Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Chapter

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ZantiMissKnit
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Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Chapter

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

I'm going to use this thread as a photo dump for the species I have seen in 2015. I think I'm at 63 or 64, right at the mid-year mark; these are from four states (MA, NH, PA and FL). I might switch out some photos for another, if I find one I like better (this happened a few times while I was composing this thread in Word).

I'm going to keep my own comments minimal on the photos, in order to initiate some discussion.

Enjoy!
Andrea

Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) – Carbon County, PA
ImageDSCN9722 by Andrea, on Flickr

Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti) – Collier County, FL
ImageDSC_0168 by Andrea, on Flickr

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) – Collier County, FL
ImageDSCN0608 by Andrea, on Flickr

Blue-Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) – Suffolk County, MA
ImageDSCN0917 by Andrea, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) – Middlesex County, MA
ImageDSCN1140 by Andrea, on Flickr

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) – Bristol County, MA
ImageDSCN0388 by Andrea, on Flickr

Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) – Plymouth County, MA
ImageDSCN9942 by Andrea, on Flickr

Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0474 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0410 by Andrea, on Flickr

Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0365 by Andrea, on Flickr

Florida Softshell (Apalone ferox) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0399 by Andrea, on Flickr

Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSC_0097 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) – Suffolk County, MA
ImageDSC_0025 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9949 by Andrea, on Flickr

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN0310 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9019 by Andrea, on Flickr

American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSCN0538 by Andrea, on Flickr

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) – Luzerne County, PA
ImageDSCN9666 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) – Franklin County, MA
ImageDSCN0455 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9354 by Andrea, on Flickr

Southern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) – Miami-Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0450 by Andrea, on Flickr

Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSC_0096 by Andrea, on Flickr

Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) – Middlesex County, MA
ImageDSCN9868 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) – Plymouth County, MA
ImageDSCN8971 by Andrea, on Flickr

Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) – Luzerne County, PA
ImageDSCN9613 by Andrea, on Flickr

Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porpyriticus) – Berkshire County, MA – State record for both NAHERP and Mike and me.
ImageDSCN0010 by Andrea, on Flickr

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) – Essex County, MA
ImageDSCN9153 by Andrea, on Flickr

Tropical House Gecko/Wood Slave (Hemidactylus mabouia) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSCN0553 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) – Franklin County, MA
ImageDSCN0431 by Andrea, on Flickr

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) – Collier County, FL
ImageDSCN0708 by Andrea, on Flickr

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) – Plymouth County, MA
ImageDSC_0045 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum Triangulum) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9286 by Andrea, on Flickr

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9038 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanota) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9370 by Andrea, on Flickr

Pig Frog (Lithobates grylio) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSC_0106 by Andrea, on Flickr

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) – Berkshire County, MA
ImageDSCN0002 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) – Middlesex County, MA
ImageDSCN0078 by Andrea, on Flickr

Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) – Collier County, FL
ImageDSCN0671 by Andrea, on Flickr

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) – Middlesex County, MA
ImageDSCN1061 by Andrea, on Flickr

Florida Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) – Miami-Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0458 by Andrea, on Flickr

Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana) – Miami-Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0485 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9436 by Andrea, on Flickr

Brown Watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota) – Miami-Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0592 by Andrea, on Flickr

Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSC_0009 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis Vernalis) – Monroe County, PA
ImageDSC_0024 by Andrea, on Flickr

Cuban Tree Frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSCN0573 by Andrea, on Flickr

Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus) – Carbon County, PA
ImageDSCN9713 by Andrea, on Flickr

Yellow Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus quadrivittatus) – Collier County, FL
ImageDSCN0679 by Andrea, on Flickr

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) – Luzerne County, PA
ImageDSC_0138 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) – Bristol County, MA
ImageDSCN0975 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) – Luzerne County, PA
ImageDSCN9624 by Andrea, on Flickr

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) – Middlesex County, MA
ImageDSCN1087 by Andrea, on Flickr

Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0416 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Red-belllied Cooter (Pseudemys rubiventris) – Bristol County, MA
ImageDSCN8925 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber ruber) – Luzerne County, PA
ImageDSCN9621 by Andrea, on Flickr

Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) – Monroe County, FL
ImageDSCN0565 by Andrea, on Flickr

Brahminy Blindsnake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSCN0438 by Andrea, on Flickr

Cane/Marine Toad (Rhinella marina/Bufo marinus) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageDSC_0022 by Andrea, on Flickr

Argentine Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae) – Miami/Dade County, FL
ImageLifer Tegu by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) Bristol County, MA
ImageDSCN8904 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSCN9048 by Andrea, on Flickr

Northern Red-Bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) – Luzerne County, PA
ImageDSCN9795 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) – Norfolk County, MA
ImageDSC_0020 by Andrea, on Flickr

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) – Carbon County, PA
ImageDSC_0044 by Andrea, on Flickr

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) – Suffolk County, MA
Imageimage by Andrea, on Flickr
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Noah M
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by Noah M »

ZantiMissKnit wrote:
Yellow Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus quadrivittatus) – Collier County, FL
ImageDSCN0679 by Andrea, on Flickr
Does anyone else think this is a weird looking rat snake? Most yellows I've seen have stripes, not saddles like that. I would say corn, but that doesn't seem right either. Just a juvi that has its baby saddles fading away? Maybe even a yellow rat with some Everglades rat in the genetic mix?
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mtratcliffe
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by mtratcliffe »

Great selection of herps! Looks like your trip down to FL did you well. Your Florida Red-bellied Cooter *might* be a Peninsula Cooter, but I can't see it's jawline to verify. Though I did find that Redbellies seemed to be more common than Peninsulas down in the Everglades.
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Noah M
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by Noah M »

mtratcliffe wrote:Great selection of herps! Looks like your trip down to FL did you well. Your Florida Red-bellied Cooter *might* be a Peninsula Cooter, but I can't see it's jawline to verify. Though I did find that Redbellies seemed to be more common than Peninsulas down in the Everglades.
Good catch. The rat snake caught my eye, but I double checked the cooter. It looks more like a Peninsula to me too. Red bellies have a, well, a reddish belly. Do you have a pic of the mouth at all? Cusps = red-belly No cusps = peninsula.
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

Does anyone else think this is a weird looking rat snake?
Yeah, I really didn't know what I was looking at when I saw it. It's eyes say yellow rat to me though, as did it's temperament.

I'll see what else I have for that cooter.
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Mike VanValen
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by Mike VanValen »

I can see the "hairpins" on the top of the cooters head. It's a Peninsula.
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beemaster
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by beemaster »

LOVE that garter snake! Found one just like it behind a supermarket back in 2002 and I've never seen another one like it before or since.
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by BillMcGighan »

Really nice mix of northerners and southerners. :thumb:

Toddler Blanding's was special.



Rat snake looks like typical Collier county. They often keep a hint of blotches as adults and are often burnt orange. First one I found was a hitchhiker under the cowling of my outboard motor after a fishing trip to Chokoloskee! :lol:
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

Okay! I've edited the turtle picture to reflect that it is a Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis), rather than a Florida red-bellied cooter. Now to go through all my turtles photos from this trip to see if I had any Florida red-bellies!

This, of course, increases my lifer list by one, so thank you! :D :D
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

BillMcGighan wrote:Really nice mix of northerners and southerners. :thumb:

Toddler Blanding's was special.
Oooh, let me tell you more about that little guy/gal. I got plenty of photos of it, so I could report it's notches, and emailed it to the graduate student who is studying this particular population, and this is his response:

"This is indeed one of our young Blanding's turtles. I can't tell the exact number of the turtle since it's a little too hard to tell which scute the notch is in on the backside, but the location of the front two notches tell us that this is a turtle that was released to the wetland in 2011. It is one of our non-head-started turtles, so he/she would've been released...[location redacted]... in September/October 2011 shortly after hatching out of its egg. These non-head-started turtles only have a 1st-year survival rate of about 26%, so it's very cool to see that this one is still alive and has made it on his own for the last 3 1/2 years. He does still look pretty small, but he would've only been about the size of a quarter when he was released in 2011, so he's actually growing up pretty fast. Thank you again for passing on this cool sighting."

I was so excited to learn about this!

Here's to this little turtle! :beer:

ImageDSCN9872 by Andrea, on Flickr
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chrish
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by chrish »

Pretty good year list so far!

This has to be the beefiest Black Ratsnake I have ever seen! What a hog!

Image
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

Magnificent beast!

ImageDSCN9716 by Andrea, on Flickr

ImageDSCN9715 by Andrea, on Flickr
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

Another one!

Eastern Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina carolina - Barnstable County, MA

ImageDSC_0022 by Andrea, on Flickr
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

Final species for 2015...Kemp's Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) - Barnstable County, MA, part of a rescue program with Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay.

ImageDSCN9615 by Andrea, on Flickr
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Mike Pingleton
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by Mike Pingleton »

Most excellent. I love-love-love the spotted salamander poking through the leaves :)

-Mike
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Jeff
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Re: Andrea and Mike's 2015 Species Seen (xposted from NE Cha

Post by Jeff »

The funny rat from Collier County looks like what was known as Elaphe obsoleta deckerti into the 1970s - the Key Rat, which was a yellow rat that kept the baby blotches.

My Massachusetts Blanding's Turtle story was posted prior to the crash, so I will repeat: In 2nd grade, about 1967 in Acton, Mass, a kid brought a "snapping turtle" for show-and-tell. The brilliant yellow chin and throat, high, polished shell with many pale specks told me what it was. I stood up in front of the class without permission (criminal offense in those days) and announced that it was a Blanding's Turtle. I was ordered to sit down and remain silent - any fool knew it was a snapping turtle.
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