Info Snakes

Eyelash Viper

2013-05-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Eyelash Viper

Latin Name	Bothriechis schlegelii
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Location	C America & N S America
Colour	See Below
Length	45 - 75 cm (18 - 30 inches)
Habit	Arboreal
Breeding	Ovoviviparous

Main Characteristics

Eyelash Vipers are a species of venomous pit viper. They are between 45 and 75 cms (18 - 30 inches) in length and females are larger than males. They can be a variety of colours including yellow, brown, green, red and combinations of these and they also often have dark speckled markings.

Their head is wide and triangular shaped and they have good binocular vision and vertical pupils. They have large fangs which are like hypodermic needles allowing a direct injection of venom into their prey. Their fangs are located on their upper jaw and they fold back when they are not in use.

Their most distinguishing feature is the set of modified scales above each eye which look like eyelashes, hence their common name. They are thought to assist the snake in camouflage as they break up their outline. Unlike most snakes, they have rough scales that help protect them against tree branches.

Like all pit vipers, Eyelash Vipers have heat sensitive organs, or pits, between each eye and nostril. The pit organs are complex structures that allow the snake to identify the direction of potential prey and they are of great value to a predator that hunts at night.

They have a prehensile tail that they use to move around trees and foliage, and they are active at night.

Habitat

Eyelash Vipers are found in tropical rainforests, montane rainforests and cloud forests of central America and northern South America. They arearboreal which means they live in trees, palms, shrubs and vines and they are usually not far from a water source.

Diet

Eyelash Vipers feed upon small mammals, lizards,frogs, small birds, including hoveringhummingbirds. They attack their prey quickly, inject a hemotoxic venom, wait for it to die and then swallow it.

Breeding

Eyelash Vipers use their sense of smell to find mates and when two males are competing for the same female they go through a ritual called "the dance of the adders" where each snake faces the other with their head and forepart of their body held erect, while trying to push the other to the ground. This can go on for some time and there is no biting from either snake.

Females retain fertilized eggs inside their body while each young snake develops within their shell, being nourished by its yolk. When they are fully developed they hatch inside the female and she
gives birth to 6 - 12 live young that are between 15 and 18 cms (6 - 7 inches) in length.

The young resemble adult Eyelash Vipers except they are smaller and they are immediately capable of climbing through trees and foliage.

Predators

Predators of Eyelash Vipers include largemammals, hedgehogs, badgers, foxes, othersnakes, fish, birds of prey and humans.

Interesting Facts

Eyelash Vipers are also known as:
Eyelash Pit Viper
Eyelash Mountain Viper
Eyelash Snake
Eyelash Palm Pit Viper
Horned Palm Viper
Schlegel's Pit Viper
Schlegel's Viper
Schlegel's Palm Viper
Bocaracá (in Costa Rica & other Latin American countries)

Eyelash Vipers have a life expectancy of over 16 years (in captivity).

Eyelash Vipers have accidentally been sent all over the world in shipments of bananas.

They were named after the German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel.

They are not known to be aggressive snakes, but they will not hesitate to strike if they are harassed.

Eyelash Vipers are popular in the exotic pet trade and they are well represented in zoos throughout the world.

Top 10 Most Venomous Snakes

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10. Rattlesnake

The only snake from the Americas on the list, the Rattlesnake is easily identifiable by the tell tale rattle on the end of its tail. They are actually a part of the Pit Viper family, and are capable of striking at up to 2/3rd their body length. The Eastern Diamondback in considered the most venomous species in North America. Surprisingly, juveniles are considered more dangerous than adults, due to their inability to control the amount of venom injected. Most species of rattlesnakes have hemotoxic venom, destroying tissue, degenerating organs and causing coagulopathy (disrupted blood clotting). Some degree of permanent scarring is very likely in the event of a venomous bite, even with prompt, effective treatment, and can lead to the loss of a limb or death. Difficulty breathing, paralysis, drooling and massive hemorrhaging are also common symptoms. Thus, a rattlesnake bite is always a potentially fatal injury. Untreated rattlesnake bites, especially from larger species, are very often fatal. However, antivenin, when applied in time, reduces the death rate to less than 4%

9. Death Adder

The appropriately named Death Adder is found in Australia and New Guinea. They actually hunt and kill other snakes, including some on this list, usually via ambush. Death Adders look quite similar to vipers, in that they have triangular shaped heads and short, squat bodies. They typically inject around 40-100mg of venom with an LD of 0.4mg-0.5mg/kg. An untreated Death Adder bite is one of the most dangerous in the world. The venom is a neurotoxin. A bite causes paralysis and can cause death within 6 hours, due to respiratory failure. Symptoms generally peak within 24-48 hours. Antivenin is very successful in treating a bite from a Death Adder, particularly due to the relatively slow progression of symptoms, but before its development, a Death Adder bite had a fatality rate of 50%. With the quickest strike in the world, a Death Adder can go from strike position to striking and back again within 0.13 of a second.

8. Vipers

Vipers are found throughout most of the world, but arguably the most venomous is the Saw Scaled Viper and the Chain Viper, found primarily in the Middle East and Central Asia, particularly India, China and South East Asia. Vipers are quick tempered and generally nocturnal, often active after rains. They are also very fast. Most of these species have venom that cause symptoms that begin with pain at the site of the bite, immediately followed by swelling of the affected extremity. Bleeding is a common symptom, especially from the gums. There is a drop in blood pressure and the heart rate falls. Blistering occurs at the site of the bite, developing along the affected limb in severe cases. Necrosis is usually superficial and limited to the muscles near the bite, but may be severe in extreme cases. Vomiting and facial swelling occurs in about one-third of all cases. Severe pain may last for 2-4 weeks. Often, local swelling peaks within 48-72 hours, involving the affected limb. Discoloration may occur throughout the swollen area as red blood cells and plasma leak into muscle tissue. Death from septicaemia, respiratory or cardiac failure may occur 1 to 14 days post-bite, or even later.

7. Philippine Cobra

Most species of Cobra would not make this list; however the Philippine Cobra is the exception. Drop for drop, its venom is the most deadly of all the Cobra species, and they are capable of spitting it up to 3 metres. The venom is a neurotoxin which affects cardiac and respiratory function, and can cause neurotoxicity, respiratory paralysis and death in thirty minutes. The bite causes only minimal tissue damage. The neurotoxins interrupt the transmission of nerve signals by binding to the neuro-muscular junctions near the muscles. The symptoms might include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, collapse and convulsions.

6. Tiger Snake

Found in Australia, the Tiger snake has a very potent neurotoxic venom. Death from a bite can occur within 30 minutes, but usually takes 6-24 hours. Prior to the development of antivenin, the fatality rate from Tiger snakes was 60-70%. Symptoms can include localized pain in the foot and neck region, tingling, numbness and sweating, followed by a fairly rapid onset of breathing difficulties and paralysis. The Tiger snake will generally flee if encountered, but can become aggressive when cornered. It strikes with unerring accuracy.

5. Black Mamba

The feared Black Mamba is found throughout many parts of the African continent. They are known to be highly aggressive, and strike with deadly precision. They are also the fastest land snake in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20km/h. These fearsome snakes can strike up to 12 times in a row. A single bite is capable of killing anywhere from 10-25 adults. The venom is a fast acting neurotoxin. Its bite delivers about 100–120 mg of venom, on average; however, it can deliver up to 400 mg. If the venom reaches a vein, 0.25 mg/kg is sufficient to kill a human in 50% of cases. The initial symptom of the bite is local pain in the bite area, although not as severe as snakes with hemotoxins. The victim then experiences a tingling sensation in the mouth and extremities, double vision, tunnel vision, severe confusion, fever, excessive salivation (including foaming of the mouth and nose) and pronounced ataxia (lack of muscle control). If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms rapidly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, pallor, shock, nephrotoxicity, cardio toxicity and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma and then death. Without antivenin, the mortality rate is nearly 100%, among the highest of all venomous snakes. Depending on the nature of the bite, death can result at any time between 15 minutes and 3 hours.

4. Taipan

Another entry from Australia, the venom in a Taipan is strong enough to kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs. The venom clots the victim’s blood, blocking arteries or veins. It is also highly neurotoxic. Before the advent of an antivenin, there are no known survivors of a Taipan bite, and death typically occurs within an hour. Even with successful administration of antivenin, most victims will have an extensive stay in intensive care. It has been likened to the African Black Mamba in morphology, ecology and behavior.

