As I was preparing for my new year, I received a call from an unknown number, requesting me for a rescue for an unidentified snake.

Based on the area and the weather I presumed it was a Russell’s viper, but according to the description of the person who called me, it was a rat snake or a grass snake. I called up my friend and picked him up on the way as I never go alone on rescue calls, so there will be someone who can drive me to hospital in case any accident occurs.

When I reached the spot it was in the downtown area. The snake was coiled up in a corner surrounded by 20-25 people. As I started the onerous task of rescue, the crowd panicked and took a step or two back. I shined the flash light toward the snake; it was a Russell’s viper indeed.

My friend kept an eye on the snake till the time I arranged a snake sack. The viper was around 5 ft. in length, a good sized snake. I directed the snake toward the sack with the help of my snake stick and tied the mouth of the sack.

The rescue was successfully completed. I was, however, disturbed that the people who had surrounded the viper were not at all aware it is one of the deadliest creature on the earth and that it could be fatal if the viper had bitten any one of them. So after the rescue I took 20 minutes to make the people aware, as I always do.

The feeling was so good after rescuing the snake, and I really want to thank that viper for maintaining a cool temper even after he was surrounded and disturbed by huge number of people.
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Florida is home, at least in small part, to seven species of water snakes of the genus Nerodia.

One species, the Mississippi green water snake barely enters the state on extreme western tip of the panhandle. The midland water snake, a subspecies of the northern water snake, is found from the central panhandle to the western tip. Two subspecies of plain-bellied water snakes (the yellow-bellied and the red-bellied) are also panhandle species.

One or another of the three subspecies of the salt marsh snakes may be found along almost all of Florida’s extensive coastline, but are absent from St. Augustine northward on the Atlantic Coast. Two of the three subspecies of the southern water snake, the Florida and the southern, occur in suitable habitats throughout the state (save for the Florida Keys).

The southern subspecies is restricted in distribution primarily to the state’s panhandle. Except for a small area in northeastern Florida you may happen across the Florida green water snake. But of them all, the seventh species, the brown water snake, Nerodia taxispilota, is the only one to occur throughout all of mainland Florida (the possible exception being a narrow strip along the state’s extreme environmental nightmare, the southeastern coastline).

All too often, the brown water snake is mistaken for a cottonmouth (“water moccasin”). This is sad; other than each having a feisty disposition, the two are not even vaguely similar. Having a heavy body and a verified length in excess of five and a half feet, the brown is one of the larger water snakes. The three rows of dark brown markings are usually square in shape and unless the snake is unusually dark or the pattern is obscured by a patina of mud, the markings are evident throughout the snake’s life.

The brown water snake utilizes a variety of habitats: canals, swamps, and rivers among them. The snake may often ascend several feet above the water surface to seek a basking spot in an overhanging tree.
Continue reading “Florida’s seven wonderful water snakes” …read more
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Florida is home, at least in small part, to seven species of water snakes of the genus Nerodia.

One species, the Mississippi green water snake barely enters the state on extreme western tip of the panhandle. The midland water snake, a subspecies of the northern water snake, is found from the central panhandle to the western tip. Two subspecies of plain-bellied water snakes (the yellow-bellied and the red-bellied) are also panhandle species.

One or another of the three subspecies of the salt marsh snakes may be found along almost all of Florida’s extensive coastline, but are absent from St. Augustine northward on the Atlantic Coast. Two of the three subspecies of the southern water snake, the Florida and the southern, occur in suitable habitats throughout the state (save for the Florida Keys).

The southern subspecies is restricted in distribution primarily to the state’s panhandle. Except for a small area in northeastern Florida you may happen across the Florida green water snake. But of them all, the seventh species, the brown water snake, Nerodia taxispilota, is the only one to occur throughout all of mainland Florida (the possible exception being a narrow strip along the state’s extreme environmental nightmare, the southeastern coastline).

All too often, the brown water snake is mistaken for a cottonmouth (“water moccasin”). This is sad; other than each having a feisty disposition, the two are not even vaguely similar. Having a heavy body and a verified length in excess of five and a half feet, the brown is one of the larger water snakes. The three rows of dark brown markings are usually square in shape and unless the snake is unusually dark or the pattern is obscured by a patina of mud, the markings are evident throughout the snake’s life.

The brown water snake utilizes a variety of habitats: canals, swamps, and rivers among them. The snake may often ascend several feet above the water surface to seek a basking spot in an overhanging tree.
Continue reading “Florida’s seven wonderous water snakes” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

A fraction of the size of its cousin the Komodo dragon, a recently identified Australian goanna could fit in your hand.

