Favoritos de ben___

This Observation is Rated "5 F" - (another "Fossilized Foto From the Fingers Files"), haha! Found this beautiful 45" adult male Lampropeltis getula "floridana" (this particular regional color/pattern form was called a "Tampa Yellow" by field guys of the day) about 25 years ago, while exploring a little-used section of the Seminole Gulf Freight Railway that ran along a saltmarsh within walking distance of my hotel. Several Mangrove Saltmarsh Snakes (Nerodia c. compressicauda) of both phases, and nearly all growth stages were observed in the immediate vicinity as well - their abundance undoubtedly a contributing factor in this Kingsnake's robust weight and outwardly healthy appearance!

Observation of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake sunbathing before moving into underbrush (27°49'22.9"N 82°29'10.0"W) 1600 - 1700 +. The organism was first observed while it was uncoiled sunbathing. Luckily, the young rattlesnake moved away from a walkway and into the underbrush where it remained. The overall activity of the rattlesnake was very docile despite the being coiled (refer to notable activity section).

Size, shape, color, Clade
Toxicofera
Organism in General
The Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake is a large, muscular snake. Additionally, the color is typically brown with a pattern resembling diamonds bordered by either greenish-yellow or solid yellow rows. These rows pronounce or highlight the rattlesnakes’ scales. The tail is black, brown or grey and often has a cross brand or bead like appearance. The venter is yellowish – white in color; the eyes have a dark band. The head has a vertical yellow stripe connecting to the nostril (McCraine, 1980).
Additionally:
“A vertical yellow stripe on each side of the head in front of the nostril continues onto the first supralabials. Scutellation is as follows: 25-31 (usually 27 or 29) dorsal scale rows at midbody; 165-176 ventrals in males, 170-187 in females; 27-33 subcaudals in males, 20-26 in females; supralabials 12-17; infralabials 15- 21” (McCraine, 1980, pp. 252.1, para 2).

• Shape, Sizes, and colors.
  It was juvenile and around 2-3 feet in length with the species iconic rattle being ~ 3 inches. It had a diamond pattern with brown, black, and -a greenish-yellow hue for pigment. The eyes of the snake are surrounded by a black / brown hue; additionally, the scales are highlighted with a yellow border. The labials are bordered with a white streak; the rostral is edged with yellow. The stripe is on each side of the head and is yellow, the stripe on each side extends passed the nostril onto the Scutellation.
  Notable activity 1: Slide 4
  Organisms exhibiting a complete docile behavior when Florida Wildlife Conservation came to move the snake away from a high traffic area. It remained immobile when the agent moved towards the expanded brush/uninhabited locations.

Habitat

• Specific characteristics for Florida:
  The eastern diamondback rattlesnake, or Crotalus adamanteus, is found throughout the state and Eastern country. It is known in to be within the Tampa region and greater central locations. According to Timmerman W. in “Home Range, Habitat Use, and Behavior of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) on the Ordway Preserve” (1995), it has decreased in the prevenance due to habitat loss in Florida and reptile-skin businesses (pp. 129, para. 20). Despite this, the snakes can still be found in sandy hills and along coastlines in the state. Furthermore, the snakes are able to adapt through a variety of means such as burrowing and hunting a wide range of prey.

Immediate Area:
Noted by as a Wreck community, the Marina is home to a diverse ecosystem. To the East, there is a piper community (27.82230036969639, -82.48498562730603), usually washed-up debris or seaweed (27.822231346008568, -82.48545065785625 through 27.82247456162811, -82.48657737404378), palm trees, birds of prey, expanded beach and surf zone. To the West, a small mangrove (27.823247034778436, -82.48920058156862) with numerous arthropods and Egrets. South is open ocean and the greater Tampa Bay area. North of this area is a creek and houses numerous fish, Egrets, and Arthropods.

References
Timmerman,W.W. 1995. Home range, habitat use, and behavior of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) on the Ordway Preserve. Bull. Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. 38, Pt I(5):127-158. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/03/Vol-38-No-5.pdf
McCraine J. R., (1980 Crotalus adamanteus Beauvois Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (L.) Pp.252.1 Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles., TR-12, 07-16. http://aquaticcommons.org/123/1/TR12.pdf