We start off in March of 2014 with a trip to Florida. A lot of the critters we found this trip will not be included in this post, as I either did not like the shots I took, or didn't take photos period. Some of these animals include an Eastern Diamondback, florida king snakes, various nerodia (no mangrove snakes, so who cares), peninsula ribbon snakes, various rat and corn snakes, racers, a couple species of tantilla, and a sand skink, and some mole skinks.
We kicked it off with a bang. We visited a grid of garbage: literally. Trash in the sand. After flipping cover and sifting through the sand beneath it, we turned up 3 Florida Worm Lizards in about 30 minutes. As well as some mole skinks, sand skinks, and tantilla. But it's pretty hard to care about any of those when you're holding real-life aliens in your hands.
Rhineura floridana
Florida Worm Lizard by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Florida Worm Lizard by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHappier than a fish with titties. Or however that saying goes.
Me with Florida Worm Lizards by Chad Harrison, on FlickrThat night we did okay. Missed my lifer Coral snake by seconds. It was hit and flopping around. Bummer! Saw plenty of nerodia, yellow rats, corn snakes, and swamp snakes. Here are some of the better looking individuals:
Pantherophis guttatus guttatus
Corn Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPantherophis alleghaniensis quadrivittata
Yellow Rat Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Yellow Rat Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBefore the big movement started, all three vehicles set out in different directions with a peculiar little king snake in mind. Things got ridiculous when Josh Young's car turned up this South Florida Mole King Snake.
Lampropeltis calligaster occipitolineata
South Florida Mole King Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
South Florida Mole King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrWe just couldn't stop. One morning, Zack West, Micah Riddle and I set out to cruise before we headed further south. Zack was pessimistic about our conditions. 70 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky. Not the most ideal of cloud cover for Pine Snake cruising, but I thought it felt great. Would have been perfect cruising conditions back home, if there was any habitat left to cruise through! Sure enough, it wasn't long before we were seeing snake after snake. Mostly racers. But one of the racers wasn't moving. It was just chillin' in the road. So Zack says "Wait. What was that?" We back up, Micah peers out the window, doesn't say a word, calmly and slowly exits the motor vehicle, and holds up a Florida Pine Snake with a big dumb grin on his face.
Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus
Pine Snake In Situ by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Florida Pine Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPlestiodon egregius lividus
Blue-Tailed Mole Skink by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAgkistrodon piscivorus conanti
Florida Cottonmouth by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBack home in the Midwest, things were going swell.
Terrapene ornata
Ornate Box Turtle by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPseudacris streckeri illinoensis
Illinois Chorus Frog by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPantherophis emoryi
Great Plains Rat Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrMasticophis flagellum
Eastern Coachwhip by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis getula holbrooki
Speckled King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis triangulum syspila
Red Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrOver the last couple years I've been making it a point to see Bullsnakes from more uncommonly visited localities in Illinois; something a little different than the usual Chicagoland bulls. It has been really interesting seeing all the diversity.
Pituophis catenifer sayi
Bullsnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrOphisaurus attenuatus
Slender Glass Lizard by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPantherophis vulpinus vulpinus
Western Fox Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHeterodon nasicus
Western Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCrotalus horridus
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrSistrurus catenatus
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrFor my birthday, I gathered up some buddies and we did a weekend rocket-run to the Great Smoky Mountains to see some Great Smoky critters.
Right off the bat, we got some lovely Aneides
Aneides aeneus
Green Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Green Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrWe saw hundreds of assorted Desmognathus sp, but I didn't photograph any of them. They all look exactly the same, save a couple neat species here or there. The goal for this trip was neat Plethodonids. Maybe one day I will care about desmogs, but today is not that day.
Plethodon yonahlossee
Yonahlossee Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Yonahlossee Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPlethodon jordani
Red-Cheeked Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCryptobranchus alleganiensis
Eastern Hellbender by Chad Harrison, on FlickrOne of my good buddies had been spending the summer in Los Angeles interning with Titmouse. He drove out there, but wanted help with the 31 hour drive home. So I flew out to help him, on the condition that I got to herp all the way back. While I didn't get to spend much time at all afield, I did still manage to see some interesting critters. Not pictured are several Crotalus helleri, a zonata that some local turd cruising ahead of me collected, a banded gecko, an atrox, and a Sonoran Gopher Snake.
The first night I managed to cruise 24 helleri, a giant skunk and a giant helleri totally pissed about being trapped on a bridge together, and I watched a car in front of me cruise a zonata. And then keep it. Lovely.
Crotalus helleri
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrWe headed further east, and stopped off in Phoenix, making terrible time so that I could cruise for a couple hours.
Terrible photo of a Crotalus scutulatus
Mojave Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCrotalus cerastes cercobombus
Sonoran Sidewinder by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis getula californiae
California King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrThat's it for anything worth sharing in 2014. 2015 started off in a familiar fashion: Florida. This time a little earlier in the year, and a little more relaxed. My goal this time was to come home with some decent Diamondback shots. We ended up finding some nice florida king snakes, including a monster adult male close to 5 feet long. Yet, somehow, I managed to screw up all my shots again.
Crotalus adamanteus. Ended up seeing about 6 of these in a couple days.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrTried again for some Worm Lizards. No such luck. Must have used up all my Worm Lizard tickets the first go 'round.
