Herps--reptiles and amphibians

I just want you to know I'm enjoying the thread.

Thanks!

SNAKES On the Road - West Texas to California: http://youtu.be/dbnAj0Xs-mo

We had a year when the paths and roadways in our riverwalk park was crawling with what I was told were king snakes. Haven't seen them since. Same with other wildlife, really. Some years are filled with sightings; other years - nothing.

What part of the country do you live in?

This previous post of mine, about Roadhunting is excellent, the best I've seen on the subject. The people filming it are ardent and conscientious naturalists driving from Texas to California at night finding snakes and other wildlife, interacting with them a bit and releasing them. Of course the drive, which probably takes several nights is condensed to nine minutes, so it appears like there are huge numbers of snakes.

NW New Mexico at 5,300' elevation and way under 10" of rain per year. Except around *rivers, it's sage brush and cedar.

*Our definition of rivers is probably not the same as yours.

Black-tailed rattlesnake f New Mexico. One of my favorite rattlesnakes and reputedly mild tempered too.

Two suborders of turtles: Cryptodira and pleurodira.
Cryptodira turtles fold the neck internally and vertically. Pleurodira turtles (the side-necks) fold the neck externally and horizontally.


Cryptodira on left, pleurodira on right.


Pleurodira or side-neck turtle.

Yellow-spotted river turtle
Podocnemis unifilis
Sideneck turtle of The Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
Shell length up to 18 inches.

Manitoba's famous Red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis.


The interesting case of the red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis.

In the Canadian province of Manitoba every spring occurs the famous emergence of the Red-sided garter snake from their winter dens en mass in enormous numbers.
The numbers are so large as to have become a major tourist attraction.

In May the garter snakes start emerging from their dens, the males first then the females, which are immediately mobbed by males attempting to mate. They form masses called "balls" consisting of one female and many males.

http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/creature/garter/Fgarter.html

https://owlcation.com/stem/Red-Sided-Garter-Snakes-and-the-Narcisse-Snake-Dens-of-Manitoba

Can't get that one to work

No, that was an accident. I've got a new cellphone and can't figure out how to upload images. It must be possible, but beyond my capabilities so far.

Fly River turtle of northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
Carettochelys insculpta

This is an unusual turtle similar in appearance to our soft-shell turtles, but unrelated. It is the only species in its family.

Unlike soft-shell turtles the underlying bony shell of the carapace of Carettochelys extends all the way to the margin of the soft, leathery
tissue. With our soft-shells the soft margins are easily bitten off by predators.

I've had some experience with these turtles, keeping them in a large zoo, but we had inadequate facilities to display them.

Don't know what this is, but it's a stunning shot.

Looks like a serious attitude problem to me.

This is a European legless lizard or sheltopusik. Unlike a snake, it has eyelids and ears. Also, its tail easily breaks off if it's handled too roughly

I've always liked these, though I've never had one. They get big about four and a half feet, but I think they have a good disposition and make good pets. Plus, you can't beat that face.

Here's one eating scrambled eggs.

With the dorsal/ventral flattening, it may be a cobra.

I was thinking aesthetically. From an aesthetic point of view the snake exhibits a wonderful sculptural quality.