Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Posted in the indigo forum about 1 find that was spectacular but also had a really great trip all in all from Laredo to Lajitas to the hill country and back home to south Texas. A couple of lifers to add to the list were

* 3 Prairie ringnecks
* 1 Yellow mud turtle
1 Great Plains rat snake (not mealmohram but actual emoryi)
* 1 unknown lizard (at least to me) ...a little help from the gallery for this common lizard please
1 dead Mexican free tailed bat
TMTC red eared sliders
3 Diamondback water snakes
* 1 Red stripe ribbon snake (D.O.R.)
3 Texas Banded geckos
2 Mediterranean geckos
TMTC Bullfrogs
* 1 Sonoran Gopher snake (D.O.R.)
1 Gulf Coast toad
2 Diamondback rattlesnakes
I was able to view alterna land for the first time and actually found a Texas indigo in Val Verde county which was very exciting. Poor little bugger was very heavily parasitized and in shed but otherwise in decent shape. I only wish I had someone there to witness it. I always maintained that it was very feasable for them to not only be there but thrive there. Damn, tomorrow it's back to the grindstone. But I'll be in Laredo!!!! Yeah!!!
Todd Hughes

Another shot 03-26-05

One more then I'll download that lizard for help in i.d'ing it.

Here's the lizard

And the Texas patchnose

and the red eared slider

Texas banded gecko from Webb county, Texas as well as the slider in previous pic

D.O.R. red striped ribbon also from Webb county, Texas

Rio Grande leopard frog from Webb county, Texas

And what would a trip be without at least one of these!

Sounds like you had a great trip .
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I find that the best way to wash a vehicle is in the mud.

the time of year. What was the gas prices around Alpine and if you checked in the Study Butte place ?

Thanks

Sorry, didn't get that far but it was $2.07 in Del Rio and $2.14 around Uvalde. It was just a spur of the moment thing, and I did find some sheds in some crannies, but coulda been Central Texas whipsnake but I WANT TO BELIEVE!!!
Todd

Indigos in Val Verde are not new. There are indigos around Amistad and guys have found them as far west as comstock. Wouldn't be surprised to hear about them off pandale either.
Tom (Coach)

Thanks for the correction, Coach. I was under the assumption that they had only been observed once by Joe Forks, or maybe only photographed. Just goes to show you what's a south Texas hick doin' in alterna land in March???? LOL! Just was feeling very blessed on Good Friday and wanted to share! By the way, what is this little girl? Don't see too many like this in Corpus!!!
Todd

Hey Todd,
Not to diminish your find at all, because any time you observe an Indigo in the field it's good find, but Coach is right. The Indigos are well documented from the Amistad area, especially south and east (adjacent to, on Hwys 90 & 277) Lake Amistad. They have been recorded from as far north as the town of Juno on 163 (personal observation) and as far west as Terrell county (locality of the first blairi specimen D.S. personal communication). There is a good population of "annulata" in this same area. especially on 90 south of the lake.

I'd say you've done a good job documenting your find. I recognize the culvert from the photos, and I doubt that anyone will doubt your find.

I will be in west Texas during the dates you mentioned. I'll be a little bit out of touch though down at my property in southern Terrell county. I'll e-mail you my cell phone number so we can hook up.

Best
Joe

Hi All,
I remember finding a couple of indigos dor around Uvalde,too. It alway amazed me to find tortoises right in the middle of Uvalde crossing the road.
Jim