Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Flora-quest Isn't Only Flowers

Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus

Although Flora-Quest is a celebration of the late spring Flora of Shawnee State Park and Forest, Cheryl allows us to look at other things too.  Shawnee State Forest has quite possibly the state's most interesting reptile and amphibian populations, and during the weekend I was able to photograph these charasmatic herptiles.


Mole salamander larva, possibly a spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculata.

Northern Slimy Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus




-Tom

5 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, when I saw the snake photo my mouth literally fell open with delight. What a precious thing to hold in your fingers!

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  2. I used to go there in the 1950s almost every Saturday during bow and arrow hunting season. Learned a lot about the place but never killed anything - for which I am grateful for those branches and saplings that misguided arrows. I saw copperheads there too and timber rattlesnakes and they were considerably larger than this little gem in your hand, Tom.

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  3. Nice collection of reptiles and amphibians--just love them. I found a ringneck snake in a woodpile but I can't bring myself to pick it up for a photograph so I will enjoy your photo.

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  4. Thanks Everyone- As Abe mentioned, this area was once known as the Roosevelt Game Preserve. It was one of the only places in Ohio where deer could be found. And, I must admit, I was not the one the held the snake, I simply photographed it.

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  5. Smart on ya for not holding it. Their tail end is the worst... (although I haven't had a good musking in a year or so).

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