After finding the Gordian Worms we did a bit more exploring. Down and then up the creek a short distance we went.
The minnows were in many of the remaining pools of water. It would have been like shooting fish in a barrel for those that needed a tasty meal!
A dozen or so dead Shortnose Gar (Lepisosteus platostomus– tentatively) had been stranded in the now dry creek.
It doesn’t look like a very short nose, eh. However my Peterson fish field guide says it is relative to the other three species that are present in Texas. They are a lie-in-wait predator of other fish, crustaceans and invertebrates. The Gars (Lepisosteidae) ancestry goes back over 240 millions years ago! Impressive!
A dead Grapevine Beetle (Pelidnota punctata) was a very sleek shiny brown beetle with black spots.
A male Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) was sneaking in! Indeed he better be careful. Or he may become the next meal of his girlfriend. Its tough for the boys.
The Viceroys were in good numbers in the creek!
Jeanne spots the snake lurking under the log!
It was a young Yellow-bellied Water Snake or if you prefer the name the Plains Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster). Until recently subspecies were recognized.
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
10 Comments
Such good stuff in your blog today. The swallow nests really are a work of art. And a snake. And i have never heard of the parachuting beavers. Really cool. Thanks
I prefer the common name Yellow-bellied for the snake. Anytime the name also describes it you can remember it better for next time. As I scrolled slowly down your blog I see the pic before the words and my brain yelled a happy “yellow bellied”!
Actually I like the name Zack😂 but I’m with you and prefer yellow bellied. INat seems to like the other name🤷🏻♀️ and it seems to sway people in what they put as a common name. 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Suzanne and Kathy, I feel that a lot of the local common names will disappear. 🙁 And you will be able to know which people have observed them for a long time by the common name they call a plant or whatever. Especially if it doesn’t match up with INat. Who picks the common names on iNat?
Such good stuff in your blog today. The swallow nests really are a work of art. And a snake. And i have never heard of the parachuting beavers. Really cool. Thanks
Nice snakey find! Good eyes, Jeanne!
Anna Atkins article – what a great read!
Wish I could have seen those beaver dropped from the sky!
I prefer the common name Yellow-bellied for the snake. Anytime the name also describes it you can remember it better for next time. As I scrolled slowly down your blog I see the pic before the words and my brain yelled a happy “yellow bellied”!
Actually I like the name Zack😂 but I’m with you and prefer yellow bellied. INat seems to like the other name🤷🏻♀️ and it seems to sway people in what they put as a common name. 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
There are a lot of common names on plants that I don’t like the iNat version.
I agree, Kathy and Mary. No one around here ever called pink evening primrose “pinkladies” until iNat. Where did they get that? 🤷
Suzanne and Kathy, I feel that a lot of the local common names will disappear. 🙁 And you will be able to know which people have observed them for a long time by the common name they call a plant or whatever. Especially if it doesn’t match up with INat. Who picks the common names on iNat?
I don’t know but I can ask Sam Kieschnick.
Love the snakies!