HerpDigest.org Newsletter

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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 37/ 8/28/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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THE HURRICANE DID NOT DO ANY MAJOR DAMAGE TO HERPDIGEST. WHICH UNFORTUNATELY MEANS WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP.
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Table of Contents
1) SnapperFest Update
2) Possible Biological Control Discovered for Pathogen Devastating Amphibians
3) In Memoriam Findlay Ewing Russell (1919-2011)
4) Twenty endangered Siamese crocodiles hatch in Laos
5) TERMS OF REFERENCE - SHORT-TERM CONTRACT FOR A SEA TURTLE EXPERT
6) 6) Sea Turtle Andre Dead, Three Weeks After Florida Release
7) Zoo vet makes house calls for sick turtles
8) National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center adds endangered species, emphasizes preservation ____________________________________________________________________________
ON SALE - The Encyclopedia of Turtles of U.S. & Canada, by Ernst and Lovich. Over 800 pages, color photos of every species, a 200 page bibliography. The definitive book on these turtles.
List Price $95.00 plus $10.00 for S&H. Now $65.00 S&H only $5.00 Or pay part or all of the difference in price to help HerpDigest Stay Alive.
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1) SnapperFest Update - HD will try to both continue to help people organize against Snapperfest as well as regularly report on it. A quick surf of the web found that there are Facebook pages I assume against Snapperfect popping up all over the place. A sample of the titles of the top ones (I am not endorsing any and their tactics, since I have not had a chance to read them)

1) Snapperfest
2)Boycott Campshore Campground in Indiana, Home of Snapperfest
3) Snapperfest
4) So Long Snapperfest
5) International Telephone Protest Against Snapperfest (Was last Friday)

All had on average 300-700 members. From Past experience Probably a lot were the same people joining all the groups.

With the New York Turtle & Tortoise Society we have drawn up a basic battle plan, one that involves lawyers, and as many legitimate NGO’s we can get across the spectrum (Not just ad-hoc Facebook groups or causes or websites.) with a constant drumbeat of media coverage.

From past battles the old cliche of “United we stand, Divided we Fall,” is true, and right one people are flawing around trying to find a place to funner their anger. We hope our plan would be the place people could unite behind. To win it’s a going to a long, expensive year until the next “Snapperfest.”, next year.
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2) Possible Biological Control Discovered for Pathogen Devastating Amphibians

ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2011) — Zoologists at Oregon State University have discovered that a freshwater species of zooplankton will eat a fungal pathogen which is devastating amphibian populations around the world.

This tiny zooplankton, calledDaphnia magna, could provide a desperately needed tool for biological control of this deadly fungus, the scientists said, if field studies confirm its efficacy in a natural setting.

The fungus, B. dendrobatidis, is referred to as a "chytrid" fungus, and when it reaches high levels can disrupt electrolyte balance and lead to death from cardiac arrest in its amphibian hosts. One researcher has called its impact on amphibians "the most spectacular loss of vertebrate biodiversity due to disease in recorded history."

The research, reported August 26 in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, was supported by the National Science Foundation.

"There was evidence that zooplankton would eat some other types of fungi, so we wanted to find out if Daphnia would consume the chytrid fungus," said Julia Buck, an OSU doctoral student in zoology and lead author on the study. "Our laboratory experiments and DNA analysis confirmed that it would eat the zoospore, the free-swimming stage of the fungus."

"We feel that biological control offers the best chance to control this fungal disease, and now we have a good candidate for that," she said. "Efforts to eradicate this disease have been unsuccessful, but so far no one has attempted biocontrol of the chytrid fungus. That may be the way to go."

The chytrid fungus, which was only identified in 1998, is not always deadly at low levels of infestation, Buck said. It may not be necessary to completely eliminate it, but rather just reduce its density in order to prevent mortality. Biological controls can work well in that type of situation.

Amphibians have been one of the great survival stories in Earth's history, evolving about 400 million years ago and surviving to the present while many other life forms came and went, including the dinosaurs. But in recent decades the global decline of amphibians has reached crisis proportions, almost certainly from multiple causes that include habitat destruction, pollution, increases in ultraviolet light due to ozone depletion, invasive species and other issues.

High on the list, however, is the chytrid fungus that has been documented to be destroying amphibians around the world, through a disease called chytridiomycosis.

Its impact has been severe and defied various attempts to control it, even including use of fungicides on individual amphibians. Chytridiomycosis has been responsible for "unprecedented population declines and extinctions globally," the researchers said in their report.

"About one third of the amphibians in the world are now threatened and many have gone extinct," said Andrew Blaustein, a professor of zoology, co-author on this study and an international leader in the study of amphibian decline.

"It's clear there are multiple threats to amphibians, but disease seems to be a dominant cause," he said.

Although they have survived for hundreds of millions of years, amphibians may be especially vulnerable to rapid environmental changes and new challenges that are both natural and human-caused. They have a permeable skin, and exposure to both terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Because of this, OSU researchers said, other animals such as mammals, birds and fish have so far not experienced such dramatic population declines.

Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Oregon State University.

Journal Reference:
Julia C. Buck, Lisa Truong, Andrew R. Blaustein.Predation by zooplankton on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: biological control of the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus? Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011; DOI: 10.1007/s10531-011-0147-4 ____________________________________________________________________
3) In Memoriam Findlay Ewing Russell (1919-2011)

Herpetologist Findlay Russell died peacefully on 21 August 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Russell was born in San Francisco in 1919 to William and Mary Jane Russell. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in science, particularly in the fields of toxicology and toxinology. He received his medical degree from Loma Linda University in 1952 and served as an army medic in World War II where he received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

Findlay Russell was the first president and founding member of the International Society of Toxinology (Toxicon) and continued throughout his life to support the study of toxins and venomous animals. He is recognized as one of the pioneering scientists to progress polyvalent crotalid antivenom for the use of snakebite envenomation. He served as professor of neurology, physiology and biology at the University of Southern California for over 30 years. He authored numerous scientific articles and books. In addition to his medical degree, he held a doctorate in English and was awarded an honorary degree in law from the University of Santa Barbara. His best known herpetological work was "Snake Venom Poisoning," published in 1980 by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

Findlay Russell was a renowned speaker and was well respected by his colleagues. He lived in Portal, Arizona, where he spent much time enjoying the high desert and collecting tarantulas, scorpions, spiders and rattlesnakes. Dr. Russell leaves five children, Christa Russell Cessaro, Sharon Russell Boyle, Robin Russell, Connie Lane, and Mark Russell.

To be able to live one's dream for a lifetime is a great thing. Findlay Russell did it.

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology and HerpDigest extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Findlay Russell.
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4) Twenty endangered Siamese crocodiles hatch in Laos Aug 28, 2011 4:47 PM, By JERRY HARMER

VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) - One of the world's rarest crocodile species has moved a little bit further from extinction with the hatching of 20 wild eggs plucked from a nest found in southern Laos.
Experts believe there could be as few as 300 Siamese crocodiles remaining in the world's swamps, forests and rivers, so the discovery of the nest - the first found in the mountainous, jungle-clad country since 2008 - is a significant step in the rehabilitation of a species that was declared extinct in the wild in 1992.

Since then, tiny populations have been discovered in remote corners of its range, which used to include most of Southeast Asia. Still, the crocs remain critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, the acknowledged authority on the status of global biodiversity.

Under the soft red light of an incubator, the 20 baby crocodiles tapped and cracked their way into the world last week. Their nest was found in the southern province of Savannakhet in June by a team of villagers trained by the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, which is working to save the species in landlocked Laos.

"The feeling was one of elation," Chris Hallam, who coordinates the organization's crocodile project in Laos, told The Associated Press about the hatching.

"When you look at the global population and the population in Laos it represents quite a significant number of individual crocodiles," he said.

The crocs were hatched at the Lao Zoo, just outside Vientiane, where they were moved to protect them from predators such as snakes and monitor lizards.

Hallam said the crocodiles will be raised in captivity for 18 months before being released back into the wild.

And it seems they won't be alone. Villagers recently found another nest in Savannakhet with 20 eggs inside. Because those crocs are so near to hatching, conservationists decided to leave them where they are with village teams keeping an eye on them.

The Siamese crocodile grows up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length but is generally docile. Their passive nature made them all the easier to hunt. In recent decades thousands were captured and sold to crocodile farms that sprung up across Southeast Asia, feeding a vogue for its renowned soft skin and a taste for its meat.

Several thousand of the crocodiles remain in farms and in zoos, though many have been crossbred with bigger species, reducing still further the numbers of pure Siamese crocodiles.
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5) TERMS OF REFERENCE
SHORT-TERM CONTRACT FOR A SEA TURTLE EXPERT Background and Objectives The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (www.iccat.int), an intergovernmental organization whose Secretariat headquarters is based in Madrid, Spain, is seeking to contract an expert to assist in the assessment of the impact of ICCAT fisheries on sea turtle populations. The assessment will be conducted in 2013, with preparations starting in 2012.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the ICCAT Executive Secretary, the Sea Turtle Expert will work with the Chairs of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) and the Sub-Committee on Ecosystems (SC-ECO) to assist scientists from CPCs in collecting, reviewing and identifying appropriate methods for the assessment of the impact of fisheries on the by-catch of sea turtles, in preparation for the assessment in 2013.
The duration of the contract will not exceed six months. Final deliverables are due no less than three months before the 2012 meeting of the Sub-Committee on Ecosystems. Deliverables are:
Deliverables

1) An SCRS paper identifying all fisheries (both ICCAT and others) within the ICCAT convention area that interact with sea turtles, including non-lethal interactions and identifying fisheries that do not report on sea turtle interactions.

2) An SCRS paper reviewing analytical techniques for use in assessing the impact of fisheries on sea turtles, including spatial and temporal interactions, and including the identification of the most suitable analytical techniques given the data available to ICCAT and SC-ECO.

3) A review of sea turtle mitigation measures across the five tuna RFMOs and other fisheries management organisations.
Specific duties include:
− Mitigation: Assist in a review of existing sea turtle by-catch mitigation measures and potential sources of by-catch information such as, and not limited to, peer-review publications, reports, working documents.
− Mortality: Collect information regarding the quantification of post-interaction mortality.
− Data: Help collate data sets on longline fishing effort with as much detail as possible (e.g., area fished, depth of fishing), as well as purse seine fisheries data.
− Database: Update the ICCAT by-catch database, as appropriate, with data on turtle by-catch and life history parameters.
− Modeling: Review methodologies available to assess the impact of fisheries on turtles,
including:
- data requirements and assumptions of each method;
- identifying appropriate models given the available data;
- assistance in recommending appropriate modeling approaches; and

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- interaction with scientists from CPCs and turtle experts and participation in multidisciplinary teams and committees.
The deliverables will be examined by the Secretariat, the SCRS Chair and the Convener of the Sub- Committee on Ecosystems, who may request additional information. The Contractor will then have an additional month to make the changes requested.
Copyright
All of the material produced by the Contractor will remain the property of ICCAT.
Contractor Qualifications and Experience (Essential) − Post-graduate degree in Marine Sciences, or a closely related field.
− Experience in population modeling and the development of management advice based on scientific studies.
− Demonstrated ability to make judicious choices as to the appropriateness of models based upon available data and knowledge and the use of fishery databases for use in assessments.
− Experience in participating in multi-disciplinary teams for ecosystem approach, fisheries biology and assessment.
− Demonstrated experience in computer modeling in relation to fisheries assessment and environmental database.
− Good knowledge of database management.
− Demonstrated capacity to conceptualize and quantify scientific problems associated with bycatch assessment and management and to communicate these orally and in writing.
Knowledge of the fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species within the ICCAT Convention area − Ability to work well under pressure and to work effectively and harmoniously with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
− Excellent working knowledge of one of ICCAT’s three official languages (English, French and Spanish).
Request for bids
Interested experts should submit the following information to the Executive Secretary (info@iccat.int) on or before September 12, 2011:
− A Curriculum Vitae;
− A detailed proposal of the work to be carried out (i.e., the methodology to be followed to research available data, the language, timeline) and explanation of qualifications.
− A total budget, which must include a two-week trip to Madrid to present an interim report to SCRS in 2012.
A Steering Committee will select the Contractor based on the above information.
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Contractors can be either individuals or research institutions such as government laboratories, universities, or private consultancy firms.
Disbursements will be made according to the following schedule: 10% upon signing of the contract, 50% upon complete deliverables 1 to 3, and 40% upon incorporation of comments by the Secretariat, the SCRS Chair and the Convener of the Sub-Committee on Ecosystems.
Logistics
All documents provided by the Contractor must be in MS Office or Open Office or compatible format.
The documents should be in English, French or Spanish.
All databases should be in ACCESS or MS SQL.
The Contractor will be responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted pictures or graphs.
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6) Sea Turtle Andre Dead, Three Weeks After Florida Release Posted by Kristeen Moore on August 27, 2011 11:04 AM

Sea turtle Andre was found dead on Wednesday, which was only three weeks after a team released the rehabilitated loggerhead back into the ocean, according to the Associated Press. Florida-based Loggerhead Marinelife Center had rescued Andre last June and rehabilitated the turtle before his release earlier this month.

Andre was located on Hutchinson Island, and was identified by a tag that the Center had placed on him prior to his release. David McClymont, president of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center told the Associated Press that the sea turtle was in such bad condition, that their staff could not determine the cause of death.

The green sea turtle was originally rescued by the Center on June 15, 2010, where he was found stranded on a sandbar. According to the Associated Press, two holes in Andre’s shell from boat accidents resulted in the sea turtle carrying around three pounds of sand in his body, as well as a few crabs. Andre also suffered a collapsed lung, pneumonia, an exposed spine and an infection.
Veterinarians with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center recognized that the turtle had good neurological function, an indication that he could be rehabilitated. His rehabilitation marked new advancements in the search and rescue of subsequent sea turtles.

Andre was 177 pounds and approximately 25-years-old upon his release, according to the Associated Press.

Sea turtles are an endangered species. It is currently nesting season along the coasts of Florida. Hurricane Irene is thought to have disrupted the nests of some sea turtles along Florida’s east coast.
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7) Zoo vet makes house calls for sick turtles by ALLAN TURNER, HOUSTON CHRONICLE August 26, 2011

GALVESTON - Eighteen years ago, a lunch plate-sized female Kemp's ridley sea turtle - one of thousands hatched and nurtured to save the species from extinction - was released off Galveston Island. This May, the turtle, weighing about 100 pounds and laden with dozens of eggs, returned to nest near Jamaica Beach.

It should have been a victorious return, an indication that the endangered species, reduced to only 300 known breeding females in 1985, was making a comeback. But this return was no success.
A boat's propeller had cleaved a 100-square-inch segment from the animal's shell, shattering much of what remained. Bleeding, oozing, its mangled rear quarters resembling hamburger meat, the turtle that would be designated LNH110528-01 seemed destined to die.

Discovered by a beachcomber, the animal was taken to the National Marine Fisheries Service's Galveston turtle hospital and a frantic call was placed to Dr. Joe Flanagan, veterinary chief at the Houston Zoo.
When it comes to sick or injured turtles, Flanagan, 53, is the region's go-to doc, a gray-haired, avuncular Dr. Oz, Marcus Welby and Dr. Ruth rolled into one. Ben Higgins, manager of the fishery service's sea turtle program, calls Flanagan's volunteer work key to his hospital's success.
"We can't afford a veterinarian," he says.

Up to 45 turtles a year - victims of infections, propellers or fishhooks - come under Flanagan's care. Most are treated at the Houston Zoo, where he oversees the 17-member team charged with caring for the facility's 6,000 animals.

Those requiring long-term care are kept in tanks at the Galveston hospital, an unfunded sideline of the federal program to test strategies to save turtles from commercial fishing operations.
Armed with a sophisticated pharmaceutical arsenal and skilled at delicate surgical maneuvers accomplished through tissues outside the shell, Flanagan modestly plays down his role in turtle health.
"Turtles," he says, "will survive."

Flanagan, a Nebraska native who took his veterinary training at Iowa State University, professes a fascination with turtles that dates to his childhood.

"They occur all over the world, from oceans to deserts. They all hatch from eggs, but some in less than two months and others in 18. The come in all sizes. Some fit in the palm of your hand, some are 6 to 8 feet. … They're just neat to look at."

This week, Flanagan's hospitalized patients included tiny hawksbill turtles whose flippers were severed by fibers of nylon bags in which they'd become entangled; a turtle that suffered bleeding after a fishhook was extracted from its neck; loggerhead hatchlings that inexplicably stopped eating; and LNH110528-01, which was to be examined for possible release.
Touch-and-go

The fate of the stranded ridley was touch-and-go after she was discovered May 28 while attempting to dig nest holes near Jamaica Beach. A boat's propeller had sliced away much of her shell, exposing muscle, fat and connective tissue.

"It was certain that a person couldn't go through that surgically without worry of totally contaminating the abdominal cavity," Flanagan says.

An ultrasound showed she was filled with eggs. Flanagan administered oxytocin, medication to induce laying, obtaining 68 eggs, most of which hatched. Systemic anti­biotics were given, but the situation remained grim.

The turtle refused to eat, either because she was suffering intense pain or because other eggs remained in her body. X-rays showed she still carried more than a dozen eggs.

A "living tag" on the turtle's shell revealed it had been one of the ridleys hatched in a discontinued Galveston breeding program in 1993. Flanagan, who had worked as a volunteer in that program, feels a special tie to the injured animal. Recalling her fate "almost brought tears to my eyes."

In mid-July, broken shells were found in her tank. More oxytocin was given and the rest of the eggs expelled. At that point, the patient's health and prognosis improved. The open wounds have sealed and toughened.

Not quite ready to go

Although a final decision has not been made, it appears after Flanagan's examination of the turtle that the ridley is not ready to be released.

Protective bone eventually will grow beneath the damaged shell, but that process could take a year. Fractured parts of the remaining shell could be reinforced with braces, but there's no guarantee the patch would last.

"If we release her as she is," Flanagan says, "she never will heal."
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8) National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center adds endangered species, emphasizes preservation By Amanda Long, Published: August 18, Washington Post,

When you realize your home’s look hasn’t evolved much since its post-college phase, you put the Ikea bookshelves on Craigslist, start searching for a contractor who won’t drive you crazy, scrutinize endless tile samples and stop considering Pottery Barn too public a venue to fight with your spouse. Then you prepare the neighbors and pay the county.

When you realize your reptile house is “stuck in the ’80s,” as National Zoo biologist Matt Evans did last year, you put your aging non-endangered snakes, turtles and lizards on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ “status list” (a Freecycle of sorts for curators), work the phones to find a new home for unwanted animals, and start cashing in favors from former colleagues whose zoos have just the gecko you gotta have. Then you prepare the neighbors: Tell the plant people you need new native plants, the commissary you need new meat, and the vet you need quarantine space. And you cross your fingers and hope no red tape keeps the Smithsonian’s Reptile Discovery Center from getting fresh, new cold blood.
Kinda makes your remodeling look less beastly.

When Dennis Kelly left his post at Zoo Atlanta to take over the National Zoo last year, he made species preservation his top priority. He enlisted Evans and Jim Murphy, a research associate, to do a massive remodeling of its “geriatric” inventory, while revamping its mission: more research, more species protection and more endangered animals.

The Smithsonian’s zoo wasn’t, as Evans says, “doing much in the way of science” or leading the country in species preservation, so the 71-year-old Murphy, a giant in herpetology circles, was called out of semi-retirement to head up the Reptile Discovery Center.

“Firing up the herpetologists is Jim’s forte,” said David Chiszar, an animal behaviorist and snake specialist at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In terms of research and journal contributions, Chiszar says, “Murphy is probably in the top five across all zoos and across all the years we have had zoos in the U.S.”

It was the conservation aspect that lured Murphy out of semi-retirement: “I am convinced that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event of animals and plants, caused by humans,” he says. The fifth cleared the planet of dinosaurs. “I know hundreds of biologists, and not one is optimistic. It is incumbent upon me to alert others to this looming catastrophe.”

With every new endangered Malagasy leaf-tailed gecko now calling Woodley Park home, Evans and Murphy are shifting the Reptile Discovery Center from a static, but crowd-pleasing, collection that hadn’t turned over in decades to one that has 13 new species.

To make room for the 33 and counting newcomers, the reptile center team “deaccessioned” 57 animals. Deaccessioning is the right-sizing of the museum world. One day, you’re hanging out with the other leopard geckos munching on mealworms, the next you’re at the Bramble Park Zoo in South Dakota.

But think about it: It is not that easy to find a good home for a leopard gecko.

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Sale $10.00 off
Life in a Shell: A Physiologist's View of a Turtle Hardcover, Donald C. Jackson, Hardcover, 192 pages, Harvard University Press, $29.95 plus $6.00 S&H

Product Description

Trundling along in essentially the same form for some 220 million years, turtles have seen dinosaurs come and go, mammals emerge, and humankind expand its dominion. Is it any wonder the persistent reptile bested the hare? In this engaging book physiologist Donald Jackson shares a lifetime of observation of this curious creature, allowing us a look under the shell of an animal at once so familiar and so strange.

