SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
Also Xenosaurus platyceps. Found at Greenville Zoo and possibly some other places as well.
American Herping: A Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in US Zoos
- Thread starter Coelacanth18
- Start date
Also Xenosaurus platyceps. Found at Greenville Zoo and possibly some other places as well.
LIZARD RECAP
The Topline Numbers
243 species from 25 families
4 species were added from contributions to this thread
Family with Most Species and Most Holdings:
Varanidae (monitors) – 221 holdings from 30 species
Species abundance breakdown*:
- 4 Abundant (40+ holders)
- 9 Very Common (30-39 holders)
- 6 Common (20-29 holders)
- 29 Prevalent (10-19 holders)
- 32 Uncommon (5-9 holders)
- 164 Rare (1-4 holders) (~67%)
*with some adjustments based on additional searching
Of the 164 rare species, 50% (~85) were only found in 1 surveyed facility – though keep in mind that some of these may not be truly unique holdings, especially for native species.
Overall these results look very similar to the amphibian numbers – roughly 20 species that are common to abundant; ~60 species that are less common but still decently/somewhat widely held; and a block of fairly rare or unique species totaling two-thirds of the group’s total diversity. In terms of natives vs exotics, natives only made up 16% of survey holdings – and nearly a third of those holdings were Gila monsters.
Top Performers
The most common lizard in the survey was the Gila Monster, a native species; the most common exotic lizard was Prehensile-tailed Skink (Corucia zebrata). The third species that qualified as Abundant by survey data alone was Komodo Dragon, a staple of major and mid-sized zoos; however, based on additional research it’s probable that Green Iguana is equally or even more abundant due to its high prevalence in unaccredited facilities.
Notable Facilities
Unlike with amphibians – where Detroit stood out singly as the big zoo for amphibians – no traditional major zoo clearly stood above the rest when it came to lizards. However, there are a handful that are worth noting as strong players.
· The Bronx Zoo and San Diego Zoo have wide and diverse lizard collections in general, including a lot of monitors;
· Nashville Zoo and Zoo Miami have many less common Neotropical lizards;
· The Omaha Zoo has a variety of rarer lizards from Africa and Australasia, as does the Dallas Zoo to a lesser extent;
· Other notable major zoos for lizards include Brookfield, Virginia, and San Antonio
Most reptile specialist zoos in the US focus primarily on snakes, but there is one that clearly stands out when it comes to lizards. I won’t wax too much on Ty Park’s Iguanaland facility in Florida – partly because I don’t know too much about it and partly because it just opened in the last 2 years – but in terms of focus and species count it has to be mentioned. True to its name it houses and breeds many species of iguana – including countless Ctenosaura and rarities like Anegada Ground and Lesser Antillean – but it has a large variety of other lizards as well, including possibly the country’s largest collection of monitor lizards and an enviable number of agamids like sailfin lizards and water dragons.
Rising Stars
This section highlights species that are rapidly becoming more common on the scene.
Leaf-tailed Geckos (Genus Uroplatus)
A highly successful genus for the North American continent, thanks to breeding efforts at the Riverbanks Zoo. The standout here is Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. henkeli) which went from a low of ~50 animals to one of the most common zoo lizards in the country, with a population well over 300.
Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
Taken at the Singapore Zoo by @Zooish
Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
In the 1990’s these were quite rare lizards, and breeding success was worthy of national headlines. The code seems to have been cracked to a great extent, with breeding now a fairly regular occurrence; with almost every major and mid-sized zoo already having or planning to soon obtain this species, the world’s largest lizard will remain a staple of the American zooscape for decades to come.
Taken at the San Antonio Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Gray’s Monitor (Varanus olivaceus)
Perentie (Varanus giganteus)
Two charismatic monitor lizards that – although still uncommon – have bright futures in the States thanks to recent breeding successes. This is especially good news for the Gray’s, a species vulnerable to extinction and a potential flagship species for the Philippine islands.
Gray's Monitor (Varanus olivaceus)
Taken at the Los Angeles Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Juvenile Perentie (Varanus giganteus)
Taken at the Dallas Zoo by @King of Komodo Dragons
Coely’s Highlight Species
With every major group I will highlight at least one personal favorite of mine. I'm a fan of several well-known lizards discussed so far - Frilled Lizards, chameleons, monitors, leaf-tailed geckos - so I've chosen a less common favorite of mine to highlight.
Mozambique Girdled Lizard (Smaug mossambicus)
Not one of the most noteworthy lizards for most of you, but why not? It has a lot going for it. The pebbly armored look is very metal, as is the red and black color pairing on the males. It hails from and sports the name of an African nation many of us might not have otherwise heard of or thought about. Even its scientific name is shared with a fearsome dragon of Middle-Earth lore. Here's to hoping that these guys are on the upswing and will be around in our collections for quite some time!
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
And with that, the first half of Squamata is complete! Next week we’ll dive into snakes; until then, this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about the lizard recap or lizards in general. Comments, additions, surprises, personal favorites – discussion is welcome
The Topline Numbers
243 species from 25 families
4 species were added from contributions to this thread
Family with Most Species and Most Holdings:
Varanidae (monitors) – 221 holdings from 30 species
Species abundance breakdown*:
- 4 Abundant (40+ holders)
- 9 Very Common (30-39 holders)
- 6 Common (20-29 holders)
- 29 Prevalent (10-19 holders)
- 32 Uncommon (5-9 holders)
- 164 Rare (1-4 holders) (~67%)
*with some adjustments based on additional searching
Of the 164 rare species, 50% (~85) were only found in 1 surveyed facility – though keep in mind that some of these may not be truly unique holdings, especially for native species.
Overall these results look very similar to the amphibian numbers – roughly 20 species that are common to abundant; ~60 species that are less common but still decently/somewhat widely held; and a block of fairly rare or unique species totaling two-thirds of the group’s total diversity. In terms of natives vs exotics, natives only made up 16% of survey holdings – and nearly a third of those holdings were Gila monsters.
Top Performers
The most common lizard in the survey was the Gila Monster, a native species; the most common exotic lizard was Prehensile-tailed Skink (Corucia zebrata). The third species that qualified as Abundant by survey data alone was Komodo Dragon, a staple of major and mid-sized zoos; however, based on additional research it’s probable that Green Iguana is equally or even more abundant due to its high prevalence in unaccredited facilities.
Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)
European Glass Lizard (Scheltopusik) (Pseudopus apodus)
Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
Common Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
Madagascar Giant Day Geckos (Phelsuma grandis/madagascariensis)
Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
Black Tree Monitor (Varanus beccarii)
Emerald Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus)
Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum)
Fiji Banded Iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus/bulabula/gau)
Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater)
Chinese Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus)
Common Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides)
Northern Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
European Glass Lizard (Scheltopusik) (Pseudopus apodus)
Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
Common Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
Madagascar Giant Day Geckos (Phelsuma grandis/madagascariensis)
Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
Black Tree Monitor (Varanus beccarii)
Emerald Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus)
Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum)
Fiji Banded Iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus/bulabula/gau)
Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater)
Chinese Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus)
Common Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides)
Northern Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
Notable Facilities
Unlike with amphibians – where Detroit stood out singly as the big zoo for amphibians – no traditional major zoo clearly stood above the rest when it came to lizards. However, there are a handful that are worth noting as strong players.
· The Bronx Zoo and San Diego Zoo have wide and diverse lizard collections in general, including a lot of monitors;
· Nashville Zoo and Zoo Miami have many less common Neotropical lizards;
· The Omaha Zoo has a variety of rarer lizards from Africa and Australasia, as does the Dallas Zoo to a lesser extent;
· Other notable major zoos for lizards include Brookfield, Virginia, and San Antonio
Most reptile specialist zoos in the US focus primarily on snakes, but there is one that clearly stands out when it comes to lizards. I won’t wax too much on Ty Park’s Iguanaland facility in Florida – partly because I don’t know too much about it and partly because it just opened in the last 2 years – but in terms of focus and species count it has to be mentioned. True to its name it houses and breeds many species of iguana – including countless Ctenosaura and rarities like Anegada Ground and Lesser Antillean – but it has a large variety of other lizards as well, including possibly the country’s largest collection of monitor lizards and an enviable number of agamids like sailfin lizards and water dragons.
Rising Stars
This section highlights species that are rapidly becoming more common on the scene.
Leaf-tailed Geckos (Genus Uroplatus)
A highly successful genus for the North American continent, thanks to breeding efforts at the Riverbanks Zoo. The standout here is Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. henkeli) which went from a low of ~50 animals to one of the most common zoo lizards in the country, with a population well over 300.
Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
Taken at the Singapore Zoo by @Zooish
Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
In the 1990’s these were quite rare lizards, and breeding success was worthy of national headlines. The code seems to have been cracked to a great extent, with breeding now a fairly regular occurrence; with almost every major and mid-sized zoo already having or planning to soon obtain this species, the world’s largest lizard will remain a staple of the American zooscape for decades to come.
Taken at the San Antonio Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Gray’s Monitor (Varanus olivaceus)
Perentie (Varanus giganteus)
Two charismatic monitor lizards that – although still uncommon – have bright futures in the States thanks to recent breeding successes. This is especially good news for the Gray’s, a species vulnerable to extinction and a potential flagship species for the Philippine islands.
Gray's Monitor (Varanus olivaceus)
Taken at the Los Angeles Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Juvenile Perentie (Varanus giganteus)
Taken at the Dallas Zoo by @King of Komodo Dragons
Coely’s Highlight Species
With every major group I will highlight at least one personal favorite of mine. I'm a fan of several well-known lizards discussed so far - Frilled Lizards, chameleons, monitors, leaf-tailed geckos - so I've chosen a less common favorite of mine to highlight.
Mozambique Girdled Lizard (Smaug mossambicus)
Not one of the most noteworthy lizards for most of you, but why not? It has a lot going for it. The pebbly armored look is very metal, as is the red and black color pairing on the males. It hails from and sports the name of an African nation many of us might not have otherwise heard of or thought about. Even its scientific name is shared with a fearsome dragon of Middle-Earth lore. Here's to hoping that these guys are on the upswing and will be around in our collections for quite some time!
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
And with that, the first half of Squamata is complete! Next week we’ll dive into snakes; until then, this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about the lizard recap or lizards in general. Comments, additions, surprises, personal favorites – discussion is welcome
With just a couple of exceptions (Gila Monsters and Komodos) lizards always seem to be the group of reptiles that zoo visitors care the least about. They usually seem to be overlooked in favor of the other flashier groups. Did you notice this visitor attitude carrying over to zoo holdngs, too? Do lizards generally have less holders or species diversity than, say, snakes or chelonians?
Lizards definitely rank below snakes by any metric - fewer species, fewer holdings, lower average for holdings per species, lower proportional representation. There are fewer species of turtles in the survey, but globally there are 7,000 species of lizards and only 360 turtles. Holdings are about equal between the two, but turtles are obviously way more represented proportionally and each species is more common on average than for lizards. Amphibians and lizards rank equally on just about everything.
They're not huge differences IMO, but it's not exactly zero either. Maybe it's a cultural thing; anecdotally snakes are a major cultural icon and fascination for Americans, while lizards are more just an animal that exists. Everyone kind of knows the basic snakes - cobras, rattlesnakes, pythons, rat and garter snakes - but most lizards are obscure to the casual observer. You see this reflected in the fact that there are also far more reptile zoos focused on snakes than on lizards. Similar situation for amphibians I think: frogs are frogs to most, not much is noteworthy unless they're huge or brightly colored.
I think there's also less species variation within families for lizards than you'd expect for 25 families. I mentioned this earlier in the thread:
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I had no idea there were only about 360 species of chelonians. Weird to think there's nearly 3 times more Pokemon species than chelonian species.
Order Squamata, Part II: Snakes
The sneks, the nope ropes, the danger noodles. There are ~4,000 species of snake in the world, and at ~310 species it is the most speciose herp group in American zoos. Most snakes can be split into four large groups: the constrictors (boas and pythons), the venomous elapids (cobras, mambas, etc), the also-venomous vipers, and the (mostly) harmless colubrids. We’ll start with the constrictors.
Family Boidae – Boas
Boas and pythons are very similar. They are both thick, muscle-dense ambush predators; they wrap around prey, squeezing until suffocation occurs. They are an example of convergent evolution: pythons are exclusively from the Old World while boas are mostly from the Americas, yet they’ve evolved the same strategies. The biggest difference between the two – though not something you can tell visually – is that pythons lay eggs, while boas give birth to live young. In both boas and pythons, the females are larger and dominant over males.
There are roughly 50 species of boa, and over half (~30) appeared in the survey. We’ll start with the tree boas of the Neotropics today.
Chilabothrus – Caribbean Boas
The West Indies have several species of boa, and American collections have 5 of these. By far the most common is the Jamaican Boa (C. subflavus), which at 15 holders in the survey qualifies as Prevalent. There is an AZA breeding program for this species, and it is a vulnerable species from the interior forest canyons of its namesake island. It’s also a quite beautiful snake (get ready for me to say that a lot!) with a golden upper half and a dark iridescent lower half.
Besides the Jamaican, there is also conservation breeding done at a few American zoos for the Virgin Islands Tree Boa (C. granti), an endangered species that is technically native. At least three zoos – Fort Worth, North Carolina, and Saint Louis – bred these snakes in 2022 as part of a reintroduction plan. Ironically, none of those have their animals on display- though the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and Pueblo Zoo in Colorado do.
Jamaican Boa (Chilabothrus subflavus)
Taken at Iguanaland (Florida) by @Leaf Productions
Link talking about conservation efforts for the Virgin Islands tree boa: Securing a Better Future for the Virgin Island Tree Boa | North Carolina Zoo
Other Chilabothrus species (all Rare):
Cuban Boa (C. angulifer) – this species is the most common in Europe
Puerto Rican Boa (C. inornatus)
Hispaniolan Boa (C. striatus)
Corallus – Neotropical Tree Boas
Most often you will find these obligately arboreal snakes coiled up on a branch. 6 of the genus’s 9 species were found in the survey.
Emerald Tree Boa (C. caninus and C. batesii) – Abundant
Most of you will instantly recognize this boa: it stands out both with its bright emerald coloring and white zigzag stripes, as well as its habit of coiling on a branch in plain view. These are very popular boas, commonly found in major and mid-sized zoos as well as reptile specialist facilities. A similar species - the Green Tree Python - is also abundant in American zoos, and the physical distinctions between them will be outlined later.
The Amazon Basin population, C. batesii, was split in 2009; given the fairly recent change, I’m not certain which of the two is more abundant. There are physical differences between the two – Amazon Basin is slightly larger and generally has a continuous white zigzag across the back – but I don’t have photos for most of the listed holdings. At least a handful of zoos have their snakes signed as batesii, but most are currently signed as caninus.
C. caninus; taken at the National Aquarium in Baltimore by @Andrew_NZP
Amazon Basin (C. batesii); taken at the Oklahoma City Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Amazon Tree Boa (C. hortulana) – Common
Also called the Common or Garden Tree Boa, this variably colored boa is similar in size to Emerald but is not the instantly recognizable bright green of that species. It also has a reputation for being aggressive and bitey compared to its more popular relative, but plenty of zoos still hold this type.
Taken at the Oklahoma City Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Other Corallus species:
Annulated Tree Boa (C. annulatus) – Uncommon
Cook’s Tree Boa (C. cookii) – Rare
Central American Tree Boa (C. ruschenbergerii) – Rare
The sneks, the nope ropes, the danger noodles. There are ~4,000 species of snake in the world, and at ~310 species it is the most speciose herp group in American zoos. Most snakes can be split into four large groups: the constrictors (boas and pythons), the venomous elapids (cobras, mambas, etc), the also-venomous vipers, and the (mostly) harmless colubrids. We’ll start with the constrictors.
Family Boidae – Boas
Boas and pythons are very similar. They are both thick, muscle-dense ambush predators; they wrap around prey, squeezing until suffocation occurs. They are an example of convergent evolution: pythons are exclusively from the Old World while boas are mostly from the Americas, yet they’ve evolved the same strategies. The biggest difference between the two – though not something you can tell visually – is that pythons lay eggs, while boas give birth to live young. In both boas and pythons, the females are larger and dominant over males.
There are roughly 50 species of boa, and over half (~30) appeared in the survey. We’ll start with the tree boas of the Neotropics today.
Chilabothrus – Caribbean Boas
The West Indies have several species of boa, and American collections have 5 of these. By far the most common is the Jamaican Boa (C. subflavus), which at 15 holders in the survey qualifies as Prevalent. There is an AZA breeding program for this species, and it is a vulnerable species from the interior forest canyons of its namesake island. It’s also a quite beautiful snake (get ready for me to say that a lot!) with a golden upper half and a dark iridescent lower half.
Besides the Jamaican, there is also conservation breeding done at a few American zoos for the Virgin Islands Tree Boa (C. granti), an endangered species that is technically native. At least three zoos – Fort Worth, North Carolina, and Saint Louis – bred these snakes in 2022 as part of a reintroduction plan. Ironically, none of those have their animals on display- though the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and Pueblo Zoo in Colorado do.
Jamaican Boa (Chilabothrus subflavus)
Taken at Iguanaland (Florida) by @Leaf Productions
Link talking about conservation efforts for the Virgin Islands tree boa: Securing a Better Future for the Virgin Island Tree Boa | North Carolina Zoo
Other Chilabothrus species (all Rare):
Cuban Boa (C. angulifer) – this species is the most common in Europe
Puerto Rican Boa (C. inornatus)
Hispaniolan Boa (C. striatus)
Corallus – Neotropical Tree Boas
Most often you will find these obligately arboreal snakes coiled up on a branch. 6 of the genus’s 9 species were found in the survey.
Emerald Tree Boa (C. caninus and C. batesii) – Abundant
Most of you will instantly recognize this boa: it stands out both with its bright emerald coloring and white zigzag stripes, as well as its habit of coiling on a branch in plain view. These are very popular boas, commonly found in major and mid-sized zoos as well as reptile specialist facilities. A similar species - the Green Tree Python - is also abundant in American zoos, and the physical distinctions between them will be outlined later.
The Amazon Basin population, C. batesii, was split in 2009; given the fairly recent change, I’m not certain which of the two is more abundant. There are physical differences between the two – Amazon Basin is slightly larger and generally has a continuous white zigzag across the back – but I don’t have photos for most of the listed holdings. At least a handful of zoos have their snakes signed as batesii, but most are currently signed as caninus.
C. caninus; taken at the National Aquarium in Baltimore by @Andrew_NZP
Amazon Basin (C. batesii); taken at the Oklahoma City Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Amazon Tree Boa (C. hortulana) – Common
Also called the Common or Garden Tree Boa, this variably colored boa is similar in size to Emerald but is not the instantly recognizable bright green of that species. It also has a reputation for being aggressive and bitey compared to its more popular relative, but plenty of zoos still hold this type.
Taken at the Oklahoma City Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Other Corallus species:
Annulated Tree Boa (C. annulatus) – Uncommon
Cook’s Tree Boa (C. cookii) – Rare
Central American Tree Boa (C. ruschenbergerii) – Rare
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I didn't know about the Emerald Tree Boa split, that's good to know. Given the ease of distinguishing them, I'll try to remember to keep track of it in my species lists going forward.
Boas Part 2: The Ones Everyone Knows
Boa Constrictors (Boa constrictor and Boa imperator) – Abundant
One of the most well-known to casuals, these can vary in size from 3 to 13 ft (with 6 to 10 ft being typical) – so sometimes pint-size little constrictors, and sometimes quite imposing. They are one of the most common constrictors in the pet trade, and there exist dwarf forms and many color morphs. B. constrictor and B. imperator were split recently; the OG constrictor boa is from South America, while imperator is from Mexico and Central America. I combined the two in the survey because the ID is unknown for many of them, and some individuals may be hybrids of the two.
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @geomorph
Epicrates – Rainbow Boas
Status in US Zoos: Common
These beautifully iridescent snakes get their shimmery appearance from the prismatic shape of their scales, which reflects light in a way that creates rainbow-like color patterns. This is a popular pet boa and many color morphs exist, although the base color for wild-type specimens is a light maroon. There are multiple species and subspecies; the most common type found in the survey was the Brazilian/nominate subspecies of the OG species, Epicrates cenchria cenchria. I also found at least three holdings for Colombian (E. maurus), all in unaccredited zoos.
Taken at Zoo Leon (Mexico) by @carlos55
Eunectes – Anacondas
What do Nicki Minaj, jiu-jitsu, a bad 90’s horror film and the American Civil War have in common? References to these famous South American boas! Also called water boas – by people who like to deprive animals of cooler names than they deserve – these large constrictors hunt from underneath the surface of swamps and rivers like crocodiles, but retain the same “wrap and squeeze” kill method as their arboreal and terrestrial relatives. These snakes are mainstays in American zoos.
