Herpetofauna
#6533480
05/08/19 08:11 AM
05/08/19 08:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702 Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
OP
"On The Other Hand"
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OP
"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Now that the trapping season is at a seasonal low and we're starting to lose snow in most areas of Idaho, I slide back into snake/lizard mode. I know a few folks on this forum are into snakes and such, and I also know a few that despise the cold-blooded critters. Nonetheless, I thought a few of you might enjoy periodic photos. My wife and I do quite a bit of "hobby" research near our homestead, catching, measuring, and then releasing ectotherms. Just another interest in the natural fauna that keeps us going through the non-trapping season. I was in the northern part of the state last weekend doing a couple of wolf trapping certification classes and found western skinks (Plestiodon skiltonianus) and Coeur d'Alene salamanders (Plethodon idahoensis). Hope you enjoy... .
Last edited by Gulo; 05/08/19 09:04 AM.
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533488
05/08/19 08:24 AM
05/08/19 08:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,899 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,899
williamsburg ks
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had to laugh at my wife. she found a gardner snake and quickly grabbed it when I told her it was harmless. after she held and examined it for a couple minutes I told her to sniff her hands. that snake got released in a quick hurry
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: danny clifton]
#6533511
05/08/19 08:46 AM
05/08/19 08:46 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,483 Wheaton Ks
lee steinmeyer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,483
Wheaton Ks
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had to laugh at my wife. she found a gardner snake and quickly grabbed it when I told her it was harmless. after she held and examined it for a couple minutes I told her to sniff her hands. that snake got released in a quick hurry The skunk of the snake world! lol
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533519
05/08/19 08:54 AM
05/08/19 08:54 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,176 McGrath, AK
white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,176
McGrath, AK
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Now that the trapping season is at a seasonal low and we're starting to loose snow in most areas of Idaho, I slide back into snake/lizard mode. I know a few folks on this forum are into snakes and such, and I also know a few that despise the cold-blooded critters. Nonetheless, I thought a few of you might enjoy periodic photos. My wife and I do quite a bit of "hobby" research near our homestead, catching, measuring, and then releasing ectotherms. Just another interest in the natural fauna that keeps us going through the non-trapping season. I was in the northern part of the state last weekend doing a couple of wolf trapping certification classes and found western skinks (Plestiodon skiltonianus) and Coeur d'Alene salamanders (Plethodon idahoensis). Hope you enjoy... . I notice that the skintone of Tony'sanus is blue. Are there other colors in other areas ?
Mean As Nails
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533524
05/08/19 08:57 AM
05/08/19 08:57 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,884 Mn
nightlife
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,884
Mn
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Now that the trapping season is at a seasonal low and we're starting to loose snow in most areas of Idaho, I slide back into snake/lizard mode. I know a few folks on this forum are into snakes and such, and I also know a few that despise the cold-blooded critters. Nonetheless, I thought a few of you might enjoy periodic photos. My wife and I do quite a bit of "hobby" research near our homestead, catching, measuring, and then releasing ectotherms. Just another interest in the natural fauna that keeps us going through the non-trapping season. I was in the northern part of the state last weekend doing a couple of wolf trapping certification classes and found western skinks (Plestiodon skiltonianus) and Coeur d'Alene salamanders (Plethodon idahoensis). Hope you enjoy... . Always like those blue tailed skinks when I was a kid we had a lot of them around the house then but have not seen one in several years just like meadow larks and other critters that seem to have vanished form this area
�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.� ― Robert A. Heinlein
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533527
05/08/19 09:06 AM
05/08/19 09:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702 Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
OP
"On The Other Hand"
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OP
"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702
Idaho, Lemhi County
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White -
With skill, Tony's anus can be whatever color you desire. Usually called the blue-tailed skink. (Where is this discussion going?).
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533531
05/08/19 09:09 AM
05/08/19 09:09 AM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,141 Michigan
Ditchdiver
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,141
Michigan
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Hey now! My anus is normal colored just like everyone else's! Tony
When life gets me down..... you know hunting/trapping season is closed.
