A quacking call and "robbers" mask identifies the earthen colored Wood Frog.
By now herpers in the north east must be anxious for spring to arrive, and for herpers in the south-land it is probably already here. With the blooming of the spring flowers and the budding of the hardier trees comes the emergence of the hardiest species of amphibians.

To fish-free, vernal, woodland and country waterholes come several species of Mole Salamanders. Among these are Spotted Salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum, Blue’spotted Salamanders, Ambystoma laterale, Jefferson’s Salamanders, Ambystoma jeffersonianum, Wood Frogs, Rana sylvatica, and Spring Peepers, Pseudacris crucifer.

These species often begin their breeding cycles while ice still rims the ponds and snow yet remains, patchy but not yet forgotten.

The quacking vocalizations of the dark-masked Wood Frogs, Rana sylvatica, and strident peeping of the aptly named, tiny, but very vocal Spring Peeper, Pseudacris crucifer, advertise the anurans presence, but that the silent salamanders are there and active may first be noticed by sighting their characteristic gelatinous egg masses.

Of the salamanders, it is the beautiful but variably patterned Spotted species that is most easily seen. The yellow, sometimes orangish, spots from which the name is derived may be profuse, present in moderation, or almost missing. The other two salamanders mentioned are of earthen colors with variably contrasting blue(ish) spots along the sides.

When any of these are seen or heard, we can be relatively certain that while chilly days and cold nights might still prevail, warmer weather is actually right around the corner--or maybe 2 corners.

This is an albino Florida Snapper. The greenish tint is algae

Almost everybody knows or thinks they know what a Common Snapping Turtle looks like. Sadly, many folks not familiar with both the Common and the Alligator Snapper mistake the former for the latter and steadfastly refuse to acknowledge the many external differences.

But this blog is not about the identification of either. What I am wondering is what has become of the many color variations of the Common Snapper that were advertised a decade or so ago?

Remember those? There were tan, orange, yellow, and more rarely albino common snappers being offered. But that was back then and this is now—the now that should have allowed plenty of time for those odd colored snappers to have matured and to be producing odd colored offspring if ever they were going to. The albinos should have bred true, but I’ve always wondered about those oranges and other colors that were offered. I guess that if the color was genetically produced and they were line bred there might be some strangely colored snappers around. But was there?

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. After inquiring on my Facebook page, hobbyists showed me pix of their odd colored snappers, yellows and albinos among them, and mentioned that many other colors and even some pattern variances were available in Asia.

This, and the fact that when well cared for, often handled, captives Common Snappers can become VERY tame are good facts to know.

This is the charcoal phase of the Variable Bush Viper
Seems like just yesterday but I guess it was about 4 decades ago, a small, pretty, nocturnal, African viper took American herpetoculture by storm. This was the Variable Bush Viper, Atheris squamiger. And variable it was, clad in scales of green, burnt orange, butter yellow, charcoal, or other, it was not only of easily handleable size (15 to 26”, males being the smaller), but was relatively affordable as well. As indicated by its name, this is an arboreal species, but it is said to prefer shrubs rather than the taller trees. It has a wide but spotty distribution over much of forested humid West and Central Africa.

In nature the diet is varied, including lizards, anurans, small rodents, birds, and probably other snakes. Captives have proven to survive well on a diet consisting entirely of suitably sized lab mice. Healthy captives readily breed. They bear living young and litters usually number from 4 to 8 neonates..

But with all of these positives there is a negative. The venom of this bush viper is quite potent and has no specific antivenin. Human deaths have been attributed to envenomation by this pretty snake.

Oh well. Seems there is often some degree of danger associated with serpentine beauty.

Florida Banded Water Snakes are very variable in color. Reds do not seem as common as other phases.

