Saw-scaled Viper
The Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) is a small viper (30 cm in length) found in northern Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, and India. This species spends most of its time buried beneath the sand with only its eyes showing, waiting for prey. When threatened, it rubs its sides together, and specially oriented keeled scales produce a suprisingly loud rasping noise.The Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) is a small viper (30 cm in length) found in northern Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, and India. This species spends most of its time buried beneath the sand with only its eyes showing, waiting for prey. When threatened, it rubs its sides together, and specially oriented keeled scales produce a suprisingly loud rasping noise.They are nocturnal, feasting on mice, lizards, frogs, scorpions, and other arthropods. The adjective "saw-scaled" comes from its hissing noise that resembles the sound of a saw.
Olive Sea Snake
The Olive Sea Snake is perhaps the commonest true sea snake in the tropical waters south of Papua New Guinea. It inhabits coral reefs and rocky coastlines to depths of up to 45 metres.
The upper body is purplish grey or dark brown, and the head light to medium brown. Commonly, though not always, there are creamy scales along the body. The head is short and of equal width as the stocky body. The nostrils are valved, thus preventing water ingress. The tail is paddle-shaped with a raised ridge running along its length. The eyes are small.
As with all true sea snakes, live young are born at sea. Adults need to surface every half an hour to breathe fresh air. The species feeds on fish and crustaceans, and is active both day and night.
Sea Snakes are highly venomous and should be treated with caution, though in reality they are generally not aggressive in temperament. Bites from the Olive Sea Snake are rare.
The Olive Sea Snake occurs in the Timor Sea, throughout the northern and north-eastern coasts of Australia, and in the Coral Sea and other areas south of Papua New Guinea.
The upper body is purplish grey or dark brown, and the head light to medium brown. Commonly, though not always, there are creamy scales along the body. The head is short and of equal width as the stocky body. The nostrils are valved, thus preventing water ingress. The tail is paddle-shaped with a raised ridge running along its length. The eyes are small.
As with all true sea snakes, live young are born at sea. Adults need to surface every half an hour to breathe fresh air. The species feeds on fish and crustaceans, and is active both day and night.
Sea Snakes are highly venomous and should be treated with caution, though in reality they are generally not aggressive in temperament. Bites from the Olive Sea Snake are rare.
The Olive Sea Snake occurs in the Timor Sea, throughout the northern and north-eastern coasts of Australia, and in the Coral Sea and other areas south of Papua New Guinea.
Mangrove Snake
The Mangrove lives in trees. It lives in the woode part of asia. Summary:Insert non-formatted text here
Species: F. leucobalia Class: Reptilia Genus: Fordonia Phylum: Chordata Common Name: White Bellied Mangrove Snake Location: Coast of Northern Australia, Southeast Asia Habitat: Large numbers of these snakes frequent the edges of swamps, where they forage among the roots for food. Behavior: The Mangrove is a copy cat. When it goes to attack it reels back like a cobra and fuels its head then strikes forward and bites. Niche: Predator Description: A member of the subfamily of aquatic colubrids, the white-bellied mangrove snake has similar adaptations to those of the rest of its group, such as nostrils near the top of its head and upward-facing eyes. It is a rear-fanged snake and feeds mainly on crabs, which seem strongly affected by its venom, unlike frogs and mammals, which are not. Fish are also included in its diet. If alarmed, the snake will take refuge in a crab burrow. Insert non-formatted text here
Species: F. leucobalia Class: Reptilia Genus: Fordonia Phylum: Chordata Common Name: White Bellied Mangrove Snake Location: Coast of Northern Australia, Southeast Asia Habitat: Large numbers of these snakes frequent the edges of swamps, where they forage among the roots for food. Behavior: The Mangrove is a copy cat. When it goes to attack it reels back like a cobra and fuels its head then strikes forward and bites. Niche: Predator Description: A member of the subfamily of aquatic colubrids, the white-bellied mangrove snake has similar adaptations to those of the rest of its group, such as nostrils near the top of its head and upward-facing eyes. It is a rear-fanged snake and feeds mainly on crabs, which seem strongly affected by its venom, unlike frogs and mammals, which are not. Fish are also included in its diet. If alarmed, the snake will take refuge in a crab burrow. Insert non-formatted text here
Gaboon Viper
This species of snake is recognized to have the largest fangs of any living snake. Fangs of up to two inches have been observed. As is the case with many viper species, including North American pit vipers such as the Rattlesnake, the fangs of the Gaboon Viper are retractable and remain folding against the roof of the mouth while the snake is at rest. The fangs are brought down via muscles in the skull when the snake makes a strike. The speed with which the Gaboon viper strikes is truly remarkable.A ground dwelling snake, the Gaboon Viper is an ambush predator. Often positioning itself along the edges of rodent or other small animal trails in the densely forested regions of east and west, central Africa. The Gaboon Viper seems to have the ability to "dig in" to the leaf litter in a similar fashion to a flounder fish digging into the first few centimeters of the sand. This additional use of the leaf litter renders this animal virtually invisible to potential prey items.Even the head of the Gaboon viper is shaped and colored like a fallen leaf. This incredible ability to hide has presented many a challenge for naturalists in the field. Field biologists and researchers can often be standing within inches of this snake without even knowing the animal is present.A live-bearer, viviparous, the Gaboon viper can give birth to as many as 60 young per litter though the average is much smaller, 15-25 is an average size litter. Unlike their close cousin the Puff Adder, this species is not known to produce extremely large litters of live young.The new born snakes are able to fend for themselves almost immediately. After a post-natal shed, usually within 5-7 days, the babies begin to hunt for their first meal. The babies are born at about 12-14 inches in length with fully developed fangs and venom glands. A typical first meal for this species of snake is small mice or shrews. The adults have been documented eating small mammals as large as rabbits! This type of meal would be typically reserved for large constrictors but the Gaboon Viper has an extremely large head for it's relative body length and as a result can consume very large prey items.
