Mothersbaugh

Southern black racer.
Coluber constrictor priapus.
September 15th, 2005.
Washington Oaks Botanical Gardens;
south of St. Augustine, Florida.
Nikon CPix 5700.
~~~~~

I call this "Mothersbaugh" because the snake reminds me of Mark Mothersbaugh from the band Devo... Specifically, the snake (with that tongue flicker) reminds me of Mothersbaugh's little devil glasses he'd wear circa 1982, or so (for reference, please watch the ultra-cheap-yet-glorious video for "Peek-A-Boo")...

Anyhow, racers are one of the most durable of Florida's snakes. They've done quite well despite human development and can live in most Floridian ecological systems. Washington Oaks is a nice water-garden park right next to the Atlantic coastline. Young banded watersnakes, a few yellow ratsnakes, the occassional rattlesnake, and a handful of racers have taken up position in the park. A red-shouldered hawk also lives there, picking off the slowest of the snakes.

~ janson