Is this Irian Jaya Jag in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user StonedReptiles bright enough for you? Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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In high school I got my hands on Barbours book about Snakes in Kentucky and will never forget gazing at the picture of the Corn Snake and learning that a small and isolated population of these snakes occurred in Kentucky. Little did I know that the names of the other students who checked out that book would be my future bosses and co-workers at The Louisville Zoo, or that my friend Phil Peak and I would one day focus in on this serpent and spend countless hours in the counties that seemed so far away and foreign to me at the time.
It took some effort to locate my first specimen by the time that I was in my 20’s, but once I began to figure them out I was able to locate well over 100 of them in a very confined area. Phil and I were able to establish a small group of these snakes in captivity and we donated babies to educational facilities across Kentucky. We also gave them to people in our local Herp Society so that they could be used in presentations, and also so that our local people would not feel the need to go down and remove additional specimens from the wild. Phil and I had a lot of questions about this isolated population of snakes so we began to record as much information about each specimen as we could. In addition to blotch and scale row counts we were also able to determine when they emerged, when they bred, when they laid eggs, when the babies hatched, and when the adults went back underground to spend the winter. After compiling all of our data we began the process of publishing our work in a scientific format. This process was long and complicated for us, and we were fortunate to meet Danna Baxley who came onboard with our efforts as a co-author and helped us organize the work in a way that was presentable and acceptable to the newly formed Journal of North American Herpetology where it was published in 2015. To anyone interested in the scientific paper, here is a link to the PDF file that can be found on the Center For North American Herpetology website: http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88314.pdf
It is difficult to fully describe everything that was involved in this whole process in the short format here, so I will close it out by saying that the journey from my high school library all the way to being published in a scientific journal was a long and interesting experience that has left me grateful to the local people of rural Kentucky and to my friends Phil Peak and Danna Baxley whose knowledge and patience made possible what I could not have done on my own.
…read more
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Crocodilians come out of the egg sassy, like this Cuvier’s dwarf caiman in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user sk8r009 give us a serious case of the “awws”! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Many McGregor’s pit vipers are strongly patterned.
This is another of today’s choose your name species. This beautiful and variable pit viper from the Philippine islands of Batan and Sabtang (perhaps introduced to other locales) has gone from its 1913 described name of Trimeresurus mcgregori (named for the collector of the first specimen who just happened to receive and survive a bite) to Trimeresrus flavomaculatus mcgregori, then to Parias mcgregori, and now back to the starting name, T. mcgregori.
This is one of the more variably colored pit vipers, ranging from solid brown to a pure silvery white and having many shades of yellow and a few differing patterns between those 2 extremes. It is adult at about 3 feet in length. It is an oviparous species.
Protected in its Philippine homeland and the relatively few captives having proven problematic to breed, this beautiful pit viper is not a frequently seen species in collections. As would be expected, when on the rare occasions this taxon does become available, the prices asked are often out of range for all but the most dedicated of venomous keepers.
Continue reading “McGregor’s Pit Vipers” …read more
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These hatchling Galapagos Tortoises in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jerry d. fife give us a serious case of the “awws”! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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By Herp News
Coral snake venom carries significant neurotoxicity and human injuries can be severe or even lethal. Despite this, antivenom treatments are scarce due to challenges collecting adequate amounts of venom needed to produce anti-elapidic serum. Exciting new research uses synthetically designed DNA to produce coral-snake antivenom.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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In our celebration of all things venomous on Friday, what an amazing close up of the Hagen’s pit viper in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user knotsnake ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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The old standby, Wagler’s viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri, Thailand.
A decade or so ago, the Wagler’s viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri, once thought to be just a very variable snake species, was determined to actually be a species complex. Researchers have now elevated several of what were long considered simply geographic or color variants of the Wagler’s viper to full species status. This has, of course, rendered the Wagler’s viper, itself, much less variable, but definitely no less interesting.
Besides T. wagleri of Thailand and West Malaysia the genus now contains:
Hutton’s pit viper, T. huttoni (a poorly known species from southern India)
Mindanao pit viper, T. philippinensis (a genetically separable Wagler’s viper lookalike from Mindanao)
Keeled green pit viper. T. subannulatus of the Philippines and Borneo (as described, possibly a species complex)
Broad-banded temple pit viper, T. laticinctus, of Sulawesi.
The alternate name of temple viper (applied to at least 2 of the species) seems to have originated due to the abundance of T. wagleri near the Temple of the Azure Cloud in Malaya.