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Ditchdiver]
#6533552
05/08/19 09:37 AM
05/08/19 09:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,176 McGrath, AK
white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,176
McGrath, AK
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Hey now! My anus is normal colored just like everyone else's! Tony I have to wonder how you know that ??? Hopefully this ISN'T where this thread is going. Gulo: Does that tail change color like a chameleon ??
Mean As Nails
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533577
05/08/19 09:57 AM
05/08/19 09:57 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,527 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,527
james bay frontierOnt.
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Is that the lizard that loses its tail to a predator,allowing it to escape? If so maybe it is blue to attract the attention of a predator away from its head,like a weasels tail has a black tip for the same reason. After all we know that blue attracts (the blue bucket set,lol.)
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533582
05/08/19 10:04 AM
05/08/19 10:04 AM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,141 Michigan
Ditchdiver
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,141
Michigan
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I guess I don't "know", but I'm hoping In seriousness, I'm not sure if they are the exact same, but I find blue tailed skinks in my yard. Not many, but they are here.
When life gets me down..... you know hunting/trapping season is closed.
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533589
05/08/19 10:24 AM
05/08/19 10:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702 Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
OP
"On The Other Hand"
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OP
"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Boco -
Yes. The blue-tailed skink has musculature in it's tail that allows it to spontaneously "pinch off" the tail when it senses itself in danger. The tail, after being dismembered, wiggles frantically on the ground, diverting the predator's attention to catching that bright blue wiggling tail, while the lizard itself, with much more cryptic coloration, scoots off into oblivion. They can then grow a new tail, albeit shorter and usually not as bright. The younger the skink, the brighter "electric" blue is the tail. Old adults barely have any hint of blue remaining. Pretty much the same idea as the black-tipped tail of long-tailed and short-tailed weasels, although a bit more involved. In my opinion, pretty cool predator-evasion tactic.
Jack
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533592
05/08/19 10:33 AM
05/08/19 10:33 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,113 Northern Michigan
J.Morse
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,113
Northern Michigan
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We have a few Five Lined Skinks around our place, they are neat little beasts. A few years back my bride was outside with me and whipping here and there in her electric wheelchair, supervising the worker (me) she had hired to work on her flowerbeds. All at once she said, in an excited voice "Look, there's a skank!" I was really surprised, because she never used to let me look at skanks, let alone point them out!
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533706
05/08/19 11:58 AM
05/08/19 11:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,527 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,527
james bay frontierOnt.
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Makes you wonder how something like that could evolve. Similar to amphibians being able to regenerate a severed limb,I suppose.Must have evolved along those lines. I remember studying an interesting experiment that was done to prove that the limb re-generation only worked outwards from the body. A frog had its humerus surgically removed,then at a later date the limb was severed half way on the upper arm.The regenerated limb produced half a humerus,from the cut outwards.There was no bone regeneration from the cut towards the body.
Last edited by Boco; 05/08/19 12:02 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6533927
05/08/19 03:25 PM
05/08/19 03:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,744 MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Trapper7
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,744
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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I remember my 9th grade class on a field trip. One guy in or class was always showing off in front of the girls. He caught a garter snake and was chasing the girls with it. Eventually, he put the snake around his neck and was dancing around like that. Suddenly, the snake unloaded some of the foulest smelling, white poop that would gag a maggot. He ended up riding in the very far back of the bus by himself on the trip home crying.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never let the dumbest ones lead the pack.
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Re: Herpetofauna
[Re: Gulo]
#6534167
05/08/19 09:46 PM
05/08/19 09:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702 Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
OP
"On The Other Hand"
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OP
"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,702
Idaho, Lemhi County
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White -
Although lots of different species have the ability to "morph" colors, I've not seen nor read anything about the skinks being able to change the color in their tail. On the other hand, I remember that Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat, and was able to change his colors (blue to red) quite successfully. Also, I've known some skanks that were chameleons as well.
Jack
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