Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Props to antelope for his continued/never ending help correctly identifying these guys!

I've got people out herping for me- a different approach, but whatever! My gardener came by today shortly after dinner time with a little guy he caught on another clients front lawn.

He doesn't speak a lick of English, but seems to be taking a keen interest thumbing through my field guide with me as I translated for him...

//Todd

You are on a Texas roll, the second shot is the money shot, black on the labials, no black line on the temporal. They are variable and you almost got me on that one, I see more Marsh Browns around here.
Todd Hughes

Hey Todd, we got a call at my dept about a snake at one of our parks, and I was called to duty as a "snake wrangler"! LOL! Rushed over and found a 3.5 - 4 ft Nerodia erythrogaster transversa cornered in front of the main building. Wearing leather gloves (I've done my time getting bitten by these guys, and I don't like it), I nabbed it and it sprayed feces, bit wildly and musked the heck out of me. Of course all coworkers and the guy who called were saying water mocassin, and I calmly explained the differences in appearance and behavior between the blotched water and the western cottonmouth. People are funny; I was trying to get them to look at the snake's eyes and head, but I couldn't get any of them within about 5 feet! One of my supervisors took a pic with his cell phone and sent it to me, and I'll try to get it online some time tonight.

-Toby

With all this rain we're having in south Texas, the toads and frogs will be out, and you can bet it is water, garter, ribbon, and cottonmouth time! It will soon be time to search out the Northern cateyed snake, one of my favorite frog eaters. You learn 'em good Toby!
Todd Hughes

>>With all this rain we're having in south Texas, the toads and frogs will be out, and you can bet it is water, garter, ribbon, and cottonmouth time! It will soon be time to search out the Northern cateyed snake, one of my favorite frog eaters. You learn 'em good Toby!
>> Todd Hughes

Todd, That's about what I told them, yesterday, about the anurans attracting the waters. The place where I caught the blotched water was surrounded by flower beds with thick vegetation - perfect for toads and frogs. I looked at the cell phone photos, and they are so bad that you can't even tell what it is! I'm going to have to start carrying my camera at work. Good luck finding the Northern cateyeds.

-Toby