Sal
@thesalamander.bsky.social
Turtle nerd and music lover. Texas Master Naturalist and general enjoyer of the outdoors. Pictures from Nikon P1000 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Turtles are resilient animals. It's frustrating when one is "rescued" Usually the stress of being put in captivity and the medical procedures to "fix" it are even worse. For example this wild softshell turtle living his best life with the front of his face missing #herps #turtles #herpetology
October 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Turtles are resilient animals. It's frustrating when one is "rescued" Usually the stress of being put in captivity and the medical procedures to "fix" it are even worse. For example this wild softshell turtle living his best life with the front of his face missing #herps #turtles #herpetology
I just love the fact I get to work with this incredible species that lives right where I do! This light color is unusual in Texas Tortoises. They usually have more of the darker scales with some spots of the cream color. This one has a very unique coloration! #herps #tortoises #herpetology 🐢
September 26, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I just love the fact I get to work with this incredible species that lives right where I do! This light color is unusual in Texas Tortoises. They usually have more of the darker scales with some spots of the cream color. This one has a very unique coloration! #herps #tortoises #herpetology 🐢
If you see this, post a concert picture you took.
This is Melissa Bonny singing with Kamelot.
This is Melissa Bonny singing with Kamelot.
September 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
If you see this, post a concert picture you took.
This is Melissa Bonny singing with Kamelot.
This is Melissa Bonny singing with Kamelot.
For the tiny Ant on top of Sugarloaf Mountain. How did you get here? Did you walk? Was it many generations of your ancestors that moved up the mountain? Did you hitch a ride? #insects #ants #entomology #naturepondering
September 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
For the tiny Ant on top of Sugarloaf Mountain. How did you get here? Did you walk? Was it many generations of your ancestors that moved up the mountain? Did you hitch a ride? #insects #ants #entomology #naturepondering
Back from another turtle survey weekend. It was the first time at this site where both species of snapping turtle were caught. While it isn't unheard of, it is unusual to find both the Alligator Snapping Turtle and the Common Snapping Turtle in the same location. #herps #turtles #herpetology 🐢
September 8, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Back from another turtle survey weekend. It was the first time at this site where both species of snapping turtle were caught. While it isn't unheard of, it is unusual to find both the Alligator Snapping Turtle and the Common Snapping Turtle in the same location. #herps #turtles #herpetology 🐢
I've just been lurking here and not posting much. Lots of cool stuff going on this month. Actually going to be a really big month for me. Really excited for all the activities and to see what the next steps will be. Until then, here's a cool Map turtle basking in the Angelina River. #herps 🐢 #turtle
September 4, 2025 at 2:57 AM
I've just been lurking here and not posting much. Lots of cool stuff going on this month. Actually going to be a really big month for me. Really excited for all the activities and to see what the next steps will be. Until then, here's a cool Map turtle basking in the Angelina River. #herps 🐢 #turtle
Braved the heat and went for a bike ride. Fortune the best doesn't bother me. Would be tough to be into the outdoors and unable to tolerate the heat of South Texas. It's actually not too bad this year though. Like being able to get 8 off road miles right from my house.
August 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Braved the heat and went for a bike ride. Fortune the best doesn't bother me. Would be tough to be into the outdoors and unable to tolerate the heat of South Texas. It's actually not too bad this year though. Like being able to get 8 off road miles right from my house.
I think this was the first time we caught and recorded data from an Alligator Snapping Turtle at night (under TPWD permits). This turtle was very feisty. The 33 pound male (15.2kg) was released into the same pound he was found. (The picture says 16.3kg, the sling weighs 1.1) 🐢 #herps #herpetology
August 7, 2025 at 2:26 AM
I think this was the first time we caught and recorded data from an Alligator Snapping Turtle at night (under TPWD permits). This turtle was very feisty. The 33 pound male (15.2kg) was released into the same pound he was found. (The picture says 16.3kg, the sling weighs 1.1) 🐢 #herps #herpetology
New herp accomplishment for me today. Found an Alligator Snapping Turtle on the road!
August 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
New herp accomplishment for me today. Found an Alligator Snapping Turtle on the road!
