Dangerfield Herps

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

Moderator: Scott Waters

Post Reply
User avatar
El Garia
Posts: 722
Joined: October 20th, 2011, 4:39 pm
Location: Santa Clara Co. , CA

Dangerfield Herps

Post by El Garia »

We've all got them; herps that get no respect. Sometimes people refer to these abundant, easily found herps as 'trash herps', but we won't use that phrase, here. I'm talking about the common stuff that you don't really give a second thought to and rarely bother to photograph. When I herp with visitors to the Bay Area, I see the appreciation that others have for our commonly encountered herps, and it can't help but rub off a little on me. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the common but seldom-posted herps from other regions across the country and globe.
Please, add your resident 'Dangerfields' to the thread!

The California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus)
ImageBatrachoseps attenuatus by Mo'o, on Flickr
Tamara D. McConnell
Posts: 2248
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

I love this idea! Will be following this avidly, and will find some things to contribute after work.
User avatar
krismunk
Posts: 395
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:17 am
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by krismunk »

Copenhagen, Denmark

Common toad, Bufo bufo

Image

You will of course see these posted quite often in northern European reports but that's just because our diversity is so low we have to post everything :lol:


...kinda looks like Rodney too.
User avatar
AndyKraemer
Posts: 68
Joined: March 21st, 2012, 7:04 am
Location: Moscow, ID
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by AndyKraemer »

Great post idea! I can't help but post two photos. The first is a common species from Ohio, while the second is the most common herp one will see in Galápagos.

ImagePlethodon cinereus by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr


ImageMicrolophus duncanensis by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr
User avatar
cbernz
Posts: 547
Joined: March 16th, 2011, 12:28 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by cbernz »

I can't think of a better candidate in my area than Green Frog:

Image

This photo is from 2005, and I'm pretty sure I haven't shot one since. I pay about as much attention to them as I do to dandelions in a field.
User avatar
cbernz
Posts: 547
Joined: March 16th, 2011, 12:28 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by cbernz »

BTW that cinereus is a stunner!
User avatar
justinm
Posts: 3423
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 5:26 am
Location: Illinois
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by justinm »

Cottonmouths are cheap to be sure but they're fascinating and beautiful and after years of not photographing them, I decided I was the one missing out.

ImageCottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This was a real bruiser doing it's thing and just being observed from a distance.
ImageWestern Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

During a photoshoot at Snake Road this one was so upset it tried to fool us into thinking that it's a Cobra.
ImageWestern Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This one is showing off it's namesake, it's all a threat they're not aggressive at all.
ImageWestern Cottonmouth by Justin Michels, on Flickr
User avatar
AndyKraemer
Posts: 68
Joined: March 21st, 2012, 7:04 am
Location: Moscow, ID
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by AndyKraemer »

cbernz wrote:BTW that cinereus is a stunner!
Thanks! It was a partial-erythristic from near Cleveland. Red-backs comes in so many beautiful hues!

For example:

ImagePlethodon cinereus by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr
User avatar
JAMAUGHN
Posts: 1131
Joined: May 15th, 2011, 12:16 am
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by JAMAUGHN »

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

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Rough greens, common denizen of the foliage:
Imagegreen1 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Imagegreen by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
The ubiquitous moc:
Imagemoc tongue by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Coupla corns:
Imagegrumpy corn by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Imagecorn by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Can’t have common stuff without a racer:
Imageracer by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Or a rat:
Imageratball by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
And lastly, the most Dangerfield of all of the snakes here, the banded water snake:
Imagejuv nerodia in situ by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
User avatar
Kyle from Carolina
Posts: 221
Joined: May 3rd, 2012, 8:12 pm
Location: western MA and NC

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Kyle from Carolina »

Tamara, that corn with the silvery background might be one of the prettiest corns I've ever seen. Is that typical for your locale?
User avatar
Soopaman
Posts: 924
Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Soopaman »

I've entertained quite a few folks from various parts of the country, and almost always they excitedly want to see copperheads. I always try to urge them to focus on something else, and we'll come across copper heads even if we wish to avoid them!

