June FL herps

I sometimes think I might be winding down on the cool new things to see around here. I'm always glad to be wrong on that point.


Male Pig Frog (Rana grylio)


This Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means) was huge (~4.5 cm wide at head, probably 2.5-3' long). It took two crayfish out of my fingers. Their bite (referring to being handled by humans) has been described as "savage," with crushing strength and razor-sharp teeth. We made a couple attempts at capturing it after luring it partly out of its ambush spot, but perhaps it was best that we didn't get it in hand.


Male Broadhead Skink (Eumeces laticeps), another good biter.





Northern Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea copei), an exciting find that I'd been looking forward to for quite some time. This is of course one of the neat coral snake mimics. Admittedly, I had to pause for a second just to make sure.




This is a well-marked Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos). They put on an intimidating display, but they're all bark and no bite in my experience. Unfortunately, they're often killed when people mistake them for a venomous snake. Toads make up a large part of their diet.




This young Eastern Mud Snake (Farancia abacura abacura) was probably the coolest animal I've seen in quite a while. There's something satisfying about finally seeing something that you've been looking forward to for years. My friend Brandon spotted it, so a huge thanks to him.

A short reprieve from herpetofauna...

It may at times appear that I seem to be exclusively fixated on amphibians and reptiles. While this may not be completely false, it is not altogether true. I do pay attention to, and photograph, many other types of organisms. Many of these are nice to look at, and are worth sharing with you.


Great-horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in defensive posture just out of the nest.


Early instar katydid (family Tettigoniidae) on spiderwort (Tradescantia sp).


Southeastern Spinyleg (Dromogomphus armatus)


Just a hole in a tree?


Actually a great location for a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) nest.


White top Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia leucophylla) flower with crab spider (family Thomisidae) waiting to ambush any unsuspecting pollinators.



This Large-mouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) represent the unexpected things I happen upon while out herping at night.


This Barred Owl (Strix varia) seemed almost curious about us. It stayed near and watched us for about 20 minutes.

Spring and early Summer in Florida

I've been really getting behind on posting stuff I've been seeing around the area. Here's my attempt to catch up a bit.

I'll begin with the most exciting to me: juvenile Flatwoods Salamanders (Ambystoma bishopi), one of the very rarest North American salamanders. This was the first year in over six that the flatwoods ponds have held water long enough for successful breeding.






Here are a few of the neat snakes I've been seeing, beginning with a young Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum).

An intolerant adult coachwhip showing the "striking" dark pigment on its anterior.

Adult Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus)

(Gray) Eastern Ratsnake (Elaphe alleghaniensis)

Juvenile Eastern Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)


Large adult corn snake (I was holding this while standing up, so it was over 4', maybe close to 5')


As a segue back to amphibians, here's a Banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata fasciata) consuming a Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris).

Oak Toads (Bufo quercicus) in amplexus, our smallest true toad (adult size range 3/4 to 1 5/8 in. long)

Eastern Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) with snowflake markings on the dark areas

Pine Woods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis)

male Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)

male Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa)

While I'm living here, I feel a need to keep paying attention to our local endemic Florida Bog Frog (Rana okaloosae). There are almost always neat pitcher plants and sundews where the frogs live.

Southern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber vioscai)

Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)

This Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) looked like a snake on the road when I first saw it. This was my first glass lizard in the wild.


Last but not least (well, maybe least in size), this cute Gulf Coast Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina major) hatchling was a pleasant surprise on a long walk back to my work truck one day.

March Texas trip

Over Easter weekend, Sarah and I were able to join our friends Brendan and Billi for a short trip to the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas. This was our second time in the area, and it was great to be back.

The following three photos are of 1) a female Barn Owl (Tyto alba) incubating eggs on a ledge in an old well, 2) the same owl perched on the far wall from it's nest, with a 5' Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) resting on a slanted board below, and 3) the owl's eggs where it had been sitting earlier.





This is one of the beautiful and large Blue Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus serrifer) that we saw.




This is the first of three Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes that we were to see on our trip.