I think it’s a black racer.
What do you think?
Lowndes County, Georgia, near a pond.
Spotted by Margaret Stewart.
-jsq
I think it’s a black racer.
What do you think?
Lowndes County, Georgia, near a pond.
Spotted by Margaret Stewart.
-jsq
What kind of snake is this?
Blondie alerted us to it.
Honeybun walked by it without noticing.
I wasn’t willing to get any closer for a better picture.
-jsq
What kind of snake is this?
Answer: grey rat snake, aka oak snake.
Seen 9:30 AM, March 3, 2024, Lowndes County, Georgia.
It appeared to be deceased of natural causes. Continue reading
I figured she must have discovered a nest of venomous serpents. Nope, Nervous Nellie was barking up a storm over a gopher tortoise.
Gopher, Nellie, Honeybun, Yellow Dog
That threatened species Gopherus polyphemus was actually somewhat threatened, since Nellie was trying to gnaw on her shell. Continue reading
I moved the blocks that had been holding up the trailer tongue, and there they were: three lizards.
I don’t think they were happy I moved their house. But I put it back later, and there is plenty of other lizard lair nearby.
-jsq
Fortunately Yellow Dog and Brown Dog weren’t around when I stopped the tractor to wait for this corn snake to slither across.
Later I showed it to Gretchen (see below). Continue reading
Francine out for a walk between the creek and the house:
Species Profile: Florida Softshell (Apalone ferox) | SREL Herpetology
Like other softshells, the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a large, flat turtle with skin covering its shell (resembling a pancake). It is the bulkiest of the softshell turtles but inhabits the smallest range. It varies in size with males measuring from 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) and females measuring double that at 11-24 inches (28-61 cm). Adults are usually colored by a dark brown to brownish-gray with dark spots. Also there are usually small dark bumps on the carapace. In juveniles these dark bumps on the carapace are much more easily seen, as they are usually lighter in color than the adults. The carapace of the Florida softshell is covered with longitudinal rows of tubercles that resemble ridges in younger turtles but are less evident in larger turtles. In adult turtles the plastron of the shell usually extends farther than the carapace.Continue reading