We found a fresh gopher hole near by. The snake didn’t hesitate. It went right down the hole and disappeared
This one was slow moving.
Maybe it was because it was a cold morning.
This one is in the
“Order Solifuge”.
These interesting little creatures have many common names.
Such as Wind Scorpions, Sun Spiders, Mean Things and Camel Spiders.
But they are NOT Spiders.
They are NOT Scorpions.
They do not like the sun.
The Latin name Solifuge stands for "Thoes who flee the Sun”.
Sure - they are scary looking.
There are may Urban Legends about them. But they do not feed on camel stomachs or soldiers in sleeping bags .They can’t help it if they are scary looking to many people.
They are NOT dangerous.
They have no venom.
I would not have picked this one up if they were. But I did not want this one to get stepped on. Which would have happened where it was. So I moved it to a safer place. Also they have far more to fear from us then we do from them. So please be kind. It’s not easy being little and different looking.
Female is on the left, and male is on the right. The male has damage to the anterior edge of his carapace. Both were found near burrows in soft soil on a hillside. I investigated nearby burrows and found small fragments of molted exoskeletons which most likely belonged to juvenile scorpions based on size. One [2i?] juvenile was found nearby hiding under a rock, probably around five feet away from the location of the female here. Both scorpions were returned to their original burrows.
For anyone wondering, these are both subadults with much more vibrant features. The adults of this subspecies will overall be more granulose on their carapace and pedipalps, and their fingers will be a much more muted brown color.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
[Scientific name=
Crotalus oreganus helleri]
Shovel nose snake
(Chionactis occipitalis)
Paravaejovis puritanus
(Gertsch, 1958)
We just had rain after a long hot dry spell. So they are out tonight.
1- The pinchers are narrow with moderately long slender fingers. Fingers are reddish. Keels and ridges in Palm are all smooth.
2- The base color is pale yellow with a slight orangish tint and faint dusky markings on the head and body.
3- The first tail segment is about as wide as long.
Also, it’s not real clear in the photo but the tail segments have Dorsal Middle Keels And Dorsal Lateral Keeks that are serrated in shape. Also end with a slightly elongated terminal tooth.
4- The stinger has a vesicle that is rounded at the base then tapers as it gets closer to the
pointy part.
The species was discovered in Jacumba, California. Just east of here.
Location
USA: CALIFORNIA:
San Diego County,
El Cajon, Willow Glen Dr. west of Dehessa, east of Hillsdale.
Lat. = 32.7643874 N
(32°45'51.7926")
Lon. = -116.8874072 W
(-116°53'14.6646")
Elev. ~400feet
Paravaejovis waeringi (Williams, 1970)
USA; CALIFORNIA, Imperial County, ~11miles west of Calexico,, ~ 21 miles east of Highways 8 & 98 split, Just north of US & Mexico Border / Elevation = —20 feet
4 April 2020
Mouse - 5 toes on hind foot.
Kangaroo Mouse?
Pocket Mouse?
Will return it to where I found it.
USA: California, Imperial County,
West of Calexico, west of Drew Road, just south of Highway 98, north of USA & Mexico Border
32.68250, -115.68556 (32°40'57” -115°41'8”)
Elevation -7 feet below sea level
28 December 2019
Hadrurus arizonesis,
[pale color phase]
Ewing, 1928
USA: California, Imperial County,
West of Calexico, west of Drew Road, just north of Highway 98,
32.681271, -115.6911029 (32°40'52.5756", -115°41'27.9702"):
Elevation -7 feet below sea level
Paravaejovis puritanus
(Gertsch, 1958)
This poor little guy has had it rough. Lost one pincher. A friend Found on the second floor of a condo.
1-PINCHER-The pinchers are narrow with moderately long slender fingers. Fingers are reddish. Keels/ridges in Palm are all smooth.
2-COLOR-The base color is pale yellow with a slight orangish tint and faint dusky markings on the head and body.
3- TAIL-The first tail segment is about as wide as long.
