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 12 2025
This is an amazing shot of a hatching hognose in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user motorhead!!
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Tuesday, March 11 2025
There is an update to the proposed South Carolina Venomous Ban. The meeting is being held next week. This is a proposed STATEWIDE ban. From the USARK update:
This bill is scheduled to be heard by the Wildlife Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 19th at 12:30 PM. The location is: Blatt Building Room 409, 1105 Pendleton St, Columbia, SC 29201. Written testimony should be emailed to EllieHayes@schouse.gov. You can also email to register to speak. Send another comment even if you have already done so, and any stakeholders should attend the hearing to oppose in person. Read the agenda at https://www.scstatehouse.gov/agendas/126h15107.pdf
Just a reminder that they are including a grandfather clause for current owners who can register their animals and receive permits within 90 days of the law going into effect. There are exemptions included for research facilities and zoos as well.
The proposed banned list is:
Venomous reptiles banned, including hybrids: families Elapidae, Crotalidae, Viperidae, and Hydrophiidae; all reptiles in the genus Heloderma; all reptiles in the family Colubridae belonging to the genera: Rhabdophis, Balanophis, Macropisthodon, Boiga, Dispholidus, Thelotornis, and Thrasops, and all reptiles in the family Atractaspididae.
USARK has supplied sample letters as well as all the contact information in their action alert which can be found here.
Dumeril's Boas are an underrated snake and as you can see by the one in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user biophiliacs amazingly beautiful too boot!!
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Monday, March 10 2025
This male Boelen's just wants to say hello in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user JonathanH!
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Friday, March 7 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! An absolutely stunning Crotalus atrox neonate graces our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user psilocybe! This awesome specimen was found a long the New Mexico/Arizona border. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
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Thursday, March 6 2025
What a sassy Mex Mex Kingsnake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user rod_mcleod ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, March 5 2025
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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Tuesday, March 4 2025
How cute is this juvenile Black Dragon in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user volleyballjoe is appropriately named! Pure FIRE! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! No offense USPS!

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Monday, March 3 2025
The Fire Skink in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user firereptiles is appropriately named! Pure FIRE! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! No offense USPS!

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Friday, February 28 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This Crotalus scutulatus salvini is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user abyssus looks like it is all set up for it's own little glamour shot! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, February 27 2025
These Wood Turtles are playing king of the mountain in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kensopher! Perfect Timing!Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, February 26 2025
Check out this amazing shot of a chameleon snagging a snack our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user chameleonkingdom! Perfect Timing!Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, February 24 2025
Good things come in small packages, like this Southern Ringneck snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user caecilianman02 ! Fantastic field shot from Barbados!Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, February 21 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! How stunning is this Crotalus ruber is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user Br8knitOFF! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
Thursday, February 20 2025
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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Wednesday, February 19 2025
This pair of Common Toads in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Krallenfrosch are in the middle of amplexus! Just tell the kids they are wrestling! Happy Wednesday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, February 18 2025
This Shingleback Skink is definitely threatening us in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user frilly! He's trying so hard to be scary while still being harmless! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, February 17 2025
One little, two little, three little Bearded Dragons in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dedragons ! It's three for Thursday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, February 14 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Look how wee this hatchiling Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user ssnakes is no exception! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
This Kenyan Sand Boa is getting into the mood for today, 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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Thursday, February 13 2025
Feeling a little Blue with this Grand Cayman hybrid (likely lewisi x caymanensis) our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user raptorick ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, February 12 2025
That's a whole lotta bull. Bullsnake that is! Loving the colors on the one here in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user orchidspider has never missed a meal! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, February 11 2025
How precious is this hatchling Peach throat monitor in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user MikesMonitors brightens your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, February 10 2025
Hope this beautiful Sumatran Short Tail (aka Black Blood) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user amaliamoran brightens your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, February 7 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Here's lookin' at you kid! Check out this gorgeous albino Southern Pacific Rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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As expected, likely in response to the irresponsible owner with the Taipan who was bitten in 2024, the state of South Carolina is now proposing a state wide venomous Ban. They are including a grandfather clause for current owners who can register their animals and receive permits within 90 days of the law going into effect. There are exemptions included for research facilities and zoos as well.
The proposed banned list is:
Venomous reptiles banned, including hybrids: families Elapidae, Crotalidae, Viperidae, and Hydrophiidae; all reptiles in the genus Heloderma; all reptiles in the family Colubridae belonging to the genera: Rhabdophis, Balanophis, Macropisthodon, Boiga, Dispholidus, Thelotornis, and Thrasops, and all reptiles in the family Atractaspididae.
USARK has supplied sample letters as well as all the contact information in their action alert which can be found here.
Thursday, February 6 2025
A species of semi-aquatic lizard produces a special bubble over its nostrils to breathe underwater. (Credit: Lindsey Swierk)
The semi-aquatic species of lizard, water anole ( Anolis aquaticus) found in Costa Rica have recently shown to have a unique way to evade predators, they dive into the water and create their own air bubble to breathe from! This marks the first known vertebrate that uses its own air bubble to breathe underwater, a feat previously only seen in invertebrates like beetles and spiders.
The mechanics of this rebreathing system are remarkable. When threatened, a water anole will quickly dive underwater and exhale a bubble that adheres to either the top or sides of its head. The lizard’s skin contains microscopic hair-like structures called spinules that trap air and repel water, allowing the bubble to stick to its body. Throughout its dive, the anole “rebreathes” this bubble at regular intervals, appearing to recycle the trapped air supply. The bubble can be observed appearing and disappearing around the head with each respiratory cycle as specialized scale and head structures help move air between the body surface and nostrils.
To read more about this study, visit here! Such a cool little lizard man! Nicknamed the Chicken Nuggets of the Forest, this finger sizes lizard is showing it is a true survivor!
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!
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Wednesday, February 5 2025
What a gorgeous chondro in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bsuson!
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Tuesday, February 4 2025
This Alberta, Canada locale Bull Snake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user orchidspider has a stunning pattern! It is almost mesmerizing! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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