Flight Rising Discussion

[center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/light_contest2.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/51000.png[/img] [nextcol] This I can confidently say this is a Brazilian rainbow boa ([i]Epicrates cenchria[/i]) From the facial marking to the iridescent sheen, what really marks this as a Brazilian rainbow boa specifically as opposed to others in the [i]Epicrates[/i] genus is the distinct round markings on the snakes side, I think they look kinda like eyes! [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_00/Epicrates-cenchria-03000028073_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/lightning_contest2.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/51344.png[/img] [nextcol] Unfortunately my confidence is immediately gone as I am not as well versed in venomous species, my best guess is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake ([i]Crotalus adamanteus[/i]) They have the defining diamond pattern on their back and while it's hard to see they have the stripes down their side a well. Lastly, they have the stripes near the rattle but without the white like the western diamondback [/columns] [center][img]https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/1011/0235.jpeg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/fire_contest2.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/51892.png[/img] [nextcol] Another venomous species! This is definitely a viper (fun fact rattlesnakes are also a type of viper!) and my best guess is the variable bush viper ([i]Atheris squamigera[/i]) As the name suggests they come in many colours, including red! They even have the striped/cheveron pattern seen in the familiar. For the sake of getting all my images from one source, the one below isn't red, but I recommend giving them a quick google search! They are a beautiful species that come in just about every colour! [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_17/Atheris-squamigera-03000048783_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/arcane_contest2.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/52374.png[/img] [nextcol] Do you think staff likes venomous snakes? I joke this once was a little easier, I believe this is a spectacled cobra ([i]Naja naja[/i]) Unforunatly the easiest way to identify this familiar would be to see the back of the hood as spectacled cobras have a distinct marking on the back of the hood that looks like a pair of glasses, hence the name. You could also argue that it's a monocled cobra ([i]Naja kaouthia[/i]), but on average it seems like specticaled cobras have bigger hood spots like the art and again the defining feature is on the back of the hood. I couldn't find any with three spots, but some artistic liberty is allowed of course [/columns] [center][img]https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/1212/0881.jpeg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/plague_contest2.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/52776.png[/img] [nextcol] I was very excited for this one! Not just because I'm in the Plague flight but because my prediction was that it was going to be a Gaboon viper ([i]Bitis gabonica[/i]) my favorite venomous snake!! And I was so, so close! Instead, this is the Gaboons close cousin the rhinoceros viper ([i]Bitis nasicornis[/i]) I can tell by the distinct colours, pattern and of course the two protruding horns on the snake's face. It's still unclear why they have these horns, which are soft but covered in scales. One theory is that is helps with camouflage. [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_11/Bitis-nasicornis-03000041007_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/earth_contest2.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/53371.png[/img] [nextcol] This was a prediction I got right! I knew they were going to pick hognose snakes for Earth, it's the perfect pick! Specifically, I believe this is a plains hognose snake ([i]Heterodon nasicus[/i]) If you want to get more specific, I believe this is a conda morph, as they have larger but less spots and a less busy pattern in general. These guys get their name from the upturned scales at their nose which they use to help them burrow! [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_03/Heterodon-nasicus-03000030611_01.jpg[/img][/center]

