Snakes

[tommyd]

Saw this Mojave Rattler in Anza Borrego early springtime.

That's a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber), not a Mojave. Mojave Rattlesnakes don't make it into Anza Borrego.

 

[tommyd]

I'm tempted to say it's a Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) versus the Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) due to the spacing of the rings. The white band on the Mojave tend to be wider than the black band whereas the Western Diamondback tends to have more evenly spaced rings.

The Western Diamondback also tend to grow larger and are often more aggressive than the other rattlesnakes we encounter around here.

Of course, I'm no expert. When I first saw mine, I thought it was a Western Diamondback until I looked at the photos more carefully.

Where did you see this one?

This is also a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber). Common in southern California. Attached is a map of the distribution of the Mojave.

See http://www.californiaherps.com/ for more info about the snakes in your area.

 

[tommyd]

Having lived in Western Washington most of my life, I do not encounter very many snakes, and I do not think we have any poisonous ones this side of the pass.

At work I often see many snakes on our nature walking paths, I think they are the regular gardner variety, and I have picked them up before, then set them back down.
Similar to this fellow.

Nice photo. I believe that's a Wandering Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans).

Here's a website with some info on reptiles and amphibians in your area:

http://www.californiaherps.com/northwest.html

Cheers.

 

[Corey]

Not everyone wants to see photos like that. Given that this is a family oriented site, next time post a link instead of embedding the photo...

You are absolutely correct, what was I thinking?
I will edit my post above, and I suggest you do the same.

 

[tommyd]

You are absolutely correct, what was I thinking?
I will edit my post above, and I suggest you do the same.

Done.

 

[tommyd]

That picture makes me shiver.

QUOTE]

No kidding, I spent some time in Western Java and Green Mambas were everywhere and they blend into their surroundings VERY well. We slept in elevated huts and they would climb the trees and slither into the huts. Needles to say I made sure my mossie net was tucked in real tight at night!

Neat! But, at the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, mambas don't live in Indonesia. I suspect the snakes you saw were Asian Vine Snakes or tree snakes of the genus Dendrelaphis. Both are pretty common in Java.

 

[Ursidae69]

Good call on the red diamond rattlesnake tommyd, welcome to the site too.

Here is a picture of a red diamond I found in Baja in 2004. They are a cool as heck.

Here is a good site for Arizona members that want to know more about their local herpetofauna: http://www.reptilesofaz.org/

 

[tommyd]

Good call on the red diamond rattlesnake tommyd, welcome to the site too.

Thanks. Here's another ruber I came across in San Diego Co. that was in the process of swallowing a cottontail. I tried to watch from a distance, but unfortunately, my presence disturbed the snake and it regurgitated the rabbit. Beautiful snake. Never rattled once.

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

 

[Layonnn]

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

you have to host the pictures at another website such as photobucket.com
then link them

 

[tommyd]

you have to host the pictures at another website such as photobucket.com
then link them

thanks.

 

[michaelgroves]

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

Embedding directly seems to work sometimes and not others. I find if I preview the post before submitting, it works properly when the post is submitted (although at preview time, it just shows where the attachments will be).

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

click

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vawTnCSAjgU

 

[tag187]

Good to hear most hear are not of fan of killing just because its a "harmful snake". As most of you know there are plenty of people out there like that. I am an avid hunter and expeditions are my job but I have never found a real need to kill a snake (most can be relocated). Once as a young man hunting in the swamps of south Texas I was bitten by a water moccasin. I was a ways out and had quite the move to the nearest ranger station. The experience taught me the hard way about being aware of one of natures most proficient hunters. Now many years and plenty of encounters later I live by this phrase "It is best to be aware, stay aware, and leave the wildlife alone!":ylsmoke:

 

[calamaridog]

That's a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber), not a Mojave. Mojave Rattlesnakes don't make it into Anza Borrego.

Tks for the identification and welcome to expo

 

[Ursidae69]

Thanks. Here's another ruber I came across in San Diego Co. that was in the process of swallowing a cottontail. I tried to watch from a distance, but unfortunately, my presence disturbed the snake and it regurgitated the rabbit. Beautiful snake. Never rattled once.

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

Nice photos tommyd. By the way, you can attach an image with the attachment manager like you did, then open it and copy the URL and then use that url to host the image.

This is your 3rd attachment from your post: