Tigers and........

[Brendan]

Here are a couple shots of some animals which I recently picked up off a snake call and subsequently released. The first animal picked up was a lone male and the next 2 were a pair found on the same call. It's always neat to find them together like that. After a lengthy photo session they were all released in suitable habitat. The pair was released together.

[Brendan]

Here's the pair.

[Brendan]

Here are all three just before they were set free.

Nice "set" on that guy huh? LOL

[Brendan]

Here are a few more shot of some wild tigers photographed earlier this spring.

[Brendan]

Closer

[Brendan]

same snake as above.

[Brendan]

another...

[Brendan]

I apologize to those that used dialup modems. This post may be a pain to view due to the files sizes but it's better than 8 different posts.

[Cmpyrrhus]

the pics were great. Worth the few minutes wait indeed. It is also amazing to see how big rattles can actually get in number on some snakes. I have personally seen counts at 15+ on scutes and atrox, but still really nice to see them on the other species stacked up like a bunch of legos. Really nice pics.

---Beau

[Bill]

Thanks for sharing. Notice the small heads and large rattles as compared to the Speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli). Maybe we can get Kenny, Beau, Kerby or someone to do a mini-article comparison of the two species? Someone? Anyone?
;)

[Brendan]

Thanks Beau and Bill. If had any writing skills at all I might venture to tackle the artilce on tigers and specks but I left my writing ability back in highschool. I can certainly provide enough photographs for someone else who can write.

[Donna]

You could always write something and find a good editor or two to help pretty it up.

Donna

[Brendan]

Good point Donna. Are you volunteering as an editor? :)

[Donna]

I'd be happy to help.

[Cmpyrrhus]

Well, I can only put down what I know, and I by far am no "expert" on the subject. I have spent a lot of time living in areas with both species out my backdoor and have encountered them through the years. Both can look almost the same in appearance, but given a closer look one can tell the differences. Any other information is welcome to be added or critisied if one wishes.

I will start with the SW Speckled Rattlesnake (C. m. pyrrhus). These snakes are found throughout most of western Arizona and into California. They have a wide variety of color, which usually matches the color of the rocks they live around. Some have a grey/blue coloration and some can have a redish/pink coloration. The speckled appearance (either banded or overall speckled) they have helps them blend into the rocky granite areas, which helps in keeping hidden from predation and helps them ambush their prey without being noticed. They also have a small "coon" banding just before the rattles. Smaller heads in shape and appearance than those of Tigers.

OK, now to the Tiger Rattlesnake (C. tigeris).These snakes live in south central Arizona down into Mexico and the extreme southeastern tip of Arizona. While very close in appearance to the Specks, even down to coloration, their are still a few differences you will notice. For one head size is relatively small compared to body size, and the shape of the head is more "angled and defined" than that of the Specks. The tail is large comparably to body size, as well as the lack of tail banding or a "coon tail" as in the Specks. The snakes coloration and pattern continues all the way to the rattles. Crossbars or "tiger" bands cross the back, hence the name Tiger. There is a bit of speckling as well but not generally as evident as in Specks.

Both snakes can either have bands, speckling or a mix of both in their patterns. Taking in where the snakes are found, body shape and patterns one can tell the differences. I find these snakes a wonderful and beautiful dezidens of the desert. Gorgeous creatures.

----Beau

[Brendan]

Nice job Beau. The only correction I would make is to say that specks don't in fact have smaller heads than tigers, as you stated. It's actually just the opposite. I believe the head design in tigers was geared towards a rock dwelling snake who spends much of it's time poking it's head into cracks and crevaces, looking for prey items. This is not to say that specks don't behave in a similar fashion or live in almost the exact same habitats but they for whatever reason have much wider heads in comparison.

Also for those that have not yet heard the term "coontail" it refers to the alternating black and white bands at the end of some rattlesnakes tails just before the rattle. It is most commonly used to describe the western diamondback or mojave rattlesnake. It is one of the easiest ways to tell the differnce between a tiger and speck though.

One more correction. The correct spelling is tigris.

[Cmpyrrhus]

Thats kinda where I thought I was going. I did not mean to say small(er). Like with rattlers in the viridis complex,some have a head built for seaking lizards/prey in cracks of rocks. I never proof read what others are reading, heh. I tried. So yes the mistake is aparent, I did mean to say that the head shape of the snakes were seperate in design, and to my sightings I meant to say that the head shape of the Specks was bigger or fatter in shape, not generally in size. Guess that what happens when you write to quick.

----Beau

[Brendan]

Here is a shot to compare the two. They are in similar poses and both are close in size.