radbackedsalamanders favoriter

Rare oceanic fish observed on the Aug. 2019 DFO-Quebec Region trawl survey in the N. Gulf of St. Lawrence. For more information: Bourdages et al. 2020: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/ResDocs-DocRech/2020/2020_009-eng.html

Narwhal adopted by a group of Belugas. Individual known to the authorities who has been visiting the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park for several years. Observed by sheer luck from the ferry L'HERITAGE I on the crossing between Trois-Pistoles and Les Escoumins.

There's a known population traced since Thoreau's time in the Sudbury-Concord River Valley, observed at this specific location and others nearby. Note:

• Cyperoideae by flat, winged perigynia
• Perigynia 2.4mm wide, veined, scales acuminate with short awn
• Leaves 2.3mm wide, sheath with short Y-shaped hyaline area
• Long staminate portion of lateral spikes

1. Inflorescence nodding, with 5 gynecandrous spikes;
2. Spikes basally attenuate, lateral spikes with long staminate portion
3. Pistillate scales shorter than the perigynia, subulate or short awned
4. Perigynia, <2.5x as long as wide, conspicuously veined

Lifer! Common species I know but I still may or may not have done a victory dance on the road lol (hey a lifer is a lifer no matter how common). Didn't really get good pics on account of rain and traffic but nbd next time! I definitely agree with people who say they're more like queen snakes than watersnakes, and they're now my new favorite nerodia lol.

LIFER! literally no words, this has to be the rarest snake in the piedmont of North Carolina. Yep! This sighting was in the piedmont of NC! went herping with a buddy, hiked many long hours inside a huge marsh/swamp habitat, not a single snake. We reached the edge of an agricultural field with a nice slow water marsh, and we found this mudsnake at the surface of the water just chilling near the base of a half submerged fallen tree.

this is not what I expected to find at all, not only that but this snake was massive! 3+ feet. I would have never guessed to have found a mudsnake today and a true “lemon head”.

This snake proved to be the hardest to photograph I’ve ever encountered! They cannot sit still and any cover placed on them they will push until it is moved. I also noticed an unusual defense mechanism where this snake used its tails to move as if the tail was its head. Its head sat still while the tail “creeped” around the ground imitating a snake searching the ground/water. I’m not sure if they are known to do this, either way I am super happy with only one snake this week and it’s the rarest around here!

Likely an older introduced population but growing wild for the last 60 years without cultivation and not previously documented. Found by and shown to me by Sara Quintal. This species is state-endangered though this population may not be protected under our regulations. Growing in a xeric setting with the expected associates.