If you search old literature or Google the species, you will undoubtedly see photos of people, old and young alike, often near the Temple of the Azure Cloud, holding Wagler’s vipers barehandedly. In my opinion this is unwise in the extreme. Admittedly this snake, nocturnal by nature, is relatively placid and reluctant to bite in the daylight hours. They are far less apt to allow indiscriminate handling after dark. It is to the best interests of all herpers (and especially yourself) that you not become an expensive and controversial snakebite statistic.
Continue reading “Wagler’s Vipers” …read more
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By Herp News
Using head shapes and genetic analyses, researchers have recommend that six groups of subspecies of the western rattlesnake be elevated to full species status.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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So precious! We love hatchling photos, like this awakening Gecko in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user SA! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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How cute is this Pacman Frog in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user doobie119 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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The supraocular areas of this northern Colombian boa baby are barely darkened.
For many decades Colombian boas, Boa constrictor imperator, were a major component in the American pet trade. In fact, they were the dominant and least expensive subspecies available. I purchased my first baby Colombian boa back in the early 1950s from Quivira Specialties Company in Topeka, Kansas. It cost me $4.65 plus postage. Yep—that was 4 dollars and 65 cents. You could buy a “red-tailed” boa for a couple of bucks more but they were less readily available and why would one need a boa with a redder tail that that borne by the Colombian (actually imperator is found from northern Mexico to northwestern South America) subspecies anyway?
What is a B. c. imperator? The call is pretty much made by the shape of the dark head marking. On this subspecies the longitudinal central marking ostensibly had a lateral projection to each eye. In reality the lateral projections could vary from well-defined to nearly absent. They were often represented by the supraocular scales being darkened but not connected to the longitudinal central mark. These projections are lacking on the more southerly forms. The red of the tail of imperator may vary from blackish-red in northern Mexico to dusty red in northern Colombia.
Boas, escaped or deliberately released, were known to have been established in South Florida since the 1960s. They were and are largely restricted to a small area of Miami. Of variable appearance. Some have the head markings and pale red tails that define the northern Colombian boas while others lack even vestiges of the horizontal head projections and have rich red tails suggesting a more southerly origin.
And since I recently lost all pix of Miami boas when a hard drive crashed, I guess it’s time to try my luck once more.
Continue reading “Colombian Boas and a Mention of Miami” …read more
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By Herp News
In the past two decades, water frogs have spread rapidly in Central Europe. Using a new statistical model, researchers have now been able to show that local species such as the Yellow-bellied Toad and the Common Midwife Toad are suffering from the more dominant water frogs.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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As you can see here in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mjmullis , there is no doubt where the name came from! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Three cheers for one of the best reptile pets, the Bearded Dragons here in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Rick Millspaugh ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This action alert just came in from USARK. Oregon has the ability to change laws through a rulemaking process which is faster, however reduces our time to respond.
ACTION ALERT Oregon state: Comment by March 4.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has proposed some rule changes which will negatively impact both native and exotic animal keepers. The changes may even harm the animals by requiring sterilization of animals that are rarely, if ever, sterilized. While good intention may be the basis for these proposals, ODFW may not be aware of the negative impacts associated with the new rules.
One big change is that it will be illegal to keep animals listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This list includes many non-native species that have been kept and bred in the U.S. for many decades, hence, not affecting wild populations. That list includes not only herps like Radiated tortoises, but many macaws, other birds, fish and even chinchillas. which are commonly kept as pets.
