This is a nearly complete list of every species I was lucky enough to see this year. Most are from Arizona. But there is a little sprinkle of California and New Mexico mixed in too. Some of these have already been posted, but there should be enough fresh material to keep it interesting. Sorry for some of the lower quality shots. Vouchers are all I got of a lot of these species. Any of you who are familiar with my posts know that I prefer to keep the dialog short and let the photos do the talking. That being said, if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. Enjoy.
Toads:
Red-spotted Toads (Anaxyrus punctatus)
Great Plains Toads (Anaxyrus cognatus)
Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis)
Arizona Toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus)
Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius/Ollotis alvarius)
Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons)
Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii)
Mexican Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata)
Frogs:
Canyon Treefrog (Hyla Arenicolor)
Lowland Leopard Frog (Lithobates yavapaiensis)
Chiricahua Leopard Frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis)
Baja California Treefrog (Pseudacris hypochondriaca hypochondriaca)
Salamanders:
Garden Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps major major)
Arizona Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum)
Turtles:
Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)
Lizards:
Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus)
Common Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana)
Ornate Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
Mohave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Yuman Fringe-toed Lizards (Uma rufopunctata)
Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis)
Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)
Regal Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma solare)
Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
Goode's Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma goodei)
Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater)
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Elegant Earless Lizard (Holbrookia elegans)
Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus)
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus yarrovii)
Clark's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus clarkii)
Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)
Slevin's Bunchgrass Lizard (Sceloporus slevini)
Plateau Fence Lizard (Sceloporus tristichus)
Striped Plateau Lizard (Sceloporus virgatus)
Great Basin Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis longipes)
Tiger Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)
Gila Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis flagellicauda)
Plateau Striped Whiptail (Aspidoscelis velox)
Desert Grasslands Whiptail (Aspidoscelis uniparens)
Sonoran Spotted Whiptails (Aspidoscelis sonorae)
Belding's Orange-throated Whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra beldingi)
San Diego Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata webbii)
Coronado Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus interparietalis)
Great Plains Skink (Plestiodon obsoletus)
Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum)
Snakes:
Desert Nightsnake (Hypsiglena chlorophaea)
Hooded Nightsnake (Hypsiglena sp. nov.)
Chihuahuan Nightsnake (Hypsiglena jani)
Western Long-nosed Snakes (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
Sonoran Gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer affinis)
San Diego Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)
Desert Patch-nose Snakes (Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis)
Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis deserticola)
Mountain Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora grahamiae)
Red Racer (Coluber flagellum piceus)
Sonoran Coachwhip - DOR (Coluber flagellum cingulum)
Western Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps) - Found by Chris Meachum
Smith's Black-headed Snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi)
Western Thread Snake (Leptotyphlops humilis)
Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans)
Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)
Checkered Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)
San Diego Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus similis) - Found by Chris Meachum
Sonoran Lyresnake (Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda)
Spotted Leaf-nosed Snakes (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus)
Saddled Leaf-nosed Snakes (Phyllorhynchus browni)
Painted Desert Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans philipi)
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
Variable Sandsnake (Chilomeniscus stramineus)
Tucson Shovel-nosed Snakes ([Chionactis occipitalis klauberi/i])
Green Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis)
Sonoran Coralsnakes ([Micruroides euryxanthus/i])
Mexican Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon kennerlyi)
Desert Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata gracia) - Found by Dave Weber & Chris Meachum
Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox)
Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)
Sonoran Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombus)
Colorado Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens)
Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus molossus molossus)
Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus helleri)
Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis)
Tiger Rattlesnakes (Crotalus tigris)
Arizona Black Rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerberus)
Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei)
Banded Rock Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lepidus klauberi)
Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi)
A Couple Inverts:
Some Mammals:
And I'll finish with some scenery:
Well that about does it for this year. Thanks for looking. And thanks to any and everyone who aided in making this one of my best years yet.
Arizona 2014
Moderator: Scott Waters
- ThamnElegans24
- Posts: 406
- Joined: November 23rd, 2010, 6:44 pm
- Location: Mesa, Arizona
- The Real Snake Man
- Posts: 405
- Joined: June 12th, 2010, 4:08 pm
- Location: Pasadena, CA or Mission, TX
Re: Arizona 2014
So much good stuff! Looks like a great year. I'm really struck by the diversity of lizards presented here, and the quality of the photos. I really enjoyed it.
-Gene
-Gene
Re: Arizona 2014
Very nice and that looks like it was an old box turtle you found there haha.
