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.
Friday, May 26 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! A stunning Black-tailed Rattlesnake ( Crotalus molossus) in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user erindonalsonwas found in Portal, AZ! 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.
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/228246IMG_8331a-med.jpg)
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Thursday, May 25 2023
It's big, it's black and it is beautiful! This Indigo seen in Williston, FL while herping earns it spot in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ACO3124 !! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/114387NCM_0312-med.jpg)
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Wednesday, May 24 2023
What a lovely pair of Vietnamese Leaf Turtles in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user schroderal ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/105310CRW_0533_copy-med.jpg)
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Tuesday, May 23 2023
Here is to hoping this Northern Pine in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user orchidspider can cure any case of the Mondays!! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/92118P8300005.JPG)
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Monday, May 22 2023
If this axolotl in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user tadpoleo doesn't make you smile, I am not sure what will! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/43012Sideshow-smilin.jpg)
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Friday, May 19 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This copperhead in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user AlexNevgloski wants to remind you when in the field, pack your trash and leave only footprints! 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.
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/80689Schlitz_copperhead-med.jpg)
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Thursday, May 18 2023
Blackjack, the Eastern Indigo, is absolutely breathtaking in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user CtrsOfNightshade! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, May 17 2023
Found in Spain, this yellow phase Marbled Newt (Triturus marmoratus) in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Ruben_martinez steals the show! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, May 16 2023
It's two for Tuesday with this cute pair of geckos in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jamesmatthews brightens up your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Monday, May 15 2023
Hope this baby Minor Lizard (Sceloporus minor) in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Eve brightens up your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Friday, May 12 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Love this Harry Greene Approved field shot of a juvenile Timber in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user jameswv ! 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.
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/103218tim_2.jpg)
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Thursday, May 11 2023
What an awesome shot of this pair of Common Toads in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user Krallenfrosch ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, May 10 2023
This African spur thigh tortoise in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dinahmoe is just munching away without a care in the world. We are so jealous! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/114969spike-med.jpg)
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Tuesday, May 9 2023
Fantastic shot of a Scarlet Kingsnake climbing a tree in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user westernNC! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Monday, May 8 2023
Poised and watching, what a stunning Mangrove in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ptahtoo! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Friday, May 5 2023
We give all venomous species some love on Rattlesnake Friday, especially these baby Cobras in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user SouthernHerp !? Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/141571babies.jpg)
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Thursday, May 4 2023
The infamous "stink eye" is glaring here with this Tegu in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user MrSickle ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/6752talyn.jpg)
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Wednesday, May 3 2023
"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!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/32835f1__2-med.JPG)
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Tuesday, May 2 2023
Alert and always keeping his eye on you, this Basiliscus plumifrons shines in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kus! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Monday, May 1 2023
This is a Radiated Tortoise coming out for its first look at the world ( Astrochelys radiata) in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user radiata137 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/21610820160705_144312-1-med.jpg)
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Friday, April 28 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Check out this gorgeous pair of Sidewinders in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user dvenom05 . Remember that on Rattlesnake Friday, we celebrate all our venomous creatures! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Thursday, April 27 2023
This Tiger Salamander shows it is a good herping day in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user TJ.! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, April 26 2023
This sassy lil watersnake had to stop and eat a toad in the yard before the photographer captured it for our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user dinahmoe ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, April 25 2023
This Savu is coming in for it's close up in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user chefdev is all amphibian! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/167121herpholics_1_037-med.JPG)
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Monday, April 24 2023
Although often called incorrectly a rubber eel, this Rio Cauca Caecilian ( Typhlonectes natans) in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user chrish is all amphibian! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/5263Typhlonectes-med.jpg)
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![](/blog/uploads/BlotchedBlueTongue1.jpg) Not brightly colored, but IMO the finest of the Blue Tongues, Tiliqua nigrolutea.
Having well over 300 skink species, Australia could also be known as the “Great Land of Skinks.” These range in size from 4” long Garden Skinks and Pygmy Blue-Tongued Skinks to the remaining 5 species, all bulky blue-tongued species of the genus Tiliqua (one (possibly 2) additional species are extralimital). The Australian species are the Blotched, Common, Centralian, and Western Blue-tongues, and the Stump-tailed Skink, this latter now being considered one of the Blue-tongued skinks. These 5 vary individually within species from 16 to 23 inches in overall adult length.
Although we have kept several species, it is the Blotched Blue-tongue, Tiliqua nigrolutea, that is my favorite. Additionally, I favor the black (ground color) and buff (dorsal blotches and lateral reticulations) of the montane form over the paler colors of the lowland forms. Both forms are heavy-bodied, short-legged, diurnal, terrestrial, adult at 16-20”, live-bearing, long-lived (~20 years), placid, and hardy.
This skink adapts well to varying temperatures as well as eagerly accepting a wide variety of food items. Ours ate fruits, vegetables, canned dogfood, softened kibbled dog food, and they loved snails, slugs, and nightcrawlers. They often fold the hindlegs back towards the tail when moving about.
Females produced a single clutch annually, neonates numbering 3 to 8.
If you like responsive, hardy, captives, and if they are ever again legally available and affordable, consider a Blotched Blue-tongue. I don’t think you will be unhappy with the choice.
Continue reading "Blotched Blue-tongued Skinks"
Friday, April 21 2023
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! To end the week, this Jackson's Tree Snake ( Thrasops jacksonii) comes in to represent rear-fangs for our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Claus ! 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/52053Thrasops016k-med.jpg)
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Thursday, April 20 2023
The Northern Leopard frog ( Lithobates pipiens) is an fairly widespread US Native species that get a spotlight in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Terry_Cox!
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Wednesday, April 19 2023
Everyone feels just like this little chameleon does here in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user 1Sun every once in a while! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, April 18 2023
Welome this little Chondro in our Herp Photo of the day to the world, uploaded by kingsnake.com user MikeRusso! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/101091101091gtp_copy.JPG)
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