Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got home from alterna land a few hours ago. Will post pics and more details tomorrow.
Total animals:
2 alterna females
1-Juno light alterna phase 24"
1-277 light blairs phase 40"

1 coral - 277
?? atrox - everywhere
alligator lizard - juno
longnose - 90

and thats about it. pics and details to follow
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www.southtexasherps.com

First up the Juno Female. She was found while walking the S curves near the base of the cut. Found right before midnight, temp was 82. Found by my brother and dad, a first for my bro.

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www.southtexasherps.com

Forgot to add, the juno female was found on June 24th ans is officially 25"

Next up the 277 female was found on the road, while cruzing between cuts. She was right at 1 mile north of carruthers. She was also found right before midnight on June 27th. Temp was 83. She officially comes in at 38" and 185 grams. Does not look like she laid recently. Maybe she was recently breed or laid very early in the season.

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www.southtexasherps.com

Saw an alligator lizard (my first), a coral (to quick, got under the cut, also a first), a longnose, many atrox, many skunks (a few hognosed skunks, also a first), many porcupines, about a million millipeds, 3 centipedes (the same night the dark male was pulled from lozier, and one of the centipeds was eating one of the other ones when we found it), a couple red-spot toads, a coulpe gulf coast toads, and of course way to many to count deer and jack rabbits.

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www.southtexasherps.com

Forgot, and a DOR Bull snake and a DOR black neck garter
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www.southtexasherps.com

Sounds like you guys had the dream trip!!! I need to go again soon, that place has put a spell over me and I don't think there's a cure!!! Thanks for posting the other animals, too.
Todd Hughes

this one was found at the base of the S curve cuts in 1997, she may be a great aunt or something. I would still like to find a nice s curve specific male.

Congrats!

Nice animal, I guess now, next time I go out there I will be consentrating on the S curves and north of carruthers creek for a male for both of these gals. Good luck finding a mate.
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South Texas Herps

Hi Mike. We were out on Juno and talked to you and then on 277 the night you found the big one. Nice score. My son and I were in the little black car. Glad you had good luck. We struck out this year. Not many snakes moving so you hit it big with the ones you found. Nice pics.

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Steve W.

I know what you mean about snakes not moving. I mean yes we did do great, but last year was amazing for us. In four nights last year we found 1 alterna, 2 lepedius, 2 molossus, 1 rhynochelus (how ever you spell it), 1 elephe, 1 suboc, 2 coleonex (or how ever you spell it too) and about the same number of atrox. this year we had 2 alterna, 1 rhynochelus, some atrox, 1 coleonex, and an alligator lizard. overall last year we had alot more diversity, this year we just got lucky and got the key species.
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South Texas Herps

Maybe this year is not so bleak after all. I really like the Juno animal, but I am partial to the alterna phase myself.

I wish I had time to make another run to alterna land this year... but I will have to try something new. I will be touring most of Florida, and then some of Nevada, Southern California, and Hawaii for work. Now snakes in Hawaii, but I will spend what little free time I have checking out the local wildlife.

Lance

In Hawaii you can spend time flipping in gardens for the Brahminy Blind Snake, which are supposed to be pretty common.

Troy

I also understand that they have some Jacksons Chameleons, and I know I have seen Mediterranean Geckos there before.

Saw Lance mention Hawaii and had to chime in. We just got back from the big island and no rock flipping was necessary to see herps (albeit none were snakes). We would enjoy our morning coffee off of our veranda and watch the introduced gold dust day geckos and anoles frolic around the trees. Kinda sad, the only native herp we saw were green sea turtles. Every bird we saw was introduced along with a ton of mongoose which were everywhere! Anyway, have a ball in Hawaii.
Best...
Jim