Reptile & Amphibian News Blog
Keep up with news and features of interest to the reptile and amphibian community on the kingsnake.com blog. We cover breaking stories from the mainstream and scientific media, user-submitted photos and videos, and feature articles and photos by Jeff Barringer, Richard Bartlett, and other herpetologists and herpetoculturists.
Thursday, March 16 2023
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!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/86941Phelsuma_grandis_male-med.jpg)
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Wednesday, March 15 2023
This male Boelen's just wants to say hello in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user JonathanH!
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Tuesday, March 14 2023
This Rhino iguana is doing his best impersonation of a dog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cycluracornuta!
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Monday, March 13 2023
![](/blog/uploads/LeopardRat1.jpg) 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 "
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!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/167392Hatching-med.jpg)
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Friday, March 10 2023
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.
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/13721Pyrrhus_red-med.jpg)
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Thursday, March 9 2023
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!
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Wednesday, March 8 2023
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!
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Tuesday, March 7 2023
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!
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Monday, March 6 2023
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!
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![](/blog/uploads/canebrake1.JPG) 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. Comparisons | Timber | Canebrake |
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Ground Color | Black, olive, or yellow | Tan to pinkish |
Markings | Usually no banding on tail when adult
No postorbital stripe
Weak or missing vertebral stripe | Light banding usually visible on black tail
Prominent diagonal postorbital stripe
Prominent orangish vertebral stripe |
Continue reading "Is a Canebrake Really a Canebrake? My Thoughts."
Friday, March 3 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Loving this close up of a Massasauga Rattlesnake is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user venombill is no exception! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
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Thursday, March 2 2023
What a wonderful headshot of a Desert Iguana in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dvl s! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/1091di_m_close-med.jpg)
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Wednesday, March 1 2023
What an awesome close up the eye of a Plumed Basilisk in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Kober! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/41852Basiliskik.jpg)
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Tuesday, February 28 2023
What a stunning Kimberly Rock Monitor in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user s4sainz! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/153436CSC_1412_zpsnoyiodgw.jpg)
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Monday, February 27 2023
This little Red Bellied Watersnake is just chilling in it's log in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kamiki77! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/227566IMG_0154.jpg)
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![](/blog/uploads/horridus1.jpg) Not a black, But darker than some, this is a female Northern Timber Rattler.
In the northland the Timber Rattlesnake, formerly Crotalus h. horridus, now just C. horridus) probably needs no introduction. They are the big (4 to 5 feet long when adult, occasionally a few inches longer) black or yellow (occasionally olive, especially when a juvenile) rattlesnake that is quick to buzz if disturbed and all too often quick to strike if too closely approached. Preferred habitats include sun swept open areas and equally sunny, rocky mountainsides or summits. They, of course den and hibernate, often communally, from late autumn to early spring but wander separately and widely during the summer. A live bearing species (as are all rattlesnakes) a litter may vary from 2 to 8-, 9- to 12-inch long youngsters.
Once ranging in the east from Maine to Virginia and the highlands of Georgia and in the west from se Minnesota to ne Texas, it has been extirpated by humans/habitat destruction from many areas. South of these areas the niche was filled by the southern subspecies, the Canebrake Rattlesnake (now considered by geneticists as merely a color variant).
So call it what you wish. I prefer to recognize each differently—Timber Rattlers in the north both in lowlands and mountains and the beautiful Canebrake in the south. Comparisons | Timber | Canebrake |
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Ground Color | Black, olive, or yellow | Tan to pinkish |
Markings | Usually no banding on tail when adult
No postorbital stripe
Weak or missing vertebral stripe | Light banding usually visible on black tail
Prominent diagonal postorbital stripe
Prominent orangish vertebral stripe |
Continue reading "Meet the Timber Rattlesnake, northern style"
Friday, February 24 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Look how wee this hatchiling Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user ssnakes is no exception! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
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Thursday, February 23 2023
This vibrant Cape Gopher Snake ( Pituophis catenifer vertebralis) in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pitparade will brighten your day for sure! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/190436Cape_Kingsnake_2012_Male_098-med.jpg)
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Wednesday, February 22 2023
A hatching Reticulated Python in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jnemani to brighten your day! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/10608SuperDwarfinEgg-med.jpg)
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Tuesday, February 21 2023
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!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/128235Splotched_Sinaloan_Varitey-med.jpg)
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Monday, February 20 2023
Today is National Love Your Pet Day and this pet boa constrictor is definitely loved in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mavericksdad! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/102935Picture_258-med.jpg)
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Friday, February 17 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! All venomous snakes need our support, and this stunning Olmec Pit Viper ( Atropoides olmec) in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user PeteSnakeCharmer is no exception! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, February 16 2023
What a stunning female Coastal Carpet Python in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user AJ01! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/139483Coastal_003.jpg)
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Wednesday, February 15 2023
This Tokay has opinions, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mattcrum, in our herp photo of the day! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Tuesday, February 14 2023
This Kenyan Sand Boa is getting into the mood for today, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Thera, in our herp photo of the day! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Monday, February 13 2023
This Giant Ground Gecko is doing his best tough guy impersonation in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user leighroomes . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/14545024czhwj.jpg)
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Friday, February 10 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Check out this gorgeous Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user sluggo781 found near Perris, CA! 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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Thursday, February 9 2023
Looks like there is a new guitarist in the band in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user liljenni . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, February 8 2023
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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