What Snake!

Black headed python

http://www.totallyreptiles.net.au/snakes.html

So lovely! Love the look and colours of snakes

Yupp, I would say a black headed python.

Crickey mates! You are so sharp...didn't think people here knew their snakes so well. Thanks Melissa and JC ;yes it is a Black Headed Python of Australia. How did you know?

I agree Abbie on the colors of snakes. They have such brilliantly artistically endowed bodies. Snakes are natural sculpture because scales are relevant in both snakes and sculpture!

I like snakes and try not to harm them. I agree they are beautiful. I was at a winery in Napa a few years ago and it was crawling (pun) with these beautiful lizards whose skin looks like chain mail.

Kev,

It looks like a "Granite Spiney Lizard" according to my field guide. This lizard barely goes into California from souther Baja. It would be rare. The rest of the Spiney Lizards there have a ring pattern around there necks. Maybe they, like you, the wine country down there! I know you never harm snakes. You've got some hell stinging hornets though!

You know there is a catch to the art of reptile hunting(with camera and notebook). That is the reptiles are only where you find them and this is usually( for me anyway) on someones's private land so I'd be trespassing.

By the way Melissa the Black Headed Python(Aspidites melanocephalus) in the photo was made by Steve Bullock who is an advanced photographer working out of Sidney, Australia. He has his own website and show on Red Bubble.

Yes I got a hornet sting last week. Someone working here said they saw a Copperhead in my yard. Did not see myself so..,

How do you know it was a Copperhead Kevin?

I don't as I did not see it. I am skeptical.

At your house I believe there may be the dreaded Copperheads since it is a big bluff area but the Prairie King Snake looks similar and would be more likely the snake you saw.

They are secretive and are not usually out in hot the summer except at night. Next time you see something call me and I'll pop over if I can!

I like snakes and lizards, I often sculpt them, even made some wearable jewelry with snakes.

Vincent, my friend, you need to READ, I DID NOT SEE THE SNAKE, a worker here did and told me about it. I have seen Copperheads in Tennessee. They look like Copperheads.

http://render.fineartamerica.com/displayartwork.html?id=15727238&width=250&height=140&domainid=1

I'm not sure. I just wanted to paint a snake. I'm more concerned with snakeness rather than a particular species. The Giant Reticulated Tree Dwelling Corn Boa? I don't know. Enlighten me.

Carl,
as an artist you are free to make up your own snake species or designs if you want to. Your jungle experience shows up in this new project you are working on.

Kevin, there are Copperheads on the bluffs up river a couple of miles from your house. If you see one or one of your neighbors it would be best to just leave them alone.

All of the natural world is more "art" to me as it is an endless discovery of knowledge than any man made art in any museum.

An extinct animal cannot be replaced but a Rembrandt or Vermeer can be replaced at least as a copy or print.

Killing a snake intentionally is worse than destroying any real work of art.

I wanted to suggest that those of you who wish to learn more about the management of snakes( including venomous ones) in your home area you can contact the local herpetological society. They can help you identify which ones are dangerous and which ones are safe around your home.

These groups of enthusiasts have super cool knowledge and are most always happy to help in the case of marauding poisonous snakes and what to do besides just killing them(which won't change the problem).

I seem to always "Find" snakes and other reptiles when I am out shooting other things. I was at Swan Lake, a popular park in Sumter, SC, and saw 8 different snakes within a 10 minute time frame. 6 were the pretty copper banded water snakes, but the 7th was a cotton mouth-that was huge and quite aggressive. Yes I took some pictures of him, until I realized he was trying to figure out how to get onto the bridge I was standing on......



This is my Favorite kind of Snake.

Not a huge snake fan, I like to view them from a distance. I will pick up a garter snake but others can remain at a distance.
The sound of a rattle brings a rush of adrenaline but causes immobility, the two things do not go well together.