Got a quick kayak paddle in the local lake yesterday. I love the different perspectives kayaking gives you. You're much lower than normal and feel more part of nature instead of above it. Also, the turtles aren't as shy when you're in a kayak so you can get closer. #herps 🐢
April 23, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Got a quick kayak paddle in the local lake yesterday. I love the different perspectives kayaking gives you. You're much lower than normal and feel more part of nature instead of above it. Also, the turtles aren't as shy when you're in a kayak so you can get closer. #herps 🐢
Spent the weekend in East Texas looking for my favorite animals🐢🐢! Two new individuals and a new species at this study site. Four species for the weekend. Not too bad. #herps
April 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Spent the weekend in East Texas looking for my favorite animals🐢🐢! Two new individuals and a new species at this study site. Four species for the weekend. Not too bad. #herps
Got out and did some kayaking today. The creek is a great spot to see the endemic Texas Cooter. It's exciting to think that this super common turtle is found no where else in the world but central Texas! 🐢 #herps
April 2, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Got out and did some kayaking today. The creek is a great spot to see the endemic Texas Cooter. It's exciting to think that this super common turtle is found no where else in the world but central Texas! 🐢 #herps
And they shed in one piece like a snake! First time I saw that it freaked me out. These are awesome lizards. I'm happy I got to take care of what was, at the time, the largest collection of Abronia in the US. Here is a baby Abronia graminea. They look nothing like the adults.
March 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
And they shed in one piece like a snake! First time I saw that it freaked me out. These are awesome lizards. I'm happy I got to take care of what was, at the time, the largest collection of Abronia in the US. Here is a baby Abronia graminea. They look nothing like the adults.
Took these last week when doing a black lighting event with the local Master Naturalists. I need to make a setup like this so I can do this on my own. So here are some cool #bugs #insects Not only #moths at the black light. #Pixel8pro
March 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Took these last week when doing a black lighting event with the local Master Naturalists. I need to make a setup like this so I can do this on my own. So here are some cool #bugs #insects Not only #moths at the black light. #Pixel8pro
One of my mottos with feeding tortoises is variation and moderation. Feed lots of different things and don't feed one thing too often. Mix it up. With spring settling in, the "weeds" are popping up. This means fresh food for the tortoises. #herps
March 22, 2025 at 11:53 PM
One of my mottos with feeding tortoises is variation and moderation. Feed lots of different things and don't feed one thing too often. Mix it up. With spring settling in, the "weeds" are popping up. This means fresh food for the tortoises. #herps
Quote post with a picture you took in a National Park.
A forest in Olympic National Park
A forest in Olympic National Park
February 25, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Quote post with a picture you took in a National Park.
A forest in Olympic National Park
A forest in Olympic National Park
This cold, cloudy, wet weather lately is terrible (don't see how you PNW folks deal with it). But as in typical South Texas fashion, the temps will be back in the 80s this week. Getting stir crazy so I had to venture out in the cold and mist and got a some cool bird pictures. #Birds
February 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM
This cold, cloudy, wet weather lately is terrible (don't see how you PNW folks deal with it). But as in typical South Texas fashion, the temps will be back in the 80s this week. Getting stir crazy so I had to venture out in the cold and mist and got a some cool bird pictures. #Birds
I guess I'll add my bit to the #Birds feed. I'm going the opposite direction though, instead of cute. Even though these birds are super important, I don't think cute is frequently used to describe the Black Vulture. Background in honor of Bluesky!
February 5, 2025 at 4:36 AM
I guess I'll add my bit to the #Birds feed. I'm going the opposite direction though, instead of cute. Even though these birds are super important, I don't think cute is frequently used to describe the Black Vulture. Background in honor of Bluesky!
One of the benefits of looking for turtles at urban ponds is they are usually not as shy as "wild" turtles and let you get some nice close up pictures of them. #herps The Yellow Bellied Slider is a non-native turtle in south Texas but the Red Eared Slider is native.
February 4, 2025 at 4:33 AM
One of the benefits of looking for turtles at urban ponds is they are usually not as shy as "wild" turtles and let you get some nice close up pictures of them. #herps The Yellow Bellied Slider is a non-native turtle in south Texas but the Red Eared Slider is native.
Went to visit a few urban ponds today and was surprised how many turtles were out basking. One pond probably had close to 100 turtles on a bank. Most of the turtles were Red Eared Sliders, but a few Texas Cooters, Spiny Softshells and non-native Yellow Bellied Sliders were seen. #herps 🐢
February 4, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Went to visit a few urban ponds today and was surprised how many turtles were out basking. One pond probably had close to 100 turtles on a bank. Most of the turtles were Red Eared Sliders, but a few Texas Cooters, Spiny Softshells and non-native Yellow Bellied Sliders were seen. #herps 🐢
