Photo Phriday 7

Other than Alaska, Idaho probably has fewer species of herpetofauna than any other state in the US. However, some of those species are indeed pretty cool, in my opinion. I've been doing more looking this past week.


The western skink, Plestiodon skiltonianus, with an impossibly electric blue tail...


and the northern alligator lizard, Elgaria coerulea.

Those blue tails are cool. I wonder if the blue has a purpose other than to look cool.

I saw these guys yesterday. They have another month to grow.


They have a good mother. She was out in the trail squawking at me trying to lure me away from the little ones.

Jack ! Ping !

That skink is cool . FLA has those too, with the same electric blue tails, and the old adults have red heads. I used to catch those.

Haven't seen them here .
But those gator lizards ! I like seeing them and they are real easy to catch.

Look what I have for you ! Caught him last Monday. He lives in the underbrush and is seen on occasion. Last Monday, I had the time and chance to catch him and get you some shots. Unlike the big one I had basically tame from multiple catches, which was easily again his length, this one is around 13 inches, a small one.

Most of these don't try to bite, just struggle for a minute or so till they realize they aren't going to be eaten.

This character, howevah, was rather rude at times. He twice tried to sink his wee teeth into my hand . How rude....but even himself, after a few minutes calmed down and I was able to get these pics . To me, he isn't as pretty as the big one , his colours seem more dull and muddy.

On the surface....face to the wind....

Range and Sharon -

Great shots! Your last image, Sharon, is perfect for figuring out which species of garter snake (you probably have 2 different species). The one pictured is western terrestrial because of the 8 upper labial scales (those on the upper side of the mouth), with scales #6 and #7 taller and bigger than the others. I'm also seeing a rubber boa in your near future...

Jack

We been picking huckleberries for six weeks now and never saw a snake let alone a rattler till yesterday. Walked within 3ft of first 2!! They sorta blend in!!! Just saying.

Fascinating info and observation, Jack. You have me counting those upper mouth scales now So, now, I'm gonna conclude that every time I catch a western terrestrial , I will assume complete rudeness to an inappreciable degree from it .... My search for my first boa continues.

Just how some days go.

Interesting on the Western Terrestrial snake, ones I’ve seen here seem to have a lot more striking pattern to them.

Dang GW- if the dead leaves were just a tiny bit wet (darker) those things would blend in so well you'd roll yer ankle and get bit before you saw what you had stepped on.

& Good one Tray

Jack, maybe you can confirm this, but we have that same skink in Ks. Their tales pop off when grabbed, and they grow back. Not sure but I always thought an adult sized skink with a blue tail was either reaching maturity or had just finished growing a new tail back. All the little skinks are that beautiful mettalic blue color. One of those questions I always wondered about! Thanks.

Lee - -

Yes. Pretty cool method the skinks (and certain other lizards, salamanders, and geckos) have developed for predator evasion. They can pinch off their tails, which usually wriggle and flop for several minutes after they fall off, which distracts the predator and often allows the skink to escape. They will grow another tail, but the new one is usually a bit shorter than the first. Variously called autotomy or self-amputation. There are supposedly 6 different species of skinks in Kansas, but you're probably seeing the Common Five-lined Skink most often. They are a different species than we have in Idaho, but look very similar.

Jack

I recall seeing some common skanks around Mud Lake and Leadore but don't recall the blue tails

You probably just saw those skanks when they were happy (who wouldn't be, with white17 around?). When they are unhappy (i.e. "blue") is when their tails turn.

Jack

Thanks for the reply, Jack. When I was just a kid, I spent my summers running around here in the flint hills, turning over rocks. One thing about here, you never run out of rocks to flip! lol

Robins are (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) because a owl is In the woods