Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A little on topic and a little off topic this time around.

My demented stuarti is coming along nicely, as are the other four... no longer musking or biting... still a little flighty when first being picked up but he settles down within half a minute or so. Frequent, short handling sessions seems to have done the trick. I have noticed though that unlike the other few milk species I've been keeping these guys seem to be growing well in length but not in girth. Skinny little things they are.

The Red Dragonfly (Sympetrum obtrusum) I was determined to get pictures of this weekend.

And one of the finest examples of convergent evolution... at least imo... a Hummingbird moth. It came along moments after my taking pictures of the Red Dragonfly. I love seeing those things... it is amazing just how much they are like hummingbirds, even a fuzzy little tuft at the end of the abdomen that looks like tail feathers.

Gerry

Those are some great shots you got there Gerry. I don't remember ever seeing a red dragonfly!

--Dennis

All too often this year I find my field/fishing trips sidelined by Dragonflies and Damselflies... when I see them I can't help but wonder why this damselfly is blue but that one green... why is that Dragonfly red, this one blue and green but this one golden, why does this one always seem to be in flight but that one hunting from a perch... they're all out there, same habitat, same time of year, all hunting the same prey items... so what end is served by evolving into a different species or ssp's?

Too much time on my hands I think.

Gerry

Love the moth! I see one around here sometimes, I looked it up and it was called a hawk moth, I believe? They produce some large caterpillars with huge appetites! Don't know if it's related to that one, but it does hover on flowers just like a Hummingbird. First time I saw one I thought it was a hummingbird, but it isn't as colorful as that one.
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Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com