Reptiles and Amphibians

This lizard was not at all afraid of people. Even though he was small he faced down a numbeer of us who were looking at him. Joshua Tree National Park, California. This image with a speech bubble is also in my photostream at www.ipernity.com/doc/picture_taker/31003677 (IMG_1920)

Desoto State Park, DeKalb County, Alabama (IMG 7643)

Found among weeds I was pullong in my garden. By moving very slowly, I was able to get my camera quite close. Etowah County, Alabama. (IMG_1385)

On my patio barbeque grill, Etowah County, Alabama (DSC05570)

The tail of a five-lined skink. The skink was trapped in a bowl on my deck, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_6253)

Male green anoles (anolis carolinensis) have a flap of skin under their chin called a dewlap which they will stretch out when excited or threatened. In my garden, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_2449)

This gray rat snake slithered into my family room tonight. I have no idea how it got in. Otis, my dog, went nuts and chased it under a desk in another room where it was cornered. It rattled its tail, hissed and struck out in a great imitation of a rattle snake. It was at least 5 feet long. Once I got Otis shut in another room, it took me awhile to figure out how to get it out of the house. I finally got it to crawl into a black cloth shopping bag, carried it out, and turned it loose outside, but not before I took a ton of pictures. Once I got it out on the patio, it calmed down, wasn't in a hurry to leave and let me take a lot more pictures, before I prodded it to leave. Etowah County, Alabama. (IMG_5861) Another Link in the Chain - From a black racer to a gray rat snake

This gray rat snake slithered into my family room tonight. I have no idea how it got in. Otis, my dog, went nuts and chased it under a desk in another room where it was cornered. It rattled its tail, hissed and struck out in a great imitation of a rattle snake. It was at least 5 feet long. Once I got Otis shut in another room, it took me awhile to figure out how to get it out of the house. I finally got it to crawl into a black cloth shopping bag, carried it out, and turned it loose outside, but not before I took a ton of pictures. Once I got it out on the patio, it calmed down, wasn't in a hurry to leave and let me take a lot more pictures, before I prodded it to leave. Etowah County, Alabama. (IMG_5859)

Rattle on a western diamondback rattlesnake crossing a dirt road in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ariizona. The front half of the snake can be seen at Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the business end and the whole snake at Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (DSC03410)

Crossing a road at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. The whole snake can be seen at Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and a close up of the rattle at Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the warning end (DSC03409)

Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee (IMG_2899)

Crossing a dirt road at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. Close-ups of the head and tail can be seen at Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the business end and Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the warning end , respectively. (DSC03411)

Desoto State Park, Alabama (IMG 7664ac3f)

Desoto State Park, Alabama (IMG 7630ac2f)

Desoto State Park, Alabama (DSC05350ac2f)

I rescued this turtle from the middle of the road quite a distance from the bridge over the creek. After taking a few photos, I put it back in the creek. Otis, who has always been leery of turtles, is gingerly checking it out. This was the closest he would venture to it. Etowah County, Alabama Another Link in the Chain - From one curious dog to another

This lizard was not at all afraid of people. Even though he was small he faced down a numbeer of us who were looking at him. Joshua Tree National Park, California. The image without the text appears earlier in my photostream at www.ipernity.com/doc/picture_taker/17631307 (IMG_1920)

Otis was afraid of the turtle and wouldn't get closer than he is in the picture. Etowah County, Alabama