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Topic: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

To end the suspense quickly, we found no Ground Snakes.  So, with that out of the way, a little about our day...

What I thought was going to be a few people in on this effort turned out to be just two: Classic Robert and myself.  We had a good time and covered quite a lot of great glade habitat.  I couldn't even begin to count how many rocks we flipped!  Even so, we only scratched the surface of what is in the area to check.  Next time, we need more people.   smile

Although specimen numbers were pretty low, the diversity was reasonable...and we did turn up a couple of gems along the way.

This may be the closest to a true black phase E. Coachwhip I'll ever catch.  It was deep "in the blue" and death-feigned a bit for us.
http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15396-2/2C3V6808.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15432-2/2C3V6825.jpg

The prize was this little one.
http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15471-2/2C3V6845.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15476-2/2C3V6848.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15486-2/2C3V6851.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15496-2/2C3V6854.jpg

Those were the finds of highest interest, but a couple of others of note would be a Red Milk and two Pickerel Frogs.
http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15336-2/2C3V6767.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/15446-2/2C3V6836.jpg

I know this is not a comprehensive list, but the things I remember finding were:
Red Milk Snake
Eastern Coachwhip
Flathead Snake
Western Worm Snake
Ringneck Snake
Rough Earth Snake
Eastern Collared Lizard
Eastern Fence Lizard
Five-lined Skink
Ground Skink
Three-toed Box Turtle
Dwarf American Toad / Fowler's Toad
Northern Cricket Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Western Slimy Salamander

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2 Reply by Mystic-B

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Awsome... Im glad you didnt have to make the trip alone.... is Classic Robert gonna make the field trip?

3 Reply by Van

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Nice Collared!  Man I wish I was healthy...

Van

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4 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Next time I will try to be rested up so I can go (slept till 11). Nice Collard Lizard.

5 Reply by JenSteck

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

That little collard lizard has beautiful colors.  It looks like your trip was pretty productive.

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6 Reply by Ryan

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

MAN! I would love to catch a collared lizard.....They do the biped run don't they?

-Ryan

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7 Reply by amercnwmn

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Next impromptu trip in the area I will try to make, I really would have liked to have gone with you guys.
Ryan had to work, and finding a babysitter at all is hard enough, much less short notice tongue
Beautiful Coachwhip and Collard lizard..I didn't realize we even had those around here..I'll be looking for them big_smile

I'm about to have an abruptly.

8 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

photographer_24/7 wrote:

MAN! I would love to catch a collared lizard.....They do the biped run don't they?

Yep, they can do the biped run.

9 Reply by saltamachia

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

i would like to know more about the habitat that you guys are finding these milks in.its  been a dream of mine for a long time to find one of my own.

10 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

saltamachia wrote:

i would like to know more about the habitat that you guys are finding these milks in.its  been a dream of mine for a long time to find one of my own.

 

Grassy glades, cedar glades, old rock quarries, rocky/eroded road cuts.  Almost always SW-facing.  This topic has come up before and you'll find more discussion about it by using the forum search function.  Problem is, much of southern AR just doesn't have these kinds of habitats...   hmm

Back to our outing, I might add that we saw lots of "scary" inverts: numerous tarantulas of all sizes, numerous black widows, numerous scorpions, numerous brown recluses, and 2 or 3 red-headed monsters (Glenn knows what I'm talking about!!!)....one of which was the largest I've ever seen.  It was way too busy for pictures and honestly, I just didn't want to deal with it.   :shocked:

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11 Reply by Van

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

We have those centipedes up here?

Van

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12 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

kaptainkory wrote:

[2 or 3 red-headed monsters (Glenn knows what I'm talking about!!!)....one of which was the largest I've ever seen.  It was way too busy for pictures and honestly, I just didn't want to deal with it.   :shocked:

I do not have a clue. Why should I.  neutral I think you should of picked it up. The have a gentle way about them.

13 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Van wrote:

We have those centipedes up here?

Van

I think the answer clearly and unfortunately is yes.  I went years without ever seeing one; now within THIS year, I've already seen, what, 4 or 5!!!

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14 Reply by Van

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Huh, I haven't seen one either.  Maybe they're restricted to glade habitat?

Van

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15 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

I think the key item is Giant [size=18Desert[/size Centipede. So I would assume they do like the hot dry glade habitat. By the way Jeremy said he has seen them around Fort Smith/Greenwood. I guess I shoud get bit by an Arknasas specimen next. yikes

16 Reply by Jeremy

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

I think the key item is Giant Desert Centipede. So I would assume they do like the hot dry glade habitat.

Definitely. The ones I've encountered have all been in a dry, rocky areas. I've actually encountered several with some regularity right in the middle of Greenwood. There is a nice rocky, south-facing hillside that I hit every now and then.

The first one I found was on a glade on Ft. Chaffee. I had no idea these things existed. Actually, I was thinking at the time that I'm not that far from the impact area on Chaffee and the A10's do use the range. So I figured that shooting the depleted uranium shells was increasing the amount of radiation in the area and these were some form of mutation. By the way did I mention my name was David Banner.  big_smile

17 Reply by Ryan

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

kaptainkory wrote:
Van wrote:

We have those centipedes up here?

Van

I think the answer clearly and unfortunately is yes.  I went years without ever seeing one; now within THIS year, I've already seen, what, 4 or 5!!!


I get the feeling that I am going to be bitten at some point....Dear God....

-Ryan

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18 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

photographer_24/7 wrote:
kaptainkory wrote:
Van wrote:

We have those centipedes up here?

Van

I think the answer clearly and unfortunately is yes.  I went years without ever seeing one; now within THIS year, I've already seen, what, 4 or 5!!!


I get the feeling that I am going to be bitten at some point....Dear God....

I could use the company. big_smile

Do not do it, it is not worth it. I think I know what I am talking about.

19 Reply by saltamachia

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

red headed monster?

20 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/14684-3/New+downloadsJan2007+063.jpg

21 Reply by Mulebrother

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Yep...
Used to find them in mtburg all the time.  Picked up one with welding gloves once...i was amazed at the strength of the incisors...i was stunned how strong they were.  I figured they stung...thanks to glen, i know they do now.

Insects- yuck...

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22 Reply by rattlesnakeman

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Re: Saturday April 28, 2007 - In search of Ground Snakes

Great photo of the collared lizard.  I have never seen one with that much color.  Looks like a great day for only two people.

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