Tail segments have Dorsal Middle Keels & Dorsal Lateral Keeks that are serrated in shape. Also end with a slightly elongated terminal tooth. The Ventral Middle Keels & Ventral Lateral Keeks on the first 3 segments are smooth.
4-STINGER-The stinger has a vesicle that is rounded at the base then tapers as it gets closer to the pointy part.
USA:California, San Diego County, La Mesa,
5700 block of Baltimore Drive
Lat=32.783 670 N
Lon=—17.035 270 W
27-Sept.-2019
Found on 2nd floor of a Condo
Vaejovis carolinianus
(Beauvois, 1805)
Found at
USA, South Carolina,
? County
Lake Issaqueena, (North end)
Issaqueena Lake Rd. @ Wildcat Creek Picnic Area parking
(~2/3 mile North by North East)
Lat.= 34.761 31
Lon.= -82.855 39
Elev.= 1088 ft.
Coll. John Meitz/3-Oct.-2019/ Hand
(My new email =
jmscorpionhawk@gmail.com)
Southern Pacific rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus helleri
USA, California
San Diego County
El Cajon
Lat. 32.7544763 N,
Long. -116.8879653 W,
~400ft elev.
Paravaejovis puritanis or P. confusus.
But I feel it is a
Paravaejovis puritanis. Just a paler color phase with less of an orangish color tint than most.
The only way to tell for sure is under greater magnification of the fixed finger. Which I haven’t been able to do yet.
Paravaejovis puritanis will have a primary row of teeth (called the Primary Denticle Row (PDR)) that is divided into 5 sub-rows by 4 Slightly Enlarged Denticle (SED).
However P. confusus will have a PDR that is divided into 6 sub-rows by 5 Slightly Enlarged Denticle.
Also the only species of Paravaejovis I’ve found at this location has been P. puritanis.
I have drawings and photos I’m happy to share with anyone for the sake of science.
John
Hawk@horsezbyhawk.com
Paruroctonus silvestrii
(Borelli, 1909)
On the Pinchers (pedipalp chela). Fingers are more short and stout. Palm (manus) are big and strong. The palm is wider than the adjacent forearm segment (Patella aka Brachium). The palm also has very conspicuous keels or ridges (carnia) with dark markings.
The head and body (Chelicera & Mesosoma) on this one have dark markings forming more of a defined pattern.
On the Tail (Metasoma) the top side (dorsal side) have definite serrated keels that do not end in a slightly larger elongated terminal tooth.
There are two paired ventral (under side) keels. The Ventral Lateral Keel (VLK). And the Ventral Median Keel (VMK). Both made conspicuous with dark markings.
Pectine tooth count
Male = 25 to 29
Female = 18 to 22
—Referance—-
Gertsch & Soleglad 1966
American Museum Novitates #2278 Dec. 19, 1966
—Referance—-
Williams 1980 Scorpions of Baja California/ California Academy Of Science
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus helleri
USA:CALIFORNIA
San Diego County, El Cajon,
Sloane Canyon Rd.
Not sure which species. This was inside the sign-in box for Camp Blanding.
Anuroctonus pococki pococki , Soleglad + Fet 2004
USA: California, San Diego County, El Cajon, Ivanhoe Ranch, Ivanhoe Ranch Rd.
Lat.=32.7494265, Lon.-116.9033282
26 April 2019
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Scientific name
Crotalus ruber
USA: California,
San Diego County
El Cajon, Sloan’s Canyon
Lat.32.7749562 N
Lon.-116.8486156 W
Elev .526 Feet
5 Sept 2018
Jawbone ( maybe an opossum)
USA, CALIFORNIA,
San Diego County,
San Diego, Balboa Park
Lat. 32.7408590 N, (32°44'27.0924" N)
Lon. -117.1543300 W ( -117°9'15.5880” W)
Elev. 266 feet /27 April 2018
appears very old
The last photo is the location.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus helleri
USA:CALIFORNIA
San Diego County, El Cajon,
Sloane Canyon Rd.
Lat. 32.7737861, (32°46'25.6296")
Lon. -116.8498197 (-116°50'59.3514")
Elev 504feet / 7 Aug 2018