We now have 1.4 sets of photos besides this one, but that is not going to last long. However, yesterday Greg Mayer sent in two of his own animals, a ball python and a common snapping turtle (cleverly named “Snappy”), both decked out for the holidays.
by Greg Mayer
Having been treated to a a feline parade for the inauguration of Coynezaa, here, for day three, are some Holiday Herps, Vivian and Snappy.
These photos were entered in a “Whisker Wonderland” photo contest for holiday pet pictures. WEIT readers will be glad to know that cat photos won all the actual prizes (People’s Choice and Jury)–as the award announcement said, “…it was a cat sweep!” However, among the reptiles entered, Vivian got the most People’s Choice votes. Plus, a couple of non-domestic species gives at least a hint of wildlife for today.
Wait! Are these Greg’s ..like.. personal pets?
Didn’t take him as the terrifying snake and nasty looking snapping turtle kind of chap.
I tell ya – you think you know a guy….
D.A.
NYC
Vivian looks au courant. How about a matching sweater?
Snappy looks a bit Bah, Humbug there.
Great to see them! Thanks.
Awww, I heart the snake with the scarf tied around her … neck? (It just occurred to me that snakes are all neck from the head down.)
Very festive!
Does Snappy have anything he’d like to share about the snowman’s missing hand?
😂
OMG, Greg. Snappy is dangerous! I (stupidly) was bitten by a big (about 16 inches long not including the neck and tail, and heavy) Common Snapping Turtle when I was a teenager and almost lost a finger. Fortunately the only treatment I needed was a tetanus shot, but it could have been worse. I could have lost my ability to type!
Speaking of turtles, Greg. Do you remember those Galapagos tortoise shells in the basement of the MCZ? I wonder what ever happened to them.
Comment by Greg Mayer
Norm– Those tortoises are still there, although I haven’t stopped by to see them on any recent visit. (The lizard room, where I usually am, is a different room than the one for the tortoises.) The tortoises might be in newer cases than what you remember, though. When we were grad students there were some newish metal cabinets intended for tortoises, but a grad student was sleeping in them between extended field trips, and I’m not sure if the cases ever became tortoise accommodations.
GCM
I am wondering if a snapping turtles become tame and less bitey. Alligators and crocs do, apparently.
Comment by Greg Mayer
Gators and crocs are a lot smarter and behaviorally complex compared to turtles. Snappy associates people with food (and rightly so!), so, unless very full, Snappy does tend to be snappy in the presence of people. This does, of course, reflect learning.
GCM
The snappy photo of Snappy gets my vote!
Vivian is beautiful!