3. Blue Krait

The Malayan or Blue Krait is, by far, the most deadly of this species. Found throughout South East Asia and Indonesia, 50% of bites from the deadly Blue Krait are fatal, even with the administration of antivenin. Kraits hunt and kill other snakes, even cannibalizing other Kraits. They are a nocturnal breed, and are more aggressive under the cover of darkness. However, overall they are quite timid and will often attempt to hide rather than fight. The venom is a neurotoxin, 16 times more potent than that of a Cobra. It quickly induces muscle paralysis by preventing the ability of nerve endings to properly release the chemical that sends the message to the next nerve. This is followed by a period of massive over excitation (cramps, tremors, spasms), which finally tails off to paralysis. Fortunately, bites from Kraits are rare due to their nocturnal nature. Before the development of antivenin, the fatality rate was a whopping 85%. Even if antivenin is administered in time, you are far from assured survival. Death usually occurs within 6-12 hours of a Krait bite. Even if patients make it to a hospital, permanent coma and even brain death from hypoxia may occur, given potentially long transport times to get medical care.

2. Eastern Brown Snake

Don’t let the innocuous name of this snake fool you, 1/14,000 of an ounce of its venom is enough to kill an adult human. Coming in a variety of species, the Eastern Brown snake is the most venomous. Unfortunately, its preferred habitat is also along the major population centers of Australia. The Brown snake is fast moving, can be aggressive under certain circumstances and has been known to chase aggressors and repeatedly strike at them. Even juveniles can kill a human. The venom contains both neurotoxins and blood coagulants. Fortunately for humans, less than half of bites contain venom and they prefer not to bite if at all possible. They react only to movement, so stand very still if you ever encounter one in the wild.

1.Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan

While I did say that I would not include multiple sub-species in this list, the incredible Inland Taipan deserves a spot of its own. It has the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. The maximum yield recorded for one bite is 110mg, enough to kill about 100 humans, or 250,000 mice! With an LD/50 of 0.03mg/kg, it is 10 times as venomous as the Mojave Rattlesnake, and 50 times more than the common Cobra. Fortunately, the Inland Taipan is not particularly aggressive and is rarely encountered by humans in the wild. No fatalities have ever been recorded, though it could potentially kill an adult human within 45 minutes.

How to Know if a Snake is Poisonous

2013-05-10T18:52:00.005-07:00

Coral Snake

Most snakes indigenous to the United States are not poisonous. The exceptions are copperheads, coral snakes, rattlesnakes, and water moccasins . If you're bitten by one of these snakes, seek medical attention immediately, as the venom could be life threatening.

Most poisonous snakes in the United States can be identified by the following characteristics:

Slit eyes. The only exception is the coral snake.
Triangle-shaped head
Depression between the eyes and the nostrils

In addition to these general characteristics, each type of snake has its own distinctive features.

Copperheads range in color from red to gold, with hourglass shapes on its body . Young copperhead snakes have a tail with a bright yellow tip. These snakes can grow as large as 24 to 40 inches (61 to 102 centimeters) long, and are usually found in the Eastern United States .
Coral snakes have colorful red, yellow, and black rings, with the red and yellow rings touching each other. These snakes are usually slender and about 18 to 30 inches (46 to 76 centimeters) long, although they are sometimes a bit longer . Unlike the other venomous snakes, coral snakes don't have slit eyes . These snakes can be found in the Southern United States .
Rattlesnakes are the most common type of poisonous snake, and can be found all over the United States. There are 32 different types of rattlesnakes, all with their own identifying features. One thing all rattlesnakes have in common is a tail that makes a rattling sound when the snake feels threatened .
Water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, can be totally brown or black, or can have yellow cross bands. Younger snakes are usually more colorful, and sometimes have a yellow-tipped tail. These snakes can grow quite large. Adult water moccasins are often 24 to 48 inches (61 to 122 centimeters) long, and are sometimes even longer . Water moccasins can be found in the Southeastern United States, near rives and lakes .

Desert Horned Viper

2013-05-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Desert Horned Viper

Name: Desert Horned Viper
Scientific name: Cerastes cerastes
Range: North Africa, Sinai peninsula, Israel, Arabia.
Habitat: Stony desert.
Status: Endangered
Diet: lizards, rodents and other small mammals.

Physical description:
The Desert Horned Viper is 4-5ft. long. Its head is broad and triangular with two horns that stick out above each eye. Its pupils are vertical. Scales are keeled. Color is tan with darker spots down the back, and a dark line extends from the eye to the temples.

General information:

The Desert Horned Viper lives in the desert. They usually bury themselves in the sand in order to keep cool in the desert heat. They overwinter in the borrowed burrows of rodents or burrowing lizards.
They usually move with their bodies in front of their heads in order to keep the sun out of their faces, using their bodies as a wall. They normally hunt during the night. They received their name because of the two horns that stick out of the top of their heads.
Horned vipers are egg-layers. Mating takes place from April to June, and the female will lay and 12-20 eggs in damp soil. The eggs incubate for about 8 weeks and then hatch. The young snakes become sexually mature in about two years. Captive specimens of this snake can live as long as 18 years.

Special anatomical, physiological or behavioral adaptations:

The "horns" on this viper may help to protect its eyes from injury or may simply contribute to the snake's camouflage.

The horned desert viper can burrow quickly into the sand by rapid sideways movements of its body, leaving only the head and eyes visible. However, in its natural environment, loose sand may not be available, and the snake will then hide under a rock or in the burrow of another animal.

The color of the snake helps to camouflage it against sand or rocky ground, especially when it is partially buried. Cerastes cerastes is an ambush hunter, lurking quietly in a half-buried position until an unwary lizard or rodent comes within reach, and then lunging quickly to capture its prey.

Although this is not a rattlesnake, it can make a sound by scraping its scales against one another. The venom is hemotoxic.

Comments about the Desert Horned Viper of the Fort Worth Zoo:

The Desert Horned Viper is known to be a quiet one. They usually are not aggressive when approached. This snake comes from the Sahara Desert in Africa where it was found. They are members of the Viperidae family of snakes, because of their fangs and venom.

Cobra Snake Helping Two Dogs Puppies

2013-04-13T04:33:00.002-07:00

The incident occurred in the Indian state of Punjab. Two puppies fell into a well. Their

mother ran near the well and started barking, and attracted the attention of the owner, who

looked inside and to his surprise there was a king cobra at the bottom, which didn't pose

any threat to the puppies. Moreover, the reptile, looked after the puppies, by not allowing

them to cross to the other side, where they could possibly drown, when the well is filled

with water.

In general, they spent around 48 hours together at the bottom and in these 48 hours the

cobra sat quietly next to them. When help finally arrived from the forest department, the

cobra slithered to the other end of the well. The puppies were not injured at all and the

reptile was immediately taken into the woods and was released into the wild.

Even the most deadly and dangerous creatures on earth know what Co-existence and

mutual assistance is. The human race is in this respect far behind, and this is our biggest

drawback.

Flying Snake

2013-04-07T13:35:00.001-07:00

Flying Snake

Type:

Reptile

Diet:

Carnivore

Size:

Up to 4 ft (1.2 m)

Did you know?

The paradise tree snake is one of the smaller flying snakes and the best glider. It’s been known to travel up to 330 ft (100 m) in the air.

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man

The image of airborne snakes may seem like the stuff of nightmares (or a certain Hollywood movie), but in the jungles of South and Southeast Asia it is reality.

Flying snake is a misnomer, since, barring a strong updraft, these animals can’t actually gain altitude. They’re gliders, using the speed of free fall and contortions of their bodies to catch the air and generate lift.

Once thought to be more parachuters than gliders, recent scientific studies have revealed intricate details about how these limbless, tube-shaped creatures turn plummeting into piloting. To prepare for take-off, a flying snake will slither to the end of a branch, and dangle in a J shape. It propels itself from the branch with the lower half of its body, forms quickly into an S, and flattens to about twice its normal width, giving its normally round body a concave C shape, which can trap air. By undulating back and forth, the snake can actually make turns. Flying snakes are technically better gliders than their more popular mammalian equivalents, the flying squirrels.

There are five recognized species of flying snake, found from western India to the Indonesian archipelago. Knowledge of their behavior in the wild is limited, but they are thought to be highly arboreal, rarely descending from the canopy. The smallest species reach about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length and the largest grow to 4 feet (1.2 meters).

Their diets are variable depending on their range, but they are known to eat rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, and bats. They are mildly venomous snakes, but their tiny, fixed rear fangs make them harmless to humans.

Scientists don’t know how often or exactly why flying snakes fly, but it’s likely they use their aerobatics to escape predators, to move from tree to tree without having to descend to the forest floor, and possibly even to hunt prey.

One species, the twin-barred tree snake, is thought to be rare in its range, but flying snakes are otherwise quite abundant and have no special conservation status.

Burmese python

2013-04-05T01:32:00.007-07:00

Burmese python

Scientific Name: Python molurus bivittatus

Did You Know?

Burmese pythons kill by constriction. After securing their victims with their teeth, they coil their bodies around them and squeeze until they suffocate. Prey – no matter how huge – is swallowed whole, thanks to the stretchy ligaments in their jaws.

