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.
Wednesday, December 23 2015
Somehow I don't think we found the real Santa with this Phelsuma in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Geckoranch ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/11187santaGecko-final.jpg)
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Tuesday, December 22 2015
![](/blog/uploads/Bothriechisschlegelii9.jpg) A pretty adult Christmas tree phase eyelash viper.
Of the many tree vipers, one or more of the many phases of the Eyelash Viper, Bothriechis schlegelii, are often the first “hot species” kept as a hobbyist’s herp experience grows. Although this Latin American tree viper is often available in grays, olives, pinks, and oranges, there seem to be 3 phases, the yellow, the tiger, and the Christmas Tree, that are the most popular. All of these are normal and natural colors, designed by Mother Nature. Although they may have been line bred to “improve” or intensify color or contrast, none are the creations of hobbyist breeders. Since Christmas is tomorrow, it seems appropriate that I at least make mention of this color variation.
It was close to a half century ago when Patti and I first visited Costa Rica. On that trip we were fortunate to meet and be shepherded by Peter and Suzi Seigfried. Peter took us up mountains and down into valleys, into the forests, and along streams. And it was along the forested streams that we first became acquainted with eyelash vipers in habitat. The first we saw, a gray baby, was on an afternoon hike. As eyelash vipers go, this was a pretty “blah” but since it was my first I took photo after photo of the snake. Peter assured me that we would actually see some pretty ones before the trip was over. And he was right. The next one was a beautiful yellow (oropel) example and it was in a banana clump right next to the home of one of Peter’s friends. More pix and more assurances from Peter that we would see more of these pit vipers. Another drive and we were at a tiny hotel in Palmar Norte. The next morning we were on the road again and Peter drove us to visit another of his friends at a locale that if I ever knew I have long forgotten. But I haven’t forgotten the snake we saw. Again in bananas, Peter pointed out the most beautiful pit viper I had until then seen. It was big, it was green with pink and red trim, and although I then thought of it then as a “normal phase” I was looking upon my first “Christmas tree” (hobbyist name) eyelash viper. More pix and many, many fond memories. Herping just doesn’t get any better.
Happy Holidays to all.
Continue reading "Christmas Tree Eyelashes"
Dashing through the snow, two cute Bearded Dragons on a sleigh in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ginag ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/142521addec21.JPG)
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Monday, December 21 2015
This Chuckwalla is ready to start us on out path to christmas in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user rosebuds ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/142587Santa_chuck_in_sleigh-med.JPG)
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Friday, December 18 2015
Countdown to Christmas! This Green Tree Python is in the holiday spirit in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user toshamc ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/75325IMG_8675-med.JPG)
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Thursday, December 17 2015
A blast in the past today with this old field shot of a Red Salamander in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user SNAKEMANOFLOU ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/1076NorthernRed-med.JPG)
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![](/blog/uploads/KinosternonbauriChipola19Oct1567.JPG) Somehow this old female mud turtle had survived this, now healed, terrible injury
The big female mud turtle, a common mud, Kinosternon s. subrubrum, was walking along in the shallows at riveredge. Carl was scooting along in the canoe, and I, as usual, was a few yards upstream firmly caught in a riveredge snag that had reached out and grabbed me while I tried to take photos.
Carl, who has an intense interest in all things kinosternid had been lured to the shore by a small mud turtle basking on a barely emergent limb. It was the 3rd example we had seen on this morning. This one had dropped from its sunny perch as Carl had neared and the turtle had inexplicably disappeared in the clear shallow water. It was as he was about to accept defeat that Carl noticed the big female in the shallows.
He reached over and as he lifted her from the water he exclaimed “this turtle has had a hard life!” When I glanced over it wasn’t difficult to see what had prompted Carl’s comment. Much of the turtle’s posterior carapace was missing and scarred and a closer look disclosed that part of her lower mandible had been over broken and had healed and although almost imperceptibly healed, most flesh from one temporal area had been scraped clean leaving a noticeable difference in bilateral facial configuration. What, we wondered, could have caused this? Outboard prop? A marauding alligator snapper? The jury is hung on the causative agent but is unanimous on the fact that this old girl has had a hard – a very hard – life.
Continue reading "Injured Mud Turtle"
Wednesday, December 16 2015
![](/blog/uploads/ksblogNorthernRavineSalamanderApril2015.JPG) Northern Ravine Salamander Plethodon electromorphus
After herping a place for years and years a person can begin to learn what to expect to find during the course of an outing, but remember to never let your guard down because you just never can tell what your going to find!