Green Anaconda (E. murinus) – Very Common
The larger and more well-known of the two species, Green Anacondas are giants: the females average 15 ft in length and weigh as much as an adult human, making them the world’s heaviest snakes. They will eat just about any prey they can overpower, which is… pretty much anything. They’ll even take down tapirs and deer. Should you be afraid? Not really – there’s horror stories of humans being consumed by these animals, but none have been verified and (like most predators) anacondas seem to have a healthy dislike for people.
Taken at Reptiland (Pennsylvania) by @zoo_enthusiast
Yellow Anaconda (E. notaeus) – Prevalent
Much rarer than the Green in major American zoos, though you are more likely to find them off the beaten path of AZA facilities. These smaller, more lightly colored anacondas are native to the Pantanal and other wetlands in southern South America.
Taken at the Electric City Aquarium (Pennsylvania) by @TinoPup
Boa Constrictors (Boa constrictor and Boa imperator) – Abundant
One of the most well-known to casuals, these can vary in size from 3 to 13 ft (with 6 to 10 ft being typical) – so sometimes pint-size little constrictors, and sometimes quite imposing. They are one of the most common constrictors in the pet trade, and there exist dwarf forms and many color morphs. B. constrictor and B. imperator were split recently; the OG constrictor boa is from South America, while imperator is from Mexico and Central America. I combined the two in the survey because the ID is unknown for many of them, and some individuals may be hybrids of the two.
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @geomorph
Epicrates – Rainbow Boas
Status in US Zoos: Common
These beautifully iridescent snakes get their shimmery appearance from the prismatic shape of their scales, which reflects light in a way that creates rainbow-like color patterns. This is a popular pet boa and many color morphs exist, although the base color for wild-type specimens is a light maroon. There are multiple species and subspecies; the most common type found in the survey was the Brazilian/nominate subspecies of the OG species, Epicrates cenchria cenchria. I also found at least three holdings for Colombian (E. maurus), all in unaccredited zoos.
Taken at Zoo Leon (Mexico) by @carlos55
Eunectes – Anacondas
What do Nicki Minaj, jiu-jitsu, a bad 90’s horror film and the American Civil War have in common? References to these famous South American boas! Also called water boas – by people who like to deprive animals of cooler names than they deserve – these large constrictors hunt from underneath the surface of swamps and rivers like crocodiles, but retain the same “wrap and squeeze” kill method as their arboreal and terrestrial relatives. These snakes are mainstays in American zoos.
Green Anaconda (E. murinus) – Very Common
The larger and more well-known of the two species, Green Anacondas are giants: the females average 15 ft in length and weigh as much as an adult human, making them the world’s heaviest snakes. They will eat just about any prey they can overpower, which is… pretty much anything. They’ll even take down tapirs and deer. Should you be afraid? Not really – there’s horror stories of humans being consumed by these animals, but none have been verified and (like most predators) anacondas seem to have a healthy dislike for people.
Taken at Reptiland (Pennsylvania) by @zoo_enthusiast
Yellow Anaconda (E. notaeus) – Prevalent
Much rarer than the Green in major American zoos, though you are more likely to find them off the beaten path of AZA facilities. These smaller, more lightly colored anacondas are native to the Pantanal and other wetlands in southern South America.
Taken at the Electric City Aquarium (Pennsylvania) by @TinoPup
This is something I noticed as well regarding lizards. Unlike snakes or turtles, lizards tend to have a very low native-to-exotic ratio in terms of species kept. It seems like the only "native" lizards that get around in zoos in the US are those from the American Southwest, which includes, as you noted, the Gila Monster. Native lizards outside that region, however, seem almost non-existent. The only native lizard from the Southeast, for example, that I have seen in more than one facility was the Eastern Glass Lizard. NC Zoo does have an Eastern Fence Lizard, but they are the only ones as far as I am aware. Sure, I see plenty of skinks and the occasional anole out in the wild, but never in zoos.
Snakes and turtles, on the other hand, seem to be more balanced in terms of natives vs. exotics. Native turtles and snakes are very common compared to native lizards.
Indeed. The survey found ~37 native species of lizard, which is a lower number than native turtles or snakes (the latter by a lot). Many of those lizards are pretty rare too; only 7 species were marked as having 10+ holders, and only 1 of those (Green Anole) is found primarily outside the Southwest.
Some possible reasons for that discrepancy:
1. Many of the large, popular lizard groups - monitors, iguanas, geckos, agamids, etc - are largely absent from the US naturally;
2. Most of our native lizard species are small, nervous and/or drab-colored animals that don't have much obvious exhibit value;
3. Lizards tend to have shorter lifespans than snakes, and definitely turtles - so rescue/rehab animals might not last as long and may be less likely to get replaced;
4. Fewer native lizards are subject to ex situ conservation efforts compared to snakes and turtles;
5. Native snakes and turtles are far more common in the pet trade than native lizards, lowering their availability without active breeding.
There are a handful of Southwestern species that are bred and exchanged between zoos for desert displays, but most smaller and/or eastern species are uncommon in major zoos and may not stick around long where they are found.
Which is for me as an Heloderma fanboy totally understandable, given their sheer rockstar awesomeness.
Erycinae – Sand Boas
Today we'll cover some more unusual members of the boid family - all terrestrial species from dry environments, rather than tree-climbing snakes from the jungles.
Erycinae are a group of burrowing boas, most commonly found in desert environments. Though most species are from Africa and Asia, a small handful are from the United States – and you know we’ve got them!
Eryx – Old World Sand Boas
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
Sand burrowers, these can sometimes be hard to find or get a good look at in their enclosures. Nevertheless they are fairly popular as pet snakes, and the entire sand boa family in general are docile in comparison to many of the more wily tree boas. They are smaller snakes, ranging from 1.5 to 4 ft usually. Most of the survey holdings were Kenyan Sand Boas (E. colubrinus), also the predominant type in the pet trade.
Other species (all Rare) include:
Rough-scaled Sand Boa (E. conicus)
Brown Sand Boa (E. johnii)
Arabian Sand Boa (E. jayakari)
Kenyan Sand Boa (E. colubrinus)
Taken at the Museum of Discovery and Science (Florida) by @SusScrofa
Kenyan Sand Boa hiding in the sand
Taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom by @devilfish
Charina and Lichanura – New World Sand Boas
Rosy Boas (Charina/Lichanura trivirgata and orcutti)
Status in US Zoos: Common
Native to California, Arizona, and northern Mexico, rosy boas are a popular pet and one of the more common boas in American zoo collections. They are found in rocky environments, where they spend most of their time hiding. The taxonomy is unclear here, and I actually didn’t realize until after the main survey had been done that they are two species: Desert (trivirgata) and Coastal (orcutti). It seems like Desert Rosy Boa is far more common, especially outside California where orcutti is endemic. Coastal Rosy Boa has only been confirmed from a small handful of California holders recently.
