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After a few rather uneventful days and nights I finally had an eleven-snake evening last night, including three lifers (one species, but three specimens ), and this behemoth here - the biggest Taiwan Habu (Trimeresurus/Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) I've ever seen - at least 3 1/2 feet and thick as a branch. After I'd hooked him back onto the road, he made a couple of perfunctory escape attempts and then assumed this beautiful pose.....which he'd probably still be assuming, hadn't I taken him back into the forest. When it comes to good behavior during photo sessions, nothing beats pitvipers!

Any idea why his cheeks next to the pits are so flared, Great Dane-style? Or might that just be an individual trait, like, say, aquiline noses in humans?

Lovely.

Beautiful snake,man! Thanks a lot for sharing!

Thanks, guys! Actually, there was quite a bit of hilarity involved in the taking of these photos: when I spotted the snake, I had for some reason already packed up my camera, instead of having it at the ready on the car floor, flash attached and all. Maybe I thought ten snakes would be enough for three hours . Anyhoo, I saw the habu, stopped the car, hit hazard lights and handbrake, grabbed my stick and flew out of the van, just in time to hook the serpent back onto the road. But now what? The cam was in my backpack on the passenger seat, the snake ten feet away from the car. No way I'd just snatch up that beast and mosey back to the van to get my photo gear. So I stretched out my LEFT arm as far as I could, reached for and opened the door, and grabbed the pack (AROUND the door, mind you), while simultaneously stretching out my RIGHT arm and keeping the snake on the road with the 5-foot snake stick. Okay, that went well. NOW what? Still taming the dragon with my right hand, I used my left to open the pack, get the camera AND attach the flash....fortunately, by that time the habu had already taken up his zen stance, so the rest of the shoot went without a hitch.

Whadda comedy - too bad I was alone; that would have been a dream picture

I've had the same kind of experience! I had to take out my camera and change lenses with one hand while holding a snake with the other! Pretty funny situation!

Funny story Hans, I've done that kind of thing too... I would say the answer to your question as to why his cheeks are like that, would be huge venom load.


Justin

Beautiful snake! Thanks for sharing!

-Kris

That is quite a snake, Hans. Great shots and a good story. You are fortunate that those pit vipers are so laid back.

What was the lifer?


Regards,
David

The lifer was Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati, aka Formosan Wolf Snake, aka Plum Blossom Snake. I'll be postin' him soon


I guess, yeah. Makes for nice portrait shots What are the elapids in Oz like? Fast? Aggressive? Both?