Western Rat Snake - Iowa

Iowa had been part of the land acquired from France through the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the Iowa Territory was created in July of 1838 and admitted into the Union six years later. During the Civil War, Iowa was a staunch Union supporter; proportionately, it contributed more men than any other state, north or south. 

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Pantherophis obsoletus - The western rat snake, also referred to as the black snake, is found throughout the mid-section of North America. It is a non-venomous snake skilled enough at swimming and tree climbing to extend its diet to include birds, chipmunks, frogs, lizards, mice, rats, voles, and bird eggs. The rat snake is a constrictor and will wraps itself around the intended victim to render it unconscious before swallowing it. The length of the rat snake ranges from 105 to 180 centimeters, making it the largest snake in North America.

Hognose Snake - Uruguay

The Rio De La Plata is an estuary made from the confluence of three rivers: the Paraná, the Paraguay, and the Uruguay. Sebastion Cabot began a detailed study of the area in 1526. The few silver trinkets he obtained in barter with the Guarani people helped to establish the name of the estuary as the “River Of Silver.”

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Lystrophis dorbignyi - The South American hognose snake has a distinctive upturned snout used for burrowing into leaf litter as a means of escape or when searching for food. The South American hognose snake is a timid snake. It relies on two defensive traits when threatened; it will rear up and hiss while spreading a false hood to resemble a cobra or it may play dead by rolling over on its back. The color of the hognosed snake is similar to the poisonous coral snake, serving as another form of protection.

Günther's Black Snake - Kamerun

Germany established Kamerun in 1884; the colony was much larger than present day Cameroon. The first trading settlement was located at Douala, then a small village on the estuary of the Wouri River. Germany retained control of the colony until 1916, when it was invaded by France and Great Britain during World War I.

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Bothrolycus ater - Günther's black snake is part of the largest family of snakes, the Colubridea family. The black snake can be found in Western Africa extending from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With most snakes, the females are usually larger than males, but the black snake is one of the few with another notable feature of sexual dimorphism; the females have 19 dorsal scale rows, the males have 17. Snakes have dorsal, ventral, anal, and sub-caudal scales. These scales can be keeled or smooth.

Blue-necked Water Snake - Brunei

Macrophistodon rhodomelas - The blue-necked water snake is semi-aquatic and found along the streams and swampy areas of the lowland rainforests throughout Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. It relies heavily on a diet of small fish, frogs, and toads. It grows to lengths of 60 to 85 centimeters and is non-venomous. The blue-necked water snake is passive. When provoked the snake will rear up, flatten its neck, assume a striking position, but will rarely deliver a bite. 

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The Bruneian Empire reigned from the 7th century until 1888. It was a thalassocratic empire, a term describing a state deriving power through its control of the sea. The Sultanate of Brunei reached its apex between the 15th and 17th century. It controlled the coastal region of a wide territory, but was unable to extend their jurisdiction beyond the coastal areas. The Bidayuh, the indigenous people of Borneo’s interior, remained free from Brunei’s influence and were regarded as a constant threat.