The Southwest

Great Basin Rattlesnake

Crotalus oreganus lutosus The Great Basin Rattler is arguably one of the most beautiful rattlesnake species in the country. This individual was large and stunning, and a completely mellow puppy dog, which allowed me to get in close for this wide-angle shot. Nevada

Greater Short-horned Lizard

Phrynosoma hernandesi This charismatic member of the horned lizard family was found in a high elevation wooded canyon, a much different habitat that the hot arid desert floor than several of its closely related cousins call home. Like all horned lizards, this species has the ability to squirt blood from its eyes to confuse a predator. Cochise Co., Arizona

West Mexican Coral Snake

Micrurus distans distans This is a large coral snake of Northern Mexico. They are highly venomous and can be locally abundant in the right habitat. Their size, speed, and high venom yield make them a formidable predator, but can also unleash a serious defensive bite. Like most coral snakes, their secretive lifestyles mean that encounters are rare, unless you go looking for them. Sonora, Mexico

Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Crotalus molossus Black-tailed rattlesnakes can be highly variable throughout their range, but the high contrast, golden snakes of some of SE Arizona's Sky Islands make a strong case for the most beautiful rattlesnake species. Sky Islands, Arizona

Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard

Heloderma exasperatum The beaded lizard is the bigger, badder, cousin of the Gila Monster. They are longer, heavier, more powerful, and more venomous than Gila Monsters. Heloderma are the living dragons of North America. The Beaded Lizard, despite it's large size, is a very skilled climber and will readily scale vertical rock walls or trees in order to raid a bird nest. Sonora, Mexico

Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake

Crotalus willardi willardi This rare and beautiful montane rattlesnake is easily recognized by the "war paint" stripes on its face, and slightly upturned snout (hence the name). This species can be reclusive and finding one in the U.S. can be very difficult. Though these small rattlesnakes occur throughout much of Northern Mexico, they only exist in the U.S. in extreme Southeastern Arizona... another herpetological gem of the Sky Islands. Sky Islands, Arizona

Mexican Leaf Frog

Pachymedusa dacnicolor Huge, bright green, and charismatic, it's hard not to fall in love with these frogs the first time you see them. What's more, they prefer to climb and walk, rather than leap. Incredible animals. Sonora, Mexico

Twin-spotted Rattlesnake

Crotalus pricei One of the 3 small montane rattlesnakes of Southern Arizona, the Twinspot is another rock dweller and can be found at some of the highest elevations in Southern Arizona. This rattlesnake is named for the paired dorsal spots covering the entire length of the snake. In this image I was lucky enough to capture this basking snake "mid-yawn" where the sheathed front fangs are clearly visible. Sky Islands, Arizona

Great Basin Collared Lizard

Crotaphytus bicinctores Collared Lizards are large, beautiful, rock-dwelling lizards of the American West. In most of my experiences with this species, I have found them to be incredibly skittish, never even allowing me to get within shooting distance with a telephoto lens. At this locale, the collared lizards were practically tame and I was able to get this in situ shot with a wide angle lens by approaching slowly and indirectly Nevada

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox Perhaps the most iconic snake of the American Southwest, the Western Diamondback is the second largest rattlesnake in the county. They can be quite common throughout much of their range. Given their size, they can deliver a large yield of hemotoxic venom and should be respected and given a wide berth. Southern Arizona

Sonoran Coachwhip

Masticophis flagellum cingulum Coachwhips are among the fastest snakes on the planet, but this individual was also a giant at over 6ft in length. While many other snake species rely on camouflage and ambush tactics, these diurnal hunters use their impressive speed to chase down lizards and other fast moving prey. If you study the pattern on the last 1/4 of this snake, you'll begin to understand how it got it's name. Southern Arizona

Sonoran Long-nosed Snake

Rhinocheilus lecontei antonii There is no debate about which subspecies of Long-nosed Snake wins the beauty contest. The Rhinocheilus from south of the border easily take the prize with their brilliant red banding and high contrast markings. Sonora, Mexico

Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake

Crotalus basiliscus Large and in charge is the best way to describe this adult rattlesnake. This individual had some striking yellow and green coloration, but also possessed a short temper. This is most definitely and animal that commands your attention and respect. Sonora, Mexico

Crested Caracara

Caracara cheriway A large, heavy-bodied raptor native to Mexico, Central, and South America, this huge bird is actually a falcon rather than a hawk. To confuse things further, it is sometimes call the Mexican Eagle. Whatever you call this impressive bird, count your lucky stars if you get to experience a close encounter in the wild. Sonora, Mexico

Sonoran (Arizona) Coral Snake

Micruroides euryxanthus Though they coral snakes possess toxic venom, the are generally much smaller and passive than their eastern cousins. They are just as secretive in a nature though, and observing one requires just the right conditions for this normally fossorial species to be surface-active. Southern Arizona

Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake

Crotalus basiliscus This neonate or newborn rattler, though only the length of a pencil, may someday grow to be a 6ft long behemoth. Despite this snake's small stature, they are fully equipment in the venom department, and can be lethal from the moment they are born. The single button rattle indicates that this snake is so young that it has not undergone it's first shed yet, and without another rattle segment present, any attempt to shake it's tail will just result in silence until the snake gets a bit older. Sonora, Mexico

Neotropical Whipsnake

Masticophis mentovarius I'm not sure there's a more impressive snake in North America. Unless most whipsnakes, which rely on a thin body to attain fast speeds, this species is enormous. Very long, but thick like an indigo snake. They appear to have not lost a beat in the speed department either. Big, strong, fast, with long, sharp, recurved teeth. The Neotropical Whipsnake is truly an elite athlete in the snake world, and a lizard's worst nightmare. Sonora, Mexico

Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake

Crotalus willardi willardi This close-up portrait of one of nature's most prefect ambush predators show the scale detail and the lovely and characteristic "war paint" or "face paint" that Ridge-nosed Rattlesnakes are known for. You can also clearly see the heat-sensing pit between the eye and the nostril. Sky Islands, Arizona

SInaloan Milk Snake

Lampropeltis polyzona sinaloae One of Mexico's herpetological crown jewels, this Milk Snake occurs sympatrically with the West Mexican Coral Snake, making the aposematic coloration exhibited between the 2 species especially useful to the non-venomous Milk Snake, which could be confused with the much more dangerous Coral Snake. In this case, the moniker "red touches black, friend of Jack" applies. Further South in Central American more species of Coral Snake exist, and the color patterns don't always follow the well known rhyme . Sonora, Mexico

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris A rather boring name for a delightfully colorful hummingbird, the Broad-bill is one of many Mexican visitors that barely makes it's way into the United States via Arizona's Sky Islands. Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox Despite their fearsome reputation, atrox are not aggressive snakes. They will certainly stand their ground if cornered or harassed, but most snakes are more interested in fleeing rather than using their energy and venom for defensive purposes. Venom is metabolically costly to produce, so the snake would much rather use it to subdue prey. Cochise County, Arizona

Desert Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula splendida Kingsnakes are a high variable group of snakes, but these neon yellow ones from the desert are pretty trippy in both color and pattern. Most kingsnakes are ophiophagus, meaning they will readily consume other snakes. Cochise County, Arizona

Great Plains Narrowmouthed Toad

Gastrophryne olivacea This odd toad was found swimming in a temporary roadside ditch filled with water from a recent rain.

Boa Constrictor

Boa imperator Although a familiar face in the pet trade, finding a wild boa is totally different. In Northern Mexico, these heavy-bodied constrictors are somewhat dwarfed, rarely exceeding 6ft in length, which is quite a bit smaller than other Boas that occur further south. Sonora, Mexico