The beautiful Burmese python is one of the largest snakes in the world, growing 3–7 metres long, and weighing up to 90kg. The snake’s distinctive patterning – dark brown blotches on a light tan background – means that it is often hunted for its skin, and so it is now a threatened species in the wild.

Habitat:

Burmese pythons are native to southern and south-east Asia, in swamps, grasslands and jungles. Young pythons are often found in trees, but as they grow heavier they become ground dwellers. Burmese pythons need a source of water and are excellent swimmers that can hold their breath for half an hour. In some parts of the world, such as the Everglades in the US, the Burmese python has become a pest.

Diet:

Rodents, small mammals and birds. Large pythons have been known to take pigs and goats in built up areas. They have poor eyesight so they locate their prey using heat sensors in their jaws and chemical receptors in their tongues.

Reproduction:

After mating in spring, the female lays 20-100 eggs that are incubated for 2-3 months. She keeps them warm by coiling her body around the clutch and shivering her muscles to increase the temperature.

Black-headed python

2013-04-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Aspidites melanocephalus

Did You Know?

It is thought that the black head serves as a ‘solar-panel’ for the snake. The black skin draws heat and lets the snake warm up without exposing its whole body.

The distinctive black-headed python does indeed have a black head and neck, which contrasts strongly with the brown banding along its body. The banding is light to dark brown or orange-brown on a base that can be creamy white, light brown and occasionally even yellow. The head is slightly pointed and barely distinct, in shape, from the body. The snakes grow to 3 metres and have a muscular body. Black-headed pythons are non-venomous and harmless to humans.

Habitat:

The black-headed python is found across northern Australia from Western Australia to Queensland. It lives in a variety of warm areas from sclerophyll forests to scrubland and sparsely vegetated desert. It shelters during the day in rock crevices and caves, in hollow logs, abandoned burrows and even termite mounds.

Diet:

A large part of the black-headed python’s diet is reptiles such as lizards and snakes. But it also eats small mammals and birds.

Reproduction:

Black-headed pythons lay a clutch of 5-10 eggs, which the females then incubate for 2-3 months until hatching.

Amethystine python

2013-04-02T08:03:00.003-07:00

Amethystine python

Scientific name: Morelia amethystina

Country: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Philippines

Continent: Asia, Oceania

Diet: Small to medium size birds, reptiles and mammals including fruit bats, rats and possums. In the Zoo, they eat rats and quails, which are purchased frozen and kept in deep freeze until required.

Food & feeding: Carnivore

Habitats: Tropical rainforest, scrub forest

Conservation status: Not Threatened

Relatives: Reticulated python, anaconda

Description: The amethystine is one of the world's largest snakes. It has been recorded at a record length of 8.5 metres but more frequently at lengths of about 5 metres. It is a slender python for its size and not able to kill the large animals that its relative, the anaconda of South America, can. It is a dull olive brown or greeny-yellow in colour, but the scales have an overall purple/blue (amethyst) iridescence, which produces an attractive shimmering effect, especially in sunlight.

Lifestyle: Small pythons spend most time in trees. Large ones spend most of their time on the ground in mangrove swamps, dense rainforests or along stream and rivers in scrubland. This species is a good swimmer. Like most of the large pythons, amethystines feed on a variety of small mammals, birds and occasionally large lizards such as monitors. It detects its warm-blooded prey at night with the help of heat-sensing pits located on the front of the head. When a small mammal is within striking distance, the python seizes it prey with its gaping mouth and throws a coil of its body around its prey which constricts and suffocates the animal.

Growing up: The female can lay about 20 to 25 eggs at a time, usually once a year but sometimes twice. The eggs are incubated for about two months by the female coiling round them. Reptiles do not make their own body heat (they are 'cold-blooded') but the females shiver instead. The muscles used for shivering release heat that warms the eggs, speeding their development. The hatchlings feed on small mammals.

Bristol Zoo bred this species for the first time in 2009; successfully hatching out 13 babies.

Conservation news: They are not thought to be endangered in the wild at present, but their rainforest home is under threat from logging and mining activities.

Pythons do not kill their prey by crushing to death as many people believe - instead they tighten the coils around their prey until it can no longer draw breath and die due to lack of oxygen.

A new study reveals how some sea snakes came to have "shrunken heads".

2013-03-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

The slender-necked sea snake (Hydrophis melanocephalus) and the blue-banded sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) are pretty different in terms of looks. Adult slender-necked sea snakes are only half the size of their blue-banded cousins and possess a much smaller head. But these differences are only skin-deep - if you were to look at the genes of both species, you'd struggle to tell them apart.

The high genetic similarity between the two species is a good indicator that they diverged from a common ancestor very recently, and the researchers believe differences in food and hunting techniques caused the split. While blue-banded sea snakes hunt spiny fish and gobies, the small head of the slender-necked snake allows it to invade eel burrows.

"[The genetic similarity] suggested they separated very recently from a common ancestral species and had rapidly evolved their different appearances," said Mike Lee (of the South Australian Museum and involved in the study). "One way this could have happened is if the ancestral species was large-headed, and a population rapidly evolved small heads to probe eel burrows - and subsequently stopped interbreeding with the large-headed forms."

The international team believe that their results have wider implications than just sea snake biology - they also highlight the valuable role sea snakes could have in helping us understand marine speciation and adaptive radiation.

Northern Rubber Boa Charina bottae

2013-03-21T10:14:00.001-07:00

Northern Rubber Boa Charina bottae

Nonvenomous

Considered harmless to humans.

Size

Adults 15 - 33 inches (35 - 84 cm.) Typical size of adults is 15 - 25 inches. Newborns 7.5-9 inches.
Small or dwarf populations have been found in the Tehachapi, Greenhorn and Paiute Mountains, on Breckenridge Mountain, and on Mt. Pinos.

Appearance

A small constrictor with a stout body and smooth shiny small-scaled loose and wrinkled skin which gives the snake a rubbery look and feel. Light brown, dark brown, pink, tan, or olive-green above, and yellow, orange, or cream colored below. Usually uniform in color on the back, but sometimes dark spots or mottling occur, especially in northern populations, possibly due to scarring. Usually no pattern below, but sometimes there is dark mottling. Young snakes are pink or tan, and can be brightly-colored. Eyes are small with vertically elliptical pupils.

The tail is short and blunt and looks like a head. When threatened, the snake hides its head in its coiled body, and elevates the tail to fool an attacker into attacking the tail. Snakes with scarred tails are common.

Behavior

Nocturnal and crepuscular, sometimes active in daylight. Sometimes active in weather that would be too cold for most reptiles, with surface temperatures in the 50s. A good burrower, climber and swimmer. Often found under logs, boards and other debris, sometimes on roads at dusk. Known to live as long as 40 - 50 years in the wild.

Diet

Eats small mammals, birds, salamanders, lizards, and snakes, possibly frogs.

Reproduction

Bears 1 - 9 live young from August to November.

Range

Found from northern Monterey County north along the coast ranges into the Siskiyou Mountains and the northern Great Basin and south through the Sierra Nevada Mountains into the Tehachapi Mountains. In 2008 and 2010 it was confirmed from Montana de Oro on the coast of San Luis Obispo County. Absent from the Great Valley and deserts. Ranges out of California north through Oregon and Washington into Canada and east through northern Nevada and Utah into western Wyoming and Montana.

There is a large gap in the documented range of this species along the central coast between southern Monterey County and and the Mt. Pinos area, except for a locality in Montana De Oro in San Luis Obispo County. There is reason to believe it occurs in these ares, including suitable habitat and anecdotal evidence, but no other specimens or vouchers have been documented yet. A California Department of Fish and Game distribution map for the species shows a continuous distribution from Monterey Bay to northwest Santa Barbara County.

Populations of small or dwarf snakes are found in the Tehachapi, Greenhorn and Paiute Mountains, on Breckenridge Mountain, and on Mt. Pinos. These are classified as Southern Rubber Boas - Charina umbratica (or Charina bottae umbratica) or as subspecies intergrades in old literature, but they are now recognized as Northern Rubber Boas.

Some literature, including literature from the California Department of Fish and Game, refers to boas in the Tehachapi mountains and the Mt. Pinos area as either Southern Rubber Boas or intergrades between two subspecies, but these are now considered to be the Northern Rubber Boa - Charina bottae. I have changed my range map to reflect this distribution, but as of 2012, the California Department of Fish and Game still recognizes two subspecies of Charina bottae, and apparently they still consider the Mt. Pinos boas to be the protected subspecies, C. b. umbratica. The most recent information I can find from them is this 2004 species account:
"The southern rubber boa is known from several localities in the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County, near Idyllwild in Riverside County, and on Mount Pinos in Kern County."..."Possible intergrades between the southern rubber boa and the rubber boa found in the Tehachapi Mountains and on Mt. Pinos warrant further study."