Plestiodon egregius onocrepis
Peninsula Mole Skink by Chad Harrison, on FlickrNeoseps reynoldsi
Sand Skink by Chad Harrison, on FlickrMasticophis flagellum
Eastern Coachwhip by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAnolis equestris
Cuban Knight Anole by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCloser, Clarice
Cuban Knight Anole by Chad Harrison, on FlickrFarancia abacura abacura
Eastern Mud Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrQuick little pit stop yielded a larval Red Salamander, a Green salamander, and another Eastern Hellbender
Pseudotriton ruber
Larval Red Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAneides aeneus
Green Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBack home, it would be another few months before it was time to get back at it.
Ambystoma maculatum
Spotted Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrEastern Hognose doing eastern hognose things
Eastern Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHeterodon platirhinos
Eastern Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrMore Illinois Bullsnake variety
Pituophis catenifer sayi
Bullsnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPituophis catenifer sayi
Bullsnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAgkistrodon contortrix ssp
Northern/Southern Copperhead by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis calligaster calligaster
Prairie King Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Prairie King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHeterodon nasicus gloydi
Dusty Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Dusty Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHeterodon platirhinos
Eastern Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrOpheodrys aestivus
Rough Green Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis getula holbrooki
Speckled King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrNerodia cyclopion
Mississippi Green Water Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAgkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Western Cottonmouth by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAwful shot of a Hyla avivoca. That out of focus eye drives me insane.
Bird-Voiced Tree Frog by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAmbystoma annulatum
Ringed Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Ringed Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Ringed Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrThis creepy little salamander holds a very special place in my heart. Seeing Dante Fenolio's work with cave dwelling vertebrates and invertebrates has instilled in me a passion for blind salamanders. This past summer some friends and I found ourselves up bright and early, and headed deep into the back-est of back woods Missouri in search of accessible caves. We found a narrow cavern along a river, thanks to a tip. I know now that if I am ever to do this again, I need gloves and knee pads. This cave was barely open enough for me to sit up in. So I reduced to my hands and knees, and advanced inward. With full intent to shake hands with the devil, I didn't make it 40 yards before these Grotto Salamanders became a common sight.
Eurycea spelaea
Grotto Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Grotto Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBack to the east side of the Mississippi
Ambystoma opacum
Marbled Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Marbled Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCrotalus horridus
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPituophis catenifer sayi
Bullsnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Eastern Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCrotalus horridus
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrNerodia cyclopion
Mississippi Green Water Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis triangulum syspila
Red Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBack across the river on a gloomy day in July, Peter Paplanus and I simply could not stop finding snakes.
Crotalus horridus
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis triangulum syspila overload
Red Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrTropidoclonion lineatum
Lined Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrTerrapene carolina triunguis
Three-Toed Box Turtle by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAgkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster
Osage Copperhead by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis getula holbrooki
Speckled King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCinnamon roll
Speckled King Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrOver in my neck of the woods, there is a population of Blue Racers that are just exceptional. Real, true, vivid blue hues. Not that blue-gray nonsense. This individual was particularly stunning. No out of the ordinary enhancement was done in post processing to manipulate the blue shown here. Some slight contrast adjustment, sharpening, clarity, and maybe some exposure and color temperature adjustment. Nothing major.
Coluber constrictor foxii
Blue Racer by Chad Harrison, on FlickrSistrurus catenatus
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrSistrurus catenatus
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis
Prairie Racerunner by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPituophis catenifer sayi
Bullsnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrLampropeltis triangulum triangulum - Ugly As Sin morph
Eastern Milk Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrThamnophis radix
Plains Garter Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrOpheodrys vernalis
Smooth Green Snake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAmbystoma laterale
Blue-Spotted Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrSistrurus catenatus
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrI have no idea why this girl was sitting like this. Of all the massasaugas I have seen, in all the states I have seen them in, this one looked the most uncomfortable.
Sistrurus catenatus
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHeterodon platirhinos
Eastern Hognose by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAgkistrodon contortrix ssp
Northern/Southern Copperhead intergrade by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCrotalus horridus
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrCrotalus horridus
Timber Rattlesnake by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAgkistrodon contortrix ssp - sorry if this photo was included already. My flicker photostream is totally out of order
Northern/Southern Copperhead by Chad Harrison, on FlickrThat pretty much sums it up for 2015. I left out a lot of stuff, mostly common critters.
I started 2016 off with a Northern California trip. Wherein Tuatarifer and I went to visit our good buddy Mikemike.
Aneides lugubris
Arboreal Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Arboreal Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Arboreal Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus
Speckled Black Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBeast of a male Aneides vagrans
Wandering Salamander by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Wandering Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrBANANA SLUG!
California Banana Slug by Chad Harrison, on FlickrDicamptodon tenebrosus
Costal Giant Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAmbystoma gracile
Northwestern Salamander by Chad Harrison, on FlickrElgaria coerulea principis
Northwestern Alligator Lizard by Chad Harrison, on FlickrPseudacris sierra
Sierran Tree Frog by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Sierran Tree Frog by Chad Harrison, on FlickrEnsatina eschscholtzii oregonensis
Oregon Ensatina by Chad Harrison, on Flickr
Oregon Ensatina by Chad Harrison, on FlickrHarbor Seals!
Harbor Seals by Chad Harrison, on FlickrAn engine block that has become a part of a tide pool ecosystem
Mother Nature Reclaims by Chad Harrison, on FlickrSeeing this Red Octopus was the highlight of my year already, and the year before that, and before that, and before that etc. What an amazing animal.
Octopus rubescens
Red Octopus by Chad Harrison, on FlickrThats it so far. Thank you for looking!
Chad
