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, December 15 2021
Wash away your winter gloom by falling in love with this hatchling Big Head Turtle ( Platysternon megacephalum) 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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Tuesday, December 14 2021
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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Monday, December 13 2021
Kismet thinks Iguanas are better to lead Santa's Sleigh in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Really! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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 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.
Continue reading "Meet Edgar the Magnificent"
Friday, December 10 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! While not a Rattlesnake, this stunning head shot of a Gaboon Viper our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user 1Sun still keeps the focus on conserving and educating about the wonderful niche our venomous creatures share in the world and how important they are to it! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Thursday, December 9 2021
This Cape Gopher is on fire our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pitparade . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, December 8 2021
This Milk snake is just hanging out our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user gerryg . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, December 7 2021
How cute is this baby Fox snake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user TJ. ? Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Monday, December 6 2021
Does a kingsnake really need an intro for our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user trevid ? Nope, but hey nice grayband. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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 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?
Continue reading "Deja Vu"
Friday, December 3 2021
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! We are seeing red with this gorgeous shot of a Pygmy Rattlesnake our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user Tamers1 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, December 1 2021
This Western Fence Lizard is chilling like a villain 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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Tuesday, November 30 2021
Love this gorgeous Moluccan python , Morelia clastolepis, in all its shimmering beauty in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user krantz!
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Monday, November 29 2021
This Rainbow Boa is helping us celebrate Hanukkah in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user natsamjosh ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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 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.
Continue reading "Big and Beautiful, the Black Milk Snake"
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