As most of us know the current list of reptiles and amphibians that is allowed in Maine without a permit is quite restrictive.  The Maine Herpetological Society’s goal since 2006 has been to get this list expanded and there has been a great deal of behind-the-scenes work to meet this goal.  It is with great pleasure that we announce that, due to the efforts of the Maine Herpetological Society, with the cooperation of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, the unrestricted species list is greatly expanded.

When we began this process we did so because we wanted the people of Maine to be able to enjoy a greater variety of the most commonly kept “herps”, if they desired.  In addition, it is now possible for hobbyists, breeders and pet shops alike to expand their collections and make an income doing what they enjoy.

Several months ago the Maine Herpetological Society invested $1000 with the Fish and Wildlife Department for them to research 50 new species to be added to the unrestricted list.  Although we didn’t get everything we asked for we now know exactly what concerns the F & W Dept have in adding additional species, and we feel it is something we can work with in the future.  Strictly speaking there is a great deal more than 50 species being added to the list.

Members of the Maine Herpetological Society should proudly spread the news.  We did it, and we have also opened a new chapter of cooperation with the Fish & Wildlife Department.  We would like to thank the following individuals for their work on this project: from the Department of Fish and Wildlife; Mark Stadler, Vasco (Buster) Carter, Jonathan Mays, Phillip DeMaynadier and Trevor Persons; from the Maine Herpetological Society; Robert DuBois, Josh Easter, Philip Roy, Clint Smith and Kevin Murphy. 

The following species are to be added to Maine Unrestricted List and can be purchased without a permit.  Look for an update on the Fish and Wildlife’s web site.

 
Green Tree Python     Morelia viridis

Boelen’s Python    Morelia boeleni  (captive born only)

Sumatran Short- Tailed Python    Python Curtis

Borneo Short- Tailed Python    Python breitensteini

Blood Python    Python brogermai

Macklot’s Python    Liasis macklotti

D’Alberts Python    Liasis albertsii

Angolan Python    Python anchietae

Black Headed Python    Aspidites melanocephalus

Spotted Python    Antaresia maculosa

Stimpson’s Python    Antaresia stimsoni

Pygmy Python    Antaresia perthensia

Calabar Burrowing Python        Calabaria reinhardtii  (CB only)

Emerald Tree boa    Corallus caninus

Amazon Tree boa    Corallus hortulanus

Solomon island boa    Candoia ssp.

Western Hognose     Heterodon nasicus ssp

Mandarin Ratsnake    Euprepiophis mandarinus

Trinket Rat Snake    Coelognathus h. Helena

Beauty snakes    Orthriophis taeniura ssp.

Green Red-Tailed Rat snake    Gonyosoma oxycephaia

Blue Tree Monitor        Varanus macraei

Black tree monitor        V. beccarli

Green tree monitor        V. p. prasinus

Spiny-tailed monitor        V acanthurus

Timor monitor        V. timorensis

Frilled Dragons        Chlamydosaurus kingii

Veiled Chameleon        Chamaeleo calyptratus

Panther Chameleon        Furcifer pardalis

Jackson Chameleon    Chamaeleo jacksonii

Parson’s Chameleon    C. parsonii

Spiny-tailed lizard        Uromastyx ssp.

Knob-tailed geckos        Nephrurus ssp.    EXCEPTION: N. deleani

Leaf-tailed geckos        Uroplatus ssp.

Giant geckos        Rhacodactylus leachianus

Gargoule geckos        R.auriculatus

Russian tortoise        Agrionemys horsfiedldii

 
Greek tortoise        Testudo graeca

Herman’s tortoise        T. hermanni

Red-foot tortoise        Chelonoidis carbonaria

Yellow-foot tortoise        C.denticulata

Striped Mud-turtle        Kinosternon bauri

White Lipped Mud Turtle            K. leucostomum

Mississippi Mud Turtle            K. subrubrum hippocrepis

Amboina Box turtle        Cuora amboinensis

Arrow Frogs        Dendrobates ssp  EXCEPTIONS: D. terribilis

Arrow Frogs         Phyllobates ssp.    EXCEPTIONS:  P vittatus

Whited Lipped Tree Frogs            Litoria infrafrenata