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.
Tuesday, January 19 2016
This gorgeous Shinisaurus crocodilurus in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user lavadusch will hopefully be the brightest part of your day! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/CnemidophoruslemniscatusmaleMiami6.JPG) This is a subordinate male rainbow lizard from a Miami population.
The northeastern South American country of Colombia was once the predominant shipper of neotropical wildlife to the United States. Birds of all manner (cock-of-the-rocks to parrots), mammals (wooly monkeys to ocelots to anteaters), amphibians (remember the Colombia horned frog?), reptiles (boas to red-footed tortoises, to rainbow lizards).
Rainbow lizards?
So, How Does One Accurately Describe a Rainbow Lizard?
Well, if I chose to try, describing the little 8-striped (the vertebrals strip is divided!) brownish and greenish female would not be awfully difficult. But to describe the blue, yellow, green, brown (and several hues between) of a dominant male could prove to be a chore and would probably wind up being inaccurate anyways. So, to make things easy, allow me to suggest that you determine the origin of the example in question. As it now stands the lizards making up what is currently known as Cnemidophorus lemniscatus are probably a species complex. They will differ in color and pattern at different locales. Color intensity also varies according to the status of the male within a given population. Dominant males are much more colorful than subordinate males.
So have at it. At least you’ll be more satisfied with your description of the example at hand. That’s a certainty! Oh, by the way, the lizards depicted here are from a Miami-Dade County population that probably contains genes from several Colombian origins.
Rainbow lizards, a teiid, are adult at 10-12 inches in total length. Although the primary diet is insects and other invertebrates these lizards also eat seeds, berries, and blossoms.
Continue reading "Rainbow Lizards"
Monday, January 18 2016
As you can see from our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user TomDickinson, garter snakes come in an amazing variety of colors! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Friday, January 15 2016
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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Thursday, January 14 2016
This little Retic has it's eye on you in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Steve_Ray ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/Ameivapraesignisfemale1.jpg) This is an adult female dusky ameiva in Miami.Until very recently this big lizard (to 22-24” total length, of which all but about 8” is tail length) was considered a dark (dusky) phase of the green and tan giant ameiva. A few years ago a closer look was finally taken at this impressive Central and South American teiid and it was found that rather than A. ameiva, it is actually Ameiva praesignis. At that time a common name of Borriguerro Ameiva, a long standing South American name, was suggested. However, since this lizard has long been known as the "dusky ameiva” in the USA, I suggest that this name be retained. Like the giant ameiva, the original examples in the Florida populations were shipped for the pet trade from Barranquilla, Colombia in the 1950s. Agile and fast, some escaped and were able to establish themselves in the benign climate of South Florida.
When the genus name of Ameiva is used as a common name, it is not italicized. Like other teiids (tegus and relatives) this lizard is usually active only on sunny days when it often remains active through the warmest hours. This alert and wary lizard will quickly dart into areas of dense ground cover or a home burrow if approached. Although omnivorous, this big lizard is primarily insectivorous and will dig insects from beneath the surface of the ground. Besides insects they consume all manner of small invertebrates as well as berries and other vegetation. Captives will accept pinky mice, and there is no reason to believe that those in the wild would not eat nestling mice or nestlings of ground nesting songbirds.
If kept captive this ameiva should be provided a spacious terrarium. I suggest they be provided with a brightly lit hot spot having a temperature of 110-120F. A thermal gradient having a temperature of 75F on the cool end should be provided.
Continue reading "Miami’s Ameivas - The Dusky Ameiva"
Wednesday, January 13 2016
The cutest of our angry creatures, this great field shot of a Snapping Turtle takes the spotlight our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user anuraanman ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/EDBcoiledCollierCountyFL6Jan2013.JPG) Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus
I travel to Florida with my family about every other year and only get to take one day to hunt snakes on each visit, so I am by no means an expert on the finer aspects of Florida snake hunting. Over the years I have been able to locate some really neat and even rare herps, but my favorite find of all time in Florida was this Collier county Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
When I discovered this snake crossing a road I was totally unprepared. All I had was a cheap little pocket camera. I was wearing tennis shoes like a true tourist. I did not even have a snake hook, and I had to resort to using a baby stroller to pose this snake for pictures. There were tourists taking pictures of me using the stroller to pose this snake! I got several pictures and I guess this was the best one. I know it is not the best pose and not so great of an EDB image, but for me it is GREAT! When I look at it I remember seeing that big fat beast from at least 200 yards away and stomping the gas so I could get to it before it escaped. The snake struck at me repeatedly and I can only imagine what I looked like with that baby stroller. The sun was bright, and I even remember how the air tasted when I look at the picture. Sometimes I am unable to get the kind of picture that I am after, but years later when I am at home looking over things I am always happy when I see images I got that may have not seemed so good at the time. Sometimes being able to relive the experience and the memories is a better reward than taking a killer picture. Keep this in mind as you are out in your travels, and just keep your cameras rolling!
