Not brightly colored, but IMO the finest of the Blue Tongues, Tiliqua nigrolutea.
Having well over 300 skink species, Australia could also be known as the “Great Land of Skinks.” These range in size from 4” long Garden Skinks and Pygmy Blue-Tongued Skinks to the remaining 5 species, all bulky blue-tongued species of the genus Tiliqua (one (possibly 2) additional species are extralimital). The Australian species are the Blotched, Common, Centralian, and Western Blue-tongues, and the Stump-tailed Skink, this latter now being considered one of the Blue-tongued skinks. These 5 vary individually within species from 16 to 23 inches in overall adult length.

Although we have kept several species, it is the Blotched Blue-tongue, Tiliqua nigrolutea, that is my favorite. Additionally, I favor the black (ground color) and buff (dorsal blotches and lateral reticulations) of the montane form over the paler colors of the lowland forms. Both forms are heavy-bodied, short-legged, diurnal, terrestrial, adult at 16-20”, live-bearing, long-lived (~20 years), placid, and hardy.

This skink adapts well to varying temperatures as well as eagerly accepting a wide variety of food items. Ours ate fruits, vegetables, canned dogfood, softened kibbled dog food, and they loved snails, slugs, and nightcrawlers. They often fold the hindlegs back towards the tail when moving about.

Females produced a single clutch annually, neonates numbering 3 to 8.

If you like responsive, hardy, captives, and if they are ever again legally available and affordable, consider a Blotched Blue-tongue. I don’t think you will be unhappy with the choice.

This beautiful subadult Banded Gila Monster was just perched along a rocky trail.

The Gila (pronounced Hee-laa) Monster, Heloderma suspectum, is famous for its venomous bite. It is the only venomous lizard in the USA.

I find them appealing both for their appearance and the fact that they are unpredictable in their appearances in areas as different as rocky deserts, mountain slopes, and heavily populated areas. I rarely find them when I’m looking for them. But when I’m not actively looking, I may stumble across one or two.

This is a long lived lizard. A life span of 20 to 30 years is often quoted, but one researcher has been observing and documenting the same Gila Monster in her (he has determined it to be a female) on her winter refuge for more than 40 years. That’s right, 40+ years for that matriarch!

To highlight their unpredictability, on a recent trip to California, Jake and I had failed to find the White rattlesnake we had hoped to photograph and were returning to the car along our different trails. Suddenly Jake gave a holler, saying “come look at this!”

I clambered over to where Jake stood, and there amid the rocks on the trail was a beautiful young adult Gila. And what made this even better than good, it was a Banded Gila, H. s. cinctum, the westernmore subspecies that neither of us had seen in the field before. Cameras were activated and the lizard was immortalized as it crawled slowly to the ground and out of sight.

Elsewhere and at another time a Reticulated Gila, H. s. suspectum, the easternmost subspecies caught our eyes as it crawled, well after darkness had shrouded the Arizona desertland, along a sandy roadside. More pix, happy smiles, and more herping ahead. Life was good.

About the Gila Monster:

Subspecies and Range:
Banded, H. s. cinctum, Western Arizona, Extreme Southwestern Utah, Extreme Southern Nevada, possible isolated pops in Southeastern California
Reticulated, H. s. suspectum, Central and Southern Arizona, Extreme Southwestern New Mexico, Central and Southeastern Sonora
Color/Markings: Usually pink(ish) with black bands or reticulations
Size: Adults 18-22”; Hatchlings ~6”.
Appearance: “Chunky,” short-legged, relatively slow-moving. Tail about half as long as head and body and of variable thickness (the tail is a fat storage organ). This lizard is not capable of autotomizing the tail. Scales beadlike.
Status: Often seen but protected.

Even antheristic Corn Snakes very dark in color can be identified by the spearpoint on the top of the head.The Corn Snake, Pantherophis guttata, also known as the Red Rat Snake, is known to countless snake enthusiasts as a beautiful red, buff and yellow snake. Due to selective breeding in captivity, this species exceeds even the ball python in the variety of colors (and patterns).

But familiar though the hobbyists may be with the captive and normally red variations of this pretty constricting snake, many, many fewer realize that there are in the comparatively few wild areas left on the southern part of the Florida Peninsula, corn snakes of “a different color.”

Termed “anerythristic” (meaning lacking red), these snakes, pretty in their own modest way, have a variable ground color, gray with a brownish oversheen in most cases, to a pure dark gray on a few. Dorsal saddles and lateral blotches have brown centers with narrow to wide dark rimming. There is usually a dark edged, buff, postorbital bar present.

