A pretty little Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake from a humid week in southeastern Arizona.

This tiny whipsnake (Chironius sp.) we saw in Peru is basically a long life support system for eyes. It’s likely less cute to the many lizards and frogs in the region.

I found a Rosy Boa that had apparently lost its tail somewhere along the way. This is one of two species of boa native to Arizona, found in rocky areas in the west-southwestern third or so of the state.

I met this Gila Monster out and about on a spring day in 2023. At the time, there were a lot of quail eggs and baby cottontails to find out there, which gets these animals active and observable. These animals are the only venomous lizard in the United States, and one of five species of […]

A Grand Canyon Rattlesnake we found near its namesake a while back. This is what many refer to as the “Grand Canyon Pink”, though they are often, or usually, not pink, but this straw color or similar. The pattern here is strong, as is often typical in males and younger snakes, but may fade with […]

A Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes) from Greece a few years ago.

A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake I found in Cave Creek, Arizona. These snakes are common in the mountains of the area, where they often appear in this pink color.

Checkered Gartersnakes are one of several species of garters found in Arizona. These are often associated with agriculture and canals, and is one of the few snakes that thrive in the fields and irrigation channels in the southern Phoenix-metro valley. This one was found in the southeastern corner of the state, crossing a roadway between […]

An Arizona Black Rattlesnake from relatively open desert in Maricopa County, Arizona. This species is diverse in appearance and habitat preferences, with this particular population inhabiting generally lower, hotter, and exposed areas.

I scrambled to the high rocky ridge of a mountain in western Arizona, looking for rattlesnakes. The steep terrain and loose rocky ground made it difficult to get there. I was surprised to run into this big Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gophersus morafkai) up there. These animals are great climbers, often picking hiding spots far up […]