Tuesday, January 12 2016
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/95449IMG_5069-2s-med.jpg) Fire Salamander - Gallery Photo by firereptiles
To help prevent a deadly fungus from killing native salamanders, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is publishing an interim rule tomorrow to list 201 salamander species as injurious wildlife and barring their importation into the United States and interstate trade of those already in the country.
The fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans also known as Bsal or salamander chytrid, has wreaked havoc on salamander species overseas and poses an imminent threat to native salamanderpopulations. The fungus is not yet known to be found in the United States, and to help ensure it remains that way, the Service is publishing an interim rule that will take effect on January 28, 2016.
A species can be listed under the Lacey Act because it is injurious to the health and welfare of humans; the interests of forestry, agriculture, or horticulture; or the welfare and survival of wildlife or the resources that wildlife depend upon. In listing these species, the Service is responding to science that shows that Bsal is an imminent threat to U.S. wildlife.
For more information please visit this link http://www.fws.gov/injuriouswildlife/salamanders.html
This hatching Leopard Gecko is cute as a button in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user radar357 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/Ameivaameiva19.JPG) A robust build and a length of 16-17 inches (including the long tail) is a typical size for an adult giant ameiva.
For well over a half century Ameivas, the large, economy size of the whiptail/racerunner clan if you prefer, have been prominent in the hobbyist reptile trade. Of the 3 dozen or so species in the genus, 2 are by far the most commonly encountered. These are the giant and the dusky ameivas. For decades the two were considered diverse color phases of the giant ameiva, Ameiva ameiva, but they are now known to be 2 entirely separate species (but more on this later). Firstly, let’s take a look at the big, very pretty, and quite common “green phase” of the giant ameiva. In fact, although the amount of green may vary, the green phase is currently the only phase of this 15 to 20 inch long teiid lizard. Despite the color reference in its name, this neotropical lizard is not entirely green. It is olive-tan anteriorly, olive-lime posteriorly, sky blue in the groin, pale blue to sky blue on the lower sides fading to bluish white ventrally. Trying to describe the positioning of the black flecks and off-white ocelli would be an exercise in futility. It is far better (and much easier) if I simply refer you to the photos.
Like most teiids, ameivas (please note that when used as a common name the word is not italicized) are sun worshippers and can often be seen basking in full sunshine during the hottest part of the day. The examples on which the Miami population is based originated (or at least were shipped) from Barranquilla, Colombia in the 1950s. They are wary lizards and if startled will quickly retire to areas of ground vegetation or a home burrow. Omnivores, in the wild this lizard actively forages during the heat of the day, often scratching insects from beneath the surface of the ground. Besides insects this ameiva consumes all manner of small invertebrates as well as berries and other vegetation. Captives will accept pinky mice, and there is no reason to believe that those in the wild would not eat nestling mice or nestlings of ground nesting songbirds.
I have noticed that some care sheets mention a hot spot of 90F for these lizards. I submit that a brightly lit hot spot of 110-120F would be more appropriate, with the terrarium providing a a thermal gradient to a temperature of 75F on the cool end.
Continue reading "Miami’s Ameivas - The giant Ameiva"
Monday, January 11 2016
This is a gorgeous corn snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dallashawks ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! No offense USPS!
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Friday, January 8 2016
Making our return to Rattlesnake Friday with a bang with this stunning Tuxtlan jumping pitviper ( Atropoides olmec) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user PeteSnakeCharmer! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Thursday, January 7 2016
Back in the field as this lovely Fire Salamander takes the spotlight in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user NYgaboon ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/Nerodiaharteripaucimaculata8.jpg) The Concho water snake is a protected species.Although the two occur in different and non-contiguous drainages, the Concho water snake, (formerly Nerodia harteri paucimaculata, now Nerodia paucimaculata) is of very similar appearance to the Brazos water snake. N. harteri. As he had with the latter, Kenny had researched the locales and the probabilities of our finding and photographing the Concho water snake.