Habitat

Grassland, mountain meadows, chaparral, woodland, along streamsides, deciduous and coniferous forest. From sea level to over 10,000 ft. elevation.

Taxonomic Notes

Formerly, one species of Charina was recognized, Charina bottae, with three subspecies.

Some herpetologists still only recognize one species of Charina, Charina bottae, with either no subspecies or with two subspecies - Charina bottae bottae - Northern Rubber Boa, and Charina bottae umbratica - Southern Rubber Boa.

Others recognize two full species of Charina, as is done on this site - Charina bottae - Northern Rubber Boa, and Charina umbratica - Southern Rubber Boa.

Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

2013-03-21T03:02:00.003-07:00

Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

Description: Pale brown with faint dark blotches and a wide lighter pale stripe down the center of the back. Belly is light cream to pinkish. Sides of the head are pale with a dark vertical bar behind eyes. Dark spots form a row along the sides of the center stripe. Frequently, there is another row of smaller spots lower on the sides that alternate with the upper spots. In some specimens the markings are very faint.

Habitat: Moist woodlands.

Size: 23-33 cm (9-13 inches).

Diet: Earthworms, slugs and insects.

Natural History: While this snake is fairly common in the Eastern United States, it is relatively rare in Nebraska. Diet consists of slugs, earthworms, and insects. The young of this species are born alive, rather than hatching from eggs. When captured this snake may excrete a musky substance from their anal scent glands, however, this is not as offensive as in some other garter and watersnakes.

Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)

2013-03-12T14:26:00.001-07:00

The Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin, Agkistrodon piscivorus, is a pit viper found in the United States. It is a close relative of the copperhead. The Cottonmouth is found along the eastern coast, southern, and Midwest areas of the United States. Along the coast they are found as far north as Virginia and Illinois in the interior states. They are rarely found away from permanent water sources. They also enjoy open pine forests and bald cypress swamps.

Cottonmouth snakes average in size from 20 to 48 inches long. The longest has been recorded at 74.5 inches. They are typically dark in color, either black, dark brown, or a dark olive green, with a muddy appearance. Sometimes muted banding is present. Juveniles have a more striking appearance, with distinctive light and dark banding and a bright yellow-green tail tip. As they age, the banding and color on the tail tip fade.

Within their range, cottonmouths have a reputation as being aggressive snakes. However in test done to measure their behavioral responses, half of the subjects tried to escape and more than three quarters of them used threat displays or other defensive tactics. Many of the snakes that did bite did not inject venom. The cottonmouth will also stand its ground and open its mouth to warn predators away. But will usually flee if left alone.

Although these snakes are heavy, they are capable of climbing low branches and will sometimes be seen sunning themselves on branches overhanging the water. They are semi-aquatic and spend most of their time in or around the water. When swimming, they skim along the surface. This distinguishes them from other water snakes that tend to swim below the surface.

They take a wide variety of prey including fish, small mammals, lizards, birds, small turtles, baby alligators, and even other snakes. Usually a victim is envenomed quickly with a bite and then released. If it does not succumb immediately, it is tracked by scent. Like all pit vipers, the cottonmouth has pits on the sides of its nose that sense body-heat of warm blooded animals in the form of infrared light, thus its hunting ability is not impaired at night.

The cottonmouth breeds in the spring and fall and is ovoviviparous, giving birth to 10 or so live young after a 3 month gestation period. The young average around 20 cm in length. There is little to no maternal care. Juvenile cottonmouths use the bright color on the tip of their tail as a lure to entice prey items to approach within striking range. As they mature, this tail color fades along with the associated behavior.

Common Wolf Snake - Lycodon aulicus

2013-03-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Distribution - All over the India.

Status - Very common.

General Characteristics
Length- General Length is 60cm approx but can grow up to 83cm.
Dorsal body- Body slender shaped with smooth & shiny scales of Brown, Reddish-Brown, Blackish, Shiny Gray or light Brown. Yellow or Yellowish-White with fine Blackish border bands or bars present on whole dorsal body starting from neck and become faint on tail region. These bands are narrow at top side of dorsal and become wider on side. Juveniles have prominent bands on whole body than adults. Number of bands could be from 10 to 25. Very rarely bands could e absent from whole body.
Ventral body- Belly color Glossy White mostly. Subcaudal scales paired in Zigzag manner, their color is same like ventral scales always.
Head- Head is flattened, broader than neck and covered with smooth and very shiny scales, broader than neck. Whitish or Yellow color band exist mostly and may be absent sometimes. Eyes entirely Black. Tongue color Pinkish-Red entirely.
Tail- Smooth scales with or without bands. Tail length is normal as typical range with pointed tip. Color almost same like rest of dorsal body.
Common Wolf vs Common Krait - Both are often mistaken.

Brown or Blackish body with broad White or pale yellow color bands.
To distinguish between Common Krait and Wolf, we should check the top dorsal row having Hexagonal large size scales in kraits and nothing special in Wolf snakes.
Wolf snakes do have the white band on the neck & head joint which is usually absent in Kraits.
The bands on the body of wolf snake are single and the bands on kraits are paired.
Wolf snakes ( in most cases) have a white band on their head-neck joint region, which is absent in Kraits.
Head of a wolf snake is flat with a narrow neck. The Kraits head is blunt and the neck is not distinguishable.

Looks like- Common Krait, Travancore Wolf snake, Bridal Snake , juvenile Banded Racer etc.
Scalation-
Head- 9 Supralabials; 3rd to 5th touches eyes; 1 Preocular; 1 Loreal; 2 Postocular; Temporals 2+2 or 2+3.
Dorsal- Smooth scales with 17-17 in front and mid body and 15-15 on posterior body.
Ventral- 172-214; Anal divided.
Subcaudal- 57-80; always divided in Zigzag manner.

Behavior- Common Wolf is a nocturnal species and actives only during night time. It remain hidden in dark and silent places including cracks on wall, gap between bricks and wood, rocks, electric board, brick piles etc during day time. Lives in old houses, piles of stones and bricks, under rocks, cracks between rocks, wood caves etc. Wolf snakes are good climbers and easily climb on walls, wiring lines, door frames etc... They feed on Geckos, lizards and skinks.
Reproduction and its mating period during starting of winter in South india and summer in North India. Their hatchings observe during December to September last. Female lays 4-7 eggs.

Commonly found even in urban areas. They prey on geckos and lizards which are found in these areas. During rescue situations, they were found inside cracks on wall, gap between wood and wall (doors and windows) inside electronic items, electric boards, doormats and all those things which could help them to hide after their meal.
It’s a nervous species and bite repeatedly when handled. On provocation they make a tight coil and hide its head inside the coil and remain in this “snake ball” until its sure about its safety. On further disturbance it creeps in little jumping manner keeping the head above the ground.
Rescue Situations
Common wolf is the one of the most common species (in top 5) in rescues in all over the India. It is totally harmless & non venomous small species and prefers human houses due to presence of their most favorite food (Geckos). Releasing them in the wild is not a suitable option and the rescuer should take all effort to release the snake in the same area; if possible at the same location after convincing the people that it is a harmless snake and it is safe to have a non-venomous snake in that area, rather than having a venomous which may take over the habitat due to the presence of favorable conditions.

Russell's viper - (Daboia russelii)

2013-03-08T15:56:00.003-08:00

Russell's viper (Daboia russelii)
Bangla- Chandrobora | English- Chain Viper | Gujrati- Khad Chitro, Khad Chitad, Chitalo, Chitur, Ped | Hindi- Parran, Chitti, Kaudia | Malyalam- Anali, Manchatti, Payyana Mandali, Chenathandan, Mandali, Payyani, Rakthamandali, Rudiramandali, Rakthaanali, Kannadiviriyan, Manchatti, Vattackura, Pullan, Kuthirakulamban | Marathi- Ghonas | Oriya- Chandan Boda | Punjabi- Kaudi wala, Dabuia | Telgu- Raktha pinjara |

Distribution All over India, not found in the North-East.

Status -Common. The most common Viper of India.

General Characteristics
Length- General length 4ft approx but can grow up to 6ft(rarely).
Dorsal body- - Body stout shaped with highly keeled, pointed and shine-less scales. Body color brown mixed with red or yellow, rare specimens may have dark gray color on whole dorsal body. Juvenile and subadults have a darker color while fully grown adults are mostly yellowish-brown. Continuous or discontinuous eye like spots of dark brown or blackish color present in the form of three longitudinal rows along the length of the body; the spots start from head and generally become faint or absent on tail. Color inside these spots may be lighter , darker, same like main dorsal surface or may be filled with same dark color spot’s border color (specimen from Maharashtra). Side spots are more rounded and smaller than the spots present on the top and are generally discontinuous. Dark brown patches also present along with these spots on the whole dorsal surface. All types of patterns or spots may be totally absent in a few adult specimens (records from various parts of the country).
Ventral body- - Belly color white or light yellow with dark brown or blackish semi lunar spots at the edge of most of ventral. Subcaudal scales paired in a zig-zag manner and end with pointed tip; usually have yellowish color which is darker than ventral body.
Head- Head triangular, pointed with small shaped keeled scale; clearly broader than neck. Two triangular shaped spots (with a rounded edge) exist in each specimen. Upper lip color mostly pinkish white. Supra nasal crescentic with a large nostril. Eyes have a vertical pupil; Tongue color purplish-black. Two very long fangs present on the front side of the mouth at any life stage.
Tail- Small tail with a pointed tip with typical keeled scales; spots usually very faint or absent in adults.
Key characters for identification-

Thick brown colored body with eye like spots on the whole dorsal surface.
Produce whistle like sound in coiled position to warn its enemy.

