Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

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frogfish
Posts: 57
Joined: June 28th, 2013, 7:10 pm

Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by frogfish »

The last two weeks have been incredible to say the least...14 days of nonstop herping (minus travelling), almost 9000 miles travelled in a car haha. It has been a few days since I got back and my body still needs some rest lol. Anyways, here we go...

TO SEE MY PREVIOUS MID-YEAR UPDATE, FOLLOW THIS LINK:
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... 11&t=19760

The adventure started with a friend of mine flying in from texas, and me giving her a whirlwind tour from the mountains of NC to the Outer Banks. I didn't take too many pics, as this trip was more for my friend than me, but here are some of the highlights :) All in all, we saw over 40 species of herp in 6 days...the highlights included Eastern hellbender, Yonahlossee salamander, green salamander, Weller's salamander, Batcave Yonahlossee salamander, Red-legged salamander, Eastern Glass Lizard, Pine Barrens Treefrog, Barking Treefrog, Carpenter Frog, Eastern Kingsnake, Brown Watersnake, and Canebrake Rattlesnake. Some pics:

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ImageDSC_5551 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

After my NC roadtrip, it was a week long trip with friends to AZ...my first time herping the SW. I would like to say our trip would not have happened without the help of several people. Thanks to Kris Haas, Peter Lindsey, Mike Spencer, Frankie Casa, and Zack West for all your help!

Anyways, we ended up with 16 species of snake (5 crotes, 1 elapid, rest colubrids) in AZ and TX. Also got many lizard species (mostly whiptails and sceloporus, found a madrean alligator lizard and saw a Mountain Skink in the Pajaritos but was not able to catch it) and a few frog species (Colorado River Toad, Rio Grande Leopard Frog, gulf coast toad)

Anyways, here are the pics....I have the SW bug and already dreaming of when I can go back. Enjoy

P. browni
ImageDSC_6520 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_6533 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

M. euryxanthus
ImageDSC_6447 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_6416 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

S. triaspis
ImageDSC_6958 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

C. lepidus klauberi
ImageDSC_6768 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

another individual
ImageDSC_6608 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

Rattle-less C. atrox
ImageDSC_6407 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

H. chlorophaea
ImageDSC_6372 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

P. solare
ImageDSC_6347 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

C. scutulatus
ImageDSC_6835 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_6853 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_7077 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

C. tigris
ImageDSC_6254 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

another individual
ImageDSC_5828 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

C. atrox
ImageDSC_5674 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_5701 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

C. mitchelli pyrrhus
ImageDSC_6098 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_5991 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

Another individual...obviously lol
ImageDSC_5739 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

L. humilis
ImageDSC_5602 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

T. lambda
ImageDSC_5606 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

P. decurtatus
ImageDSC_5649 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

C. stramineus
ImageDSC_5661 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

T. hobartsmithi
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T. nigriceps
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T. marcianus
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E. kingii
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C. variegatus variegatus
ImageDSC_5705 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

Some whiptails and scelps

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B. alvarius
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Other random goodies

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ImageDSC_5951 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_6502 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr

ImageDSC_5965 by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
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chris_mcmartin
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Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by chris_mcmartin »

Awesome photography!

I think the first "scelop" in hand after the whiptail-in-hand is a Holbrookia.
Jacob
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Joined: July 1st, 2010, 8:07 pm

Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by Jacob »

Pretty darn good for two weeks!
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Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by Jeroen Speybroeck »

Great! What a ride!
chris_mcmartin wrote:I think the first "scelop" in hand after the whiptail-in-hand is a Holbrookia.
Yeah, and isn't the first one of those an ornatus?
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Tuataurifer
Posts: 52
Joined: November 6th, 2013, 6:38 pm
Location: STL

Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by Tuataurifer »

Santosh,
Looking GREAT buddy. You guys killed it, and im sure had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing man.
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pjfishpa
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Joined: June 2nd, 2013, 6:51 am
Location: NW Ohio / SE Michigan

Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by pjfishpa »

Great post! I love salamandering down in the smoky mountains. Looks like a great road trip for sure. Wonderful pics. I like that second Mitchell's pic with the tongue layed up over its face. Thanks for posting!
sawfish
Posts: 16
Joined: October 21st, 2012, 9:12 am

Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by sawfish »

nice work!
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Roki
Posts: 199
Joined: January 23rd, 2012, 10:08 am
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by Roki »

Nice post. Love that first shot. Great rattler shots too.
Roki
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Ribbit
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Location: Monterey Peninsula, CA
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Re: Two weeks of straight herping (NC/TX/AZ)

Post by Ribbit »

Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:
chris_mcmartin wrote:I think the first "scelop" in hand after the whiptail-in-hand is a Holbrookia.
Yeah, and isn't the first one of those an ornatus?
Yeah, it's Urosaurus ornatus. I think the upside-down one with the yellow throat patch is also Urosaurus ornatus.

You did great in the SW, especially for your first trip!

John
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