Both of our lifers!!!
Merolepid female neonate. This photo was submitted and referenced by Smith et. al., 1996, "A New Record and Review of Partially Scaleless Snakes". The wild-caught specimen died and was/is entered into the specimen collection at University of Colorado Museum, collection ID 57398.
Publication Link: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/238956#page/137/mode/1up
Page 107
AOR
Found wild
found By Greyson Walker
Photo By Beren Erkan
Hiked this snake while it was basking on the path. Temperature was about 75 degrees, full sunshine. Found on July 26th at 9:29 am. Last photo is in-situ.
MY BABES GOT HIS LIFER!!! Not even joking, the year and a half I’ve known him this man has put in TIME (his and mine - I’m the sidekick) and so much effort all for this lil guy with a cute nose job!! Pure relief and euphoria finding this guy HELL YEAH BROTHERRR
Found crossing a road, full cloud cover, late morning, 70-72 F. First live specimen confirmed in Colorado.
Around 5pm today in the middle of the road. Large 3ft or more snake. Hisisng, loud, almost like a rattle noise. But no tail rattle. Defensive while I kept distance. Aggressive. Never took its eyes off me. Opened mouth often. No teeth. Black eyes. Black tongue. Large center. Moments prior a large barred owl flew past my windshield and watched me as I approached snake. An epic moment in my day. I was going to pick up my son who was with a native medicine woman.
Same King Hayden and I had cruised a few weeks ago. Crazy that it happened to get fatally hit on the next night I cruised this area. Such a bummer.
Probably a radix but could be a cyrtopsis.
Welcome to iNat CO Cal Kings 😎
45 inches
Credits to @riskybusiness for herping with me, snake #24 of the season!
Sitting in log