The Eastern Spadefoot, Scaphiopus holbrookii, is not a big anuran. It is adult at a length of about 2 inches, sometimes a bit smaller, sometimes a bit bigger. But for its size it does have a pretty-big voice. I’ve heard the vocalization likened to a burp. And at times it sounds like that to me. But I had to rethink the sounds of the spadefoot chorus being voiced in our flooded yard last July. Those calls reminded me more of abrupt purrs than of burps. But the calls apparently sounded just right to the females, for even before full darkness had fallen on that rainy day most males were amplexing visiting females. Even before morning light only the water and the eggs remained.

Our backyard used to be a railbed. Over the rails ran the local Gainesville to Gulf trains, a company now as extinct as the dodo. But the sunken bed, now devoid of rails, ties, and most spikes, remains, and at the lower end temporary flooding is common. We leave it as it is because the treefrogs, narrowmouths, and spadefoots breed there annually. These used to be called Eastern Spadefoot Toads, but today just Eastern Spadefoot will do. They are actually in an entirely different family than the toads. Eastern Spadefoots have almost smooth skin and tend to be a brownish color with a lyre shaped lighter dorsal marking. They have only a single digging spur (but they are very efficient and dedicated burrowers), lack or have very small parotoid glands, and have vertical pupils.

Now we’ll scoot ahead about 14 days. Some of the water had soaked in, but enough was left to allow several hundred tadpoles to grow and metamorphose into tiny spadefootlets. Our yard was temporarily untreadable as the hundreds of wee ones sought refuge well away from the railbed. To walk was to crush, so we kept to the front yard for a few days. But the inconvenience was well worthwhile, for now on humid summer and autumn nights the spadefoots, a burrowing species, emerge and seek repast. This is a cycle we and our neighbors enjoy.

An Eastern Spadefoots dorsal marking is in the shape of an hourglass.

The colors of last years fallen leaves, the little Godman's Pit Viper well camouflaged on the forest floor.

The little Godman's Pit Viper, Cerrophidion godmani, was once readily available and rather inexpensive. Today it seems another of the species that has largely disappeared from the trade. It ranges through the southeastern Mexican mountains to the highlands of Guatemala. Those south of Guatemala are now known as C. sasai. This latter also being a highland species.

In appearance this little pit viper varies in color between the browns of newly fallen leaves to that of darker colored, older, wet leaves. Black outlined darker dorsal blotches (these may actually form a broad zigzag stripe dorsally) and lateral spots are present. There is a diagonal white stripe from the eye to the angle of the mouth. Below the stripe the facial scales, including the upper labials are often a variable russet in color.

Adult size is usually 18 to 24 inches, but some examples have been 30+ inches.

Although of subdued colors, I’m glad that I had opportunity to photograph a snake that might now be only a memory in American herpetoculture.

A beautiful subadult Boa Constrictor from the Miami population.
Yes, as with the pythons there are 3, but again only one is established. The established species is the Boa, or if you prefer, the Boa Constrictor. The population, in Miami, has been known for about 70 years but in no way can its presence be considered a threatening invasion by any but the most rabid conservationist. In its 70+ years, the population of these live-bearing snakes seems to have grown little if at all. BTW, the scientific name of this snake echos the common name, Boa constrictor, often with a subspecies tacked on. The range of the various subspecies of boas extends from northern Mexico to Argentina. Boas from the more northerly locales are smaller than those from the neotropics. In their homelands, depending on locale, most boas are adult at 5 to 9 feet in length but in the neotropics 12 footers have been recorded. The Boas in Miami are a mixture of 2, or possibly 3, neotropical subspecies. I am unaware of the maximum size of the Miami Boas but have seen several in the 4 to 6 foot range and an 8 foot long female was caught in early February. Like the pythons, boas can and will climb. The ground color is a yellowish to fawn with dark saddles. As it nears the tail the ground color becomes red and on the tail may be quite a bright red. It is, of course, from this that the name of Red-tailed Boa has been coined.

The other 2 boids of concern are both “Water boas,” Anacondas, the Yellow, Eunectes notaeus, and the Green, E. murinus. These 2 boa relatives turn up just often enough (primarily on the southern 2/3rds of peninsular FL) to make their status questionable. Like the Boa these bear living young that are well able to fend for themselves at birth. Adults are immense snakes that display notable sexual dimorphism with males being much the smaller gender. They are very much at home in aquatic situations and often seek prey near the shore. They are surprisingly agile when on land. Be smart and beware of large individuals, no matter where encountered.

Even at the best of times, Anacondas tend to be short-tempered. If you do see one, use care and common sense when approaching.

Male Yellow Anacondas are 5 to 8 feet. Females attain 11-13 feet. Neonates are about 20 inches in length. Green Anacondas are far larger and heavier than the Yellows. Male Greens are often 5 to 9 feet, while adult females attain 15 to 20 feet…and it’s all muscle! Neonates are 20-24 inches in length.

Florida. The land of the invasives!