Category: International

Switak’s Banded Gecko

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Switak’s Banded Gecko that we found in Baja California Sur, Mexico. These are closely related to the Western Banded Geckos we’re all familiar with here in Arizona, with some notable differences. The most obvious being its larger size, this one about the size of a small mouse. When seen in this boulder field, they hop from rock to rock and disappear (or try to, anyway) or wag their tails in a defensive display.

1. Murray, S. S., Dugan, E. A., Clause, A. G., & Mills, A. M. (2024). Maximum size and mass of Switak’s Banded Gecko, Coleonyx switaki (Murphy, 1974). Herpetology Notes.

https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/85216/80780

2. Lovich, R. E., Grismer, L. L., & Danemann, G. (2009). Conservation status of the herpetofauna of Baja California, México and associated islands in the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 4(3), 386–405.

https://www.herpconbio.org/Volume_4/Issue_3/Lovich_etal_2009.pdf

3. Lemm, J. (2023). Field guide to amphibians and reptiles of the San Diego region. University of California Press.

https://books.google.com/books?id=ZU3hEAAAQBAJ

Rainbow Boa With A Lifetime Of Scars

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A Rainbow Boa we found in Peru last year. These are popular snakes in the pet trade. In the wild, they can look just as vibrant. But unlike the captive-born pets, these snakes show signs of a hard life in the wild. A variety of scars, ticks, and dings adorn all of them. And unlike the pet boas, too: these snakes bite, and often! Of all of the snakes I’ve seen and handled in the Amazon, this species is responsible for the most damage to the hands of distracted photographers.