The Mexican Hook-nosed Snake is a tiny burrowing species from South Texas and Mexico.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Oh, OK, so it’s not a hog-nosed snake, but in profile, its sharply upturned rostral scale, sure makes it look like one. This is the tiny Mexican Hook-nosed Snake, Ficimia streckeri. A true miniature, it is adult at from 7 to 11 inches, but may, on rare occasions reach a foot and a half in length. The few that I’ve seen (it was Kelly Irwin who introduced Patti and me to this snake) have been under a foot long. In the USA this species is restricted to southern TX, but its range extends far southward in eastern Mexico.

In keeping with its preference for soils, often near water sources, through which it can easily burrow, this is basically a sand-tan to pale brown or sand-gray(ish) snake with an unpatterned head and a busy pattern of narrow darker bars or spots along the back. The lower sides are basically unpatterned. This little snake can be easily differentiated from hog-nosed snakes, all of which have keeled scales, by its smooth (=unkeeled) body scales. It is usually crepuscular or nocturnal when surface active. Continue reading “That Other “Hog-nosed” Snake” …read more
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The Mexican Hook-nosed Snake is a tiny burrowing species from South Texas and Mexico.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Oh, OK, so it’s not a hog-nosed snake, but in profile, its sharply upturned rostral scale, sure makes it look like one. This is the tiny Mexican Hook-nosed Snake, Ficimia streckeri. A true miniature, it is adult at from 7 to 11 inches, but may, on rare occasions reach a foot and a half in length. The few that I’ve seen (it was Kelly Irwin who introduced Patti and me to this snake) have been under a foot long. In the USA this species is restricted to southern TX, but its range extends far southward in eastern Mexico.

In keeping with its preference for soils, often near water sources, through which it can easily burrow, this is basically a sand-tan to pale brown or sand-gray(ish) snake with an unpatterned head and a busy pattern of narrow darker bars or spots along the back. The lower sides are basically unpatterned. This little snake can be easily differentiated from hog-nosed snakes, all of which have keeled scales, by its smooth (=unkeeled) body scales. It is usually crepuscular or nocturnal when surface active. Continue reading “That Other “Hog-nosed” Snake” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Here’s lookin’ at you kid! Check out this gorgeous albino Southern Pacific Rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This frillie looks a little angry our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user nydon ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This little cornsnake must have been racing to get out of the egg ahead of his siblings in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Love the variety of patterns in these splotched Sinaloans in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bslugger551! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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What more can we say but AMAZING! This is such a beautiful shot of a Desert Horned Lizard in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Brockn ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Blackie, as she was released.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Blackie has been our backyard black racer for 5+ years now. Although not tame she was very tolerant of our movements around her, spent much time hunting anoles in the backyard and often sunned on the back steps.

I won’t say we actually loved her, but we surely looked forward to her visits on all but the coldest days.

About 2 months ago Blackies sustained a serious mauling by our Aussie Shepherd. The mauling, we thought when separating the 2, would be fatal. Blackie had badly torn skin and her back seemed broken in 2 places.

But she was alive. Patti carefully brought the snake inside and I coiled her as gently as possible on the bottom of a 10 gallon tank, straightened her back at the breaks, covered her, and hoped for the best, whatever that could be.

Against all odds, she was alive the next morning, lifting her head and flicking her tongue when I put my hand in the tank. But she hadn’t moved her body position so I dropped some dried leaves atop her an added feeling of security, added a water dish, and let her be. And so it went, day after day.

But then one day about 3 weeks later she had moved, half her body length was atop the leaves and she was busily flicking her tongue. I moved her to the water dish, she drank, and I noticed she was entering a shedding cycle. A few days later she began shedding, I assisted, and was pleased to see that when I touched her sides behind both breaks she moved away from my finger. She had feeling!

We decided to keep her captive through our winter, just hoping she’ll be releasable when the warmth again pervades.

Footnote: She was released on 24 Feb 2021 and was last seen periscoping for anoles. Good luck, Blackie.
Continue reading “Blackie our backyard black racer” …read more
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In celebration of all things venomous, a photo of a bushmaster taken in the field graces our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user surgeon ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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We love who we love and that is KINGSNAKES like this stunning greyband in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user APLAXAR s! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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We love who we love and that is KING SNAKES like this stunning greyband in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user APLAXAR s! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Think this Cham in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user 1Sun a little hangry?! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This is a gorgeous corn snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dallashawks ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! No offense USPS!