Amphibians, that's another matter. I was quite the outdoor explorer growing up and frequented the ponds, pastures, woods & trees. Loved to catch salamanders & frogs.
Here is the only artwork I have with an amphibian... I doubt there will ever be a drawing or painting with a snake, sorry!

Nice Treefrog painting Julie!

Alicia, that color popping Corn Snake is gorgeous! Hard to believe the colors are so darn beautiful...white, black, orange and yellow!

Alicia,

how did you get this shot, tell me about the Gecko too. What a cool animal!

Anyone seen some snakes lately? Fall is denning season!

I caught a small copperhead, a venomous pit viper, near my studio and moved it away so dogs would not get bit. She was so calm she let me pick her up without any striking at me at all!

Mario, that is really cool artwork!!

Must admit i do like these animals, really hard to find and when i do i normally end up nearly stepping on them, The uk only has one venomous snake the adder, had plans to do a full shoot with these but sadly it wont being happening yet.

I must have the most unique Rare great crested newt feeding ground there is, when it rains these small newts will come to my homes back door and feed on the worms in the brick wall, this photo nearly drove me mad, this was the only shot from around 75, they tend to not want their photos taken but luckily this newt lifted its leg and looked at me, this has been a really popular photo.

just wanting for more rain so then i will try for more macro, these are protected and i have offered to work with the law with these but as of yet no luck, i think they don't believe me.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/smiling-newt-katey-jane-andrews.html

Nice Newt Katey! Seen the "Adder"? I have seen a few in Germany and also the "Ring Necked Water Snake". Adders have that zig zag pattern on their backs.

Vincent-the leaf tailed gecko above was taken at the local zoo. He was clinging to the glass, like many of his species are capable of doing. I did some magic and blacked out the interior of his enclosure which was quite distracting. I "cleaned" the glass a bit as well.

I got a photo of a small snake (probably a garter) earlier this year but I messed up downloading it to my computer and deleted it instead. I'm a lot more careful these days.

When we were out in Arizona in 2013, I got this photo at Petrified Forest National Park.



These collared lizards were everywhere! And so brightly colored they contrasted beautifully with the brown/rust tones of the petrified wood.

I'm a Collard Lizard Enthusiast! The Western Collard Lizard thrives on those barren rock outcrops. Nice photo!

None the less Alicia, your photo is amazing!

Vincent,

I have many of these guys, now in my yard. And this one, is almost there every morning, during the cool months, warming up!



Rich

Thanks.

The adder is hard to find here, i know a place where they are so it's slightly more easier to shoot them, the photos of have of the adders was taken when I first bought a dslr, 2006 i think.

Both times they let me within a few inches but i must say they wasn't happy, the others are the common grass snakes, i kind of like these and these are just down the road at the local lakes.

As for the lizards it takes an all day drive but they tame very well so are not so bad

Since you are in Florida Rich I recognize this snake right away as a Southern Black Racer. These are frog and insect eaters and one of the most successful reptiles in survival through adaptation in Florida!

Vincent,

Yes, they LIKE my yard! Months ago, I was talking to a neighbor and saw one of "MY" snakes going across the street and ran over and caught it and returned it to it's proper yard! 2 months ago, I had 3 full grown ones on my screened in porch! Got them all off, with hardly any blood loss!!! LOL!

Rich

Rich,
Hope you did not harm the Black Racers! They keep the garden free of mice!

Vincent,

No SNAKES were harmed, LOL!

Rich

How you guys getting photos in the threads, when i post it's just a stinky linky lol.

Found a coral snake today. First one I have seen in the wild since I was 12.

I have never flown out of my truck that fast but still wasn't fast enough to get pictures.

Katey Jane, to post a photo go to the FAA page for the image, then scroll down and look for the "embed" link on the right. Right click the link and copy it, then paste it here. Ta da! 8-D

Thanks for the kind words, Vincent! I was stunned by how pretty collared lizards are. I live in Ohio where we have red salamanders and green frogs but I've never seen actual lizards until that trip out west and I didn't expect them to be so bright. Hopefully I can get some salamanders migrating next spring when it rains. Last night's temp was 29F so all the cold-blooded creatures are hunkering down for the winter. (Wish I could join them!) I'll be ready when it warms up again, though!

