Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Let’s celebrate in the mighty southwest beauty of the Rock Rattlesnake here in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Janne ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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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!
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So tiny and cute! This young garter in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Scott_Felzer is seeing how he measures up. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Hopefully this hatching Ctenosaura palearis in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ilovemonitorliza cures any case of the Mondays you might have! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Female Cuban treefrogs can attain a length of more than 5 inches.
I had been told for years that the ”Dreaded Cacophony” was coming. And about 12 years ago it finally got here. The “dreaded cacophony” had become a reality. I think it was first heard in Alachua County, FL in a tiny temporary runoff puddle by the post office. Then, that same year it a second cacophony was heard a few miles away in an even smaller puddle at the entrance of a subdivision. The noises sounded like a series of rivet guns badly in need of oiling. The next year it was heard from a couple of more ponds and the year following from still more. The cacophonists were here and it seemed they were here, despite winters that were a lot colder than those where they had evolved, to stay.
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! We know, this isi NOT a rattlesnake but Thai the King Cobra greeter at Wildlife Discovery Center in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user SoLA ! 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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There is so much to love about Colubrids, so why not celebrate them with a big ole pile of beauty in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user xtranch ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This little Caiman in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user roadkill55 is feeling SASSY! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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What an awesome field shot of a Blue Spiny Lizard in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user arkherps ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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What an adorable little tree frog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user redjiboia ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This is a very pretty male red-cheeked mud turtle.
The turtles of the genus Kinosternon are distributed southward from extreme southern New York and North Carolina to northern Argentina. The common name—mud turtle—aptly describes most not only in color (muddy brown or gray—some species do have contrasting colors—white, yellow or red– on the cheeks) but in preferred habitat as well.
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Mottled Rock Rattlesnake gallery photo by Tom Lott
Is the bite of of baby venomous snake more dangerous than an adult? Can a decapitated snake still bite? And does the “red and yellow kill a fellow” rhyme ring true? With answers by State herpetologist Paul Crump of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Elda Sánchez, director of the National Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, this article from the Dallas Morning News helps explain and explore some of the myths and facts about venomous snakes in Texas. The article also talks about the medical uses of venom, and discusses the various types of snake venom common to Texas snakes, as well as a host of other interesting facts. Check out the article on the Dallas Morning News web site!. …read more
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday from this Sidewinder in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Uncloudy ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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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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Northern Pine Snake gallery photo by user orchidspider Northern Pine Snakes, Pituophis melanoleucus, have fascinated North American Snake Enthusiasts since before I was born and have been discussed with whispered breaths since my introduction to snakes at pet stores, shows, zoos, native wildlife agencies, universities, herp societies, internet groups, and every other facet of the snake world. Perhaps no locality or population garners more interest than the small and mostly isolated populations from Kentucky. No matter what population or locality, I have heard it said amongst the greatest minds on the subject that every single record for a specimen of Northern Pine Snake is note-worthy. I have been involved in research with this species in Kentucky for over 20 years and have been contacted with requests for DNA samples and any other data I can provide by those working on papers in efforts to publish updated information on every aspect of this snake’s biology throughout its range. In 2006 my colleague Phil Peak and I were able to document the first live specimen of Northern Pine Snake recorded from the isolated Mammoth Cave Region population since 1969. None live or dead have been recorded since. In Spring of 2018 we found the cast skin pictured above under artificial cover we set out as part of a survey project we are involved in. The ability to recognize and identify a cast skin that many would have ignored or not given a second thought about is what led to our ability to formally record this as a confirmed observation backed by photograph.
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What wonderful color contrast in this hatchling Mud Snake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Godfrey ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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What a beautiful Cuban Knight Anole in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user StPierre68 simply could not be any cuter! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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What a beautiful boa constrictor in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user biophiliacs . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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A profile of a 5 foot long green anaconda in Amazonian Peru.
“Anaconda!”
That word always brought an excited response from our tour clients in Amazonian Peru. As a matter of face, the finding of one of these potentially giant water boas brought feelings of excitement from us, the tour leaders.