Field herpers anywhere within the range of Water Snakes of the genus Nerodia, have probably proclaimed on the abundance of these snakes seen on any “good” night of herping. Often, in my area of north central Florida, the numbers of water snakes have exceeded, or at least run neck-and-neck with the numbers of Cottonmouths seen. Or at least that was the case until last summer. After having seen only a single juvie on a roadway that normally discloses 6 to a dozen on a good night, I have seen only one—one lone juvie in a full season of road-hunting. After each trip I find myself asking “Where have all the Nerodia fasciata pictiventris, FL Banded Water Snakes, gone?”

Be it full moon, new moon or in between moon, warm and clear, warm and cloudy, drizzling, or pouring, I have seen only that single Banded Water Snake in the last several months. With winter now upon us, with water levels dropping in our waterways, even with our warm days (north central Florida,) I don’t really expect that the water snakes will be any more visible. But I sure do hope that the spring of 2023 will bring a resurgence in the numbers that we see. We could use a bolstering in the numbers of Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes also.

Brightly colored and beautiful, this Giant Dwarf boa still retains the even brighter tailtip used in luring their prey of anurans and lizards into striking range.
It seems as if all too often the world’s herpetoculture hobby centers on the almighty dollar. In the 70+ years I have been involved with herps I have seen so many species come and go that I would be at a loss if asked to name them all. But since I’ve been on a “Dwarf Boa” kick for the last few months I’ll just mention one of them—the Giant Trope, Tropidophis melanurus. Since mentioning several species of this genus in my blogs, I have had a number of queries asking about their availability in the American hobby. The answer has been and will seemingly continue to be, they are now longer available. Why? Because hobbyists have chosen to breed more prolific snake species that are easier to breed than the Giant Trope was. Think $$$!

By the way, the term giant pertains to the adult size of T. melanurus as compared to other species in the genus. The adult size of this “giant” varies from about 26 to 36 inches but it is of rather heavy girth. Although it is often of light mud color, some (rather rarely seen) examples are much brighter. It was these, of course, that were being captive bred and available to hobbyists. But sadly, even though easily kept and bred, these little snakes had small litters (usually only 2 to 5) and they disappeared from the American hobby decades ago but it is a commonly seen species in the wilds of Cuba. Prey includes frogs, toads, lizards, and nestling rodents.

And just as a heads up, all species of Tropidophis are capable of, and prone to, autohaemorrhage from the mouth, nostrils and eyes if unduly disturbed.

Stiletto snakes lack an enlarged head but are venomous, and have a short, stout, tail tipped with a spiny scale.
To see any of the several species of African/Mid-Eastern Stiletto Snakes, one would think that they were viewing a harmless little black burrowing snake species. When uncovered these 15 to 26 inch long snakes try immediately to cover themselves again and will quickly succeed unless impeded by substrate or human. All 15+ (according to geneticists there may be 20 or more species) are fast and they are squirmy. They do not have an enlarged head but, heed this hobbyists and systematists) they are venomous and almost impossible, thanks to greatly elongate fangs that slide easily under and beside the upper labial scales, to handle without sustaining a bite. Venom is produced in small quantities but is considered dangerously toxic and is known to cause severe pain. These little burrowers preferentially feed on burrowing reptiles (seemingly on lizards) but will accept nestling mice as well.

It seems that it is the Southern Stiletto Snake, Atractaspis bibroni, that is most often (now rarely) available to American hobbyists and is pictured here.

Our 5th Trope species of the trip, the Leopard (or Dark Spotted Brown) Trope.
We had looked for Tropidophis pardalis, the Leopard Trope (the genus was formerly recognized as Dwarf Boas) on at least 5 of our Cuban herping/birding excursions, but had never made a truly dedicated search. Although certain we were well within the range of this species we had flipped many rocks and fallen tree corpses but had failed on every occasion. We had seen birds galore—todys, trogons, lizard cuckoos and others, we had seen various lizards and some endangered plants, but zero dwarf boas.