And while we’re discussing these, how did the name “Corn “ snake originate? It seems likely that this term describes the seemingly preferred habitat for this snake. It was and still is often found at the edges of agricultural (including corn) fields or in crop-storage barns.

Viva la Corn Snake!

Yellow cheeks and reddish ears. We can only guess at the genetics.
Yellow-bellied Sliders, Trachemys scripta scripta, are among the more abundant of the sliders in the southeastern USA. At the northwestern areas of their extensive range they intergrade with the “once” more westerly Red-eared slider, T.s. elegans. I placed the word once in quotations simply to draw attention, for nowadays, due to releases and escapes, the Red-ear may be found not only throughout the range of the Yellow Belly but also far to the north and south of it as well. The two subspecies have much in common, not only genetically but in general appearance—they’re brightly colored as juveniles, have much the same carapacial appearance, darken appreciably (males the most) with age, attain the same adult size, and have plastral markings are almost the same. One sub species has red ear markings, the other has yellow facial blotches that are often suffused with some degree of red.

When Patti and I go across the street to the Wetland Park, one of the first herps we see are the Yellow-bellied Sliders. In early summer we can find hatchlings amidst the sedges at the shoreline. Throughout the days during all 4 seasons, as long as the sun is shining, we can usually scout out a half dozen or more adults basking atop floating vegetation or straddling emerging logs or floating alligators (‘gators also eat turtles). As I said, the taxon is common to the point of abundance, and we are glad this is so.

An adult Eastern Indigo from Southern Florida.
In contrast to many other snake species that are warm weather specialists, the Eastern Indigo Snake, Drymarchon couperi, is active and breeding during our cooler weather. To see one in the wild is a spectacular event. Indigos are smooth scaled serpents of large size. Males may exceed 7 feet, females are about a foot shorter. Both gender are alert and so heavy-bodied that they put the Black Racer (with which they are often confused by non-herpers) to shame. In addition, the Indigo is a glossy, a shiny, black (so shiny that it often has a blue sheen in bright light) while the black racer is a soft, non-shiny, satin black. The chin of the Eastern Indigo may be black or red.

Indigo snakes have a comparatively huge home range. They favor brush piles, stump holes, gopher tortoise and mammalian burrows, with tortoise burrows being of prime importance. Tracking summations indicate the range of a single indigo often exceeds 150 acres and occasionally nearly twice that amount. Habitats vary seasonally from longleaf pine plantations and stream beds to sandy ridges. A few reintroduction programs are underway to bring Indigos back to state and federal parks and some other private/public holdings. Presently the Indigo can be found in southern Georgia, southern Alabama, and Florida, and perhaps in extreme se Mississippi and the low country of se South Carolina.

Adult prey items of adult indigos include birds and mammals of suitable size, as well as other reptiles including pit vipers, while juveniles add amphibians and smaller reptiles to the culinary list. Like King Snakes, Indigos are immune to pit viper venom

Indigo Snakes are often thought of as gentle snakes that are disinclined to strike or bite but if surprised, they may vibrate the tail. Because of their tractability they were often sought after for pet snakes. This popularity along with massive habitat loss has resulted in protection at state and federal levels. They cannot be collected from the wild. A federal permit is needed for interstate trade/sale. Be certain to know all relevant state and federal laws.

Indigos are oviparous. Clutches usually number 4 to12 large eggs. Hatchlings are ~20” in length and may be flecked with blue dorsally.

This is a juvenile V. l. gaditana. Note the yellowish tinge on the tailtip, This would have been brighter on a neonate.
Although we often hear about the Asp Viper and the European Adder, seldom do we hear about a 3rd, species, the Snub-nosed Viper.

As currently known, the Snub-nosed Viper Vipera latastei,ssp. comprises 3 subspecies, 2 of which range in Spain and the 3rd that ranges from Spain southward to North Africa. The 2 subspecies restricted to Spain are V. l. latastei and V. l. arundana. The third, V. l. gaditana ranges more widely.

None are colorful, having a ground color of light to dark gray with darker gray to black markings. The vertebral pattern may vary from a well defined darker zigzag stripe to well separated black blotches. Dark lateral blotches may be well defined to nearly obscure. The common name describes the rostral area, slightly snubbed or upturned. Neonates have a yellowish tailtip that is used in luring lizard prey to within striking range.