Here we discover how the turtle’s proverbial slowness helps it survive a long, cold winter under ice. How the shell not only serves as a protective home but also influences such essential functions as buoyancy control, breathing, and surviving remarkably long periods without oxygen, and how many other physiological features help define this unique animal. Jackson offers insight into what exactly it’s like to live inside a shell—to carry the heavy carapace on land and in water, to breathe without an expandable ribcage, to have sex with all that body armor intervening.

Along the way we also learn something about the process of scientific discovery—how the answer to one question leads to new questions, how a chance observation can change the direction of study, and above all how new research always builds on the previous work of others. A clear and informative exposition of physiological concepts using the turtle as a model organism, the book is as interesting for what it tells us about scientific investigation as it is for its deep and detailed understanding of how the enduring turtle “works.”

About the Author
Donald C. Jackson is Professor Emeritus of Medical Science, Brown University.
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FORBIDDEN CREATURES: inside the world of animal smuggling and exotic pets. by Peter Laufer, 2010. Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut. Hardcover $19.95 250 pages, plus $6.00 for S&H (Only one copy left)

THE ECOLOGY, EXPLOITATION AND CONSERVATION OF RIVER TURTLES by Don Moll and Edward O. Moll. Considered by turtle scientists, and conservationists as one of the best books on turtle conservation. 420 pages; 90 halftones & 3 line illus.; 6-1/8 x 9-1/4; List price $80, now $35.00 plus $7.50 S&H. )Since book is now out of print, available only through used book sites like Alibris where cheapest price for a copy is $121.00) (Only 2 copies left.)

AMPHIBIAN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION: A HANDBOOK OF TECHNIQUES (TECHNIQUES IN ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION) (Paperback) by C. Kenneth Dodd Jr. (Editor) 556 pages, USA, Oxford Univ. Press. Available. $59.95 plus $7.50 S&H By editor Kenneth Dodd. (Only one copy left.)

“TURTLES: THE ANIMAL ANSWER GUIDE.” By Whit Gibbons and Judy Greene of the Savannah River Ecology Lab. © 2009 176 pages, 35 color photos, 64 halftones, Paperback., 7” x 11”-$24.95 PLUS $6.00 S&H - A book any nature center or science class should have. (Only have 1 copy )

ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF AMPHIBIANS Stan Hillman, Philip Withers, Robert Drewes and Stan Hillyard
464 pages; 105 line, 55 halftone illustrations; 6-1/2 x 9-1/4; softcover.
Price: $65.00 Plus $7.50 for S&H

EXTINCTION IN OUR TIMES-GLOBAL AMPHIBIAN DECLINE James P. Collins and Martha L. Crump Foreword by Thomas E. Lovejoy III
304 pages; 25 halftone and 3 line illus.; 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 Hardback, 304 pages, 25 halftone and 3 line illus.; 6-1/8 x 9-1/4
Price: $29.95, Plus $7.50 for S&H.


Here are two books on turtles and tortoises worth having.

New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00

STAR TORTOISES
By Jerry Fife
$14.95 + $300 s/h
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Photos and graphs that are part of the story like #9, the link to the original article with all the visual material is there. Ditto for interesting videos on Youtube.

[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 39/ 9/7/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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A HERPDIGEST EXCLUSIVE -Autograph copies of “Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator,” by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
Deadline 9/25/11. Guaranteed to be the Most Talked About Book in This Fall and Winter, After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.

An Important note: The deadline was based on the logistics of getting a certain amount of books signed, considering the writer’s schedules and when the book will arrive from the publisher. So also we limited the number of books that will be signed. 75.

But we did not expect the demand for the book to be so great. We have paid reservations for already 35 books. And the offer is only 7 days old. So don’t delay, get your orders in.For more information on the book and how to order see below.
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Table of Contents
1) Rapid Range Shifts of Species Associated with High Levels of Climate Warming
2) Arrests made in alligator hunting, Mississippi
3) Geometry of Sex: How Body Size Could Lead to New Species
4) Agencies work to preserve habitat of gopher frogs (US)
5) Desert Tortoises to Get Special Attention - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to set up several teams to take a closer look at its 17-year-old recovery plan for the estimated 100,000 endangered Mojave Desert tortoises.
6) Frog Jump Jockeys Ready for LEAP at Stardom - Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee officials say they will unveil their new Let Every American Participate (LEAP) frog jockey program during a segment to be broadcast between 8:30 and 9 a.m. during Wednesday's "Today" show. (Last Wednesday, did anyone see it?) The show's version of a frog jump will be different than the one held each May.
7) Don't tread on diamondback! ESA Protection sought for East Diamondback Rattlesnake snake a native of S. Alabama
8) Hernando County Florida will relocate gopher tortoises before landfill work
9) New tool in cane toad fight-a way to affect the growth of tadpole by using its own chemicals.
10) Reptile man and city tangle over rules - Dix’s Reptile Rescue Services __________________________________________________________
PLEASE KEEP THOSE DONATIONS COMING. You’ve sent in enough donations to ensure that HerpDigest will continue into next year, but how far depends on how much you send.
So any size donation is Helpful - $10- $15-$25-$50-$100. How to donate is the same as how to order a book like the new one on “Invasive Pythons in the U.S.” (see below)

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THIS WEEK I WOULD LIKE TO THANK: Jakko J. Gustason, George and Larue Sellers, Cunthia Johnstone, Terese L. Meyer Patricia Bartlett and Allison H. Banks for their donations.
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Snapperfest Status: On hold, literally. I am waiting for people to call back. If I don’t hear from them soon. I will call again. If you represent any group that would like to join the fight, or know of someone in a group you feel should be contacted, please contact me at asalzberg@herpdigest.org or call 1-718-275-2190.
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1) Rapid Range Shifts of Species Associated with High Levels of Climate Warming Science 19 August 2011:
Vol. 333 no. 6045 pp. 1024-1026
DOI: 10.1126/science.1206432

I-Ching Chen1,2,
Jane K. Hill1,
Ralf Ohlemüller3,
David B. Roy4,
Chris D. Thomas1,*

+ Author Affiliations
1Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK.
2Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang Taipei 115, Taiwan.
3School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
4Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK.
↵*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: chris.thomas@york.ac.uk

Abstract
The distributions of many terrestrial organisms are currently shifting in latitude or elevation in response to changing climate. Using a meta-analysis, we estimated that the distributions of species have recently shifted to higher elevations at a median rate of 11.0 meters per decade, and to higher latitudes at a median rate of 16.9 kilometers per decade. These rates are approximately two and three times faster than previously reported. The distances moved by species are greatest in studies showing the highest levels of warming, with average latitudinal shifts being generally sufficient to track temperature changes. However, individual species vary greatly in their rates of change, suggesting that the range shift of each species depends on multiple internal species traits and external drivers of change. Rapid average shifts derive from a wide diversity of responses by individual species.
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2) Arrests made in alligator hunting
WLBT (Jackson, Mississippi) 8/30/11 by Marsha Thompson

WLBT News has learned that four people have been arrested for illegally hunting and killing alligators out of season. They also face charges of having alligator remains in their possession. Mississippi Wildlife officials busted the men Saturday on the Pearl River in Lawrence County.

The group includes Christian Collins, 23, from Wesson. Also taken into custody was Michael Easterling, 21, of Wesson. Spencer Pell, 22, of Crystal Springs was booked and charged with one count of unlawfulling killing an alligator and one county of possession of an alligator. And Johnny Dow, 19, of Crystal Springs was arrested with the group.

All four were released on a $2,000 dollar bond after being booked into the Lawrence County jail. A state Wildlife official tells us the men were spotted during a routine patrol by gaming officers and tried to run. The men were stopped and officers noticed bloody shirts. The remains of an alligator were in the back of their truck.

A home was also searched and items recovered along with the remains of other alligators, according to Jim Walker with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks.

Alligator season starts in two weeks.
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3) Geometry of Sex: How Body Size Could Lead to New Species Science Daily, Rockville, Maryland, 8/29/11

Different species of scincid lizards, commonly known as skinks, rarely interbreed, but it's not for lack of trying. According to Jonathan Richmond, a researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey, different species of skinks in western North America will often try to mate with each other when given the opportunity, but mechanical difficulties caused by differing body sizes can cause these encounters to fail.

After observing hundreds of cross-species mating attempts in the lab, Richmond and his colleagues developed a computational model showing how size differences create reproductive barriers between skink species. In order to align their genitals for successful insemination, the male must corkscrew his body around the female. Once the sizes of the male and female diverge outside the threshold of the researchers' model, successful mating was very rare. The model elucidates the role body size plays in splitting skinks into separate species. For skinks, it apparently isn't behavioral preference that prevents gene flow between species. It's the mechanics of body size.

"As size diverges, the corkscrew fails," Richmond said. "In this case, it just happens that this is about the only thing necessary to get the ball rolling for speciation."

The research appears in the September 2011 issue of the The American Naturalist, published by The University of Chicago Press for The American Society of Naturalists.
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4) Agencies work to preserve habitat of gopher frogs Sun Herald, 8/29/11, Gulfport, Mississippi by Nicole Dow

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service met Monday in Vancleave to discuss efforts to protect, maintain and expand the habitats of the gopher frog, an endangered species, and other threatened species in the longleaf pine ecosystem.

The gopher frog has an estimated population of 250 adults with most known frogs living in Glen’s Pond in the DeSoto National Forest in Harrison County and Mike’s Pond in Jackson County. Efforts have also been made to transfer tadpoles and young frogs to The Nature Conservancy’s preserve at Old Fort Bayou in Jackson County to establish a new population.

Government funding is needed to help protect the ecosystem and the species that struggle to live there. Last year, DeSoto National Forest was one of the highest ranked proposals for funding through government restoration programs but the money ended up going to other projects, said Jim Murrian, executive director of The Nature Conservancy.

“We are really hoping and confident that if the funding in the program (remains as estimated), that DeSoto will be selected this year,” Murrian said. “Just that one program could add hundreds of jobs over a five-year period and just continue to enhance the jewel that we have here.”

USDA’s National Resource Conservation Service is also seeking out private landowners looking to donate or sell property that’s a favorable habitat for gopher frogs and other threatened species. Gopher frogs live in upland sandy habitats of the longleaf pine ecosystem and breed in shallow, fishless wetlands embedded within the woodlands.

Mike’s Pond in Jackson County, which is currently dried out making it impossible for the gopher frogs to breed, was donated by a private conservationist in 2004.

Gopher frogs rely on other species in the longleaf pine ecosystem for survival, such as the gopher tortoise, another threatened species. Gopher frogs use the burrows created by gopher tortoises as a refuge from heat and from wildfires, said Jim Lee, a biologist with The Nature Conservancy.

Wildfires are necessary, however, as they keep vegetation from growing out of reach for several species, Murrian said, and they restore certain nutrients back to the ground.
“This habitat depends on frequent fire,” he said.
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5) Desert Tortoises to Get Special Attention - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to set up several teams to take a closer look at its 17-year-old recovery plan for the estimated 100,000 endangered Mojave Desert tortoises.
Mohave Daily News Bullhead City, Arizona, 8/29/11 by Uriel J. Garcia

Washington: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to set up several teams to take a closer look at its 17-year-old recovery plan for the estimated 100,000 endangered Mojave Desert tortoises.
The agency announced that the five teams, to be deployed in the coming months, will look at enforcement of current regulations and will document other factors affecting the tortoise, which lives in parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and northern Mexico.

The teams will be expected to look for trends related to the tortoise’s population and compile that information in a database, which is new to the species recovery plan, said Roy Averill-Murray, a coordinator with the agency. Teams will also make sure police are regulating traffic in designated areas where the tortoises live.

“This (new) plan is addressing some shortcomings from the original 1994 plan,” Averill-Murray said. “We’re going to be tracking what is actually being implemented and enforce regulations already on the books.”

But at least one environmental group worries that the new plan does not go far enough — and may actually be a step backward.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service in the past has been a spearhead for recovery plans,” said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “But this plan has watered down some things.”

She said that, among other potential issues, the latest plan does not directly address urban development and renewable energy projects around the tortoises’ homes. Such projects have caused the tortoises to migrate to areas unsuitable to their nature or have ruined grass in the area so the tortoises cannot eat.

Anderson also takes issue with the potential makeup of the teams. The service has reached out to local government groups such as the Arizona Game and Fish Department and expects other interest groups to apply.

The plan said, “Teams will include a member of (the Fish and Wildlife Service) to provide guidance and coordination to land/wildlife managers and stakeholders on the teams.”

But to Anderson, the “stakeholders” might not be experts in the field and might not consider the tortoise the same way a scientist might. “And that’s the scary part,” she said.

In 2001, there were an estimated 100,000 Mojave tortoises in the Southwest, but it is unclear if the number has gone up or down since then, Averill-Murray said.

“The tortoise population grows very slowly,” he said. “There is no real evidence that the population has grown dramatically or dropped down dramatically.”

One of the objectives of this new plan is to keep track of the growth or declines in the tortoise population, if any, in coming years, Averill-Murray said.
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6) Frog Jump Jockeys Ready for LEAP at Stardom - Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee officials say they will unveil their new Let Every American Participate (LEAP) frog jockey program during a segment to be broadcast between 8:30 and 9 a.m. during Wednesday's "Today" show. (Last Wednesday, did anyone see it?) The show's version of a frog jump will be different than the one held each May.
Stockton Record, 8/30/11, by Dana M. Nichols

Angels Camp: Many Americans admire and respect Mark Twain, but few ever prove it in the proper manner by getting intimate with an amphibian in an official frog-jumping contest.

Outside of Angels Camp and Hannibal, Mo., frog-jumping contests are rare. And so are opportunities to honor Twain for "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," the story that started the fame of America's most famous author.

All that's about to change.

Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee officials say they will unveil their new Let Every American Participate frog jockey program during a segment to be broadcast between 8:30 and 9 a.m. during Wednesday's "Today" show.

The show airs on NBC affiliates across the nation.

The show's version of a frog jump will be different than the one held each May in Calaveras County. In the Calaveras contest, frog jockeys go one at a time and urge their frogs to cover the longest possible distance in three consecutive jumps.

The "Today" show version of a frog jump will have all four show hosts jockeying frogs simultaneously toward a finish line.

Wednesday, on national television, Calaveras frog-jump boosters will announce a new initiative that will allow any literature-loving American, or even foreigners for that matter, to get involved by hiring a genuine young Calaveras County frog jockey to jump a frog on the sponsor's behalf.
Organizers call it LEAP, for Let Every American Participate.

Lacey Neufeld, a spokeswoman for the fair, that for $10 per entry, people who can't make it to Calaveras County for the annual frog jump in May can hire one of a number of children.

Those children, in turn, will give the frog the name chosen by the sponsor and will even use the frog-wrangling techniques specified by the sponsor, whether stomping, shouting, floor slapping, blowing a puff of air or any other legal method.

Money raised will go to the Friends of the Fair, a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the fair.

"If the program takes off and does really well, we want to give money back to the schools that our frog jockeys attend. We want to give back to the community," Neufeld said.

And that seems only fair. In the original work of fiction by Twain, a con artist from out of the area cheats, and so wins a frog-jumping bet with a Calaveras County resident.

Although Calaveras County residents have, in the past won the real frog jump, their luck has waned in the past half decade as they've had to endure five straight years of victories by the Bozos frog team of Sacramento.

The nation will hear about the new jockey program and witness a modified frog jump contest during NBC's "Today" show, broadcast Wednesday morning from New York City.

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7) Don't tread on diamondback! ESA Protection sought for East Diamondback Rattlesnake snake a native of S. Alabama Brimingham News, 8/23/11, by Thomas Spencer,

A coalition of environmental groups has asked that eastern diamondback rattlesnakes be protected under the Endangered Species Act, because of declining numbers in a shrinking range.
The petition, filed by the groups the Center for Biological Diversity, Protect All Living Species and One More Generation, ask that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service list the venomous snake as a threatened species.

The eastern diamondback occurs on the coastal plain, from the Carolinas to Louisiana including in South Alabama. But the petitioners say its range is shrinking with the disappearance and fragmentation of the longleaf pine forest that historically has been the snake's primary habitat.

In addition to the loss of habitat, the petition says that hunting the snakes for their skin and holding annual rattlesnake roundups have contributed to the snake's decline.

That notion drew scorn from Don Childre, a city planner for Opp and a long-time volunteer with the Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo, one of the dwindling number of snake-hunting festivals.

Childre doesn't believe the snakes are in decline. He listed three people, including an Opp city councilman, who have been bitten by rattlers in recent years.

"There is no shortage of rattlesnakes in South Alabama. Where are they from?" Childre asked of the petitioners. "New York City?"

Actually, the petition is based on the work of biologists, scientists and conservation officials working in the South. They estimate that there once were more than 3 million eastern diamondbacks in the United States, but the current population may be just 100,000.

The once-abundant longleaf pine savannas where the snakes thrived were logged extensively through the 1930s. Since then, the tendency to plant other pine species for harvest and to suppress forest fires, which are key to the evolution of savanna habitats, has left little prime habitat available. Other species that thrived there, such as gopher tortoises and eastern indigo snakes, also are in decline.
"It is evident that there are declines in not only the eastern diamondback, but also in a lot of species that are associated with long leaf pine ecosystems," said Mark Sasser, a non-game wildlife coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

"The most respected herpetologists in the southern United States have well documented the decline of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. It is not a judgmental opinion; it is a scientific fact."
Sasser said the state of Alabama considers the snake a species of high conservation concern, though at this time it does not receive any protection. He said the state is working with Fish & Wildlife to reestablish suitable habitat so the species can rebound to the point it doesn't need protection. "That is our ultimate goal," Sasser said.

They also are trying to raise awareness of the rattlesnake's plight.

"We are trying to influence people not to collect the snakes from the wild," Sasser said.
Childre said that, since the city of Opp took over the rodeo in recent years, the number of snakes corralled has been limited. He said that was out of choice, because festival organizers didn't want to deal with the hundreds of snakes collected in the old days.

In its heyday, snake hunters would round up as many as 400 snakes. The city now aims for 60 to 70 snakes, he said, and the fried rattlesnakes served at the rodeo are western diamondbacks from Texas.

The captured snakes are milked for their venom, shared with researchers, or are used to train hunting dogs to avoid them. "We turn some of them loose. It depends on the situation at the time," Childre said.

The rodeo has evolved into more of a community festival of beauty pageants, fun runs and country music concerts. Childre said the snakes are less of a central attraction, but are still a part of the draw.
People come from all the way from Birmingham and want to see a snake," he said.
Childre said he thinks conservationists aren't looking in the right places for the snakes. "They are still here if you know where to look," he said.

Childre said the rattlesnakes still can be found in young or cut over pine plantations, or in old agriculture fields. At least on this point, the science agrees. Snakes do make a home in those conditions according to biologists. However, as those forests mature, the underbrush becomes too dense and isn't suitable for snakes.

Sasser said its harder to convince people to preserve an eastern diamondback rattlesnake than, say, a manatee.

"It is very valuable to the ecosystem, but it doesn't get a lot of love," he said. "They serve a vital role in the environment. Everything is there for a reason. Without snakes in general to control rodent populations we would be knee deep."
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8) Hernando County will relocate gopher tortoises before landfill work St. Petersburg Times, (FL) 8/31/11 by Tony Marrero

Brooksville: One of the first steps in a multimillion-dollar project to close two sections of the Hernando County landfill is to find new homes for dozens of hard-shelled critters that live nearby.

The plan to cap garbage cells One and Two calls for a plastic liner covered by a 6-inch-deep layer of dirt across a total of 19 acres, said Scott Harper, Solid Waste Services manager.

The county will save hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking that dirt from another area of the 386-acre landfill site off U.S. 98, north of Brooksville.

As Harper put it: "Why go buy it when I have it here?"

First, though, the county will have to move the inhabitants of 108 active gopher tortoise burrows on site. The burrows are included in a biological site survey completed earlier this month by Coastal Engineering of Brooksville. Many of the burrows were identified as the homes of juvenile and sub-adult tortoises.

The gopher tortoise is a protected species in Florida, so the county needs a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to move them. Contractors that specialize in gopher tortoise relocation will submit bids for the project on Sept. 14. Asked for his best guess of what the price tag might be, Harper offered a "really rough" estimate of $80,000.

The tortoises are in two places. One is a roughly 37-acre tract east of the Suncoast Parkway that is the future site of Cell Four, so the land will have to be excavated anyway as part of that cell's construction several years from now. The area is covered in pine trees planted years ago that are now about six to eight inches in diameter. The county will sell the trees, Harper said.

The majority of the tortoises are in a 20-acre clearing on the south side of the property where excess dirt not used to cap the cells will be stored.

The plan is to have the tortoises removed by November, about the time the cell capping project will be put out to bid, Harper said.

The capping project could start in January and be completed in three to four months.

The price tag for the project should come in under $3 million, Harper said.

"And that's a good deal," he said, citing a still sputtering economy that helped bring down construction costs.

One variable affecting the final bill will be fuel costs. The majority of the expense for the capping project is for the plastic liner, which is a petroleum product, Harper said. Sod is planted on top of the dirt layer.

The county already has the money for the capping project. State law requires landfill operators to set aside funds to cover the cost of closing a landfill and for long-term maintenance. Hernando has about $8 million in its fund, Harper said.

The county opened Cell Three last September with a couple of months to spare before the existing cells reached capacity. The new cell is expected to last about 15 years.
Relocating gopher tortoises is often part of the cost of construction in Florida. The species favors sandhills, scrubland, oak hammock and dry pine flatwoods but can also be found in pastures and old fields.

It's impossible to know the final price tag for relocation until the work is finished and a final tortoise count is done. The county is paying about $63,000 to two firms to relocate an estimated 60 tortoises to accommodate the widening of Sunshine Grove Road.

Relocation is preferable to what happened before 2007, when developers could pay FWC for a permit allowing them to disturb land without regard for tortoises, said George Heinrich, owner of Heinrich Ecological Services in St. Petersburg.

But moving tortoises is still fraught with problems, possibly spreading disease, skewering gender ratios and upsetting social behavior, Heinrich said.

"Of course, the consulting firms support relocation because there's a bundle of money to be made, and from a humane perspective people are just glad they're not being buried alive," Heinrich said. "But there are a lot of other animals that are being buried alive, and there is little concern for the loss of upland habitat."
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9) New tool in cane toad fight-a way to affect the growth of tadpole by using its own chemicals.
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) 8/31/11, by Lucy Rickard

Australian scientists have identified a new potential weapon in the battle to control invading cane toads in Australia.

Professor Richard Shine from the University of Sydney led the study, which found a way to affect the growth of tadpole by using its own chemicals.

When cane toad eggs are exposed to this particular chemical emitted from tadpoles, the offspring from those eggs were less likely to survive.

Those exposed also grew much slower than a normal cane toad, developing into small toads, unlikely to survive in the wild.

These tadpoles would also be much more vulnerable to predation, being half the size of a regular cane toad and significantly weaker.

Professor Shine, one of the country's leading researchers into the impact and control of the cane toad, said that the findings means that native species would not be affected if this were to be implemented.
Ben Scott-Virtue, field coordinator at the Kimberley Toad Busters welcomed the research which he said backed up his belief that toads needed to be stopped from a minimalistic level and using a variety of approaches.

"It really is the most effective way, if you can get them in the egg stage then that is fantastic," Mr Scott-Virtue said.

He said the toads had made it past Kununurra, and were now about 30 kilometres west of the Kimberley town.

At the peak of the wet season, hundreds of adult toads could be found in one night but that number had reduced dramatically in recent weeks with "toad busters" struggling to find a dozen at previous hotspots.

He said it was always going to be a battle when trying to eliminate "the most fertile animal on face on the planet" and he was confident that research such as Professor Shine's would eventually lead to their demise.

Professor Shine said that ideally his research would be used with a combination of other tools to combat the toad spreading, while also being used locally in Queensland to reduce numbers and eventually eliminate

"I am hopeful that this will be a component of the strategy," he said.

"There is a lot of research being done on this; this is just one of them and a combination of them has got all sorts of potential.

He said the next step was to work out what the chemical actually was, and to ensure it had no negative implications on other fauna.

Professor Shine's findings are being published in the Royal Society's Biology Letters today.
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10)Reptile man and city tangle over rules - Dix’s Reptile Rescue Services Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) 8/29/11 by Tony Semerad

West Valley City: City officials struggled Monday to find a new location for reptile expert Jim Dix and his hundreds of snakes, lizards and other wild animals, by offering him temporary access to the city’s old animal shelter.

The abandoned shelter, at 4063 S. 7200 West in West Valley City, was put forward as a temporary home for Dix’s Reptile Rescue Services while he works through a city application process to move permanently to a more rural locale being offered by Kennecott Utah Copper.

Dix — who is being forced from his West Valley home by the Utah Department of Transportation to make way for the Mountain View Corridor transit project — is taking issue with several city conditions on his use of the facility.

In a frequently testy meeting Monday at City Hall, the 52-year-old reptile expert said he feared the city’s proposal might ultimately allow officials to seize and euthanize his collection of animals.

“You want control of those animals so you can destroy them if I’m not out of there in 90 days,” Dix told Assistant City Manager Paul Isaac. “Do you have any idea how bad you’d look on that?”

Isaac said the city was proposing the old shelter site as a way to buy time while officials sort through a long list of challenges Dix faces in complying with housing, business and zoning regulations to secure a final site.

Reptile Rescue Services has evolved since it was first approved, Isaac said, changing from a rescue operation — in which venomous snakes, large lizards and rescued mammals such as coyotes and raccoons were to be adopted or relocated — into a permanent sanctuary for scores of threatening species.

Dix, one of the few Utahns licensed to handle rattlesnakes, now has more than 500 abandoned, seized or injured reptiles and mammals in his care, most of them considered dangerous. He has a long track record of working with scores of municipal and private shelters, police agencies and animal-control officers statewide to rescue creatures nobody else is prepared to handle.

Many of his 200 or so “permanent residents,” as Dix calls them, are kept on-hand for training law enforcement officers as well as community outreach and education.

City officials say Dix must file a formal application detailing his intentions for a proposed facility on Kennecott land. While promising expedited review, Isaac said final approval will be up to planning and zoning officials and the City Council — and they might force new rules to be written to cover the facility.
“We have no zoo ordinance,” said Isaac. “We can’t just waive our existing laws.”

Isaac said city officials would need control over the animals while they are housed at the city-owned shelter site to guarantee public safety and to avoid a stalemate later if Dix can’t find a permanent locale.

The city also wants him to stop accepting new animals while he’s at the shelter site, another condition Dix said could be a deal-breaker.

The increasingly desperate negotiations go on as several deadlines loom.

Officials for UDOT have needed Dix out of his home — with its rooms piled to the ceiling with aquariums and cages — since May 31. The agency already has relocated residents and torn down more than 40 other homes, between 3500 and 4500 South on about 5700 West, to make way for preliminary utility work.

Kennecott officials are impatient in their offer of up to 10 acres of land as a permanent site, Dix said, and they need city assurances the relocation will be allowed — guarantees the city says it can’t make without a review.

Meanwhile, as winter rolls in, the prospect of moving hundreds of temperature-sensitive rattlesnakes, boa constrictors, iguanas, alligators, frogs and other reptiles becomes increasingly impossible.

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Life in a Shell: A Physiologist's View of a Turtle Hardcover, Donald C. Jackson, Hardcover, 192 pages, Harvard University Press, $29.95 plus $6.00 S&H

Product Description

Trundling along in essentially the same form for some 220 million years, turtles have seen dinosaurs come and go, mammals emerge, and humankind expand its dominion. Is it any wonder the persistent reptile bested the hare? In this engaging book physiologist Donald Jackson shares a lifetime of observation of this curious creature, allowing us a look under the shell of an animal at once so familiar and so strange.

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Along the way we also learn something about the process of scientific discovery—how the answer to one question leads to new questions, how a chance observation can change the direction of study, and above all how new research always builds on the previous work of others. A clear and informative exposition of physiological concepts using the turtle as a model organism, the book is as interesting for what it tells us about scientific investigation as it is for its deep and detailed understanding of how the enduring turtle “works.”

About the Author
Donald C. Jackson is Professor Emeritus of Medical Science, Brown University.
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00

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By Jerry Fife
$14.95 + $300 s/h
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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 40 9/22/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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Get Your Guaranteed Autograph copies of “Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator,” by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
Due to demand the authors have extended the deadline for that guarantee to 9/30/11. But one guarantee that will extend far past 9/30, is that it will be the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
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Turtles 2012 Full Color Calendar - A Great Gift to You or That Special Turtle Person in Your Life. ORDER NOW, I MEAN IT.. We now only have 24 left in stock. And based on previous rates of sale will we will be sold out by the end of October.
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Table of Contents
1) 2012 HL Graduate Student Calendar
2) MAPLELEAF MARINE TURTLES NEED BOOST
3) Dr. Louis Guillette - Winner of One of This Year’s Heinz Awards
4) Online Dating Saves Endangered Frogs
5) "Frog Crossing" Signs Leave Taxpayers Hopping Mad
6) 6)Hanoi village conserves snake business NT abused and forgot Cassius the Crocodile, now they want him back - Recognized As World’s Largest Crocodile in Captivity at 5.48m
8) Anger over shot croc
9) Cold-blooded lizards warm hearts of MSUB biology students
10) Coquis Frog May be Leveling off in Hawaii


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PLEASE KEEP THOSE DONATIONS COMING. You’ve sent in enough donations to ensure that HerpDigest will continue into next year, but how far depends on how much you send.
So any size donation is Helpful - $10- $15-$25-$50-$100. How to donate is the same as how to order a book like the new one on “Invasive Pythons in the U.S,” or the “2012 Turtle Calendar.”(see below) ______________________________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK I WOULD LIKE TO THANK: Wendy Townsend, Philip Roy, Kevin Campbell Cynthia and Matt Johnstone
_____________________________________________________________________________
Snapperfest Status: Go to the NYTTS home page, there is a new film of what happened at Snapperfest 2011. Someone got in. If you represent any group that would like to join the fight, or know of someone in a group you feel should be contacted, please contact me at asalzberg@herpdigest.org.

And I would Like to thank The Association of Amphibian and Reptiles Veterinarians and the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society for being the first herp groups to join the fight.
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1) 2012 HL Graduate Student Calendar
Support the research efforts of student members of the Herpetologists' League through your purchase of the 2012 HL Graduate Student Calendar. All proceeds go to support graduate student research. To order the 2012 calendar, follow the instructions available at this URL:
http://www.zenscientist.com/index.php?limitstart=3

If you're already an HL member, scroll down your Profile Page, and check the box indicating the HL Graduate Student Calendar. Get your calendar directly from HL now, before supplies run out!

For more information
Stephen J. Mullin, Ph.D./Publications Secretary for the Herpetologists' League

Dept. of Biological Sciences email: sjmullineiu.edu
Eastern Illinois University tel: 217.581.6234
Charleston, IL 61920 USA fax: 217.581.7141
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2) MAPLELEAF MARINE TURTLES NEED BOOST

From The Canadian Sea Turtle Network
We have a chance to win part of $100,000 to support our sea turtle work in Canada. The Canadian Sea Turtle Network is currently in second place in a voting competition sponsored by Jamieson Vitamins. We need your help for sea turtles to win. There are only a few days left, and we're the smallest group in the contest by far.

But . . . although the other organizations may have bigger staffs and budgets, they don't have the folks on the HerpDigest list. We are hoping you will prove to be our winning card.

The link to vote is: www.facebook.com/jamiesonvitamins

(You don't need Facebook to vote, and you will not receive emails from Jamieson Vitamins afterward.)

