Anyone into Field Herpetology?

[stolenheron]

I'm new to ExPo and I'm an avid herpetology fan. I'm a zoology major at Auburn Univ, but plan on getting a graduate degree in herpetology.

I was hoping to see a few more ExPo members into the same sorta thing. 75% of my trips exploring are for the intended purpose of catching and photographing lizards and snakes, but i seem to have a habit of getting distracted by any living thing no matter what. My Rover is always outfitted with multiple snake sticks, nets, traps, and all sorts of other wildlife equipment.

in recent years, i've been specializing in catching exotic/invasive species and venomous snakes

anyway here are some pics of my recent catches....yes, i caught all of these in the state of florida.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

I like snakes alot, but those poisonous snakes would frighten me just a tad

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

He doesn't look to happy! Are you out hunting pythons in FL yet??

 

[stolenheron]

He doesn't look to happy! Are you out hunting pythons in FL yet??

yep. we've gone out several times in hopes of catching a glimpse. sadly no one who has gone with me owns another kayak so getting to the prime locations on the SW coast is limited, considering i need someone with me just in case something goes wrong and i only have a 1 seater wilderness systems kayak.

I plan on doing a trip over to the east coast side of the everglades near homestead, the most prominent place where the burmese are located.

trust me, if i see it, it won't get away. i'll probably bring it home and skin it, considering FWC wants them euthanized, it costs $100 for a permit to own one live, and i already own enough reptiles (cant take care of a possible 20+ ft snake).



and yes, that first rattlesnake i posted (the first 3 pictures) was one angry snake. it actually had 3 fangs (was in the process of replacing one) and he nearly got me with the two-fer tooth. I have a video of it on youtube, but i dont really feel like posting it lol. the last few pictures of the eastern diamond backs was a smaller rattlesnake that was extremely aggressive.

 

[Albin]

About as close as I want to get to a dangerous snake:

Stolen, I'll leave it to you to ID the snake and it's probable/possible location.

You're right about EDBs though: I once say a snake demo at the local outdoors store years ago, they had both EDB and Timber rattlers on display. The EDBs were very much more aggressive and territorial than the timbers.

Good luck with your snake catching!

Al

 

[stolenheron]

About as close as I want to get to a dangerous snake:

Stolen, I'll leave it to you to ID the snake and it's probable/possible location.

You're right about EDBs though: I once say a snake demo at the local outdoors store years ago, they had both EDB and Timber rattlers on display. The EDBs were very much more aggressive and territorial than the timbers.

Good luck with your snake catching!

Al

my first guess is a Tiger Rattlesnake. definitely in the american southwest. its clearly a keeled-scale snake, of a decent girth, so rattlesnake. its tough to guess which species, i'll admit i needed to use google images a bit, i haven't studied any species west of the mississippi in person.

****, that reminds me i'm supposed to do a venomous expo at the local nature center next week! :Wow1: guess i better give them a call haha

 

[Albin]

Close, Panamint Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii stephensi), see pics here: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_fauna_com-Reptile&enlarge=0000+0000+0408+1687

Eastern Death Valley area summer 2008. He was a little guy, about 12" long. he looks big only because chicken me used the zoom lens on him, no way I"m picking up a rattlesnake.

Good luck in your exhibit.

Al

 

[stolenheron]

Close, Panamint Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii stephensi), see pics here: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_fauna_com-Reptile&enlarge=0000+0000+0408+1687

Eastern Death Valley area summer 2008. He was a little guy, about 12" long. he looks big only because chicken me used the zoom lens on him, no way I"m picking up a rattlesnake.

Good luck in your exhibit.

Al

gah, i looked over the Panamints and thought naww. and just kept going. oh well.

haha he was only 12", that is a heck of a lens.

i gotta say the meanest venomous snake i've ever worked with was a VERY large pygmy rattlesnake i caught in the everglades, that thing bit my snake boot about 15 times. most little snakes react like that, but i've been pleasantly surprised with the EDBs, i caught a juvenile no longer than 16" and it let me pick him up by the tail and supported by a snake stick with no issues. not a rattle nor a strike. the only venomous snake calmer than that was a large copperhead i caught in tuskegee national forest, AL.