Some NM Herps

[AjaMichelle]

Hi! Here are some species I've encountered while herping recently:


Sandoval County
Adult female Phrynosoma modestum (Roundtail Horned Lizard)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/edee9216.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/003ef255.jpg

Foothills of the Sandia Mountains (Bernalillo County)
Adult male Urosaurus ornatus (Tree Lizard) - Dark Phase (Black and Gold)
Basking
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Indian%20School/P5280304copy.jpg

Adult male Urosaurus ornatus - Light phase (Tan)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5110160.jpg

Small Adult male Urosaurus ornatus
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5110165.jpg

Pituophis catenifer (Bull Snake) Approximately 2 feet ToL
Displayed crotalid mimicry (head wagging, tail-shaking, etc.)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Indian%20School/P5280307.jpg

Adult male Crotaphytus collaris (Collared Lizard)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5100143.jpg

Gravid Adult Female Crotaphytus collaris (Collared Lizard)
Basking
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5100148copy.jpg

[AjaMichelle]

Sheltering in a nearby burrow
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5110152.jpg

Aspidoscelis spp
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5110175.jpg

Adult male Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondback Rattlesnake)
Approximately 3 to 4 feet ToL
I didn't have my hook, so I stood around and took photos until it moved off of the trail. It was funny because it seemed like it was playing dead or like a stick and wouldn't move while I was facing it, but as soon as I turned away, it would slink into the grass. lol! you know I made sure to turn around a few times ha ha
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5110176.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Herping/Foothills%20-%20Copper/P5110179.jpg

Granite Gap (Hidalgo County)
Crotalus viridis (Prairie Rattlesnake)
Approximately 3 to 4 feet ToL
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4200079-1.jpg

Adult male Cophosaurus texanus (Greater Earless Lizard)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4200088.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4200083.jpg

Adult female Gambelia wislizenii (Leopard Lizard)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4200099.jpg

[AjaMichelle]

Masticophis bilineatus (Sonoran Whipsnake)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4230228.jpg

Adult male Urosaurus ornatus (Tree Lizard)
Note the difference in ventral coloration
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4230225.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4230222.jpg

Crotalus scutulatus (Mojave Rattlesnake)
Approximately 2 to 3 feet ToL
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4230219.jpg

Phrynosoma cornutum (Texas Horned Lizard)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4230209.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/P4230208.jpg

Likely Female Crotalus molossus (Black-tailed Rattlesnake)
Approximately 3 to 4 feet ToL
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Hidalgo%20County/April/molossus_copy.jpg

[jaleely]

OMG the horned lizards are soooo cute! And I love rattlers...they are so awesome. Good finds!!!

[Fredricks]

Great pictures. Definitely a thing I envy about living in Canada, the diversity there is amazing.
Love how mellow everything looks in the pics, you look like you have the touch

[alessia55]

Wow, those are some really great field herping finds!! I really love the Cophosaurus texanus belly coloring... truly fantastic. How do you catch the lizards?

[AjaMichelle]

OMG the horned lizards are soooo cute! And I love rattlers...they are so awesome. Good finds!!!

They are amazing! :) and thanks! :) I'm always sooo excited when I find rattlers! I feel like its such a special experience.

Great pictures. Definitely a thing I envy about living in Canada, the diversity there is amazing.
Love how mellow everything looks in the pics, you look like you have the touch

Thanks! I believe the biodiversity in Hidalgo county is greater than anywhere else in the US (except Florida of course!). Thanks! Causing the least amount of stress possible is my goal. I usually only take photos of snakes when I find them because of this.

Wow, those are some really great field herping finds!! I really love the Cophosaurus texanus belly coloring... truly fantastic. How do you catch the lizards?

Thanks! :) Most of the lizard species can be caught during the day by noosing them, but certain species are especially wary and noosing is difficult, if not impossible. It's been my experience that most of the males I encounter won't abandon the area where they're basking (ex: C. texanus, U. ornatus) and will just pushup until I've noosed them. The guys basking also let me get within 2 feet of them for the photos. Others like Aspidoscelis spp. are actively foraging when I encounter them and can usually be lured over with water. I've been able to simply pick up most juveniles I encounter. I find many lizards at night with a flashlight and they're typically sleeping so I can just pick them up too. I don't like to flip rocks, etc over because I don't want to destroy essential humid hides but I will regularly flip over trash. And the horned lizards are usually found around ant hills and can just be picked up off of the ground :)

[bladeblaster]

great pics, looks like a good time as had :)

[AjaMichelle]

great pics, looks like a good time as had :)

Thanks! The best time was had! :) This is of course my favorite thing to do.

[bushsnake]

awesome...sweet finds

[Pareeeee]

I would so have a field day if I lived where you do! *Sigh* I shall have to settle with *poor man's lizards* (salamanders, lol)

I wish I could find our native Five Lined Skink...

[marvelfreak]

Beautiful and animals and sweet pictures. Man i wish i could fine stuff like that around here.

[Pareeeee]

Did the Horned Lizard squirt you? lol

[CritterPoor]

Beautiful pictures. I've always loved NM and all the amazing critters it's home to.

[AjaMichelle]

awesome...sweet finds

Thanks!

I would so have a field day if I lived where you do! *Sigh* I shall have to settle with *poor man's lizards* (salamanders, lol)

I wish I could find our native Five Lined Skink...

lol! :) We have two species of salamander here too! I love 'em!

Beautiful and animals and sweet pictures. Man i wish i could fine stuff like that around here.

Thanks! :)

Did the Horned Lizard squirt you? lol

ha ha do you mean the blood squirts? No that's a response that's specialized to canids, so they only squirt blood around organisms they perceive to be canines. No blood squirts for me! They mostly just tolerate the handling and then scurry away when they're put back down.

Beautiful pictures. I've always loved NM and all the amazing critters it's home to.

Thanks! :) Are you from NM too?

[GDZILLA95]

Nice pics. I remember going herping when I was a lot younger. Those were good times, and I do miss them. I used to catch a lot of eastern fence swifts here in NC with a trusty noose.

[beardeds4life]

Could you please make a thread explaining how to make and use a noose?

[brylecc1989]

Wow. Very impressive plethora of finds.

[AjaMichelle]

Nice pics. I remember going herping when I was a lot younger. Those were good times, and I do miss them. I used to catch a lot of eastern fence swifts here in NC with a trusty noose.

I try to go as often as possible! :) I think it's the funnest thing to do.

Could you please make a thread explaining how to make and use a noose?

There's not too much to it. You just make a slip knot and attach it to a tool that adds length to your reach. :) Be careful though, you can decapitate lizards if you aren't gentle.

Wow. Very impressive plethora of finds.

Thanks! :)

[Roadtrash]

Looks like you have some good trips. Do you go more in the early morning or the afternoon.? Great looking bunch of animals and such a variety.

[AjaMichelle]

Looks like you have some good trips. Do you go more in the early morning or the afternoon.? Great looking bunch of animals and such a variety.

Thanks!
I go throughout the day. I typically go earlier in the afternoon like between 10am and 1pm. But if I'm going to a really hot area (like ground temps >110*F) I try to go really early in the morning like 6am to 10am. Then if it's overcast or just rained I'll go later in the afternoon like 12pm to 3pm.