Such was the case back in April 2015 when Phil and I returned to one of our favorite snake hunting sites where we expected to see the usual suspects. Instead we flipped up a pair of these Northern Ravine Salamanders. Heavy rains during the right time of year appear to have driven these specimens up to the surface where we could locate them under materials we had set out for well over ten years. After discussions with our local wildlife officials we learned that this species was suspected but not confirmed in this area. Thanks to our efforts, they are now confirmed!
What a cool shot of an African Stump-tailed Chameleon (Ri. brevicaudatus) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pardalisberlin ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/942525499367-med.jpg)
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Tuesday, December 15 2015
This Reticulated Python is just popping over to say hi in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user eschmit04 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/134107IMG_5749_(Medium)-med.JPG)
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![](/blog/uploads/MacrochelysapalachicolaewCarlOct192015115.JPG) This gator snapper weighed about 50 pounds.
“Dick, bring your camera!”
Easier said than done.
I had just turned around in the canoe to take a photo of a big cypress tree when a strong wind gust blew me broadside into a barely sunken snag. And I was having a devil of a time trying to get free.
Carl, 100 yards down river had just dived to try and find a huge river cooter that had skedaddled off a fallen tree trunk into 5 feet of water. The cooter had disappeared beneath the undercut riverbank but it was obvious that Carl had seen something else while he was submerged.
Finally my snag decided to release my canoe and I was on the way towards Carl.
Carl directed me to haul out across the narrow river from him, ready my camera, and then he dove again. When he next emerged in a shallower spot it was obvious why he was excited for he brought with him a beautiful 50 pound Apalachicola alligator snapper, Macrochelys apalachicolae. Not big as the species goes (the record is 318 pounds!) it was still an unexpected find.
Within minutes photos were made, the snapper had returned to its deeper water den, and we, still buffeted by strong headwinds, were again making our slow way downriver, both wondering whether the headwinds or we would win the gusty battle. Eventually we did.
Continue reading "Snapper!"
Monday, December 14 2015
One little, two little, three little Bearded Dragons in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dedragons ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/168625bartis_088-med.jpg)
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Friday, December 11 2015
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! We just love this close up of a Massasauga in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user venombill ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/464045.jpg)
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Thursday, December 10 2015
The International Iguana Foundation has published a video outlining the crisis faced by the Jamaican Iguana ( Cyclura collei). Endemic to Jamaica, it is the largest native land animal in the country, and is critically endangered, even considered extinct between 1948 and 1990. Once found throughout Jamaica and on the offshore islets Great Goat Island and Little Goat Island, it is now confined to the forests of the Hellshire Hills.
Save Goat Islands, JamaicaJamaica's Portland Bight Protected Area and Goat Islands are threatened by the development of a mega port. This is the last place on earth Jamaican Iguanas exist, and home to tens of thousands of people who depend upon the fisheries of the Portland Bight. If destroyed..... it cannot be replaced. Watch, share, and join us in the fight to protect it. #savegoatislands
Double Life Films Robin Moore Conservation Photographer NatureStills Jamaica Environment Trust Posted by International Iguana Foundation on Thursday, December 10, 2015
How adorable is this Newt in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user plagueguitarist ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/61560DSC01199copy.jpg)
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![](/blog/uploads/Bitisggabonica52.jpg) This is an adult East African gaboon viper. Note the very short rostral horns.
Stoked by a moment’s carelessness by a very experienced keeper of hot (=venomous) snakes that resulted in a bite by a Gaboon viper, as well as a number of other widely publicized incidents, the antivenomous lobby has again been awakened.
The bite was a most unfortunate accident for Gaboons are not difficult snakes to work with. In fact, they are among the easiest. A heavy bodied nocturnal ambush predator, Gaboon vipers (aka Gaboon adders) are usually of quiet demeanor during the hours of daylight and although more alert and active at night or when food is offered they are, except for a defensive or feeding strike, neither especially fast nor agile. Their remarkably pretty coloration and patterns render the species (here I am considering both the eastern and the western forms subspecies— Bitis gabonica gabonica and B. g. rhinoceros respectively--- rather than genetically distinct full species). That Gaboons have long fangs and are able to expend a large amount of complex venom is unquestioned. The whys, wherefores, and legalities, of these potentially dangerous snakes being kept by hobbyists perplex non-herpers. Since a Gaboon viper was one of the first exotic snakes that I, as a herper, maintained, this is not a question I dwell long upon. I need only see—or not see, as the case may be—a Gaboon camouflaged against a leafy background and the “whys” answer themselves.
