Posts tagged "snakes"

Camouflage Animals

by Michelle Toglia (Subscribe to Michelle Toglia's posts): Nov 3rd 2009 4:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Small Pets, Photo Galleries

Camouflage animals from can easily transform their colors to match their backgrounds. Whether hiding from their predators or reflecting their mood, these color-changers are truly masters of disguise. See if you can spot them.

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Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

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Camouflage Animals

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Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While normally they stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

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Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

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Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress in humans, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

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Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

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Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

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Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

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The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark, color-changing patch from its eye to the base of its front limb.

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Giant Alien Snakes Invade U.S.!

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Oct 23rd 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Reptiles

National Park Service

Giant Alien Snakes: It's not the title of a creepy new horror movie. According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), nine species of giant snakes alien to North America could become established in the wild and wreak havoc on the ecosystem. National Geographic reports that these snakes can grow longer than 20 feet and weigh over 200 pounds. The slithering giants would be capable of surviving in the wild, and since they breed quickly and lack native predators, they could quickly cause trouble in U.S. ecosystems.

Some of these snakes have already infiltrated Florida, and the Burmese python could potentially spread to the entire lower third of the U.S. While some of the snakes in question have been known to kill people, the real risk is to ecosystems, which have no defense against the alien invaders.

So where did these snakes come from? Most of them were once pets that escaped or that people released into the wild. "If you want to be good to Mother Nature, do not under any circumstances let [your snake] go," study co-author and USGS zoologist Gordon Rodda told National Geographic. "You'd be better off euthanizing it than releasing it."

The real message here seems to be: Don't adopt a pet you can't care for. And if you must get rid of your pet, deal with it in a responsible way!

Pet Python Kills Two-Year-Old Child

by Paul Ciampanelli (Subscribe to Paul Ciampanelli's posts): Jul 7th 2009 10:00AM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Reptiles, Pets News

Photo: Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr

A pet albino Burmese python strangled to death a two-year-old girl in her Oxford, FL. home last week. After the python's owner, Charles Darnell, awoke to find the snake's terrarium empty, he immediately ran to his girlfriend's daughter's crib to find the 8-foot python wrapped around the child. He stabbed the snake in an attempt to pry it from the girl while others dialed 911. Unfortunately, the girl was already dead when emergency crews arrived at the scene. The snake apparently had escaped and attacked the child during the night.

Darnell did not have a permit for his pet python as dictated by Florida law for all pets classified as "Reptiles of Concern" by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), nor was the pet housed under lock-and-key conditions as required. The necessary permit entails an annual $100 fee and an application that demonstrates the applicant understands the requirements for care of a Reptile of Concern. Darnell may face charges for child endangerment as well as FWC violations.

Snake in Toilet Bites Unsuspecting Man (On His Privates!)

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): May 15th 2009 2:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Reptiles

Look before you sit? Photo: brian.gatwicke/flickr

Ssssso not funny!

A disturbing news story out of Taiwan leads this writer to think an old Korean myth she heard growing up --- about the perils of using the bathroom at night lest a monster jump out of the toilet and grab you --- is disconcertingly real.

A 51-year old man, identified only as Lin, was surprised by a sneak snake attack as he sat down to use the toilet in his home in rural Taiwan. "I felt an excruciating pain in my lower body, like someone had stabbed me with a knife," Mr. Lin said. He instantly jumped up, but it was too late. A large snake lurking in the toilet bowl had bitten him on his private parts.

Though the snake was not poisonous, Mr. Lin was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and a potential infection. "A snake's mouth is not always clean," said the director of the hospital. (Especially when that snake's been lolling about in a toilet! Ew.)

Interestingly, Mr. Lin views the whole incident as the snake's cry for help. "If it hadn't [bit me]," he said. "Maybe it would have been stuck in the septic tank and either suffocated or starved to death. It looked like an accident but it was actually fate." Okaaay.

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Miniature Dogs

Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.

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Miniature Dogs

Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs