Patti Bartlett holding a juvie Cuban Croc at the Cuban Crocodile Farm.

Crocodiles, by the definition of most of the populace, are beasts bent on removing, by hook or by crook, much of the human population—or at least removing most among us silly enough to have anything to do with these wonderfully adapted, predominantly aquatic, beasts. At this point it behooves me to state that I am one who knows next to nothing about crocodiles.

Oh, in bygone years I’ve kept a few hatchlings of various species, but as soon as any got up to that 2 foot-mark, they were returned to the various origins. I’ve never been sorry for these self-imposed limitations. Rather than mention here ones that I have kept, I’ll simply mention a couple that I haven’t kept. These 2 were and are the Saltwater Croc, Crocodylus porosus and the Cuban Croc, Crocodylus rhombifer. The “Salty” is an immense beast, recorded as having attained a length of 23 feet, a weight of 2000 pounds, a man-eating attitude, and a huge range in the Old World. The Cuban Croc, on the other hand is, in size and range, exactly the opposite. It is adult at a length of about 7 feet (occasional individuals are said to push 11 feet), weighs between 200 and 500 pounds, and is critically endangered. It is now restricted to fresh water habitats in Cuba's Zapata Swamp and Isla de la Juventud. It, as keepers have painfully learned, is an accomplished jumper and retains an overwhelmingly intolerant disposition and can move surprisingly quickly and accurately on land. It is, in fact, considered the most terrestrial of today’s crocodiles. Captive animals have displayed cooperative hunting behavior, and can be taught tricks.

This “mid-sized” croc is rather brightly colored in roughened black and cream colored scales. The head and jaws are proportionately large and there are large temporal ridges. Juveniles eat fish and invertebrates, adults consume fish, turtles, small mammals and birds.

Despite its relatively small size, the Cuban Crocodile is a highly aggressive animal, and potentially dangerous to humans.

Edgar at age 20.
Species: Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus.

Photographed: 29 Oct 2021.

Age: 4 days over 20 years.

Current Length: 7 feet 2 inches.

Where: Off display but ensconced at the Central Florida Zoo, Sanford FL.

Comments by Nick Clark, Supervisor: “A bit overweight but very placid, Edgar’s namesake is Edgar Winter an albino blues musician. Most the kids nowadays have no idea who that is, so even when I explain the names origin I receive blank stares and any humor that was intended is lost.

For the "story of Edgar" Fred Antonio and I wrote a paper that was published in the 1st volume of "Biology of Rattlesnakes" Reproduction in the Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus, under Optimal Conditions in Captivity.

It tells of Edgar's birth and the following 3 breeding and birthing events.”

My comments: To all at the Central Florida Zoo who allowed me photographic access to Edgar, Many, many, thanks.

Great Basin Rattler on the side of the road in the headlights.
Snaaaaake! Jake hollered. Rattler.

“OK” I said. “It’s about time.”

And it definitely WAS about time for we were on the last night of our trip and were on the way to the motel.

Brakes. Camera. Action. Finally.

Jake and I had again decided to make a quick trip—4 or 5 field days—to Utah in hopes of finding a Great Basin Rattler, Crotalus oreganus lutosus. Earlier in the year we had traveled over pretty much the same route with the same snake subspecies in mind. On that earlier trip we had found one of rather bland color and pattern. But that one was also found on the last run of the last night. We had thanked our lucky stars.

Now here we were, 2 months later, on the same roadway. Again here we were on the last run of the last night. The principal differences were the phase of the moon and rather than being dead center on the road, the snake for which we had just come to a screeching halt was almost out of sight on the side of the roadside. But it was a beauty and well worth the expended effort. I’m ready to head back Jake?

Juvenile color and patterning may remain visible until the Black Milk Snake is nearing adulthood.

Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae is an Interesting Milk Snake. Brightly tricolored at hatching, not only does this subspecies undergo rather remarkable ontogenetic changes, but this Central American (Costa Rica and Panama) subspecies is also the longest and probably the heftiest of the milk snakes, attaining the rather remarkable length of 7 feet when adult!

Hatchlings are 10-12 inches long, a notable length for any member of this group, and they are strongly tricolored and can easily consume pinkies. By the time a hatchling has undergone 2 or 3 sheds, a suffusion of melanism will be seen dulling the hatchling brilliance somewhat and by the time the snake is a subadult there will be no doubt about its parentage. It has been many years since I last kept tricolors of any subspecies, but I still recall the amazement felt when I compared hatchling photos with those taken as growth ensued. Try this beauty yourself. I think you’ll be very pleasantly surprised. And strangely, in these days of upwardly spiraling hobbyist costs, I think that the price of Black Milk Snake hatchlings remains comparatively affordable.

