Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, here’s the story! In 1993 a friend of mine was removing an old palm tree that was more of a large bush, in San Clamenta California. When they pulled the tree out, about 4 or 5 of these snakes took off in all directions, but he grabbed one and took it home. Not knowing much about snakes but knowing I have been breeding them for several years he called me up and told me the story and that he thought it was probably a California king snake. Witch by the description sounded likely. After seeing it I thought it was some kind of indigo or cribo. So I took it to show a friend that specializes in drymarchons (indigos and so on) and to our surprise he could not identify it either! Next I took the snake to the professor of herpetology at San Diego State University and after counting scales and doing every thing he could to identify it he couldn’t. So I took it to one of the San Diego reptile shows and showed it to several breeders including Robert Applegate and many others and stumped them all. What else could I do at this point? This snake did not try to bite and was as calm as holding a boa! He ate small dead rats without constricting. I went back to were it was found to look for the others but I never found any. Now the sad part. After having the snake for a few months I had to leave the snake with a friend that breed pythons for a short time while I was moving. My friend, (whom will remain nameless for his protection) let his snake room get to hot and cooked this snake and several others. I have been talking with a few reputable reptile vets that are showing interest in this snake and I have been thinking of going back to were this snake was found with a few people that would like to go help me find some of the ones that got away or there offspring. It is an ideal place that they could live in a small area forever. Please feel free to let me know if you think you can help identify this snake or if you would like to help find the others. These pictures are not the best but a least I have some. I can email more to people that can help. Thanks.

JIM F MCDONALD

[img]http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/22124James-01-med.jpg">

Check your e-mail, Jim. Not sure yet, but it looks like a Lioheterodon to me.

~~Greg~~

Masticophis flagellum fuliginosus - Baja California Coachwhip

Take a look at this link. Looks like it to me. Especially the head.

http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/m.f.fuliginosus.html

Happy herping
Brian Baker
california coachwhip

With really good picture of one. The banding, body and head all look right. The only thing is the color, it could be some sort of aberrant species. Either way, it is a very nice looking snake.
Happy Herping
Brian
California Coachwhip

I have cought baja coachwhips in the past and they were very hyper very mean and were lizard eaters! this snake was not hyper ,not aggessive, and would only eat rats. its haed was not as long and thin as a coachwhip, and as you can see in the pictures its belly was mostly all pearl white. it was also much fatter and and not as long and thin as any coachwhip I have seen. thanks for your help.

JIM

Well when you finally find out exactly what kind of snake it was let us know!!! That thing definitely has my interest peaked!!!

I thought it looked like a coachwhip. But your right the color is all wrong. Hard telling.

Good luck on finding another one, and if you do, you know you HAVE to post some pics!!

Good luck and happy herping
Brian Baker

Thats a baja coachwhip, thats seems to make sense why its there also.

The head shot you sent me does look like a Coluber, but the girth is way too thick for that or Masticophis. I'll work on this & post up any results.

~~Greg~~

It is not a Madagascar Hognose (wrong head...wrong pattern) and way too stocky for a coachwhip. I'm still leaning towards a very dark Drymarchon c. rubidus (because of the large eye), but the regularity of the bans makes me question...There are certain Asian snakes that might fit the bill too....strange.............Frank

Looks to me like an indo china Ratsnake...
Genus Ptyas

What did you do with the dead snake?

If you pickled it, maybe you can send it to the New York Musuem of Natural History or some other institution for a thorough work-up.

At any rate, if you find any more, and can breed them, I think a lot of people on this list would be interested in buying any young ones.

my friend did keep it in his freezer for a year or so then I lost contact with him for a while and by then he had tossed it! as far as a hoax I dont know the first thing about faking pictures. and I said I would love for some people to go help me catch more of them if there still there ! also these pictures were taken right after I got the snake so he does look a bit thin but after eating a few times he was as big as a golf bal or bigger, much more like a indigo. thanks.

JIM