This field found Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user frilly looks regal in his pose! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Once seen, our attention immediately turned from birds to snakes.
We looked long and hard for this little Trope, Tropidophis maculatus, and when they were found is was entirely by accident. Accident or not, we were elated. Our tour leader, Dr. Luis Diaz, had taken us to a Conservation Area where he and we were welcomed by the caretaker. We were looking in particular for Cuban Grassfinches, and we were delighted to see two small flocks along a grassy, palm shaded, roadway.
Of course, lying beneath each palm were fair numbers of dead fronds that we simply could not walk by without turning. Smart move, that. Because beneath the fallen fronds were numbers of broken cinderblocks and many turnable,flat rocks and chunks of concrete.Together these all held a bit of moisture on the reddish earth, so several rocks were carefully turned and just as carefully replaced. Soon someone said “snake!”
So, within moments of arriving we had in hand one of our several target species, the Spotted Red Trope (old name, Dwarf Boa) that had found suitable temperatures and moisture beneath the debris. And we truly had lucked out, because under the fronds and beneath other rocks, we found several additional examples.
This is one of the smaller trope species,being fully adult at 12 to 15 inches in length. Most found by us were in the 8-10 inch range indicating this to be a good breeding site.
Great memories to share, of a species seldom seen except in its homeland.
Continue reading “Spotted Red Trope” …read more
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This big momma Timber rattlesnake shot in the field in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user throatoyster is a thing of beauty! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.
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This False Coral or Coral Pipe Snake (Anilius scytale)found in Abaetetuba Pará Brazil in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Herpetologia is a perfect example of nature’s mimics! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This Beardie is chillin like a villain in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user TazziesMommy! They truly are such fun lil guys! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This Vinales Anole (Anolis vermiculatus) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user macraei must be looking for snacks! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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All 3 photos are of this beautiful East African taxon. Why, a lizard of course. In fact, the lizard taxon of which I’m thinking has derived its common name from these features. Now identified scientifically as Gastropholis prasina, it is commonly referred to as the Green Keel-bellied Lizard.
The genus name, Gastropholis, refers to the belly and prasina, the species name refers to the green coloration.
Family: Lacertidae; Wall and Jewel Lizards.
Color: Basically a vibrant green except for rear of legs that is blue-gray. Often has a bluish tinge on lips and throat. If frightened/insecure the overall color may fade to a duller green. Females may be a bit paler than the males.
Lizard Size: A relatively slender 12 to 16+ inches of which 70% is the weakly, but effectively, prehensile tail. The digits are long, slender, visibly jointed, and ideal for an arboreal existence.
Scalation: Scales keeled and finely granular dorsally. Lateral scales are smallest in the upper rows but increase in size as they descend and meet the 6 longitudinal rows of visibly keeled belly (ventral) larger and visibly keeled.ventral ing-Disposition: Males (and occasional females) are agonistic to others of the same sex.
Preferred Temperatures and activity period:Diurnal; 75-85F (24-30C)
Terrarium Size/Type suggested: Upright format at least 30 and preferably 40 gallon size, planted, humid forest with sturdy climbing limbs.
Natural History: Coastal area of Tanzania and Kenya. An arboreal lizard of variable forested conditions, trees and shrubs.
Comments: Of the 4 species in this genus, three, G. tropidopholis, G. vittata, and G. prasina, are green in color and arboreal. The 4th taxon G. vittata,is basically terrestrial and buff-striped brown in color..Ventral scales are strongly keeled. Only one, G. prasina, is currently (Feb. 2024) available in the American pet industry.
Much has been learned about the natural history of this lizard from both captive breeders and field observers. Notes from the field observers, published in “A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa (written by Stephen Spawls Robert Drewer, Kim Howell and James Ashe) informs us of the arboreal tendencies of prasina in the coastal woodlands, but mentions also that examples have been found in terrestrial locations. Eggs have been found both in damp tree hollows and in terraria. One clutch numbered 5 eggs and incubation duration was 61 days at 79F.
Continue reading “What’s Green, Slender, and Has Keeled Belly Scales?” …read more
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Arrhyton tanyplectum, Guaniguanico Racerlet
Small, slender, speedy, and quite secretive describes the appearance and habits of all members of this grouping. All, like the much larger Cuban Racer, Cubophis cantherigerus, are rear-fanged members of the family Dipsadidae. Those pictured here are of the genera Arrhyton, the Racerlets, and Caraiba, the Lesser Racer.. All are usually reluctant to bite, and of no danger to humans.
I make no attempt to identify or differentiate Arrhyton taxa herein, but merely mention some often overlapping generalities as to colors and patterns.
Dorsally and laterally, snakes of the genus Arrhyton are clad in shades of brown. The hues may varying from near-black to a light bronze or silvery-gray. The belly is yellowish. Depending on species, as well as on individual variations, vertebral and lateral stripes may be strongly present or absent. One species has a prominent whitish collar, another has a yellowish collar broken dorsally, and many have black or brown crowns.