It is the green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, that occurs in our region and unlike some areas of northern South America where the species is considered common, we always considered ourselves lucky if we found an example on any given trip.
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Green Mamba kingsnake gallery photo uploaded by fangfatale
A Green Mamba that bit it’s owner has been located and caught in a tree after an escape following the envenomation in Prague Czechoslovakia. According to the BBC the The woman, who was found unconscious by paramedics, had not registered the highly venomous snake, and is in an induced coma at a city hospital after receiving an antidote.
To read the full story check out the article on the BBC web site.
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This certainly is not a rattlesnake, but it is a beautiful venomous creature. What a great close up of a Gaboon Viper, uploaded by kingsnake.com user magnum26 is full of sassy and potentially life-saving venom! 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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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!
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“You’re kingsnake.com, where are all the kingsnakes?” Right here in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user trevid ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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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!
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This caecilian (Typhlonectes natans) is often incorrectly called the Rubber Eel, we just like his “smile” in this awesome close up in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user chrish ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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The large-headed anole is very locally distributed in South Florida.
This is a confusingly variable, sexually dimorphic (males being the larger (to 8 inches) and bulkier) trio of anoles. Several anole species lack the ability to change colors from brown to green or vice versa, and these 3 are among the “unables.” Two of these, the Puerto Rican crested and the large-headed anoles may occasionally assume an olive gray blush, but they are unable to become the bright green that is so often associated with anoles.
The brown anole, Anolis s. sagrei, has become one of the best known lizards in the southeastern USA. Of Cuban/Bahaman origin, this persistent heliotherm was imported into the USA as both a pet and to be used as a food by the keepers of lizard-eating snakes. Many of these quick, agile, lizards had escaped their captors and were known to have acclimated and bred in extreme southern Florida in the 1950s. Today, after some 60+ years of freedom, the always expanding range of this blotched and striped brown lizard with a gray edged red dewlap now includes most of FL, some of GA, LA, and TX, locally in CA, widely in HI, and almost assuredly in locales not yet reported.
The Puerto Rican crested anole, Anolis cristatellus, is very similar to the Cuban brown anole in appearance, but the former is restricted to the Miami-Dade County region and is very often found in areas of deep shade. Body color may vary from pale gray (occasionally with a vague greenish tint) to charcoal, but it is usually of a variable brown. Individuals (especially males) may have broad darker lateral bands and a lighter vertebral stripe. Adult males usually have a fin-like tail crest and glandular nuchal and dorsal ridges may be seen. A light stripe may be present above the apex of each forelimb. The dewlap is yellow with a broad orange edging. Females and young males lack the cresting. This anole species is usually seen close to the ground on the shady trunks of large trees, fallen logs, railings, low cinder block structures or limestone boulders.
The large-headed anole, Anolis cybotes, is the most uncommon and localized of these 3 species. Except for a light gray or greenish-gray lateral line usually being visible, both the head and body of this anole are often a clear, unmarked, tan or light brown. The large dewlap is yellow with a variable amount of paler striping. When disturbed this anole has a tendency to bend its head downward and to arc its tail upwards.
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Today we bring you this serene headshot of a lovely Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus), uploaded by kingsnake.com user MartinWhalin1 ! This guy was found in the wild in Arizona and as you can see, he was respected by the herpers and he gave them respect in return. 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 gorgeous Ctenosaura quinquecarinata is just hanging around in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user rockabirdie ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This kingsnake has perfect camouflage in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user rick d ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This young banded water snake being very curious in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user casichelydia ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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So many colors! This is one gorgeous Dumeril’s boa in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user biophiliacs ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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The green bark anole, Anolis distichus dominicensis, may still be seen in a few isolated Florida hammocks.
The established alien anoles in Florida range from Lake Okeechobee southward to the Keys and in size from the 4 ½ inch long bark anoles, A. distichus ssp., to the gigantic, foot and a half long, knight anole, Anolis e. equestris. However most are in 7 to 8 inch range with females a bit the smaller gender. All are capable of at least a little color change and some make dramatic changes. Let’s take a quick look at 3 of the rather typical smaller examples.
