All the Herps!

I'm Joel! I'm a huge fan of all things scaley. I've kept dozens of reptiles, amphibians and insects, and caught and photographed even more out in the wild. This blog will cover almost exclusively interesting reptile content from various sources, including my pets and wild finds! Shoot me a message, I'm very friendly (:

[reptilehabit]

Found these two absolutely gorgeous red spotted newts today! Despite their electric orange colour in the juvenile stage, these tiny amphibians are masters of camoflage against the orange leaf litter of Autumn.

[xenostims]

Here he comes...

[reptilehabit]

Time for licks!

[trashzy-deactivated20211214]

Argentine Red Albino Tegu

[exotic-venom]

(Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus) southwestern speckled rattlesnake

Hartnett (1931) describes a case of a man who was bitten on his left thumb. Aside from the sharp stab of the fangs being embedded, there was no pain until after an incision had been made and antivenin had been administered. There was then severe pain that lasted for about an hour after the bite, followed eventually by much discoloration and swelling, his fingers looking like red bananas. His fingers and wrist were covered with blebs and his palm with one large blister.

In another case, a man was bitten on his heel, through his overalls and a sock. At first, the sensation was like being stuck by a thorn, with only a drop of blood at fang mark. After 45 minutes and a 1 1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) walk, a tourniquet was applied and an incision made. Four hours later, his calf was considerably swollen and discolored, which was later followed by pain in the groin. Further symptoms were obscured by the treatment and an uneventful recovery was made.

[exotic-venom]

(Vipera aspis aspis) aspic viper

Moderately potent hemotoxin. Symptoms may include pain, swelling & discoloration, necrosis, vomiting, weakened pulse, subnormal body temperatures. Later symptoms may include jaundice, renal impairment, & liver damage. Numerous bites & envenomations of humans by this species & a few (about 4% untreated) subsequent fatalities have been reported.

[exotic-venom]

(Bitis arietans) Puff adder

[reptilehabit]

I want one of these under my house to throw my enemies into. Not gonna laugh at my awesome celery joke, huh?!

*pulls lever*

SURPRISE!!!!! SNAKES!!!!

[sloppystyle]

@frawgs

[frawgs]

chonkie

[spider-hands-mannos-deactivated]

ohhhhh he fattttt

[achillesselfshipsalot]

Why he fat

[theelizard]

How

[d--ramaqueen]

[tort-time]

Is there anything better than a turtle yawning? No. The answer is no.

[dragontribeadventures]

He does this every time I look at him.

[reptilehabit]

He dances better than I do. Teach me your ways little lizard.

[typhlonectes]

Snakes act as ‘ecosystem engineers’ in seed dispersal

Rodents play a critical role in such seed dispersal, since they often have cheek pouches that enable them to transport seeds from source plants to underground caches. While most of those seeds are eaten by the rodents, the rodents themselves are often eaten by predators, some of which then serve as secondary dispersers of the seeds carried in the rodent cheek pouches.

It turns out that snakes, too, can be secondary seed dispersers. In “Seed Ingestion and Germination in Rattlesnakes – Overlooked Agents of Rescue and Secondary Dispersal,” herpetologist Harry W. Greene, Cornell professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology and a Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow, reports on his research with Randall S. Reiserer and Gordon W. Schuett showing that seeds survive intact through digestion in rattlesnakes. The work was published Feb. 7 online in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B…

Read more: http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/02/snakes-act-ecosystem-engineers-seed-dispersal

[reptilehabit]

Another reason not to kill these beautiful animals when you come across them.

[find-me-in-the-immensity]

New baby

[reptilehabit]

A tiny friend! Love it.

[cool-critters]

Strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio)

The strawberry poison frog is a species of small poison dart frog found in Central America. It is common throughout its range, which extends from eastern central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. The species is often found in humid lowlands and premontane forest, but large populations are also found in disturbed areas such as plantations. The strawberry poison frog is perhaps most famous for its widespread variation in coloration, comprising approximately 15–30 color morphs. O. pumilio, while not the most poisonous of the dendrobatids, is the most toxic member of its genus.The diet of O. pumilio causes the skin of the amphibian to become toxic in nature when certain subspecies of mites and ants are ingested.This toxin has a negative stimulating effect on cardiac function and is a severe disruptor of the sodium potassium ion channels within cells. Upon ingestion of Pumiliotoxin 251D, organisms preying on O. pumilio experience convulsions, paralysis, and death.Oophaga pumilio is diurnal and primarily terrestrial, and can often be found in leaf litter in both forested and disturbed areas. Though brightly colored and toxic, these frogs are relatively small, growing to approximately 17.5–22 mm in standard length. Males are extremely territorial, guarding small territories; females and juveniles are far more sociable.

photo credits: wiki, wiki, Splette

[funkysafari-deactivated20260131]

Western Mud Snake (Farancia abacura reinwardtii) by 2ndPeter

[funkysafari-deactivated20260131]

Blue Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) by 2ndPeter

[doncosciotte]

So, our Lung is on fire.

It is already threatened by huge deforestation, to the point it lost 20% of its wildth in less than 30 years.

It’s been burning for around two weeks and almost no word has been uttered about it. I, sincerely, have come to find out about it just now. I’m shooketh ™️ because we’re really burning away this planet.

The Amazon Rainforest holds 20% of global waters, it’s an area of incredible value in termns of biodiversity and, nevermind, it’s a crucial climate regulator. Spread awareness, demand help.

[reptilehabit]

Come on people.

[frostedpuffs]

This clickbait is literally SO funny because while I get they wanted it to look intimidating, that's a fucking ringneck snake.

I guess it looks kind of scary if you dont know what it is. But the ringneck snake (called "southern ringneck" in Florida, where I live) is probably one of the most non-lethal and completely harmless snakes ever. They're not venomous, are nocturnal, and also....

ONLY GROW TO BE THIS FUCKING BIG. They're super tiny!!!! Adorable little things!!! They're just babies. And I love them with my whole heart.

How can you look at this thing, full grown and harmless, and be like "that thing is gonna kill me"? U can't. Is babie.

[reptilehabit]

Just a quick factual correction here, (I used to own one) they can get up to 2.5 feet and are rear fanged, which means they are in fact venomous; they use their venom to restrain prey. Fortunately for us, they are very friendly and the venom is basically harmless to a human being (:

[wetwildlife-deactivated20260113]

Common name: olm

Scientific name: Proteus anguinus

Average lifespan: 70 years

Diet: worms, aquatic insects, larvae and snails

Bio: The black olm may occur in surface waters that are somewhat warmer!

The olm or proteus is an aquatic salamander in the family Proteidae, the only exclusively cave-dwelling chordate species found in Europe. In contrast to most amphibians, it is entirely aquatic; it eats, sleeps, and breeds underwater!