Reptiles of UNC

[RandyS]

I was wondering if "Reptiles of UNC" was some sort of calendar from the fraternities in Chapel Hill. I guess not.

Beautiful snakes and lizards, Hawken!

 

[hcarlton]

Wrong UNC

Only one pic from today, but another I have yet to show. A lot of the Caribbean racers are under threat of extinction (the Antiguan racer is one of the rarest snakes in the world), not sure if this one is too though
Puerto Rican Racer, Alsophis portoricensis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[hcarlton]

A couple more pics from the UNC room:
This snake was in shed, but even so had a lot of iridescence that they're famous for
Xenopeltis unicolor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Xenopeltis unicolor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And this little pain struck the glass as I was snagging this pic.
Crotalus atrox by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[hcarlton]

Probably my last update for a while, as school actually begins. Though I may post pics from the field trips I'll be taking this year....
One of several newbies from Arizona
Sonoran sidewinder-Crotalus cerastes cercobombus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This is the same girl I posted before, the larger of the pair. She's at least 6, maybe 7 feet long or more, and very intelligent
Boomslang-Dispholidus typus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Banded rock rattlesnake-Crotalus lepidus lepidus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Banded rock rattlesnake-Crotalus lepidus lepidus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Who can't love that face?
Bullsnake-Pituophis catenifer sayi by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This may have been the only time I've ever seen this guy active; he was actually roaming around the tank, as opposed to sitting in a corner like usual
Gila monster-Heloderma suspectum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Another newbie. Apparently blacks don't start out that way
Arizona black rattlesnake-Crotalus cerberus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
There was also a nice L. alterna near this one, and in another nearby tank an Arizona coral, but they were both hiding...
Sonorna Mountain Kingsnake-Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Grey ratsnake-Pantherophis spiloides by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Tiger rattlesnake-Crotalus tigris by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Trans Pecos Copperhead-Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Mussurana-Clelia clelia by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
The monitor "affectionately" known by the reptile room caretakers as "Butthole" (among other less glamorous nicknames)
Mangrove monitor-Varanus indicus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Desert Massasauga-Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake-Crotalus oreganus helleri by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Prairie rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
One of several animals with an amazing goldenrod color. One newbie also has a striped tail, but she was too far back to see well
Midget faded rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis concolor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Argentine racer-Philodryas baroni by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Jumping Viper-Atropoides nummifer by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
I hate how dirty the glass on this one is, so hard to get a good pic, but he's always curious when I come over
Arizona black rattlesnake-Crotalus cerberus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Puerto Rican Racer-Alsophis portoricensis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
In the cage next to this one, the rattler broke his rattle, so I have it now
SW Speckled rattlesnake-Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
SW Speckled rattlesnake-Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Mojave rattlesnake-Crotalus scutelatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Brown vine snake-Oxybelis aeneus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Coachwhip- Masticophis flagellum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Another curious face...
Suspected hybrid-Crotalus viridis x scutelatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[hcarlton]

So I realized I never posted the pics of the lizard lab not too long ago; made a few new friends:
Rhacodactylus auriculatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
I want to apologize now for any odd facial expressions, I am not good at smiling on camera....
Me nad the Gargoyle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the Gargoyle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Hemidactylus frenatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Hemidactylus frenatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Heloderma suspectum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Heloderma suspectum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
The Gargoyles and this species are owned by a fellow classmate, among several dozen (I estimate) other reptiles....
Gehyra marginata by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
While the little one was friendly, this guy was not...
Gehyra marginata by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Yes, the monitor is a little overweight. He loves hardboiled eggs...
Kronos, Varanus exanthematicus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
He spent lab wandering the floor, and getting attention...
Kronos, Varanus exanthematicus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This guy also hung out on several shoulders
Pogona vitticeps by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Pogona vitticeps by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the beardie by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Beardie and a friend by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Tilique scincoides by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the blue tongue by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the blue tongue by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Tiliqua scincoides by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Check out the pattern. I want one so bad...
Tiliqua scincoides by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lastly, another non-handleable...
Emoia isolata by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Emoia isolata by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[hcarlton]

So, this is not reptile-related, but I'm not starting an entire thread: had a peregrine falcon just about buzz my head out on the deck as he chased some doves, got some pics when he landed on the neighbor's house...
Peregrine falcon by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Peregrine falcon by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr


Now, on to more reptiles: Snake Lab from two weeks ago
This is Mocha, a Dumeril's boa
Acrantophis dumerili by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Friendly, but perhaps a bit "clingy"
Acrantophis dumerili by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Python regius by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Beautiful, but not friendly unfortunately...
Epicrates cenchria cenchria by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Epicrates cenchria cenchria by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Spent about 45 minutes watching a documentary with this girl in my lap
Python bivitattus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Not a snake, but a great example of the lizard mimics
Ophisaurus ventralis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Sadly the glass lizard had a tumor on its eye
Ophisaurus ventralis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Ophisaurus ventralis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Another beautiful but iffy-attitude animal
Python curtus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This one was also iffy about everyone except her owner (and even then somewhat; she smelled up the room in response to being put away), but absolutely beautiful
Goldenchild retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Goldenchild retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Goldenchild retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Goldenchild retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This guy was also a stinker, but more handle-able
Diadophis punctatus regalis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lampropeltis getula floridana by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
NOT handle-able, but still beautiful
Crotalus oreganus concolor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Agkistrodon contorrix pictigaster by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus viridis viridis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Boiga irregularis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