Thanks M E i think i need bigger glasses lol.

Got a great Created newt shoot lined up this week, I'm waiting for some rain so they will come and feed.

I've always found snakes and reptiles interesting, toads and frogs i really like, it's a joy to go out and find what I'm looking for, The UK i think only has two types of snakes, the grass snake and the adder, I'm not sure if we have any more.

Caught this grass snake this year lazing around, only two this year, would love to catch them breeding.

JC When I was a kid in Florida, another kid had a little orange and black snake in a jar that he was going to kill. I rescued it from him (yes I kicked him in his junk and took it-I was a mean kid) I then took it and let it go in my backyard. My Dad came out into the back when I was releasing it and freaked out on me a bit, as he said it was a coral snake, I however think it was a juvenile king snake-the colorful species, not the navy/cream colored ones we see in South Carolina.

Rich, great news you respect the reptile world. Ever gotten any good shots of the Anole Lizards(Chameleons) and the Cuban Anole Lizard?

Alicia..good for you! It may have been the Scarlet King Snake. Rare to see at all since they are so secretive and nocturnal.

Katey...wow a real cool snake is the Grass Snake. I've seen one near a pond in Germany. They seem like a water snake /garter snake combo in behavior and body styling but the ringed neck looks like our American Mississippi Ringneck Snake!

JC, how lucky a find! I'd be just as excited!...have never seen a wild one. If the photos turn out well I'd love to see them?

Thanks Vincent, yes i think they are simlar to the garter snake, i,m afraid i only have a few shots, i,ve had some major lens issues, a canon 100-400 mm mk1 it went wrong last year and boy it was a struggle to get any shots from it, so sent it in for repairs, it came back and was working up until a car crash, now the lans just can't focus, it was conected to my 7 d mk2. The camera took a big hit but still works but with a reduced shutter speed.

How any of us made it out alive beats me, i was just starting to build a nice photography portfolio and the crash comes along, 99% out of action, can only do local, its a right pain, no car badly damaged kit, just waiting for multiple court cases.

I hope to be back full time next year but i really don't hold many hopes for that. I keep looking st people's work but can't do nothing grrrrrr.

Had a great experience on Monday as a guest behind scenes in the reptile department with the curator of reptiles and lead herpetologist Dan Iovine at the Staten Island Zoo.

Aruba Island Rattlesnake all white was there and over thirty species of Rattlesnake from the Carl F. Kauffeld collection. I was thrilled to see the Trans Pecos Copperheads and my favorite the Gaboon Viper. Actually the Rhinocerous Viper is my ultimate favorite snake but I love them all!

The late Kauffeld was my childhood mentor in herpetology. One of my paintings of a Coral Snake has been at the zoo since 1959. It was my drawing but my artist/ illustrator mother did the small painting in her studio and sent it to Carl.

Kauffeld was the Curator of Reptiles at the time and was an
avid field expedition herpetologist who authored "Snakes and Snake Hunting" and "Snakes: The Keeper and The Kept". He also discovered several new Rattlesnakes and a new species of Leopard Frog which was not official until just recently due to DNA data.

Kauffeld was also a talented artist like most of the old school s ale men are.

The new frog inhabits the I-95 corridor from Delaware to North Carolina. Kauffeld discovered it more than 54 years ago and published a paper on it but it only became official in 2014.

Field biologists are experts in color and form and this is how they are able to notice what is new or unknown when out in the wilds.

Bump

speaking of frogs some can be deadly, maybe not as deadly as a venomous snakes but avoid the darts if you can when in the amazon.

The green and white pythons are very neat looking and it was the inspiration for this large tree vine I found on the side of the road and transformed into a green python, these vines are not the best material as they like to really crack as they dry out. This large snake was displayed wrapped on a post under my large 25 ft. wild stallion sculpture making him stand giving the impression for his reason for standing on two legs.

