Cerralvo Island Rattlesnake from Baja California Sur, Mexico several years ago. There are a couple of species of rattlesnakes on this island, both of which can be found even down on the beach, in ambush alongside seashells and dolphin bones.
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.
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.
3. Lemm, J. (2023). Field guide to amphibians and reptiles of the San Diego region. University of California Press.
A Rosy Boa found on a late night hike in Baja California Sur, Mexico a few years back.
Some of the many, many Zebra-tailed Lizards from a famous beach at the southern tip of Baja California.
A Baja Ratsnake we found late at night in Baja California Sur, showing some iridescence in the camera flash.
Cerralvo Island Rattlesnake found near the beach on its namesake island a few years ago off the coast of Baja California Sur.
