HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

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Russianherps
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HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by Russianherps »

Hi everyone, it's me! Today I have something special for you - a lot of photos frome lake Baikal, Russia! Even with a herp from here.

The trip started in Krasnoyarsk, where we visited the "Stolby" ("Pillars") - a huge sanctuary, founded to protect local wildlife and also spectacular cliffs!

ImageIMG_8518 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_8528 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_8520 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Wildlife. Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus).

ImageIMG_8577 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus).

ImageIMG_8453 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Siberian chipmunk or common chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus).

ImageIMG_8462 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Taiga.

ImageIMG_8489 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_8485 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_8578 by ru_seva, on Flickr

After that we moved to Ulan-Ude, and then - to an ecological trail in Barguzin Sanctuary, which finished on the shores of Baikal.

Eresus kollari - beautiful little spider!

ImageIMG_8637 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Clematis sibirica with fruits.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/140099608 ... ed-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/140099608 ... ed-public/


Some dragonflies.

ImageIMG_8611 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_8638 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Bug from the family Carabidae

ImageIMG_8659 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Bear was here. (Ursus arctos).

ImageIMG_8663 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Barguzin ridge.

ImageIMG_8676 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Forest fire.

ImageIMG_8703 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Siberian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes).

ImageIMG_8723 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Barguzin Ridge covered in smoke from forest fire nearby.

ImageIMG_8759 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Waterfall.

ImageIMG_8782 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Siberian Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica). Russian name of genus Muscicapa (мухоловка) means literally the same - "flycatcher".

ImageIMG_8816 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Northern pika (Ochotona hyperborea).

ImageIMG_8859 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Bridge.

ImageIMG_8893 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Robber fly caught a butterfly.

ImageIMG_8904 by ru_seva, on Flickr

One more dragonfly...

ImageIMG_8923 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea).

ImageIMG_8943 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Welcome to Silent Hill

ImageIMG_8948 by ru_seva, on Flickr

White-breasted rock thrush (Monticola gularis) female and young male

ImageIMG_8967 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_8984 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Half-marsh, half-meadows. Shore of Baikal.

ImageIMG_9010 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Fire again.

ImageIMG_9015 by ru_seva, on Flickr

No comments.

ImageIMG_9074 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9141 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo).

ImageIMG_9208 by ru_seva, on Flickr


ImageIMG_9215 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Siberian Shrike (Lanis sibiricus).

ImageIMG_9296 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9373 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Siberian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus), male.

ImageIMG_9310 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus).

ImageIMG_9339 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Then we moved by bus and then by train to Round-Baikal Railway, a small railway leading to faraway villages.

ImageIMG_9388 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9391 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Endemic fishes and amphipods from Baikal! Lake Baikal is rich in biodiversity. It hosts more than 1,000 species of plants and 2,500 species of animals based on current knowledge, but the actual figures for both groups are believed to be significantly higher. More than 80% of the animals are endemic.

Pallasea cancelloides.

ImageIMG_9396 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Eulimnogammarus verrucosus.

ImageIMG_9398 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Cottocomephorus grewingki.

ImageIMG_9400 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Acanthogammarus victorii. The most beautiful crustacean I've ever seen (except mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria).

ImageIMG_9402 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9403 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Eulimnogammarus cruentus.

ImageIMG_9499 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Paracottus knerii

ImageIMG_9518 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Baikalobia variegata, endemic huge flatworm

ImageIMG_9526 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Beauty...

ImageIMG_9539 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9565 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9568 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9579 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9595 by ru_seva, on Flickr


Railways.

ImageIMG_9581 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9619 by ru_seva, on Flickr


Apollo (Parnassius nomion) - rare beautiful butterfly.

ImageIMG_9709 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Birds of prey - Hobby (Falco subbuteo), pair, and sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).

ImageIMG_9801 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9790 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Railway.

ImageIMG_9411 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Famous Baikal Seal (Pusa sibirica)!

ImageIMG_9443 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Lake.

ImageIMG_9457 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9474 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Plants. Even orchids!

ImageIMG_9463 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9488 by ru_seva, on Flickr


AND FINALLY - SIBERIAN PIT VIPER (Gloydius halys)!!!

ImageIMG_9623 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9627 by ru_seva, on Flickr

Hope you loved the post! More photos on my Flickr account (https://www.flickr.com/photos/140099608 ... 839569916/)

Cпасибо!
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JAMAUGHN
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by JAMAUGHN »

Fantastic post! The only ID I'd question is "Bridge." :lol:

JimM
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mtratcliffe
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by mtratcliffe »

Siberia is a very underrepresented place in nature circles. Loved the series from Lake Baikal - I hope to visit there someday.

The Siberian Pit Viper is only one of three snakes species in Siberia, correct? Do you know how many amphibian species there are?

- Matt
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Fieldherper
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by Fieldherper »

Awesome! Can't say I've ever seen a Siberian herping post before. Any more pics of the snake?

FH
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Russianherps
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by Russianherps »

mtratcliffe wrote:Siberia is a very underrepresented place in nature circles. Loved the series from Lake Baikal - I hope to visit there someday.

The Siberian Pit Viper is only one of three snakes species in Siberia, correct? Do you know how many amphibian species there are?

- Matt
Thanks for reading! In Siberia you can find European Adder (vipera berus), Siberian Pit Viper (Gloydis halys) and also a Grass Snake (natrix natrix). Oh, and also Meadow Adder (Vipera ursinii) in south parts like Altai. 4 species of snakes.

What's about amphibians - there are 3 species of the frogs - genus Rana (R. arvalis, R. ridibunda and R. amurensis), two species of toads (Bufo bufo and in some places B. viridis), Common Newt (Triturus vulgaris), and the most interesting thing is Siberian salamander (Hynobius keyserlingi) - a species of salamander that can renain frozen in permafrost for 100 years and then, when got out, come back to life!
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Russianherps
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by Russianherps »

Fieldherper wrote:Awesome! Can't say I've ever seen a Siberian herping post before. Any more pics of the snake?

FH
Thanks for reading! Here are two more pictures of the pitviper. Actually, I've seen two specimens of this snake, but only one gave me a chance to take a photo of it.

ImageIMG_9621 by ru_seva, on Flickr

ImageIMG_9622 by ru_seva, on Flickr
jons
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by jons »

great informative post, excellent! have you ever herped the volgograd or kharkov steppes area?
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Russianherps
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by Russianherps »

jons wrote:great informative post, excellent! have you ever herped the volgograd or kharkov steppes area?
No, but I've gerped the steppes of Astrakhan (http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=23202) and Kalmykia (post about Kalmykia will be here soon).
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Carl Brune
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by Carl Brune »

Really cool post!
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intermedius
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by intermedius »

Awesome little viper. Looks like Siberia has some splendid bird diversity too! I would love to see a Siberian Salamander some day.

– Justin
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melissaisdown
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by melissaisdown »

Great pics. I've had a debate recently with someone about what it'd be like to herp Siberia, so it's really awesome to see recent photos from someone who has!
ADCIII
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Re: HERPING SIBERIA! Lots Of Photos, One Snake

Post by ADCIII »

I recall keyserlingi as being the northernmost occurring amphibian on the planet but cannot find any references to that. Do you know where and degrees of north latitude? Thanks, Art
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