Look alikes- Closely looks like Python, Common Sand Boa.
Scalation-
Head- 10-12 Supralabials; 10 to 15 small size scales surrounding eyes.
Dorsal- Highly keeled scales in 25-29:27-33:21-23 rows.
Ventral- 153-180; Anal undivided.
Subcaudal- 41-64; divided.

Behavior-Russell’s Viper is a nocturnal species like other Vipers; but can be sighted in scrubs and bushes during day time for basking, during winter it can stay at a single place for more than one day for mating and basking. Lives in bushes, scrubs, rocks, dense vegetation, agricultural lands, dry leaves, grasslands, wood piles etc. Behavior very agile and uncertain on provocation; first produce whistle sound(like a pressure cooker) as a warning sign, will coil its body with head at the center of the coil and may attack anytime on further disturbance. Can bite even when its body is elongated while creeping. Not a very good climber and like to remain on ground for better adjustment with its surroundings. Very rarely, if conditions are adverse, it may climb up to a certain height. Once a subadult was found on a hut in the month of December in MP.
Feeds on rodents, birds, lizards and small mammals. No genuine record of cannibalism from this species.
Reproduction - Female give birth to 6-96 live young (generally not more than 60) from May to mid August.
Rescue Situations Russel’s Viper is one of the most common Viper found in India (second being the Saw Scaled Viper) and the third most common venomous species in rescues. Human surroundings of bushes, gardens, agricultural lands, wood piles etc are found to be very useful for its activity for 24 hours due to the presence of rodents and an appropriate surrounding for hiding. It rarely enters in human houses and likes to remain outside in such places. Relocation of this species could be harmful as it is 1) exclusively terrestrial and 2) slow moving species, it like particular habitat which is decided by that rescued snake after long experience. Relocation of juveniles and subadult should not be done in any case and must be released inside 200mtr radius from rescue point.
Bite Situations
Russel’s viper is silent species and generally avoid attacking when provoked (first will give a warning by whistling like a pressure cooker). Generally it bites when people don’t see them in their natural habitat and mistakenly step on its body resulting in a serious bite. The two long fangs eject a few drops of Hemotoxic venom. In few cases people assume them as non-venomous Python babies resulting in unfortunate encounter with the snake. Dry bite is possible in many cases but this has to be confirmed by medical experts only. Bite of Russel’s Viper is usually non-fatal if treatment is done in a proper way. Medical treatment with the help of anti-venom is recommended in each bite without annoying experiments with bite site.

Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)

2013-03-08T15:47:00.003-08:00

Chekered Keelback (Xenochorophis piscator)
English- Checkered Keelback, Asiatic Water Snake | Gujrati- Dendu, Dendvo, Pani no sap | Hindi- Paani wala saap, Dendu, Panial | Marathi- Divad | Malyalam- Neerkoli, Thannipampu,Kulamandali, Thanneer pampu, Neerpampu, Olla Pulavan, Neer Mandali | Oriya- Dhanda

Distribution - All over India.

Status -Very Common. Most common Colubrid.

General Characteristics
Length- Adults measure approx. 3.5ft(adult) but can grow upto 5.7ft.
Dorsal body- Body shape stout with keeled scales on the top and smooth on side dorsal body. Scales have 2-4 different colors in a single specimen, generally glossy green dominant with blackish, brownish, reddish and yellowish color spots. Specimen from Maharastra have blackish color dominant with yellow-white patches. Juveniles have clear olive green color with black patches and yellow patch row in top scales.
Ventral body- Belly entirely yellowish white(most commonly) or white mixed with red or green(rarely). Subcaudal scales paired in a zigzag manner, their color is similar to ventral scales but sometimes can be darker than ventrals.
Head- Head tringular with smooth shiny scales; broader than neck. Color shiny olive green or brownish mostly. Two black streaks starts from eyes and ends on posterior lip, the color of area between these stripes is lighter than rest of head part. Two yellow-black patches present on inner side of parietal scales very close to each other; may be absent in adults. Eyes have rounded pupil; tongue color purplish-black.
Tail- The tail also has highly keeled scales. Normal as typical range with pointed tip. Tail color almost same like rest of the dorsal body but usually without other color patches.
Key Characters for Identification

Body greenish in color with Black patches in whole dorsal surface. Usually adults have lower lip of yellowish color.

Look alikes- Cobra(in low light), Rat Snake, Green Keelback(on shedding), Olive Keelback, Smooth Scaled Water Snake.
Scalation-
Head- 9 Supralabials; 4th & 5th touches eyes while 6th SL is excluded clearly by 3rd postocular; 1 Preocular; 1 Loreal; 3 Postocular; Temporals 2+2 or 2+3.
Dorsal- Scales keeled with 19-19 in front body while 17-17 on posterior dorsals.
Ventral- 122-158; Anal divided or undivided.
Subcaudal- 70-97; paired.

Behavior- Chekered keelback can be active all the time but found to be more active in the evening and early night. Lives around any type of water body including lakes, river, pond, sewer line, logged water in agricultural lands, wells; can survive in moist surrounding without any water supply. Feed variety of animals including fishes, toads & frogs(mostly), small mammals, lizards, other snakes; juveniles feeds on insects and tadpoles also. Behavior alert and aggressive. Always bite when disturbed or provoked. On provocation they flatten their neck in “Cobra Style”, at some height above the ground and creeps in a jumpy manner in uncertain direction to get temperory hiding place.
Reproduction - Mating is from winter starting to middle of summer. Female lay upto 90 eggs in dry and moist place. Maximum hatchlings observe during late June to end of July.
Rescue Situations
Chekered Keelback is probably the most common species in rescues. Its adaptation to live with humans is very high, can live in any kind of water supply in urban area including sever lines also. This is the only species which could be found deep inside the urbanized colony which is due to the fact that it can survive in unhygienic conditions(strictly unsuitable for other snakes) also. Though it is totally harmless species but as its rescue cases from inner parts of city are very common. In such cases rescuers have to find out appropriate new places outside the city. Specimen of larger size can be released(not in bunch) outside the city in natural water bodies like lakes and pollution free water stream.

Common Rat snake ( Ptyas mucosa)

2013-03-08T15:25:00.001-08:00

Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus)
English - Oriental Rat snake, Rat Snake | Hindi- Ghoda-Pachad | Marathi- Dhaman

Distribution - All over India.

Status - Very common.

General Characteristics
Length- This is the largest Colubrid of India. General length is 7ft approx but can grow up to 350cm(11.6ft).
Dorsal body- - Body slender with shiny scales that are smooth and keeled. Keeled scales present on 4-8 top most rows mostly on the posterior body. Regular black, yellow and white band like markings present on the whole body according to the color of the dorsal body. These black colored patterns become net-Like on tail side and much clear than the mid body. Dorsal body color varies from jet black (Central India and parts of North-East), greenish black, dark brown, light brown, olive brown or black etc. Sometimes black colored specimens don’t have any patterns so appear like Cobra.
Ventral body- Belly color also depends on dorsal body color from pale yellow or white mixed with green, brown, gray, yellow etc. sometimes dark color patches exist on the whole ventral side. Subcaudal scales paired in a zig-zag manner and ends with a pointed tip.
Head-Head pointed with shiny smooth scales, clearly broader than the neck. Between two lip scales, there is a presence of a blackish color border. The eyes are large eyes and have a rounded pupil. Tongue color purplish-black with darker color on the front side. Tail- Long tail typically like other tree snakes with a pointed tip. Blackish reticulations present on the whole posterior body including the tail.
Key characters for identification-

Very long body with dark color patterns on the whole body.
Many times people recognize Rat snake by its head broader than neck.

Look alikes- Adults looks like Spactacled Cobra, Monocled Cobra, King Cobra, Indo-Chinese Rat snake, Chekered Keelback; Juveniles looks like Banded Racer, Chekered keelback etc.
Scalation-
Head- - 8 Supralabials; 4th & 5th touches eyes; 1 Preocular; 1 pre Sub-ocular; Loreal 2-4 but 3 is most common; 2 Postocular; Temporals 2+2.
Dorsal- Scales smooth with 17/18/19 in front body, 16/17 in mid body and 14 on posterior body found.
Ventral- 190-213; Anal divided.
Subcaudal- -98-146; divided.

