2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

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MHollanders
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2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by MHollanders »

Greetings,

After my Smoky Mountains trip, herping slowed down significantly for me. This was mostly due to a car wreck I was in when road cruising for timber rattlesnakes one afternoon. However, since that day my dad and I visited South Texas for the first time and my family went on trips to both Costa Rica and the Texas Hill Country. I will include those trips in this post in addition to a smattering of local herps from the past few months.

Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma

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I encountered the following sight a few hours prior to the wreck while hiking in the forest. This was when the drought was still going full force.

Terrapene carolina triunguis

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It wasn’t until Thanksgiving week that I went herping again, this time in South Texas. Although productivity was low, I managed to find a few cool things with help from Scott Wahlberg, Gilbert Martinez, and Seth Patterson.

Crotalus atrox

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I spent the first morning there walking through the sabal palm reserve and found this little juvenile basking along the trail.

Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus

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It got away when I got too close, but it did not take long to find this large adult basking next to some water.

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We later visited another refuge and found lots of these specialties. Apparently it’s very hit or miss with these lizards, but we found several both times we visited.

Sceloporus grammicus microlepidotus

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Sceloporus olivaceus

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Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus

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Tortoises were high on my list of herps to see, so I was excited to find this one crossing a refuge road.

Gopherus berlandieri

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All of the large lakes were dried up due to the drought, but the ospreys were bringing their catches from the Gulf to the lake bottoms to eat.

Pandion haliaetus

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One of my favorite Texas hawks.

Buteo albicaudatus

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And finally, on the last day I got photos of this specialty that I was happy with.

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A few weeks later John Williams and I found three early salamanders in a plot doomed for development.

Ambystoma texanum

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And a much prettier one.

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I got a tip from John for a burrowing owl, and when we went looking for it a few weeks later we first got this surprise.

Asio flammeus

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At the last minute our target made an appearance.

Athene cunicularia hypugaea

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Both of these owls are rare visitors to the Texas coast, so it was super exciting to see these two lifers in the same field.

Herping was slow for the next couple of weeks.

Nerodia fasciata confluens

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However, we spent a week during Christmas as Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast in Costa Rica. Although a lot of time was spent enjoying happy hour and relaxing on the beach, I still spent every morning in the national park and spent a few nights herping along a local creek.

Here’s a waterfall from the stream system I herped.

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These frogs were the most commonly encountered on the trip. We got very little rain and it was dry overall, so anuran activity was low.

Craugastor fitzingeri

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These turtles were very common in the brackish water that accumulated right behind the beach and the creek I field herped.

Kinosternon scorpioides

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Anolis limifrons

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Ameiva leptophrys

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After a bit of effort, my dad and I managed to capture this frog. When I grabbed it, my hands were covered in secreted slime, which apparently can cause severe allergic reactions and temporary blindness if it makes contact with eyes. One of my favorites from the trip.

Phrynohyas venulosa

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Although snakes were few and far between, my dad and I found four snakes in about an hour when hiking one morning. One was a small lifer Fer-de-lance I almost stepped on, an unidentified green diurnal racer, and the following.

Mastigodryas melanolomus

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These snakes undergo a drastic ontogenic change, as their blotches disappear as adults and a striped pattern takes over. A few minutes after photographing this one, this snake was lying motionless on the trail. Not much like any Tantilla I’ve seen in the US.

Tantilla ruficeps

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The stream I hiked along was very low in diversity, and not surprisingly these were calling everywhere where the stream went through town.

Bufo marinus

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These were by far the most common anuran along the stream, however.

Smilisca sordida

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This one was beautiful.

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In my opinion, these giants are one of the coolest frogs in the jungle. Apparently their call can travel as far as a mile, and one hypothesis is that their emergency call attracts crocodilians to their attacker.

Leptodactylus pentadactylus

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My dad and I observed this anuran specialist hunting along the creek. After obviously striking out on these in South Texas, it was cool to encounter this one in radically different habitat thousands of miles away.

