Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is a picture of a snake I got yesterday. The color on the pic is pretty true even though it was taken under artificial light. The head is slightly green, the body brownish.

The vendor didn't have an ID, just thought that it was rear fanged. I had a hunch about the genus, but now am not so certain. Immediately after purchase I dripped some water onto it, then put in a live fuzzie and covered the container. The fuzzie was gone within five minutes.

Whenever I read about someone getting a snake they aren't sure of the care I'm ready to crucify them. When I do the same thing it's intellectual curiosity or something like that. Oh, and as far as the rear fanged, I am treating it as a "hot" for right now. I don't think it's "boomslang" hot, but that it's more like Phylodryas. Still, I don't want to be proven wrong on that.

Any help appreciated. Thanks!

I was wondering which vendor you bought it from? That could help a little. Also a better pic of the head would be a little more helpfull. I am pretty sure it's a Philodryas of some sort. Some of these can be quite HOT. Also you never know what reaction you will have to the bite. I would also go to the photo section on kngsnake.com, and click on venomous then on rear fang. Look for pics. I would also post a better pic in the venomous fourm under the rear fang category. There are some guys there that really know there stuff. If it is a rearfang snake go to Home Depot and get a good pair of welding gloves. Then buy a nice midwest hook. I would not free handle any rear fang snake just becaust you never know how you can react to the venom. I've seen people get bit by western hognose and their hand blew up like a balloon and turned black and blue. So enjoy the snake and be cautious.

Thanks for the reply. It came from Regal, they said customer had traded it in the week previous. I asked if they thought it was Phylodryas, they said no idea of identity.
I do appreciate the concern. I also have Trimerseurus and Atheris, and am treating this with the same care. I realize I may have sounded cavalier about its toxicity in the original post, didn't mean to.
I will work on more pics.

My intention was a shot of head scalation, sideshot of head, and ventral. Hope I got them well enough.
This is the first time I had it out of the container it was purchased in. More arboreal than I had anticipated, it coiled around the hook and its tail moved around to find an anchor, too. It has the swaying motion that seems like vine snakes.
If you're wondering about the paper cutter, I wanted to use that for size reference, since it has 1/2" grid on it. The snake wasn't interested in cooperating with my idea, I wasn't able to get a picture like that.

Much better pic. That is Philodryas mattogrossensis. It has a mild postsynaptic neurotoxin. For more info on toxicity check out www.toxinology.com

That was fast -- thank you!
Are these imported (on purpose), as "contaminants" with other species? Or are they one where it's here, so it came from somewhere, anything else is just a guess.
Again, thank you for the ID. Whenever I look at this forum I am impressed by the attention that posters give to subjects.
Andy Via
Richmond, Virginia

They are not that common at all. Infact I cant recall seeing one for sale in a few years. I am sure that they would be a little costly, since barroni are. I would still go to the rear fang section on this site. I think a couple guys work with them. I would totally look for the oppsite sex so you can breed them.

Haven't checked any details, but that head looks like a Psammophis to me, not a Philodryas - especially the "groove" in front of the eyes.
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WW Home

As WW and Oxy.. say. Psammophis sp.
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http://hem.passagen.se/philodryas

Might be a Psammophis.

Dan

it is called an African Beauty Snake - psammophis sibilans, there are two types, the striped one and the patternless one which you have, they are both classified as the same and you can breed the two types together and have both patternless and stripe offsprings.

it is rear fanged however, the venom has only slight effects on humans, some experience a slight itchy feeling around bite site, however I have been many of times by this exact species and besides the few drop of blood from the bite site no discomfort was experienced, i think only the olive sand snake or mossambique have strong enough venom to show some discomfort to humans.