Behavior- Rat snake is a diurnal species and is active only at day time; remains hidden in dark and silent places like rat holes, termite mounds, wood caves, under rocks, etc. during night time. Lives in almost all kinds of habitat due to its tendency to survive in tough conditions. Prefers wet surroundings during summer (shows semi aquatic behavior few times), while dry during monsoon. Habitats include gardens, agricultural lands, termite mounds, under heavy rocks, caves, dense dry leaves, wood caves, dense forests, piles of brick, wood, rock, dump, scrap and grain storage etc.
Very fast (one of the fastest terrestrial snake of the Indian subcontinent) and alert species. This makes them an active hunter and one of the fittest snake to survive in the toughest conditions. It is a very good climber and can creep very fast even on trees and heights. On threatening can growl like an angry dog and inflates its forebody to look bigger.
Feed on a variety of prey mostly on rodents and toads also feeds upon birds, small mammals, other snakes, all kind of lizards, eggs sometimes.
Reproduction - Mating period of Rat Snake starts from early winter to next year’s late monsoon. In short it reproduces for the whole year. Female lays a clutch of 8-26 eggs.
Rescue issues- Rat snake is one the 3 most common snakes (other two being Chekered Keelback and Cobra). Human habitat especially gardens, grain storages, rat holes and other dry dark places attract this species due to presence of its shelter and prey. Other hiding places includes all kind of narrow and dark places inside houses, trees and bushes. In rescues it is found in almost all places inside houses even on 5th floor.
It is a totally harmless & non venomous species but due to very large size it is fascinating to ordinary human. Rat snake is one of the toughest species to survive in new places but not always. Its release can be done near rescue site if people allow this after letting them know about its behavior, sometimes they don’t allow such huge snake or the rescue site’s location is found to be exclusively urban without any vegetation so release in new place should be done with proper knowledge about the new area. Juveniles should not be relocated strictly but adults can be released at day time near any agricultural land or forest with proper water supply and shelter in the area.

Scarlet King snake

2013-03-07T15:33:00.004-08:00

Scarlet Kingsnake (L. triangulum elapsoides): Scarlet kingsnakes are considerably smaller than milk snakes and reach lengths of 14 – 20 in (36-51 cm). The coloration and patterning is arguably the most beautiful of all snakes in our region. A mimic of the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), scarlet kingsnakes typically have alternating bands of red, black, and yellow in which red touches black but not yellow (in eastern coral snakes red touches yellow but not black. In the nonvenomous scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea), that is similar in appearance, the bands across the back do not extend across the belly. In sections of northern Georgia and Tennessee the two milksnake subspecies are known to intergrade with varying results in pattern and coloration.

Milk Snake (L. triangulum triangulum): The milk snake is a mid-sized nonvenomous snake that attains lengths between 24 – 35 in (61-90 cm). It derives it scientific specific name from the triangular or Y-shaped light patch at the base of the head. It has a gray to tan background color with black-bordered brown blotches on the dorsum. The belly has a black and white checkerboard pattern. This species is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), but copperheads have hourglass-shaped, rather than rounded or square blotches.

Range and Habitat: Milk snakes have one of the largest ranges of any snake species in the world. The species comprises 25 subspecies and a geographic distribution from Canada through the Midwest and eastern U.S. to Mexico and south into Ecuador. Eight of the subspecies are found in the U.S. Two subspecies, the eastern milk snake (L. t. triangulum) and the scarlet kingsnake (L. t. elapsoides), are found in our region. The scarlet king is found throughout Georgia, but is far more common in the Coastal Plain than in the Piedmont or mountains. The eastern milk snake and intergrades between the two are restricted to the mountains of northern Georgia and northwestern South Carolina. The eastern milksnake uses many habitats: fields, woodlands, rocky outcrops, and agricultural areas. Scarlet Kings are most common in well-drained sandy habitats in the Coastal Plain and particularly prefer pine forests and Sandhill habitats.

Habits: Milksnakes are sometimes active above ground during the day but are more often found in barns or “flipped” from beneath large rocks or boards. These snakes do not in fact milk cows; their presence in barns is instead representative of the abundance of rodents in such places. Scarlet kingsnakes are primarily fossorial (living underground) but are also adept at squeezing under dead bark and inside dead logs. They are generally very secretive, rarely seen “on the crawl,” except at night or after heavy rains. Scarlet kingsnakes feed primarily on lizards (particularly skinks), but also eat small snakes and rodents.

Conservation Status: The milk snakes are considered too common to be included on the IUCN Red List. They are not federally protected, but are protected by the state of Georgia as nonvenomous snakes by a twist of bureaucratic genius.

Snake Charmer

2013-03-01T20:30:00.000-08:00

In 1991 the Indian government banned any show featuring snakes with the introduction of a new wildlife protection bill. But here as can be seen is another failed bill. There are around 8,00,000 snake charmers in India who know only this act as a way of earning their bread. This is passed from father to son for generations, and the government should have thought of a way of helping them get a new better paying job perhaps make use of their skills perhaps in snake farms for medical use. Its good that there is a ban, but bad that its not effective as it should be. The end result is that snakes suffer more as they are moved around more secretively.

While exiting out of Ajmer fort in Rajasthan was surprised to see this snake charmer boldly in the open defying the ban.

Video

Brazilian Rainbow Boa

2013-03-01T17:20:00.003-08:00

Taxonomy
Order: Squamata
Family: Boidae
Genus/species: Epicrates cenchria cenchria

Description
The Brazilian rainbow boa is one of about 12 named subspecies of rainbow boa. There is, however, much debate about the number of subspecies.

The Brazilian rainbow boa is a round-bodied terrestrial boa of medium build. The head is not particularly large, but it is distinctly wider than the neck. It is soft-skinned with great iridescence in its skin. Brazilian rainbow boas are brown or reddish brown. There are three parallel black stripes on the top of the head and large black rings down the back that give the appearance of dorsal blotches. The round lateral blotches are black with an orange or reddish crescent across the top. There is a great deal of variation in color and marking among individuals of this species. Many consider this one of the world’s most beautiful snakes.

Adult males have substantially larger spurs along the side of the vent and also have noticeably thicker bases of their tails due to the invaginated hemipenes. These boas range from four to six feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) in length.

Distribution and Habitat
Rainbow boas are widespread throughout much of South America. Brazilian rainbow boas occur in the Amazon Basin, and in coastal Guiana, French Guyana, and Suriname and southern Venezuela. They live in humid woodland forests and can sometimes be found in open savannas.

Diet in the Wild
In the wild the diet consist of rodents, birds, and possibly some forms of aquatic life and lizards.

Zoo Diet
The boa is fed rats and chicks.

Reproduction
Sexual maturity is usually reached in the first 2.5 to four years. Males may breed at four feet (1.2 m) and females at 4.5 feet (1.4 m). Gestation lasts about five months. Baby Brazilian rainbows are born live in litters of two to 35. A typical litter contains twelve to 25 babies. The babies are usually 15 to 20 inches (38 to 51 cm) long. Yearlings often grow to four feet (1.2 m) in length, though 36 to 40 inches (91 to 100 cm) is more typical. Females seem to eat more and grow larger than males.

Life Span
They may live up to 20 years in captivity.

Status
This snake does not have any special status. Brazilian rainbow boas occur naturally across much of the northern half of South America. They were exported in fair numbers from Suriname during the 1980s and early 1990s. They are now exported in much more limited numbers and most specimens offered for sale today are captive bred.

Fun Facts
Rainbow boas are so named because of the iridescent sheen imparted by microscopic ridges on their scales, which act like prisms to refract light into rainbows.

Black Mamba

2013-03-01T16:48:00.002-08:00

Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake.

Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour).

They get their name not from their skin color, which tends to be olive to gray, but rather from the blue-black color of the inside of their mouth, which they display when threatened.

Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths and hiss. If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike.

Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this fearsome serpent was 100 percent fatal, usually within about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent.

The black mamba has no special conservation status. However, encroachment on its territory is not only putting pressure on the species but contributes to more potentially dangerous human contact with these snakes.

