Rhamphiophis

These two arrived this morning so I figured I'd take a few pictures after unboxing, before putting them in quarantine. They were listed as western beaked snakes from Togo Africa. They were also listed as a pair but I'm not holding my breath. If the locality info is accurate, then they'd have to be oxyrhynchus, eh? Regardless, I'm excited to be raising them up and working with a new(to me) genus. Enjoy the pictures.

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...psftpusbij.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...psunjaco29.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...psm7bqmosv.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...psitzqf2gb.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...pspntw0egj.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...psigjldrn7.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...psay1snvlm.jpg

They look an interesting pick up,very nice

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Very cool!

Very neat! Congrats!

Very cute little "worms", thanks for sharing here & I don't think I'm the only want craving updates? Such unique faces! :wuv:

Very cool little pickup!! :gj:

wow they are cute! those big eyes make them extra cute! they kinda look like Cribo heads on a House Snake body to me. congrats!

My what big eyes they have! Adorable! Congrats on the pick up, hope they turn out to be a pair

Congratulations, Definitely cool as all hell, thanks for sharing and good luck.

Very nice... love those big eyes!!!

Love that head shape and those big eyes.

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Originally Posted by John1982

They were also listed as a pair but I'm not holding my breath.

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I have yet to find anyone that can accurately sex these short of actually catching a female in the act of laying eggs. There is one other way that might work but the jury is still out on that (I will hopefully have news on that in a bit).

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Originally Posted by John1982

If the locality info is accurate, then they'd have to be oxyrhynchus, eh?

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Rhamphiophis phylogeny is a bit of a mess... Could be oxyrhynchus, could be rostrata.

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Originally Posted by John1982

Regardless, I'm excited to be raising them up and working with a new(to me) genus.

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These guys are fun. Crazy smart, hyper-aware and fast as lightening. They are also an epic pain in the but to get pictures of in a light hood LOL

One word of caution; They are rear-fanged venomous and the analysis of the venom would indicate that it is potentially pretty potent. I have heard some people try to play them off as being "mostly harmless, like hognose" but I feel that is a bit disingenuous, especially after watching how fast mice drop after being bitten. So I very strongly advocate handling with care.

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Originally Posted by asplundii

I have yet to find anyone that can accurately sex these short of actually catching a female in the act of laying eggs. There is one other way that might work but the jury is still out on that (I will hopefully have news on that in a bit).

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Here are some neat visuals I found on sexing snakes with "delicate" penes. I'll definitely be doing some shed studies as I raise these critters.

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Originally Posted by asplundii

Rhamphiophis phylogeny is a bit of a mess... Could be oxyrhynchus, could be rostrata.


These guys are fun. Crazy smart, hyper-aware and fast as lightening. They are also an epic pain in the but to get pictures of in a light hood LOL

One word of caution; They are rear-fanged venomous and the analysis of the venom would indicate that it is potentially pretty potent. I have heard some people try to play them off as being "mostly harmless, like hognose" but I feel that is a bit disingenuous, especially after watching how fast mice drop after being bitten. So I very strongly advocate handling with care.

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Thanks for the info, Asplundii.

Super cute! And as already mentioned, a number of times, those EYES! Adorable!!! Are they nocturnal? Is that why they have such big eyes? Just curious.

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Originally Posted by rottn

Are they nocturnal? Is that why they have such big eyes? Just curious.

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Mine are up with the sun and cruising around, checking stuff out. I would guess they're just a more sight oriented species.

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Originally Posted by John1982

Thanks for the info, Asplundii.

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No worries. Nice to see other people working with them

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Originally Posted by rottn

Are they nocturnal? Is that why they have such big eyes? Just curious.

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Originally Posted by John1982

I would guess they're just a more sight oriented species.

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John is correct, they are extremely sight-oriented. Like the N. American coachwhip they cruise around with their heads held up, constantly looking around. As soon as they notice I am in the snake room they come to the front of their tubs and watch everything I do. This trait is also how I get them to sit still in the light tent for pics. While I stand ready with the camera I have my kid put her hands on either side of the tent and twitch a finger every now and then. The snake will freeze for a moment and tongue to figure out what it saw moving and that is when I capture the shot. Works for them now while they are smaller but I have a feeling that when they are 1.5m long it will the trick will not be as effective