ephofmann's Favorites
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Piikkimonnit (Heimo Ictaluridae)Havainnoija
william_demlKuvaus
This observation is of the Fish, rather than the Snake that ingested it (listed separately).
My colleagues and I took this photograph of an actual original and unique X-Ray (physical "hard copy") film made in the Emergency Room of the University hospital in which I worked night shifts back in 2002. It was the regional center for medical treatment of snake bites in north central Florida. This Florida Cottonmouth's (Agkistrodon conanti) coiled body, head to tail, can be measured on the original film by laying a piece of string on the image, tracing the course of the backbone. At 58 inches, or 4 feet 10 inches (147 centimeters) then, this a pretty large snake as Water Moccasins go.
What's more, one of the main reasons we X-rayed it at all was that it had clearly recently eaten something. It had a large bulge in it's stomach, down about a third of it's body length, just past its air-filled lungs that are visible on the film as well defined darker shapes. We found the bulge was a big fish with a large blunt bony skull and easily discernable swim bladder, which we thought to be a catfish (though we lacked an Ichthyologist amongst the E.R. staff of course).
I can follow the fish's spine for much of its length in the image, but lose it somewhere along the snake's lung in the extreme right of the picture. There is an interesting and distinct structure visible at the top that looks to me like a bony spine at the front of the dorsal fin. The skull is about 7 centimeters long, and the fin spine about 3 centimeters long, measured directly from the actual film. I don't know whether the loose dense material below the swim bladder represents the fish's stomach contents, or something else in the snake's stomach. The X-Ray film was 11 by 14 inches in size, so the fish must have been roughly around a foot (30 centimeters) long in total. We did not, in any case dissect the snake in the E.R.
My impression at the time was that this was most likely something like a Brown Bullhead, just judging from what I could make out of its size and shape. It would be fascinating to hear from someone more familiar with fish skeletons and anatomy. I am sure identification from an X-Ray is possible, considering what can be done with even fossil remains among experts. I will defer to anyone with more experience reading fish X-rays.
The Radiological Technician that made the actual exposure for us on film, at my request, wrote the details of the exposure for future reference on the film itself, which, though the film suffered damage when it was later stolen from my vehicle inside a locked briefcase and dumped out in a back alley and further mistreated both by the thieves and the weather, I can still read most of what he wrote with a "magic marker":
"40(or 46) MA
1 MAS
56 KV"
Are there any X-Ray Tech's out there who can confirm that that is in fact a good exposure for a big dead snake with enclosed fish?
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Thamnophis proximusHavainnoija
isaacthelordKuvaus
Watched this heron take 20 minutes to choke this poor snake down. In that time, he beat the snake, lost it, promptly caught it again, then tried to orient it correctly for eating. When the bird finally got it, this poor snake wrapped its head around the bird's beak to keep a grip on life.
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Regina grahamiiHavainnoija
atassinKuvaus
This heron flew right over our heads carrying a live writhing snake. I've yet to identify it.
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Suku LeptodeiraHavainnoija
zakwildlifeKuvaus
Leptodeira (aff. ornata 2) predating on bolitoglossa lignicolor
Publication-
https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v29i1.17924
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Virginia valeriaeHavainnoija
karenplatzKuvaus
Light pink with white design on head
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Sukkanauhakäärme (Thamnophis sirtalis)Havainnoija
stazandgazerKuvaus
Looks like it was eating a turtle
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Nerodia sipedonHavainnoija
sambiologyKuvaus
Second day of the Urban Wildlife Conference in DC, and I was lucky to go on a field trip to Teddy Roosevelt Island -- what a super interesting place!
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Opheodrys vernalisHavainnoija
chalon9Kuvaus
Snake being eaten by a sandhill crane.
Crane observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/138462573
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Hietakurki (Antigone canadensis)Havainnoija
chalon9Kuvaus
Three sandhill cranes along the edge of the road. One of them caught and ate a smooth greensnake.
Snake observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/138462588
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Karibiannokikana (Fulica americana)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
White Rock lake, Sunset Bay
4 part story of a coot being taken by a turtle
A Coot Being Pulled Under the Water by a Turtle
I was walking to my car when I heard a commotion in the water and went to see what it was. It looked like a crow or grackle drowning in the water, which did not make sense. I got there with my camera at the end of the struggle. Something was dragging this American Coot under the water.The Last Time the Coot Surfaced Before Disappearing For Good
This was the last time the coot broke the surface of the water before disappearing below for good. I felt terrible watching this, even as I reminded myself it was normal and part of nature. There was a man there watching too, without a camera. We speculated what it could be. Didn't think a snake, part of it would surely have shown above the water. Didn't think there were any crocodiles or alligators at White Rock. My best guess was a large turtle.- After the coot disappeared for the last time, the water was calm for a moment.
