Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

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Rman
Posts: 142
Joined: April 22nd, 2012, 3:32 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Rman »

With the passing of another terrific year in the field, it's time again to reflect with photos and recall good times with great friends.

Some Southeast Louisiana salamanders in January.
ImageWebster's Salamander Southeast Louisiana, January 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSlimy Salamander. Southeast Louisiana, January 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageMole Salamander. Southeast Louisiana, January 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Things started to get going a bit early in Louisiana last February.
ImageTexas Rat Snake. Southeast Louisiana by Armin, on Flickr

ImageLouisiana Milk Snake. South Louisiana, February 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, February 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Some Louisiana finds in March
ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr
Huge canebrake. Near 6'
ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageLouisiana Milk Snake. South Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageLouisiana Milk Snake. South Louisiana March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageButtermilk Racer. North Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageLouisiana Milk Snake. North Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImagePrairie Kingsnake, Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King Snake. North Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattle Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Kingsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Imageisatchie (Slowinski) Cornsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Imageisatchie (Slowinski) Cornsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageKisatchie (Slowinski) Cornsnake. NW Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2015 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, March 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

April in Louisiana
ImagePrairie Kingsnake. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageButtermilk Racer. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCoachwhip. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn snake. Southeast Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageJuvi Canebrake Rattlesnake. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSlowinski Corn snake. Northern Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImagePrairie Kingsnake, Central Louisiana, April 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageLouisiana Pine Snake. Louisiana 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

May in Louisiana
ImageSouthern Copperhead. Southeast Louisiana May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImagePrairie Kingsnake. Northern Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageScarlet Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageWestern Mud Snake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King snake. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Fl

ImageSouthern Copperhead. Southeast Louisiana, May 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Northern Louisiana, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
ImageTerrestrial Snail Sucker (Sibon sartorii), Yucatan, Mexico June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageRedback Coffee Snake (Ninia sebae). Yucatan Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageVariable Coral Snake (Micrurus diastema) Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageRainforest Cat-eyed Snake. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageYucatan Casqueheaded Tree Frog by Armin, on Flickr

Image"Temple of Kukulcan" in Chichen Itza by Armin, on Flickr

ImagePeninsular Ratsnake. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImagePeninsular Ratsnake. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageVariable Coral Snake. Yucatan, Mexico 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageYucatan Hognose Viper. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageBlanchard's Milk Snake. Yucatan Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageMorelet's Crocodile. Quintana Roo, Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageMorelet's Crocodile. Quintana Roo, Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageHerpers with crocosmiles! Morelet's Crocodile. Quintana Roo, Mexico June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageTzabcan. Yucatan, Mexico June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Armin, on Flickr

ImageYucatan Banded Gecko. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageTzabcan. Campeche, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageYucatan Hognose Viper. Yucatan, Mexico. June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImagePuffing Snake. Quintana Roo, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSnail-eating Thirst Snake. Quintana Roo, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageYucatan Blunthead Snake. Yucatan Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageBoa Constrictor. Yucatan, Mexico, June 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageAnother Tzabcan. Campeche, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageVariable Coral Snake, Quintana Roo, Mexico, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageBanded Snail Sucker. Campeche, Mexico July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCloudy Snail Sucker. Campeche, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageTzabcan. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageTzabcan. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageFer-de-lance. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageFer-de-lance. Quintana Roo, Mexico. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Back to Louisiana

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Took the family to Texas and New Mexico for vacation. Huh, There were some snakes there. Who knew?

ImageBlack Tailed Rattlesnake, Eddy Co. NM. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageRegal Ringneck Snake. Culberson Co. Tx. July 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Back home again
ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, August 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana August 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, August 2016 In situ by Armin, on Flickr

Image"I Want Mow King Snakes!". Baton Rouge, La. August 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, September 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana, September 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King Snake. Southeast louisiana, September 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Snake Road trip with side trip to Missouri.

