Mississippi Green Water Snake

Natural History

Snake! I've been waiting to do something on a snake! We just saw one two days ago (April 22, 2013) at a park. It was beautiful! Unfortunately, my fiancee (yes, it changed) did not have her camera with her. It was clear as day, though. It was a Nerodia cyclopion, or a Mississippi Green Watersnake. Here is an example picture.

Photograph courtesy of Brad Moon, favored photographer of Mississippi-type snakes by the state of Alabama.

Honestly, I thought it was a Cottonmouth up until now. It occurred to me that the dorsal portion of the snake that showed itself to us was too dark to be a Cottonmouth. So, most of the information I am about to spout off throughout this entry is almost as new to me as to you.

Native to all along the Mississippi River and Southeastern United States, Nerodia cyclopion are quite common around here. Other than rivers, these snakes are found around ponds (which is where we saw one) and other small bodies of water. We thought about showing somebody at the park. I personally really wanted to see what those city-slickers' reactions would be. I saw most of them scream in fear of Carpenter Bees shortly before I sighted the snake. ... "The snake" seems a little impersonal. I shall name it, then. ... ... Jenny. Jenny sounds good. If Carpenter Bees were such a great source of entertainment for me, Jenny would have evoked a reaction that I would share with my grandchildren many, many years from now. I could see it in their mind's eye right now. It may look a little something like this:

Dramatic photograph courtesy of Tom Spinker of FlickRiver (Like Robin of Locksley). Your name and  noted website sound amazing together. Kudos. 

Yes. The dramatic closeup and everything. And as they ran screaming, I would holler, "I bet Jenny has eaten crayfish, frogs, fish, and toads braver than y'all!" Yes. That sounds pretty well planned. And do you like how I fed you information on this water snake's diet? I got that and previously stated infromation from http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Snakes/mgws.cfm. Mississippi Green Water Snakes are rather boring. Very much so. I shall do more interesting herps in the future, assuming I continue posting.

Adults usually range from 30-45 inches (76-114 centimeters), the current record being 50 inches (127 centimeters). Babies range from shorter than 30 inches to very short indeed. "Indeed" being, in this case, a unit of measurement. It is equivalent to adding an extra "very," just classier. Their young are born live, as is the case for most water snakes, numbering 15-25 itty bits born during the summer. I bet they're cute. Let us take a look.

Photograph courtesy of Dylan the Herper. May you live well with your title.

Alright... No offense Dylan the Herper, but is this the best Google can offer? I'm disappointed in you, Google. He is cute, though.

These snakes are incredibly nonvenomous, so watch out. True, they won't kill you, but they will not hesitate to bite you with a mouth full of teeth if they don't think they can escape quickly enough.

Hmmm... this species isn't even invasive enough to terrorize some poor continent. Well, dang. That wraps this one up. Sadly, this may very well be my last blog. Unless, of course, somebody is actually enjoying it. If so, tell me. Comment on something. If one person has read through this whole entry and comments in favor of my blog, I shall continue it. It's pretty cool how people from Romania, Germany, and Russia have read the blog of a native, small town Tennessean.

Eastern Narrowmouth Toad

Natural History

Upon a little consideration, I admit what I said in my last entry was not fair. Not everyone thinks Eastern Six-Lined Racerunners are more interesting than Eastern Narrowmouth Toads. I know, I should keep more of an open mind. I am sorry. Since I was so harsh on all of the Eastern Narrowmouth Toad lovers, I will dedicate this entry to that very creature.

Photograph courtesy of Mr. Ronn Altig in association with the Virginia Herpetological Society.

Your contribution is very welcome.

Yes, I posted a picture of a Gastrophryne carolinensis tadpole, but it looks really cool. It is incredibly streamlined and angular with an interesting tail design. It's like the Maserati of the tadpoles! I take it back. Maserati Toads are fantastic! Where could I find one of these things?! According to Savannah River Ecology Laboratory at the link in the parentheses (http://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/gascar.htm), Eastern Narrowmouth Toads can be found in any part of Southeast United States, except in the high elevations of the mountains. Wait!! Look at this picture!

Photograph courtesy of Suzanne L. Collins. Thank you, Suzanne.

I can't believe it! What happened to Maserati Toad? It's fat... With T-Rex arms... And half of a head peeking out from... somewhere. Let us find a more flattering picture.

Photograph courtesy of Kerry Kriger. You are well appreciated around these parts, Kerry.

That's a bit better. And the picture seems a little sharper. I was afraid this little guy was an out-of-focus toad altogether.

Well, let's get to talking more about Gastrophryne carolinensis. I shall try a different technique this go 'round and state my second and final URL source: http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0544. That website is known as Enature.com. Enature and Savannah tell us that the average length of an Eastern Narrowmouth Toad should be around 2.4 - 3.9 centimeters. We are, therefore, dealing with an incredibly small amphibian. Wow. They're really tiny! And, according to Psychology, such a tiny creature with outlandish physical features including a short and squat, very round body, relatively small limbs, and an itty bitty head would classify as considerably cute.

It would seem I would favor this species because it particularly enjoys eating ants. Maybe I should have adopted a few Narrowmouth Toads during my family's ant-demic about ten Summers back. Cinnamon works wonders, by the way. But back to the toads! I admit I find a particular pleasure in reading people's verbal descriptions of Gastrophryne carolinensis vocal calls. Enature says it sounds similar to a bleating sheep. Hahahahahahaha... Just wait until you hear the call... hahaha.... Savannah does a better job describing the call as a nasal, high-pitched "waaaaaaaaaaaaah." Hahahaha! That is quite true. I must say, though, that http://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/sounds/gascar.mp3 does the best job of describing the call of an Eastern Narrowmouth Toad.

Photograph courtesy of Herpjournal. I like your name. Keep up the good work.

Of course, the study of human insanity has to be correct. It is pretty cute... I like this toad best as an in-focus, Maserati tadpole, though. Seeing as nothing is exciting about the mating occasions of the Eastern Narrowmouth Toads, I must bid thee farewell. Supper is ready and I'm about to watch a futuristic alien doctor save multiple worlds from ornery alien races with a sonic screwdriver, or a daytime vigilante shooting arrows through the forest for the sake of poor folk! Have a wonderful morning/day/evening/night/out-of-body experience/etcetera.