Fort Worth Zoo welcomes new arrivalsSlithering success

Local News

November 7, 2006

Slithering success

Christina Childs The Weatherford Democrat Tue Nov 07, 2006, 12:49 PM CST

On Monday, the Fort Worth Zoo announced the arrival of two new reptiles, both of which set precedent when it comes to captive breeding.

The pair of coral cat snakes, hatched Sept. 27, represent the first captive-bred hatching of the species in the United States.

“It’s pretty significant,” said Matt Vaughan, lead keeper at the Fort Worth Zoo’s department of herpetology. “We know this is the first captive breeding in the U.S., and we’re pretty sure it’s the first one in the world.”

Public Relations and Development Director for the Fort Worth Zoo Lyndsay Nantz said the successful hatching has set a milestone for the zoo, as well as conservation biologists worldwide.

“The coral cat snake is extremely rare, and there is very little information out there about them,” she said. “This is a huge accomplishment for the zoo and for the species.”

Vaughan said for the past two years the zoo has been putting forth efforts to breed the rare reptiles. And although they had eggs before, a successful hatching remained elusive.

Drawing knowledge from prior attempts, the zoo was able to successfully incubate their second set of eggs, and after 118 days of incubation, the snakes arrived.

The new hatchlings are a mere 13 inches long, and are miniature replicas of their 4-foot parents.

Currently, the hatchlings are not on display. Vaughan said eventually they may be moved to a viewing nursery, but a display date has not yet been set.

According to the Fort Worth Zoo, the coral cat snake is extremely rare in captivity. A native of Central America, the snake is a tree dwelling species and is characterized by its tricolor pattern of black, red and yellow bands that mimic the venomous coral snake.

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