Taken at the Los Angeles Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Rubber Boas (Charina bottae and umbratica)
Status in US Zoos: Uncommon to Rare
Unlike their desert-dwelling cousins, rubber boas are found primarily in the leaf litter of mountainous environments from the Los Angeles area up to the dry valley slopes of British Columbia. They are a shy animal, and much rarer in captivity than Rosy Boas. Named for their gray, loose skin that appears rubbery. There’s debate as to whether bottae is the only species or whether the rare umbratica from the southern California mountains is distinct enough to be a second; based on location and abundance my guess is that captive animals are all or nearly all the northern bottae either way.
Taken at the High Desert Museum (Oregon) by @Ituri
Boas will be finished up tomorrow with the remaining groups.
Today we'll cover some more unusual members of the boid family - all terrestrial species from dry environments, rather than tree-climbing snakes from the jungles.
Erycinae are a group of burrowing boas, most commonly found in desert environments. Though most species are from Africa and Asia, a small handful are from the United States – and you know we’ve got them!
Eryx – Old World Sand Boas
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
Sand burrowers, these can sometimes be hard to find or get a good look at in their enclosures. Nevertheless they are fairly popular as pet snakes, and the entire sand boa family in general are docile in comparison to many of the more wily tree boas. They are smaller snakes, ranging from 1.5 to 4 ft usually. Most of the survey holdings were Kenyan Sand Boas (E. colubrinus), also the predominant type in the pet trade.
Other species (all Rare) include:
Rough-scaled Sand Boa (E. conicus)
Brown Sand Boa (E. johnii)
Arabian Sand Boa (E. jayakari)
Kenyan Sand Boa (E. colubrinus)
Taken at the Museum of Discovery and Science (Florida) by @SusScrofa
Kenyan Sand Boa hiding in the sand
Taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom by @devilfish
Charina and Lichanura – New World Sand Boas
Rosy Boas (Charina/Lichanura trivirgata and orcutti)
Status in US Zoos: Common
Native to California, Arizona, and northern Mexico, rosy boas are a popular pet and one of the more common boas in American zoo collections. They are found in rocky environments, where they spend most of their time hiding. The taxonomy is unclear here, and I actually didn’t realize until after the main survey had been done that they are two species: Desert (trivirgata) and Coastal (orcutti). It seems like Desert Rosy Boa is far more common, especially outside California where orcutti is endemic. Coastal Rosy Boa has only been confirmed from a small handful of California holders recently.
Taken at the Los Angeles Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Rubber Boas (Charina bottae and umbratica)
Status in US Zoos: Uncommon to Rare
Unlike their desert-dwelling cousins, rubber boas are found primarily in the leaf litter of mountainous environments from the Los Angeles area up to the dry valley slopes of British Columbia. They are a shy animal, and much rarer in captivity than Rosy Boas. Named for their gray, loose skin that appears rubbery. There’s debate as to whether bottae is the only species or whether the rare umbratica from the southern California mountains is distinct enough to be a second; based on location and abundance my guess is that captive animals are all or nearly all the northern bottae either way.
Taken at the High Desert Museum (Oregon) by @Ituri
Boas will be finished up tomorrow with the remaining groups.
My boa write-up ended up being ~3.5 posts in length, so today will be a short one finishing up the group.
Malagasy Boas
Acrantophis
Dumeril’s Boa (A. dumerilii) – Prevalent
Madagascar Ground Boa (A. madagascariensis) – Uncommon
Both of these roughly boa constrictor-sized ground boas hail from the dry woodlands and scrublands of Madagascar. While fossa are the quintessential “lemur predator” for American zoos, these snakes will occasionally catch and swallow juvenile lemurs as well.
Madagascar Ground Boas (A. madagascariensis)
Taken at Reptilienzoo Iguana (Netherlands) by @vogelcommando
Madagascar Tree Boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) – Prevalent
This slightly smaller Malagasy boa lives in the treetops of the island’s jungley eastern side. It is greenish in color.
Taken at the Birmingham Nature Centre (UK) by @gulogulogulo
Other Boas – Calabaria and Candoia
There are a small number of holdings for other lesser-known boas from Africa and Melanesia; they are all Rare.
Calabar Boa (Calabaria reinhardtii)
New Guinea Ground Boa (Candoia aspera)
Pacific Tree Boa (Candoia bibroni)
---
And with that, the next group will be the pythons. The posting schedule will be a bit weird this upcoming week due to the Fourth of July holidays, so the first python post (of four) will actually go up tomorrow followed by another on Saturday then there will be the usual break before I finish them up after the holiday. Cheers!
Boa Constrictor
Taken at the Cincinnati Zoo by @ChunkyMunky pengopus
Malagasy Boas
Acrantophis
Dumeril’s Boa (A. dumerilii) – Prevalent
Madagascar Ground Boa (A. madagascariensis) – Uncommon
Both of these roughly boa constrictor-sized ground boas hail from the dry woodlands and scrublands of Madagascar. While fossa are the quintessential “lemur predator” for American zoos, these snakes will occasionally catch and swallow juvenile lemurs as well.
Madagascar Ground Boas (A. madagascariensis)
Taken at Reptilienzoo Iguana (Netherlands) by @vogelcommando
Madagascar Tree Boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) – Prevalent
This slightly smaller Malagasy boa lives in the treetops of the island’s jungley eastern side. It is greenish in color.
Taken at the Birmingham Nature Centre (UK) by @gulogulogulo
Other Boas – Calabaria and Candoia
There are a small number of holdings for other lesser-known boas from Africa and Melanesia; they are all Rare.
Calabar Boa (Calabaria reinhardtii)
New Guinea Ground Boa (Candoia aspera)
Pacific Tree Boa (Candoia bibroni)
---
And with that, the next group will be the pythons. The posting schedule will be a bit weird this upcoming week due to the Fourth of July holidays, so the first python post (of four) will actually go up tomorrow followed by another on Saturday
then there will be the usual break before I finish them up after the holiday. Cheers!Boa Constrictor
Taken at the Cincinnati Zoo by @ChunkyMunky pengopus
Family Pythonidae – Pythons
Egg-laying constrictors from Africa, Asia, and Australia. Many of these snakes will be instantly recognizable to readers as well, being just as popular as boas. There are roughly 40 species of python, and at least 26 are held in US collections; the majority of these come from Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia.
But we’ll save those for another day! Today we'll cover the African members of Python Classic.
Python
Ball Python (P. regius) – Abundant
One of the most popular pet reptiles in the world, and as a result a very familiar species even for many people who aren’t animal nerds. Though they are aptly named according to their tendency to coil into a ball for protection rather than bite, they are also called the Royal Python (regius meaning “of royalty”). They are native to forests of West and Central Africa, where they feed on rodents. An incredibly docile species, this is a very common outreach/education animal for zoos. They are also frequently on display, especially at smaller institutions like private country zoos, science museums, and nature centers with rehomed pets.
