Well, this summer I met up with my good friend Ben, and did a little herping.
Yes, it's true I was out in West Texas, and this post is about that trip.
My herp trip started a few hours before Ben's did, you see we met up in McCamey, but I got there a few hours before him, so I decided to do some flipping, which turned up this little gem.
Desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula splendida)
_DSC0023 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
I met up with Ben and we headed south towards Ozona, where we cruised up this nice snake.
The first of many Blacktail Rattlesnakes
Pandale locality, Ornate Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus Ornatus)
_DSC0033 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Later that night we turned up this Longnose
Longnose snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
_DSC0057 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
And the last find of the night was this Texas Banded Gecko (Coleonyx brevis)
_DSC0063 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Next day we headed over to Snakedays for a meet and greet,where I may have met some of the people reading this post, if so hello again.
That night Ben and I headed down south to River Road, and it was a good decision.
First off, we found this Western Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum testaceus) slithering its way through the middle of the town of Marathon.
_DSC0074 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Next, as we made our way south out of alpine we found this beauty crossing the road.
Del Norte locality Ornate Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus)
_DSC0084 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0095 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
These are the clouds at the time of the photographing.
_DSC0114 - Version 2 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
We got down to River Road with time to spare, so we hiked around for a while.
After we got driving again we found this little guy right as Baba O'riley started playing on my iPod.
Trans Pecos Ratsnake (Bogertophis subocularis)
_DSC0122 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Minutes later we found another on the slopes of Big Hill.
_DSC0127 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Next snake was surprisingly the only Western Diamondback of the trip.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
_DSC0141 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The next snake was a major lifer to for me.
Chihuahuan Lyre snake (Trimorphodon vilkinsonii)
_DSC0153 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0150 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Later that night we found some Texas Nightsnakes which we held on to to photograph in the morning.
Texas Night Snakes (Hypsiglena jani)
Number 1
_DSC0034 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Number 2, possible Hypo
_DSC0041 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The two together.
_DSC0039 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The next few snakes are not mine, but someone else found them and so I asked if I could snap a few photos.
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)
_DSC0001 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Trans Pecos Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortix pictigaster)
_DSC0032 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
From Snakedays we headed north to Iraan, where on the way we found my favorite snake of the trip.
A big, mean, and beautiful Blacktail Rattlesnake
Glass Mountains locality Ornate Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus)
_DSC0003 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0011 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The only other snake from that night was this Suboc.
_DSC0028 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The next day began a journey that would test my driving skills, and my car itself.
I can;t tell the location of where we went, but just know, it was the definition of remote.
First snake we found there was this surprise.
Chihuahuan Lyresnake #2!
_DSC0074 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Next snake was another Blackail Rattlesnake
Crotalus ornatus
_DSC0080 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
And then we found one of many Banded Geckos (Coleonyx brevis)
_DSC0084 2 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The next morning, still at the secret spot, we hiked around a forested canyon, and found a couple of these little snakes.
Western Blackneck Garter (Thamnophis crytopsis crytopsis)
_DSC0004 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Garter in Habitat
_DSC0025 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Hiking later that night turned up this fella
Ornate Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus)
_DSC0007 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The next day there was unprofitable, so after three days in the middle of nowhere, we left.
We ended up going back to river road that night but found only this Suboc, and another Longnose snake.
_DSC0010 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0020 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The next few days were tough, we drove for hours trying to get away from storms, but alas the hail and cold rain prevented us from finding much
One find was this Prairie Rattlesnake out basking north of Marathon.
_DSC0029 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0039 2 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Ben getting an awesome macro shot of its face.
_DSC0035 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
The only finds from the next few days, other than toads were these.
I may be out of order on these few.
Sonoran Groundsnake (Sonora Semiannulata)
_DSC0008 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Kansas Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans)
_DSC0005 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
After days of nothing, we decided to get as far from the rain as possible, so we drove east, all the way to highway 277.
And we were rewarded.
Driving north we found this guy.
Checkered Garter (Thamnophis marcianus)
_DSC0001 2 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Next, as we walked the first cut of the night I hear Ben yell out something I'd been hoping for the entire trip "Rock Rattler!" the other best find of the trip.
