.. was out all around Tule lake and San Roman lake dodging mud-pits and fleeing the mosquitos.. I saw several interesting things but only got my hands on a couple, including this exceptionally large Coniophanes, 16" with a stub-tail.. Speaking of stub tails, these are supposedly one of the very few snake species that can autotomize (sp?) or drop their tails. I do see many with stub-tails and they have a smooth uniform look unlike what you might expect from trauma (they don't grow back).. however, since learning of this trait I pick up everyone I see by the tail to witness the feat.. in dozens of tries I have never seen it!
These don't bite., but the camera (up-close) lens scares them silly.
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Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com
"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus
