Raymond Hoser ‘The Snake Man’ names new species of lizard after Bob Katter

A species of lizard has been named after controversial North Queensland politician Bob Katter. Here’s why the Kennedy MP got the nod.

A new lizard species has been named after Bob Katter.

A species of lizard has been named after controversial North Queensland politician Bob Katter, after the MP gave a helping hand to a veteran snake handler and educator.

The animal was named by Raymond Hoser, the self-proclaimed Snake Man, who has been travelling around Australia for decades educating people on how to handle reptiles safely.

Mr Hoser said the animal has been given the scientific name Tantaloscincus katteri and claimed it was before treated as the northern population of the Ctenotus strauchii species, commonly known as the eastern barred wedge-snout ctenotus.

The lizard is known only in the areas of Muttaburra, Ilfracome and Belyando in Central Queensland.

Mr Hoser has had numerous TV appearances, has written nine books and claims to have discovered and named more than 1100 species and subspecies of reptiles.

Bob Katter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Hoser, who resides in Melbourne, had planned to travel to a Mount Isa mine site to teach his snake safety course following to an issue with snakes in the area, but said he was unable to take his reptile show to Queensland for two years due to logistic issues with the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“Eventually out of frustration I called Bob Katter’s office and spoke to the lady in the office who was very friendly and said she we will deal with it,” Mr Hoser said.

Australia snake catcher Raymond Hoser. Picture : George Salpigtidis

“Bob Katter picks up the phone and within ten minutes someone from the wildlife department rang me and said I have emailed you your license. Two days later I was on a plane to Mount Isa.”

On naming the lizard, Mr Hoser said he chose to honour Mr Katter who ‘squashed the bureaucracy’.

“Bob Katter is often painted as some right-wing redneck but the reality is that one effort has saved the lives of many snakes, because the more people that know how to handle snakes and relocate them means less snakes will die due to mishandling or people killing them because they don’t know how to relocate them,” Mr Hoser said.

Originally published as Raymond Hoser ‘The Snake Man’ names new species of lizard after Bob Katter