About Pythonodipsas carinata

[gaboon69]

Hi guys.

Got a copy of a new book by B.Branch and as in the previous editions the same old photo of the western keeled snake caught the eye.
Can we discuss this species please cause ive always found it to be a mysterious and a fascinating part of Southern Africa's splendour.

Anyone lucky enough to have encountered this snake in Namibia?
Just awesome I say.

[mm069]

There is someone on this forum who has one captive, ironically his name is also Pythonodipsas. Isn't that wierd? anyway here's the link:

http://www.sareptiles.co.za/forum/viewt ... t=namesake

[Pythonodipsas]

Hi gaboon69, most of the observations I have made about these snakes, are in the post that mm069 mentioned above.

I will try take more pics this weekend. I must say it is difficult to photograph as it won't sit still for long at all.

It is one of my favorite species. After trying really hard, I have still to find one in the wild. I even searched most of the known museum localities, but with no luck.

[alexander]

A group of people went to namibia about 2 years ago and found an Anchieta's dwarf python, black mamba and 2 of these Western Keeled snakes.

[Pythonodipsas]

gaboon69, technically this is a venomous exotic. But thats debatable.

Alexander, I have since found out that there is a locality that always produces (I have never been there). It is only known to a few museum herpetologists.

[alexander]

well they didn't go there to look for snakes, but for plants or something.

[Pythonodipsas]

oh ok.

[mm069]

Pythonodipsas where and how did you get your speciemen anyway? It's not the most common snake in the world...

[Pythonodipsas]

There was a big reptile show in Durban in 2003 I think...or was it 2004? Anyway I met a guy there from Pinetown that keeps and breeds a lot of obscure snakes including some Namibian species. I am not sure how he got the snake. He wasn't advertising the fact but he overheard me talking about them, and approached me.

[Mongoose]

I know Maruis Burger used to keep a pair very many years ago...

[Pythonodipsas]

I wonder if they ever bred? I wonder what happened to them?

[gaboon69]

They have a look Ive never seen in any snake.
Ill check the article.
Thanks Pythonodipsas,so since they are technically exotic,then why havnt we seen some hatchlings yet?
Why havnt I ever seen one in a snake park?ps:I went down to a snake park I had fond childhood memories off,and it was a sorry site.

Pics would be appreciated PLEASE PLEASE!!!
After having seen that pic on the proatheris on the site the other day,I was blown away so is there a chance that we can top that with some pythonodipsas pics?

[gaboon69]

We are in need of a good Southern African reptile bible.Ive read almost all,and I dont feel they are satisfying enough.
Why dont we start an SA Reptiles photo and expert club to compile our own 'Sa Reptiles' book?

[rubida]

Why dont we start an SA Reptiles photo and expert club to compile our own 'Sa Reptiles' book?

You should rather propose that more in suite ecological research be conducted. Ask armata and he will probably tell you the same thing. Even our common species, which some of them are medically important, we don’t know much about their population dynamics, home ranges, habitat preferences etc…

[Pythonodipsas]

Finally got around to taking some pics. Someone wanted to see my setup and so here it is.

The snake is hard to photograph because it hates being handled. In the cage, I found it out from under cover during the day this weekend and took the opportunity to snap some pics before it slid under cover.





Hope you like!