Kingsnakes (this is a South Florida or Brook's phase) may hunt their prey in surface or sub-surface locales.
Interestingly the different groupings of rodent-eating snakes tend to orient themselves a bit differently. For example the nonvenomous rat snakes, prominent members of the serpentine rodent patrol, tend to be more ubiquitous in their hunting techniques than, let’s say, the kingsnakes, milk snakes, or pit vipers. The former, the rat snakes seek prey (rats, mice, and other unwanted furry visitors) on the ground, in barns and other out-structures, in trees, and under surface debris. Even long grasses and shrub cuttings may suffice as a harbor for rodents and these predators.

The venomous pit vipers, rattlers and moccasins, tend to be ambush rather than active predators. To heighten chances for success, these, especially the rattlers, often seek out rodent trails and position themselves next to a fallen tree or other such visual barrier in hopes of a careless rat or squirrel coming along. Small rattler species may be more active. Cottonmouths often seek out road-killed carrion and pry it from the pavement. Copperheads overindulge on cicadas and other insects as well as frogs, lizards, nestling birds and rodents.

Kingsnakes, milk snakes, and members of the bull/pine/gopher snakes clan are often active ground-surface predators that follow trails of mice, voles and other prey through grassy/weedy tunnels and may follow prey trails into subterranean burrows. In fact the pine/gopher/bullsnakes are dedicated hunters of gophers and voles within the burrows. Kingsnakes and milk snakes are adept at following rodents or herps but are not as specialized at burrow-hunting as the gopher snake group.

Snakes seek prey wherever the trails lead them. Besides their individually preferred hunting sites almost all snakes—yes even kings and pit vipers, are capable of ascending trees. We humans, or Mother Nature, will either purposely or accidentally create the habitats. Our friends, the snakes and their prey often closely follow.

The Carolina Pygmy Rattler of the Sandhills can vary widely in ground color but are usually light with well defined dorsal blotches.
The Variably Colored Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius is the most northeasterly, most variable in color, and marginally the smallest of the 3 subspecies of Pygmy Rattlesnakes. It ranges southward from the Albemarle Peninsula of North Carolina to South Carolina, Central Georgia, and westward to Northern Alabama. At the southern extremes of its range it intergrades with the Dusky subspecies in the east and with the Western subspecies in the west. Adult size is a stocky 15 to 20 inches. It seems as if the record length is 25 inches.

It is in color that this little buzztail varies most. Two of the most often mentioned color phases are the “sandhill” phase and the “red” phase. The latter seems restricted to neGA and eNC while the lavender sandhills phase, restricted to the NC sandhills, is aptly named.

Besides the lavender and red ground colors already mentioned, this little snake may vary from gray to brownish. It lacks the dark stippling of the dusky phase but has clearly defined light edged dark dorsal saddles as well as lateral smaller lateral blotches. In areas of intergradation stippling is heavier and the patterns are less clearcut.

Between 2 and 9 young are produced in each clutch. Neonates measure a rather slender 6 inches in total length.

The tail is usually dark on adults but yellowish on neonates.

Both in young and old (this is a hatchling) the plastra of Western Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii, bears a variable dark figure against the red.
For nearly my entire life I have been enchanted by the beauty and abundance of the 4 subspecies of painted turtles—the eastern, the midland, the southern, and the western. Where I spent my childhood, both the eastern and western subspecies were common. But to see both the southern and the western painteds in the wild, it was necessary to travel several hundred miles. But travel those distances I did, and was happy to do so.

Of the four subspecies, the southern is the smallest and the western, at a straight-measure carapace length of 8 to 10 inches, the largest. The western also has the largest range and just happens to be the most colorful. It may be seen throughout most of the central states, to the Pacific Northwest, southwestern Canadian Provinces, and in several disjunct river systems and lakes of our southwest. The olive-ish carapace may or may not have a busy pattern of light lines and the plastron is red to reddish (especially bright on hatchlings) with broad areas of dark pigment following the scute junctures. Face, neck, limbs, and tail are olive to dark grayish green and are busily striped or spotted with yellow.

Adult female Cuban Treefrogs can be quite a handful.
Cuban Treefrog: Osteopilus septentrionalis.

Color: Variable, often some shade of uniform tan, or occasionally green, bluish green, pasty-white, or mottled. All individuals are capable of a wide range of color changes.