But on this occasion, on the last day of our last trip of 2022, I elected to do something a bit different. The other trip participants again climbed the rather treacherous rock-strewn trail with our group leader, Dr. Luis M. Diaz, but I was going to remain near the entrance and search out turnable rocks on the very muddy substrate. I was positive, after having long discussions with Dr. Diaz and Nils Navarro, that Leopard Tropes were in residence and our failures to find them were merely the quirk of fate known well to all herpers.

My compadres were soon out of sight up the trail. I turned 1 rock, then the second. Only arthropods and oozing mud were seen. I walked slowly through the gate and was confronted with mud and puddles, and in the distance one mud-covered rock resting ankle deep in slurpy-mud. I sloshed over, managed to flip it, and before the water sought its depth there, saw a little brown mud-splattered ball—our first Leopard Trope! And as luck would have it, Luis found a second example higher on the trail. It, too, was beneath a muddy rock.

As well as being hardy, Standing's Day Geckos tame readily.
Seems the best way to describe this Malagasy beauty is to simply call it what it was--the biggest and the best of that diverse genus. True, it might be equaled in length by a male Giant Day Gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis, but Standing’s Day Gecko, P. standingi, is bulkier. When properly fed, a captive lifespan of 15 to 20+ years is not uncommon. In this genus of bright green geckos, that it was not the most colorful was obvious. But color isn’t everything, and the hatchlings, with their green heads, red-banded body, and blue tail, more than make up for the muted greens, blues, and grays of the adults. Additionally, after gentle acclimatization this 9 to 11+ inch long gecko is of a relatively quiet, unafraid, demeanor and often allows gentle handling. All said, it is an ideal pet lizard.

Like other species in this genus of about 70 species, Standing’s Day Gecko is largely diurnal and arboreal. Two larger species once existed but are now considered extinct and the blame is laid on habitat destruction. In nature this gecko not only licks nectar and pollen and fruit, but also consumes a fair number of insects and an occasional small vertebrate. Captives will readily eat insects and prepared Day Gecko Food.

Ours were housed in a 65 gallon hexagonal aquarium set up with vertical and diagonal hollow limbs, growing plants, and an easily accessed feeding platform. They drank droplets of water from the glass. Not until their deaths at a ripe old ages did we part.

Several clutches were produced annually by adult females. Eggs may be produced singly or in pairs.

Yellow throat, paired chalk sacs, and flattened tail typifies the wonderful Flat-tailed Day Gecko.
The common name says it all. Unlike several of the medium-sized lookalike day geckos, there can be no question about the identification of this beauty. The flattened tail, present on adults of both sexes, is immediately discernible and diagnostic. Original tails are fringed, regenerated tails are flattened but not fringed. Hatchlings and juveniles have a rounder tail. Three red bars cross the head and 3 elongate red markings are present on the lower back. Always a hobbyist favorite, this species was never imported in large numbers. Like other members of this large genus, this species is diurnal and feeds on nectar and pollen as well as occasional small insects. It is said by some to be a rainforest dweller, but others say it is most common more in the open on coconut palms and occasionally on bananas.

In its restricted range in eastern Madagascar, the Flat-tailed Day Gecko is said to dwell in family units of a single male and a harem of several females. Apparently subadults of both sexes are tolerated by the dominant male until their maturity. Glaw and Vences have stated that even the hatchlings of this taxon are agonistic.

Males of this species attain a length of about 6 inches, females top out at about 5 inches. Several clutches are produced annually by adult females. Eggs may be produced singly or in pairs.

Patti took this photo of the beautiful Cuban Side-blotched Curly-tailed Lizard.
Curly-tailed Lizards are well known to herpers and even non-herper visitors to southeastern Florida. They were purposely introduced in the 1940s in the hopes they would eradicate the sugarcane beetle.