[center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/ice_contest.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/54527.png[/img] [nextcol] Another easy one, this a royal/ball python ([i]Python regius[/i]) To be more specific this is a blue eyed leucistic morph! Interestingly, there are multiple ways to get this morph, by breeding mojaves, lessers, butters, phantoms and some other morphs with another of the same morph they produce these stunning snakes [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_11/Python-regius-03000041409_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/shadow_contest.png[/img][/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/55010.png[/img] [nextcol] This one was much harder, my best guess based on the plain head, busy body and stripes along the tail this looks to be a Vietnamese blue beauty rat snake ([i]Elaphe taeniura mocquardi[/i]) Veintamese blue beauty's live up to their name as they are gorgeous animals, but they get very big, around 8ft, and they're known to have an attitude. Not a species suitable for beginners. This image is from [url=https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/threads/adult-pair-2016-vietnamese-blue-beauty-rat-snakes-orthriophis-taeniurus-callicyanous.1283389/]this forum[/url] as The Reptile Database didn't have one of this specific subspecies [/columns] [center][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50309688607_3962a8ebde_z.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/wind_contest.png[/img][/center] [center][b]My Prediction:[/b] Something in the [i]Chrysopelea[/i] genus, something in the [i]Thamnophis[/i] genus[/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/55568.png[/img] [nextcol] And my first prediction was right! Maybe I'm cheating a little by choosing a whole genus rather than a single species but I'm taking the win anyway. This is a Paradise flying snake ([i]Chrysopelea paradisi[/i]) They are one of many flying snakes that glide by using their rib muscles to flatten themselves. I reccomend looking up a video of them in action they're really cool! [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_02/Chrysopelea-paradisi-03000030050_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/water_contest.png[/img][/center] [center][b]My Prediction:[/b] Something in the [i]Hydrophiinae[/i] subfamily, tentacled snake ([i]Erpeton tentaculatum[/i]), elephant trunk snake ([i]Acrochordus javanicus[/i])[/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/56069.png[/img] [nextcol] Apologies for the delay collage is a pain. While I guessed that it would be a elapid, I didn't quite get the right subfamily. The colouring shows that this is a yellow lipped sea krait ([i]Laticauda colubrina[/i]) also known as the banded sea krait. Sea kraits are not true sea snakes and are actually considered semi-aquatic! They do spend most of their time in the water but must return to land to digest and lay their eggs. However like sea snakes they are still elapids and thus highly venomous, though unlikely to bite. [/columns] [center][img]https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_12/Laticauda-colubrina-03000041695_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/dropbox/nature_contest.png[/img][/center] [center][b]My Prediction:[/b] green anaconda ([i]Eunectes murinus[/i])[/center] [columns] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/56946.png[/img] [nextcol] I'll be honest, I'm pretty disapointed with the nature snake. There are so many cool species staff could have picked! I was hoping for the green anaconda but some other suggetions include the green tree python ([i]Morelia viridis[/i]) or Asian vine snakes ([i]Ahaetulla[/i] genus). Instead we got possibly the most generic snake possible. I don't mean to be neagative! I love all snakes, but I believe there are better options out there. That said apparently this is supposed to be a green mamba? ([i]Dendroaspis angusticeps[/i] or [i]Dendroaspis viridis[/i], most likely [i]angusticeps[/i]) it really doesn't read as that to me, my first though was smooth green snakes ([i]Opheodrys vernalis[/i], rough green snake ([i]Opheodrys aestivus[/i]) is also valid I don't expect staff to draw every indiviual scale) I've included pictures of bot. [/columns] [center][img]http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_05/Dendroaspis-angusticeps-03000033370_01.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0211/0800.jpeg[/img][/center] [center]Well, were finished! I had fun writing these up! Who knows, maybe I'll make another thread identifying other snake famillars.[/center]

Staff shares the details of each familiar in the image descriptions when they're released, including snake species. Or are you identifying them with more specificity? :o

[quote name="ferspnai" date="2024-03-11 06:40:43" ] Staff shares the details of each familiar in the image descriptions when they're released, including snake species. Or are you identifying them with more specificity? :o [/quote] Seems like they're gonna be more specific here! :D The cobra was just called a cobra in Starfall's announcement for example, and as far as I'm aware it wasn't officially stated what species.

And we're done! (for now)

@ferspnai @StarDay and yeah I wanted to be more specific with my identifications

Ohhh I absolutely LOVE this!!! It's so cool seeing all the irl inspirations compiled here, thank you for doing this!! I love snakes so this year's snake theme has been such a joy to see.

There's so many things they could pick for water. I really do hope it's any kind of sea snake, since it's so rare to see those shown off. But I'm just in love with all the snake familiars. Snakes, my beloved. [emoji=familiar heart size=1]

this makes me honestly so happy