This beautiful subadult Banded Gila Monster was just perched along a rocky trail.

The Gila (pronounced Hee-laa) Monster, Heloderma suspectum, is famous for its venomous bite. It is the only venomous lizard in the USA.

I find them appealing both for their appearance and the fact that they are unpredictable in their appearances in areas as different as rocky deserts, mountain slopes, and heavily populated areas. I rarely find them when I’m looking for them. But when I’m not actively looking, I may stumble across one or two.

This is a long lived lizard. A life span of 20 to 30 years is often quoted, but one researcher has been observing and documenting the same Gila Monster in her (he has determined it to be a female) on her winter refuge for more than 40 years. That’s right, 40+ years for that matriarch!

To highlight their unpredictability, on a recent trip to California, Jake and I had failed to find the White rattlesnake we had hoped to photograph and were returning to the car along our different trails. Suddenly Jake gave a holler, saying “come look at this!”

I clambered over to where Jake stood, and there amid the rocks on the trail was a beautiful young adult Gila. And what made this even better than good, it was a Banded Gila, H. s. cinctum, the westernmore subspecies that neither of us had seen in the field before. Cameras were activated and the lizard was immortalized as it crawled slowly to the ground and out of sight.

Elsewhere and at another time a Reticulated Gila, H. s. suspectum, the easternmost subspecies caught our eyes as it crawled, well after darkness had shrouded the Arizona desertland, along a sandy roadside. More pix, happy smiles, and more herping ahead. Life was good.

About the Gila Monster:

Subspecies and Range:
Banded, H. s. cinctum, Western Arizona, Extreme Southwestern Utah, Extreme Southern Nevada, possible isolated pops in Southeastern California
Reticulated, H. s. suspectum, Central and Southern Arizona, Extreme Southwestern New Mexico, Central and Southeastern Sonora
Color/Markings: Usually pink(ish) with black bands or reticulations
Size: Adults 18-22”; Hatchlings ~6”.
Appearance: “Chunky,” short-legged, relatively slow-moving. Tail about half as long as head and body and of variable thickness (the tail is a fat storage organ). This lizard is not capable of autotomizing the tail. Scales beadlike.
Status: Often seen but protected. Continue reading “Gila Monsters” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This fantastic headshot of a Copperhead our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran reminds us that on Rattlesnake Friday, we celebrate all our venomous creatures! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

They may be sassy but the beauty of a Tokay gecko is undeniable, like this one in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user stingray! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

What a beautiful boa constrictor in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Robb75! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

The West Alpine locality momma is holding tight to those new eggs in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user oursnakes ! Be sure to tell oursnakes you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

An FWC officer smiles as he surveys the scene after the killing of 34 pythons and a pregnant pet boa by FWC officers (Photo by Chris Coffee, who has granted permission for this photo to be published and disseminated)

In 2021, Florida changed their ownership laws but promised that pet owners were able to keep their animals for the lifetime of the animals. Breeders stopped breeding and started moving animals out of fear of repercussions. Animals that were legally owned under a “Conditional Species Permit” were now considered illegal, however according to FWC, they were grandfathered in for the rest of their lives and could live out their lives in their current homes.

“I want to make sure the public’s aware that if you currently own one of these reptiles, you’re allowed to keep it until it’s death. So no one is telling you you have to get rid of your pet or euthanize it and no one from the state is going to take it from you.” Rodney Barreto , Chairman – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Public commission meeting February 25, 2021 

“Their pets are their pets and they are going to continue to be their pets and we made sure that it was very clear.” – Mike Sole, Former Vice Chairman – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Public commission meeting February 25, 2021

Continue reading “Holy Thursday Massacre: The Killing Fields of Florida” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This lacerta is loving to lounge in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user krloucks . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Even antheristic Corn Snakes very dark in color can be identified by the spearpoint on the top of the head.The Corn Snake, Pantherophis guttata, also known as the Red Rat Snake, is known to countless snake enthusiasts as a beautiful red, buff and yellow snake. Due to selective breeding in captivity, this species exceeds even the ball python in the variety of colors (and patterns).