As a group the Snub-nosed Vipers are fairly small and relatively stout. Adult size varies from 18 to 25 inches. They utilize a wide variety of habitats, from vegetated seashore dunes to woodlands, rocky escarpments, and populated areas. Research seems recently to Concern is now being shown

In the wild, females are said to give birth to about a dozen neonates every 2 or 3 years.

This is a dark colored adult male Leopard Rat Snake.
Due to the corn snake’s beauty and genetic adaptability a great many folks once frightened of, or at least impassive towards, snakes have not only become snake owners, but rave about the beauty of their captives as well. But comparatively few of these same keepers are aware that there is another rat snake that is as pretty as our corn snake, but is a bit more difficult as a captive and is much less readily available, This is the beautiful European Leopard Rat Snake, Zamenis situla. This like many other rat snakes world-wide used to be in the then cosmopolitan genus Elaphe.

In colors, patterns, and size this snake may vary somewhat with females being a bit longer, somewhat heavier of body, and more brightly colored than the males. Adult size varies from 26 to 36 inches. The ground color varies, seemingly by locale from dusky gray to bright gray, or occasionally to a golden gray. The black-edged dorsal blotches are often a bright red but, especially on males may be dusky red. Lateral spots are black. Patterns vary from a single row of dorsal spots to a double-row, or may be a combination of the two. Some individuals may have a double row of solid rather even edged stripes, or have a combination of blotches and stripes.

Our adults were rather reluctant feeders on laboratory mice, but eagerly accepted captive bred cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) when offered.

An oviparous species, eggs may number from 2 to 8 in each clutch.

As you can see, Leopard Rat Snakes can be, and usually are, a bit more finicky than our corn snakes, but are well worth the extra effort put forth.

Note the prominent vertebral stripe and postorbital bar on this Canebrake Rattlesnake.
Firstly, what is a Canebrake? Well, the term canebrake actually pertains to a habitat feature, a thicket, a dense growth, of any of a variety of Arundinaria grasses/bamboos that are common in and along lowland streams and ravines in the southeastern United States.

And the Canebrake Rattlesnake is a crotalid that was traditionally associated with the canebrakes and other moist lowlands from FL to the Carolinas and westward to eastern Texas.

Until a few years ago this was a subspecies, Crotalus horridus atricaudatus. But in their constant urge for change (or simply because they have the “power” to make such taxonomic changes), the genetic folks eradicated most subspecies (including those for the timber rattlesnake)and concluded that this beautiful southerner/westerner was merely a color variant of the northerly, often montane, Timber Rattlesnake. Both Timber and Canebrake are now merely C. horridus. But please realize that you are under no obligation to follow this genetic ruling.

Remember that you, as I, remain free to refer to this beautiful rattlesnake as the Canebrake, a rattler that we as southerners have learned to love and one that northern herpers flock southward to see.

Comparisons	Timber	Canebrake
Ground Color	Black, olive, or yellow	Tan to pinkish
Markings	Usually no banding on tail when adult No postorbital stripe Weak or missing vertebral stripe	Light banding usually visible on black tail Prominent diagonal postorbital stripe Prominent orangish vertebral stripe

Not a black, But darker than some, this is a female Northern Timber Rattler.
In the northland the Timber Rattlesnake, formerly Crotalus h. horridus, now just C. horridus) probably needs no introduction. They are the big (4 to 5 feet long when adult, occasionally a few inches longer) black or yellow (occasionally olive, especially when a juvenile) rattlesnake that is quick to buzz if disturbed and all too often quick to strike if too closely approached. Preferred habitats include sun swept open areas and equally sunny, rocky mountainsides or summits. They, of course den and hibernate, often communally, from late autumn to early spring but wander separately and widely during the summer. A live bearing species (as are all rattlesnakes) a litter may vary from 2 to 8-, 9- to 12-inch long youngsters.

Once ranging in the east from Maine to Virginia and the highlands of Georgia and in the west from se Minnesota to ne Texas, it has been extirpated by humans/habitat destruction from many areas. South of these areas the niche was filled by the southern subspecies, the Canebrake Rattlesnake (now considered by geneticists as merely a color variant).

So call it what you wish. I prefer to recognize each differently—Timber Rattlers in the north both in lowlands and mountains and the beautiful Canebrake in the south.

Comparisons	Timber	Canebrake
Ground Color	Black, olive, or yellow	Tan to pinkish
Markings	Usually no banding on tail when adult No postorbital stripe Weak or missing vertebral stripe	Light banding usually visible on black tail Prominent diagonal postorbital stripe Prominent orangish vertebral stripe

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.