Skin (glandular) secretions: Irritating, toxic

Size: Sexually dimorphic. Males are adult at from1 to 3+ inches, females are larger and bulkier occasionally attaining a snout-vent length of 5 ½ inches.

Food: Besides invertebrates small vertebrates including other frogs are consumed.

Lifespan: Males 1 to 3 years, females to 5+ years.

How long in the USA: First recorded on the Florida Keys in 1930s.

Native to: Cuba, Bahamas, Cayman and other Caribbean Islands.

Current Range in USA as of 2021: Currently expanding, now throughout most of Florida, occasionally reported from southern Georgia. May be unexpectedly carried to more distant area in plant shipments.

Habitat: Many and varied, but often most common near human habitations. Plant nurseries, ponds, puddles, irrigated areas, illuminated areas to which insects (and other frogs) are drawn.

Comments: The presence and spread of the Cuban Treefrog in Florida has created at least two very different biological outlooks. One viewpoint, based as much on this frog’s cannibalistic propensities as on any thing else dictates that each-and-every-one found be humanely euthanized. The argument is that Cuban Treefrogs deplete populations of our native hylids, in some cases to the point of localized extirpation. To this I respond that on the southern peninsula, where the Cuban Treefrogs have been present for most of their 90 years, I can still find native species without looking too hard.

The opposite viewpoint is that this species has been in FL for 90 years and its presence should now be ignored allowing Mother Nature to work things out. Sadly, in those early years this frog’s presence on the Keys was ignored. But then, so was the presence of virtually every other non-human ignored.

Do Cuban Treefrogs belong in the USA? The answer is a resounding and unequivocal “no.” But perhaps they are not quite as devastating as so often portrayed.

This adult Fer-de-lance is coiled in ambush position at the base of a tropical tree.

The Fer-de-Lance, Bothrops atrox, or Jergon (as it is known in the Iquitos, Peru region) is one of those well camouflaged venomous species that is everywhere and nowhere. There were times when we could walk all around the biological preserves and never see one, and there were other times when they were literally in all areas. The latter seemed especially true when rains had induced frog activity, and frogs are a favored prey item of the Jergon.

A dangerously venomous, crepuscular and nocturnal, species of neotropical rainforests, the fer-de-lance is primarily a terrestrial snake, especially when adult. Neonates are more inclined to access low shrubs and other vegetation. Adult size ranges between 3 and 5 feet. It ranges widely east of the Andes Mountains from Panama to Bolivia and northern Brazil. It also occurs in Trinidad.

A viviparous species, litters are large, often consisting of 25 to 40 (up to 80 have been recorded). The neonates have a light colored tailtip and utilize caudal luring.

A Dusky Pygmy Rattler basks on the roadside.
Dusky is an excellent descriptive for this little rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius barbourin. The ground color is usually gray and bears a profusion of even darker stippling that is heaviest dorsally. Oval, light edged, black dorsal blotches are larger than the lighter, often orange, interspaces separating them and there is smaller light edged lateral blotches. The tail is dark on adults but yellowish on neonates and juveniles, bears a tiny tailtip rattle that is broken easily, but that is barely audible even when entire. The crown is dark with an orange(ish) central stripe that extends onto the neck. The chin and belly are dark with scattered darker blotches. A nervous snake, if approached it will usually tilt the head upwards and twitch. The tail is often also elevated and shaken. The yellow tail of the juveniles serves as a caudal lure. Prey includes nestling rodents, frogs, salamanders, and arthropods.

Sadly, the young of many harmless snakes (most commonly hatchling racers, rat snakes, and hog-noses) are mistaken for a pygmy and are summarily dispatched.

As suggested by its common name, this small but heavy bodied snake is adult at 15 to 24 inches in length. The largest example I have seen pushed 33 inches. It is common to abundant in some areas but entirely absent in others.

A viviparous species, between 2 and 9 young are produced in each clutch. Neonates measure a rather slender 6 inches in total length.

This subspecies ranges in brushy to lightly wooded habitats from southeastern South Carolina to southeastern Mississippi, and throughout Florida excluding the Keys. It intergrades with both the Carolina and Western subspecies at the northern and western extremes of its range.

There is hardly any way to misidentify a hatchling Great Plains Skink.

There are in the USA 3 groups of moderately large-size (to 12+”, tail included) skinks. On the Pacific Coast there is the Gilbert Skink group with 5 subspecies, on the Atlantic Coast there is the 5-lined group with 3 full species, and in the Central States the subject of our discussion, the Great Plains Skink, Plestiodon obsoletus, a stand-alone species.