Lastly, best experience of the lab: this is a probably 8 foot lavender (or perhaps purple phase) amelanistic reticulated python. Supposedly he can be cranky, and bit someone not three days before, but I held him for a half hour without issue (unless you count him using my head as a lookout point an issue)
Lavender amel retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the lavender amel retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the lavender amel retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Me and the lavender amel retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This size, and he's only a yearling...
Me and the lavender amel retic by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[hcarlton]

For one of the herp labs, we partook in venom analysis. Incuded was the actual process of extracting venom from several animals, like this beauty
Crotalus cerberus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Several of the students actually were the ones to extract the venom
Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii extraction by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus scutelatus scutelatus extraction by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Look closely in the two pics above, you can see the venom in the extraction tubes....

We also managed to extract from the Gila monster, which took a while as she's not inclined to bite...but when she did it was hard enough to leave imprints in the plastic covering on the rod...
Heloderma suspectum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Heloderma suspectum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Milking Heloderma by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Milking Heloderma by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Milking Heloderma by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Can you see the venom?
Heloderma venom by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Milking Heloderma by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
She also left a souvenir:
Gila tooth by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

However, the highlight for me was that I extracted venom from this specimen. Yielded over 200 microliters of venom, enough to put you into serious trouble...
Crotalus molossus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus molossus extraction by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus molossus extraction by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus molossus extraction by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus molossus extraction by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

This is in some ways a very nerve-wracking experience; the fangs are within inches of my hand, I know what these guys are capable of, and I couldn't stop shaking (both nerves and excitement). However, after this I have decided: next chance I get, I definitely intend to get some practice with catching more than just the nonvenomous reptiles I come across

 

[hcarlton]

Volunteer work has begun again, and with it come pics
Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana 1 by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana 1 by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana 2 by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lampropeltis alterna by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
The female boomslang watching the proceedings as always
Dispholidus typus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Dispholidus typus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Ahaetulla praesina by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Oxybelis fulgidus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Pantherophis spiloides by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This guy decided he was now arboreal
Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Philodryas baroni by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus oreganus concolor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And the turd being a turd, as always....
Varanus indicus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Babies! Lots and lots of little rattlers in the room now
Crotalus scutulatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus tigris by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[curtisconners]

So many amazing snakes! In your experience, are boomslangs usually as curious as the one there? If you've worked with other boomslangs of course.

 

[bluemax]

I realize that I was behind on this thread. Very nice animals and photos of them. I especially love the Gila monster. And now I know what you look like, HC.

 

[hcarlton]

To curtisconnors: This female is curious, but the male is a shy one; being also that this is the only reptile room I've worked in thus far they are the only boomslangs I've had any experience with (and technically, no experience since they stay in their cages; ONLY the professor is allowed to deal with them as they are not safe animals).
To bluemax: the Gila is also a pretty docile animal (as most of the species are, actually), but of course she doesn't come out of the tank often . And yes, a rare picture of me; there are a few others floating around (some recent ones on the Sarracenia forum because I got the new T shirt!), but I tend not to end up in photos often, a trait I share with my father.

Oh, additional news: the milk snakes are back home, so there will probably be more pics of them soon! And if I manage to successfully breed the female with my male corn, pics eventually of some really cool babies...

 

[hcarlton]

More shots from today:
Crotalus atrox by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Speckleds are amazing, since every one is a different color
Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And hognoses are cute
Heterodon nasicus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus willardi willardi by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
There are hybridization attempts in the making to study effects on venom composition
Crotalus viridis, C. scutelatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Oxybelis aeneus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This guy is always active, and very inquisitive
Hydrodynastes gigas by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Hydrodynastes gigas by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This speckled actually looks slate blue
Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
In addition to the garters, you can see a bull snake sticking his nose out of the hide
Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Check out the rattle....
Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Bothriopsis bilineatus by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Posted a shot of a straw colored midget faded last time, here's a far more starkly patterened one (and he and what I assume is his sibling were both very curious about goings-on)
Crotalus oreganus concolor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And then there is this hungry fellow
Lampropeltis getula californiae by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lampropeltis getula californiae by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Heloderma suspectum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Crotalus viridis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

 

[curtisconners]

The look on the face of that California kingsnake is identical to the one on Steve (my kingsnake) when he's hungry. I know that snakes don't exactly have facial expressions, but it's still funny.

 

[hcarlton]

Technically, they don't, but once you've been around them long enough they seem capable of expressing their thoughts well enough through how they look at you.

 

[curtisconners]

I know, it's amazing. Even though my only snake is a California kingsnake, I've also noticed how strangely expressive snakes can be.. Whenever I'm doing something that I usually don't and he can see me, he just stares at me curiously.