Taken at the Sweetbriar Nature Center (New York) by @SusScrofa
Demonstrating its climbing abilities
Taken at the Ararat Ridge Zoo (Kentucky) by @birdsandbats
African Rock Python (P. sebae/natalensis) – Prevalent
Africa’s largest snake, the rock python is normally about 10 ft long but can reach up to at least 16 ft. They are found in many different environments, though usually near a body of water. They are fairly common across sub-Saharan Africa and can be found in agricultural fields and human settlements. There are two species apparently: sebae from Central Africa and natalensis from southern Africa. To my knowledge only sebae is signed in US collections, but I’m not certain if that’s what all of them are.
Taken at the Jacksonville Zoo by @Astrotom3000
Angolan Python (P. anchietae) – Uncommon
A close relative to Ball Pythons and similar in size, coloration and behavior. They are much rarer in captivity, being found in remote areas of southwestern Africa rather than densely populated West Africa.
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @washaw
Egg-laying constrictors from Africa, Asia, and Australia. Many of these snakes will be instantly recognizable to readers as well, being just as popular as boas. There are roughly 40 species of python, and at least 26 are held in US collections; the majority of these come from Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia.
But we’ll save those for another day! Today we'll cover the African members of Python Classic.
Python
Ball Python (P. regius) – Abundant
One of the most popular pet reptiles in the world, and as a result a very familiar species even for many people who aren’t animal nerds. Though they are aptly named according to their tendency to coil into a ball for protection rather than bite, they are also called the Royal Python (regius meaning “of royalty”). They are native to forests of West and Central Africa, where they feed on rodents. An incredibly docile species, this is a very common outreach/education animal for zoos. They are also frequently on display, especially at smaller institutions like private country zoos, science museums, and nature centers with rehomed pets.
Taken at the Sweetbriar Nature Center (New York) by @SusScrofa
Demonstrating its climbing abilities
Taken at the Ararat Ridge Zoo (Kentucky) by @birdsandbats
African Rock Python (P. sebae/natalensis) – Prevalent
Africa’s largest snake, the rock python is normally about 10 ft long but can reach up to at least 16 ft. They are found in many different environments, though usually near a body of water. They are fairly common across sub-Saharan Africa and can be found in agricultural fields and human settlements. There are two species apparently: sebae from Central Africa and natalensis from southern Africa. To my knowledge only sebae is signed in US collections, but I’m not certain if that’s what all of them are.
Taken at the Jacksonville Zoo by @Astrotom3000
Angolan Python (P. anchietae) – Uncommon
A close relative to Ball Pythons and similar in size, coloration and behavior. They are much rarer in captivity, being found in remote areas of southwestern Africa rather than densely populated West Africa.
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @washaw
Angolan Pythons are one of my favorite snake species. Essentially they are a ball python, but with the skin of a gila monster.A close relative to Ball Pythons and similar in size, coloration and behavior. They are much rarer in captivity, being found in remote areas of southwestern Africa rather than densely populated West Africa.
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @washaw
Large Asian Pythons
Python and Malayopython
Burmese Python (Python bivitattatus) – Abundant
Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) – Abundant
I decided to do these two together because they are collectively two of the most common pythons in American zoos, and for many people they might seem interchangeable… but there are differences! The Burmese patterning is usually a standard tan or light brown with big chocolate blotching; meanwhile, the Reticulated is usually a complex geometric pattern with several colors and shades (IMO it looks a bit like 8-bit pixel art). The Burmese is also frequently a bulkier and more sluggish species, while Reticulated are leaner and more active (as well as longer; Reticulated is the world’s longest snake species). They are both adept climbers and swimmers, and large adults will take pigs and deer as prey. Both hailing from Southeast Asia, these species fit well as a “reptilian superstar” for tropical Asian exhibits.
Burmese Pythons / Taken at the Bronx Zoo by @TinoPup
Reticulated Python / Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Albino individuals are commonly seen in zoos as well, as both species are kept as pets (how do you think all those Burmese pythons found their way to the Everglades?)
Albino Burmese Python / Taken at Rainforest Adventures (Tennessee) by @TinoPup
Blood Python (Python brongersmai) – Prevalent
Similar to Burmese, a thick and slow-moving large python from Southeast Asia. Named for its rusty red coloration, these are far less common than Burmese or Reticulated but can still be found in several American zoos. The below photo is of a young (and thus small) ambassador animal.
Taken at the Maryland Zoo by @jayjds2
Other large Asian pythons (Rare):
Indian Python (P. molurus) - Burmese pythons were considered to be a subspecies of Indian until 2009; true Indian Pythons seem to be quite rare in captivity here
Sumatran Short-tailed Python (P. curtus)
Timor Python (Malayopython timoriensis) – Prevalent
Sort of a dwarf reticulated python from a few Indonesian islands; much smaller (~7 ft), but a similar geometric and colorful patterning. Mostly found in major zoos.
Taken at the Brookfield Zoo by @Semioptera
And with that, I'll leave everyone to their upcoming Fourth of July festivities the next python post will be on Wednesday the 5th.
Python and Malayopython
Burmese Python (Python bivitattatus) – Abundant
Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) – Abundant
I decided to do these two together because they are collectively two of the most common pythons in American zoos, and for many people they might seem interchangeable… but there are differences! The Burmese patterning is usually a standard tan or light brown with big chocolate blotching; meanwhile, the Reticulated is usually a complex geometric pattern with several colors and shades (IMO it looks a bit like 8-bit pixel art). The Burmese is also frequently a bulkier and more sluggish species, while Reticulated are leaner and more active (as well as longer; Reticulated is the world’s longest snake species). They are both adept climbers and swimmers, and large adults will take pigs and deer as prey. Both hailing from Southeast Asia, these species fit well as a “reptilian superstar” for tropical Asian exhibits.
Burmese Pythons / Taken at the Bronx Zoo by @TinoPup
Reticulated Python / Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Albino individuals are commonly seen in zoos as well, as both species are kept as pets (how do you think all those Burmese pythons found their way to the Everglades?)
Albino Burmese Python / Taken at Rainforest Adventures (Tennessee) by @TinoPup
Blood Python (Python brongersmai) – Prevalent
Similar to Burmese, a thick and slow-moving large python from Southeast Asia. Named for its rusty red coloration, these are far less common than Burmese or Reticulated but can still be found in several American zoos. The below photo is of a young (and thus small) ambassador animal.
Taken at the Maryland Zoo by @jayjds2
Other large Asian pythons (Rare):
Indian Python (P. molurus) - Burmese pythons were considered to be a subspecies of Indian until 2009; true Indian Pythons seem to be quite rare in captivity here
Sumatran Short-tailed Python (P. curtus)
Timor Python (Malayopython timoriensis) – Prevalent
Sort of a dwarf reticulated python from a few Indonesian islands; much smaller (~7 ft), but a similar geometric and colorful patterning. Mostly found in major zoos.
Taken at the Brookfield Zoo by @Semioptera
And with that, I'll leave everyone to their upcoming Fourth of July festivities
the next python post will be on Wednesday the 5th.
Hope everyone enjoyed their funnel cakes and fireworks! Now on to more pythons. Today we'll cover a couple of well-known Australian pythons.
