Photo Galleries

Interesting Snakes

This is a pigmy rattlesnake (S. m. miliarius) from the Savannah River site in South Carolina.

Pigmy rattlesnake from the Savannah River

This pigmy climbed about four feet above the ground where it shed its skin in a mass of grape vines (photo T.M. Farrell).

This pigmy climbed about four feet above the ground where it shed its skin in a mass of grape vines

This pigmy fell off a palm frond, and got caught by its rattle.

This pigmy fell off a palm frond, and got caught by its rattle

This is a massasauga, the closest relative of the pigmy rattlesnake.

This is a massasauga, the closest relative of the pigmy rattlesnake

Here is a snake with an unusual color pattern.

Here is a snake with an unusual color pattern

This is one of the PIT-tags used to mark our snakes.

This is one of the PIT-tags used to mark our snakes

Habitat

A hammock (wet forested area) in central Florida that is home to many pigmy rattlesnakes.

A hammock (wet forested area) in central Florida that is home to many pigmy rattlesnakes

These hammocks become flooded in the wet season (Fall).

These hammocks become flooded in the wet season

Morphology

A close-up of the head showing fangs.

A close-up of the head showing fangs

A close-up of two pigmies' tails showing how they change color as the snakes age.

A close-up of two pigmies' tails showing how they change color as the snakes age

A close-up of a long rattle chain.

A close-up of a long rattle chain

The rattle of a young rapidly growing snake (photo J. Rybinski).

The rattle of a young rapidly growing snake

The rattle of an old, slowly growing snake (photo J. Rybinski).

The rattle of an old, slowly growing snake

The rattle of a snake that is mute. Like many pigmy rattlesnakes it has no loose segments (photo J. Rybinski).

The rattle of a snake that is mute. Like many pigmy rattlesnakes it has no loose segments.

Reproduction

A adult male in contact with an adult female.

An adult male in contact with an adult female.

A pair of copulating pigmy rattlesnakes.

A pair of copulating pigmy rattlesnakes

A young snake coiled next to a quarter.

A young snake coiled next to a quarter

A newborn pigmy coiled next to its mother.

A newborn pigmy coiled next to its mother

Foraging

Here is a snake in a typical foraging coil.

Here is a snake in a typical foraging coil

Here is a lizard that was struck but wasn't found by the snake.

Here is a lizard that was struck but wasn't found by the snake

This is the last thing a lizard might see before getting bit (photo T.M. Farrell).

This is the last thing a lizard might see before getting bit.

This young pigmy is eating a ribbon snake.

This young pigmy is eating a ribbon snake.

Another young snake that is stuffed after eating a ribbon snake.

Another young snake that is stuffed after eating a ribbon snake.

This snake is showing the typical posture young snakes use when they lure prey.

This snake is showing the typical posture young snakes use when they lure prey.

Another young snake luring.

Another young snake luring.

A dissected pigmy with a big centipede in its stomach.

A dissected pigmy with a big centipede in its stomach.

Miscellaneous Photos

Baby snake on a coil

Cheerio Snake

A baby snake with the head out of the coil

Snake stalking a frog through plants

A pigmy snake on a dry palm leaf

A pigmy snake on the woods preparing from a strike

A dissected pigmy with a big centipede in its stomach

A pigmy snake on a coil looking up

A pigmy snake on a coil between the woods

A small from on a leaf

A pigmy snake hiding in roots of a tree

A young snake next to a quarter

A close up of a long ratlle chain

A snake wrapped in the woods

A man and a woman holding a pair of copulating pigmy rattlesnakes

A newborn pigmy coiled next to its mother

A snake well-camouflaged amidst a natural backdrop of brown leaf litter

Side and frontal views of a pit viper's head, showing facial pits (red arrow), eyes and nasal openings.

These images were drawn by Walter Auffenberg (a Stetson University graduate). They were taken from the Florida Museum of Natural History Venomous Snakes of Florida page (with permission).

Side view of a pit viper's head, showing facial pits, nasal and eye openings

Frontal view of a pit viper's head, showing facil pits, nasal and eye openings

The dorsal surface of a pigmy rattlesnake head and a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) head. Note the nine enlarged plates on the pigmy's head.

These images very modified from E.D. Cope 1898 "The Crocodilians, Lizards, and Snakes of North America." These images were take from the Florida Museum of Natural History Venomous Snakes of Florida page (with permission).

The dorsal surface of a pigmy rattlesnake head emphasizing the nine enlarged plates on its head

The dorsal surface of a timber rattlesnake head emphasizing the nine enlarged plates in its head