Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted these in the photgraphy forum also but thought you might enjoy these here. I haven't ever seen one of these while hiking but yesterday got lucky. I was stoked when I came upon this guy. He retreated into a stream nearby and sat underwater for about 30 seconds until I pulled him out. Seemed like strange behavior to me but I am no expert.
He posed for me and I got a few good pics.

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bigdnutz
1.2 Suriname Boa
1.0 Venezuelan Boa

...looks like a regal ringneck from central/northern Az. Where abouts were you hiking?
You are also correct that the tail coil [aposematic display] behavior is most unusual in a serpent...

Cheers, RxR

I was actually in the San Gabriel Mountains, Angel National Forrest in So. Cal. About 30 miles east of LA. I don't have a field guide for the area so I don't know the exact species.

Rich
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bigdnutz
1.2 Suriname Boa
1.0 Venezuelan Boa

...Thnx...tho im bumm'd, having seen a goodly # of both, im surprised a coastal diadophis could throw me such a curve. I never saw one SA over on the coast in June either!
Like the wee mouse below...im fit to be tied...

I am no good w/ the range maps, so I don't bother. But the snake looks to me like a San Bernardino specimen, what did the ventral pattern look like? if there was no spots along the ventral scales I'd suspect it was a coral bellied ringneck.

Mike
Michael's Place

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Where on the belly are the spots? Are they right on the belly near the midline or closer to the sides? There were some places that look like they could be spots right next to the grat color on the sides and then other parts of the body the "spots" are conected to the gray on the sides. I have some bad pics that may help.

Rich
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bigdnutz
1.2 Suriname Boa
1.0 Venezuelan Boa