Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Acquired some Psammophis punctulatus recently. Perhaps the most colorful and patterned sand racer from Africa which likes anoles and fuzzies. Eggs are incubating as one arrived gravid. Has a unique blue/gray color on the nape of its neck and belly is speckled. This is one of many sand snakes in Africa although described in books to be one of the largest (to 6 feet or more) and the fastest snake in Africa (faster than the black mamba). Also is rear-fanged but has not yet attempted to bite.

Dan

I find it amazing how much the African racer complex looks like Masticophis. Being rear fanged sets most apart but still if you look at the African racers most look like some form of Masticophis. I wonder how close their feeding habits are to our Masticophis here in the States.

I have noticed that my Ptyas are almost identical to Masticophis in feeding habits and personality although it took longer to switch them to pink mice.

The other parallel I see in the Indigo and Cribo (racers from Central and South America) is between them Cobras. They both like to eat snakes but will accept a rodent diet (except for the King Cobra) and they look alike. I wonder if there is some distant relationship between the two continents?

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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Lovely psammophis!...yes Bill there are snakes from different continents that seem very alike,but are not essentially related.. for example: the monpellier snake (malpolon) is like the 'European coachwhip' (but with venom).I don't think the family linage is very close though.

Going back to cribo's/cobra's...dont you think that FWC's (hydrodynastes)are in there too??..you know similar to a cribo with a hood!!
regards Paul

Paul

Dan those snakes are awesome! I have to admit you get some pretty interesting imports, I might have to hit you up to look for some odd snakes for me!
While I have only been keeping cribos for a couple months I cant believe how much they remind me of cobras. Obviously I havn't freehanded cobras but from the way the behave in an enclosure the habits are almost identical. And I think the fwc's are very very closely related to the whole drymarchon clan.
Bill anymore info on your psuestes?
Roy anymore babies? Pics? Updates

Yes..I have a young pair of FWC's purely because of my love for Drymarchon.
Indigo's and Cribo's only very rarely become avaliable over here ...and command very high prices!!