In situ

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Leptodeira septentrionalis


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Three common beach residents.

Basiliscus basiliscus

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Ctenosaura similis

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Boa constrictor imperator

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These frogs were common around bathrooms in the park where they are untouchable, so I was excited to find this awesome colored individual in front of the hotel room one afternoon.

Hyla rosenbergi

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Obviously, we stopped by the crocodile bridge.

Crocodylus acutus

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I saved my favorite find for last. When my dad and I were hiking in the creek, I was up ahead a ways in front of my dad. At one point my dad called out my name, and as I turned around I saw the unmistakable silhouette of the snake I most wanted to see three years ago. A 1m Fer-de-lance was stretched out on a rock in the middle of the creek right in front of my dad. As I turned around to see if I could get it to hold still, it entered the water and I was sure my photo opportunity was lost. However, it defensively backed up and coiled into this exact position for a photo. No posing was necessary...

Bothrops asper

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I went out again with my girlfriend January 2 to look for salamanders, but we only turned up snakes. There aren’t a whole lot of places in the nation where you can find snakes in the middle of winter.

Agkistrodon contortrix

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Two under one log that had two smallmouth salamanders last year.

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A few days later the first Cajun chorus frogs started to call, and the first rainy night had me outside trying to locate the first calling males.

Pseudacris fouquettei

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I love the variation in these guys.

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My girlfriend and I visited the Big Thicket region to find marbled salamanders, which would be her first salamanders. I wasn’t sure if we’d be successful but we managed to find two. First up was a pregnant female.

Ambystoma opacum

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And a much prettier individual. These are one of my favorite US salamanders.

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Only a few other herps were seen that day, including the first East Texas toad I’ve photographed.

Bufo velatus

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While out investigating a potential lead on Strecker’s chorus frogs close to Houston, I found a county record Cajun chorus frog but struck out on the target.

Pseudacris fouquettei

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On a side note, I managed to hear my first Strecker’s in the Hill Country a few weeks later, but wasn’t about to locate the frogs. This was a big bummer as it was my #1 target for the year.

Later that night, I stumbled across a freshly killed seagull and this was the predator.

Lynx rufus

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Flipping has only just gotten productive so a few weeks ago I was left photographing the common stuff. Rough earth snakes are often red in this area, although I’m not sure if that’s common elsewhere.

Virginia striatula

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I was extremely satisfied with this shot.

Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma

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My parents, sister, and I visited the Hill Country in February and I managed to find some of the Eurycea there. With help from Scott I found these after striking out two years ago.

Eurycea tonkawae

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Centruroides vittatus

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A few days later we met up with Terry Hibbitts and, in addition to another Eurycea there, found a sought after target. Fourteen, actually.

Eurycea troglodytes

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But the real prize(s).

Plethodon albagula

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Arron flipped this skeleton.

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This is probably my favorite shot from 2012 so far.

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Spring flipping has finally come.

Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster

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This ~1.5m rat snake was found just like this after photographing the king.

Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri

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Above average rainfall has really gotten the frogs out. Although my success pales compares to some, I was still happy with the following photos.

Hyla versicolor

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My girlfriend and I went to deep east Texas so I could show her the longleaf pine ecosystem. This was freshly burned, and it looked extra cool.

Ground skink she caught. I realized I hadn’t gotten any photos of these species so I took the opportunity.

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Scincella lateralis

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Although the vegetation was already growing around it again, this log was still smoldering from a previous prescribed burn.

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Longleaf right by our campsite.

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I’m unsure whether this is bear evidence, so I’d be happy if some of you could comment on it.

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The next day we got up and explored some of this gorgeous habitat.

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The azaleas were blooming.

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And we found our targets.

Desmognathus auriculatus. This one was barely an inch long.

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And a pretty-ish adult.

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The next week I took the opportunity after some rain to find a Mississippi ringneck snake, a species that is highly localized in the disjunct population that is found in southeast Texas.