The Hispaniolan green anole, Anolis chlorocyanus, may vary in color from green to brown with a bicolored white and blue-black dewlap. It is in overall appearance like a slender, long-nosed, example of the more familiar northern green anole, A. c. carolinensis. Females often have brown dorsal striping. This anole is imported from Haiti for the pet trade and their presence in Florida can probably be attributed to escapes from the importing facilities.
The green bark anole, Anolis distichus dominicensis, a dark flecked forest green species with a yellowish to red and white or yellow and white dewlap. This is another of the several pet trade anole species imported from Hispaniola. It is of chunky appearance and where it has interbred with the native Florida bark anole, it may be more brown than green.
The blue-fronted anole, Anolis allisoni, is a relative newcomer to Florida. The origin of the sFL population is unknown, but this species is occasionally seen in the pet trade. It is probably the most variably colored anole species in FL. The long snout is strongly ridged. The dewlap is pink to red. Capable of pronounced color changes, the common name of “blue-fronted” may seem entirely erroneous for many examples. Some may be an overall brown and may retain that color for hours or even days. Others may be entirely green. Many males have a variable amount of blue that may vary from powder to bright in the color scheme. The blue may incorporate the entire head, just the sides of the head, the head and neck, or the entire anterior head and dorsum. In other words, this taxon may vary from one of the dullest to one of the most beautiful anole species.
More anoles to come in future blogs., may still be seen in a few isolated Florida hammocks.
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! The true American Icon, the Atrox, or Western Diamondback stands his ground in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user juzior ! 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.
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This Mexican Pine Snake (Pituophis deppei jani) is ready for action in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pitparade . 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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Loving this Blue tongue skink just chilling in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user PatS . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This Ambilobe Panther Chameleon is all fired up in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user vinniem1210! Be sure to tell vinniem1210 you liked it here!
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Native or not, that is the question. The Florida bark anole, Anolis distichus floridana.
Of the Baker’s dozen (maybe 14) anole species that are still listed as being present in the USA, there are probably at least 2 taxa that no longer occur. And of those listed only 2 are native. These are the color changing, arboreal, green (or Carolina) anole that has 2 recognized subspecies (the northern form, Anolis c. carolinensis, and the very questionable southern form, A. c. seminolus). And then there’s the primarily treetrunk dwelling Florida bark anole, A. distichus floridana.
The northern form of the green anole ranges westward and southward from southern Virginia to eastern Texas and southern Florida, surrounding the relatively small range (western Sarasota to Collier counties) of the southern race.
The subspecies of the the green anole are recognized and differentiated by dewlap (throat fan) color. The northern race has a red dewlap and the southern has a gray dewlap. I feel that the gray throated race is “questionable” because when utilizing the subspecies concept there supposedly cannot be 2 subspecies existing sympatrically. However throughout the South Florida range of the southern green anole one can also encounter green anoles with red dewlaps. Perhaps just calling the gray throated form an occasional variant would be more accurate.
Questions of a different kind are often raised about the Florida bark anole; is it or is it not a native form. It would seem that the current concept is either “yes” or “maybe” to that ques
This race of the bark anole (A. distichus is a Bahaman and Hispaniolan group) is found from southeastern Palm Beach County southward to Monroe County and in many areas has intergraded with the non-native but established green bark anole, A. d. dominicensis. In its purest form it is a gray or brownish lizard with dark dorsal chevrons and a yellow to orange dewlap.
These two are only the tip of Florida’s anoline iceberg. I’ll say a few word about the others in future blogs.
Native or not, that is the question. The Florida bark anole, Anolis distichus floridana.
Green anoles in southern Florida may have a red or a gray dewlap. Currently those having gray dewlaps are considered A. c. seminolus.
Red dewlaps are the more common color with the green anole, A. c. carolinensis.
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Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Loving the close-up of this Southern Pacific Rattlesnake in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user goombaorigato ! 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.
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How awesome is this group of breeding Gharials in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Lucky_7 . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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