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, February 14 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Look how wee this hatchiling Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user ssnakes is no exception! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!
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This Kenyan Sand Boa is getting into the mood for today, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Thera, in our herp photo of the day! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Thursday, February 13 2025
Feeling a little Blue with this Grand Cayman hybrid (likely lewisi x caymanensis) our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user raptorick ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, February 12 2025
That's a whole lotta bull. Bullsnake that is! Loving the colors on the one here in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user orchidspider has never missed a meal! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, February 11 2025
How precious is this hatchling Peach throat monitor in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user MikesMonitors brightens your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, February 10 2025
Hope this beautiful Sumatran Short Tail (aka Black Blood) in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user amaliamoran brightens your Monday! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, February 7 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Here's lookin' at you kid! Check out this gorgeous albino Southern Pacific Rattlesnake in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura . Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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As expected, likely in response to the irresponsible owner with the Taipan who was bitten in 2024, the state of South Carolina is now proposing a state wide venomous Ban. They are including a grandfather clause for current owners who can register their animals and receive permits within 90 days of the law going into effect. There are exemptions included for research facilities and zoos as well.
The proposed banned list is:
Venomous reptiles banned, including hybrids: families Elapidae, Crotalidae, Viperidae, and Hydrophiidae; all reptiles in the genus Heloderma; all reptiles in the family Colubridae belonging to the genera: Rhabdophis, Balanophis, Macropisthodon, Boiga, Dispholidus, Thelotornis, and Thrasops, and all reptiles in the family Atractaspididae.
USARK has supplied sample letters as well as all the contact information in their action alert which can be found here.
Thursday, February 6 2025
A species of semi-aquatic lizard produces a special bubble over its nostrils to breathe underwater. (Credit: Lindsey Swierk)
The semi-aquatic species of lizard, water anole ( Anolis aquaticus) found in Costa Rica have recently shown to have a unique way to evade predators, they dive into the water and create their own air bubble to breathe from! This marks the first known vertebrate that uses its own air bubble to breathe underwater, a feat previously only seen in invertebrates like beetles and spiders.
The mechanics of this rebreathing system are remarkable. When threatened, a water anole will quickly dive underwater and exhale a bubble that adheres to either the top or sides of its head. The lizard’s skin contains microscopic hair-like structures called spinules that trap air and repel water, allowing the bubble to stick to its body. Throughout its dive, the anole “rebreathes” this bubble at regular intervals, appearing to recycle the trapped air supply. The bubble can be observed appearing and disappearing around the head with each respiratory cycle as specialized scale and head structures help move air between the body surface and nostrils.
To read more about this study, visit here! Such a cool little lizard man! Nicknamed the Chicken Nuggets of the Forest, this finger sizes lizard is showing it is a true survivor!
Snakes and Cats living together, it will be anarchy! Wait what? Nah it is just a nice shot of a Cat Snake ( Boiga cyanea) in our Herp Photo of the Day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ptahtoo! Be sure to tell ptahtoo you liked it here!
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Wednesday, February 5 2025
What a gorgeous chondro in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bsuson!
Be sure to tell bsuson you liked it here!
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Tuesday, February 4 2025
This Alberta, Canada locale Bull Snake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user orchidspider has a stunning pattern! It is almost mesmerizing! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Monday, February 3 2025
Poised and watching, what a stunning Mangrove in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ptahtoo! Be sure to tell them you liked it here.
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Friday, January 31 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! The true American Icon, the Atrox, or Western Diamondback stands his ground in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user juzior ! 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. It is our goal to help dispel the fears surrounding our beloved venomous creatures.

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Thursday, January 30 2025
You know it is going to be fun when you start out the day with an Eastern coachwhip in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user jodscovry! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, January 29 2025
This momma Suboc is guaring her fresh clutch in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pecoskid ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, January 28 2025
This pic of a Rainbow Boa in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mjmullis shows why we love them! That iridescence and that stunning eye! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, January 27 2025
This gecko in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user uggleedog is so bright we gotta wear shades. Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, January 24 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! What a lil peanut of a Prairie Rattlesnake, uploaded by kingsnake.com user LJs Herps! Baby snakes make the day better, especially when they have their own rattle! 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, January 23 2025
Here's to hoping this smiling albino fire salamander ( Salamandra s. terrestris) in our herp photo of the day brightens up your morning! It's uploaded by kingsnake.com user alessio.
Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Wednesday, January 22 2025
This shot of a scaleless Texas Rat Snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Allensheehan really shows the texture difference! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Tuesday, January 21 2025
This Leaf-tail Gecko ( Uroplatus fimbriatus) has his eye on you in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user zmarchetti ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, January 20 2025
That's a whole lotta bull. Bullsnake that is! Loving the colors on the one here in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user orchidspider has never missed a meal! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, January 17 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Today we bring you this serene headshot of a lovely Black-tailed Rattlesnake ( Crotalus molossus), uploaded by kingsnake.com user MartinWhalin1 ! This guy was found in the wild in Arizona and as you can see, he was respected by the herpers and he gave them respect in return. 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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A Boaedon broadleyi, or Broadley’s African house snake. Photo from Petr Nečas, shared by Jakob Hallermann
When a traveling biologist kept a snake he found back in the 80's and made it a specimen when it did not survive, the last thing he would have expected was decades later it would be identified as a new species, but that is exactly what happened!
Using DNA samples from a variety of specimen samples, attempting to better understand the African House snake grouping, researchers, Jakob Hallermann and Oliver Hawlitschek, discovered a new 4 foot species.
In hopes of identifying some overlooked species, researchers collected DNA samples from museums in several different countries and from newly caught snakes, the study said. The analysis showed that some of the snakes from Ethiopia were genetically distinct.
Researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Boaedon broadleyi, or Broadley’s African house snake.
Broadley’s African house snakes can reach over 4 feet in length, the study said. They have olive green bodies, “creamy” bellies and “two short white stripes on the sides of the head.”
To read the full article, visit the Miami Herald here.
Thursday, January 16 2025
This aberrant pattern Gopher snake in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bruceatherton is absolutely stunning!
Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Wednesday, January 15 2025
What a wee worm snake in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user corythreatt! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!
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Tuesday, January 14 2025
So bright and brilliant, this Yellow Anaconda shines in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mattf77 ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Monday, January 13 2025
This Red Tegu in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user birddog5151 appears to be aiming to get a snack! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Friday, January 10 2025
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! What a gorgeous albino helleri in our photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura ! 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. It is our goal to help dispel the fears surrounding our beloved venomous creatures.
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here!
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