Herp Lab 2: Feeding the Black Rat Snake

Continuing my adventures as a Field Biology Teaching Assistant, I again brought live herps in to lab to teach students - this time for the other section (Field Biology is divided into two sections, taught by two different professors and essentially operating as independent courses). Not as much to show this time, but I did get a few nice pictures to start:

Gargoyle Gecko (Rhacodactylus auriculatus)

Love that pebble skin

So cute

'Look at me, I'm a cute baby Crested Gecko!'

Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus)

Highlight, as last time, was two super-tame Black Rat Snakes (Elaphe obsoleta). This time it was even cooler: Carmela fed her Black Rat Snake while holding it.

Offer

Sniff

Strike

Maneuvering

Swallowing

Further...

Enthralled onlookers

Check out this cool video of the event:

When it was all over, he still sniffed rat on Carmela's hand and decided to have a little gnaw:

No Carmelas were harmed, he didn't bite and just slobbered.