Diadophis punctatus stictogenys

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And to close, some of my favorite Texas turtles.

Malaclemys terrapin littoralis

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Notice the sexual dimorphism between these animals. This next one is the male, the rest are females.

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A subpar photo of a blue-headed female.

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And finally, another one of my favorite pics.

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Thanks for looking!

Matthijs Hollanders
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DracoRJC
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Location: The beautiful Texas Hill Country

Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by DracoRJC »

Simply awesome 8-)
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Soopaman
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Soopaman »

Great post! I've been spending time in the Big Thicket area lately, it's really a great place. I hope I can find some Sallies there in one of my next forays.
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intermedius
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by intermedius »

Wonderful post. Costa Rica and Texas surprisingly fit together. Almost like tea and crumpets.

Justin
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chris drake
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by chris drake »

Great post Matthijs! Your pics are outstanding. The bothrops was a cool find.

Chris
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chrish
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by chrish »

Spectacular.

I've had that Phrynohyas mucus on my skin before. That stuff is like glue! I wouldn't want to imagine what it would feel like in your eye or mouth!

When I saw this shot -

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I thought, "Wow! I wonder how long he had to work with this snake to get that perfect shot. They are usually very uncooperative!".
Great pose, great shot, great luck.

Really enjoyed the post.

Chris
gmerker
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by gmerker »

FANTASTIC....I am anxious to go out in the field again....loved the osprey shots, white-tailed hawk, short-eared owl, and especially the calling Pseudacris fouquettei.....the latter a real wowser! Thanks for sharing, gmerker
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jordo
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by jordo »

Fantastic photos! What soft box are you using?
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Carl Brune
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Carl Brune »

Nice post.
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Never mind all those boring herps and blonde bombshells....your photography is out of the PARK! Wow! Technique, composition, it's all there. I wish I had that sort of talent and patience...
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Nir
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Nir »

I love those wide angle shots!! What lens is that? Great post!!

The last terrapin shot is very cool!
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Cole Grover
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Cole Grover »

Jeebus, Matt. Damn nice post, man - I've got to hand it to you and your photography. I really dig the neotropical Hylids (all of them), that monster of a Leptodactylus, the Bothrops, the Plethodon-by-the-pool, and the calling Pseudacris (does that count as a neotropical Hylid? You ARE in Houston...). Those owls are great, too. What a year.

I'd say that rather than evidence of a bear, the damaged log is the result of a group of guys from SE Texas who flip dead dogs and don't put them back. ;)
mikemike
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by mikemike »

Awesome shots and great post, man
John Williams
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by John Williams »

I'd say that rather than evidence of a bear, the damaged log is the result of a group of guys from SE Texas who flip dead dogs and don't put them back.
Haha! Post of the day.
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Scott_Wahlberg
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Scott_Wahlberg »

Mahjtsjihs, Nice work as usual. You've convinced me that I can't wait another year to see those terrapins. You should visit Wild Azalea Canyon near Burkeville next time you're in deep east Texas. It's pretty impressive when the Azaleas are in bloom.

-Scott
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MaartenSFS
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by MaartenSFS »

Gadverdamme.. :shock:
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MHollanders
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by MHollanders »

Thanks everyone.
jordo wrote:Fantastic photos! What soft box are you using?
It's the Lumiquest LTp, 11x14". Thanks!
Nir wrote:I love those wide angle shots!! What lens is that? Great post!!

The last terrapin shot is very cool!
It's the Sigma 10-20mm. I really like it.
SnakeDude
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by SnakeDude »

cool fer-de-lance :thumb:
-Ian
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Mike VanValen
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Re: 2011/2012: Texas and the Tropics

Post by Mike VanValen »

Simply awesome. Too many faves to pick just one, but the last shot of the terrapin is just outstanding. I always appreciate crocodilians so thank you for not forgetting to add them.
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