Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 13:04:51 GMT -5
I went to the Corn Springs area in the Chuckwalla Mountains yesterday. Lost my phone so lost most of the pics. Here are a couple I shared by email from the field. Little tiny spiny wildflower. Sabre52 do you know what this one is? Colorado desert.  Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli) or (Crotalus pyrrhus) I am not sure of current taxonomy on this species.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 13:05:28 GMT -5
The rattlesnake is a young adult female. Maybe I should have brought her home to get the babies.
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Post by drocknut on Apr 22, 2015 13:52:53 GMT -5
The rattlesnake is a young adult female. Maybe I should have brought her home to get the babies. I want to know how you know it's a young adult female snake? Did you check for boobs when you were taking pictures? LOL. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 22, 2015 14:20:10 GMT -5
So what did you bring home, Scott? (I can't believe you lost your phone... Is it worth going back out and looking for it?) I know you have another camera at home to take pics of the booty?!
Diane, it's something you just know. And if the female snake is fat, and it's the right time of the year, you just know it has to be gravid - or I guess in the case of live bearing snakes suck as rattlers - pregnant. (Gravid means carrying eggs.)
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Post by drocknut on Apr 22, 2015 14:28:03 GMT -5
So what did you bring home, Scott? (I can't believe you lost your phone... Is it worth going back out and looking for it?) I know you have another camera at home to take pics of the booty?! Diane, it's something you just know. And if the female snake is fat, and it's the right time of the year, you just know it has to be gravid - or I guess in the case of live bearing snakes suck as rattlers - pregnant. (Gravid means carrying eggs.) Jean I was just wondering if there was a way to tell -from a distance of course. Guess I'll never know, oh well. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 22, 2015 14:40:52 GMT -5
The ones wearing makeup, and holding a credit card, lol.
Just kidding. It has to do with the tapering of the tail. Males have two hemipenes inverted in the tail, so they have a fuller tail. With females, there is a change in the diameter immediately after the vent. A good sized snake out there is usually going to be a females. The males are just sperm donors, they will not be producing young, so don't have to have large size.
After you've seen enough of them, you can tell the difference easily.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 16:04:36 GMT -5
Crap. I answered Diane from home. Maybe I forgot to hit send. Jean pretty good reply!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 16:07:24 GMT -5
Actually male rattlesnakes have combat and therefore have been selected for larger size. The females are more petite. The males have long thick tails and the females little short ones. As for young adult, I am going by size and rattle conformation. They still have taper towards the end, so must be young. Older animals don't have tapered rattles. Or... Ya could just pull down their pants.  |
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 22, 2015 16:12:31 GMT -5
Actually male rattlesnakes have combat and therefore have been selected for larger size. The females are more petite. The males have long thick tails and the females little short ones. As for young adult, I am going by size and rattle conformation. They still have taper towards the end, so must be young. Older animals don't have tapered rattles. Or... Yea could just pull down their pants. Go for it Scott-LMAO!!! |
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 22, 2015 16:15:04 GMT -5
Scott, Best guess on the plant is alkali heliotrope. Definitely a Borage group plant because of the indicative scorpioid cyme type of inflorescence. Great rattler! I've only ever seen one or two of those in the wild....Mel
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 16:18:36 GMT -5
Scott, Best guess on the plant is alkali heliotrope. Definitely a Borage group plant because of the indicative scorpioid cyme type of inflorescence. Great rattler! I've only ever seen one or two of those in the wild....Mel I'll follow that path on the plant. I see specks all the time. But only my second at corn springs. Saw a panamint at the verde Antique last year. Was hoping for a rosy boa for Mark K sorry Mark. |
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Apr 22, 2015 16:53:08 GMT -5
Excrement occurs.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 22, 2015 18:42:51 GMT -5
[quote author=" drocknut" I want to know how you know it's a young adult female snake? Did you check for boobs when you were taking pictures? LOL. [/quote] I'll bet he knew by the way it wiggled when it stalked. |
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Post by drocknut on Apr 22, 2015 18:54:21 GMT -5
Thanks Jean and Scott. Now I might be able to if it is a male or female snake that I'm getting away from although I don't tend to stick around to look at them really closely, much less pull down their pants or ask to see their credit cards...lol.
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Apr 22, 2015 18:57:54 GMT -5
I never figured out what mine was. I guess I will just have to ask the zoo when I go back to get my cage back.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 22:57:33 GMT -5
I never figured out what mine was. I guess I will just have to ask the zoo when I go back to get my cage back. I still want to score you a rosy boa. I have a small team on it. Season is here, but no success yet! |
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lilacmoth
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Post by lilacmoth on Apr 23, 2015 1:46:57 GMT -5
Good lord, I'm so glad we don't have poisonous snakes here. My jack russel LIVES to kill the little garters and he'd be dead in an hour in the desert :/
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 23, 2015 6:44:57 GMT -5
Scott:Rosy Boas. Stoddard Ridge in the Ord Mountains. When I was in college doing a rodent project we had rodent trap lines going there and while checking them at night, I've never seen more rosy boas in one area before...Mel
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Post by Peruano on Apr 23, 2015 7:19:48 GMT -5
Shotgunner, Sabre52 is probably pretty close on with the ID. You mention spiney - I could feel the prickles just by looking at the plant. Touch it and it has a weak sting or irritation caused by the tiny hairs. I have something similar (there are many Heliotropes) in my backyard.
I agree with all said about the rattler, but the truth is: You saw it, the snake is gone and its anything you say it is because no one can prove you wrong. Birdwatchers have it easy. Snakers have fewer opportunities but still have fun. Tom
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Post by Peruano on Apr 23, 2015 7:21:47 GMT -5
Without wishing to start an argument, Jack Russels that kill garter snakes should be controlled. Tom
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