View the full ACTION ALERT at USARK’s website here. …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Hey mamba, mamba verde! What a great shot of the Western Green Mamba in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user fangfatale ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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By Herp News
A gene in snails that determines whether their shells twist clockwise or anti-clockwise has been discovered by a team of international researchers. It could offer clues to how the same gene affects body asymmetry in other animals including humans, they report.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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This young gator is getting a start on the weekend a day early in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user goini04 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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By Herp News
Separated by several hundred kilometers from its next of kin, a new blue-tailed monitor lizard unique to the remote Mussau Island has been described. Given a Latin name meaning ‘isolated,’ it is the only large-sized land-living predator and scavenger on the small Pacific island.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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By Herp News
A new study has called for a change in the way we manage bycatch — to better monitor the unintentional catching of sea turtles by commercial fishers. The number of turtles caught in a single fishery or year may not seem to be a cause for concern, but even low levels might place pressure on a species when considered across fisheries and over multiple years, say the authors.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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By Herp News
A new species of snake has been identified in Europe. The researchers were able to demonstrate that the “Iberian Grass Snake” does not constitute a subspecies of the wide-spread common Grass Snake as previously thought, but rather a distinct species.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Hope you have a happy hump day with a little help from this cute Spotted Turtle in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user allen! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Today is a great day for new beginnings, like this pair of hatching Ball Pythons have in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user sf! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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How beautiful is this Ctenosaura quinquecarinata 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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By Herp News
Imagine exploring a wooded site along an Alaska stream or lake for evidence of animals. Maybe you’ll see moose prints in the soil or a bit of wolf fur in a berry bush. But some species don’t leave footprints. They still leave a clue. It’s their DNA.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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By Herp News
As the natural forests in Ethiopia is already less than 3 percent of what it once has been, the banana frog species, dwelling exclusively in the southwestern part of the African country, is exposed to a great risk of extinction. Through their survey, a research team have extended its range, thus making the first steps to saving the charming frogs.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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By Herp News
Researchers have discovered a new species of extinct worm lizard in Texas and dubbed it the ‘Lone Star’ lizard. The species — the first known example of a worm lizard in Texas — offers evidence that Texas acted as a subtropical refuge during one of the great cooling periods of the past.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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I went to the desert for a snake with no name. What a fabuoous shot of a Great Basin Rattlesnake in Utah in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user crocman6594! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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What a gorgeous gartersnake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user TomDickinson ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Hope you enjoy this great shot of a Black Salamander in the field in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user sc_shark ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Let’s hope your Valentine’s Day was better than this! Kidding! A pair of Water Monitors meet for the first time in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user elaphehead ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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This captive pair of giant whiptails lived for several years.
Seemingly first reported in 1995, this beautiful sun worshipper, Aspidoscelis motaguae, had by then probably been established in Florida for at least 20 years. Strangely, although I recall several other teeids (even the seldom imported little 4-toed whiptail, Teius teyou) figuring prominently in the American pet trade, the mention of A. motaguae brings back no memories at all. That this species has now been present for decades in several small Miami-Dade County populations indicates that it figured to a greater or lesser degree in the inventories of some importers.
A beautifully colored lizard, males of the the giant whiptail attain a total length of 13 inches. Females are smaller and a bit less colorful. Males are olive-slate on the upper sides. This shades to gold dorso-anteriorly and to blue ventrolaterally. Gold flecks are liberally scattered over the dorsum. The flecks become white and elongate to vertical bars ventrolaterally. Although certainly not flamboyant, the colors and patterns of this lizard are pretty and memorable.
The eytomology of the scientific name commemorates the upper Motagua Valley of Guatemala, a portion of the natural range of the giant whiptail. Overall the lizard ranges southward from Oaxaca, MX to Guatemala, Honduras and adjacent Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
Like many, if not most, other teiids, the giant whiptail is omnivorous. Although its diet leans strongly toward invertebrates, it also readily consumes blossoms and berries.
Continue reading “Giant Whiptail” …read more
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By Herp News
During the last glaciation, a huge ice shield reached up to the region of today’s Berlin. By the time it started to melt about 20,000 years ago, it enabled a gradual re-colonization of the northern latitudes by many plant and animal species. Often, they took different colonization routes around the mountain ranges, for example the Carpathians – with astonishing outcomes for a special kind of re-unification that, for instance, happens in Poland: In the region of the Vistula River, two evolutionarily young species of tree frogs meet each other.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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This week I want to share my formula for taking semi close-up pictures of snakes. I like to use these kind of pictures to make business cards, post cards, calendars, and other promotional materials. When trying to sell a snake the buyers want to see as much of the body as possible, so these are not the best option when trying to sell individual specimens, but semi close ups are effective in promoting projects in general. When I take these kind of photos I want for the entire head to be in the picture. I also want the entire frame filled by the body of the animal with as little, “non-snake” materials as possible, especially around the edges of the frame. It is also important to capture as many interesting features of the specimen as possible. You want for everything to be in crisp focus if possible. I took several semi close-up pictures and posted them on social media recently. The picture in this blog got more views, likes, and comments than all the others combined so I would like to try to explain why. At the end of the day the subject needs to grab peoples attention, and this snake certainly does.