It is probable that the Great Plains Skink is the largest of the genus, having been measured at 13 ¾”. It also differs in several other respects. Although the male’s temporal area swells slightly during the spring breeding season, it does not assume the bright orange-red color of the males of other species. It is the only skink species in the USA that has the lateral scales in oblique (slanted) rows. And rather than the uniform warm brown that gradually supercedes the brightly striped dorsal pattern and blue tail of the hatchlings and juveniles of the coastal species, the adult of the Great Plains Skink is grayish-yellow to straw-yellow and may or may not have the dorsal and dorsolateral scales edged with dark brown that gives the impression of stripes. And the hatchlings are usually a jet black with a cobalt blue tail and bold white or orange labial spots.

Breeding occurs in the spring and in early summer the female lays and guards a dozen to 20 eggs (sometimes less, sometimes more) that hatch after about 60 days.

This is a skink of the wide open spaces, although populations are often concentrated near permanent water sources. It ranges from southern Texas to extreme southwest Iowa and southern Nebraska, southwestward to central and southern Arizona. It also occurs in northern Mexico.

This is a hatchling Russian Rat Snake

In bygone days the Russian Rat Snake Elaphe schrencki was the nominate subspecies, with the Korean Rat Snake, Elaphe schrencki anomala, being the second subspecies. Each were elevated to full species status several years ago.

Talking about this pretty constrictor should make all of the diehard wannbe users of the genus Elaphe, happy, because it, as well as several other Eurasian species, remain in that genus. Although commonly known as the Russian Rat Snake by USA enthusiasts, it is also commonly referred to as the Manchurian Rat Snake. The range of this white banded black snake includes Russia, Mongolia and Northern China (Manchuria).. Like other rat snakes, including those of the USA, the Russian Rat Snake’s preferred habitats include open forest, scrublands and farmlands. It is an agile climber and swimmer that does not hesitate to use lakes and streams as escape routes if harried.

As mentioned above, the ground color of this snake is black. This is interrupted by numerous widely separated narrow white (often dirty white) to yellow bands. The head is black but the labials are white to yellow(ish) with black interscale sutures. The venter is cream to pale yellow with numerous black spots. Adult size ranges from 4 ½ to 6 feet in total length.

Prey includes rodents and other small mammals, birds and their eggs.

Clutch size varies between 4 and 25+ eggs. Incubation duration is less that with other rat snake species, varying from 38 to 50 days. Ground color of the 10” long hatchlings is brown with black-edged lighter bars.

Often associated with India, the snake also ranges into Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other nearby countries. Despite the terrible toxicity and efficiency of the venom, when the Russell’s Viper Daboia russelii is available to hobbyists and zoos it is usually quickly purchased. Admittedly, this rough-scaled, grayish to brownish snake is a beautiful species.

To the pleasing ground color add 3 rows of lengthwise black and white edged oval, russet, markings. Dorsally these are occasionally elongated into a broad stripe. The top of the head has a dark edged half oval above each venom gland and the crown is outlined by light scales forming a V with the apex on the nose. Overall, what you now have, is 3 to 5 feet of beauty along a moderately heavy body.

This snake is ovoviviparous, birthing from 5 to 40 neonates. The largest substantiated litter contained 75 neonates. The babies are about 9 ½ inches long at birth.

Russell’s Viper is preferentially crepuscular to nocturnal.

The habitat of Russell’s Viper may vary from relatively dry, overgrown suburban areas to scrublands and open woodlands. These snakes are often seen wherever there are the rodents, their preferred prey. Ricefields form an ideal habitat and, sadly, workers are often bitten.

What seem to be bright colors when captive blend remarkably well with this snake's natural habitat.

A male Barker, content and vocalizing.
We have in the southeastern USA a treefrog, Hyla gratiosa, that is not only large, but is capable of chameleon-like color changes, and that when vocalizing from a flooded ditch or woodland pond has a call that is unmistakeable. Then it is an oft repeated, loud, hollow-sounding, “woooook.” However, while waiting in the warm weather for breeding sites such as ditches and vernal ponds, to be filled by spring and summer rains, this treefrog may ascend high in woodland trees and produce a very different sound, one that is more like a “whirrrrr” than a “woooook.”

As mentioned, Barkers (they’re called this by many) are capable of rather rapid color changes. When “content” such as when inflated and floating on the water surface, often while holding on to an emergent or floating plant stem or sitting on a grassy shallow, they are of some shade of green and have very visible rounded solid or open-centered dorsal spots or ocelli. These may be darker or lighter than the frog’s dorsal ground color. If stressed or for other reasons known only to the frog, the green may quickly become gray or brown, again with or without very visible dorsal spots or ocelli. There is often a white labial and lateral stripe and the belly is usually dark with irregular light spots.