Like the Brazos water snake, the Concho has been considered federally threatened since the late 1900s and is primarily a snake of natural and man-made rocky riffles. It has adapted to a few areas of rock-edged quieter waters in reservoirs.
Rather small for an American water snake, the Concho is adult at 24 to 30 inches in length. The sandy dorsal ground color and 4 rows of poorly defined dusky darker blotches blends well with the substrate color on which this snake is found. The belly, usually immaculate but sometimes with a row of indistinct dark spots along each side, is of pink or orangish color.
We searched, we found, we departed. Other herp taxa of Texas still beckoned.
Continue reading "Concho Water Snake"
Wednesday, January 6 2016
What a wonderful field find! This in situ Indigo takes the spotlight in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ACO3124 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Have a safe New Years Eve!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/114387NCM_0312-med.jpg)
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Tuesday, January 5 2016
![](/blog/uploads/Pseudacriscruciferbartramiana50.JPG) The spring peeper's species name, "crucifer," is derived from the dorsal X (the crucifix).
In many areas spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer ssp., a common chorus frog that ranges from eastern Texas to eastern Manitoba then eastward to Newfoundland to northern Florida is actually a spring breeder, but in the deep southeast it is a late autumn and winter breeding taxon. On wet years, in this latter area we expect to hear these harbingers of the northern spring chorusing from marshes, swamps, and roadside ditches by late November. They and other chorus frog species welcome in the seasonally cooler days and colder nights when our trees are still dropping their leaves rather than recovering from cloaks of snow and ice and greening with expanding buds. The strident peeps of the well named hylids (they are treefrog relatives), boisterous on warm nights, faltering when temps drop below 45F or so, are as eagerly listened for on our winter days as when the little “X backed”, tan harbingers of spring are making their appearance in the northland swamps and puddles.
Continue reading "Peeper Season"
Let's kick off the day with this gorgeous Furcifer pardalis Ambilobe in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user BIONCENTER! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Have a safe New Years Eve!
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Monday, January 4 2016
Much like the adult Alligator in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user CDieter , take no prisoners today! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Have a safe New Years Eve!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/5381Alligator_2520eating_2520baby12.jpg)
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Thursday, December 31 2015
We hope this Timor Python in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user carlovandun! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Have a safe New Years Eve!
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![](/blog/uploads/SternotherusminorminorhatchlingEglinAFBFL4.JPG) A hatchling loggerhead musk turtle.
Carl called across the river “Remember, they look like acorns.”
What, I wondered was he going on about now?
Then it dawned on me. We were only a few minutes from docking and Carl was likening the hatchling loggerhead musk turtles, Sternotherus m. minor, for which we were then searching to a submerged acorn. Well, it’s true that they are darn near small enough, and when the roughened carapace is muddied by the perpetually silted water in which we were then searching the tiny turtles are almost acorn colored. So as far as it went his comment was a fair analogy. But turn one upside down and you’ll find 4 black spotted olive-tan legs, and a similarly colored head, neck, and tail, protruding from a very unacornlike, flat, rich orange-red, cross-shaped, plastron.
Finally, just before docking the canoes, Carl saw one of the acorns. And just about at the same time I happened upon an adult, which, by the way, looks nothing at all like an acorn and is much duller in color than the hatchling, but is still enjoyable to find. Give it a try sometime. The search can be a whole lot more fulfilling than sitting home and taking a selfie!
Continue reading "A Chelonian Acorn on the Half Shell"
Wednesday, December 30 2015
We love this shot of a Scorpion Mud Turtle found in the field in the Yucatan Pennisula in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cbreps! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/KSAlbinoComparisonDec2015.JPG)
The other day a friend came by and I showed him my recently hatched Super Genetic Banded Albino Pied Ball Pythons. He just about lost it when he saw them. He told me that he thought the pictures I had posted were just photo shopped. As a result I decided to take a picture with both the Abino Pied and a Banded Albino so that people could see the difference.
Ball Python people know that all albinos are not created equal. This Genetic Banded gene I work with is a real color enhancer and pattern reducer, especially when in the super form. Of course, the Pied gene has an effect on color and pattern mixing as well. It is true that the Banded Albinos will lighten with age, but it is also true that Pieds darken with age and are lighter as babies. It will be interesting to see how these Super Genetic Banded Albino Pieds color up as adults.
