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Found this lil one which I have never seen a color morph like this for a Mud snake. I determined it to be one based off the visual/physical features such as the “tail spine”, pattern, head/eye shape, as well as a divided anal plate.

I collected this snake because I wasn't sure of its identity. Although at first glance it looked a bit like T.gracilis it didn't match exactly. I have seen a lot of gracilis from this general area.

It was preserved and deposited in the TCWC. It was later identified as T. atriceps by Jim Dixon. I don't know the basis of this ID.

It really doesn't "look" like atriceps should, but the scalation and hemipenis appear to match? If anyone wants to check it out in the TCWC collection, it should still be there!

Something you don’t see every Monday... A retic killing an Oriental Pied Hornbill. Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort next to Prayer Building and Pool !!! on Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia Whether it was the cumbersome meal or the increasing group of onlookers, the Hornbill sadly went to waste as the python released it and disappeared into a subterranean hole amongst cemented ornamental rocks. The snake was approximately seven feet or perhaps eight in length.

This specimen was observed by Marco A. Gonzalez-Bernal & Edmi I. Rojas-Aguilar. This record was deposited in the University of Texas, Arlington Digital Collection under number UTADC 9867. This record was published in the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 59(1).

Adult male / Captured on Rabbit Path Rd in Alna Twp by Lynne Flaccus on 7/17/2018 / released at same location on 7/31/18 / collected nail samples for DNA / Habitat is mature hardwood forest bordered by shrubby powerline ROW

Rhagodima cf. nigrocincta

Cincta (cinctus, cinctum) in latin means "surrounded by". So the portmanteau "nigrocincta" can mean "surrounding by black color". This might refer to colors and patterns on the abdomen of this species. Or it may not refer to black patches on some legs which does not form full circle/ring as in R. Annulata.

But these informations are not clear to me as per the description by Henry Meyners Bernard who described the species as Rhax nigrocincta along with Rhax Howesii (currently assigned as Rhagodes melanopygus). Another information I can find is that as per Simon's 1885 description R. annulata has body length of 18mm and as per Bernard's description of R. nigrocincta is around 1.25 to 2 inches. T̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶c̶i̶m̶e̶n̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶1̶.̶2̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶1̶.̶5̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶.̶ (The specimen was just 2 cms long after I re-checked the video where it climbed to my friend's hand. Videograb is attached as last photo.)

Henry Meyners Bernard's 1894 article on the species called "On two new species of Rhax. Journal of Linnean Soicety London" can be read here: https://ww.rcin.org.pl/dlibra/publication/88759/edition/67942/content?ref=struct

The illustrations on the book has been digitized and uploaded to Wiki Commons over here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhagodima_nigrocincta.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhagodima_nigrocincta_cutted.jpg

Comparing the images above I can see similar black patches on the legs. Also the white moustache pattern has good resemblance on the individual. But I don't see the spurs specified in illustrations.

Note: I am not conforming on the species level identification here. I have just added my notes here for future reference for anybody who wants to take this subject for research.

Featured links:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IRP2ZA02t/

https://twitter.com/inaturalist/status/1251551116027805698

https://www.facebook.com/inaturalist/posts/pfbid02Fja8b97GMMmc4V5FAbNAoccbEETKiDDF59KX7BzdsWV3rqReRq1x4HJa4T9m41cFl

Black-white morph mountain king snake in Yosemite Valley, climbing up a crack on Washington Column. ~200 feet below summit, 1000+ feet above valley floor.
Second and third photos are looking climber's right and below where the snake was observed

Common species at this location.

This specimen was the prey of a Nile Monitor, who was interrupted after killing and while apparently eating it.

Body length 113 cm, not including missing tail tip. 17 dorsal scale rows midbody. Coacal scale entire.

Spotted coachwhip with young gopher tortoise in its mouth. Took one more step and coachwhip took off, dropping gopher tortoise. Cleaned up tortoise and let it go at a little distance after consulting with professional rehabber.

This is one of my favorite observations. I drove up on this snake that had a toad in its mouth. When I got out to take pictures, it pushed the toad across the road. When it got to the edge, it threw its body up the side of a sand ledge and pulled the toad up. It was quite incredible to watch.

'Sleeping beauty'

Resting in a depression on a large vine (lliana) along the trail. It is here for hours, until the rain poured.

Inasmuch as its venom is lethal, the viper is quite vulnerable in this passive state - can easily be picked up and killed by locals, especially for food in this region. In fact, this viper species, like the gaboon, is a popular animal protein source.
Being found behind, or beyond the cutline of the forest reserve determines survival - life, or death for the spectacular wildlife.

A Trinidad Coralsnake (Micrurus circinalis) feeding on a Marbled Swamp Eel (Synbranchus marmoratus) in Trinidad, West Indies

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372679842_A_Trinidad_Coralsnake_Micrurus_circinalis_Feeding_on_a_Marbled_Swamp_Eel_Synbranchus_marmoratus_in_Trinidad_West_Indies

Predating a hatchling Western Yellow-Bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon). The racer was still alive when I first found them. It was either envenomated and killed or it became paralyzed and was eaten alive.

In 2020, I observed very a similar situation, where a DOR hatchling racer was scavenged by a nightsnake.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56854956

Lake County, Oregon
August 2023