Anthony Plettenberg Laing's Photography
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Herping Expedition to Arizona, 2014

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Antelope Pass, Anthonyvpl, Anthony, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, photographed in front of the Animas Mountains.
Catharine Wüster, Wolfgang Wüster and James Hicks, sampling, longest Mohave rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus, El Mofo, Arizona, Anthonyvpl, Anthony, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Catharine Wüster, Wolfgang Wüster and James Hicks sampling possibly the longest Mohave rattlesnake at 1236mm - Crotalus scutulatus ever measured - "El Mofo"
sampling, longest Mohave rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus, El Mofo, Arizona, Anthonyvpl, Anthony, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Sampling "El Mofo" - the Mohave Rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus
Anthony, showing, not to handle, Arizona Giant Centipede, Scolopendra heros arizonensis, Granite Gap, Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Anthony, showing how not to handle an Arizona Giant Centipede, Scolopendra heros arizonensis! Photo courtesy of Chloe McLaughlin
sampling, longest Mohave rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus, El Mofo, Arizona, Anthonyvpl, Anthony, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Sampling "El Mofo" - the Mohave Rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus
Anthony, preparing, photograph, Arizona Giant Centipede, Scolopendra heros arizonensis, Granite Gap, Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Anthony, trying to capture the Scolopendra to photograph - Photo courtesy of Chloe McLaughlin
Anthonyvpl, Crotalus atrox, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, hat, venom, Animas Mountains, Anthony, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Anthony showing his hat used to cover up the C.atrox, with bite marks and venom on it - Photo courtesy of Chloe McLaughlin

The opportunity to go herping in America finally arose. I was one of a group of over 20 students and staff to travel to Arizona in mid-September to undertake a field trip to research the biodiversity in the southwestern USA. This was however, for me, also an opportunity to photograph as many of the species out there as possible.
We arrived in Phoenix and drove down to Eloy to stay in a motel. Before going to bed we wanted to go for a quick road cruise, which ended up being unsuccessful as the weather turned to the worse - we drove past a train which had just been derailed!
The next morning a group herped the vicinity of the motel, and ended up finding a few Mohave Rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), including "El Mofo" - largest ever recorded Mohave Rattlesnake .
From there we proceeded on to stay at the Southwestern Research Station, where due to a hurricane we ended up being cut off for a few days. We continued the program from there, visiting and herping at several more sites including:
  • The Chiricahua Desert Museum 
  • Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
  • Antelope Pass
  • Granite Gap
  • Red Rock
  • Huachuca Mountains
  • Sabino Canyon

It proved to be one of the most successful trips run to Arizona by the Bangor University, as over the 10 days we found 56 Reptile and Amphibian species. 

Total species count was 56 out of the reported 132 species present in Arizona. Photos of most of the encountered species can be found by scrolling down.



Anthony, photographing, Greater Short Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi, light tent, Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL
Anthony photographing a Greater Short Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi in a light tent - Photo courtesy of Chloe McLaughlin
Anthony, Wolfgang Wüster, photographing, Leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Granite Gap
Anthony and Wolfgang photographing a Leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii - Photo courtesy of Chloe McLaughlin


Snakes
Colubridae

Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Black Necked Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Black-necked Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Patch Nosed Snake, Salvadora hexalepis
Western Patch Nosed Snake - Salvadora hexalepis
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer, Red Rock
Juvenile Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Black Necked Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sonoran Mountain King Snake, Lampropeltis pyromelana
Sonoran Mountain King Snake - Lampropeltis pyromelana
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Chihuahuan Hook Nosed Snake, Gyalopion canum
Chihuahuan Hook Nosed Snake - Gyalopion canum
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Long Nosed Snake - Rhinocheilus lecontei
Long Nosed Snake - Rhinocheilus lecontei
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Black Necked Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sonoran Mountain King Snake, Lampropeltis pyromelana
Sonoran Mountain King Snake - Lampropeltis pyromelana
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Chihuahuan Hook Nosed Snake, Gyalopion canum
Chihuahuan Hook Nosed Snake - Gyalopion canum
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Mexican Hognose Snake - Heterodon kennerlyi
Mexican Hognose Snake - Heterodon kennerlyi
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Black Necked Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Coachwhip, Coluber flagellum, Masticophis, Sabino Canyon
Coachwhip - Coluber (Masticophis) flagellum
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer, Red Rock
Juvenile Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Desert King Snake, Lampropeltis getula splendida
Desert King Snake, Lampropeltis getula splendida

Crotalinae

Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Granite Gap
Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, In-Situ, Black Tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus, Red Rock
In-Situ Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Tiger Rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris, Red Rock
Tiger Rattlesnake - Crotalus tigris
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, In-Situ, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Red Rock
Juvenile In-Situ Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Antelope Pass
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, Red Rock
Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi, Huachuca Mountains
Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Chiricahua Mountains
Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Granite Gap
Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Tiger Rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris, Red Rock
In-Situ Tiger Rattlesnake - Crotalus tigris
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, In-Situ, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Red Rock
Juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, Red Rock
Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, Red Rock
Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi, Huachuca Mountains
Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Granite Gap
Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Granite Gap
Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Tiger Rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris, Red Rock
Tiger Rattlesnake - Crotalus tigris
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Antelope Pass
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, Red Rock
Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi, Huachuca Mountains
Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Chiricahua Mountains
In-Situ Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, Granite Gap
Black Tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Antelope Pass
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, Antelope Pass
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, Red Rock
Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi, Huachuca Mountains
Ridge Nosed Rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi

Lizards
Phrynosomatidae

Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii, Chiricahua Mountains
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus jarrovii
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Desert Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus magister, Red Rock
Desert Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus magister
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Striped Plateau Lizard, Sceloporus virgatus
Striped Plateau Lizard - Sceloporus virgatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Texas Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum
Texas Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma cornutum
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii, Chiricahua Mountains
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus jarrovii
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Desert Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus magister, Red Rock
Desert Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus magister
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Striped Plateau Lizard, Sceloporus virgatus
Striped Plateau Lizard - Sceloporus virgatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Greater Short Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi
Greater Short Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma hernandesi
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii, Chiricahua Mountains
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus jarrovii
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Clark's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus clarkii
Clark's Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus clarkii
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, In-Situ, Juvenile, Ornate Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus
In-Situ Juvenile Ornate Tree Lizard - Urosaurus ornatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Greater Short Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi
Greater Short Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma hernandesi
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii, Chiricahua Mountains
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus jarrovii
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Elegant Earless Lizard, Holbrookia elegans, Huachuca Mountains
Elegant Earless Lizard - Holbrookia elegans
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Ornate Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus
Ornate Tree Lizard - Urosaurus ornatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Ornate Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus
Juvenile Ornate Tree Lizard - Urosaurus ornatus

Other Lizards

 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Long Nosed Leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, Granite Gap
Long Nosed Leopard Lizard - Gambelia wislizenii
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Great Plains Skink, Eumeces obsoletus
Great Plains Skink - Eumeces obsoletus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Desert grassland whiptail, Aspidoscelis uniparens
Desert grassland whiptail - Aspidoscelis uniparens
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus
Western Banded Gecko - Coleonyx variegatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Long Nosed Leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, Granite Gap
Long Nosed Leopard Lizard - Gambelia wislizenii, with a fly on the eye!
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Desert grassland whiptail, Aspidoscelis uniparens
Desert grassland whiptail - Aspidoscelis uniparens
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, Spiny Tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura sp., Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Juvenile Spiny Tailed Iguana - Ctenosaura sp. introduced to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus
Western Banded Gecko - Coleonyx variegatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Madrean Alligator Lizard, Elgaria kingii
Madrean Alligator Lizard - Elgaria kingii
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Desert grassland whiptail, Aspidoscelis uniparens
Desert grassland whiptail - Aspidoscelis uniparens
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, Spiny Tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura sp., Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Juvenile Spiny Tailed Iguana - Ctenosaura sp. introduced to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus
Western Banded Gecko - Coleonyx variegatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Madrean Alligator Lizard, Elgaria kingii
Madrean Alligator Lizard - Elgaria kingii
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Canyon Spotted Whiptail, Aspidoscelis burti, Sabino Canyon
Canyon Spotted Whiptail - Aspidoscelis burti
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Western Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus
Western Banded Gecko - Coleonyx variegatus
Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum
Gila Monster - Heloderma suspectum

Amphibians

 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Sonoran Desert Toad, Incilius alvarius
Sonoran Desert Toad - Incilius alvarius
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Mexican Spadefoot, Spea multiplicata
Mexican Spadefoot - Spea multiplicata
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Juvenile, Red Spotted Toad, Anaxyrus punctatus
Juvenile Red Spotted Toad - Anaxyrus punctatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Green Toad, Anaxyrus debilis
Green Toad - Anaxyrus debilis
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, American Bullfgrog, Lithobates catesbeianus
American Bullfgrog - Lithobates catesbeianus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Great Plains Toad, Anaxyrus cognatus
Great Plains Toad - Anaxyrus cognatus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, American Bullfgrog, Lithobates catesbeianus
Sonoran Desert Toad - Incilius alvarius
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Couch's Spadefoot, Scaphiopus couchi
Couch's Spadefoot - Scaphiopus couchi
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, American Bullfgrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, Anthony handing, holding,plettenberg laing
Anthony with a Sonoran Desert Toad - Incilius alvarius

Invertebrates and Other

Picture
Arizona Stripedtail Scorpion - Vaejovis sp.
Picture
Arizona Giant Centipede - Scolopendra heros arizonensis
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, White Tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus
White Tailed Deer - Odocoileus virginianus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Arizona Stripedtail Scorpion, Vaejovis sp.
Arizona Stripedtail Scorpion - Vaejovis sp.
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Blue Throated Hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae, Southwestern Research Station
Blue Throated Hummingbird - Lampornis clemenciae, at Southwestern Research Station
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, White Tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus
White Tailed Deer - Odocoileus virginianus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Giant Whip Scorpion, Vinegaroon, Mastigoproctus giganteus
Giant Whip Scorpion (Vinegaroon) - Mastigoproctus giganteus
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys sp.
Kangaroo Rat - Dipodomys sp.
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Mexican Free Tailed Bats, Tadarida brasiliensis, under bridge, Tuscon.
Mexican Free Tailed Bats - Tadarida brasiliensis, under a bridge in Tuscon.
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Arizona Giant Centipede, Scolopendra heros arizonensis
Arizona Giant Centipede - Scolopendra heros arizonensis
 Anthonyvpl, Arizona, Herp, Trip, AVPL, Blue Throated Hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Blue Throated Hummingbird - Lampornis clemenciae, at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Anthony, plettenberg, GPS coordinates, Checkered Garter Snake, Thamnophis marcianus
Anthony, recording the GPS coordinates of a Checkered Garter Snake - Thamnophis marcianus
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