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.
Friday, October 12 2018
 Mottled Rock Rattlesnake gallery photo by Tom Lott
Is the bite of of baby venomous snake more dangerous than an adult? Can a decapitated snake still bite? And does the "red and yellow kill a fellow" rhyme ring true? With answers by State herpetologist Paul Crump of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Elda Sánchez, director of the National Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, this article from the Dallas Morning News helps explain and explore some of the myths and facts about venomous snakes in Texas. The article also talks about the medical uses of venom, and discusses the various types of snake venom common to Texas snakes, as well as a host of other interesting facts. Check out the article on the Dallas Morning News web site!.
Happy Rattlesnake Friday from this Sidewinder in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Uncloudy ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Thursday, October 11 2018
So simple and so beautiful. That is the black racer in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ReptileProducts ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, October 10 2018
 Northern Pine Snake gallery photo by user orchidspider Northern Pine Snakes, Pituophis melanoleucus, have fascinated North American Snake Enthusiasts since before I was born and have been discussed with whispered breaths since my introduction to snakes at pet stores, shows, zoos, native wildlife agencies, universities, herp societies, internet groups, and every other facet of the snake world. Perhaps no locality or population garners more interest than the small and mostly isolated populations from Kentucky. No matter what population or locality, I have heard it said amongst the greatest minds on the subject that every single record for a specimen of Northern Pine Snake is note-worthy. I have been involved in research with this species in Kentucky for over 20 years and have been contacted with requests for DNA samples and any other data I can provide by those working on papers in efforts to publish updated information on every aspect of this snake’s biology throughout its range. In 2006 my colleague Phil Peak and I were able to document the first live specimen of Northern Pine Snake recorded from the isolated Mammoth Cave Region population since 1969. None live or dead have been recorded since. In Spring of 2018 we found the cast skin pictured above under artificial cover we set out as part of a survey project we are involved in. The ability to recognize and identify a cast skin that many would have ignored or not given a second thought about is what led to our ability to formally record this as a confirmed observation backed by photograph.
Continue reading " Northern Pine Snakes"
What wonderful color contrast in this hatchling Mud Snake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Godfrey ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, October 9 2018
What a beautiful Cuban Knight Anole in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user StPierre68 simply could not be any cuter! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, October 8 2018
What a beautiful boa constrictor in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user biophiliacs . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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 A profile of a 5 foot long green anaconda in Amazonian Peru.
“Anaconda!”
That word always brought an excited response from our tour clients in Amazonian Peru. As a matter of face, the finding of one of these potentially giant water boas brought feelings of excitement from us, the tour leaders.
It is the green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, that occurs in our region and unlike some areas of northern South America where the species is considered common, we always considered ourselves lucky if we found an example on any given trip.
Continue reading "Green Anaconda"
Saturday, October 6 2018
 Green Mamba kingsnake gallery photo uploaded by fangfatale
A Green Mamba that bit it's owner has been located and caught in a tree after an escape following the envenomation in Prague Czechoslovakia. According to the BBC the woman, who was found unconscious by paramedics, had not registered the highly venomous snake, and is in an induced coma at a city hospital after receiving an antidote.
To read the full story check out the article on the BBC web site.
Friday, October 5 2018
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.

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Thursday, October 4 2018
What a handsome Caiman Lizard in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user stingray ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, October 3 2018
"You're kingsnake.com, where are all the kingsnakes?" Right here 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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Tuesday, October 2 2018
This lacerta is loving to lounge in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user krloucks . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, October 1 2018
This caecilian ( Typhlonectes natans) is often incorrectly called the Rubber Eel, we just like his "smile" in this awesome close up in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user chrish ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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 The large-headed anole is very locally distributed in South Florida.
This is a confusingly variable, sexually dimorphic (males being the larger (to 8 inches) and bulkier) trio of anoles. Several anole species lack the ability to change colors from brown to green or vice versa, and these 3 are among the “unables.” Two of these, the Puerto Rican crested and the large-headed anoles may occasionally assume an olive gray blush, but they are unable to become the bright green that is so often associated with anoles.
Continue reading "Three Non-Native Brown Anole Species Now In Florida"
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