From the Scientific American

Lizards don’t get much bigger than the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), which can reach three meters in length and may weigh as much as 70 kilograms. But not every member of the Varanus genus is a giant. Scientists in Australia last month unveiled the newest Varanus species and it’s as small as the Komodo is large. The newly discovered Dampier Peninsula goanna (V. sparnus) is just 23 centimeters long and 16 grams in weight. That’s about the size of a human hand, which would barely count as a nibble for a hungry Komodo dragon.

Read more here. …read more
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A fraction of the size of its cousin the Komodo dragon, a recently identified Australian goanna could fit in your hand.

From the Scientific American

Lizards don’t get much bigger than the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), which can reach three meters in length and may weigh as much as 70 kilograms. But not every member of the Varanus genus is a giant. Scientists in Australia last month unveiled the newest Varanus species and it’s as small as the Komodo is large. The newly discovered Dampier Peninsula goanna (V. sparnus) is just 23 centimeters long and 16 grams in weight. That’s about the size of a human hand, which would barely count as a nibble for a hungry Komodo dragon.

Read more here. …read more
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It’s our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user BoaZilla!

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By Herp News

A new species of marine reptile that lived about 170 million years ago is identified from fossils found on the Isle of Skye.

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By Herp News

A new species of marine reptile that lived about 170 million years ago is identified from fossils found on the Isle of Skye.

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It was 15 feet long, with a snout shaped like a dolphin's. This newly identified meat-eater swam the seas near the Isle of Skye in the time of dinosaurs.

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By Herp News

It was 15 feet long, with a snout shaped like a dolphin's. This newly identified meat-eater swam the seas near the Isle of Skye in the time of dinosaurs.

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By Herp News

Scotland has its very own prehistoric marine reptile—and, no, we're not talking about Nessie, the mythic Loch Ness monster.

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By Herp News

By Will Dunham (Reuters) – Scotland has its very own prehistoric marine reptile – and, no, we're not talking about Nessie, the mythic Loch Ness monster. Scientists have announced the discovery of the fossil remains of a dolphin-like seagoing reptile on Scotland's Isle of Skye that lived about 170 million years ago and was about 14 feet (4.3 meters) long. The creature, named Dearcmhara shawcrossi …

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By Herp News

By Will Dunham (Reuters) – Scotland has its very own prehistoric marine reptile – and, no, we're not talking about Nessie, the mythic Loch Ness monster. Scientists have announced the discovery of the fossil remains of a dolphin-like seagoing reptile on Scotland's Isle of Skye that lived about 170 million years ago and was about 14 feet (4.3 meters) long. The creature, named Dearcmhara shawcrossi …

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By Herp News

Thor Benson ISLE OF SKYE, Scotland, Jan. 11 (UPI) — An amateur collector named Brian Shawcross has discovered fossils of Scotland's first known ichthyosaur.

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By Herp News

Thor Benson ISLE OF SKYE, Scotland, Jan. 11 (UPI) — An amateur collector named Brian Shawcross has discovered fossils of Scotland's first known ichthyosaur.

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By Herp News

John Hopton for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online A lizard's penis evolves six times faster than any of its other parts, according to a new study. Nobody is quite sure why, but it could involve a fairly predictable contest between males, or a more intriguing battle for domination between the lizard sexes. Researchers have long suspected that male genitalia in various species evolve faster than …

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By Herp News

A beach robot creates large-scale sand drawings autonomously, sent to it wirelessly via an app.

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By Herp News

It was 15 feet long, with a snout shaped like a dolphin's. This newly identified meat-eater swam the seas near the Isle of Skye in the time of dinosaurs.

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Legendary Texas herpetologist and naturalist James R. (Jim) Dixon passed away yesterday, January 10, 2015, leaving a legacy in Texas herpetology and herpetoculture that will be hard to match.

Dr. Dixon never met a snake he didn’t like. Professor Emeritus and Curator Emeritus of amphibians and reptiles at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M University, in his long, distinguished career Dr. Dixon described hundreds of new species of reptiles and amphibians worldwide, with a special emphasis on the herpetofauna of Texas, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Born in 1928 in Houston, Dr. Dixon first obtained his bachelor of science from Howard Payne University in 1950 before serving in the Korean War. Working as Curator of Reptiles at the Ross Allen Reptile Institute before earning his masters degree (1957) and PhD in (1961) from Texas A&M University, he was an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M from 1959 until 1961.

As an Associate Professor of Wildlife Management at New Mexico State University from 1961 until 1965, he served as a consultant to the New Mexico Game and Fisheries department until leaving for the University of Southern California, where from 1965 until 1967 he was Curator of Herpetology at the Los Angeles County Museum.