Brown Snake
True to its name, the brown snake is dark brown to grayish brown in color. It generally has a broad light stripe bordered by dark spots down the back. The belly is pink or buff colored, sometimes with rows of small black spots. As a juvenile it has a light ring around the neck. However, unlike the ringneck snake, the brown snake has keeled scales.
Brown snakes emerge from hibernation after the ground thaws in the spring. They typically mate in spring or early summer, and 8-20 young are born alive from mid-July through August. Although they are generally forced into hibernation by November, brown snakes may emerge briefly during periods of warm winter weather.
Found in a variety of wild habitats such as wetlands, grasslands and forests, brown snakes are most often encountered in urban or residential areas. It is not uncommon to find several (or many) brown snakes under debris in vacant lots, parks and cemeteries. Earthworms and slugs are their preferred foods; however, they will also take sow bugs, insects, spiders, small fish and small frogs. They are active during the daytime in spring and fall, but are primarily nocturnal during the summer. Brown snakes rarely bite but, like most snakes, will release musk from their anal glands when alarmed.
Brown snakes emerge from hibernation after the ground thaws in the spring. They typically mate in spring or early summer, and 8-20 young are born alive from mid-July through August. Although they are generally forced into hibernation by November, brown snakes may emerge briefly during periods of warm winter weather.
Found in a variety of wild habitats such as wetlands, grasslands and forests, brown snakes are most often encountered in urban or residential areas. It is not uncommon to find several (or many) brown snakes under debris in vacant lots, parks and cemeteries. Earthworms and slugs are their preferred foods; however, they will also take sow bugs, insects, spiders, small fish and small frogs. They are active during the daytime in spring and fall, but are primarily nocturnal during the summer. Brown snakes rarely bite but, like most snakes, will release musk from their anal glands when alarmed.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake
One of the most spectacular of native US rattlesnakes, the Banded Rock Rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus klauberi, has been a popular species among private and zoological collections. Found in some of the most difficult terrain, the klauberi is sheltered from the collection method of road cruising which will only yield its nominate race the Crotalus lepidus lepidus. Restricted in most part to a life in the high mountain slopes, these animals enjoy basking in the early morning hours of the spring, summer and fall. Their range in the US is isolated to small mountain "islands" from southwest Texas, throughout southern New Mexico and into southeastern Arizona. In the wild the primary prey issceloporus and small mice, however, in captivity they will do very well on mice.
Most females in the wild produce litters of 1 to 5 offspring during the months of June, July, August and September. On rare occasions births before and after these months have occured. In captivity the births still coincide with the wild cycle. Klauberi enjoy a "hibernation" period of at least three months, and in some areas for 5 months due to the high elevation. Breeding usually occurs during the months of August, September, October and November and yes, some action is witnessed during the spring months as well. Whether or not these copulations result in viable offspring for the following year or the same season is still a big mystery to those of us working with them.
The variation in color between mountain ranges can be extraordinary, from the silver and black of the Franklin mountains to the extremely mottled color of Chiricahua animals. Each show a remarkable resemblance to the habitat that surrounds them. (Except Franklin's, there's not much silver in the rocks, but it alludes to the fact that they spend much of the summer months moving well after dark, unlike other localities). Some specimens with lichen green stripes, purples, blues, lavenders, pinks and greys, are next to impossible to recognize in suitable terrain without the alarming buzz they sound off.
Most females in the wild produce litters of 1 to 5 offspring during the months of June, July, August and September. On rare occasions births before and after these months have occured. In captivity the births still coincide with the wild cycle. Klauberi enjoy a "hibernation" period of at least three months, and in some areas for 5 months due to the high elevation. Breeding usually occurs during the months of August, September, October and November and yes, some action is witnessed during the spring months as well. Whether or not these copulations result in viable offspring for the following year or the same season is still a big mystery to those of us working with them.
The variation in color between mountain ranges can be extraordinary, from the silver and black of the Franklin mountains to the extremely mottled color of Chiricahua animals. Each show a remarkable resemblance to the habitat that surrounds them. (Except Franklin's, there's not much silver in the rocks, but it alludes to the fact that they spend much of the summer months moving well after dark, unlike other localities). Some specimens with lichen green stripes, purples, blues, lavenders, pinks and greys, are next to impossible to recognize in suitable terrain without the alarming buzz they sound off.