9/25/2005
Chiricahua Mountains, AZ
The Chiricahuas are one of my favorite mountain ranges in Arizona. They are one of the primary ranges in what are referred to as the "Sky Islands", a group of mountains in southern Arizona that rise abruptly out of an otherwise very flat high plain environment. These mountains have an incredible diversity of wildlife with influence from Central American species of bird, reptile and mammal. We arrived in the Chiricauhas for this trip in the evening and began with a very productive night drive.
A centipede in the genus Scolopendra. These centipedes have quite a bite and a potent venom.
This is a 3 gallon bucket it is sitting in to give an idea of scale. This speciment is approximately 10 inches long.
Some species in Central America are potent enough to hospitalize a person.
A Woodhouse's Toad (Bufo woodhousii)
Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
1st snake of the night, a Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) coming out onto the road
As a first defense when approached, most rattlesnakes will take up this type of defensive posture and rattle
2nd Mojave Rattlesnake of the evening. A slightly lighter individual
An unlucky victim of traffic. Unfortunately quite a number of animals are killed on the road nightly.
Not only snakes are killed on the road as well. Other animals, especially scavengers attempting to feed on roadkill
are victims to traffic.
Mojave #3 of the evening.
Mojave #3 being moved to a safer location
#4, this trip turned into quite a Mojave Rattlesnake rich weekend.
Chiricahuas trip PAGE 2, daytime and following evening