Mottled Rock Rattlesnale (C. l. lepidus)

[Gsc]

Here is a few pictures of the Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (C. l. lepidus) I caught a few weeks back on the Pecos River in West Texas... I love these little guys!

 

[Gsc]

And here's a pic of a young Round Tailed Horned Lizard (aka Horny Toad) I also found. Due to thier extremely demanding captive care (specialized diet, etc), I set him back free after taking a few pics and looking at him. Enjoy!

 

[misfitsfiend]

Here is a few pictures of the Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (C. l. lepidus) I caught a few weeks back on the Pecos River in West Texas... I love these little guys!

Love this spp.! :drool: They dont get to big either correct? Whats the temperment like on it? If i lived in texas or arizona that would probably be the first pit viper in my collection... I've also heard they pack a punch! (venom wise)

 

[GQ.]

Gorgeous snake! I have found plenty of klauberi, but have yet to see my first lepidus lepidus in the wild. They are high on my list of snakes to find....right behind alterna. Heheh.

-G

 

[Gsc]

I wish I could find klabs all the time...I have to drive about 6 hours to get into C. l. lepidus country (and alterna) here in TX...Klabs barley make it into Texas...up in El Paso in the Franklin Mtns....

Yes, lepidus are considered a dwarf rattler.... average 24"-28" ish... I've only found one klab, but I've came accross a handful of lepidus... This particular one NEVER rattled or struck...Not even when I bagged it... 3 days in the field... and putting it into a cage at home... he/she finally rattled the other day when I dropped a live fuzzy in the cage... VERY laid back... lepidus/klabs do pack a pretty good punch for a little species...

Thanks for the coments...The feeling of finding one in the field is undescribeable!

 

[Ravienne]

You know, for a dangerous venemous animal, that snake sure is one cute little cuss!

And good judgement call with the horny toad. (I'm a Texan, that's what I called 'em when I was four, that's what I'll keep calling 'em. I don't care what people say. ) Are they still endangered? When I was a little Texan lad, there was this big vacant lot next to my house, and you could go out there and in an hour flat catch around fifty of the things. I know, I did it. I would always keep them for a couple of hours, and them my mom made me put them back. Lucky for the 'toads; bad idea to put a six-year-old in charge of fifty cute, fragile reptiles. But now, actually seeing one is kind of a rare occurence for me. Makes me sad.

 

[Gsc]

I'm a texan also...As far as I know, there are both the round tails (what I caught) and Texas horny toads in our state. The Texas horny toads are protected...round tails are not... Thats why you always see the roundtails for sale. Very hard to keep alive though over a long term period.

All the old folks tell me the stories of finding handfuls in their yards. Urbanization, predators and fireants have all but wiped out the horny toad populations. I agree, seeing a horny toad in the wild is a rare occurence over a majority of the state.

Texas Rules!

 

[Crotalus]

Very nice lepidus! Their coloration makes them blend in so well. Thanks for sharing!

/Lelle

 

[Gsc]

You wouldn't believe how he blended in when I found him in the wild Leele... He was on a broken tree log about 2.5 feet off the ground. The old weathered grey bark matched him perfectly...amazing... I almost put my hand right on him while looking for reptiles & inverts. Thanks.