At the End, Air Bubbles At the Surface Marked the Death of the Coot
The calmness only lasted a few seconds then the water started to boil with air bubbles coming up. I stayed there another 5 minutes and nothing broke the surface. I went to tell a friend on the pier about it and when I walked back, the other man who had witnessed it told me that I was correct, a large turtle finally came to the surface in the same place the coot went down.
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Amerikankyyryhaikara (Butorides virescens)Havainnoija
txherpbirdKuvaus
eating a ribbon snake
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Opheodrys aestivusHavainnoija
cynodonKuvaus
Observation for the snake.
Observation for the bird: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146664948
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Oedipina elongataHavainnoija
pedro_nahuatKuvaus
Ejemplar encontrado durante una práctica de campo con estudiantes de la universidad del sur de Gales.
Individual found during a fieldtrip with students of a university of south Gales.
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Carphophis amoenusHavainnoija
sam_blueKuvaus
00102
This record is for the Worm Snake C. amoenus.
This snake was found partially ejected from the abdomen of a deceased Racer C. constrictor on the roadside.
The record for the predator C. constrictor is iNaturalist ID "155201312" and the link is https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155201312
Kuvat / Äänet
Havainnoija
sam_blueKuvaus
00101
DOR
This record is for the Racer C. constrictor.
This snake was found roadside, presumably killed by a vehicle. A Worm Snake C. amoenus was found partially ejected from the abdomen.
The record for the prey C. amoenus is iNaturalist ID "155201509" and the link is https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155201509
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Crotalus pyrrhusHavainnoija
reray19Kuvaus
Crotalus oreganus eating Sauromalus ater
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Nerodia taxispilotaHavainnoija
jeanineb1Kuvaus
Being preyed upon by a great blue heron
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Storeria dekayiHavainnoija
cgkoonceKuvaus
Lucky capture of incident. Prey originally thought to be worm but noticed snake later in editing. Not clear if the bird succeeded in consuming it. Snake ID suggested by naturalist friend.
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Havainnoija
keyojimboKuvaus
different individual from 141267149. Feeding on yellow rumped warbler
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Thamnophis elegansHavainnoija
abouleneinKuvaus
Posted on behalf of a friend. The bird is clearly a Great Blue Heron., but we would be interested in thoughts as to what the prey is that it is devouring.
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Havainnoija
ericalsfKuvaus
Immature Red-shouldered Hawk eating what I believe to be a CA Striped racer
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Storeria dekayiHavainnoija
thistledewKuvaus
Amelanistic or possibly albinistic Dekay’s Brown Snake
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Latrodectus hesperusHavainnoija
graysonreneeKuvaus
Young widow with baby blackhead snake
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Havainnoija
helloimmaxKuvaus
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.
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Carphophis amoenusHavainnoija
shauna_thomasKuvaus
Ceda Sink Trail , Mammoth Cave, Ky
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Chelydra serpentinaHavainnoija
cotinisKuvaus
Common Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina
Preying on: Eastern Fox Snake - Pantherophis vulpinus
We had seen a Fox Snake basking in this area the day before. Other birders noted its likely fate.
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Amerikanharmaahaikara (Ardea herodias)Havainnoija
raymondychooKuvaus
Gt blue heron catching a snake. Not sure of name of snake.
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Thamnophis proximusHavainnoija
scottholtKuvaus
This snake is being carried (and ultimately eaten) by a Great Egret
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Thamnophis proximusHavainnoija
philipwoodsccKuvaus
Being eaten by black crowned night heron. the snake wrapped itself around some sticks and the heron had a very difficult time getting the snake killed and removed from the stick.
Kuvat / Äänet
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Storeria victaHavainnoija
marykeimKuvaus
Orlando Wetlands Park, Orange County, FL, November 2017.
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Storeria victaHavainnoija
marykeimKuvaus
Orlando Wetlands Park, Orange County, FL, November 2017.
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Opheodrys aestivusHavainnoija
rogerbirkheadKuvaus
In gut contents of DOR Black Racer (Coluber constrictor): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111259008
Kuvat / Äänet
Havainnoija
caminogirlKuvaus
Hawk flying withsnake. Could have been from anywhere in the local area, didn't see him catch it. 2 Hawks were calling out long before I saw this. Were in the trees on the property, flying to different trees an I walked in the area.
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Siren lacertinaHavainnoija
craigjhoweKuvaus
Could be a snake, but I think I see pectoral fins.
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Ambystoma maculatumHavainnoija
chrisz52Kuvaus
Found it funny bc a male wood frog tried to initiate amplexus in a spotted (bwahahahahhaha)
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Tarhakäärmeet (Heimo Colubridae)Havainnoija
texasprairiegrlKuvaus
Need ID on snake which we believe is a Rough Green Snake.
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Amerikanharmaahaikara (Ardea herodias)Havainnoija
dogbowlbookpileKuvaus
I had no idea that herons liked eating snakes until I saw this!! I think he's eating a common water snake...
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Sinihaikara (Egretta caerulea)Havainnoija
jan_johnstonKuvaus
immature, with his catch, a Brown Basilisk
See second photo: down the hatch...
