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, March 3 2021
Snakes and Cats living together, it will be anarchy! Wait what? Nah it is just a nice shot of a Cat Snake ( Boiga cyanea) in our Herp Photo of the Day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ptahtoo! Be sure to tell ptahtoo you liked it here!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Tuesday, March 2 2021
Two Texas bills are currently working their way through the legislature that will update the names in their existing law. This change is including the Burmese Pythons, which were previously considered a subspecies of Python molurus on their listing to full species status. Be aware, this is already a law and it is just an update to the nomenclature.
Below is the list of species included in the regulation that requires a TP&W permit. There are two permits available: one for possession and one for commercial business This is already law! The bill just adds the Burmese python and hybrids to the list. Bold text is the new language:
(a) The commission by rule shall establish permits that allow permit holders to possess or transport in this state a live nonindigenous snake, including a hybrid of any kind, that is:
(1) venomous; or
(2) constrictor that is one of the following:
(A) African rock python, Python sebae;
(B) Asiatic rock python, Python molurus;
(C) Burmese python, Python bivittatus;
(D) green anaconda, Eunectes murinus;
(E) reticulated python, Python reticulatus; or
(F) southern African python, Python natalensis.
The bill also adds this text:
(c) If it is shown at the trial of the defendant for a violation of this subchapter or a rule adopted under this subchapter that the defendant has engaged in a commercial activity without holding a required permit and the defendant has been previously convicted of a violation of this subchapter or a rule adopted under this subchapter, on conviction the defendant shall be punished for a Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.
For more information, visit the USARK page on this here.
This Rhino iguana is doing his best impersonation of a dog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cycluracornuta!
Be sure to tell cycluracornuta you liked it here!
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Monday, March 1 2021
What a lovely field shot of a Northern Yellow-faced Turtle hatchling in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user frilly ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
Upload your own and photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Recently New York State has proposed wide sweeping legislation preventing shipping of animals by "any mail carrier", which would also include frequently used outlets such as FexEx and UPS, which both allow the shipment of live animals with rules and restrictions. This includes shipping both to and from the state and aims ban the shipping of all mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
USARK has already set up a page including contact information for all legislative representatives involved and even a sample letter for you to personalize. You can read the full bill and access all needed information on USARK's page for New York here.
Be sure at all times to remain calm and polite when reaching out to representatives on this matter.
Saturday, February 27 2021
The Florida Fish and Wildlife commission has moved ahead with their proposed rule change regarding a variety of species from Iguanas to Anaconda. This includes a ban on ownership of several species. If you already own these animals, there are a variety of changes in your ownership, but you still make keep the animals. The species impacted are:
Green iguana (Iguana iguana)
All Tegus (genera Salvator and Tupinambis, all species)
Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
Indian and Burmese python (Python molurus and Python bivittatus)
Northern African python (Python sebae)
Southern African python (Python natalensis)
Amethystine python (Morelia amethistinus)
Scrub python (Morelia kinghorni)
Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)
USARKFL has a breakdown of restrictions, including ownership, breeding and sales info here.
Be sure you are following USARK to help fight future legislation.
Friday, February 26 2021
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.
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, February 25 2021
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!
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Wednesday, February 24 2021
The colors on this Madison County locale corn snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user draybar are screaming! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, February 23 2021
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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Monday, February 22 2021
Loving this Blue tongue skink just chilling in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user PatS . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Sunday, February 21 2021
We have an urgent action alert from USARK regarding the return of the "animal program ban" that has returned in Illinois. As it is written, it could end even the most common of after school educational programs. From USARK:
This bill bans much more than lions jumping through rings of fire. It is a ban on taking a Greek tortoise into a classroom for an educational program about reptiles. It is a ban on taking a ball python, a red-eyed tree frog, a parakeet, and a hedgehog into a library for an educational show discussing the differences between reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. It is a ban on llamas and any other non-traditional livestock at the State Fair or county 4-H fairs. Basically, if an animal non-native to Illinois is placed into a vehicle and taken to any location where someone will see it, other than a veterinarian in a private room, then it would become an illegal activity, and you a criminal. You could receive a year in jail and a $2,500 fine for taking a leopard gecko into your child’s classroom for a presentation.
The Chicago Herpetological Society hosts the largest and oldest hands-on reptile exhibit in the country. It reaches tens of thousands of people annually and this bill could destroy it. It could end programs coming to your child's school, day care or scouting program. The impact to the reptile community in Illinois would be devastating.
USARK has detailed instructions for reaching out to representatives and what we as a community can do here.
Friday, February 19 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This prairie rattlesnake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user DanL shows us exactly what a rattlesnake does in the wild if they feel threatened! First they warn and then they try to run away! Rattlesnakes are so very important to our ecosystem and it is so very important to understand that it is important to watch for them, respect them and give them their space for freedom. Despite the urban legends, they run away! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, February 18 2021
Hang in there today just like this Borneo Eared Frog in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user tropicaltreefrog! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, February 16 2021
What started it all for us, a stunning greyband in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user APLAXAR s! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Friday, February 12 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! All venomous snakes need our support! This Cottonmouth is screaming it from the field in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user BowieKnife357 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Thursday, February 11 2021
This Kenyan Sand Boa is getting into the mood for the weekend, 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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Wednesday, February 10 2021
This kingsnake has perfect camouflage in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user rick d ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, February 9 2021
This is a once in a lifetime shot! How cool is this field shot of an Alameda whipsnake grabbing a meal in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user trevid ?! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Friday, February 5 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This certainly is not a rattlesnake, but it is a beautiful venomous creature. What a great close up of a Gaboon Viper, uploaded by kingsnake.com user magnum26 is full of sassy and potentially life-saving venom! 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.
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, February 4 2021
A shout out to the little guys! Loving this Vinales Anole in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user macraei ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, February 3 2021
What a cool field shot of this Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user reptoman ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, February 2 2021
This young banded water snake being very curious in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user casichelydia ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Monday, February 1 2021
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!
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Friday, January 29 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! We hopped into the wayback machine to visit this C.ruber in the field in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user joecarroll ! 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.
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, January 28 2021
How awesome is this group of breeding Gharials in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Lucky_7 . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, January 27 2021
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!
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Tuesday, January 26 2021
This isn't our forefathers Af Rock! This beautiful patternless African Rock shines in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user MEIER21288 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Monday, January 25 2021
What a great sighting of a California newt in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user AndrewFromSoCal ! Makes you fell like you are right there the field. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Friday, January 22 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Isn't this a gorgeous Southern Pacific Rattlesnake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Canes05 ! 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.
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
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