Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had a very busy year w/ work this summer, but I did manage to get in on a trip to the rugged area of the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico.
We found a number of good roads to cruise at night and the first night we found a D.O.R. that had just been nicked by a car. An adult female L. t. sinaloae.
Heart breaking to see for me as the milk had only been hit 10 or 15 minutes before we picked it up.

L. t. sinaloae DOR

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The next night we cruised a different road and we found this poor milk still writhing from meeting a cars rubber wheels. Heart breaker #2.

Heart breaker #3 was found the next night, and I just didn't have the drive to document another DOR adult, but it was just like the two in the above photos.
Here's a few habitat photos from the Sierra Madre Tropical deciduous forest where the milks came from.

If it looks hot to you, let me say that it was even hotter then that. Tarzan couldn't take the heat we endured.

More milk habitat.

We did find many live animals, and it was a great trip but a live milk was not in the cards. Here is a live Coral-snake micrurus distans that I'll leave you with.

I'll try and post a few more animals later when I have more time. All for now, peace.
-Dell

NICE Coral snake...
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Scott MacLeod
2.6 Snow Hondurans
1.1 Aberrant Snow Hondurans
2.4 Aberrant Hondurans
1.3 Aberrant Tangerine Hondurans
1.2 Aberrant Hypo Hondurans
0.1 Aberrant Hybino Honduran
1.3 Extreme Hypo VP
1.1 Tricolor Hypo VP
1.3 Hypo E Sinaloan
1.0 Het Hypo E & Amel Sinaloan
0.1 Amel het Hypo E and Splotched
1.1 Albino Striped Sinaloan
2.7 Striped Splotched Sinaloan
1.2 Poss Het T pos Sinaloan
2.2 T pos Sinaloan

Yes, very heart-breaking indeed to see those dead and crippled snakes Terry. What magnificent country that is, and I'm sure there is a vast abundance of wildlife to be seen in those mountainous forests there buddy. How fortunate for you to be able to see all that in person!

Thanks for the great post Dell, and we all look forward to more documentary of your cool trip!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Enjoyed your post. That would be down-heartening to see so many road killed milks. Thanks for sharing. I know you would have enjoyed the trip.

--Dennis

Cruising for sinaloans?? Are you kidding me? That is amazing!!! Sorry you found only fresh DOR sinaloae but that is still cool!

Looking forward to more pics!

Dave

Dave, could you just imagine road cruising for Cosala's?

...."HEY!, SLOW DOWN!, I THINK JUST SAW AN 8 RBR BACK THERE BY THE GRASS!!!"

...LMAO!!!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Doug

No kidding! That is my dream!

Dave

but at least you had the opportunity to head down and see stuff that many of us will never see...dead or otherwise.

That coral is just amazing...they are awesome snakes.

-Rusty

I've found several Cosala's. Those nice ones in captivity are years and years of selective breeding. The wild ones are not great looking at all lol. The best Sinaloans I've seen anywhere (Wild or captive) I found in the most northern part of their range. North of Hermosillo. Incredible animals. I brought a few back years ago and over the years they have disappeared and I didn't keep track of them. Oh well. Great post. BTW I know right where you were. Way too much traffic there!!!

PL

Interesting Paul...tell us more about catching Cosalas!

Dave

DNS Reptiles - Milk Snakes

Hi Paul,
Yeah I've heard through the grapevine that you've done some Mexican herping. I don't doubt you know the area where the milks came from but the second animal in the photo didn't come from the busy road. And you're right that road is way to busy, but it did produce a number of great live animals too.
The wild ones are not great looking at all lol. I'm glad you've got an LOL in this statement because I think those DOR sinaloae are wonderful looking animals.

Here's the king of the forest that we walked up one hot afternoon. All for now, Dell.

Indigo snake, Drymarchon corais.

Hi Terry,

That is one nice Indigo. Big and healthy! I've only done the area you guys were in twice. There's alot of animals there. Great little town too. I've been herping Mex for 20 years. I couldn't tell you how many times I've been down there which also includes Baja. I'll be going back in a couple weeks even though I've seen everything I've wanted too. Well almost lol. I'm an field addict! There's some gaps in the Lampropeltis range between several species I need to start working on. The one snake I like the most (Webbi) is in the worst part of the country but, at least I've seen some. So it's no rush.

The milks you posted were really nice. Believe me I wasn't bagging on them. I still get a rush when I find a Sinaloan or any other MX milk. Sinaloans are the fun-nest IMO to find though.

Thanks for the post!

PL

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Jerry Kruse

UPDATED!
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

Thank goodness I only have to drive 15' in Jersey to see them at Alan B's house

Bummer that you didn't find a live milk Dell, but I am very much looking forward to the full blown trip report.
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Joe

Again, awesome stuff, man! I'm SOOOOO jealous. Damn, do I ever wish I'd gone on this trip. Ugh...

Those milks are killer, despite being dead. The first one looks "sinaloae", but the second one is "nelsoni"! LOL

I can't wait for the full trip report. Those teaser shots I saw at your house have me on edge!
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-Cole

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com