Reptile & Amphibian Forums

did anyone see this '06 article claiming the discovery of an indonesian snake that changes color? I'm curious to know whether it's been proven to be a hoax, or the real thing.

color-changing snake

Terry I saw that a few years ago and I think it was the real deal...
at least it wasn't produced by The Onion?
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

>>Terry I saw that a few years ago and I think it was the real deal...
>>at least it wasn't produced by The Onion?

that was in the back of my mind!

Confronted by most of the crazy claims in our ill-informed society (see: "Obama's a Muslim"; "he's not an American citizen"; "the Earth is flat"; etc) I go to Snopes.com to check it out. This time Snopes let me down: it had nothing on the subject (but my search did inexplicably lead to another myth, "girls can't get pregnant if it's the first time".

A snake that changes colors. It's a helluva story.

Well not to start a huge debate off topic but he still has not presented a real Birth Certificate. He has a Certificate of live birth which from what I understand, can not be used to even get a passport. He may not be a professing Muslim but he was raised by Muslims and taught their Idiology from a kid. Not saying anything bad about Muslims just stating a fact. But I digress....
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

"(see: "Obama's a Muslim"..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQqlO5naRRU

that is all

Oh for heaven's sake!

I grew up in a Christian country. I can quote the Bible and I can appreciate many good things that Christian cultures brought to the world. But that doesn't make me a Christian!

This forum is REALLY not the place for this kind of bullsht.
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)
1.3.1 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Chakar, Hari, Saksak)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)
0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (Mora)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

Doc, I have to agree with you that this isn't the place for politics. BUT, this administration is going to be the one to take away our rights of owning whatever we want including reptiles and guns! My $0.02
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Jimmy Tintle

>>BUT, this administration is going to be the one to take away our rights of owning whatever we want including reptiles and guns! My $0.02

B.S.....
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)
1.3.1 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Chakar, Hari, Saksak)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)
0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (Mora)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

I thought Hogg Island boas were known to change color (at least from light to dark and vice versa) prior to this, so I would not be surprised if it's real.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

I'm thinking it could very well be legit.

Heck, I am still baffled as to how(or even why) Brazilian Rainbow Boas turn the lower half of their bodies almost completely white only at night!!. I noticed this in a pair I had many years ago, and every time I turned the lights on in the snake room at night and checked them out, their lower half would be VERY, VERY noticeably much whiter!

I tell ya,........ nature is truly bizarre!!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>...Hogg Island Boas...
>>
>>...Brazilian Rainbow Boas

thanks guys, two more examples/observations. This forum is great.

Yeah, what Doug said. Also, many snakes, including rainbows, change color during and even after maturation.....
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)
1.3.1 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Chakar, Hari, Saksak)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)
0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (Mora)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

Also the Arizona Black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) can change quite drastically from black to brown, etc.

Kerby...
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This paper should be interesting, if anyone wants to get it:

McAlpine, DF. 1983. Correlated physiological color change and activity patterns in an Indian Ocean boa (Casarea dussumeri). Journal of Herpetology 17(2): 198-201.
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)
1.3.1 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Chakar, Hari, Saksak)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)
0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (Mora)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

Hey all,

I think the article in question wasn't simply about a snake that changes color, but even more incredible, a snake that actively background matches. If I recall correctly it was a dark colored specimen that nearly matched the white background of the white bucket it was placed in. I think that's what made the find so spectacular. Color change in serpents, while not to common, is documented in much detail especially with the Arizona Black rattlesnake (in fact a very skilled and able graduate student at ASU is currently beginning her PhD work on that system).

Hope this helps.

Mitch

It was a "dark" bucket, and the snake change to "nearly white".
Now it's clear as mud....

>>It was a "dark" bucket, and the snake change to "nearly white".
>>Now it's clear as mud....

That would go along with rainbow boas, which become much paler at night....
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)
1.3.1 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Chakar, Hari, Saksak)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)
0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (Mora)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

Was that what it was?! Haha. I remember it was really cool regardless. Thanks for setting it straight.

Mitch