It rained last night, and this morning the Park was hot and steamy for my rove. A lot of the usual birds were out and about (pyrrhuloxia, cactus wren, Abert’s towhee), and I even saw a roadrunner, not uncommon but not that often seen. About a minute after I saw the roadrunner, a jack rabbit bounded down the path in front of me. Unfortunately I was unable to photograph either of these guys. However….
While climbing a short trail, I encountered two visitors who were watching something. When I approached, they told me a snake was eating a lizard, and could I identify the snake? I took a close look at this rather small, tan, blotched snake, and immediately ruled out rattlesnake. Maybe a baby gopher snake? But there was something strange about the markings, and after a few minutes I realized it was likely a nightsnake (Hypsiglena), which, as its name indicates, is supposed to be a nocturnal animal. This was the first one I’d ever seen in the wild.
Googling tells me that the nightsnake is mildly venomous, with rear fangs, and has smooth scales (unlike a gophersnake, which has keeled scales). The nightsnake also has vertical pupils (the gophersnake has round pupils). When I enlarged the picture, it clearly showed the vertical pupils. Here is a brief video of the snake eating the lizard. This is a good illustration of the way a snake can open its mouth and stretch its body to accommodate prey larger than its head.
Did you stay to see if he finished his meal? Call me when you are doing another rove. I have been busy here, but want to do a visit again. My nephew and his family are coming from Utah later this week, so maybe not this week, cuz they have a two-year-old. It is so hot though, it is hard to even imagine roving or walking a block.
ReplyDeleteI went back to show him to two other docents, but he was gone. He was trying to drag the meal away when I was there the first time. I rove every Monday from 8 to 10. This month I can start as early as 7 if that is better for you. It's so beautiful and interesting the heat almost doesn't matter.
DeleteThat's an awfully big meal. I'm surprised the snake could drag it off.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I saw a video of a smallish rattlesnake eating a pregnant pack rat, which was HUGE. You can't imagine how they manage to get all that into their mouths and down their gullets, but they do. They are constructed for it, with special adaptations of the jaw, ribs that do not attach to anything but the backbone,and very stretchy skin, among other things.
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