But familiar though the hobbyists may be with the captive and normally red variations of this pretty constricting snake, many, many fewer realize that there are in the comparatively few wild areas left on the southern part of the Florida Peninsula, corn snakes of “a different color.”

Termed “anerythristic” (meaning lacking red), these snakes, pretty in their own modest way, have a variable ground color, gray with a brownish oversheen in most cases, to a pure dark gray on a few. Dorsal saddles and lateral blotches have brown centers with narrow to wide dark rimming. There is usually a dark edged, buff, postorbital bar present.

And while we’re discussing these, how did the name “Corn “ snake originate? It seems likely that this term describes the seemingly preferred habitat for this snake. It was and still is often found at the edges of agricultural (including corn) fields or in crop-storage barns.

Viva la Corn Snake!

Continue reading “Corns of a Different Color” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! It may not be a rattlesnake, but it is a venomous snake that needs a little extra love! What a stunning copperhead, uploaded by kingsnake.com user HerpLverassumes the traditional cobra pose for this photo! 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. It is our goal to help dispel the fears surrounding our beloved venomous creatures.

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

The best part about corn snakes is their wide variety of looks, like this Striped Sunglow Motley in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jcherry! Be sure to tell them you like it here!

Corn Snake, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jcherry” />

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Hope this beautiful Sumatran Short Tail (aka Black Blood) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user amaliamoran brightens your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

These adorable Crested Geckos are just hanging around in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user MOC_Reptiles ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

The Fire Skink in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user firereptiles is appropriately named! Pure FIRE! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! No offense USPS!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Yellow cheeks and reddish ears. We can only guess at the genetics.
Yellow-bellied Sliders, Trachemys scripta scripta, are among the more abundant of the sliders in the southeastern USA. At the northwestern areas of their extensive range they intergrade with the “once” more westerly Red-eared slider, T.s. elegans. I placed the word once in quotations simply to draw attention, for nowadays, due to releases and escapes, the Red-ear may be found not only throughout the range of the Yellow Belly but also far to the north and south of it as well. The two subspecies have much in common, not only genetically but in general appearance—they’re brightly colored as juveniles, have much the same carapacial appearance, darken appreciably (males the most) with age, attain the same adult size, and have plastral markings are almost the same. One sub species has red ear markings, the other has yellow facial blotches that are often suffused with some degree of red.

When Patti and I go across the street to the Wetland Park, one of the first herps we see are the Yellow-bellied Sliders. In early summer we can find hatchlings amidst the sedges at the shoreline. Throughout the days during all 4 seasons, as long as the sun is shining, we can usually scout out a half dozen or more adults basking atop floating vegetation or straddling emerging logs or floating alligators (‘gators also eat turtles). As I said, the taxon is common to the point of abundance, and we are glad this is so.

Continue reading “Yellow-bellies and Redears” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This baby copperhead in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user mcmdillon was found, photographed and left to live it’s best life in Plano, TX! Respect! 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. It is our goal to help dispel the fears surrounding our beloved venomous creatures.

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Ming, a Crocodile Newt, is out and exploring in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user 1janna1! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!http://gallery.kingsnake.com/photo.php?id=393527 …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This desert horned lizard looks majestic in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Brockn! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!http://gallery.kingsnake.com/photo.php?id=393527 …read more
Read more here: King Snake

An amazing shot of a chill Black Racer being all chill in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ReptileProducts! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!http://gallery.kingsnake.com/photo.php?id=393527 …read more
Read more here: King Snake

An adult Eastern Indigo from Southern Florida.
In contrast to many other snake species that are warm weather specialists, the Eastern Indigo Snake, Drymarchon couperi, is active and breeding during our cooler weather. To see one in the wild is a spectacular event. Indigos are smooth scaled serpents of large size. Males may exceed 7 feet, females are about a foot shorter. Both gender are alert and so heavy-bodied that they put the Black Racer (with which they are often confused by non-herpers) to shame. In addition, the Indigo is a glossy, a shiny, black (so shiny that it often has a blue sheen in bright light) while the black racer is a soft, non-shiny, satin black. The chin of the Eastern Indigo may be black or red.