They didn’t. But in one way or another Curly-tails made their way from the cane-fields to the Palm Beach area and found the sandy soil of that region much to their liking. Populations thrived and grew..From there they have spread westward and southward, and as far northward as winter temperatures would allow. The form found in Florida is a Bahaman subspecies, Leiocephalus carinatus armouri. When we had a chance to travel in Cuba, we had opportunity to see 4 additional species, some of rather plain coloration and patterning, but others that were quite strikingly colored.

Under the guidance of Dr. Luis M. Diaz, we have been able to see several species and subspecies of curlytails, some of which, by the way, do not curl their tails much at all. These have varied from several subspecies of Cuban Striped Curlytails, L. stictogaster ssp. to the Cuban Curlytail, L. cubensis, the beautiful Cuban Side-blotched Curlytail, L. macropus, and others. All species were amidst outcroppings, rock-fields, sidewalks (including downtown Habana) and/or sandy beaches.

The lizards of this primarily insectivorous genus are oviparous, with females having 2 or 3 clutches of 2 to 5 eggs during each breeding season. The clutches are about 2 weeks apart.

The beautiful White-chinned Giant Anole, Anolis flavigularis, is now a full species.
With 60 (plus or minus a few—the taxonomists are still at work!), Cuba, if you don’t already know, is “anole-central.” These vary from 3 ½ to 5-inch-long twig anoles, that, even if you’re looking for them are difficult to see, to the 12+ inch long giant and chameleon anoles that blend superbly with the foliage and trunks among which they dwell.

Following our very successful stop at Soroa,, our next venture took us westward to the beautiful town of Vinales. Although a great stop for both herping and birding, we were hoping to see at least 5 herp taxa on that first night, 4 Anolis species, and 1 snake. We succeeded on the anoles and the target snake plus 1.

The anoles included 2 in the subgenus Chamaeolis, the “gnarly” Western Bearded Anole, A. (C.) barbatus and the Short Bearded Anole, A. (C.) chamaeleonides, (these are big and different looking than “normal” anoles), plus 2 typical anoles, the big tree dwelling, white-chinned A. flavigularis and the smaller tan and blue, cliff dwelling A. bartschi. The “target” snake seen was the Broad-banded Trope, Tropidophis feicki, a species most wanted by our group. Additionally, a Guaniguanico Racerlet, Arrhyton tanyplectum, was found. This latter is, as suggested by its name, an alert and fast rear-fanged species of small size.

The weather was very dry and it was perhaps for that reason that we failed to see the big Giant Robber Frog, Eleutherodactylus zeus. But we’ll try again.

Sitting at its front door, this E. zeus had an estimated snout to vent length nearing 6 inches.
Zeus--the Greek God who rules sky and thunder; who rules as king of the gods of Mount Olympus.

But no, it was not for this deity that our search took us to the mojotes in western Cuba near Vinales. We had looked for our Zeus on an earlier trip but perhaps due to the dryness then, had failed. Our Zeus, you see, was a frog, a rather spectacular frog that because of its restricted range and even more restricted habitat is not a well-known species.

The common name for this sought frog, Eleutherodactylus zeus, is Zeus' Robber Frog. As suggested by its scientific name, it is in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It dwells in the perpetual dampness of caves and crevices, shaded by forests on the limestone mojotes of western Cuba.

And this time, with escarpments and caves still dampened by rainfall runoff, we succeeded, seeing not one, but a half dozen of the frogs. These varied from about a 2 inch svl (snout-vent length) to close to 6 inches.

Nearly as dark in color as the caves from which they had emerged, the first one seen was mistaken for one of the local giant toads. But its 3+ foot leap back into its cave—a length that no giant toad could equal--quickly gave lie to that assumption.

Within just a few minutes others were seen, photos were taken, and we departed, leaving these prodigious anurans in peace.

Like all members of the family, reproduction is by “direct development. There is no free-swimming tadpole stage.

