Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Looks like I'm snowed in for the time being so I thought I might post a few pics of kings that were seen in the field for you guys that find that sort of thing interesting. This first pic is from Edmonson county KY. This is an upland habitat dominated by pine and oak forest. As is usually the case, nigra from this type of habitat are very dark.

This is a Hart county KY nigra that was found crossing a road at 1:00 PM one day last August. The kings in our area are decidedly diurnal.

Breckinridge county KY nigra found under tin.

Trigg county KY nigra. Typically the kings in the western part of the state like this one retain more pattern as adults. This snake field measured at just under five foot.

Another very dark nigra from upland habitat in Edmonson county KY.

And for a bonus shot, this is a Hendry county floridana found while herping with some of our friends in south Florida.
Hope you guys liked the pics!

Phil,
Great photos. Thanks for posting. The Eastern Black kings are my favorite king and the examples you posted from Kentucky locales are certainly an example of the interesting variations that you see within the state of Kentucky. Look forward to the day that I can meet up with you and we can see some of these kings in the field.
Have a safe and happy Christmas and New Years.
Brad

Thanks Brad and I wish you happy holidays as well! Hopefully you can come down this year and see some nigra in the field. If you are like me, seeing the habitat should be interesting too. Being in the habitat seems to bring deeper insights into the animals we love.

>>And for a bonus shot, this is a Hendry county floridana found while herping with some of our friends in south Florida.
>>Hope you guys liked the pics!
>>

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You are welcome Keith. Glad you enjoyed! It looks like that in 05 there will be a website devoted to the black king snake. I can't wait to contribute pics and data!

ok, seriousy, I just want you to take me out some day and teach me how to find snakes.

Apparently I do it all wrong.
I find things out of sheer luck occasionally, but you seem to be a pro.

Dean

Dean, we would love to get out with and do some herping. Maybe this spring or summer we can get together for a day or two in the field. Most of field success is a matter of being at the right place at the right time. There are some things that you learn along the way, and to me, that is what keeps it interesting. I try to keep an open mind and be ever observant. No matter how much you go out you are always learning something. That is a big part of the fun and challenge. A lot of field herping centers around persistence. When most sane people decide they have had enough, we generally keep going LOL! Believe it or not, this is often when some of the best finds are made. Also, a willingness to be flexible and to change tactics also leads to salvaging something out of what other wise may have been a bust. To me, each day in the field is an opportunity for me to learn something.

Count me in!

Looking forward to the end of the sub zero temps.

Hey, A freind of mine found a 2 cave salamanders about 1/2 mile from where I live this past Wednesday. Dec 22!

(during the ice / snow storm that dumped a foot of snow on us)

Thats awesome Dean. Thats a perfect example of how herp finds can still be made despite unfavorable conditions. Will and I get out all year round. This time of year we usually herp when there are heavy rains and scout out potential tin sites (or make them) the rest of the time. On the rare occasion we will go to caves or spring seeps and look for amphibians though. I remember on January 4th last year we found dozens of Jeffersons salamanders while wading in some vernal pools after some heavy rains with mild temperatures. I noticed warmer temps and rain is in the forecast for next weekend. I hope we can go see them again

.

Thanks cool. Glad you liked!

THANKS for sharing! And it's always nice to know locality data since it is intersting to see the variability betwen all subspecies of kings. Not too familiar with Nigras so it's good to have folks like you sharing pics & info! I'm hoping to also take lots of pics this spring when I'll be herping from GA to TX, armed only with my poweful digi-cam and a few full gas tanks, LOL! (Most of my pics will probably be easterns and speckleds though)

Happy Holidays!

ZEE

Thanks! I'm glad you guys found my post interesting. I would love to see some pics of easterns and speckleds. Good luck on your trip!

As always, love your field pics. I have fond herping memories of my home state of Ky. Used to do a lot of snake hunting around the Green River area near Columbia, Ky years ago, while camping. Just might have to visit some of the family this spring/summer and plan to do some herping along the way. Thanks for the pics Phil.

Steve

Thanks Steve. A fair amount of my field time is spent around the Green river area. It seems that over the years it has changed a little, but fortunately not too much. Still plenty of friendly folks and still plenty of herps to see. i hope you enjoy your visit with your kin this year.
Phil

Have never seen an Eastern Black before. Currently have a Western Black that I love dearly. I really loved the lineup of photos.

Only once, during a feeding incident, was there ever a hint of musk. Has never hissed nor bitten. Very aggressive feeder.

What is the general disposition of Eastern Blacks? Comparable to any other subspecies??

Glad you liked the pics Ameron. I usually handle about every king I see in the field while posing for field pics, getting measurments etc. Most musk, a few are very docile and neither musk or bite, and a few are very defensive and bite repeatedly, musk and thrash about. I would have a hard time judging accurately how they would compare to other kings. I have seen comparitively few Florida and Eastern kings and I have seen hundreds of Black kings in the field. My guess would be the dispositions are similar though.

snakes and its very often we see the Nigra's at all.Thanks a bunch.

Have a great one,
Shannon Brown

Thanks Shannon. I certainly enjoy all the pics you good folks post on here and felt I should contribute now and again.