Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Crotalus willardi silus
Chihuahua Ridgenosed Rattlesnake

Sonora, Mexico
August 21, 2011

“Got one!” floated to my ears across the space between hills.  I picked my way down the slope, watching for silus as I went, and then up the other hillside to where CJ and Erik are crouched around a small outcrop of rock.  Next to the dead leaves of an agave was a large, flat rock, and tucked inside an opening under one edge was a small Ridgenose, cocked head protruding from its brown coils.   We took some in situ photographs, and then the overhanging rock was lifted up  and – bonus!  A second silus, smaller, and with a pale lavender wash over a light gray ground color.