- Kent VanSooy
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:51 am
- Location: Oceanside
Re: Arizona 2014
Wow, that's quite an array of species! Love the scenary shots at the end as well. Do you maybe have your black-headed snakes switched around?
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
- ThamnElegans24
- Posts: 406
- Joined: November 23rd, 2010, 6:44 pm
- Location: Mesa, Arizona
Re: Arizona 2014
Thanks guys.
Kent,
I just double checked, and my Black-headed Snakes are right where they belong . I'm curious as to why you would think that they are switched.
Kent,
I just double checked, and my Black-headed Snakes are right where they belong . I'm curious as to why you would think that they are switched.
That's because I really dig lizards. And unlike alot of herpers I know, I photograph EVERYTHING I see. Even down to the last uta.I'm really struck by the diversity of lizards presented here
- Kent VanSooy
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:51 am
- Location: Oceanside
Re: Arizona 2014
Because (and I'm certainly no expert here, but I'd love to know more!) it looked to me like the dark head patch of you hobartsmithii extended far enough to the point where it was a nigriceps.
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Snakes-Subp ... iceps.html
I found what I thought was a nigriceps earlier this year...do I maybe have this one wrong?
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Snakes-Subp ... iceps.html
I found what I thought was a nigriceps earlier this year...do I maybe have this one wrong?
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: Arizona 2014
Looks like you had a great year! I greatly enjoyed your post - reminded me of fond herping memories in NM. What species didn't you find?
- ThamnElegans24
- Posts: 406
- Joined: November 23rd, 2010, 6:44 pm
- Location: Mesa, Arizona
Re: Arizona 2014
Kent, Well it turns out that I did mislabel the Western as a Plains, although I had the latin name correct. As for the Smith's....
mtratcliffe, in one day we saw Great Plains Toads, Common Side-blotched Lizards, Ornate Tree Lizards, Desert Grassland Whiptails, a Texas Horned Lizard, Ornate Box Turtle, Glossy Snakes, Nightsnakes, Checkered Garter Snake, Long-nosed Snakes, Smith's Black-headed Snake, Western Diamondbacks, Prairie Rattlers, and this Striped Whipsnake that I forgot to include in my original post.
This does not accurately describe the animal I posted. That's why I have it as a Smith's and not a Plains. Yours does appear to be a Plains.The head cap tapers to a point on its rear edge
mtratcliffe, in one day we saw Great Plains Toads, Common Side-blotched Lizards, Ornate Tree Lizards, Desert Grassland Whiptails, a Texas Horned Lizard, Ornate Box Turtle, Glossy Snakes, Nightsnakes, Checkered Garter Snake, Long-nosed Snakes, Smith's Black-headed Snake, Western Diamondbacks, Prairie Rattlers, and this Striped Whipsnake that I forgot to include in my original post.
- Kent VanSooy
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:51 am
- Location: Oceanside
Re: Arizona 2014
Ah, thanks - I think I can see that now. Tantilla (along with Batrachoseps and Aspidoscleis) drive me nuts! And yes, it's a short trip....
- FloridaSerpent
- Posts: 85
- Joined: October 18th, 2014, 12:12 pm
- Location: South Florida
Re: Arizona 2014
Now I get where the term LECH came from. I still love my FL herps even the common ones but Arizona sure has a lot to see. When I used to live in NM I think I used to see some of these herps. I especially find the Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis) the Skinks and the Whiptails captivating.
- The Real Snake Man
- Posts: 405
- Joined: June 12th, 2010, 4:08 pm
- Location: Pasadena, CA or Mission, TX
Re: Arizona 2014
I always thought that LECH applied more to herpers further north on the east coast. Heck, Florida's got some pretty great stuff, like you mentioned. But I could be wrong, I don't know if someone has set the northern and southern limits for a LECH or not. Anyone know? Is a Floridian reptile enthusiast also a LECH?FloridaSerpent wrote:Now I get where the term LECH came from. I still love my FL herps even the common ones but Arizona sure has a lot to see.
- FloridaSerpent
- Posts: 85
- Joined: October 18th, 2014, 12:12 pm
- Location: South Florida
Re: Arizona 2014
I was reading an old thread on it, that said the term LECH means lame east coast herper since FL is on the east coast I assume it appies but I could be wrong.
- The Real Snake Man
- Posts: 405
- Joined: June 12th, 2010, 4:08 pm
- Location: Pasadena, CA or Mission, TX
Re: Arizona 2014
Yeah, that's what it means, I've just always thought that Florida was the best thing on the East Coast by a long shot!