When adult Barkers are of heavier build than most other treefrogs and are also larger, usually being 2 to 2 ½ inches svl (snout-vent length). The skin appears granular.

Most common on the southeastern coastal plain and lowlands from extreme eastern Louisiana to central-eastern North Carolina, there are disjunct populations in more northerly states.

This is a young adult of the brown-checkered phase of the Eastern Garter Snake.
It was perhaps a year, or possibly 2 years, ago that Jake and I began to notice that in North Central Florida we were no longer seeing garter snakes. This was strange because in one form or another, one color or another, one subspecies or another, garter snakes were one snake that we had always counted on seeing.

We looked most for the Eastern Garter Snake, T. s. sirtalis, and often on a normal drive we’d see a couple. Today (midJune 2021) we feel lucky if we see one at all.

Dr. Sam Sweet, who is conducting rat snake studies along FL’s “Nature Coast”, has told me that the Blue Striped Garter Snake, T. sirtalis similis, remains relatively common in his study area.

On the other hand Jake and I (or I alone) have seen only a single Eastern Garter Snake in the last year. The actuality of this paucity was brought home to me when earlier this year I started a serious search for a specific color phase in ncFL. This is a brown, checkered, phase. I had photographed this color phase about 5 years ago when we saw one on almost every trip but wished now to take new photos. But now, after couple of thousand miles of driving and poking about, I have seen only one and it was a DOR example. Is the reduction in sightings real or contrived?

Seems the only solution is to keep looking, racking up the mileage, and hoping to see a garter snake population resurgence. In the meantime here are a few old pix.

During breeding or territorial disputes the throat of the male blushes to a brighter orange.
No, this attractive lizardis not extinct. But it has been about 35 years since this species has made an appearance in the American pet trade. But I still get inquiries regarding the lizard even though many of the askers are not old enough to have ever seen it.

As indicated by its common name, this 15 to 18-inch long (including the lengthy tail) is endemic to the lowlands of the Chilean Pacific coastal regions.

Of the family Teiidae, Callopistes maculatus is apparently of ancient lineage and is considered a forerunner of the tegus and other teiids. Dorsally it is multicolored, being bedecked in 4 rows of white-edged black spots on a brown back. Laterally there is a row of more poorly defined black-edged white spots. The gular region of males is orange and is brightest during courtship and aggressive interludes.

Food items include insects, other arthropods, small mammals such as nestling mice and rats, and carrion.

This is an oviparous species but little seems known about the breeding and hatching sequences.

And now to the pix of this pretty lizard.

This is the "Christmas Tree" Eyelashed Palm Pit Viper so favored by hobbyists.
Last week we discussed one of the more rarely seen of the Palm Pit Vipers, the Yellow-blotched, B. aurifer. This week let’s take a brief foray into the world of what is probably the best known and most variable member of the genus, the 2 to 3-foot long Eyelashed Palm Pit Viper, Bothriechis schlegelii. This is a slender snake with a strongly prehensile tail. The supraorbital “eyelashes” are legend. Despite being venomous, the variability of color and patterns and the fact that this snake is hardy attracts many hobbyists to this lowland Central American and northern South American pit viper.

Color? You name it. This snake can vary from the dullest of grays, with or without darker patterning, to the brightest of sunshine yellow, again with or without patterning. The gold-phase is often referred to as the “Orapel,” Spanish meaning gold and glittery. Then there are the greens, gray-greens, dull greens, or a hobbyist favorite, the “Christmas tree phase, this latter being a bright green with reddish patterning. The tiger phase, a golden snake with broad green banding is also a favorite.

This is a humidity loving snake that in its forested habitat may often be found at about face-level along bush and tree-shrouded watercourses. There it quietly waits for prey that includes small arboreal rodents, treefrogs, lizards and birds.

Along with the already mentioned attributes, hobbyists are now taking pride in designing enclosures for this quiet snake as rainforest replicas with living plants, perches, and occasionally with mini-waterfalls. Humidity is good, wetness is not.
I’ll close here by saying that although this is often a “laid back” and quiet species, as with any venomous snake, extreme care should be used when maintenance and or handling becomes necessary.