You can vote once a day. Please also ask your colleagues, friends and family to vote for the Canadian Sea Turtle Network. Tweets, RTs and Facebook posts welcome, too.

The contest ends Sunday.

Thank you for your help. We really appreciate it.

Kathleen Martin
Executive Director
Canadian Sea Turtle Network
kmartin@seaturtle.ca
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3) Dr. Louis Guillette - Winner of One of This Year’s Heinz Awards

Internationally recognized for his groundbreaking research on the impact of toxic chemicals on the reproductive systems of alligators and other wildlife, Dr. Louis Guillette is a pioneer in exhibiting how wildlife can function as sentinels for adverse environmental contaminant exposure. This work has made him a leader in the field of hormone disruption, a major public health threat that has emerged over the past two decades.

In the late 1980s, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state fish and wildlife officials in Florida asked Dr. Guillette to investigate the reproductive biology of alligator and why their populations were experiencing reproductive problems. He and his team discovered that agricultural chemicals contaminating lakes could cause ovarian and genital abnormalities by manipulating their hormones.

He later documented dramatic differences between alligators living in contaminated Florida lakes and those in clean ones, which had the highest percentages of successful births. Dr. Guillette also demonstrated that even low-level exposures to one or more contaminants during critical periods of fetal development can have lasting health implications.

These findings have convinced him that environmental contaminants are part of the reason we are seeing increases in human reproductive problems, such as testicular cancer, declining sperm counts and endometriosis. Despite intense industry criticism, Dr. Guillette has demonstrated unflagging courage in bringing his findings to the public, policymakers and the media.

Dr. Guillette is a professor and holds an endowed chair in marine genomics at South Carolina's Centers for Economic Excellence, at the Medical University of South Carolina. He consistently earns high praise from his students, who cite his creativity in the classroom and laboratory, enlisting them to help capture alligators, turtles, frogs and fish, as the inspiration to pursue their own scientific careers. He is honored for his significant contribution to the field of reproductive biology and for inspiring a new generation to follow the pursuit.

The awards were announced September 13, by Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation, each carry $100,000 for unrestricted use and a medallion. They will be presented at a ceremony on Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C. There are ten winners.
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4) Online Dating Saves Endangered Frogs

Press Release-www.AmphibianArk.org, 8/18/11

It is said that 1 in 5 new relationships now begins online. Amphibian Ark (AArk) asks, Why should people have all the fun? The global not-for-profit has launched a website called FrogMatchMaker.com…Where frogs find their princes (www.frogmatchmaker.com) to facilitate relationships between potential sponsors and start-up amphibian conservation projects in need of resources. Assistance may be in the form of funding, specialized staff or training skills, or in-kind support in the way of equipment and supplies.

Amphibians need help because they are one of the most imperiled groups of living organisms. “For every one species of bird or mammal in trouble, there are two to three amphibian species on the brink of extinction” said Kevin Zippel, AArk Program Director. “The current amphibian extinction crisis is reminiscent of the disappearance of the dinosaurs, making it one of the greatest conservation challenges in the history of humanity.”

“This web site currently includes 48 projects in 23 countries on three continents and can be searched by country, region, species, funding amount required, and by project type” said Kevin Johnson, AArk Communications Officer. “You can also browse new projects that have been added in the last 30 days or projects that have been added in the last 60 days. Using FrogMatchMaker.com, donors have been able to easily locate amphibian conservation projects that are a good match with their organizations’ missions, and provide appropriate support, to ensure the success of these vital programs.”

Amphibians are important because they often play a keystone role in ecosystems, are indicators of environmental health, and they lead to discoveries of new medical compounds, including a substance that blocks the transmission of HIV.

A great example of a program that has benefited from FrogMatchMaker.com is the Lake Titicaca Frog Rescue Program in Peru. Thanks to the support from the Denver Zoo, the Cayetano Heredia University in Lima has established a rescue population of this Critically Endangered Frog. “If it weren’t for the matchmaking work of the AArk, we probably would not have known about this project” said Tom Weaver, Area Supervisor of Tropical Discovery at the zoo.

The Amphibian Ark is tracking ~100 rescue programs run by partners around the world. However, it estimates that a total of 900-1000 species require rescue to stave off imminent extinction. FrogMatchMaker.com aims to help those species not currently in rescue programs.

Amphibian Ark was founded in 2006 by the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its mission is facilitating partnerships that ensure the global survival of amphibians, focusing on those that cannot currently be safeguarded in nature. For more information, please visit www.AmphibianArk.org.

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5) "Frog Crossing" Signs Leave Taxpayers Hopping Mad

NBC Washington D.C. 8/23/11 by Greg Wilson

Would you slam on the brakes if a frog hopped in front of your car?


Taxpayers in an upstate New York country are jumping mad about new signs warning drivers of locations where frogs like to hop across the road. They say telling drivers to look out for the limber little amphibians is pointless and spending money on the signs is a waste of money.

"During these economic times, this is just absurd," Sodus Town Supervisor Steve LeRoy told WHAM-TV. "New York State is laying people off and we're trying to find money for water, and construction projects. It's ridiculous."

The signs have recently popped up near Chimney Bluffs State Park, in the Finger Lakes region, after a new state ordinance took effect, according to the Finger Lakes Daily News. State officials could not say if they were there to protect a particular species of frog.

"I just can't imagine anybody stopping their vehicle for a frog," LeRoy said.
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6) Hanoi village conserves snake business

SÀI GÒN GIAI PHONG (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) 8/22/11 Legend has it that during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong of Vietnam, (1072-1127 A.D.), a brave man named Hoang killed a treacherous sea serpent and rescued a princess in a fierce combat. He refused all rewards offered by the King, but instead wished to establish prosperous hamlets, west of the kingdom.

When he died, villagers in the hamlets began worshiping him as their Patron Saint and developed businesses based on snakes to honor his victory over the sea serpent.

Le Mat villagers learnt how to cook snakes into many delicacy dishes such as baked snakes dipped in pepper and salt dip-sauce, fried snakes with onion and garlic and crispy mince snake meat.
Such delicacies of Le Mat village have become so popular that hundreds of foreign and domestic visitors now patronize the village every day.

Today the village is developing its eco-tourism along with its traditional snake business in order to preserve the ancient customs of the village and also present them to the world, said Truong Ba Huan, head of the management committee of Le Mat village.

Despite rapid urbanization, Le Mat villagers preserve their traditional lifestyle by living in ancient Vietnamese style village communal houses, maintain water wells and conserve old banyan trees and their traditional snake business which gives this village its own unique charm.
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7) NT abused and forgot Cassius the Crocodile, now they want him back - Recognized As World’s Largest Crocodile in Captivity at 5.48m

Cairns Press (Australia) 8/23/11 by Daniel Bateman

Abused and forgotten – that is how the Northern Territory treated the mighty Cassius. And now all of a sudden, they want him back.

Cassius the 5.48m saltwater crocodile, who now happily resides at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island, has officially been recognised as being the largest crocodile in captivity.

He will appear in the 2012 edition of Guinness World Records, which will be published in Australia on September 15.

The massive croc has lived in luxury on the resort island for close to 24 years, growing larger each day from a healthy diet of fresh chickens and fish.

However, after reading about the Cairns zoo`s accolade, green-eyed Territorians are now trying to claim Cassius as their own.

Cassius was captured south of Darwin in 1987, and brought about 32000km from the NT to Green Island by kind-hearted Marineland founder George Craig.
"
If we can claim sportsmen who spend the first few seconds of their life in the NT, we can put the stamp on Cassius,'' Crocosaurus Cove croc manager Nigel Palmer told the NT News.

Mr Palmer went as far as calling for the NT to buy the croc back.

It's a stunning backflip, according to Marineland Melanesia keeper Toody Scott, who claimed Cassius had been rejected by Territorians, after he was placed in a croc farm - to the point locals allegedly threw stones at the giant reptile.

"They had him hidden away for four years, in a croc farm and the locals apparently didn't take much of a liking to him, because of his reputation,'' Mr Scott said.

"They didn't want him hanging around.

"The farmer at the time, gave George a call and thought George would be able to offer a better home for him in Queensland.''

The Cairns Post and The NT News are going snout-to-snout to determine which region has the biggest, best and baddest crocodiles in Australia.

Readers will be able to compare the best croc tales from the Far North and the Northern Territory, and vote for which region they think is top of the crocs.

Mr Scott said it was plain to see from online comments so far that the Far North Queenslanders had far more respect for nature's magnificent predators.

"All you need to do is look at the comments from the Territorians talking about shooting them and killing them - it's like they don't even want crocs up there,'' he said.

To vote in the FNQ vs NT Croc-Off, head to http://www.cairns.com.au/crocoff _________________________________________________________________________
8) Anger over shot croc

Nothern Territory News, (Darwin, Australia) 21 August 11 by Conor Byrne

.
A much-loved giant crocodile has been killed - shot between the eyes at close range in Arnhem Land.

The 5.1m "boss croc" - known as the Black Crocodile - was "of high cultural importance", elder Goldie Blyth said.

Its home for at least 40 years was in and around the Murrkan, Murgenella and Wark billabongs on the Coburg Peninsula north-east of Darwin.

Ms Blyth said "this latest victim of new-age technology, avarice and intolerance" appears to have been "murdered" from the Murgenella Creek Crossing last Sunday.

The croc was found floating two days later.

"He (once) came up with a large barramundi, he threw the large fish around in his mouth as if to say, 'I got this barramundi' - waving it to us and showing us his catch; he then ate it front of us. It was a very special moment," Ms Blyth said.

"The crocodile's death is a very sad and a significant loss to traditional owners and the wider community.

"Cultural respects were paid on each visit to the site and the resident boss crocodile would seem to respond in kind, by showing itself and then swimming off to tend to its business. Traditional owners would regularly talk to the large crocodile.

"People had an enormous respect for the animal and the relationship goes back well over 40 years.

"On some occasions, people would talk to the crocodile before fishing or entering the water to hunt file snakes."

Ms Blyth called for signs to prevent stopping at the creek by "hoon shooting individuals". She has also called for Parks and Wildlife rangers to be reinstated at Murgenella - and wants the the culprit prosecuted.

Ms Blyth last visited the croc about three weeks ago.

"In recent times, the Black Crocodile did not like the sound of quad bikes and appeared to be agitated when he heard their sound," she said. "The crocodile was well-known to the old people and his killing is a loss of an important link to past generations that have passed on.

"The crocodile was always present or in close proximity to the crossing and was well known to both locals and some visitors."