Continue reading "Gaboon!"
Wednesday, December 9 2015
This is quite an amazing field shot of a Black Racer in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user piglet ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/7602racer-med.jpg)
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Tuesday, December 8 2015
This hatchling viper gecko is so impossibly tiny! He is perched on top of a dime in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user JohnRobinson ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/20496ViperGecko-med.JPG)
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![](/blog/uploads/Plethodonwelleri16.JPG) This is a prettily marked adult Weller's salamanderThe little bronze on black Weller’s salamander, Plethodon welleri, was named for a tragedy. In 1931, while collecting salamanders on Grandfather Mountain in western NC, herpetologist, Worth Hamilton Weller, the discoverer of this taxon, fell to his death.
The current status of this little plethodontid is a bit questionable. Some researchers claim it to be declining and in need of management throughout its range while other researchers feel the populations in NC, TN, and VA are stable.
This high altitude species (5000’ and above in many populations, rarely lower in some locales) apparently moves underground when temps near or drop below freezing. During warmer weather, and especially dampish warmer weather, finding one or a few is not a difficult task.
Weller’s salamander is adult at about 3 inches overall length. The amount of bronze on the dorsum seems individually variable. Within a given population some examples may be liberally suffused with bronze dorsal color while others may bear only a spot or two of the color.
Because of the beauty and remoteness of the habitat utilized by this salamander, finding this species is an exciting venture. On our Oct 2015 trip Patti and I experienced sustained winds of 20 mph and occasional gusts of 40-60 mph. I can assure you that we both stayed well away from the cliff faces that are so much a feature of the landscapes in this region.
Continue reading "Weller’s Salamander"
Monday, December 7 2015
This Rainbow Boa is quite festive in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user natsamjosh ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/132166yarmulkesnake-med.JPG)
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Friday, December 4 2015
Happy Ratttlesnake Friday! This Crotalus tigris, found and photographed in AZ, is keeping her eye on you in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kevinjudd ! Be sure to tell kevinjudd you liked it here!
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Thursday, December 3 2015
SO bright and brilliant, this Yellow Anaconda shines in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mattf77 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/152760ANACONDA1_2-med.jpg)
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Having a bottom 2 1/2 x 3 feet and a height of 5" allows one to catch all manner of herps, fish, and aquatic insects.
The other day Mike and John came by and borrowed my Goin Dredge (see photo above) to try their luck finding small fish, aquatic salamanders and tadpoles in some of our local shallow (ankle to chest deep are fine, but waist deep seems to be preferred) waters. They had a productive day, one that hearkened me back to the days when Patti and I spent time dredging and photographing the results.
To use the dredge one wades out to floating masses of aquatic vegetation (water hyacinths being among the better plant types) slides the dredge beneath the root masses, lift the contained vegetative mass to the surface and sort through the roots and stems.
Among other things, in this way Patti and I found two-toed amphiuma, 3 species of siren including our first Everglades dwarf siren, dwarf salamanders, river frog tadpoles, mud snakes, striped crayfish snakes, various water snakes, an occasional small cottonmouth, and many interesting fish and invertebrates.
We’d return home hours later, soaked, mud-covered, and satisfied. Maybe it’s time to do this again!
Continue reading "Dredging for pollywogs"
Wednesday, December 2 2015
![](http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/blogs/dnews-files-2015-11-turtle-crossings-670-jpg.jpg) Photo: SUMA AQUALIFE PARK
Crossing a railroad track is difficult for turtles with their slow speed. They also are at risk for falling between the tracks and getting stuck, until eventually run over or caught in part of the track’s rail-switching mechanism. Not only do the turtles lose their lives, but the trains can become damaged, causing delays in service.
In an effort to prevent more turtle's deaths while crossing train tracks at Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, Japan a new turtle crossing has been developed and installed. Carving out U-shaped concrete escape ditches that run beneath the tracks they have escape paths conveniently located close to the tracks’ switch points, where turtles most often get trapped.
Ever since the turtle escape tunnels have been implemented this past April, at least 10 turtles left the train tracks via their new route — saving their lives and minimizing any expenses that may have resulted from train repairs and delays.
Read more at Discovery.