Indigo snakes have a comparatively huge home range. They favor brush piles, stump holes, gopher tortoise and mammalian burrows, with tortoise burrows being of prime importance. Tracking summations indicate the range of a single indigo often exceeds 150 acres and occasionally nearly twice that amount. Habitats vary seasonally from longleaf pine plantations and stream beds to sandy ridges. A few reintroduction programs are underway to bring Indigos back to state and federal parks and some other private/public holdings. Presently the Indigo can be found in southern Georgia, southern Alabama, and Florida, and perhaps in extreme se Mississippi and the low country of se South Carolina.

Adult prey items of adult indigos include birds and mammals of suitable size, as well as other reptiles including pit vipers, while juveniles add amphibians and smaller reptiles to the culinary list. Like King Snakes, Indigos are immune to pit viper venom

Indigo Snakes are often thought of as gentle snakes that are disinclined to strike or bite but if surprised, they may vibrate the tail. Because of their tractability they were often sought after for pet snakes. This popularity along with massive habitat loss has resulted in protection at state and federal levels. They cannot be collected from the wild. A federal permit is needed for interstate trade/sale. Be certain to know all relevant state and federal laws.

Indigos are oviparous. Clutches usually number 4 to12 large eggs. Hatchlings are ~20” in length and may be flecked with blue dorsally.
Continue reading “Eastern Indigo Snake” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This Leopard Frog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Steve G was caught out and about on a warm night! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!http://gallery.kingsnake.com/photo.php?id=393527 …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Bear, a captive Heloderma suspectum cinctum, photo courtesy of kingsnake.com user DennisDeLapJr from our galleries.

Venom is a magical thing, it can both destroy and save. When the diabetic drug Byetta hit the market, it was originally marketed as derived from the “spit” of Gila Monsters. The stigma of the destructive properties of venom was too much for the marketing team. Now Ozempic is on the market and making waves for more than it’s ability to balance A1C. Ozempic is the newest rage in medical weight loss. But it is the where it came from that interests us. A second medication made from the venom of Gila Monsters moving forward and advancing medicine thanks to the venom of our cold blooded friends.

It all started back in the early 1990s, when government researcher Dr. John Eng discovered that Gila monsters have a special hormone in their venom. The hormone is quite similar to a hunger-regulating hormone humans harbor in the small intestine, which helps control blood sugar levels.

In people, it’s called glucagon-like peptide-1. In Gila monsters, Eng named it exendin-4.

Thankfully now, they are marketing it as a venom protein, something we herpers already knew! Here is to hoping this helps increase understanding and conservation into venomous species! To read the full article, click here. …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Even this South American Rattlesnake’s tail is rattling in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user Paradox_Herps ! 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. It is our goal to help dispel the fears surrounding our beloved venomous creatures.

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

What a handsome Caiman Lizard in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user stingray ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!http://gallery.kingsnake.com/photo.php?id=393527 …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Beautiful shot of a blood python in the garden in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user grimlin ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Martha, a Reeve’s Turtle, is just chilling out in the sun in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kasie ! When this photo was originally posted in 2006, Martha was over 30 years old! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Martha, a Reeve’s Turtle, is just chilling out in the sun in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kasie ! When this photo was originally posted in 2006, Martha was over 30 years old! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Let’s go Hog Wild for this Eddy County New Mexico Locality Hognose in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user nearhoofm ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This is a juvenile V. l. gaditana. Note the yellowish tinge on the tailtip, This would have been brighter on a neonate.
Although we often hear about the Asp Viper and the European Adder, seldom do we hear about a 3rd, species, the Snub-nosed Viper.

As currently known, the Snub-nosed Viper Vipera latastei,ssp. comprises 3 subspecies, 2 of which range in Spain and the 3rd that ranges from Spain southward to North Africa. The 2 subspecies restricted to Spain are V. l. latastei and V. l. arundana. The third, V. l. gaditana ranges more widely.

None are colorful, having a ground color of light to dark gray with darker gray to black markings. The vertebral pattern may vary from a well defined darker zigzag stripe to well separated black blotches. Dark lateral blotches may be well defined to nearly obscure. The common name describes the rostral area, slightly snubbed or upturned. Neonates have a yellowish tailtip that is used in luring lizard prey to within striking range.

