Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It has been a great year enjoying kings in the field here in KY. To date my field partner Will Bird and I have seen 59 nigra and 17 calligaster while out (not including DOR's). The best find was last month when we recorded the largest calligaster known to science. The previous record was 56.00" and one we found in Edmonson county KY has been documented at 56.25". The great thing about this to us is we are able to make a contribution to herpetology and the snake did not have to die in the process. We field collected this snake at one of our study sites and were able to have in knocked out by the vets at the Louisville zoo for an accurate measurement. The snake has recovered fine and will soon be released at his point of capture. I will post pics of this snake at that time. I hope that those of you that are able have been enjoying these great snakes in the field as well.

Todd, I too would like to hear FR's response to the racer post I made down below. I always look forward to those beautiful holbrooki pics you post. To FR, you are one of the most proactive thinkers I have ever seen on these type forums. Guys like you are miles ahead and I think your insights go way beyond what most keepers are thinking. - Phil

Meade county nigra

Gravid female, Edmonson county KY

Trigg county KY.

Jefferson county KY

Calloway county KY.

Mammoth Cave NP

Edmonson county KY calligaster

Love that face! Cool snakes. Not the flashiest but I bet they're a lot of fun to catch in the field. That Calligaster is something. After my daughter gets a little older[she is 3 ] I hope to make up for lost time in the field. Right now I am way too busy, but my 57 snakes here at home get a lot of attention. Thanks for posting, I would like to see some young Calligaster pics of ya have any Tom Stevens

lol! Thanks Tom. Ironically I am to busy because I spend way too much time in the field. One of these days I'll be too old to do the things I am doing now so I must take advantage of the time I have while I am able to do so. If I'm lucky and no one shoots me or one of those maniacs don't run me over on the road I'll be able to look back and be satisfied that I gave my all and maybe made some nice finds along the way. Family has always been important to me and I still take my two youngest (12 and 14 now) out with me many times each year. I have found that my oldest two that are 17 and 21 don't have the same enthusiasm as they once had. Oh well, maybe they gained something along the way. They still like hearing how my day went so I guess thats a good sign. My kiddo's really started being fun on short herping trips at around age 5 or so. You have lots of fun to look forward to! - Phil

Phil, what do the bellies look like on the nigras?
Todd

The amount of pattern varies but this is typical.

Thanks, Phil. I was curious as to more blackish or dark brown, as some of our splendidas could go either way as in easterns. My desert/speckled is black above but more of a dark chocolate with yellow below. Veeeery interesting!!
Thanks, Todd
Sruck out on the alterna again but got what might just be the biggest suboc found. Story at 11! Getting pics.

Aww, shucks! Man I just love to see a really cool snake in the field and watch him for a bit undetected, see if I can get some interesting stuff(oops, I mean data) to share! Those nigras are really great looking snakes to me. Wish I had stopped by on my way from N.Carolina home. Went the long way! Beautiful country up there. One day...
Todd Hughes

I hope to make a road trip to the Carolinas next year. I have always wanted to herp there. Yeah, stuff seen in the field is always more interesting to me than when seen in a sweater box. Something about being in the habitat makes it more meaningful. - Phil

I feel the same way, man. Plus being outside is just...right. If we all got out a little more most of us would feel better about a lot of things.
Todd Hughes