![](/blog/uploads/ksBoxTurtleBoneBallard17May2015.JPG) Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolinaI took this in-situ photograph of a wild Eastern Box Turtle in May of 2015. Despite missing many scutes, this scarred specimen was out searching for food and behaving completely normally. After years seeing thousands of reptiles and amphibians in the field it has been my experience that turtles can be very tough creatures.
I have seen turtles that have survived all kinds of major injuries, including a Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, whose head was cut in half but survived for years. If you have not seen the Red Ear Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, that survived having its eyes, nose, and mouth parts cut off you should be sure to google that.
I consider myself to be a humane person, and many of my herp friends are as well. None of us want to see an animal suffer, but think twice before you take any sort of humane action against a wild, free-ranging reptile. You might be surprised by the healing powers that many wounded reptiles possess. We have all seen herps run over by vehicles, and in years past even I might be tempted to, “put a snake out of its misery.” However, time and experience demonstrated to me that a lot of these injured animals have the ability to heal and survive for many years. When legal, I am more likely to move an injured animal to safety than to euthanize it, and I encourage all of you to learn from my experience and give injured wild animals a second chance at survival.
This Tegu peeking out of his transport bag in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user striggs makes you wonder if he is looking to see how far spring is away!! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/117264Picture_635b-med.JPG)
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Tuesday, December 1 2015
![](http://i2.getsurrey.co.uk/incoming/article10503435.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/HBR_SAH_charlieburnett251115_04JPG.jpg) Photo: GetSurry
The most comforting thing in young Charlie Burnett's life is his pet snake. Charlie is a high functioning autistic child and also suffers from Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA), which can result in emotional meltdowns when stress levels are too high.
“It’s changed Charlie’s world,” she told the Woking Advertiser. “I can’t tell you the difference it’s made to our family. We’ve had hamsters in the past but they have done nothing. He’s not interested in them But now I know I can come home from work, take the snake out of the box and he’ll be calm.”
It has also changed his parents feelings on snakes.
“I’m not a snake lover, I’m petrified of them,” admitted Ms Gridley, saying the same went for her partner.
“But being fearful of them is outweighed by the benefit. We grin through the fear.”
REad the full story at GetSurry.
This little White's Tree Frog has his eye on you in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user exoreds ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/129385P1010612.JPG)
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![](/blog/uploads/Plethodonyonahlossee14.jpg) This is a large and typically colored Yonahlossee salamander
A couple of months ago Patti and I were “leaf-peeping” in western NC. We had visited Grandfather Mountain, driven along US221, and accessed the Blue Ridge Parkway, and were now sitting at Yonahlossee Overlook. This of course brought back many memories. Yonahlossee— the word is said to be of Cherokee origin and to mean “the trail of the bear.” Yonahlossee Trail— once a stage coach road between Linville and Blowing Rock, NC, had also allowed access to logging crews. Trees were cut, trees regrew, and the countryside was now a gently sloping forest of greenery growing between immense boulders and outcroppings on one side of the road and a precipitous forested drop on the other.
But my memories centered more on rainy nights of about 25 years ago when, then living in Asheville, the region was but a short drive that allowed me easy access to one of the world’s most beautiful caudatans, the Yonahalossee salamander, Plethodon yonahlossee. The largest of the genus, the adult length of 8 1/2 inches rendered the big red-backed salamanders easily visible as they left the safety of the verdant, rocky, woodlands to cross the twisty-turny roadway during summer rains. Fortunately for both salamanders and me, the road was not heavily traveled at night. I actually saw very few of the caudatans fall victim to traffic and I was always ready to avoid approaching vehicles.
Fond memories—the stuff of blogs!
Continue reading "Big and Beautiful—The Yonahlossee Salamander"
Monday, November 30 2015
![](/blog/uploads/ScreenShot2015-11-22at8.07.49AM.png) Photo: Photo: Sun Sentinal
The Palm Beach Zoo recently noticed Hannah, one of their Komodo Dragons ( Varanus komodoensis), was showing pain symptoms. After a CT scan to better pinpoint the source of her discomfort, they brought in a new treatment, acupuncture, to comfort her without the possible side effects from medications. Although acupuncture is a common treatment for humans and other mammals, it is a relatively new treatment methodology in the reptile world.
"Although the research is still inconclusive, current findings suggest that the mediators released by acupuncture may serve to lessen or block the pain response." Dr. Cara Pillitteri
Hopefully more holistic treatments like acupuncture will prove to be successful and can be used to treat other reptiles who suffer as well without having to resort to medications and their side effects.
Read more and see the video at Sun Sentinal.
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