Herping in Ontario

[thinkinfeller]

We're expecting Spring any minute in Ontario, and I hope to start the season with a bang Friday night. We are expecting our first significant rainfall, so I will be heading into the forest with my camera to get some shots of the annual salamander march to their vernal breeding pools.

I'm a new member to this forum, so I thought I would post some photos of my field herping highlights from 2009. All of the following pictures were taken in Southern Ontario, the most diverse, reptile rich area in Canada.

Ontario is home to eight species of turtle, G. insculpta, E. blandingii, C. picta (both marginata and belli), S. odoratus, A. spinifera, G. geographica, C. serpentina, and C. guttata. I was successfull in photographing 6 of the 8 species last year.

Graptemys geographica Northern Map Turtle

Chelydra serpentina Common Snapping Turtle

Emydoidea blandingii Blanding's Turtle

Chrysemys picta marginata Midland Painted Turtle

Apalone spinefera Eastern Spiny Softshell

Clemmys guttata Spotted Turtle

Salamanders:

Ambystoma laterale Blue Spotted Salamander

Plethodon cinereus Eastern Redback Slamander

Leadback phase:

Snakes:

Nerodia sipedon Northern Water Snake

I have a few other snake, frog, and toad shots that I will add later... but for now, off to work.

Thanks for looking,
Dan

 

[Otterwoman]

That last picture, did you catch him eating in the wild or is that a pet? That's a neat picture! They are all great!

 

[Azhael]

Looks like a wild snake eating some king of gudgeon. Very pretty snake too

Thanx for the photos, it´s always a pleassure to see more wildlife shots.

 

[thinkinfeller]

That last picture, did you catch him eating in the wild or is that a pet? That's a neat picture! They are all great!

All of the pictured animals where taken in the wild. The animal in question was a neonate Northern Water Snake that I came accross in the Bruce Peninsula. The snake was about 10" long, and was writhing to get a better grip on the goby (invasive in Lake Huron) that it's eating.

Here is the entire sequence of photos:

Here are some other interesting shots...

A 'breeding ball' of Eastern Garter Snakes... notice the variety of "morphs", the female at the center is melanistic.

DeKay's Brown Snake:

Eastern Ribbon Snake -- these guys are very similar in appearance to Eastern Garters, except they are black, and have a white halfmoon in front of the eye.

Queen Snake:

Five-Lined Skink:

Thanks for looking,
Dan

 

[mikebenard]

That's a great set of herps. I enjoyed seeing the whole predation sequence. You may enjoy browsing a flickr group I put together for people who've taken shots of snakes capturing prey in nature:

Flickr: Snakes eating in nature

Mike

 

[thinkinfeller]

That's a great set of herps. I enjoyed seeing the whole predation sequence. You may enjoy browsing a flickr group I put together for people who've taken shots of snakes capturing prey in nature:

Flickr: Snakes eating in nature

Mike

Hi Mike,

That's a great series of photos you've compiled! I've always enjoyed photographing animals 'doing what they do', rather than posing them for every shot. A friend of mine has a very decent website showcasing his photography skills.... here's a link to a page showing a Nerodia choking down a Northern Leopard Frog. If you continue through his galleries, there is also a great sequence of a Black Rat Snake eating a Bat.

Ryan M. Bolton's Snakes Gallery

Dan