Many people in our hobby are sick and tired of seeing Ball Pythons, but even they liked and commented on this picture. The entire head is in the photo and it is in crisp focus, especially the eye. The frame is filled with the body of the snake, with only a little bit of mulch barely visible in perhaps 5% or less of the total field. The Paradox condition of this snake is what makes it interesting, and the semi close-up format really shows off the layering of the pigments. I was able to get some of the additional Paradox markings in the picture with the coils above the head. This snake is also a Super Genetic Banded morph, and I was able to get some of the classic pattern associated with this gene in the coil below the head. I plan to use this photo in my new business cards, on my website banner, and in a new updated kingsnake.com banner ad. I do not mean to come across like some kind of professional photographer, because I am not. In fact, when I look at this picture I see all kinds of things I wish I could have done better. I am just a regular guy trying to do my best and improve my picture taking. I hope that some of what I have shared here will give you ideas on how to improve your pictures as well. …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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We are fortunate to have a nice population of Red Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) in several western Kentucky counties. In our region it is possible to cruise roads and find these snakes from the time when it gets dark to the very wee hours of the morning prior to dawn. While we try to cruise under conditions that we believe are prime, often even then it is possible to not find any of these snakes…even when other snakes are being found.
The random offerings turned up by road cruising is something that’s problematic and usually we prefer to have a little more control over the hunt when possible. So we also deploy artificial cover to help in locating these snakes. We have found that these snakes are attracted to layered sheets of metal, so if you are having trouble finding them, try stacking your metal up. Red Milks in our area live in forested habitat, but like all reptiles they utilize open areas where the rays of the sun reach the surface. We have found layered metal set out where the canopy is open works very well. It is a sight to behold when you peel back a sheet of metal and see such a beautiful high-contrast snake sitting on dull colored metal of the earth tones of the soil underneath. Locating a Red Milk Snake in Kentucky makes any good day better and turns even the worst of days into a nice day for guys like myself. …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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We are still feeling the Valentine’s day love, much like this pair of Eastern Indigos in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user steve fuller ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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By Herp News
The huge variability among the desert tortoise populations of Mexico has finally been given an explanation after casting doubts for several decades. The puzzle was solved by an international team of researchers, who found out that there has been a previously unknown third sister species all along. Moreover, unlike their predecessors, the team have managed to provide enough evidence to prove its existence.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Frankie and I used to go everywhere. We would go to the park, Petsmart, Petco, to pet parades, to schools and day care centers, and libraries, more parks, art festivals, around the block, down the street and wherever we wanted to go……when Frankie was smaller.
I would pick up Frankie, toss him into the car and off we went on many adventures.
When Frankie got bigger, about 45 pounds or so, we still went places but I had to use more muscle to get Frankie in and out of the car. The bigger he got the more difficult he was to lift so I relied on more and more on genius and ingenuity to get him places because let’s face facts, a woman over 50 has a few physical limitations.
I got lucky meeting a fellow turtle lover and near-by neighbor, Greta, who became a fellow tortoise traveler and partner-picker-upper of Frankie. Frankie above the 50 pound mark was bigger and heavier but Greta make it possible for Frankie and me to get to our favorite destination.
For better or worse, when Greg, Frankie and I moved our household to Mobile things changed drastically. Frankie broke the 100 pound mark and I found without a close-by Greta or the always-working Greg, Frankie and I were just not going to very many places. Since I couldn’t just float Frankie into the car we just couldn’t go anywhere.
But the last few days, boy-oh-boy, we got to go places. Frankie and I packed up and drove to B&B Pet Store, and then we drove to the park, and then we drove to the park again! Frankie spent time basking in the sun and grazing on some tasty green grass and weeds, and walking all over the pet store….over and over and over. I kept by Frankie’s side and answered the top 20 Frankie Questions.
So exciting! I am already planning more outings.
You are asking just how this 55+ woman is getting Frankie in and out of the car. No, the State of Alabama is still not allowing me to marry a second husband who can pick up Frankie when ever I need, and of course, Greg still works a lot. It’s not a neighbor stepping up as Frankie co-carrier.
Nope, Frankie is getting in and out of the car all by himself….with a bit of clever thinking, lots of measuring, hunting out some good sales, two dog ramps, and a bit of woodworking.
…..voila!Frankie Ramp!
Returning home, Frankie heads down the ramp.
The added wood platform keeps the ramp from separating or sliding.
Frankie’s getting really good at …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times
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By Herp News
The whooping crane, with its snowy white plumage and trumpeting call, is one of the most beloved American birds, and one of the most endangered. As captive-raised cranes are re-introduced in Louisiana, they are gaining a new descriptor: natural killer. A new study suggests Louisiana cranes are faring well thanks in part to their penchant for hunting reptiles and amphibians.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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