In 1971 he returned to his Texas roots, becoming a professor at Texas A&M University, where he taught Wildlife and Fisheries Science and became Curator of the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection. Dr. Dixon also served as president of several herpetological and naturalist societies including The Herpetologist League, Texas Herpetological Society, Texas Academy of Science, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Southwestern Association of Naturalists. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Systems of Natural Laboratories and the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Author and co-author of numerous books, book chapters, and hundreds of peer reviewed notes and articles, Dr. Dixon was one of the most prominent herpetologists of the latter 20th century, and over the years numerous species have been named in his honor by some of his thousands of students and admirers.
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By Herp News

The study is the first to directly measure the evolution rate of the penis of any species, though researchers have long suspected that the male genitalia evolve faster than other body parts, said study researcher Julia Klaczko, a biologist at the University of Campinas in Brazil. “What we see is, sometimes, very close species have very different hemipenes or genitalia,” Klaczko told Live Science …

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By Herp News

© Provided by Quartz Change that default password, pronto. Lizard Squad, the online group that claimed responsibility for the attacks on PlayStation’s and Xbox’s networks last month, is using thousands of hacked Internet routers to run a new attack service it’s selling to consumers.

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By Herp News

Experts are still stumped how the reptile found its way into the toilet

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Turtle Rock completes development on much-anticipated 4v1 shooter ahead of launch next month; intro cinematic released.

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It may sound like an urban legend, but one woman got the surprise of her life after finding a boa in her bathroom.

From the L.A. Times:

“I thought my eyes were deceiving me,” Lasca said. When she saw the flicker of the snake’s tongue, she knew it was a snake.

She screamed and ran from the bathroom, slamming the door and calling the county Department of Animal Services.

The snake, identified as a Colombian rainbow boa, was curled up behind the toilet when an animal services employee arrived at the office in a building at 5th and G in downtown San Diego, which was once city hall.

Read more here.

Related links:

Boa Forum
Boa Classifieds …read more
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It may sound like an urban legend, but one woman got the surprise of her life after finding a boa in her bathroom.

From the L.A. Times:

“I thought my eyes were deceiving me,” Lasca said. When she saw the flicker of the snake’s tongue, she knew it was a snake.

She screamed and ran from the bathroom, slamming the door and calling the county Department of Animal Services.

The snake, identified as a Colombian rainbow boa, was curled up behind the toilet when an animal services employee arrived at the office in a building at 5th and G in downtown San Diego, which was once city hall.

Read more here.

Related links:

Boa Forum
Boa Classifieds …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Check out this video “B & W Argentine Tegus Nap Time in Bed” submitted by kingsnake.com user reptilemomof3.
Submit your own reptile & amphibian videos at http://www.kingsnake.com/video/ and you could see them featured here or check out all the videos submitted by other users! …read more
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It’s our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user amazonreptile!

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By Herp News

California congresswoman, Toni G. Atkins, introduced a bill yesterday (AB 96) that would close a major loophole allowing ivory to be sold all over the state. Thousands of miles away, across Africa, poachers are decimating elephants for their ivory tusks. A recent study estimated that one fifth of the continent’s elephants have been slaughtered in just three years.

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By Herp News

8chan founder says “there is no way to know” who really attacked imageboard site.

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Kevin Murphy
7025 Aetna ct
Wauwatosa, WI
53213 US
414-412-1034
Kmurphy2233@gmail.com

Fraud Alert: Kevin Murphy – Wauwatosa, WI
Fraudulent Use of Credit Card; Theft of Service

On January 8, 2015, kingsnake.com received a chargeback notice from our credit card processor that the classified account purchase made on September 27, 2014, by the individual listed above was made with a stolen or unauthorized credit card.

If you were defrauded by this or any other individual through our classified advertising system, please file a formal complaint with our classified advertising department. For more information please visit; http://market.kingsnake.com/complaint.php. …read more
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By Herp News

Venom from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake in the Everglades is distinct from the cocktail of toxins delivered by the same species in the Florida panhandle area, some 500 miles away. But no matter where you go in the Southeastern United States, the venom of the eastern coral snake is always the same. The results challenge common assumptions in venom evolution research, provide crucial information for rattlesnake conservation, and will help coral snake antivenom development.

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By Herp News

What big teeth you have, my dear! The better to eat insects with—and make one’s own ecological niche. Scientists have uncovered a new bat with stupendous canines in the rainforests of Lao PDR and Vietnam, aptly naming it Hypsugo dolichodon, or the long-toothed pipistrelle.

