An Honorable Herpetologist

slender salamander  

I was sad to learn of the recent passing of the great herpetologist Robert C. Stebbins.  Long before I met him, I was fascinated with his descriptive and beautifully illustrated field guides to western amphibians and reptiles.  Matthew Bettelheim has posted information about Dr. Stebbins here and is inviting people to share their memories of him. The commentary there will be worth visiting in the next few weeks as Dr. Stebbins encouraged so many people to discover the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians.  My thanks to his family, colleagues and friends for sharing Dr. Stebbins and his legacy.

Tonight, I think I will share some photos of my favorite times with California herps to say my goodbye. So many scaly and slimy adventures of learning and delight.

red-bellied newt who took me to Newtlandia

coast gartersnake with the kids 

red-legged frog eggs looking yummy

rattlesnake shed in tree hollow

giant salamander of shovel-head proportions

lizard tracks

crazy friend looking for herps and having a great day

 a fine alligator lizard rules the front yard

night snake to be rescued

California mountain kingsnake who stopped me from crying

Sierran treefrog whose name keeps changing

yellow-bellied racers who started me blogging

western toads have cute butts

slither slime

hanging out at a fav pond at night with red-legged frog whose rah-growl makes us giggle

predacious coast range newtlet on a pond prowl

the San Francisco Zoo shares a San Francisco gartersnake from Europe

juvie Santa Cruz gartersnake slides across weeds

goodbye Dr. Stebbins. even though you didn't know it, you were with me on many of these adventures and I will be your eager student forever.