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This Boa is doing what they do best in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user minicopilot ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Note the nasal horns on this pretty West African Gaboon Viper.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

West African Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica rhinoceros. Except for facial markings, this large sized snake is of very similar appearance to the East African Gaboon Viper but has prominent nasal horns. It too attains a heavy bodied, remarkably well camouflaged length of 4 ½ to 5 ½ feet with females being larger. It is dangerous, very beautiful, and also has a very wide range (rainforest habitats) from Togo westward to Senegal and Mali. Food is primarily of small mammals. This subspecies has one dark marking, a diagonal triangle marking on each side of its face.

The 2 subspecies of Gaboon viper can interbreed with each other as well as with the Rhinoceros Viper. They give birth to live young that may number from as few as 5 to more than 40. Neonates are 10-12 inches in length.

In activity pattern both subspecies of these shade preferring, fallen-leaf colored, snakes are primarily nocturnal. Both subspecies have very long fangs. Despite their virulent toxins both subspecies are quite popular with herpetoculturists worldwide. Gaboon Vipers are often quiet to the point of placidity during the hours of daylight (keepers—do not be deceived by this, ALWAYS USE EXTREME CAUTION) but become alert and even active after nightfall.

Gaboons may move in a typical side to side motion but are more inclined to use a straight rectilinear movement, being slowly propelled forward by ventral scale motion.
Continue reading “West African Gaboon Viper” …read more
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Here’s lookin’ at you kid! Check out this gorgeous albino Southern Pacific Rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This Sulawesi Forest Turtle looks like he is ready to take on the world and dominate it in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user andystorts ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This young green Basilisk in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user AirPirate is enjoying his morning swim! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This pair of Iguanas are loving the sun in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user revolutionmelon ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This beautiful Trans-Pecos Rat Snake is holding on to her most valueable treasure in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pecoskid ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Dangerous but a hobbyist favorite, the East African Gaboon Viper.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

The Gaboon Vipers, often referred to as Gaboon Adders

At one time the Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica, contained 2 subspecies, the east African, Bitis gabonica gabonica, and the West African, Bitis gabonica rhinoceros. The two were of pretty similar appearance, the most noticeable difference being dark facial markings and the length of the vertical nasal projections. The East African race has 2 facial markings, a suborbital triangle or spot and a diagonal temporal triangle and short horns while the West African beauty had only the diagonal temporal triangle (it lacked the suborbital spot) and long horns. The two were ostensibly capable of interbreeding.

Then along came genetics and what was one species became 2, but the external differentiating factors remained the same. Genetically, it is thought that the West African Gaboon Viper is more closely allied to the very different appearing Rhinoceros Viper than to its East African lookalike. Call them what you choose, I’ll stick with the Linnaean subspecies concept.

East African Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica gabonica. Everything about this snake is “very.” Very large (4 ½ -5 ½ feet long). Females are larger than males. This very heavy bodied, very well camouflaged snake that is very dangerous, very beautiful, has very short nasal protuberances (often merely a pair of bumps at the tip of the snout), and a very wide range (forest and savanna habitats) from Benin to western Kenya and south to Zimbabwe and Zululand. Food is primarily of small mammals. Only one dark triangle on each side of face. There is no suborbital spot or blotch.

They give birth to live young that may number from as few as 5 to more than 40. Neonates are 10-12 inches in length.

Gaboons may move in a typical side to side motion but are more inclined to use a straight rectilinear movement, being slowly propelled forward by ventral scale motion.
Continue reading “East African Gaboon Viper” …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 Chuckwalla is feeling the warmth of the sun in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user NDokai ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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What a chunker! I’m just gonna go out on a limb and say that the Barking Tree Frog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user saltycity has never missed a meal! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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A profile of the Solomon Island Ground Boa.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Common Name: Solomon Island Ground Boa

Scientific name: Candoia paulsoni

Range: Solomon Islands and other nearby Islands.

Size: Nears 4 feet, males are the smaller gender.

Color: Individually variable. Capable of considerable metachrosis (voluntary, usually day to night color changes). Ground colors red-orange through orange to brown, occasionally cream to white. Usually a prominent darker dorsal zig-zag pattern.

Reproduction: Live-bearing
Comments: Once a herpetoculturist favorite, today it is not as commonly seen.