Anyone with information about the shooting of the crocodile should contact Parks and Wildlife ________________________________________________________________________________

9) Cold-blooded lizards warm hearts of MSUB biology students

BILLINGS GAZETTE (Montana) 8/21/11 (Mary Pickett)

Montana State University Billings students working on a short-horned-lizard study develop warm feelings for the cold-blooded critters.

Students affectionately began calling pregnant lizards they caught “Roz” because the females look like the gruff character in the “Monsters, Inc.” film, said Rebecca Riley, a biology major who has worked on the project.

Students also were amused by young male lizards’ feisty attitude. When confronted by humans, they flick their tails back and forth.

“It is really funny to watch because they are about the size of your thumb but they act like they are 10 feet tall,” Riley wrote in an email.

Riley, a MSU Billings senior, liked the lizard project so much that after accumulating enough hours to earn two research credits toward her degree, she continued to go out on lizard-hunting trips as a volunteer. During two summers, she’s caught more than 100 lizards.

Eight years ago, James Barron, MSU Billings associate professor of biology, started the project, which may be the longest-running, most in-depth study of horned lizards that range from Alberta, Canada, to Mexico.

He’s captured and released more than 1,000 lizards at two locations near Billings. More than an additional 1,000 baby lizards were released into the wild after being born on campus. Although commonly known as shorted-horned toads or horny toads, they are in fact lizards.

Short-horned lizards get their name from a low ridge of horns at the back of their head, said Barron, a field ecologist who teaches evolutionary biology and vertebrate zoology.

Although he hasn’t made any Earth-shattering discoveries about the lizards during the study, he’s observed interesting features, including differences between lizards at his research sites on Bureau of Land Management land near Warren and at Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge north of Molt.

When out in the field, Barron and several students walk through an area looking for lizards. Because the lizards are so small and their mottled, scaly bodies blend in with their surroundings, they are hard to spot unless they move.

On one trip in late July, three students and Barron caught five lizards over five hours.
When a lizard is caught, it is weighed and measured and its temperature taken. The GPS location of where it was caught also is recorded.

Barron implants a passive integrated transponder tag, about the size of a grain of rice, under the adult lizard’s skin. After sealing a small hole in the lizard’s skin, the animal is let go.

If the lizard is captured in the future and has a PIT tag, Barron waves an electronic reader over the implanted tag to get the tag’s number. Comparing recent data with that collected from previous captures, Barron can see where the lizard has traveled and changes in body size and temperature.

He brings pregnant females back to campus, where they give birth.
Newborn short-horned lizards are tiny but they quickly can fend for themselves.

They have to. If they stick around their mother too long, she may eat them.

When Barron sprinkles tiny crickets into a narrow plastic box that serves as a labor, delivery room and nursery for a family of the lizards, one baby darts out and snaps up an insect in no time flat.
Another lizard, meeting its first meal face to face, backs off apprehensively as a cricket scampers toward it.

The babies and their mother don’t get room service for long. Within a day or so of their births after sex, weight and measurements are collected, Barron takes babies and mothers back to where they were captured.

If lizard mothers aren’t very maternal with their newborns, that may be because she has had to lug around nearly her own weight in developing embryos before giving birth.

A 10-gram (0.35-ounce) female can nearly double her weight when pregnant.

Octomoms are pikers in the lizard world. Lizards giving birth at MSU Billings average 11 babies, Barron said.

Of the 14 species of horned lizards, half lay eggs and half give birth to live babies.

The live-baby lizards, including those in Montana, live in northern latitudes and higher elevations where the season would be too short to incubate a clutch of eggs.

Females giving birth to live babies can move into the sun when pregnant, so the solar warmth speeds up development of the fetuses and they can be born within the shorter summer.

Despite the blazing temperatures students endure on the trips looking for lizards, they enjoy the outings.

Anneke Johnson, a pre-veterinary student at MSU Billings, went out eight times this summer.
“It’s really, really fun,” to hike all day looking for lizards, she said, because students also see coiled rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, golden eagles, hawks, fossils and plants.

“I feel fortunate to be part of the study,” she said.

Johnson never would have thought lizards were cute and charming, but they are, she insists.
And although they’re small, the lizards are fascinating to study.

Barron has found that the lizards don’t roam too far during their lifetime, ranging in an approximate circle with a radius of about 33 feet.

Lizards eat ants, grasshoppers and beetles, and their predators are mostly birds like hawks, kestrels and ravens with an occasional coyote and badger eating a few.

Barron has found several differences between the lizards at Warren, a near desert landscape, and Hailstone, a prairie grassland.

Lizards hibernate in the winter because they can’t produce their own heat.

In winter, lizards at Warren burrow under a few centimeters of loose soil but don’t get under the frost line, so they produce an internal antifreeze to prevent their bodies from freezing.
At Hailstone, the lizards appear to hibernate in burrows of an abandoned prairie dog town.

There’s another link between the success of lizards at Hailstone and prairie dogs.

Prairie dogs eat prairie grass, clipping it close to the ground, making it easier for lizards to move around. Lizards have very short legs and travel right on the ground “like round tanks,” Barron said.
The Warren lizards don’t have that problem because the dry terrain has less grass.

Different colors of the two groups of lizards help them blend into the unique soil color of their homes.

Warren lizards are brown and their babies a light dusty rose. Hailstone adults and babies are an olive-green gray.

Barron has found that survival rates of lizards is low — just 25 percent of the lizards survive through a winter.

This year, Barron found fewer lizards than previous years, but doesn’t know why. It may have been the long winter, or cold, wet spring. Or there may have been a midwinter warm spell that drew lizards out of hibernation and then killed some when cold weather returned. The oldest lizard he’s found was one that was at least 6 years old.

One of the most endearing traits of the Warren lizards is how they sleep, Barron said.

A few years ago, Barron marked some lizards with orange florescent powder during the day. Turning on a black light, he followed the orange trail until he came upon sleeping lizards with their faces stuck into clumps of grass, their bodies protruding outward.

While short-horned lizards found near Billings have the physical makeup to shoot blood out of their eyes as a defense mechanism, Barron, who has handled a couple thousand lizards, has never seen one do it.

That may only happen when a lizard is under attack from a canine.

However, a student, who was gathering lizards when Barron was at a scientific conference, did see a blood-shooting lizard.
___________________________________________________________________________
10) Coquis Frog May be Leveling off in Hawaii

HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD (Hilo) 21 August 11 (Colin M. Stewart)

Unless you sleep in a soundproof chamber, you've probably already heard the news: The great Hawaii Island battle between man and coqui is over. The little, quarter-sized frogs have won.

But, researchers said this week, even as the Puerto Rican invaders continue to spread to new areas of the island, their population numbers are leveling off and even dipping back down slightly in areas where they have thrived.

On Thursday, coqui experts with the University of Hawaii and the state Department of Agriculture said state spending has ended for some projects aimed at population tracking and eradication efforts. The focus, they said, has shifted to keeping the coquis on island, and preventing their spread to the other Hawaiian islands and primary shipping destinations, like California.

"There just isn't much new to go on," said William Mautz, professor and chairman of the University of Hawaii at Hilo's Biology Department. "Much of the funding for working on coqui frogs has dried up, now that they've proven difficult to remove. They have continued to spread to parts of the island that are wet, and they will continue to do so."

Mautz said Thursday that most likely the coqui's spread on the Big Island would primarily be dictated by altitude.

"They'll probably be limited to somewhere around 5,000 feet," he said. "They're already up that high now in Volcano. It's not clear how much higher they might go."

While several different techniques have been identified to kill coqui frogs, nothing is perfect, Mautz added. Sprays containing baking soda or citric acid have been proven to be effective, he said, but they must make direct contact with the frogs in high enough concentrations to work. And in some environments, there are simply too many hiding places for the frogs.

"In some parts of the island, it's easier to control them (the coquis) than in others," he said. "In areas with lots of a'a lava, like Puna, they're very difficult to control. All the cracks, and channels and tunnels beneath the lava, where they can get underground and hide, those areas are the areas with the most dense populations. In areas with older soils, where they can't get underground, you have fewer, such as in the Kohala mountains."

As some populations of coqui frogs have settled in to their new habitats on the island, members of the public have reported spotting what they consider to be unusually large specimens of the frogs. But, Mautz said, that is just a result of the population becoming established.

"It's not true that the frogs are getting larger. What's going on is that the populations of the frogs are maturing, so there are more and more frogs that are living longer. They don't stop growing until 6 or 7 years old, so there are more large, adult frogs showing up with more frequency," he said.

The larger adult frogs may also explain why researchers have seen population numbers dip in some areas that have been overrun by the little chirpers.


"In many places, they appear to be not as dense as they were," Mautz said. "Don't get me wrong. There's still plenty of them. But they have dipped a bit. It's a typical pattern for an invasive species. When they first become established, their population shows a spike."

Later, as the population reaches an equilibrium with its environment, the population growth hits a plateau. And, he said, larger adult coquis also tend to be cannibalistic.

"They'll eat younger, smaller frogs," he said. "They'll eat just about anything that's smaller than them."

While Mautz did not have recent population number counts, as funding for that program was discontinued a few years ago, he was able to say anecdotally that he and other experts had noted a drop in the population of coquis at Lava Tree State Monument, the area on the island with the highest concentration of coquis.

"The frogs just don't appear to be as loud as they were six or seven years ago," he said.

Arnold Hara, an entomologist and extension specialist with the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, formerly worked with the project aimed at keeping track of coqui populations. But, he said after funding dried up, he moved on to direct containment efforts in the export of potted plants.

"My focus is now on treatments to prevent them from spreading to other islands and California," Hara said. "There's been interception of these frogs in California. They've had outbreaks in Disneyland and Hermosa Beach, among other areas.

"We admit that the Big Island is fairly well-infested and eradication is pretty much impossible. So, we're focusing on preventing the spread."

Using a Matson shipping container modified with shower nozzles, he gives plants that are to be shipped off island a hot shower. The temperature, he said, kills stowaway coquis and their eggs. According to Hara's most recent numbers, a total of 30,000 potted foliage plants were treated in the chamber during the month of June.

In addition to state funds no longer going toward coqui control, Hawaii County ceased its own coqui spraying program in April 2010, and in an unpopular move, attempted to auction off its 26 sprayers that it had been loaning out to different community groups following through with their own control efforts. Public outcry led the county to cancel the auction and transfer the oversight of the equipment from the Mayor's Office to the Department of Research and Development's agriculture office.

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Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.00 a copy autographed by both writers. add $6.00 for shipping and handling and you have become a HerpDigest Hero helping it survive.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
—Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes—but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
—Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
—Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

“Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.”
—Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book ___________________________________________________________________
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TO ORDER:

ATTENTION ----- IF USING A CCARD WE NOW NEED THOSE THREE LITTLE NUMBERS ON THE BACK OF THE CARD TO PROCESS YOUR ORDER. They are Called CVV numbers.