Meet the Amazonian Toadlet, one of the smallest and most easily overlooked of the regions herpetofauna.
Truly a “Minuta”

At an adult length of just under 1”, the tiny, basically terrestrial, Amazonian Toadlet, Dendrophryniscus (Amazophrynella) minuta, is truly an anuran whose actual length is exceeded (dramatically!) by a scientific name that is, when printed, much longer than the amphibian itself. In some areas, such as in our “stomping grounds” north of Iquitos Peru, this is a rather common but easily overlooked component of the rainforest floor herpetofauna. Afterall, the dorsal color is “fallen leaf” brown, the orange belly color is not to be see unless the toad is in hand or peering at you from a trailedge shrub leaf that just happens to be face-high, it is literally minute, and is not overly active. The reddish soles of the feet will not be seen unless the toad is being held.

This tiny bufonid has an immense range, being found almost coast to coast from Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru northward to Colombia and Venezuela. It utilizes temporary waterholes for breeding in its rainforest habitat. The breeding call remains undescribed.

This was the "Big Guy."Long known as Epicrates angulifer, this long and hefty boa is now, like other West Indian Boas, in the genus Chilabothrus. Its common name of Cuban Boa has not been changed and it remains well known to hobbyists. They are live-bearing and may have up to 20+ young.

This boa is the largest and heaviest of the genus and may attain an adult length of 15 feet and an age of 25+ years. It ranges in the forestlands throughout Cuba and Cuba’s immediate islands. Although on an earlier trip in the dry season we had missed seeing this iconic taxon, some rain had fallen between then and now and we hoped that we would see at least one. We did. In fact we saw about a half a dozen, and these ranged from about 2 feet in length to—well let me tell you a bit about the largest one.

The group had spent a couple of hours on a trail known by the name of “Enigma of Rocks.” You may have never seen this trail, but the name alone should give you an idea of the complexity of passage. And somewhere along the trail a 5 foot long Cuban boa had been seen. Our group were happy campers.

We had been making our ways slowly back to the bus and were about ready to board when Luis, who had been chatting with a Forest Ranger, said ”One more stop—if you want to see a big boa.” Of course we did and within minutes we were on another rocky forest trail. A 15 minute walk took us to a “bat cave” and in front of the cave lay coiled the biggest Cuban Boa any of us had ever seen. We all agreed that the snake was at least 10 feet long (and probably longer) and its normally substantial girth was swollen even more by the prey it had eaten. The forest ranger guessed the prey to be an adult Hutia (as mentioned, a big rodent) and said the boa had been lying at the cave entrance for 4 days and that he expected that it would remain for another 4 or 5 days while digesting its meal.

And except to say all in the group felt that this sighting was well worth the walk and thanks Luis, that’s the story of our largest Cuban Boa.

Darker than many, this is an adult Scarlet Kingsnake.
Whether called Scarlet Kingsnakes or Milk Snakes, these mostly small-sized constrictors are so pretty that I can't stop writing about them.

The Scarlet Kingsnake, Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides, is the sole tricolored kingsnake of the southeastern USA. It is a pretty snake, gaudily bedecked with triads of red, then black that separates the red from the yellow, rings, and it almost always (perhaps always, but aberrancies may sometimes happen) has a red nose. In this manner of nose color and ring assembly, the harmless scarlet kingsnake differs from the venomous Eastern Coral Snake, Micrurus fulvius, that almost always has a black nose and again, almost always, has the 2 caution colors, red and yellow, touching.

This is one of the smaller of the tricolored kingsnakes, with lengths of 17-20 inches being most common and lengths in excess of 24 inches being quite uncommon. Hatchlings are tiny, often being only 6 to 6 ½” in length. Although large adults may accept nestling mice as prey, throughout their lives this species feeds primarily on suitably sized lizards.

The last Scarlet King that I happened upon was found in moist microhabitat beneath a sizable, mouldering,pine limb. Others have been seen crossing roadways, beneath debris, and actually in moist leaf-filled crotches of still living trees.