speechless!
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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.
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Sensory overload, Kevin.
too much good stuff!
I always appreciate pics showing field marks for later showing newbies. The hog comparison is first class.
too much good stuff!
I always appreciate pics showing field marks for later showing newbies. The hog comparison is first class.
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- Posts: 160
- Joined: August 30th, 2010, 11:39 am
- Location: East Coast
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
woot woot!
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
W
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
W
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Wow, I am so impressed with this collection of images. What an AWESOME series of photos. Your quality is top notch!
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?
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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.
some photos hit me hard and make me love life so much.
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- Posts: 20
- Joined: July 31st, 2013, 8:39 am
- Location: North Jersey
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Incredible photography!!! You should be very proud of what you've shared with us!!!
THANKS!
THANKS!
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Thanks for the compliments, guys. The maculatum egg photos is certainly one of my favorites from this year.
-Kevin
Probably more than I should.Rich in Reptiles wrote:You must have put a lot of time and patience into every photo, thanks for sharing!
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.BillMcGighan wrote:I always appreciate pics showing field marks for later showing newbies. The hog comparison is first class.
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:i nominated your maculatum egg phor foto oph the week because it's mega.
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.will lattea wrote:my only complaint is that you aren't finding/ taking photos of enough dark phases
Not that I am aware of.PNWHerper wrote:Are there other ambystomids that have similar or the same relationship with this kind of algae?
-Kevin
- Steve Barten
- Posts: 162
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 5:13 pm
- Location: NE Illinois
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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
I usually lurk, but this excellent post prompted me to comment. Hope to see more from you in the future.
Great stuff.
Steve B
- Bostaff of Asclepius
- Posts: 43
- Joined: January 29th, 2013, 9:21 am
- Location: Central Coast of California
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Wow, good stuff, I particularly liked the Crotalus and Pantherophis shots. Keep up the great work!
- Josh Holbrook
- Posts: 2196
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:11 am
- Location: Western North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Wow - what a great set! How are you getting some of the egg shots? Aquarium set-up and a big lens?
- Blacktail31
- Posts: 50
- Joined: March 2nd, 2013, 4:47 pm
- Location: Tucson Arizona
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Sweet post! That first C. horridus looks like a beast! Also love the Gopher frog. I don't see those very often. Great diversity!
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Using a homemade glass-bottomed tupperware thingamajig and a 100mm macro.Josh Holbrook wrote:How are you getting some of the egg shots? Aquarium set-up and a big lens?
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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.
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.
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
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.
- Kevin McRae
- Posts: 110
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:28 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Amazing photos, great post!
- Mike VanValen
- Posts: 2074
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:41 pm
- Location: Connecticut
- Contact:
Re: 2013 in Georgia and North Carolina
Yeah, definite sensory overload! The hoggie face to face is so awesome. I appreciate all the turtles!