ImageDusty Hognose Snake 1. October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageDusty Hognose Snake 2. October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Southeast Louisiana

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Copperhead. Southeast Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCanebrake Rattlesnake. Southeast Louisiana October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Copperhead. South Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Copperhead. South Louisiana, October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana October 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Copperheads. Southeast Louisiana, November 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled King Snake. Southeast Louisiana, November 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake2. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Kingsnake. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake1. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake. Southeast Louisiana, December 2016 by Armin, on Flickr

Looking forward to what 2017 holds.
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dwakefield
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Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by dwakefield »

I know I said it on Facebook already, but you had a great year of finds, Armin! Hard to pick favorites, but I love all those Canebrakes and Lampros.......and the Louisiana Pine and Tzabcan Rattlesnake are stunning. Any big targets for 2017?
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Jeff
Posts: 620
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 6:01 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Jeff »

Armin

It appears that all of your commentary was deleted.

Jeff
Rman
Posts: 142
Joined: April 22nd, 2012, 3:32 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Rman »

Thanks Daniel!
Two targets for 2017. A Mole king and rainbow snake from Louisiana. Both are really tough finds here. I think there are only 5-6 accounts of mole kings in Louisiana so I'm looking forward to that challenge.


Jeff,
Thanks for your generous observation. I will be glad to comment in great detail about you in next year's post. Haha
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achillesbeast
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Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by achillesbeast »

Awesome post, Armin. Your photos are superb.
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Soopaman
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Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Soopaman »

You popped a good year, bud!

Your photography has really become fantastic. All these images are great, it's hard to pick out a favorite.

That Blanchardi has me itching to get to Mexico!
johnwe3
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Joined: October 28th, 2014, 1:48 am

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by johnwe3 »

Great getting to meet and herp with you this year!!
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Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Jeroen Speybroeck »

All great, but the exotic Mexican candy is of course refreshingly attractive!
brennan
Posts: 84
Joined: December 13th, 2010, 8:29 am

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by brennan »

awesome pics Armaniac! looking foreward to another great field season man. BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!! probably because you left out all your commentary....... :lol:
Ecto Hunter
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Joined: August 27th, 2010, 3:00 pm
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Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Ecto Hunter »

beautiful shots, Armin

- Robb Herrington
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chrish
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Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by chrish »

Awesome stuff. I can't believe I had to back out of the Yucatan trip! Way to rub it in! :lol:

All of that aside,....ruthveni!!! Damn! Are they more "common" in LA than they are in TX?
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Jeff
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Joined: June 11th, 2010, 6:01 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Jeff »

BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!!
Like the number of mosquito bites fielded while waiting for the retinue to set up and arrange the camera/flash studio in preparation for R-Man to spend 15 minutes forcing a tired speckled king to perform a balancing act on a small log with its head 'just right'. If I had a nickel....

Speaking of Bothrops atrox, it occurred to me that the big Yucatan guy really shows why they are called "Barba Amarilla."
gretzkyrh4
Posts: 661
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 12:17 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

Dear God, Man! Do you ever work?!

Looks like a great year. Hopefully 2017 will allot me a little more time out in the field with you guys.

Chris
Rman
Posts: 142
Joined: April 22nd, 2012, 3:32 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Rman »

achillesbeast wrote:Awesome post, Armin. Your photos are superb.
Thank you! I enjoy making them.
Soopaman wrote:You popped a good year, bud!

Your photography has really become fantastic. All these images are great, it's hard to pick out a favorite.

That Blanchardi has me itching to get to Mexico!
Thanks bud! It'll be a great time when Mexico fits into your schedule. Can't wait.
johnwe3 wrote:Great getting to meet and herp with you this year!!
Heck yeah John! That's was a blast. Too bad you had to move shortly after. We'll have to cross paths again some time.
Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:All great, but the exotic Mexican candy is of course refreshingly attractive!
Thanks a bunch Jeroen! Mexico was a blessing and a curse. Herping there is a magical experience, but after leaving I'm constantly jonesing for more.
brennan wrote:awesome pics Armaniac! looking foreward to another great field season man. BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!! probably because you left out all your commentary....... :lol:
Thanks man! I think..
The good news is that I know it's going to be another good season. Really looking forward to it. But honestly, who wants to read commentary about three drunk "women" fighting in the street at 10am and blocking us from leaving a dead end street. "Bitc#! You broke into my mufukn house!" Haha
Ecto Hunter wrote:beautiful shots, Armin

