Forgive me, 2011 was not a year I spent much time out in the field. As such I have a small sample of photographs depicting the creatures I humbly stumbled across. Here are [some of] the best - moments, photographs, and finds from the year.
Ambystoma tigrinum - Scotland Co., NC: Found in habitat (submerged under water, within enphemeral carolina bay) along with six other individuals. My first Tiger Salamanders since 2008, when I found my lifer animals. Great way to start of the new year. Ambient air temperature stayed between 63-67F during the night. [1-January-2011]
Elaphe guttata - Scotland Co., NC: As Kevin headed over to Ross and I he discovered this animal AOR during a warm rain event, air temperature was around 64F. [1-January-2011]
Rana sylvatica - Wayne Co., WV: Found several AOR along a rural road during a moderate rain event. This specimen is one of the more attractive I have seen. [21-February-2011]
Ambystoma maculatum - Wayne Co., WV: This male was found AOR at night during a warm rain event. [27-February-2011]
Ambystoma maculatum - Wayne Co., WV: Found this gravid female moving on a warm (56F) rainy night. Seems to be a true amelanistic individual, lacking all black coloration. Not an uncommon mutation for the species, however, this specimen seems to have a very clean look. [28-February-2011]
Ambystoma barbouri - Wayne Co., WV: Found AOR at night during a warm rain event. This species is only known from two locations within the state. During winter-spring rain events in 2010 and 2011 we captured and collected data on 23 individuals - more than had previously ever been documented in the state. [5-March-2011]
Pseudacris brachyphona - Cabell Co., WV: Found amid chorusing group along roadside ditch. One of the favorite chorus frogs, I will miss this sound every spring. [5-March-2011]
Ambystoma jeffersonianum - Mason Co., WV: This gravid female was discovered AOR on a rainy spring night, my lifer specimen. [6-March-2011]
Eurycea lucifuga - Walker Co., GA: Found within a 'popular' cave. [15-April-2011]
Agkistrodon contortrix - Walker Co., GA: As I went to grab a giant Spring Salamander I stopped, as this animal was coiled inches away. Found abroad late at night during a rain storm, this specimen was our fourth copperhead of the night. [16-April-2011]
Plethodon petraeus - Walker Co., GA: This attractive salamander is endemic to only one mountain along the northwestern edge of Georgia. And, was the target of this short side trip; a fair amount were turned up over the course of the evening. [16-April-2011]
Anides aeneas - Kanawha Co., WV: Found resting on side of boulder at dusk, this is one of the best things about living in West Virginia. [9-May-2011]
Clemmys guttata - Wake Co., NC: A surprising find, as this is an uncommonly seen species within the Piedmont region and a quite out of the season find. One of my better 'home state' finds of the year. [30-May-2011]
Ophisaurus ventralis - Carteret Co., NC: Jonesy made the mad grab and got an extremely cooperative animal. Found along the edge of a drying pond. [1-June-2011]
Elaphe obsoleta x quadrivittata - Carteret Co., NC: Found AOR just outside of a national forest boundary during the 'golden hour' one late afternoon. Ratsnakes along North Carolina's coastal region are interesting from a phenotype standpoint. Quite a lot of variation occurs within this area. [2-June-2011]
Eurycea chamberlaini - Craven Co., NC: Found four under rotten logs and two abroad in leaf litter along a dry coastal creek bed. This is a lifer individual and the species of focus on my summer coastal North Carolina trip. [2-June-2011]
Heterodon simus - Scotland Co., NC: Adrian has much luck with this species, such that many do not bother going out for them anymore...serious, a June simus....asshole! [4-June-2011]
Agkistrodon piscivorous - Richmond Co., NC: What better way to beat the mid-day heat then wade 1/2 mile down a small stream. End count was 36 individuals, here three are pictured - basking together, a seemingly social species. [4-June-2011]
Elaphe guttata - Scotland Co., NC: Found underneath tin when the air temperature was 82F, don't know why I bothered...glad I did. One of five Corn Snakes I would eventually find along this area in 2011. [5-June-2011]
Crotalus horridus - Stokes Co., NC: A sad sight - found DOR at night shortly after a slight rain event, this animal represents my first horridus from this decently populated isolate (Sauratown Mountains) along the foothills of North Carolina. [5-July-2011]
Agkistrodon piscivorus - Beaufort Co., SC: Found AOR at night, this method of illumination [flash] is a first. I dig the results. [10-Aug-2011]
Crotalus horridus - Colleton Co., SC: Found AOR at night, this adult represents the third horridus of the evening. Earlier, around dusk, we stumbled onto two fresh neonates, presumably moving from their birth stump. [25-Aug-2011]
Crotalus horridus - Granville Co., NC: Individual found 6:41pm heading east within sight of house and ear shot of people talking in the yard. Five years of work went into finding this animal. This population is an isolate in the upper Piedmont of North Carolina. Together with four other interested parties a small group was formed with one main mission: to further understand the natural history and sustainability of this isolate population. You can read more here (http://www.forgottenrattlesnakes.com), website update soon. [15-August-2011]
Crotalus horridus - Moore Co., NC: Adrian flipped this small juvenile beneath warm tin on a cool (high of 70F) and overcast afternoon. [18-Sept-2011]
Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata - Scotland Co., NC: I followed Adrian's lead and outdid his flip with this neonate Mole Kingsnake. Not an uncommon snake, but a snake uncommonly found - esp. in habitat. Flipped beneath a old rotten wooden post - a solid day of herping on a cool (high of 70F) overcast day. [18-Sept-2011]
Heterodon platyrhinos - Scotland Co., NC: Found AOR on a sand road in early afternoon, this individual quickly feigned death when my Phil went to move him off the road. Nothing like getting paid to move snakes off sand roads! [6-Oct-2011]
Sistrurus miliarius barbouri - Monroe Co., FL: On our previous 2010 winter trip we counted 23 individuals, on the same hike this year (2011) this was our only sighting. Photographed in-situ and left alone. [12-December-2011]
Chamaeleo calyptratus - Undisclosed Co., FL: This male specimen was one of several we spotted at night. We had given some search in previous years for this exotic species. I must admit, it is rather awesome to go out and find Chameleons while on vacation. [16-December-2011]
Furcifer oustaleti - Undisclosed Co., FL: This individual was encountered approximately 5 feet nested within a large tree. One of our main targets for the trip, along with Eastern Coral Snakes...which we counted three DORs on this trip. However, moments before the spotting of the above mentioned animal - Mike flipped his lifer Coral. The trip somehow surpassed 2010's blowout, and is going to go on to be one of our best South Florida winter trips. The next morning, our last day in the Everglades region, I spotted my last snake of the year - a basking Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, always a joy to see! [17-December-2011]
Masticophis flagellum - Highlands Co., FL: On our last day in Florida, we had another killer day. Three Coachwhips (largest one caught pictured), 2 Neoseps, ~5 Mole Skinks, and 5 Gopher Tortoises before 1pm in the afternoon and after a late start, since the night before consisted of the celebratory bon-fires, beers, and dude action.
Not pictured here are tons of cool low country herps, Eastern Diamondbacks, more simus, strange exotic encounters (including an Asian Vine Snake in FL), Mangrove Water Snakes, tons of Corn Snakes (year of the corns, seriously), Eastern Mud Snake, Brooks phase South Florida Kingsnake, Eastern Kingsnakes, more Canebrakes, and my first Eastern Indigo (not pictured). 2011, for what little effort I could afford to spend, was pretty damn awesome in hindsight.
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