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.

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.

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.

A new snake crosses your table, although it exhibits traits of a known venomous snake, it is missing several key markers.

What is it? Is it venomous? If so, just how venomous is it?

The situation becomes less an exercise in academics when the unknown subject of your research bites you.

That is the situation herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt found himself in at The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago in 1957. After being bitten his time was limited and he knew it. So he did what any good researcher would do, he documented it. He knew there was no accessible anti-venom, but never believed he had received the full dose of venom. In a short video, you spend those last hours with him as he documents his experience.

Read more at Science Friday.

Gallery Photo by user dallashawks
Currently the genomes of only 9 species of reptiles (among 10 000 species) are available to the scientific community. To change this a team at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Swit- zerland, has produced a large database including, among others, the newly-sequenced genome of the corn snake, Pantherophis guttatus, a species increasingly used to understand the evolution of reptiles. Within the same laboratory, the researchers have discovered the exact mutation that causes albinism in that species.

Suzanne Saenko collaborated with a Swedish team, to identify in the corn snake the mutation responsible for amelanism, a form of albinism due to a defect in the production of melanin (the black and brown pigments of the skin). The skin of the wild type corn snake exhibits a light orange background colour covered with a pattern of dark orange dorsal saddles and lateral blotches that are out- lined with black, however, some individuals lack all signs of melanin in the skin and eyes. The Swiss team decided to search for the DNA mutation that determines that specific coloration. To this end, they bred wild-type corn snakes with amelanistic individuals and they sequenced each offspring born from that cross.

Thanks to the newly-sequenced genome of the corn snake, the precise identification of other mutations responsible for multiple variations of snake skin coloration will be greatly facilitated.

Read more at phys.org

Pygmy Freshwater Crocodile - Photo: Adam Britton
Long time friend of kingsnake.com and famed crocodillian researcher Adam Britton is attempting to save the Pygmy Freshwater Crocodiles in Australia. Although they are considered the same species as the Freshwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), researchers are looking into genetic variations that may lead to their listing as a brand new species.

The biggest threat to the Pygmy Freshwater Crocodiles is sadly the invasive Cane Toad (Rhinella marina). The crocs appear to be very susceptible to the toxins from the toads. Working in a partnership with local landowners, the project has passed it's first hurdle. Now it needs our support.

Read more about the Pygmy Freshwater Crocodiles and watch the video at Tiny Toothies.

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Here's lookin' at you kid! Gotta love a field find like this rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user sluggo781 . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!



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A True Giant. This Komodo Dragon takes center stage in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cowboyfromhell s! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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What a great Indigo field shot for our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ACO3124 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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This hatching Beaded Lizard in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Kevin Earley will probably break the internet with it's cuteness! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Hopefully this adorbable shot of an Elongated Tortoise in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user TylerStewart will help brighten your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!