- Robb Herrington
Thank you Robb!
chrish wrote:Awesome stuff. I can't believe I had to back out of the Yucatan trip! Way to rub it in! :lol:

All of that aside,....ruthveni!!! Damn! Are they more "common" in LA than they are in TX?
'

Thanks Chris. I'm sorry you didn't make the Yucatan trip with us. It's very tough to get around rubbing it in when there are so many great things to find there.
Ruthveni are very tough to find in either state but they could be gone from Texas all together at this point and they're very spotty in the small remaining good habitat in Louisiana. Future very uncertain I'm afraid.
Jeff wrote:
BTW, your pics leave to the imagination an endless possibility of enticing and gripping tales of wonderful finds and field experiences!!
Like the number of mosquito bites fielded while waiting for the retinue to set up and arrange the camera/flash studio in preparation for R-Man to spend 15 minutes forcing a tired speckled king to perform a balancing act on a small log with its head 'just right'. If I had a nickel....

Speaking of Bothrops atrox, it occurred to me that the big Yucatan guy really shows why they are called "Barba Amarilla."
It usually only takes me 5 minutes to get a nice photograph but the snakes become very anxious and agitated in your presence. I wonder if thats from being terrified of pickle jars that must cost more than a nickel. LOL

I'm guessing that Bothrops asper are called the same. Definitely some nice yellow though.
gretzkyrh4 wrote:Dear God, Man! Do you ever work?!

Looks like a great year. Hopefully 2017 will allot me a little more time out in the field with you guys.

Chris
Thanks Chris, It was a great year. Hope you can make some time for the field too.
sjohn
Posts: 19
Joined: December 10th, 2013, 7:36 am
Location: NC

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by sjohn »

Really nice post.....there are milkheads doing backflips over the Blanchard's Milk.
NACairns
Posts: 372
Joined: December 30th, 2013, 7:27 am

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by NACairns »

Spectacular post, I couldn't buy a snake in Louisiana last spring but from your collection here looks like I was just looking in the wrong places. The SE US stuff would have been enough to inspire intense jealousy from me but add on the Mexican diversity is ridiculous. So many Tzabcan and corals. Congrats on a great year for herps and thanks for sharing.
Best,
Nick
Rman
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Joined: April 22nd, 2012, 3:32 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by Rman »

sjohn wrote:Really nice post.....there are milkheads doing backflips over the Blanchard's Milk.
Thank you very much!
We found a few very painful milk DORs on the trip but when we found that incredible, and live! blanchard in the road, we were blown away. I'm sure we looked ridiculous jumping around and cheering on the highway that night but it had to happen. Another trip down there is a must.
NACairns wrote:Spectacular post, I couldn't buy a snake in Louisiana last spring but from your collection here looks like I was just looking in the wrong places. The SE US stuff would have been enough to inspire intense jealousy from me but add on the Mexican diversity is ridiculous. So many Tzabcan and corals. Congrats on a great year for herps and thanks for sharing.
Best,
Nick
Thanks Nick!
Louisiana can be very tough for herping. Road cruising is much less reliable than most places I've herped. Finding cover is really the only way to get success. Many of the best finds are stumbled upon while walking to the flip sites as well.

There were so many corals in the Yucatan that we started turning them away unless there was something unusual about them. They were beautiful snakes for sure. On the other hand, it took a few days before the tzabcan got going. When they did, we were on top of the world.
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ClosetHerper
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Re: Hooked on 2016. La,Tx,NM, Yucatan. EOY

Post by ClosetHerper »

That is one massive Canebrake that guy is holding and the Blanchards Milk is beautiful. Great collection. Great Finds. great pics!
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