Reptile

Diet:: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild:: 11 years or more
Size:: Up to 14 ft (4.3 m)
Weight:: Up to 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg)
Did you know?: Black mambas use their incredible speed to escape threats, not to hunt prey.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

New Jersey and American Snakes

2013-02-23T12:11:00.002-08:00

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

Range: Common Garter snakes (Thamniophis sirtalis) are found throughout the continental US. The Eastern subspecies (Thamniophis sirtalis sirtalis) is found north to Ontario, west to eastern Texas, south to Florida and east to the Atlantic.
Size: 24"-36" Relatively slender, but not as much so as their cousins the Ribbon Snakes
Habitat: They prefer locations with water nearby, typically in wood piles, under rocks, woodland type habitat.
Food: Opportunistic feeders, they will feed on fish, worms, frogs, salamanders, and small rodents.
Temperament: Nervous, not overly aggressive but will bite and musk when handled. Often tame down in captivity.
Owner: Steve Lengen

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)

Range: Common Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) are found almost across the country, stretching as far west as Colorado, north to Ontario and everything in between. The Northern subspecies (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) is found north to Ontario, west to Illinois, south to sorthern Virginia and east to the atlantic.
Size: up to 42" Heavy bodied
Habitat: Near lakes and streams, as their name implies they are rarely found far from a water source.
Food: In the wild their main food sources are frogs and fish, though in captivity they can be trained to take rodents.
Temperament: Nervous and aggressive, these snakes will dart into the water at the first signs of human activity, but if caught they will bite, rather hard in fact, and will also musk.
Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus guttatus)

Range: North to southern New Jersey, west to eastern Texas, south to Florida and east to the Atlantic
Size: up to 48" Slender
Habitat: Pine-Oak forests in sandy areas with an understory of low brush, overgrown fields, and abandoned buildings sometimes also house these snakes.
Food: Also known as the Red Rat snake, they are primarily rodent eaters, though the babies often start on lizards.
Temperament: Calm, while endangered in NJ they are the most popular pet snake in the world, partially because of their docile disposition (though babies are a bit more defensive).
Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)

Range: North to Ontario, west to..., south to Florida and east to the Atlantic
Size: can reach 96", though more likely to be around 72" Slender
Habitat: Somewhat versatile they can be found in woodlands as well as open farmland.
Food: As the name implies, they eat rodents.
Temperament: More nervous than aggressive they don't hesitate to bite when they feel threatened, but will often calm down in hand.
Owner: Steve Lengen

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)

Range: North to southern New Hampshire and central Minnesota, west to eastern Texas, south to Florida and east to the Atlantic.

Size: up to 40" Heavy bodied

Habitat: variety of habitats with sandy soil, most notably the NJ Pine Barrens

Food: Almost entirely toads, though some will eat frogs. They are notoriously difficult to train to eat rodents, though it is possible.

Temperament: A little nervous, but not aggressive, they will hiss, and puff up, even play dead when they feel threatened, but rarely bite.

Owner: Steve Lengen

Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus)

Range: North to southern New Jersey, west to southeastern Kentucky, south to southern Georgia and east to the Atlantic.

Size: up to 72" though some can be longer, Slender

Habitat: Pine forests with sandy soil, predominantly in the Pine Barrens in NJ

Food: Rodents, though we discovered the young ones will take lizards, and have even caught one going after a bird.

Temperament: A little nervous at first, they will hiss and strike the air, they usually calm down fairly quickly and rarely bite, and even then their bite is very light.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)

Range: The common milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) is found almost throughout the US. The Eastern subspecies (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) is found North to southern Maine, west to Minnesota, south to Florida, and east to the Atlantic.

Size: up to 36" Slender

Habitat: Rocky woodlands like those in northwestern NJ and into PA

Food: Rodents, they will also eat other snakes

Temperament: Generally agreeable, the babies can be nippy, but usually the adults are more flighty than aggressive. Due to their relatively small size a bite rarely breaks the skin and then only barely.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Coastal Plain Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum temporalis)

Range: North to southern New Jersey, west to southeastern Pennsylvania, south to northeastern North Carolina, and east to the Atlantic.

Size: up to 36" though typically smaller, Slender

Habitat: Sandy pine forests like the NJ Pine Barrens, they prefer tight spaces and are often found near old foundations under cinder blocks.

Food: Rodents, though they usually start on lizards as babies, they will eat other snakes, though not as cannibalistic as others in genus Lampropeltis.

Temperament: Flighty

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Eastern King Snake (Lampropeltis getula getula)

Range: North to southern New Jersey, west to West Virginia, south to northern Florida and east to the Atlantic

Size: up to 60" Slender

Habitat: Terrestrial woodlands, though they can often be found near swamps or streams.

Food: Aggressive, opportunistic feeders they typical subsist on rodents; however, they will eat other prey such as lizards and birds, as well as other snakes including rattle snakes and copperheads.

Temperament: Generally agreeable, they don't typically bite, and even then their bite is not particularly hard.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Scarlet King Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)

Range: North to southern New Jersey, west to eastern Louisiana, south throughout Florida, and east to the Atlantic.

Size: up to 24" Slender

Habitat: Pine forests, often under boards or logs, only coming out at night to hunt.

Food: Lizards, though they can be trained to take rodents.

Temperament: These snakes are very secretive, and as such are generally nervous, flighty snakes. They aren't particularly aggressive, and won't generally resort to biting, but they will musk quite readily.

Owner: Steve Lengen

Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus)

Range: Along the eastern seaboard from southern Ontario to Florida, west to the Appalachians
Size: Up to 30” more slender than their cousins the Garter Snakes
Habitat: Usually found in marshy areas with open areas to bask, the cranberry bogs of South Jersey suit them well.
Food: Mostly fish and tadpoles, but other cold blooded prey such as worms and slugs may be taken. Some can be trained to take mice.
Temperament: Nervous, but not aggressive, they are very flighty, but will musk like their larger cousins as well.
Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)

Range: Large range encompassing much of the US, west to the Rockies, south into Mexico and north to Ontario.
Size: Up to 72”
Habitat: Typically open grassland where they’re eyesight and speed can be used effectively, but also found in lightly forested areas.
Food: Rodents
Temperament: As their name would imply these snakes are very fast, so their primary defense is to get away quickly, if caught they are quite vicious and won’t hesitate to bite and musk.
Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

American Snakes

Grey Banded King Snake (Lampropeltis alterna)

Range: Trans-Pecos/Chihuahuan Desert, western Texas, southern New Mexico, into northern Mexico

Size: up to 48" Slender

Habitat: rocky outcroppings, they like to hide in crevices

Food: Lizards, though they can be trained to take rodents and will eat other snakes

Temperament: Nervous, but not aggressive, they are typically flighty as juveniles but will calm down some as they age.

Owner: Steve Lengen

California King Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)

Range: North to southern Oregon, west to the Pacific, south to Arizona, and east to southwestern Colorado.

Size: up to 60" Slender

Habitat: Highly varietal, can inhabit forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains, fields, even suburban areas so long sufficient prey and shelter.

Food: Rodents, will eat other snakes, birds, lizards, and amphibians as well

Temperament: Generally docile, can be a little flighty, but they tend not to bite

Owner: Steve Lengen

California Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis zonata zonata)

Range: Mountains of California and northern Baja Mexico, scattered populations in Washington and Oregon.

Size: up to 48"

Habitat: Rural areas, within its range, despite the name, it often prefers areas with more moderate precipitation.

Food: Rodents, but will eat almost anything that will fit, including other snakes.

Temperament: A bit nervous, they aren’t biters but have a very strong feeding response and sometimes will not distinguish between their keeper and their next meal.

Owner: Gerald Wronski

Desert King Snake (Lampropeltis getula splendida)

Range: Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico

Size: up to 72" Slender

Habitat: Rural areas, within its range, despite the name, it often prefers areas with more moderate precipitation

Food: Rodents, but will eat almost anything that will fit, including other snakes.

Temperament: A bit nervous, they aren't biters but have a very strong feeding response and sometimes will not distinguish between their keeper and their next meal.

Owner: Steve Lengen

Mexican Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum annulata)

Range: Southern Texas into northern Mexico.

Size: up to 53"

Habitat: Arid, thorny woodlands. Also found under driftwood on coastal islands.

Food: Lizards, rodents, and other snakes.

Temperament: Some specimens can be biters; others are docile.

Owner: Gerald Wronski

Louisiana Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum amaura)

Range: Most of Louisiana, southwestern Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas.
Size: Normally under 24 "; sometimes up to 31".
Habitat: Found under cover in pine and hardwood forests; found under driftwood on coastal islands and beaches.
Food: Lizards, small rodents, and other snakes.
Temperament: Allowing for individual differences, most are docile.
Owner: Gerald Wronski

Boas

Amazon Tree Boa (Corallus hortulanus)

Range: North to southern Venezuela, west to the Andes, south to Bolivia, and east to the Atlantic

Size: up to 6.5'

Habitat: Jungles, often in trees, though they are less arboreal than many tree boas

Food: Birds and Rodents, young will take lizards as well, they can live on a rodent diet in captivity

Temperament: Generally nippy, they don't hesitate to bite, though they can vary some and be slightly more pleasant tempered in some instances

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Kenyan Sand Boa (Eryx colubrinus)

Range: North to Egypt, west to Niger, south to Tanzania, and east to Yemen

Size: up to 30"

Habitat: Sandy desert

Food: Rodents

Temperament: Calm, they rarely bite, as juveniles they can be a little flighty, but as adults they calm down considerably.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Red Tail Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)

Range: North to Belize, South to Peru and Brazil

Size: up to 12' but generally around 5-7'

Habitat: Jungle

Food: Rodents

Temperament: As juveniles they tend to be nippy, but the adults are usually calm and slow to bite.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)

Range: Brazil with other subspecies in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, as well as a newly described on in the islands off South America

Size: up to 6' with some being slightly longer

Habitat: Jungles

Food: Rodents

Temperament: Aggressive, they vary from specimen to specimen, mine is the most aggressive snake I own, Gerry's is dog tame. Typically they are known to be nippy, generally secretive animals, they are a hands off pet in most instances.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus canina)

Range: Two disjunct populations: One is found in Guyana, French Guyana and Surinam; the other is in the countries along the Amazon Basin.

