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This red sand boa (♂) was the only male snake caught out of the 8 snakes.
Note that the tail and head appear alike and when disturbed, the tail is moved just like head (on top of the body), while the head rests in the safety beneath the body.
There are even false eye-spots on the tail to complete the deception. No wonder superstitious people have spread the word that it changes heads every six months, wherein the head becomes tail and vice versa; but this is not true to any extent. The snake is good in reverse gear in disappearing by moving into sand or den with its tail ahead, which may have cause confusions. Just like any creature the head and tail stay exactly where they were born.
Moreover, this snake emits bad smell when disturbed along with a pungent liquid, which has given another myth that those who touch this snake get leprosy instantly! Nature save those who get such ridiculous ideas!
The heads of the snakes may appear to be simple, but are truly complicated designs, with the shapes of their scales to start with. The detachable jaws and huge eyes such as in this vine snake (♀) add to the challenges in coming up with the best design.
This striped keelback (♀) decided to rest on my wrist for a while after becoming very friendly. She thinks my wrist is a perfect pillow to rest her head and watch the people in action!
Note the shine on the Striped Keelback's (♀) head where it displays the whole spectrum of rainbow colors due to the reflected sunlight seen from the right angle!
Death adders are found throughout most of Australia. Three major species have been identified: the northern death adder (Acanthophis praelongus), which is found north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the desert death adder (A. pyrrhus), inhabiting desert regions of central and western Australia, and the southern death adder (A. antarcticus), distributed throughout the rest of Australia, except Victoria and Tasmania. Of the several species of New Guinea death adders, the range of one, A. laevis, extends into Australian territory in the Torres Strait. They are ambush predators, concealing themselves in leaves, sand or gravel and twitching the ends of their tails to attract prey. Prey consists of frogs, birds, lizards, mice and rats.
It is mainly active at night. Unlike most snakes, the death adder will not necessarily retreat from humans and may therefore be more easily trodden upon or disturbed by the unwary. They are said to be less likely to strike unless actually touched than other venomous snakes, but great caution is still advised.
Death adders are found throughout most of Australia. Three major species have been identified: the northern death adder (Acanthophis praelongus), which is found north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the desert death adder (A. pyrrhus), inhabiting desert regions of central and western Australia, and the southern death adder (A. antarcticus), distributed throughout the rest of Australia, except Victoria and Tasmania. Of the several species of New Guinea death adders, the range of one, A. laevis, extends into Australian territory in the Torres Strait. They are ambush predators, concealing themselves in leaves, sand or gravel and twitching the ends of their tails to attract prey. Prey consists of frogs, birds, lizards, mice and rats.
It is mainly active at night. Unlike most snakes, the death adder will not necessarily retreat from humans and may therefore be more easily trodden upon or disturbed by the unwary. They are said to be less likely to strike unless actually touched than other venomous snakes, but great caution is still advised.
Soft light coming in from window left. Two SB800 CLS shot into umbrellas one to Scott's left and one camera right
Russel Lee
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.
Artist Bio: Russell Lee, born in 1903 in Ottawa, Illinois died 1986 in Austin Texas. He lived most of his life as an American photographer and photojournalist. Though trained as a chemical engineer he became interested in photography and in 1936 joined Roy Stryker's team of photographers for the federally sponsored project, FSA. This project was created to combat rural poverty during the Great Depression. The FSA was intended to improve the lives of sharecroppers, tenants and land owning farmers resettling them into group farms or more suitable land. Lee was hired to document the process. After the FSA lost it's funding, Lee went to work under Stryker for the Standard Oil of New Jersey. In 1947 he moved to Austin Texas and became the first instructor of photography.
Description: This photo is of a church group handling serpents at the Pentecostal Church of God in Lejunior, Harlan county, Kentucky. Most of the members of the church are miners and their families. Notice Lee's notorious use of the flash indoors not only capturing a moment in time but also casting shadows on to the almost barrack like walls of the church. I would gather from this photo that the members of the church are probably strongly devoted to their faith, possibly renewed after the hardships they may have suffered, Also it is likely that Lee became very close to the community of Lejunior allowing him access into the church. The snake is definitely the focus with all eyes on him, even from the musician in the back. it's easy to imagine the noise and energy level in the room.
Mark XVI:17-20 continues:
"These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Whenever I mow the lawn (roughly twice a summer) I inevitably come across a garden snake sunning itself in the grass. The approach of the mower disturbs the hitherto invisible creatures and sends them sinuously scurrying for safety...which they sometimes reach and sometimes don't. This one wasn't quite fast enough. I captured it and shared the joy of snakehandling with my brother Pablo.
The mytical snake handling religion of the southern Irish in the USA. This is a self portrait of me when I was a child. Colored pencil and ink drawing.
Lt.j.g John So an Entomologist with Navy Entomology Center of Excellence (NECE) handles a venomous snake as part of the NECE’s Snake Handling Training held in partnership with the Rattlesnake Conservancy at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, June 5-7. The training course underscores NECE's commitment to force health protection by equipping Sailors with the skills necessary to handle and mitigate the risks posed by venomous snakes in various environments. (U.S. Navy Photo by Lt. Nicholas Johnston)
www.dvidshub.net/news/474778/enhancing-force-health-prote...