We held him for the night to photograph him in the morning light.
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)
_DSC0014 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0017 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
_DSC0029 2 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
Then, as we photographed him, Ben saw a snake in the grass.
Bairds Ratsnake (Pantherophis bairdii)
_DSC0009 by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr
And thats it, Ben and I parted ways in McCamey, and I returned hom to Boerne, leaving the desert behind for the hill country, where I sit planning a herping trip for next week as I watch Game of Thrones.
West Texas Trip 2013
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Amazing post.
All screamers, especially that lyre!
Great shots.
All screamers, especially that lyre!
Great shots.
- chris_mcmartin
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Re: West Texas Trip 2013
You sure on your ID of the "reticulated gecko?" Looks like a standard "lunker" female brevis to me...do you have any pics of the others for comparison?
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Thats my only pic of one that I got ( they are so annoying to photograph so I don't bother usually).
Im pretty sure about it, I had a few people verify it.
Im pretty sure about it, I had a few people verify it.
- Mark Brown
- Posts: 567
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- Location: Austin, TX
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Looks like a great trip, especially the Trimorphs and that gorgeous Glass Mt Ornatus.. I'm heading out there next week and if I have half as much luck as you did, I'll be doing backflips till Christmas. Good show!!!
- chris_mcmartin
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Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Color's wrong, tail's too fat, and there are no tubercles on the body. How big was it?Saunders wrote:Thats my only pic of one that I got ( they are so annoying to photograph so I don't bother usually).
Im pretty sure about it, I had a few people verify it.
If you google pics of retics, you'll see what I mean (but a "reticulated gecko" search also pulls up brevis shots).
- Mark Brown
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- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 2:15 am
- Location: Austin, TX
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Another tip-off might be, if you see "many" of them, they probably aren't Retics.
- Greg Huston
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Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Lovin' all the blacktail pics. One of my favorite crotes. Excellent post.
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Everyone is finding trimorph's but me! Great post
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
To me this is like a highlight reel of what I would hope to see in West Texas in one single trip. Great photos and finds.
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Very nice, thanks!
- Will Wells
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Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Very nice finds, I hope I can get over to that area someday.
Quite Enjoyable
I've lived in 8 states, traveled thru 22 states, plus Canada & Mexico. Lived brielfy in San Antonio & Wichita Falls, but never visited west TX. I'd love to see the Chihuahuan Desert rivers & canyons. Edwards Plateau & Big Springs beckon.
Desert Kingsnake was especially nice (my favorite Kingsnake patterns & colors).
Thanks for sharing!
Ameron
Portland/Vancouver
1.0 Pituophis catenifer deserticola (Alvord Desert, OR)
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina phase)
1.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (native, wild pair in backyard nature restoration zone)
Desert Kingsnake was especially nice (my favorite Kingsnake patterns & colors).
Thanks for sharing!
Ameron
Portland/Vancouver
1.0 Pituophis catenifer deserticola (Alvord Desert, OR)
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina phase)
1.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (native, wild pair in backyard nature restoration zone)
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Thanks for all the comments guys, also, the reticulated gecko is just a banded gecko, Chris showed me the error of my ways.
Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Thanks for all the comments guys, also, the reticulated gecko is just a banded gecko, Chris showed me the error of my ways.
- chris_mcmartin
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Re: West Texas Trip 2013
Saunders wrote:Thanks for all the comments guys, also, the reticulated gecko is just a banded gecko, Chris showed me the error of my ways.
The pics I shared with Saunders, from 2008 when I had the opportunity to photograph both species side-by-side (the retics were legally caught by someone else, under permit).
In this first pic, a reticulated gecko (Big Bend gecko) is on the lower left, and a Texas banded gecko is in the upper right.
In the next pic, the TX banded is in between two retics. I've never seen a retic specimen any color other than some form of pink (i.e. no yellow); plus if you look closely you can make out the tubercles on the bodies of the retics. Secondary identifying traits include the "emaciated" appearance, even for healthy wild specimens, and the disproportionate head size relative to the body (they are said to eat other lizards, including their smaller banded gecko cousins).