ImageAgkistrodon contortrix contortrix (Southern Copperhead) by Kyle, on Flickr
Tamara D. McConnell
Posts: 2248
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Tamara, that corn with the silvery background might be one of the prettiest corns I've ever seen. Is that typical for your locale?
I do not usually see them with that much silver, no.
User avatar
AndyKraemer
Posts: 68
Joined: March 21st, 2012, 7:04 am
Location: Moscow, ID
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by AndyKraemer »

This thread is a lot of fun. One thing I've learned here is how much more I need to get out! So many of these species haven't yet made it to my life list. Case in point, the copperheads. I know, right? I have the worst luck finding vipers.

Keep posting your favorite 'Dangerfield Herps' (I love the thread name)!

Cheers,
Andy
User avatar
intermedius
Posts: 481
Joined: March 22nd, 2012, 7:19 pm

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by intermedius »

This is a great thread. Here's some of the common amphibians from New Jersey / Northeast

ImageNorthern Two-lined Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageNorthern Two-lined Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageNorthern Two-lined Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageTwo-lined Salamander Egg Mass by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageWeird Redback Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageFowler's Toad by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageFowler's Toad by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

ImageBullfrog by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

- Justin
Zach_Lim
Posts: 1607
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 8:37 pm

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Zach_Lim »

Sierra Tree Frog (Pseudacris sierra)

Image

California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)

Image

Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus)

Image
NACairns
Posts: 372
Joined: December 30th, 2013, 7:27 am

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by NACairns »

Great idea.
Gartersnakes (Thamnophis) in general seem to be commonly written off, despite their colours and diversity.
Growing up on the west coast people ignored T. ordinoides:
ImageThamnophis ordinoides by N Cairns, on Flickr
Few people back in Saskatchewan and Manitoba give T. radix a second look:
ImageThamnophis radix by N Cairns, on Flickr
Now that I'm out east(ish) it's Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis:
ImageThamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (hypermelanistic) by N Cairns, on Flickr

Peepers often seen to be written off they happen to be the focus of my research so I've really noticed that.
ImagePseudacris crucifer by N Cairns, on Flickr
User avatar
Aneides Aeneus
Posts: 47
Joined: November 15th, 2014, 8:54 am
Location: Lexington, KY

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Aneides Aeneus »

This is one the best thread idea I've seen in a while!

I think the herp I see the most of is the red-spotted newt:
Image

Seal salamander:
ImageSeal salamander by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Slimy:
ImageNorthern slimy salamander by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Few things fit better into the "trash herps" category than american toads (of course, no herps are truly trash):
ImageAmerican toad by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Garter snake:
Image

Ringneck:
ImageNorthern ringneck snake by aneidesaeneus, on Flickr

Queen snakes were once very common in my neighborhood, and there used to be a thriving population less than a block from my house. They were some of the first snakes I ever saw, and for a long time I assumed they were common everywhere. Now that they have become scarce in my neighborhood, I am beginning to realize that they are way cooler than I thought:
Image

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

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

This might be my favorite thread ever. Am loving it so much.
User avatar
pjfishpa
Posts: 123
Joined: June 2nd, 2013, 6:51 am
Location: NW Ohio / SE Michigan

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by pjfishpa »

C. serpentina. Someone said this on here before, I don't remember who... "If they weren't so common they'd be everyone's favorite!" I couldn't agree more.

Image

Image
User avatar
Muchobirdnerd
Posts: 83
Joined: March 1st, 2014, 7:11 pm

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by Muchobirdnerd »

ImageStoreria dekayi dekayi by MUCHMORE DESIGN LLC., on Flickr

Storeria dekayi dekayi
User avatar
JAMAUGHN
Posts: 1131
Joined: May 15th, 2011, 12:16 am
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Contact:

Re: Dangerfield Herps

Post by JAMAUGHN »

I love how many of these I'd give my eye teeth to see. (Rough Green Snakes! Queen snakes! I mean, really...) Anyway, here's a Western Side-blotched Lizard I saw yesterday:

ImageWestern Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr


JImM
Post Reply