Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a few questions about speciation that perhaps the experts can answer. See the photos for notes on individual animals. No animals were collected.

Have yet to see a gopher snake, except for a couple of roadkills that is, or a racer. But the season is young.

This animal was found on the campus of Santa Clara University.

San Mateo County.b

Just had a very large meal. Santa Cruz County.

Found this adult female basking in this odd position. Santa Clara County.

Very large animal. Appeared to be asleep but I didn't bother to try and expose the rattles.

Too many of these guys to coun,t but it was a cool day and he sat still for a moment.

Santa Clara County.b

For the experts: Is this incdeed a Gilbert's or a color morph of a Western?

What gives you the idea that this skink could be a Gilberts?

I ventured out some years ago in the Monterey area with someone who claimed to be an "expert" and we found an identical-looking animal that he said was a Gilbert's. Evidently the orange coloration, as oppoosed to blue, was the kicker. If it's not I appreciate the heads up as I am a rank amateur insofar as the fine points of speciation. The hobby really merely affords me an excuse to get off my motorcycle and hike around.

Regards

Congrats on the finding all those Coast Range species. Head east for a gilbets.

San Mateo County.

This guy was in a hurry to be somewhere else. Probably due to blindness.

Again, I am not versed on how to tell the difference between these and the Southerns except by gross coloration. Santa Clara County.

Another good way is I believe Southers are egg layers while Northerns are live bearers. Somone please correct me if I am wrong
My Research and Collection

Same locality as the northern, about thirty feet away in actuality, which is what gives rise to my question.

Saved the best for last. Neonate male. Took a baby fence lizard right out of my fingers! Probably his first meal, given his tiny size.

Juvenile female. Likely a recapture from last year. Santa Clara County.

just beautiful. So much red, so little black. Nice finds.

Adult male found crossing the road in rural Santa Cruz County. The car about 200 yards behind me would have gotten him for sure.

Juvenile male. Santa Clara County.

Wow! How long of a field herping trip was this, or was it the accumulationof several weeks worth of trip & photos? I love the Cals and the zonatas. I'm down here in SoCal (Chatsworth, San Fernando Valley region), and I've yet to see a zonata or a gopher.

reako45

I shot three of the zonatas in one outing and the fourth one on my second trip out. People think they're rare but they're merely highly secretive. They don't come out in the open like garter snakes and others of that ilk--in fact they seem to have a genuine aversion to bright light. Once you figure out where and when to look they are as easy to find as any other reptile, but only for a short time when surface conditions are optimal. I've seen three more since I posted, plus two each of whipsnakes and gopher snakes, and several more calkings.

The other animals were shot during a series of outings that spanned a roughly two-month interval.

We had an outrageously wet spring and it seems like the snakes came out all at once when the rains finally let up.

regards

If thats you your nuts.JB

Nope. Are you thinking of Steve IRWIN? I get people wondering if I'm either the six milion dollar man or "Stone Cold Steve." I'm just a humble law writer. But that doesn't necessarily mean I'm NOT nuts.

I m too sharp to mistake erwin...