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Dan and I had been dipping for dwarf siren and then road hunting for several hours. At 4:00PM, we found ourselves on a sand road south of the “Big Lake” (Lake Okeechobee) and we were about ready to call it a day. Dan had to drive back to Miami and I to Gainesville. Fair distances, both.

We were on what we decided would be our last drive of the day along the long dirt road. The drive northward had been uneventful and we were almost to the end of our southward return.

Snake!

A fair-sized, heavy-bodied snake was crawling slowly onto the road. From a distance we had thought it to be a cottonmouth. No great prize, but when herping is slow any and all herps are a welcome sighting. As we neared and the snake crawled farther on to the road it became apparent that it wasn’t a cottonmouth – it was an eastern hog-nose.

This made what had been a rather blah day a really nice one. But it was about to get even better. As we photographed the female that was now almost across the road, an adult male crawled out of the edging grasses about 6 inches from where we first saw the female.

Bingo. Breeding time! And then from about 20 feet farther down road a second male was sighted. Dan and I spent considerable time taking photos and when we left we were both smiling.
Continue reading “The hog-nose trio” …read more
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The Orianne Society knows that herpetological conservation is just as important as other wildlife efforts, and plans to step up for herps.

From Online Athens:

“We are trying to develop a university-based nonprofit that’s a global leader for reptilian and amphibian conservation and herpetology,” said Chris Jenkins, chief executive officer of The Orianne Society and an adjunct faculty member at The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “If you look at different types of mammals and birds you’ll find that the entities working to provide conservation and manage those populations is numerous, but there’s nowhere near as many working for reptiles and amphibians.”

The Orianne Society approaches conservation in three ways — research, conservation and boots-on-the-ground work such as purchasing land, managing and restoring habitats, conducting inventories of animals and reintroducing rare reptiles and amphibians into habitats where they have become extinct.

Read more here. …read more
Read more here: King Snake

The Orianne Society knows that herpetological conservation is just as important as other wildlife efforts, and plans to step up for herps.

From Online Athens:

“We are trying to develop a university-based nonprofit that’s a global leader for reptilian and amphibian conservation and herpetology,” said Chris Jenkins, chief executive officer of The Orianne Society and an adjunct faculty member at The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “If you look at different types of mammals and birds you’ll find that the entities working to provide conservation and manage those populations is numerous, but there’s nowhere near as many working for reptiles and amphibians.”

The Orianne Society approaches conservation in three ways — research, conservation and boots-on-the-ground work such as purchasing land, managing and restoring habitats, conducting inventories of animals and reintroducing rare reptiles and amphibians into habitats where they have become extinct.

Read more here. …read more
Read more here: King Snake

It’s our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mizzy!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
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By Herp News

A Queensland reptile park owner is recovering in hospital after a crocodile bit off his thumb in front of horrified families during a daily feeding show.

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By Herp News

Africa’s rhinos are in a state of crisis. Poaching for their horn has resulted in the deaths of thousands of animals and pushed the continent’s two species—the white and black rhino—against the wall. Yet, despite the crisis, there are pockets of rhino territory where poaching remains rare and rhinos live comparatively unmolested. Indeed, one of the brightest spots for rhinos is in Namibia.

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By Herp News

Tortoise Capital Advisors today announced Brian Kessens and Connie Savage have been promoted to the role of managing director.

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This year will be a defining year for British reptile keepers.

This year the UK will see the publication of the list of species to be banned from private ownership under the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulations. This is a defining moment in history. Never before has the UK banned the private ownership of any animal. The number of species affected is initially likely to very small, but there will be the inevitably push from the “antis” have more and more species added.

The EU is also the source of a debate to implement a positive list of approved reptile species. Keepers in Belgium and the Netherlands are very much at the forefront of this insidious push by the antis to ban keeping of non-approved species. There’s nothing positive about a positive list.

2015 will also finally answer a argument that has been raging for more than 20 years – are UK reptile shows are legal or not. The question will finally be answered this year by the British High Court.

Despite these threats, our hobby continues to grow. 2014 saw more reptiles and amphibians kept in the UK than ever before. There was also an increase in the number of pet shops licensed to sell reptiles, and this growth is set to continue and 2015. Although business has been tough, we’re bucking the trend of many other sectors. Growth was strongest in the frozen food sector (rodents) with an increase of about 11 percent, and live foods by about 7 percent.

A belated happy New Year to everyone and I hope it is a prosperous time for everyone.

Photo: 1999 International Herp Society Fall Expo, Walsall, U.K. – courtesy Jeff Barringer
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