Quarry411 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Buena Vista Museum of Natural History had a "Paleo Dig" on Friday (March 16th, 2012) at The Ernst Quarries near Sharktooth Hill, CA. Here's a link to the pictures: Sharktooth Hill Friday Dig Saturday and Sunday were postponed until next weekend due to rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeloiVarden Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 The baby snakes are supposed to be the most dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeDOTB Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Yes, and supposedly they taste like chicken... (But seriously, as previously mentioned, I have also heard this because juvenile snake venom is more potent. I don't know if it's true or not. But I know there are a couple reptile collectors on the forum, maybe they could shed some light on that. (cough cough Frank cough cough) DO, or do not. There is no try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I have always thought that baby snake bites were more serious because they are not able to control the amount of venom they release. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpaleo Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Ah weak the tiny rattlers are back. It was nice to have them in hibernation the last couple months. As far as I know the larger snakes are worse since they can deliver a larger amount of venom. Either way, real annoying creatures when your trying to hunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarry411 Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 I have always thought that baby snake bites were more serious because they are not able to control the amount of venom they release. This is what I've heard as well. Adult snakes can/will regulate the amount of venom, and with babies you get the full dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Are any of you FF folks planning to be there next weekend? I will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) If I had to choose between a 6' diamondback with a head as big as your hand, or a 6" diamondback with a head as big as your thumbnail, I think I'd choose the smaller one!! A full dose from a small snake would probably be less than a 1/4 dose from a big snake. Then again a dry bite would be the best. (BTW, I realize that isn;t a diamondback in the photo. Anyone know what species it is?) Edited March 19, 2012 by bowkill For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Are any of you FF folks planning to be there next weekend? I will be. I'll be at the April dig on the Sunday, leave a few for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpaleo Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 I'll be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig It Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I was there last Friday and will try and make it one day this weekend. My best finds: (3) connected ray dental plates 1 1/2" lower hemi A couple hooked makos very close to 2" 3 3/4" meg (most of root missing but still pretty cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 That is an unusually good day even for a productive spot. It's not often that you find even two ray teeth still connected. The 1 1/2" Hemi is right at what most would consider in the maximum size range for the bonebed - same for the 2" hooked makos (Isurus planus). Yeah, it's great to get just a decent piece of a meg from there. I was there last Friday and will try and make it one day this weekend. My best finds: (3) connected ray dental plates 1 1/2" lower hemi A couple hooked makos very close to 2" 3 3/4" meg (most of root missing but still pretty cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THobern Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 This is what I've heard as well. Adult snakes can/will regulate the amount of venom, and with babies you get the full dose. Seems like a myth. http://www.reptilechannel.com/media/kid-corner/beyond-beginners/bad-snake-myths-2.aspx.pdf http://www.livingalongsidewildlife.com/2009/10/are-bites-from-baby-venomous-snakes.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 (edited) If I had to choose between a 6' diamondback with a head as big as your hand, or a 6" diamondback with a head as big as your thumbnail, I think I'd choose the smaller one!! A full dose from a small snake would probably be less than a 1/4 dose from a big snake. Then again a dry bite would be the best. (BTW, I realize that isn;t a diamondback in the photo. Anyone know what species it is?) It's hard for me to get a bead on what this little beauty is because the picture is small and my eyes aren't what they used to be. That being said, I think this is a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake... if it is, wise to steer well clear because that species is extremely toxic. It could also be a Western Diamondback, again, with it's size in the picture, I just can't see enough detail to really tell. Edited March 22, 2012 by Lloyd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I'm about to hit the road for Bakersfield... yee haa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paleoc Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) It's hard for me to get a bead on what this little beauty is because the picture is small and my eyes aren't what they used to be. That being said, I think this is a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake... if it is, wise to steer well clear because that species is extremely toxic. It could also be a Western Diamondback, again, with it's size in the picture, I just can't see enough detail to really tell. A good match for the Northern Pacific juvenile http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.o.oreganus.html Southern Pacific http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.o.helleri.html Edited March 23, 2012 by Paleoc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarry411 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Seems like a myth. http://www.reptilech...yths-2.aspx.pdf http://www.livingalo...ous-snakes.html ...from the PDF you cited above... So if the venom toxicity of a young snake is not as potent as an adult, and the total venom yield of a juvenile is not nearly as great as an adult’s, what part of this myth is one-third true? The answer lies in the venomous snake’s experience level. Adults are veterans of life. They have successfully avoided or driven back predators and attackers, and they have full control over all muscular functions. Adults recognize the need to conserve their precious venom. It takes time to produce it, and a snake that empties its venom reserves in an attacker has nothing left to subdue prey. They have learned that a venomous snake without venom doesn’t eat. It’s a different story for neonate venomous snakes. They generally are not as in control of their muscular functions as are adult snakes, and they are at their most vulnerable point in life. Defensive strikes are fast and thorough. When these snakes bite, they typically bite hard, pumping the attacker full of every last bit of venom. If a young venomous snake’s bite were to be more dangerous than an adult’s, this would be the only way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarry411 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'm about to hit the road for Bakersfield... yee haa. Come over and say hi when you get here. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 well, here I am in Bakersfield. Getting my car fixed. Yes, that's what I did here a month ago. That time it was the clutch... wear and tear. This time I call it driver stupidity... I hit a curb here in Bakerfield this morning on the way to the museum and not only popped the tire, but screwed up several pieces in the front end. Who the heck puts curbs in the middle of the street?! I'm not blaming... just griping. I did limp my car out to the site this morning and collected a few shark teeth including a nice big one... one of the symmetrical teeth... bigger than anything I got last month. Other than shark teeth, the main reason I came back so soon (it is an 1100 mile drive) was to collect a whale skull for my place of employment. (I did check with the landowner to make sure it was OK... thanks, Rob). Got a couple guys out here including Interpaleo (see above) to help me haul it into the car, (thanks guys), and then limped on back into Bakersfield to get the repairs done on a Saturday, rather than not get them done on a Sunday or stay an extra day. So I write this from the tire shop in Bakersfield while waiting for my car... yeah, they have internet computers for customers to o use... how cool is that? Its supposed to rain tomorroww, so we may or may not go back to the site. But meanwhile, I have a whale skull in my car for the Tate Museum in Casper. No pix yet...my camera is in my car up on the lift.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncoat Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 But meanwhile, I have a whale skull in my car for the Tate Museum in Casper. No pix yet...my camera is in my car up on the lift.... Sounds great! I cant wait to see the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 A good match for the Northern Pacific juvenile http://www.californi...o.oreganus.html Southern Pacific http://www.californi....o.helleri.html Thanks for the links, good information. I notice that the range of the Northern and Southern Pacific Rattlesnake do not overlap so, I think, since they look so similar <and the picture that started this is too small for my eyes to pick up details>, the question is where does Sharktooth Hill fall on that map? Seems as if that would be definitive as to which one it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I feel your pain, JP B.T.D.T B.T.T.S. (Been There, Done That, Bought The T-Shirt) "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I'm just gonna throw this out there, while it is nice to give it apositive ID, it's still a rattlesnake and needs to be approached as such. Here in Eastern NC, we have canebreak, timber, pygmy and the granddaddy of all rattlers, the Eastern Diamondback. the canebrake and timber are very similar looking, usually the timber is darker. All, including their western brothers, should be treated with respect and caution. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 ...All...should be treated with respect and caution. And awe & admiration! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 And awe & admiration! Indeed Auspex Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now