As a group the Snub-nosed Vipers are fairly small and relatively stout. Adult size varies from 18 to 25 inches. They utilize a wide variety of habitats, from vegetated seashore dunes to woodlands, rocky escarpments, and populated areas. Research seems recently to Concern is now being shown

In the wild, females are said to give birth to about a dozen neonates every 2 or 3 years.
Continue reading “Iberian Snub-nosed Vipers, Vipera latastei ssp.” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! The detail in this headshot of an Atrox is amazing in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user scserpents ! 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. It is our goal to help dispel the fears surrounding our beloved venomous creatures.

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Take a few moments today to follow the lead of this Giant Day Gecko in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user crazyrhacos and give yourself some time to relax! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This male Boelen’s just wants to say hello in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user JonathanH!

Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This Rhino iguana is doing his best impersonation of a dog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cycluracornuta!

Be sure to tell cycluracornuta you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This is a dark colored adult male Leopard Rat Snake.
Due to the corn snake’s beauty and genetic adaptability a great many folks once frightened of, or at least impassive towards, snakes have not only become snake owners, but rave about the beauty of their captives as well. But comparatively few of these same keepers are aware that there is another rat snake that is as pretty as our corn snake, but is a bit more difficult as a captive and is much less readily available, This is the beautiful European Leopard Rat Snake, Zamenis situla. This like many other rat snakes world-wide used to be in the then cosmopolitan genus Elaphe.

In colors, patterns, and size this snake may vary somewhat with females being a bit longer, somewhat heavier of body, and more brightly colored than the males. Adult size varies from 26 to 36 inches. The ground color varies, seemingly by locale from dusky gray to bright gray, or occasionally to a golden gray. The black-edged dorsal blotches are often a bright red but, especially on males may be dusky red. Lateral spots are black. Patterns vary from a single row of dorsal spots to a double-row, or may be a combination of the two. Some individuals may have a double row of solid rather even edged stripes, or have a combination of blotches and stripes.

Our adults were rather reluctant feeders on laboratory mice, but eagerly accepted captive bred cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) when offered.

An oviparous species, eggs may number from 2 to 8 in each clutch.

As you can see, Leopard Rat Snakes can be, and usually are, a bit more finicky than our corn snakes, but are well worth the extra effort put forth.
Continue reading “European Leopard Rat snake “ …read more
Read more here: King Snake

How lucky is this! This three toed box turtle emerging from it’s nest in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user relic37 , were definitely a field lifer! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! How stunning is the red on this Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus), uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura ! This Speck was found in Arizona. 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.

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

These Uroplatus pietschmanni in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mcamo3 ,show us what amazing masters of camoflague they truly are! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This Pine Snake looks so velvety smooth in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Jack77 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Awesome feeding shot of a chameleon in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user 1Sun s! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

This Beardie is digging his new home in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Linda G! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Note the prominent vertebral stripe and postorbital bar on this Canebrake Rattlesnake.
Firstly, what is a Canebrake? Well, the term canebrake actually pertains to a habitat feature, a thicket, a dense growth, of any of a variety of Arundinaria grasses/bamboos that are common in and along lowland streams and ravines in the southeastern United States.

And the Canebrake Rattlesnake is a crotalid that was traditionally associated with the canebrakes and other moist lowlands from FL to the Carolinas and westward to eastern Texas.

Until a few years ago this was a subspecies, Crotalus horridus atricaudatus. But in their constant urge for change (or simply because they have the “power” to make such taxonomic changes), the genetic folks eradicated most subspecies (including those for the timber rattlesnake)and concluded that this beautiful southerner/westerner was merely a color variant of the northerly, often montane, Timber Rattlesnake. Both Timber and Canebrake are now merely C. horridus. But please realize that you are under no obligation to follow this genetic ruling.

Remember that you, as I, remain free to refer to this beautiful rattlesnake as the Canebrake, a rattler that we as southerners have learned to love and one that northern herpers flock southward to see.

Continue reading “Is a Canebrake Really a Canebrake? My Thoughts.” …read more
Read more here: King Snake