Qué
Culebra de Nariz Larga (Rhinocheilus lecontei)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Encountered this long-nosed snake constricting and attempting to eat a long-nosed leopard lizard. The leopard lizard ultimately escaped after several minutes of playing dead.
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Until today, I had never seen a rattlesnake this late in the year in the Western Mojave Desert. The temperature was about 70 degrees F when I saw this little baby. It was only 7-8 inches long.
Fotos / Sonidos
Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Comparative photos, both with a tripod. First photo with camera flash. Second photo, fluorescing under 365 nanometer ultraviolet light with ZWB2 bandpass filter centered on 365 nm.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Culebra Nariz Lanceolada Pinta (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Total length about 12 inches.
Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
These two sidewinders were not mating, and appeared merely to be lying in a pile. The much larger sidewinder appeared to be gravid.
Fotos / Sonidos
Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
This snake was very inactive, and moved very little during our encounter. It was still in the same location at 1210 PDT. Air temperature was 55 F at initial encounter.
There's some question whether this could be a C. stephensi. Opinions please!
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel del Altiplano (Crotalus scutulatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus, length about 12 inches. Its nose and the top of its head looked injured or soiled.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel del Altiplano (Crotalus scutulatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
This individual was calm during my initial photos beyond 30 feet (included here). It was very unhappy to be caught in the open as I approached. Length about 30 inches.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel del Altiplano (Crotalus scutulatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus scutulatus. Not a hint of green on this snake.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Chacahuala del Noroeste (Sauromalus ater)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Sauromalus ater, very camera shy. All shots were beyond 10 feet except while it was hiding in the crack.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Lagartija Norteña de Mancha Lateral (Uta stansburiana ssp. elegans)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Male Uta stansburiana elegans in breeding colors, dominating his rock. His tail is living a new life.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel del Altiplano (Crotalus scutulatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus. This was the same individual that I photographed on 17 Feb a few feet further southeast. Its greenish cast was more evident in the previous photographs. Compare photographs showing details on the head for both dates. The three scales between the supraoculars have the same shapes/sizes.
Fotos / Sonidos
Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes cerastes. We were a bit surprised to see this snake out and about with the temperature at 55F. However, it had been a warm day
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel del Altiplano (Crotalus scutulatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus. This individual displayed a defensive behavior I had never seen before from a rattlesnake. It initially postured in strike position, then hid its head under its body and went silent. It also made a slight hissing noise -- might have been inhaling to inflate its body. Perhaps because it was less mobile at 60F for typical defensive behavior?
Qué
Cascabel del Altiplano (Crotalus scutulatus)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Mojave rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Sidewinder. Should be C. cerastes cerastes in our area, but the tail coloring is what I would expect for C. cerastes laterorepens.
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Camaleón del Desierto (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Mating horned lizards
Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
This was the fifth consecutive evening I had seen what was probably the same sidewinder lying under the same bush. It has always been there in the late afternoons, never present after dark. This is hopefully an ongoing observation of a single individual.
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Two sidewinders were lying motionless together in a clump. Took this photo from about 15 ft away. When approached, the upper individual immediately fled. The lower individual was reluctant to move when we attempted to chase it off the road.
Qué
Lagartija Espinosa Barrada (Sceloporus uniformis)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Sceloporus uniformis -- adult male
Fotos / Sonidos
Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Dipsosaurus dorsalis ssp dorsalis. Looks like it might be a gravid female.
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes ssp cerastes, cruising/hunting
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes ssp cerastes, cruising/hunting
Qué
Camaleón del Desierto (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Phrynosoma platyrhinos
Qué
Camaleón del Desierto (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Phrynosoma platyrhinos
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes ssp cerastes, about 9" and 14". No obvious interaction between them.
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes ssp cerastes, cruising/hunting
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes ssp cerastes, cruising/hunting
Qué
Cascabel Cornuda del Noroeste (Crotalus cerastes)Observ.
gregwatsonDescripción
Crotalus cerastes ssp cerastes, hunting/cruising