Rhode Island is the latest entity to introduce legislation aimed at reptile owners and hobbyists. Introduced by Senators Tassoni, Lynch, Perry, and Pinga Senate Bill 2033 proposes a ban on the ownership of pythons and boa constrictors in Rhode Island, giving reptile hobbyists in the tiny state a double dose of regulation indigestion. Should it become law, anyone found in possession of these animals will face fines of at least $1,000. The bill as introduced prohibits ownership of the following: Alligators. Crocodiles. Pythons, and Boa constrictors.

To read the bill as introduced, click here. Although Rhode Island is a pleasant enough vacation spot, it is hardly habitat that would allow any of the proposed species to sustainably reproduce and become invasive. Additionally the bill as written provides no direction as to what to do with the animals currently in public hands, nor provisions to grandfather them in. Thanks to PIJAC for the heads up ~

The Chelonoidis elephantopus tortoise was thought to be extinct, but the presences of its genes in hybrid stock tell a different story.

A genetic analysis, published in the latest Current Biology, found that DNA footprints of the long lost tortoise species, Chelonoidis elephantopus, exist in the genomes of its hybrid offspring. These tortoises turn out to be a mix of C. elephantopus and another giant tortoise from the area, C. becki.

While researchers have yet to isolate a purebred C. elephantopus individual, such tortoises must exist, based on the DNA data. The study marks the first time that a species has been rediscovered by way of tracking the genetic footprints left in the genomes of its hybrid offspring.

"This work also underscores the importance of museum collections in facilitating new discoveries," co-author Ryan Garrick told Discovery News. "Here, we were able to extract DNA from tortoise bones that were collected many decades ago, and use this DNA to characterize the gene pool of purebred C. elephantopus."

Kingsnake.com user Mark Haas is currently in intensive care after being shot while transporting animals for sale. Our hearts and thoughts are with Mark at this time for a quick and speedy recovery.

Mark L. Haas remains in intensive care with a collapsed lung at Crozer-Chester Medical Center after being shot Sunday in the parking lot of Woodlyn Shopping Center, said Ridley Police Lt. Scott Willoughby. His injuries are not life-threatening, he said.

Haas was supposed to sell the snakes to a buyer from New York, but police still do not know if the deal went bad or Haas was the victim of a random carjacking.

The suspect took off in Haas' car with two boxes of snakes inside and eventually hit a pole in Folsom, then ran away. Willoughby said police found the car and removed the boxes - one containing 20 baby pythons and the other a five- or six-foot python - back to the police station so they would not freeze.