Yellow-blotched Palm Pit Vipers remain comparatively uncommon in collections.
This montane, arboreal, venomous beauty, ranges from the state of Chiapas, Mexico to northern Guatemala. Like is congenerics, it is small (to about 30 inches) and slender in build. The tail is strongly prehensile. As with most snakes, both the common and the scientific name may be misleading. Although most examples are leaf-green with prominent black edging around the yellowish dorsal blotches and black facial markings, and some have black-edged green blotches that are nearly the same as the body in color. Others may be uniform green, lacking both dorsal and facial black patterning. Black, variably distinct, irregular vertebral striping may connect the dorsal blotches. If present this marking is often most discernable anteriorly. The belly of adults is usually marginally lighter than the dorsum and neonates are a pale green with the expected dark markings. Captives readily accept mice and it is expected that in the wild the diet may include small rodents, mouse opossums, and, for neonate vipers treefrogs and lizards.

The Yellow-blotched Palm Pit Viper, Bothriechis aurifer, considered by biologists to be a “vulnerable species,” is not frequently imported and is currently uncommon in both zoo and private collections.

Seemingly little is known, or at least has been published about the venom of this pit viper. I’ll close here by saying that as with any venomous snake, extreme care should be used when handling.

A profile of the Southeastern Slimy Salamander.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Plethodon grobmani, the Southeastern Slimy Salamander, is a creature of pinewoods habitats. It was once fairly common in our neighborhood. Today (2021) following several lengthy droughts and a major attack of pine bark beetles (and the resulting death of old pine stands), this salamander is almost unknown here. At the turn of the century I would go across the street, enter the pinewoods, and in a half hour search say “howdy-do” to about a dozen slimys. Compare that to my occasional searches over the last 10 years when my exact total was one—a single salamander-- and it was not in the best of shape. Of course, as already mentioned, most of the pine trees in that area are gone also, victims of the infestation of pine-bark beetles.

In other locales, where the pine bark beetle plague was less pronounced than here, this white-flecked black salamander remains easily found in pine and mixed woodlands. Like others of this, genus this salamander has no aquatic larval stage. The egg clutch is deposited in or beneath moist fallen pines and development, from the newly deposited eggs, through metamorphosis, to emergence as a miniature of the adults occurs in the egg capsule.

A Yellow Rat Snake from Central Florida .
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Despite their need for papers and what the geneticists claim, I continue to follow the Linnaeus method and recognize subspecies. To that end, this is now and has been almost forever the Yellow Rat Snake, Pantherophis obsoleta quadrivittata. There are 4 other subspecies, including the nominate form, the northeastern Black Rat Snake, in this species group.

It is at the southeastern edge of its range that the Black Rat Snake slips gently into the yellow race. First the southernmost Black Rat Snakes assume a dorsolateral pattern of stripes and a greenish hue and as the greenish rats continue further south they become the traditional and long recognized yellow subspecies. But way south, down near Lake Okeechobee, when the Everglades was truly a river of grass, before the rice fields, the sugarcane, the sodfields, before the maze of drainage canals and Brazilian pepper, the yellow rat snake lost all but a vestige of stripes, assumed a deep orange color, and became the Everglades rat snake. Human influx = habitat destruction. And despite the efforts of the state, if such efforts, are actually real, habitat destruction continues, seemingly almost unabated.

But now back to comments regarding the yellow rat snake. They are real, and they continue to exist, perhaps in reduced numbers, over most if not all, of their long-described range. They remain rather common in our neighborhood, but houses are now quickly replacing the woodlands here. I can only hope for the best. Long live the Yellow Rat Snake.

This Gladiator Treefrog was sitting quietly in a low shrub.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

This big brown(ish) treefrog is, at an adult length of 5 inches, one of the largest hylids from Amazonas to Panama. Although both genders attain this length, males often are marginally the larger. The unveined orangish eyes help differentiate this common treefrog from other large species. The sides and dorsum bear dark markings that may be prominent or almost invisible. All four feet are webbed.

The Giant Gladiator Treefrog (Hyla (Boana) boans), is commonly seen in riveredge/streamedge shrubs and low trees, and less commonly on the moist shoreline.

The name of Gladiator was given for males at their breeding sites will grapple in territorial battles. These scraps are made the more serious due to the fact that the males have sharp, bony, thumb excrescences. It is usually the bigger male that wins.

Nesting depressions may be either natural small shore-edge puddles or a depression dug by the male. There is usually at least a small water-holding connection to the nearby permanent water source. It is through this that the tadpoles reach the permanent water in which they grow and metamorphose.

The Mexican Hook-nosed Snake is a tiny burrowing species from South Texas and Mexico.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Oh, OK, so it’s not a hog-nosed snake, but in profile, its sharply upturned rostral scale, sure makes it look like one. This is the tiny Mexican Hook-nosed Snake, Ficimia streckeri. A true miniature, it is adult at from 7 to 11 inches, but may, on rare occasions reach a foot and a half in length. The few that I’ve seen (it was Kelly Irwin who introduced Patti and me to this snake) have been under a foot long. In the USA this species is restricted to southern TX, but its range extends far southward in eastern Mexico.