Size: Northeastern specimens average between 3 - 4 feet; Amazon Basin specimens tend to be larger. Some may even approach 10 feet.

Habitat: Tropical rainforests, normally in the upper canopy.

Food: Birds, rodents, and occasionally lizards.

Temperament: Unpredictable; specimens that appear to be calm may suddenly bite viciously. Others are aggressive from the get-go.

Owner: Gerald Wronski

Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)

Range: Southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and into northern Argentina
Size: The smaller of the Anaconda species, males rarely hit 10’ but average 7-8’ and females can reach 15’ but average 10-12’
Habitat: Semi-aquatic in nature they tend to spend times in water holes and slow moving streams as well as marshes and swamps.
Food: Anacondas are top predator in their range, so they will eat about anything getting close enough to their watery resting place, including caiman, birds, rodents, turtles and lizards.
Temperament: Generally they are aggressive snakes, Gerry had one that was typical; mine is, on the other hand, rather docile in nature, only biting when touched on the head or handled roughly.
Owner: Steve Lengen

Pythons

Ball Python (Python regius)

Range: Ghana and western Africa

Size: up to 5'

Habitat: Scrublands, arid terrain with intermittent small vegetation.

Food: In the wild they eat gerbils, and a picky eater can often be coaxed with one in captivity, but they generally accept rodents readily.

Temperament: Docile, as juveniles they can be a little nippy, but as adults they rarely bite.

Owner: Steve Lengen & Gerald Wronski

Woma (Aspidites ramsayi)

Range: Australian deserts in every mainland state except Victoria

Size: 5-7'

Habitat: Arid "Bush" in the interior of Australia

Food: Rodents

Temperament: Docile, despite an aggressive feeding response these snakes take well to handling and typically are not aggressive at all.

Owner: Steve Lengen

Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia spilota cheynei)

Range: Papua New Guinea and Australia

Size: 5-7'

Habitat: Jungles throughout their range, semi-arboreal in nature, they can often be found in low trees and bushes.

Food: These are opportunistic feeders as babies and will take mice, rats, birds, gerbils, etc. As they age they often develop an affinity for one prey item or another which can be tricky if they choose mice, as a 7’ snake can consume a fair number of mice. Best to stick with rats as they grow.

Temperament:

Owner: Steve Lengen

Blood Python (Python curtus)

Range: Southern Malaysian Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Size: Most specimens average from 4 - 5 feet; occasionally large females can approach 10 feet in length.
Habitat: Tropical rainforest floors, especially along waterways where this python may spend considerable time in the water.
Food: Mainly warmblooded prey: rodents, monkeys, and birds of appropriate size.
Temperament: Specimens from some populations are downright savage; others can be tamed and even become docile with gentle handling.
Owner: Gerald Wronski

Carpet Python (Morelia spilotus)

Range: In various forms, this snake is primarily found in eastern Australia and southern New Guinea.
Size: Typical adults grow up to 7 feet in length; rarely, exceptional specimens may exceed 12 feet in length.
Habitat: Tropical rainforests to dry woodlands. This is a very adaptable species.
Food: Warm blooded prey of appropriate size, such as birds and rodents. Young specimens may eat lizards.
Temperament: Young tend to be nippy. Some adults are aggressive, most others become trustworthy.
Owner: Gerald Wronski

Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)

Range: Found throughout the island of New Guinea; also extreme northeastern Australia.
Size: Typically three to four feet in length; occasionally may reach 7 feet in length.
Habitat: Tropical rainforests.
Food: Young may eat lizards; adults prefer rodents and birds.
Temperament: Savage to unpredictable; some individuals, especially from Aru Island, may be trustworthy.
Owner: Gerald Wronski

Exotics

Honduran Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis)

Range: Portions of rainforest in Honduras, Nicaragua and portions of North East Costa Rica.

Size: 4' sometimes slightly larger

Habitat: This is a species of low to medium elevations of the tropical areas of the countries listed above.

Food: Rodents, but will also eat other snakes, lizards, and birds in the wild.

Temperament: Flighty, they aren't particularly aggressive, but they will bite, and donÕt usually like to be handled.

Owner: Steve Lengen

Chinese King Rat Snake (Elaphe carinata)

Range: China, North Vietnam, Taiwan

Size: 4-6'

Habitat: Being mostly terrestrial they are known to inhabit open forest areas, bamboo thickets, fields and meadows and have also been collected near houses.

Food: In the wild they are snake and lizard eaters, though they can be trained to take rodents and birds in captivity.

Temperament: Aggressive and nervous, they are secretive and will not hesitate to bite and musk. Though their bite is not terribly hard or painful, their musk is quite pungent earning the common name "Stinking Goddess" in some areas.

Owner: Steve Lengen

Radiated Rat Snake (Elaphe radiata)

Range: North to southern China, west to northern India, south to Indonesia, and east to Vietnam
Size: Generally 5.5-6.5’ but can attain lengths up to 8’
Habitat: Jungle habitat throughout their range, they are semi arboreal and often climb in low brush.
Food: Rodents.
Temperament: Generally more flighty than aggressive, they won’t hesitate to bite, especially if handled roughly.
Owner: Steve Lengen

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)

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Description: Nose upturned, variable colors ranging from brown to yellow to red, with 20-30 dark blotches; Belly may be darkened, but the underside of tail is lighter than the belly.

Habitat: Deciduous forests to prairies but prefers sandy soils along rivers and streams.

Size: Typical adult length: 51-84 cm (20-33 in); Maximum 42 inches (Collins & Collins 1993).

Diet: Mainly toads.

Natural History: Diet consists mainly of toads, which are seized with the mouth and swallowed. The Eastern hognose snake shows amazing behavior if distrubed. If you approach this snake it propabpy will hiss and flatten the head and flare the neck, which gives its head a triangular appearance. They may even raise the head and strike with mouth closed. Hognose snakes almost never bite but tihis threat-like behavior is very convincing and usually frightens people or predators away. If pressed further, the snake may roll over and play dead. When turned right side up it immediately turns belly up and resumes playing dead.

The odd, upturned nose is used for digging its most common food, toads. Another adaptation for eating toads are enlarged teeth at the rear of the upper jaw. A toad under attack can inflate its body with air to avoid being eaten. The hognose's enlarged teeth can puncture and deflate the toad so it can be swallowed easily.

Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpina)

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Description: Dull yellow to light brown with 34-49 deep brown blotches along the back and sides. Anal scale is divided.

Habitat: Farmlands, prairies and woods near water, more of a wetland species than our other rat snakes.

Size: Typical adult length: 60-130 cm (23-51 inches); Maximum: 62 inches (Collins & Collins 1993).

Diet: Lizards, snakes, small birds and mice; kills by constriction.

Natural History: Normally hunts by day on both the ground and in bushes and trees. When disturbed, it often vibrates tail like a rattlesnake. When a Fox Snake is handled it will often release a foul odor. This smell as been likened to the musky smell of a Red Fox, hence the common name of this snake. Fox snakes will bite it handled, but are a bit more gentle than a Black Rat Snake.

Because the head of the Fox Snake is orange to orange yellow it may be mistaken for a Copperhead. This can lead people to kill this beneficial snake. Like the Black Rat Snake, this species consumes large numbers of rodents. Note that the ranges of Fox Snakes and Copperheads don't overlap in Nebraska.

Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans)

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Description: Brown blotches on light back, belly unmarked cream color.

Habitat: Prefers sandy grasslands.

Size: Typical adult length: 69-90 cm (27-36 in); Maximum: 48 inches (Collins & Collins 1993).

Diet: Lizards and small mammals.

Natural History: Although often a gentle snake when handled, some individuals will strike and even bite. Also like many snakes, the Glossy Snakes may secrete foul smelling stuff from cloaca if you pick them up.

This largely nocturnal species is secretive so its status in Nebraska is not well known. Recently a Glossy Snake was found in Thomas County, far out of its expected range in Dundy and Hitchcock counties (see map). Is the Glossy snake more widely distributed in Nebraska, but just overlooked? Only time will tell.