@agamadrama.bsky.social
Documentation of the snakes, & various unique wildlife throughout Florida. Occasional post of some snakes I care for at the Reptile Preservation Institute in Melrose, FL.
I have one that’s around 24 inches. Really cool snakes.
06.08.2025 15:47 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
One of my personal eastern coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) getting some natural sun, & a look-over after being treated for berry bugs (little red mites. Most wild snakes in Florida have them).
#coachwhip #masticophis #snake #florida #nature #wildlife #herps #herpetology #foryou
So cool!
22.05.2025 19:22 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Been a fun couple nights. Here are a few out of the couple handful found. Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti), Florida scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea coccinea), & a rough green (Opheodrys aestivus).
#herps #herpetology #reptiles #snakes #cottonmouth #scarletsnake #roughgreensnake #wildlife
I see a pattern of people who make such a false claim are the same who can’t tell the difference between an Agkistrodon species, & Nerodia species.
I agree with them being chill. Can’t recall the last time one struck at me. The entire Agkistrodon genus is entirely underrated. Such awesome snakes.
Juvenile Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti). This is a venomous species native to Florida, capable of delivering a medically significant bite that would require treatment with antivenin. A popular myth about juvenile venomous snakes you may have heard is that they’re more dangerous, because they cannot control their venom. That is absolutely FALSE. From birth, they have to ability to control how much they deliver in a bite.
Juvenile Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti). How anybody could hate this face, idk.
More info in photo description.
#florida #snake #venomous #cottonmouth #herps #herpetology #nature #wildlife #love
While doing an enrichment enhancement today (new, fresh tree branches), I decided to capture our ball python hanging out in the old tree top before we broke it all down. Above is our western green mamba peeping from the shift box, which I utilized as there’s no need to stress the snake even more (& the eastern greens give me plenty of hook experience to keep me sharp as they rarely utilize their shift boxes). Ball pythons are primarily terrestrial by nature. That being said, I see a lot of “they’ll fall & hurt themselves!”. Give this species more credit than you’ve been taught to. This snake has hides on the ground, & plenty of coverage, however it chooses to hang among the branches, & is a VERY capable climber. It even utilizes the shift box far more than the western green mamba! Really cool to see. I believe many people don’t fully understand this behavior as they either don’t allow proper set ups with natural arboreal enrichment, or simply utilize rack systems as it’s the most popular among keepers & breeders for BP’s. This being said… yes, they get along absolutely fine.
This will give the FB group warriors a heart attack. A ball python doing arboreal things?! Yes, BO are very capable climbers, & this one shares an enclosure with one of our western green mambas. More info in picture #snake #mamba #herps #herpetology #ballpython #greenmamba #Dendroaspis #viridis
07.05.2025 01:51 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Peter’s rock agama (Agama picticauda). Males display sexual dimorphism with maturity. Some fire up into their bright colors. Females have orange markings down the ribs, males do not. Very difficult to distinguish as juveniles.
#lizard #agama #herps #herpetology #reptiles #wildlife #africa #nature
Peter’s rock agama (Agama picticauda). Native to WEST Africa.
Non-native populations are established throughout south, & central Florida. Confused with the east African species, A. Lionotus, which are not found in Florida.
#lizard #agama #herps #herpetology #reptile #florida #wildlife #africa
I’d say there’s a warm place in hell for clowns that kill snakes, but I’m already going there, & don’t wanna see them again when I get there.
06.05.2025 02:22 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), our largest rattlesnake species. This is one of three rattlesnake species found in Florida, two belonging to the genus Crotalus, the other belonging to the genus Sistrurus. While not the most toxic snake in Florida (that would be the eastern coral snake), it does have the most dangerous bite due to a high venom yield & the type of toxins found in the venom. Coral snakes have a slow acting neurotoxin, & when promptly treated, you see no real damage. The primary toxin found in C. adamanteus will have high concentrations of hemotoxins, & even with antivenin, will likely produce severe swelling, bruising, & blistering. Some C. adamanteus are being found to have higher concentrations of neurotoxins, & myotoxins. Prey source has been ruled out due to other EBD in close proximity have been found to have higher concentrations of the standard hemotoxins. Natures evolution is truly fascinating.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) cruised, & saved after some hillbilly asked if I’d put it back in the road, so that he could run it over. (Always carry hooks with you for situations such as).
#easterndiamondback #rattlesnake #crotalus #florida #wildlife #herpetology #nature
Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) Native to northern Australia & southern New Guinea (O. s. canni). Venom of this species is strongly neurotoxic, primarily Taicatoxin, & is considered the third most venomous terrestrial snake on earth. Depending on how severe of an envenomation, symptoms can include, but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, ptosis, bulbar weakness, diplopia (double vision), clotting abnormalities, & hemorrhage. Earlier the treatment (taipan monovalent antivenin), the better chances to reduce damage to internal organs, such as kidneys. *This snake pictured belongs to a licensed professional facility*
One of my favorites, the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus). Such a gorgeous, & fascinating species. Usually easy going when transferring to a can for cleaning, but it doesn’t take much to fire her up. Patience is key!
#taipan #snake #herpetology #nature #venomous #herps
Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti) cruised last week, displaying the very reason for its common name. Safely moved this one off the road, & let it go about its day. Though common, still one of my all time favorite natives.
#snake #cottonmouth #florida #nature #venomous #herpetology
As a kid, never thought I’d be so stoked when I see our native Anolis carolinensis, because they were once so abundant where I lived. I see less since their decline from habitat loss, & various invasive species like house cats, & competitors such as Anolis sagrei.
#anole #herpetology #lizard #nature
Hahah, thank you!
Big fan of A. picticauda, & lionotus.
Eastern coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum). Found at the RPI facility. We soaked the snake for rehydration, then swabbed it for SFD (no signs of concern, just monitoring potential disease in the area).
#snake #coachwhip #masticophis #florida #herpetology #reptile #wildlife
