Early Southern AZ Herping

[Brandon]

Went with some friends to southern AZ this past weekend and had a little luck. Here are some pictures.

First snake found was on the second day.

Crotalus lepidus Cochise County, AZ found sitting near the base of a talus slide.

Second snake was a Pituophis catenifer but no pictures were taken.

Third was a Crotalus molossus found sitting on a road in Santa Cruz county.

Last snake was the highlight, after many hours in the field i finally found one
Senticolis triaspis Santa Cruz County, AZ

Also seen were a Desert Blond Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) sitting on an egg sac and this species of tarantula I have never seen before.

Mature female (Aphonopelma spp.) Cochise County

Cheers Brandon

 

[Crotalus]

Very nice findings and pictures! Thanks for sharing!

/Lelle

 

[Brandon]

Thanks we put in allot of hours, nothing like it is in the monsoon season. Things are few and far between this time of the year.

Sincerely,

Brandon

 

[brandi]

Very nice lep!!! :worship: I bow to your superior herping kung fu.

 

[Brandon]

Leps seem to be pretty commom, but i never get tired of seeing them. The Green Rat Snake has been a goal of mine for over 3 years now and it is very exciting to get that one

Cheers

Brandon

 

[BigSam]

what up brandon? Haven't talk to you in a while, how have you been? well those where some nice snakes you found.
Sam-

 

[heyjeyniceid]

B, doesnt that Aphonopelma seem gravid to you?

 

[Crotalus]

Brandon, was it Brian you went herping with or have I mixed you up with someone else?
If so my friend here will be glad to hear about the Senticola findings since his going there in August.

/Lelle

 

[Brandon]

It was Brian and i should be helping your freind find some nice spots come this August. He can email me at Tarantulaspiders@cox.net

Luis, it does look gravid who knows?

Sincerely,

Brandon

 

[Slizarus]

I'm going herping in Southern AZ this summer as well.. spanning from Phoenix to Sierra Vista.. I hope to find quite a bit.. and hopefully avoid any Crotalids.. I have no doubt they're beautiful and fascinating creatures.. but I have yet to encounter them in the wild.. and I'd like to keep it that way till I have a proper set of hooks and tongs.
Any tips? I'll be herping with a friend of mine.. any idea where we can find any caves? He's also an amateur mineral fanatic and I told him we could go look for rocks and herps at the same time.

 

[Brandon]

Southern AZ is an awsome place for rocks and snakes. Crots are everywere and will be encounterd more often than other species so bring hooks and a camera. I would be more willing to help you if you email me as I like to avoid online info. Tarantulaspiders@cox.net

Sincerely,

Brandon