Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Beautiful snake....

Same snake, different angle

He's decided he's had enough of me...maybe I smelled funny...

Baby atrox found while cruisin'

Comin' atcha....

This guy was full of fire...gotta love it...

Wow, very nice finds. That third picture is great. I would love to find one of those black tails some day.

Come on out here then! We'll hit SE Az together ...That particular animal was found in NM, but animals from SE Az are also a stunning black and gold....Definitely my favorite crotalids....

-AzAtrox

If I ever make it out that far you can be sure I'll look you up. Thanks.

>>This guy was full of fire...gotta love it...
>>

Nice shot!
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I was curious what the live viridis looked like. Nice animal and good job on the photo.

Simply amazing snake, and the shot ain't bad, either!
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Todd Hughes

Great shots. I love the "comin at ya' atrox, and those Blacktails are awesome to find in the wild. The one we found seemed very docile, yet I've heard reports that they can rival Greens in their nastiness. How have they been when you encountered them?

reako45

Most molossus I've found have been on the placid side...overall, they seem to be relaxed snakes that only strike if severely pressed...The one pictured never rattled...in fact it didn't even flick it's tongue, but I know he knew we were there...

I've only ever really seen one molossus that I would classify as "aggressive"...this was a big Tucson male and he was ready from the word "go"...coiling, rattling and striking violently...

Overall, I'd say that molossus are extraordinarily peaceful animals (which is a good thing considering the size that they get). I'm sure even molossus have "bad hair days", but in my experience (both in the wild and in captivity) those are few and far between for these guys....

-AzAtrox

I've found a lot of blacktails from the eastern edge of their range (central TX) to AZ and south to Mexico City. Overall, I think they are puppy dogs up north.

I was helping collect molossus venom which involved finding a lot of molossus in West Texas a few years back. The hardest thing about finding them by hiking canyons was that 9 times out of 10, they either just sat there, coiled up without rattling or simply crawling away quietly. I once found one crawling between my feet, and I almost sat on one in the Harquahallas as I crouched to peer in a crack at a Chuckwalla. I had been standing there for 10 minutes, walking around and around this boulder, crouching, poking, etc., when I looked down and I was crouching directly over a coiled molossus. Thank goodness it didn't bite, or I would have really found out who my friends are!!

I've also caught a few C. molossus nigrescens in Mexico, and they have tended to be somewhat pissier in temperament.

This big guy south of Mexico City was a real handful -

this beast from Nuevo Leon was psychotic,

but this gorgeous beast from San Luis Potosi was calm like the northern subspecies -

and this one we found crossing the road in another area of SLP was also quite the gentleman -

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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

As always, Chrish, schweet pics!
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Todd Hughes

When I saw that picture # 3

That was 20 minutes ago I think....

I want one of those RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, thats a gorgeous snake
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"