In keeping with its preference for soils, often near water sources, through which it can easily burrow, this is basically a sand-tan to pale brown or sand-gray(ish) snake with an unpatterned head and a busy pattern of narrow darker bars or spots along the back. The lower sides are basically unpatterned. This little snake can be easily differentiated from hog-nosed snakes, all of which have keeled scales, by its smooth (=unkeeled) body scales. It is usually crepuscular or nocturnal when surface active.

Blackie, as she was released.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Blackie has been our backyard black racer for 5+ years now. Although not tame she was very tolerant of our movements around her, spent much time hunting anoles in the backyard and often sunned on the back steps.

I won’t say we actually loved her, but we surely looked forward to her visits on all but the coldest days.

About 2 months ago Blackies sustained a serious mauling by our Aussie Shepherd. The mauling, we thought when separating the 2, would be fatal. Blackie had badly torn skin and her back seemed broken in 2 places.

But she was alive. Patti carefully brought the snake inside and I coiled her as gently as possible on the bottom of a 10 gallon tank, straightened her back at the breaks, covered her, and hoped for the best, whatever that could be.

Against all odds, she was alive the next morning, lifting her head and flicking her tongue when I put my hand in the tank. But she hadn’t moved her body position so I dropped some dried leaves atop her an added feeling of security, added a water dish, and let her be. And so it went, day after day.

But then one day about 3 weeks later she had moved, half her body length was atop the leaves and she was busily flicking her tongue. I moved her to the water dish, she drank, and I noticed she was entering a shedding cycle. A few days later she began shedding, I assisted, and was pleased to see that when I touched her sides behind both breaks she moved away from my finger. She had feeling!

We decided to keep her captive through our winter, just hoping she’ll be releasable when the warmth again pervades.

Footnote: She was released on 24 Feb 2021 and was last seen periscoping for anoles. Good luck, Blackie.

Note the nasal horns on this pretty West African Gaboon Viper.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

West African Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica rhinoceros. Except for facial markings, this large sized snake is of very similar appearance to the East African Gaboon Viper but has prominent nasal horns. It too attains a heavy bodied, remarkably well camouflaged length of 4 ½ to 5 ½ feet with females being larger. It is dangerous, very beautiful, and also has a very wide range (rainforest habitats) from Togo westward to Senegal and Mali. Food is primarily of small mammals. This subspecies has one dark marking, a diagonal triangle marking on each side of its face.

The 2 subspecies of Gaboon viper can interbreed with each other as well as with the Rhinoceros Viper. They give birth to live young that may number from as few as 5 to more than 40. Neonates are 10-12 inches in length.

In activity pattern both subspecies of these shade preferring, fallen-leaf colored, snakes are primarily nocturnal. Both subspecies have very long fangs. Despite their virulent toxins both subspecies are quite popular with herpetoculturists worldwide. Gaboon Vipers are often quiet to the point of placidity during the hours of daylight (keepers—do not be deceived by this, ALWAYS USE EXTREME CAUTION) but become alert and even active after nightfall.

Gaboons may move in a typical side to side motion but are more inclined to use a straight rectilinear movement, being slowly propelled forward by ventral scale motion.

Dangerous but a hobbyist favorite, the East African Gaboon Viper.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

The Gaboon Vipers, often referred to as Gaboon Adders

At one time the Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica, contained 2 subspecies, the east African, Bitis gabonica gabonica, and the West African, Bitis gabonica rhinoceros. The two were of pretty similar appearance, the most noticeable difference being dark facial markings and the length of the vertical nasal projections. The East African race has 2 facial markings, a suborbital triangle or spot and a diagonal temporal triangle and short horns while the West African beauty had only the diagonal temporal triangle (it lacked the suborbital spot) and long horns. The two were ostensibly capable of interbreeding.

Then along came genetics and what was one species became 2, but the external differentiating factors remained the same. Genetically, it is thought that the West African Gaboon Viper is more closely allied to the very different appearing Rhinoceros Viper than to its East African lookalike. Call them what you choose, I’ll stick with the Linnaean subspecies concept.

East African Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica gabonica. Everything about this snake is “very.” Very large (4 ½ -5 ½ feet long). Females are larger than males. This very heavy bodied, very well camouflaged snake that is very dangerous, very beautiful, has very short nasal protuberances (often merely a pair of bumps at the tip of the snout), and a very wide range (forest and savanna habitats) from Benin to western Kenya and south to Zimbabwe and Zululand. Food is primarily of small mammals. Only one dark triangle on each side of face. There is no suborbital spot or blotch.

They give birth to live young that may number from as few as 5 to more than 40. Neonates are 10-12 inches in length.

Gaboons may move in a typical side to side motion but are more inclined to use a straight rectilinear movement, being slowly propelled forward by ventral scale motion.

A profile of the Solomon Island Ground Boa.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Common Name: Solomon Island Ground Boa

Scientific name: Candoia paulsoni

Range: Solomon Islands and other nearby Islands.

Size: Nears 4 feet, males are the smaller gender.

Color: Individually variable. Capable of considerable metachrosis (voluntary, usually day to night color changes). Ground colors red-orange through orange to brown, occasionally cream to white. Usually a prominent darker dorsal zig-zag pattern.

Reproduction: Live-bearing
Comments: Once a herpetoculturist favorite, today it is not as commonly seen.

Note the enlarged rostral scale and position of the eyes on the Arabian Sand Boa.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Sand boas of various types have been hobbyist favorites for decades. Perhaps foremost in the lineup has been the Kenya sand boa. But other species have also paraded through. Rough-scales, Mueller’s. European and others have all had their “15 minutes” of fame. But way back on the “tag end” of the lineup has been the coolest sand boa of all. This is the Arabian Sand Boa, a species truly specialized for life in and beneath the sands of the arid Arabian Peninsula and Iran.

Having an adult length of about 15 inches, the Arabian Sand Boa, Eryx (Gongylophis to some) jayakeri, is one of, if not THE, smallest member of this group. The eyes are small and are set high on the head rather than on the sides. With its wide, wedge-shaped rostral (nose-tip) scale and snout, this little snake is a streamlined burrower that needs only to show its eyes to watch for the approach of lizards and other prey items. During the heat of the day the snake is usually deeper in the substrate than during the comparative coolness of evening.

The ground color of this tiny boa is sand tan, gray, or orangish. It is profusely marked dorsally and laterally with dark bands, half bands, or blotches. These markings narrow as they near the lower sides.

An egg-laying species, clutch size is between 2 and 7 eggs. Incubation is said to be ~66 days. I am unaware of the size of the hatchlings but they are said to be so small that they have difficulty eating newborn pinky mice.

This is an adult Royal Rat Snake.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Of the Diadem Snakes, it is Spalerosophis atriceps the Black-headed or Royal Rat Snake that is most sought by hobbyists. A pretty but quietly colored snake, the ground color may vary from sand gray to orange. It has irregular dark blotches and spots both dorsally and laterally. The spotting may be reddish on juveniles but darkens as the snake ages. The head may be black or black and tan dorsally and the face may be orange to red, with or without black. The belly may be unmarked white or small dark blotches may be present.

These snakes are weak constrictors at best, and often smother live prey, such as a mouse, by grasping and holding it by the nose while laying body coils atop the rodent.

This snake may bite if carelessly restrained or otherwise frightened.

Adults may exceed 6 feet by a few inches. Hatchlings are 12 to 14 inches long.

Once commonly bred in the USA, the Royal Rat Snake is now rather infrequently seen. Many who have successfully bred this species have provided a several weeks winter brumation with temperatures in the mid 50sF. A clutch normally contains between 3 and 12 eggs.

India and Pakistan comprise the range of this snake.

The "spindly" legs of spider geckos were always apparent.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Although the Spider Gecko, also known as the Persian Spider gecko, Agamura persica for those of you scientifically inclined, was never particularly common in the pet industry, it was once at least sporadically available. As is suggested by both its common and species name, it ranges widely in Iran (also Pakistan and Afghanistan) Today (2021 it seems that it is one of the many reptile and amphibian species lost to the herp-hobby.

This is a sand-gray colored gecko, slender of body and long of leg and tail. The tail accounts for a little less than half of the Spider Gecko’s 5 to 6 inch length. Adult males are often a bit larger than the females. Males have noticeable hemipenial bulges.

This gecko is not particularly fast but is said to be quite agile as it moves about its rocky arid homeland. It is said to be active at temperatures between 60 and 95F. Captives quickly grew accustomed to close approach and would stand statue-still until actually touched. Like many other gecko species Spider geckos are primarily both crepuscular and nocturnal, but occasionally foraged and basked diurnally.

It is oviparous.

We hope you have enjoyed this short journey into our bygone days of herpetoculture.