Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We went out the other night for some froggin while we were in Miles City & had some decent luck. I'd say we spotted at least 80 or so leopard frogs.

What a shame!

I went for a walk the next morning by myself & found these hatched snake eggs. Any idea what kind the are?

Then we hit the Terry Badlands. I could have stayed there for days.

Thanks,

Dan Eby

If the snake eggs feel like they have little granules on the outside of the shell that look and feel like salt the eggs are coluber eggs or your version of the Black Racer. I STRONGLY SUSPECT FROM THE SIZE AND SHAPE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE...THANKS
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

I agree with Tom. They look exactly in size/shape what our local Black Racer eggs look like. Looks like your Racers are the green kind. Nice pic's as usual BTW.

Thanks!

Dan

Thats exactly what they were like. I figured they had to be racer eggs. Thanks

Dan

Good stuff, Dan! What was going on in Miles City?

The eggs are Coluber (like was already suggested). You probably already know, but the toads are all woodhousii, the Mantis (a big female) is a Litaneutria species, and the spiders are Argiope trifasciata.

-Cole

Thanks Cole! Nothing was realy going on in Miles City, I just wanted to get over in that area for some herping. We didnt find a snake on the trip at all, but we did see some horned lizards, I'll post pics of them soon. Yeah, those are my favorite toads in MT., we dont have them over here. Have you guys been getting out plenty this year? It sucks its almost over for us!

Later,

Dan

An Obscure Ground Mantid (Litaneutria obscura)if I'm not mistaken... the longer middle and back legs (well longer than what is typical in other mantids) and reduced wings are a give away for the species... good thing they don't read maps because that little lady is well outside her known range.

Very cool post as always Dan.

Gerry

I see quite a few Litaneutria in some habitats around here. They're a cool critter, for sure. I suspect that the species we have in these parts is minor.

-Cole

Yes... I had forgotten L.minor until hours later at work... recalled their range is up through the Washington and BC area so their being in Montana was more likely than L.obscura.

Looking at Dan's photos again when I got home I saw the obvious detail, (not so obvious it seems at 5 in the morning), that confirmed my error.

Hating to be wrong I wasn't about ready to post a retraction unless called on it... so o.k. Cole... you're right... I was wrong .

Still have yet to see a single milk here btw, plenty of other snakes though. Did find a 34" shed from a milk about six feet from my front door step, draped over part of a rock wall... think I'm being teased.

Gerry

It'll happen, Gerry! Sooner or later. I haven't even had the time to get out much this fall. I did a little herping for Tailed Frogs a number of weeks ago, but without much luck. They're a good 7 hours from me, so my chances of getting back there again before the season's over are slim.

-Cole