Morelia
Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) – Common
The most commonly seen wild python in Australia. The size and coloration of this species is highly variable, depending on the subspecies and the individual. The diamond python – the subspecies found in the southeast, including the Sydney suburbs – is the southernmost python in the world, and is named for the diamond pattern on its back. As with so many of these species, carpet pythons are commonly kept as pets.
There’s a mix of different subspecies in US collections, with at least 5 counted: cheynei (Jungle), mcdowelli (Coastal), spilota (Diamond), variegata (Darwin), and metcalfei (Inland). The most common seems to be the black and yellow Jungle Carpet Python from the Queensland rainforests, but many holdings are not identified to subspecies so I can’t say for certain.
Diamond (M. s. spilota) and Jungle (M. s. cheynei)
Both taken at Wildlife HQ Zoo (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis) – Abundant
A bright green python from the rainforests of Australia and New Guinea. This is one of the most abundant snakes in US zoos, and is a popular exhibit animal due to its high visibility. It is often confused with the Emerald Tree Boa from earlier; they can be told apart in a variety of ways, however. The easiest for me is that Emeralds have white bands or stripes on them, while Greens do not; some other ways include a lack of upper lip pits on Greens, larger head scales on Emerald, and the Greens generally being smaller.
Taken at the Houston Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
To close out for the day (we'll finish the pythons up tomorrow), here is a side-by-side comparison of Emerald Tree Boa and Green Tree Python:
Taken at the Toronto Zoo by @Azamat Shackleford
Morelia
Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) – Common
The most commonly seen wild python in Australia. The size and coloration of this species is highly variable, depending on the subspecies and the individual. The diamond python – the subspecies found in the southeast, including the Sydney suburbs – is the southernmost python in the world, and is named for the diamond pattern on its back. As with so many of these species, carpet pythons are commonly kept as pets.
There’s a mix of different subspecies in US collections, with at least 5 counted: cheynei (Jungle), mcdowelli (Coastal), spilota (Diamond), variegata (Darwin), and metcalfei (Inland). The most common seems to be the black and yellow Jungle Carpet Python from the Queensland rainforests, but many holdings are not identified to subspecies so I can’t say for certain.
Diamond (M. s. spilota) and Jungle (M. s. cheynei)
Both taken at Wildlife HQ Zoo (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis) – Abundant
A bright green python from the rainforests of Australia and New Guinea. This is one of the most abundant snakes in US zoos, and is a popular exhibit animal due to its high visibility. It is often confused with the Emerald Tree Boa from earlier; they can be told apart in a variety of ways, however. The easiest for me is that Emeralds have white bands or stripes on them, while Greens do not; some other ways include a lack of upper lip pits on Greens, larger head scales on Emerald, and the Greens generally being smaller.
Taken at the Houston Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
To close out for the day (we'll finish the pythons up tomorrow), here is a side-by-side comparison of Emerald Tree Boa and Green Tree Python:
Taken at the Toronto Zoo by @Azamat Shackleford
Last day of constrictors. I'll be finishing up with a few more Australasian pythons, followed by the list of everything left.
Simalia
Boelen’s Python (Simalia boeleni) – Uncommon
One of my favorite pythons, bluish-black or purplish-black with cream-colored bands. These handsome snakes are native to the New Guinea highlands. They are a rare species in captivity (captive breeding has proven difficult) and the only holders I found in the survey are major accredited zoos.
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @geomorph
Amethystine Python (Simalia amethistina/kinghorni) – Rare
Also called Scrub Python, again by people who are sticks in the mud. A very colorful and very large python, but rare in American collections. The Australian population kinghorni was split in recent years; I’m unsure where the individuals in the US originate from.
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Great Argus
Aspidites – Pitless Pythons
Woma Python (A. ramsayi) – Prevalent (close to Common)
Black-headed Python (A. melanocephalus) – Prevalent (close to Uncommon)
Two desert-dwelling sand pythons from the Australian Outback, these are notable for not having heat pit sensors that other pythons have; this may be because they primarily feed on other reptiles rather than mammals or birds. Both medium-sized banded pythons, Black-headed Pythons can easily be told apart from Woma – the not black-headed python – by, you guessed it: having on average a higher number of ventral and subcaudal scales. There are other minor differences as well, but in the interest of wrapping things up you can Google them.
Woma Python (A. ramsayi)
Taken at the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Black-headed Python (A. melanocephalus)
Taken at the Detroit Zoo by @Miss Gulch
Other Pythonidae in US collections (all Rare):
Children’s Python (Antaresia childreni)
Spotted Python (Antaresia maculosa)
Papuan Python (Apodora papuana)
Bismarck Ringed Python (Bothrochilus boa)
D’Albertis Python (Leiopython albertesii)
Water Python (Liasis fuscus)
Macklot’s Python (Liasis mackloti)
Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus)
Centralian Python (Morelia bredli)
Rough-scaled Python (Morelia carinata)
Halmahera Python (Simalia tracyae)
Simalia
Boelen’s Python (Simalia boeleni) – Uncommon
One of my favorite pythons, bluish-black or purplish-black with cream-colored bands. These handsome snakes are native to the New Guinea highlands. They are a rare species in captivity (captive breeding has proven difficult) and the only holders I found in the survey are major accredited zoos.
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @geomorph
Amethystine Python (Simalia amethistina/kinghorni) – Rare
Also called Scrub Python, again by people who are sticks in the mud. A very colorful and very large python, but rare in American collections. The Australian population kinghorni was split in recent years; I’m unsure where the individuals in the US originate from.
Taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Great Argus
Aspidites – Pitless Pythons
Woma Python (A. ramsayi) – Prevalent (close to Common)
Black-headed Python (A. melanocephalus) – Prevalent (close to Uncommon)
Two desert-dwelling sand pythons from the Australian Outback, these are notable for not having heat pit sensors that other pythons have; this may be because they primarily feed on other reptiles rather than mammals or birds. Both medium-sized banded pythons, Black-headed Pythons can easily be told apart from Woma – the not black-headed python – by, you guessed it: having on average a higher number of ventral and subcaudal scales. There are other minor differences as well, but in the interest of wrapping things up you can Google them.
Woma Python (A. ramsayi)
Taken at the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Black-headed Python (A. melanocephalus)
Taken at the Detroit Zoo by @Miss Gulch
Other Pythonidae in US collections (all Rare):
Children’s Python (Antaresia childreni)
Spotted Python (Antaresia maculosa)
Papuan Python (Apodora papuana)
Bismarck Ringed Python (Bothrochilus boa)
D’Albertis Python (Leiopython albertesii)
Water Python (Liasis fuscus)
Macklot’s Python (Liasis mackloti)
Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus)
Centralian Python (Morelia bredli)
Rough-scaled Python (Morelia carinata)
Halmahera Python (Simalia tracyae)
Family Colubridae – Snoots You Can Boop
Making up roughly half of all snake species, this enormous family is largely made up of smaller, non-venomous snakes that one would find in their backyard: we’re talking corn snakes, rat snakes, kingsnakes, garter snakes, etc. There are roughly 2,000 species of colubrids; the survey found ~90 species, which seems pretty low but still manages to be the second-largest family in the entire survey.