Tuesday, December 29 2015
![](/blog/uploads/Trimeresurustrigonocephalus19.jpg) A young female Sri Lankan tree viper.
For many years Patti and I kept and bred a couple of dozen species of tree vipers of several genera. Among my favorites was the Sri Lankan species, Trimeresurus trigonocephalus. They were of moderate size (usually 2 to 3 ½ feet) , usually of reasonably equable disposition, always of beautiful color, and since they are both dimorphic and dichromatic they are an easily sexed taxon. Males, the smaller gender usually have much more black in the lateral and dorsal pattern than the primarily green females. Additionally, this taxon does not require brumation or other pronounced temperature manipulations to be successfully bred. And when and if bred these long-lived arboreal pit vipers bear living young (neonates are7 ½ to 9 inches long) that usually feed readily on thawed pinkies. Litters of 20 to 25 have been reported but the females we kept usually birthed 5 to 10 babies once a year. This taxon is light-bodied enough to allow a keeper to incorporate sturdy vining plants (Epipremnums and/or Philodendrons) and horizontal tree branches into beautiful terrarium designs. How much easier and fulfilling could keeping a venomous snake be?
Continue reading "“Trigs”"
Isn't this a gorgeus Water Dragon in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user arkherps ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
![](http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/27690waterdragon.jpg)
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Monday, December 28 2015
This dart frog is so hot, in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user frogological , we are hoping it can melt all the post christmas snow! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Friday, December 25 2015
We hope this Ball Python in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user toshamc,will bring you a lot of Christmas Cheer! From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, healthy and happy Christmas! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Thursday, December 24 2015
Not a creature was stirring except for this Tokay in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bloodpython_MA ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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![](/blog/uploads/AmbystomacingulatumANF26Oct153.JPG) This was one of 2 gravid female frosted flatwoods salamander we saw.
When we left at 1500 hrs, the forecast called for 3-5" of rain in Liberty County. Remnants of the super hurricane, Patricia, heavy rains were forecast to begin at 4:00PM and continue for about 24 hours. The forecast erred. Badly! At first it had sounded like good salamander weather but by the time we got there (6:30 PM) we were wondering? Although it was obvious that it had rained a little, the clouds were breaking up and it was partially sunny. Not salamander weather at all.
Jake and I wondered aloud whether we should remain or return home, but on a whim, decided to head for the coast 20 miles distant. At 7:00PM we were treated to a sprinkle that encouraged us to stay. At 7:30PM we hit a rather widespread and significant shower. Perhaps not all was lost. The road dampened, road edge puddles formed.
At 7:45PM we found an ornate chorus frog, at 7:50PM the first flatwoods salamander crossed, at 7:55PM we found 2 more crossing flatwoods and another ornate chorus. By the time we left, 10:00PM, it had stopped raining again and we had seen 12 of the protected flatwoods salamanders (incl 2 gravid females), 3 more ornates, and a couple of dwarf salamanders. It had turned into a darn good nite.
Continue reading "Flatwoods Salamanders and More"
Wednesday, December 23 2015
![](/blog/uploads/ksNigraBlogDec2015.JPG) Eastern Black Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula nigra
Since 2003 Phil Peak and I have observed and recorded 760 live Black Kingsnakes in scores of different Kentucky counties. There is a lot of variation out there and I sure like them all, but at the end of the day I have limited space and resources and am only able to keep a handful of specimens. It took some time, but I soon realized that I like the ones around my home town the best of all. What I like so much about the Black Kingsnakes around Louisville are that they have the least amount of pattern and markings and are also a kind of shiny black coloration not seen in all examples of this species.
The captive hatched specimen in the photo is only around 30 inches long but has already lost all signs of the juvenile markings and has already developed the kind of shiny black coloration that makes these my favorite. I have noticed that a lot of my fellow field herpers tend to appreciate the animals that live in their own backyards too, and I think this is great. In addition to the natural beauty that these local snakes have, all of us who spend time hunting snakes also see something else when we look at our local favorites. Let’s face the truth here, life is tough. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can tell you right now that when I look at the snake in the picture I remember the day when I was out in the field with my good friend Phil and we flipped an old rotten board and found the clutch of eggs that this snake hatched out of. On that day there were no jobs, no family dramas, no bills to pay, and no cell phones ringing. Instead the sun was shining and I was a free man out in the woods breathing fresh air and doing what I wanted to do for once. I like that.
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