Here are a few pics from the past three months. First are a couple of sallies from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Alleghany co., NC:
Blackbelly Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus)
Blue Ridge Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber nitidus)
Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanota)
What I wanted to see while I was in NC was a Hellbender, but I didn’t bother looking because runoff from recent rainfall had the streams a bit too high and cloudy………..next time. I saw a few other typical herps from that area, but didn’t bother with pics.
Can anyone guess where these habitat shots were taken?:
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If any of you guessed Oklahoma, you would be correct! Those are from the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge; it’s a beautiful place. Every time I’m there I feel like I should be looking for lepidus and molossus.
The WMNWR is the only place in southwest OK that I know of where you can still find a large expanse of historic mixed-grass prarie:
My wife enjoyed watching the prarie dogs and their antics:
Here are some herps from various parts of southwest OK. This first herp was quite a surprise. I was flipping some tin on the side of the road, and when I turned around to get back in the truck, I saw this on the opposite side of the road (DOR):
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
The surprising part was the habitat and the western longitude. Here are a couple of habitat shots from that spot:
Oddly enough, I’ve also found Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes within that picture. The habitat looks more suitable for Western Diamondbacks and Western Massassaugas. I guess they’re just where you find’em.
I always enjoy seeing these; the living version anyway:
Bullsnake (Pituophis melanoleucus sayi)
Here’s a box turtle that must enjoy cow patties:
Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene o. ornata)
Horned lizards are always a welcome sight:
Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
And, unfortunately, one of my targets:
Eastern Earless Lizard (Holbrookia maculata perspicua)
Habitat for perspicua; I’ve found two DORs at this spot:
H. m. perspicua populations have really taken a hit in many areas……..it makes you wonder why, since they can obviously survive the perils of the plow in some areas????
Here’s an atrox that wouldn’t cooperate after I disturbed it from this position:
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
Some of Oklahoma’s state herp:
I didn’t notice that female until I got back home and reviewed the pics.
And a Texas Toad (Bufo speciosus):
Shane
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