Most captive colubrids are uncommon and likely unremarkable to the average ZooChatter, let alone a casual zoo visitor; in light of that and in the interest of keeping the colubrid write-ups to a reasonable length, I’m going to split colubrids into two groups – native and exotic – and to put more focus on the genus level than I have been doing up to now. Also of note, colubrids (like many snakes) are undergoing constant taxonomic revision – so if the species seem messy, that’s because they are
We’ll start with kingsnakes today. Why? Because you’ve got to know about these things when you’re a king
Genus Lampropeltis – Kingsnakes
A group of often-colorful, usually banded snakes from North America. These are popular as pets due to their docile tendencies; in particular, the California Kingsnake (L. californiae) is one of the most popular pet snakes globally. There were 14 species found in the survey; I will discuss a couple that have numerous captive varieties.
Milk Snake (L. triangulum) – Very Common
These mostly nocturnal and docile snakes come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, often resembling other local snake species. There are 24 recognized subspecies, of which 13 were noted in the survey. No one subspecies makes up anything close to a plurality or majority of holdings, so the diversity is quite widespread!
Taken at Everglades Alligator Farm by @SusScrofa
Common Kingsnake (L. getula) – Common
Most individuals of this species are black with thin white bands. Found in a variety of habitats across North America, wild ones primarily feed on other snakes (as do many other kingsnake species). While the taxonomy is not fully clear to me, it seems like several former subspecies (California, black, Mexican black, speckled and desert) have been split off; the remaining 4 subspecies were all present in the survey. The survey results suggest that the zoo population is majority Eastern with the remainder primarily Floridian.
Subspecies
Brooks’s Kingsnake, L. g. brooksi
Florida Kingsnake, L. g. floridana
Eastern Kingsnake, L. g. getula
Apalachicola Kingsnake, L. g. meansi
A wild Eastern Kingsnake (L. g. getula)
Taken at the North Carolina Zoo by @Breckenridge
Other Kingsnakes:
Common
California Kingsnake (L. californiae) - a staple of California nature centers, but as an easily acquired pet reptile they are also found in many zoos outside the Golden State.
Taken at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore by @jayjds2
Prevalent
Gray-banded Kingsnake (L. alterna)
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (L. pyromelana)
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (L. pyromelana)
Taken at the Phoenix Zoo by @Ituri
Uncommon
Speckled Kingsnake (L. holbrooki)
Desert Kingsnake (L. splendida)
California Mountain Kingsnake (L. zonata)
Rare
Prairie Kingsnake (L. calligaster)
Scarlet Kingsnake (L. elapsoides) - split from Milk Snake
Nuevo Leon Kingsnake (L. leonis)
Mexican Kingsnake (L. mexicana)
Black Kingsnake (L. nigra)
Mole Kingsnake (L. rhombomaculata)
Making up roughly half of all snake species, this enormous family is largely made up of smaller, non-venomous snakes that one would find in their backyard: we’re talking corn snakes, rat snakes, kingsnakes, garter snakes, etc. There are roughly 2,000 species of colubrids; the survey found ~90 species, which seems pretty low but still manages to be the second-largest family in the entire survey.
Most captive colubrids are uncommon and likely unremarkable to the average ZooChatter, let alone a casual zoo visitor; in light of that and in the interest of keeping the colubrid write-ups to a reasonable length, I’m going to split colubrids into two groups – native and exotic – and to put more focus on the genus level than I have been doing up to now. Also of note, colubrids (like many snakes) are undergoing constant taxonomic revision – so if the species seem messy, that’s because they are
We’ll start with kingsnakes today. Why? Because you’ve got to know about these things when you’re a king
Genus Lampropeltis – Kingsnakes
A group of often-colorful, usually banded snakes from North America. These are popular as pets due to their docile tendencies; in particular, the California Kingsnake (L. californiae) is one of the most popular pet snakes globally. There were 14 species found in the survey; I will discuss a couple that have numerous captive varieties.
Milk Snake (L. triangulum) – Very Common
These mostly nocturnal and docile snakes come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, often resembling other local snake species. There are 24 recognized subspecies, of which 13 were noted in the survey. No one subspecies makes up anything close to a plurality or majority of holdings, so the diversity is quite widespread!
Louisiana milk snake, L. t. amaura
Andean milk snake, L. t. andesiana
Mexican milk snake, L. t. annulata (may be a distinct species)
Blanchard's milk snake, L. t. blanchardi
Pueblan milk snake, L. t. campbelli
New Mexico milk snake, L. t. celaenops
Black milk snake, L. t. gaigeae
Honduran milk snake, L. t. hondurensis
Pale milk snake, L. t. multistriata
Nelson's milk snake, L. t. nelsoni
Sinaloan milk snake, L. t. sinaloae
Red milk snake, L. t. syspila
Eastern milk snake, L. t. triangulum
Andean milk snake, L. t. andesiana
Mexican milk snake, L. t. annulata (may be a distinct species)
Blanchard's milk snake, L. t. blanchardi
Pueblan milk snake, L. t. campbelli
New Mexico milk snake, L. t. celaenops
Black milk snake, L. t. gaigeae
Honduran milk snake, L. t. hondurensis
Pale milk snake, L. t. multistriata
Nelson's milk snake, L. t. nelsoni
Sinaloan milk snake, L. t. sinaloae
Red milk snake, L. t. syspila
Eastern milk snake, L. t. triangulum
Taken at Everglades Alligator Farm by @SusScrofa
Common Kingsnake (L. getula) – Common
Most individuals of this species are black with thin white bands. Found in a variety of habitats across North America, wild ones primarily feed on other snakes (as do many other kingsnake species). While the taxonomy is not fully clear to me, it seems like several former subspecies (California, black, Mexican black, speckled and desert) have been split off; the remaining 4 subspecies were all present in the survey. The survey results suggest that the zoo population is majority Eastern with the remainder primarily Floridian.
Subspecies
Brooks’s Kingsnake, L. g. brooksi
Florida Kingsnake, L. g. floridana
Eastern Kingsnake, L. g. getula
Apalachicola Kingsnake, L. g. meansi
A wild Eastern Kingsnake (L. g. getula)
Taken at the North Carolina Zoo by @Breckenridge
Other Kingsnakes:
Common
California Kingsnake (L. californiae) - a staple of California nature centers, but as an easily acquired pet reptile they are also found in many zoos outside the Golden State.
Taken at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore by @jayjds2
Prevalent
Gray-banded Kingsnake (L. alterna)
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (L. pyromelana)
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (L. pyromelana)
Taken at the Phoenix Zoo by @Ituri
Uncommon
Speckled Kingsnake (L. holbrooki)
Desert Kingsnake (L. splendida)
California Mountain Kingsnake (L. zonata)
Rare
Prairie Kingsnake (L. calligaster)
Scarlet Kingsnake (L. elapsoides) - split from Milk Snake
Nuevo Leon Kingsnake (L. leonis)
Mexican Kingsnake (L. mexicana)
Black Kingsnake (L. nigra)
Mole Kingsnake (L. rhombomaculata)