The Cuban Lesser Racer, Caraiba andreae, on the other hand is a small but variably marked black and white snake (black above, white below) with a prominent light stripe from nose, to above each eye, and continuing to the back of the head. The labials (lip scales) are also white to cream. The result of these light stripes, of course, leaves a prominent dark stripe through each eye.
And now to the pix.
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So small and precious, this baby Broad Banded Water Snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran gets up close and person with the mighty herper! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Baby pics make #RattlesnakeFriday so much better! Loving this baby timber rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jameswv! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! No round-ups this week, just a look at a new life.
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This is me, in all my Tinley Glory. If you need me, just grab me. I will always be there for you.
The best part about reptile shows is we can be ourselves. We are with our tribe. People who love the same things we do and it should be a fun and safe environment for all of us. The hard reality is that there are bad people everywhere in this world, no matter where you look.
This is going to be a very different post Tinley wrap and bear with me, it is going to probably be long but I promise reptile pictures from the show to lighten the mood that are not ball pythons or crested geckos at the end. Something happened that I felt needed to be addressed and shared even as vague as I intend on sharing. Let’s just say, someone was naughty. Continue reading “Tinley Reflections: An open letter from Mom” …read more
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We bring you this beautiful Collared lizard in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user the4thmonkey to brighten your day! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Photo of female reticulated Gila from our photo gallery by user Kevin_Hunt and not animal in question
The autopsy report for the man who died after being bitten by his pet Gila Monster has been released and it lists three factors that resulted in his death. The report lists complications from envenomation of the Gila Monster, basically listed as an injury, but also listed an enlarged heart and a fatty liver as “significant contributing factors” in his death.
Around 11:45 p.m. Feb. 12, someone called 911 to report an animal bite, according to Lakewood Police. It was later determined to be a Gila monster bite.
The victim was taken to the hospital and died four days later. According to the autopsy report, the man suffered a “four-minute venomous Gila monster bite to the right hand.”
He sought treatment about 2 hours after the bite. For more on the story, click here. The last known death from a Gila bite was in 1930 and the person may have had liver damage due to cirrhosis. …read more
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This Milk snake is just hanging out our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user gerryg . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This curious little wild Rat snake is checking out the camera in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cmac107 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This Cat Gecko in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user PGossis not amused with your shenanigans! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! How cool is this melanistic (C. atrox) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Shane Mader ! ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.
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Now that is a snake in the grass! Check out the stunning Boelen’s python in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user JonathanH? One is normal is one appears to be leucistic! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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How cool is this pair of Leopard frog Tadpoles in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user retnaburner? One is normal is one appears to be leucistic! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Caecilians are amphibians that look superficially like very large earthworms. New research suggests that at least one species of caecilian also produces “milk” for its hatchlings.Photo by Carlos Jared
Most people look at caecilians and think EWW. They are worm-like amphibians and although they have very adorable faces they are a more secretive animal and are often overlooked. Marta Antoniazzi, a biologist at the Instituto Butantan, in Sao Paulo, Brazil has been working with Siphonops annulatus for quite some time now. They noticed that while the babies fed on the mothers shed skin weekly, they were too active for that to be their sole source of nutrition. So they did what anyone would do. Set up a camera and waited.
“The babies prefer to go to the tail of the mother,” he says.
And that’s when they saw it. A secretion coming from the tail: “A kind of substance, like milk.”
Upon further study, the team found that the milk contained lipids and sugars similar to mammalian milk. It was essentially providing the same function.
“It’s a very unusual form of nutrition” for an egg-laying animal, says Mailho-Fontana.
Is it really milk? Well, that is up in the air for now, but it is a nutrition source for the babies provided by mom. For the full story as well as a link to the study, click here! …read more
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I think this Ackie our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user BryanD , as his tinder profile pic!! What a cool shot in black and white! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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A beautiful in situ Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)seen in the Ouachitas graces our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user AndrewBrinker! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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An adult male D. delasagra
In Cuba, the family Diploglossidae is represented by 3 species of secretive, fossorial, forest dwelling lizards of the genus Diploglossus, that look overall, very much like skinks. In fact, with their polished scales and narrow head, they were at one time classified as skinks. This species is known to hybridize with at least one, and possibly with both, other species in the genus at the eastern end of its large range.
Luckily, we found 1 species, D. delasagra. It, a small, shiny, and short, legged species, will writhe quickly beneath leaf litter if exposed. It also seeks shelter beneath rocks and fallen tree trunks and limbs.
It is adult at a length of about 9 inches, of which a bit more than half is tail length.
Dorsal color is a warm brown, the sides vary from chocolate brown to black. The belly is yellowish. Oviparous, one female found recently was coiled around 5 soft-shelled eggs. Hatchlings are colored like the adults.
