Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 17:29:35 GMT -5
Western Blacktail Rattslesnake? I thought it was a green. Learn something new every day. Mojave Green Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) has a poor version of a coontail and is found in the flats between the rocky hillsides/mountains. Blacktails are found in the mountains/rocky hillsides. Not every mtn or rocky hillsides, but many throughout arizona. I did get the name inccorect tho'. It's a far western version of the Northern Blacktail. The ones in the Harcuvars look like that one. The specimens in the Huachucas are almost glowing they are so golden!
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Post by Woodyrock on Jan 25, 2013 1:36:46 GMT -5
James, if an old mine is not timbered, that means it was dug in pretty solid rock. On the other hand, if it is heavily timbered, that means the guys that dug it did NOT trust the rock. If a mine is timbered, and the timber even looks a wee bit rotten, stay out.
Of all the old mines I explored in the sixties, and I got into many, I never found a snake. I did once find a Sonoran Dragon (cousin to Gila Monster), many bats, and lots of scorpions. Woody
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Post by Toad on Jan 26, 2013 11:31:18 GMT -5
Bats, snakes, and rocks - can't beat it! Thanks for the pics.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 12:39:13 GMT -5
Of all the old mines I explored in the sixties, and I got into many, I never found a snake. I did once find a Sonoran Dragon (cousin to Gila Monster), many bats, and lots of scorpions. Woody Despite over 30 years of full time experience with North American reptiles I have never heard of this species of lizard. Can you describe it? Or is it safe to assume this is it?
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Post by Toad on Jan 26, 2013 17:49:52 GMT -5
I'd say Gila, but I'm far from expert.
What a cutie-pie!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 18:20:39 GMT -5
I'd say Gila, but I'm far from expert. What a cutie-pie! Nope. It's the only living relative, the Mexican Beaded Lizard. I was hoping woody would tell me yep that's it so I would have an awesome new common name for beaded lizard. beaded sounds too much like a purse. Beaded are irascible animals with painful venom. They need a name like Sonoran Dragon.
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Post by Woodyrock on Jan 29, 2013 2:57:19 GMT -5
I think Sonoran Dragon is a local (Yuma/El Centro) for the Beaded lizard. The one I found in the mine lived in a box, which he could get out of under my bunk at El Centro when I was stationed there. I fed him lettuce, which he ate, the whole time I had him there were no bugs in our part of the barracks. The one I had was pretty tame, and well tempered. The Navy brass went ape when he was discovered during an inspection. To save his live, I returned him to where I caught him. The yellow on his skin was much brighter yellow than the one pictured here.
Woody
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2013 12:16:56 GMT -5
If he ate lettuce and bugs it is not a gila or a relative. Gilas and beaded eat mice, rats and nestling rabbits, eggs and nestling birds. The bright yellow color you describe is likely pointing to a Chuckwalla. The females are yellower than males. Have a look!
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borock
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by borock on Feb 1, 2013 21:05:28 GMT -5
That snake could have the mine
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Post by Woodyrock on Feb 5, 2013 2:01:53 GMT -5
Nope, I know Chuckwallas. It was the beaded guy, and it did eat the pieces of lettuce. What else it ate, I really did not know, but the scorpions, and other bugs got real scarce. There were probably mice, and other rodents in that old barracks.
Woody
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2013 21:13:28 GMT -5
weird. the closest know beaded lizards to the USA are 15o miles south of the border at douglass. Easily 300 miles from Yuma. Also weird because their are no known instances of vegetarian feeding in gila/beadeds. They are a very close relative of the monitor lizards and all are just as carnivorous.
Cool for you!
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