Continue reading “The Solomon Island Ground Boa” …read more
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All that glitters is not always gold, sometimes it is diamonds too! This diamond/jungle cross is absolutely stunning in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user KWE , they still inspire us constantly! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Two thieves in a Chevrolet Pickup Truck attempted to steal this adult Galapagos tortoise from Gerry Fife’s breeding facility in Arizona

At 2:30a.m this morning two thieves attempted to steal an adult Galapagos Tortoise from the tortoise breeding facility in Arizona run by long time tortoise breeder Jerry Fife. The breeder sized female tortoise, a critically endangered species, was severely injured in the process and the decision was made to humanely euthanize her. A reward is now being offered to bring the two thieves to justice and video of the attempt is available on Jerry’s facebook page. It is hoped that between the herp community and the law enforcement community the miscreants can be identified and arrested. This is a devastating loss for Jerry who is one of the few successful private breeders of the species in the United States. Captive Galapagos tortoises, natives of the Galapagos Islands, can live up to 177 years in captivity and are the largest species of tortoise in existence. Some may weigh over 900lbs.

This is just one of a number of recent reptile thefts in the United States from outdoor captive reptile breeding facilities, causing those facilities to tighten their security.

Veterinarians determined the injuries were too great and there was no way to save the critically injured tortotise, so the decision was made to humanely euthanize her

…read more
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Welcome to the world little one! That magical moment when a baby takes it’s first breath is captured here with this boa in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dpiscopo69 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! All venomous snakes need our support! This Cottonmouth is screaming it from the field in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user BowieKnife357 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Remember on Friday, we highlight our venomous species to help increase awareness about their conservation and celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday with everyone.

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So very underestimated but how many of you caught a Garter like the one in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user snakekate for your first field find? Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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A shout out to the little guys! Loving this Vinales Anole in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user macraei ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Here is to hoping this hatchling albino Siamese Crocodile our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user crocodilepaul helps you survive today! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Note the enlarged rostral scale and position of the eyes on the Arabian Sand Boa.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Sand boas of various types have been hobbyist favorites for decades. Perhaps foremost in the lineup has been the Kenya sand boa. But other species have also paraded through. Rough-scales, Mueller’s. European and others have all had their “15 minutes” of fame. But way back on the “tag end” of the lineup has been the coolest sand boa of all. This is the Arabian Sand Boa, a species truly specialized for life in and beneath the sands of the arid Arabian Peninsula and Iran.

Having an adult length of about 15 inches, the Arabian Sand Boa, Eryx (Gongylophis to some) jayakeri, is one of, if not THE, smallest member of this group. The eyes are small and are set high on the head rather than on the sides. With its wide, wedge-shaped rostral (nose-tip) scale and snout, this little snake is a streamlined burrower that needs only to show its eyes to watch for the approach of lizards and other prey items. During the heat of the day the snake is usually deeper in the substrate than during the comparative coolness of evening.

The ground color of this tiny boa is sand tan, gray, or orangish. It is profusely marked dorsally and laterally with dark bands, half bands, or blotches. These markings narrow as they near the lower sides.

An egg-laying species, clutch size is between 2 and 7 eggs. Incubation is said to be ~66 days. I am unaware of the size of the hatchlings but they are said to be so small that they have difficulty eating newborn pinky mice.
Continue reading “Meet the Arabian Sand Boa” …read more
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! A glorius shot of a Great Basin Rattlesnake in central Utah brings us some serenity for our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user crocman6594 ! 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 Eastern Newt is just swimming by to say hi in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user spookynewt ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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There can be little more precious than a child and his pet Ball Python, like Markus and his snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mikev ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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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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This little hatching tortoise in our Herp Photo of the Day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user amazoa is a great way to celebrate World Turtle Day late! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This is an adult Royal Rat Snake.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Of the Diadem Snakes, it is Spalerosophis atriceps the Black-headed or Royal Rat Snake that is most sought by hobbyists. A pretty but quietly colored snake, the ground color may vary from sand gray to orange. It has irregular dark blotches and spots both dorsally and laterally. The spotting may be reddish on juveniles but darkens as the snake ages. The head may be black or black and tan dorsally and the face may be orange to red, with or without black. The belly may be unmarked white or small dark blotches may be present.

These snakes are weak constrictors at best, and often smother live prey, such as a mouse, by grasping and holding it by the nose while laying body coils atop the rodent.

This snake may bite if carelessly restrained or otherwise frightened.

Adults may exceed 6 feet by a few inches. Hatchlings are 12 to 14 inches long.

Once commonly bred in the USA, the Royal Rat Snake is now rather infrequently seen. Many who have successfully bred this species have provided a several weeks winter brumation with temperatures in the mid 50sF. A clutch normally contains between 3 and 12 eggs.

India and Pakistan comprise the range of this snake.
Continue reading “Meet the Black-headed or Royal Rat Snake” …read more
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Awesome field shot of a Mojave (Crotalus scutulatus salvini) taken in Mexico in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user OXYUMAURUS! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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