Continue reading “Skinklike Forest Lizards” …read more
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Some people have all the luck, really they do! It took me 3 trips to Texas to see my first rattlesnake. When Milan Watt came out of work and met her boyfriend at her car and they went to get in, he saw a tongue and that’s when they saw it. That was also when they got out of the car and said NOPE!
Watt’s boyfriend came to meet up with her when he noticed something moving in her car.
“He turns around and he sees a tongue,” Watt said.
After they both got out of the car, Watt called 911.
“They told me they could not help because it was not a life-threatening emergency,” Watt told Arizona’s Family.
There are however many 24 hour services available that will come out to help and it is disappointing that the emergency services did not mention these. An encounter with a diamondback by someone unfamiliar is definitely a life-threatening emergency, especially when it is a diamondback trapped in a car! For us herpers however, that is just easy pickings! To see the video and full story, click here! …read more
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! To celebrate International Woman’s Day we grabbed this gorgeous shot of a Western Diamonback for our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user juzior! You might wonder how this Atrox helps celebrate International Woman’s Day, right? Did you know the first recorded captive breeding of Crotalus atrox was by Grace Olive Wiley? She is one of the foremothers of the venomous world and while her handling skills left a lot of people scratching their heads, she had one heck of a legacy. Not familiar with Grace? You should be! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.
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Absolutely beautiful female Morelet’s Crocodile graces our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Paul Bodnar as she basks in the sun. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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I’m a little green with envy of this Green Tree Monitor in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user roadspawn and her plans for a lazy day. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This is one gorgeous panther chameleon uploaded by ToucanJungle and it is guaranteed to brighten your day. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Hopefully the gorgeous blues of this Dendrobates auratus uploaded by kingsnake.com user amazonreptile will brighten your day. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (C. molossus) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user erindonaldson is certainly full of sass! ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (C. molossus) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user erindonaldson is certainly full of sass! ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.
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Such a lovely contrast against the blue, this Angolan Python takes the spotlight in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user EdCB ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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It is hard to not see beauty when you look at the Asian Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) our Herp Photo of the Day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user 13lackcat! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Botflies perch on the head of a northern green anaconda in Yasuni National Park in Ecuador. A recent study revealed that the green anaconda is two distinct species, more genetically diverse than humans and chimpanzees. (Karine Aigner/Naturepl.com)
Thanks to Will Smith, we now have two different Green Anacondas. Researchers used genetic data to determine that the Green Anaconda not one but two very distinct species, a southern and northern type. They were in the Amazon filming Smith’s show “Pole to Pole with Will Smith” with Dr. Bryan G. Fry, an old friend of kingsnake.com as well a biologist at University of Queensland in Australia, when the differences were notice. Research ensued!
The Northern and Southern species show a 5.5% genetic difference from each other, which is huge considering humans only differ from chimpanzees by 2% difference.
The Amazon is made up of two separate basins — the large southern Amazon basin and the “much smaller” northern Orinoco basin.
“The southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is found across a vast range spanning Brazil, Bolivia, Perú and parts of French Guiana,” he said.
“By contrast, our newly described northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima) is restricted to Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela and parts of French Guiana.”
To read more about the new anacondas, click here! …read more
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Today’s herp photo of the day reminds us to always flip that tin! This five-lined skink was found with her eggs under a paving stone, uploaded by kingsnake.com user CDB_reptiles!
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The underrated Florida Softshell Turtle takes center stage in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Amazoa ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Check out this aberrant patterened Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake found in Northern Florida in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user chance37! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.
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I am quite sure when they wrote this article it really was not a tourism guide, but they also are not people like us, you know, herpers. World Atlas gave us a perfect guide for field herping however, listing the lakes and species you might find there. I was somewhat impressed with the article because despite the fact that the word “infested” is a constant in the article giving a negative feel, they talk about what brings the snakes there and how most of the species are harmless and important. They also have fairly decent identification photos. At the end of the article they even include this little part about safety:
Water snakes and semi-aquatic snakes enjoy the lakes in Arkansas. In particular, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Ouachita, and Lake Fayetteville are popular spots for snakes. Despite the abundance of snakes, these Arkansas spots are still worth a visit. For outdoor enthusiasts, these lakes offer many activities to enjoy, from camping and hiking to fishing and kayaking. Visiting these spots is comforting because water snakes are usually harmless to humans. While semi-aquatic snakes can be venomous, identifying them can help you stay safe in snake territory.
In case you are interested, the three most “infested” according to the article are Lake Ouachita, Lake Fayetteville, and Greers Ferry Lake so book your trip now. You can check out the full article here. A warning to some, is an invitation to others! Just another place to add to your herping lists! …read more
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So simple and so beautiful. That is the black racer in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ReptileProducts ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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What an awesome shot of this pair of Common Toads in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user Krallenfrosch ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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