Then I get to some of the first boards and find a big female Texas rat snake under the board next to one of the biggest crayfish holes I have seen. I got one shot and she went down the hole. I am talking about 5 feet of snake going down a crayfish tunnel! It must be very large under the damp earth to fit her in there, lol! The next few boards have mice, then the day was complete, or so I thought! Under the next board was a small adult male speckled/desert king, the perfect match for the female from a few weeks back. The more I look at these kings, the more splendida I see, but really messed up in the pattern. It is a getula and resemble the ones I find on the island at home. Not sockheads, but really patterned, not all scales are speckled. We will see!
I saw a few anoles and skinks and the only piece of tin held the day's coup d' grace! A very large Graham's crayfish snake! I was pleased, I don't see these guys unless it floods usually and this was a big one. I was muddy, the snake was muddy, but the camera didn't get muddy, yay! On the way out I peeled the leather off the tar and photoed it. It is a mystery so I will post it on What kind of snake forum for Chrish to take a crack at. I think it may be an intergrade broadbanded water with either a crayfish snake or more likely a Gulf salt marsh snake . The belly pattern and dorsal pattern do not match up in my eyes for any one snake. Until next time, keep herpin' if you can! I want to see if I can post the last found snake of the year and the first of the new year, if the weather holds! First splesert king,crayfish snake, then T rat.
-----
Todd Hughes
