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

Here is a link to some pics of them...

Madagascar Giant Hognose pics

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Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

>>Here is a link to some pics of them...

>>Madagascar Giant Hognose pics

Ummm...I'm assuming you know this, but Madagascar is not in Southern California (yet).

that the snake pictured is not native to the United States.

I have a new better guess - Alsophis cantherigerus from Cuba.
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Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

I breed sevral species of hognose, and this snake was not a hognose ! good guess though, I can see the resimbance. thanks.

JIM

Jim,

Interesting story and beautiful snake. It's hard to tell for sure from the photos but it looks to me like a racer or coachwhip (a very large one at that). I flipped through some guides and if I had to take a guess I'd say Masticophis flagellum fuliginosis, "Baja California Coachwhip," which occurs in Mexico as well as in and around San Diego.

-David

Ophidiophile Farms

...but the Madagascar hognose is close enough to make that a good guess too! I'll go with the coachwhip - a great link was provided on another forum in response to these pics.
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MichaelB

Posted by: jimfmcdonald at Thu Oct 2 15:04:23 2003 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

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

Posted by: jimfmcdonald at Thu Oct 2 14:56:07 2003 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

Posted by: jimfmcdonald at Thu Oct 2 14:46:39 2003 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

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

heres my email
jmcdonald25@cox.net

LOL

np

It is not a Madagascar Hognose. The head is wrong and the pattern totally off. Alsophis c. get to be around 24" so it's too big. It's too stocky to be a racer or coachwhip. It looks smooth scaled. I am pretty certain it is not an American snake.
Frank

Definitely has the shape and (usual)pattern of the genus Ptyas, I dont know about the bright white ventrals though.