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.
Monday, June 20 2016
 Target taxon #1: Chihuahuan lyre snake, Trimorphodon vilkinsonii.As you read this blog, Jake and I are driving westward; destination Texas’ Big Bend…the Chihuahuan Desert. My mind’s eye is already visualizing the desolate roadways, some paved, many dirt and rock, edged with spine studded plants and crossed by packs of feisty javelina (peccaries), lizard-hunting roadrunners, four species of rattlesnakes, horned lizards and lyre snakes. The mountains, the Davis’, the Chisos, the Christmas’s, the Rosillo’s, and if you travel a bit further west, the Guadalupes, islands of boulders and talus, sere and windworn in some spots, lush and green in others. Lajitas, where the elected mayor is a goat! Terlingua that bills itself as a ghost town. Study Butte that fortunately has a 24- hour gas station. There’s Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park nestled tightly against the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo to many) that are, except during tourist season, bastions of solitude. Despite having been to this remarkably beautiful area on a dozen occasions, I still anticipate each visit with excitement. Will the old windmill still be standing? What herps will we see? What birds? Will we see a panther, a badger, bannertail kangaroo rats, Border Patrol? We’ll soon know. We’re almost there.
Continue reading " Big Bend Bound"
Friday, June 17 2016
 Speedy and agile, this species occurs only near Presidio, TX and in southwestern New Mexico.Finding the gray-checkered whiptail, Aspidoscelis dixoni, out near Presidio (TX) wasn't too difficult. Kenny and I located the (now contested) species in an old roadside dumping ground where amidst the sun-baked boards, house hold unwanteds and bullet riddled car skeletons several gray checkered whiptails had found home. But finding them and photographing them proved to be two very different projects. Photographing a lizard that moves only in instantaneously applied bursts of jet propulsion amidst piles of trash and building debris rife with protruding nails and broken glass was another matter entirely. For our own safety we elected to employ capture and release techniques, Lizard nooses to the rescue!
Like many whiptails, this is a hybrid, parthenogenetic (unisexual) species. It is named in honor of the late Dr. James R. Dixon. The species, a member of the confusing Aspidoscelis tesselatus complex, is not recognized by all researchers.
Continue reading "Gray Checkered Whiptail"
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! To end the week, an adorable baby Prairie Rattlesnake for our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user LJs Herps ! 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.

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Thursday, June 16 2016
This clawed frog is bobbing along in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Tadpoleo! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, June 15 2016
Through all the years, cornsnakes remain our favorite for a great beginner snake! After seeing this one in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran, it is pretty obvious why! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, June 14 2016
#TongueOutTuesday isn't only for mammals! This shingleback skink displays it's tongue beautifully in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user frilly ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, June 13 2016
After a weekend of relaxing, like the Water Dragon in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user arkherps , it's time to get back to the grind! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, June 10 2016
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Love this beautiful green Vogel's Pit Viper in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Vittorio_K ! 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.

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Thursday, June 9 2016
Check out that amazing camoflague that this Satanic Leaf Tail Gecko has in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user kellih i! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, June 8 2016
Hang in there, just like the Tree Frog in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user gerrygi! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, June 7 2016
Is this a great shot or what? The bearded dragon in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Alesha_Rae is ready to hop in the fast lane! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, June 6 2016
Start your week off right with this hatching Eastern Box Turtle in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user terrapene ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, June 3 2016
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! This baby Cobra is getting it's first breath in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user SouthernHerp! 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.

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Thursday, June 2 2016
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, June 1 2016
We hope you enjoy this hatching Chuckwalla in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user BJ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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