Agama picticauda, the African redhead agama; Volusia county, Florida (24 April 2024). Here’s a tight shot of the African redhead agama’s extremely keeled scaling. This is a view of its back, just behind the right shoulder joint. Check out the slight alteration in coloring from scale to scale. They really are quite something, especially when those blues really start popping out ..read more

Agama picticauda, the African redhead agama; Volusia county, Florida (24 April 2024). This is a view of the ventral scaling of this particular male agama from Ormond-by-the-Sea. Males sport fairly dark body coloring (often a deep, violet blue) with a bright, orange/red head. This one was running nearly black on the body (above and below), perhaps because it was clearly overheated. This African redhead agama was worn out and unusually lethargic. Definitely not as active, alert, and rapid-fire as the agamas I’m used to in south Florida. It had clearly had a rough couple of days ..read more

Agama picticauda, the African redhead agama; Volusia county, Florida (24 April 2024). How about a four-post series for the first African redhead agama I’ve personally seen in north Volusia county? Though I’ve seen plenty of these in south Florida over the years, they’ve only recently rocketed their way north through the peninsula. Though not currently listed as an invasive species, they are most certainly listed as non-native. What’s the difference? An invasive species is a non-native species that is known to carry significant negative consequences on local species populations. At this time, t ..read more

Thamnophis saurita sackenii, the Peninsula ribbon snake; Volusia county, Florida (06 April 2024). They’re often overlooked by hero-enthusiasts, but Peninsula ribbons are worth some adoration as well. This fairly small, slender, and agile subspecies can be quite abundant throughout much of the American southeast. However, they’re often elude detection by everyday walkers. Ribbons are pretty damn good at hiding in plain sight. They’re also pretty good at ducking out of sight in dense tangles of foliage and surface detritus ..read more

Sistrurus miliarius barbouri, the Dusky pigmy rattlesnake; Volusia county, Florida (06 April 2024). Now that we’ve finally cleared the Spring Break 2024 material, let’s ease into the following April. This past month has been, no doubt about it, a busy month one on my end of the wires — wrapping up classes, preparing to move, yatta yatta yatta. Truly, there’s been no shortage of Things To Be Done. Still, I did manage to slip outside a few times for some local bio delight. Featured here is a Dusky pigmy rattlesnake (an ever-reliable species in my neck of the woods) photographed in north Ormond B ..read more

Agama picticauda, the African redhead agama; Miami-Dade county, Florida (15 March 2024). Spring Break 2024 The African redhead agama is such an impressive non-native species. Though not currently listed as invasive (largely because there simply isn’t enough data to warrant such a listing), it’s hard to imagine this beefy species won’t have some kind of consequential impact on native species and ecological systems as they continue to push their way north. Granted, that impact won’t be anything close to what outdoor domestic cats, feral hogs, and humanity have wrought on native Florida biota ..read more

Crocodylus acutus, the American crocodile; Monroe county, Florida (14 March 2024). Spring Break 2024 One last croc shot for the Spring 2024 series. Though they do occasionally wander up the Atlantic coast, I’ve only seen American crocodiles in Everglades National Park and parts of the northern Florida Keys. For me, this species remains a perpetual incentive to making my way down south yonder ..read more

Coluber constrictor paludicola, the Everglades racer (and/or) Coluber constrictor priapus, the Southern black racer. Collier county, Florida (11 March 2024). Spring Break 2024 Our third shot (for now) of the Collier county racer (see identification note below for details on what this actually was) at the start of Spring Break 2024. This is my favorite framing for snakes. The tight, macro profile shot. Each individual snake has its own distinct little features, sometimes genetic, somethings due to the weathering of a life lived. and each photograph has its own unique lighting conditions (the an ..read more

Coluber constrictor paludicola, the Everglades racer (and/or) Coluber constrictor priapus, the Southern black racer. Collier county, Florida (11 March 2024). Spring Break 2024 The second of three shots (for now) of this Collier county racer (see notes below regarding identification). Black racers are notorious quick to flee from human activity/motion. Honestly, I’m surprised I was able to catch up to this one for some tighter shots. It was still fairly early in the day and somewhat cool, so the racer was a bit more sluggish than it likely would’ve been had I found it two hours later. Just look ..read more

Coluber constrictor paludicola, the Everglades racer (and/or) Coluber constrictor priapus, the Southern black racer. Collier county, Florida (11 March 2024). Spring Break 2024 Going back to the beginning of the trip, here’s a fantastic racer I came across just after arriving in south Florida — at my first stop, actually. In terms of range, this snake was within the Everglades racer subspecies range; however, the coloration looks a bit more like the Southern black racer subspecies to me. As of April 2024, there are more votes in favor of Everglades via iNaturalist, but it’s not a considerable l ..read more