Indonesian "Garters"!!!!!!

[Stefan-A]

Xenochrophis vittatus
another common name is striped keelback
they are in the same family and probably share common ancestry with garters
it is said that garters developed into live bearers when they entered the Americas via the land connection at the Bering Strait
where did you get yours, Shannon?

Everyone's related if you go back far enough. I don't think Xenochrophis and Thamnophis are closely related, this may be more about convergent evolution than actual "kinship". Naturally, I could be wrong, but I think Thamnophis was actually much more closely related to Rhabdophis.

[Stefan-A]

Very nice photos, Shannon.

[adamanteus]

A snakes sense of smell through it's nostrils is about as well developed as a humans'. The partical testing with the tongue is an extra sense.

[drache]

Everyone's related if you go back far enough. I don't think Xenochrophis and Thamnophis are closely related, this may be more about convergent evolution than actual "kinship". Naturally, I could be wrong, but I think Thamnophis was actually much more closely related to Rhabdophis.

you're probably closer to right than I am
I was linking two unrelated facts in my often rather undisciplined mind

[Snaky]

Those are some nice looking "garters"
Can't help you with the tongue flicking though. I've never had them...

[Thamnophis]

Nice snakes, Shannon.
I kept them in the past. They are roughly the same as Thamnophis and Nerodia in care-taking.
But... they are much more sensitive for cold. It is a kind of tropical snake.
They are sensitive for pneumonia.
And most of the time they are wildcaught and carry all kinds of parasites (intern).

My advice... keep them away from your other snakes and let a vet do a stool research.
And keep the nighttemperature around 20-22 degrees C (68 - 72 degrees F) . Better not lower. And they need more humidity than Thamnophis and Nerodia.

[Stefan-A]

you're probably closer to right than I am
I was linking two unrelated facts in my often rather undisciplined mind

I just want to point out that I'm probably wrong.

[anji1971]

They are very pretty snakes! I can see why they've been dubbed "garters"..............quite similar in a lot of ways.
I love the white bellies!
Nice additions to your collection, Shannon!

[enigma200316]

Very nice additions Shannon, good pics to thanks for sharing........

[ssssnakeluvr]

Naturally, I could be wrong, but I think Thamnophis was actually much more closely related to Rhabdophis.

I had a rhabdophis tigrinus years ago....very much like garters, ate fish, same activity levels, curiosity. very nice snakes. unfortunately they are rear fanged so Utah doesn't allow them.....