Reptiles fascinate -- I procured my first pet garter snake when I was a child. My baby boa -- Heathcliff Bartholomew Snake found a better home than mine when my herpetologist friend agreed to take him under his wing. Len had an extensive 'family' including an anaconda, and other delights. I knew he'd find much better care wth him. Not that I didn't care -- but I got lazy feeding him one day -- not careful (won't go into detail) -- suffice to say the tetanus shot hurt far worse than Heathcliff's 'chomp'.

If you've never studied the incredible iridescence of a boa constrictor's scales -- especially belly scales -- you're in for a treat if you ever take it upon yourself to do so.

I created this clay sculpture in a ceramics studio a few years ago. The eyes are fused glass, and I used metal wire for the tongues.

Size -- fits comfortably on the palm of my hand.





carmenhathaway.com

Thank you all for check'n in here. I am away from devices out doing some art in the woods and have the cameras incase I see something interesting.

Mario...good work! I added it featured in the reptile group.

Here's my contribution,



I gave this rattlesnake a bit of bedazzling

JC,

Whilst relocating a pile of roofing tin panels in the field this morning at my River studio I uncovered a dozen Ringneck snakes and a nice Plains Garter snake. The grand prize just a few minutes ago is an adult Red Milk Snake(Red King Snake)! I keeping him for a while. This and the Soeckled Ling are two of my favorites. I think the King was there to feed on the Rongneck snakes.

Carmen,

Yes. The rainbow refraction light is one of the most compelling sights ever seen on the shiny scales of some snakes and lizards.

Can you create the iridescence in your work?

Narcisse is 2 hours north of our home. Largest gathering of snakes in the world.



Re: iridescence -- many times -- using various iridescent powders with acrylics. Consisting of mica platelets coated with an extremely thin layer of titanium dioxide. Refraction and reflection of light produces various colors and pearlescent effects.


There's also a dichroic glass that I use in art glass fusing.

Funny how artists see snake differently than biologists. Roger made his own snake reacting to the striking colors and reflections snakes can present.

Cool work Roger! I love the two headed Torquoise snake icon the Aztec civilization made. Always wanted to make a Gila Monster with colored beads I make from sculpt-clay.

What I make is for my own amazement and do they are not wanted commercially.

Vincent, I need my garter snake back!

This is a really cruddy scan of an old 35mm photo but I'm sharing because it's the first time I'd seen rattlers mating. I was at a major archaeological site in the Gila Valley. It had flooded that spring and was lapping up the side on the butte where I was hiking. Every wild creature in the valley had to make it to higher ground to survive so the butte had become a refuge. It was a cool, overcast morning so rattlers were out in the open and they were everywhere. And they were huge! I'm guessing these 2 were at least 6-footers. I was up there alone, tiptoeing through the boulders when I heard an odd, almost metallic and rhythmic sound. I found them coupled on the rimrock and it was his rattles scraping the slickrock as they made love. By the time I could hold my camera steady enough to get a shot, they'd slid to the edge of a crevice.

Here is one more reptile shot. I enjoyed seeing a red-eared slider and western pond turtle basking peacefully together. I know that sliders are non-native here in California but I can't begrudge this one his moment in the sun.

In 2005 we were living in San Diego, I was on my way back from the mailbox when I spied this pretty lizard.

Kevin,
It's. Striking lizard! Thanks for sharing.

Saw part of a Bond movie recently (Live&Let Die) where Bond felt threatened by a little Specked King snake placed in his hotel room bathroom. He slaughtered it with a flame throwing g lighter. Really whimpey The Bond character. Snakes are the brand of fear in many productions if the film industry but they directors always use Boas or Puthons and Rattlesnakes for their sensational appearance.

Rattlesnakes are the only snake which challenges people and other animals with a dramatic and deadly performance.

Kathleen,
Your rare sighting and the resulting photographic work is fantastic. Thanks for sharing