1) Send a check to Herpdigest/Allen Salzberg/67-87 Booth Street -5B/Forest Hills, NY 11375. Make the check out to Herpdigest.

2) By Paypal - our account is asalzberg@herpdigest.org

3) By credit card, Master or Visa, Discover and Amex, only, send us your credit card number, expiration date, billing and shipping address to asalzberg@herpdigest.org. (Though I haven't heard of this happening, a credit card number stolen from an email, I'm told to prevent this send ccard number divided into two emails.)

And don‚t forget to include those 3 numbers from the back of the credit card.

4) By phone, call us at 1-718-275-2190 Eastern Standard Time (NYC) - Any Day Of The Week, 11 A.M.- 6 P.M. If not in, leave message and we'll call back.
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Need a daily fix of herp news go to HerpDigest’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/HerpDiges ... 0624001610
and hit like. There I post news that for one reason or another doesn’t get into the email version.
Photos and graphs that are part of the story like #9, the link to the original article with all the visual material is there. Ditto for interesting videos on Youtube.

[Philsuma]

Volume # 11 Issue # 41 9/21/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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Get Your Guaranteed Autograph copies of “Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator,” by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
Due to demand the authors have extended the deadline for that guarantee to 9/30/11. But one guarantee that will extend far past 9/30, is that it will be the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
REMEMBER ONLY 8 DAYS LEFT
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Table of Contents
1) 27th Midwest Herpetological Symposium- October 21-23, 2011
2) Invasive Amphibians, Reptiles in Florida Outnumber World, Study Finds
3) Accidental Sea Turtle Deaths Drop 90 Percent in U.S. Fisheries; Improvements in Fishing Equipment Seem to Be Preventing Lethal 'Bycatch'
4) Press Release -UF study names new ancient crocodile relative from the land of Titanoboa
5) San Mateo Woman pleads not guilty in lizard stabbing
6) How Todd Bairstow survived a crocodile attack
7) Opinion: The Invasive Ideology- Biologists and conservationists are too eager to demonize non-native species.
8) As Diamondback Terrapin nesting declines, Center eyes habitat assistance

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So any size donation is Helpful - $10- $15-$25-$50-$100. How to donate is the same as how to order a book like the new one on “Invasive Pythons in the U.S,” or the “2012 Turtle Calendar.”(see below)
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1) 27th Midwest Herpetological Symposium- October 21-23, 2011 -Sponsored By
THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The event will be held at: Best Western Kelly Inn-2705 Annapolis Ln N.
Plymouth, Minnesota, 55441-Phone: 763.553.1600
Friday Night Ice-breaker
Dav Kaufman (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – "The making of Herpers and Herpers II."
Keynote Presentation
Barney Oldfield, DVM (Hesperus, Colorado)
“Crotaphytid Odyssey
Saturday Speakers
Jeff LeClere (St. Paul, Minnesota) –
Minnesota DNR “Herps of Minnesota”
Jeff Ettling, Ph.D. Candidate (St. Louis,
Missouri)– Curator of Herpetology, St. Louis Zoo
“The Spatial Ecology and Habitat Usage of Armenian Vipers, Montivipera raddei, in Two Different Landscapes.”
Tony Gamble, Ph.D. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) –
University of Minnesota
“Describing South America’s Lizard Diversity: From
the Field to the Lab Bench”
Salvatore Santelli (Annville, Pennsylvania) –
Trustee, World Chelonian
“ The North American Wood Turtle: Personal Experiences with Them in
the Wild and Captivity”
Chris Tabaka, DVM (Battle Creek, Michigan) –
Staff Veterinarian, Binder Park Zoo
“Role of the Veterinarian in Field Conservation Research.”
Paul Moler (Gainsville, Florida), Florida Fish &
Wildlife Conservation Commission-retired
“Herpetofaunal Surveys in Southern Vietnam”
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2) Invasive Amphibians, Reptiles in Florida Outnumber World, Study Finds
(Paper available For a copy of the paper contact:Kenney Krysko at FLMNH, Univ. Florida http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/directory/cvs/kenneyk_cv.htm. Chief Author of Paper or Louis Somma )

ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2011) — Florida has the world's worst invasive amphibian and reptile problem, and a new 20-year study led by a University of Florida researcher verifies the pet trade as the No. 1 cause of the species' introductions.

From 1863 through 2010, 137 non-native amphibian and reptile species were introduced to Florida, with about 25 percent of those traced to one animal importer. The findings appear online September 15 in Zootaxa.

"Most people in Florida don't realize when they see an animal if it's native or non-native and unfortunately, quite a few of them don't belong here and can cause harm," said lead author Kenneth Krysko, herpetology collection manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus. "No other area in the world has a problem like we do, and today's laws simply cannot be enforced to stop current trends."

Florida law prohibits the release of non-native species without a state permit, but offenders cannot be prosecuted unless they are caught in the act. To date, no one in Florida has been prosecuted for the establishment of a non-indigenous animal. Researchers urge lawmakers to create enforceable policies before more species reproduce and become established. The study names 56 established species: 43 lizards, five snakes, four turtles, three frogs and a caiman, a close relative of the American alligator.
"The invasion of lizards is pretty drastic considering we only have 16 native species," Krysko said. "Lizards can cause just as much damage as a python. They are quicker than snakes, can travel far, and are always moving around looking for the next meal."

Defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as organisms "whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health," invasive species are a growing concern for residents and policymakers. Only three species were intercepted before reaching the wild and researchers documented 137 introductions. The study also shows no established, non-native amphibian or reptile species has been eradicated.

Floridians have experienced some of the damage these animals can cause, from iguanas that destroy cement walls to Burmese pythons released in the Everglades that eat protected species. While the impact of many of the introduced species has not been determined, the study provides new information about how, why and when they entered the state.

The first introduction in 1863 was of the greenhouse frog, native to the West Indies. One of the most easily recognized species is the brown anole, the first introduced lizard, which reached Florida from Cuba via cargo ships in 1887. Until about 1940, nearly all non-native species arrived through this accidental cargo pathway, but the boom in popularity of exotic terrarium animals in the 1970s and 1980s led to the pet trade being accountable for 84 percent of the introductions, Krysko said.
"It's like some mad scientist has thrown these species together from all around the world and said, 'hey let's put them all together and see what happens,' " Krysko said. "It could take decades before we actually know the long-term effects these species will have."

Other pathways include biological control, in which an animal is intentionally released to control a pest species, and accidental introduction through the zoo or plant trade. The study will serve as a baseline for establishing effective policies for control or eradication, said Fred Kraus, a vertebrate biologist at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu who helped establish policies for invasive amphibians and reptiles in Hawaii.

"This paper by Kenney and company I think is a good example of the approach that needs to be taken, providing the detail and being rather cautious in making immediate claims that things are established until there is evidence for it," Kraus said. "There is a lot more work going on now, but for years it was just ignored. For years, climate change was ignored, too. You know, humans just tend to ignore bad news until you can't ignore it anymore."

One of the greatest obstacles pet owners face is how to feed and house an exotic animal that has become too large or difficult to handle, Krysko said.

"The biggest example is the Burmese python," Krysko said. "It's a large constrictor and has definitely shown impact on native species, some you just can't even find anymore."

The study uses fieldwork data from 12 co-authors throughout the state and research primarily using specimens in the Florida Museum of Natural History collections.

"This is a global problem and to think Florida is an exception to the rule is silly," Krysko said. "The Fish and Wildlife Commission can't do it alone -- they need help and we have to have partners in this with every agency and the general public. Everyone has to be on board; it's a very serious issue."
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Florida.

Journal Reference:
Kenneth L. Krysko, Joseph P. Burgess, Michael R. Rochford, Christopher R. Gillette, Daniel Cueva, Kevin M. Enge, Louis A. Somma, Jennifer L. Stabile, Dustin C. Smith, Joseph A. Wasilewski, Guy N. Kieckhefer Iii, Michael C. Granatosky & Stuart V. Nielsen. Verified non-indigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida from 1863 through 2010: Outlining the invasion process and identifying invasion pathways and stages. Zootaxa, 2011; 3028: 1-64 [link]

Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the following formats:
APA

MLA
University of Florida (2011, September 17). Invasive amphibians, reptiles in Florida outnumber world, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 21, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/09/110915131604.htm

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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3) Accidental Sea Turtle Deaths Drop 90 Percent in U.S. Fisheries; Improvements in Fishing Equipment Seem to Be Preventing Lethal 'Bycatch'

ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2011) — The number of sea turtles accidentally caught and killed in fishing gear in United States coastal waters has declined by an estimated 90 percent since 1990, according to a new study by researchers at Duke University Project GloBAL and Conservation International.

The report, published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation, credits the dramatic drop to measures that have been put into place over the last 20 years to reduce bycatch in many fisheries, as well as to overall declines in U.S. fishing activity.

The study's authors estimate that 4,600 sea turtles die each year in U.S. coastal waters.
Before measures to reduce bycatch were put in place, total sea turtle takes surpassed 300,000 annually. Of these, 70,000 turtles were killed.

The study used data collected from 1990 to 2007 by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to determine bycatch rates across more than 20 fisheries operating in Atlantic waters from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, and in the Pacific Ocean, along the West coast and around Hawaii.
It found that overall turtle bycatch rates, including both fatal and nonfatal run-ins, have fallen about 60 percent since 1990.

Shrimp trawls in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. accounted for up to 98 percent of all by-catch takes and deaths during the study period.

All six marine turtle species that occur in U.S. waters are categorized as threatened or endangered on the U.S. Endangered Species List. They are loggerheads, leatherbacks, hawksbills, olive ridleys, Kemp's ridleys and green sea turtles.

Bycatch is an acute threat to sea turtle populations worldwide. High bycatch rates can be indicative of unsustainable fishing practices that negatively impact the health of marine ecosystems.
"The reduction of bycatch and mortality shows important progress by NMFS, which serves as a model for reducing sea turtle bycatch in other parts of the world," says Elena Finkbeiner, a PhD student at Duke and lead author of the paper. "Our findings show that there are effective tools available for policymakers and fishing industries to reduce sea turtle bycatch, as long as they are implemented properly and consistently."

Among the mitigation strategies that have helped reduce bycatch are: the use of circle hooks and dehooking equipment in longline fisheries, to reduce the severity of turtle injuries; the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawl nets to allow captured sea turtles to escape; and the implementation of time-area closures to restrict fishing activities at times and places turtles are most likely to be present in the highest numbers.

Piecemeal regulation remains a problem, the study notes. Sea turtles are currently managed on a fishery-by-fishery basis, which means that bycatch limits are set for each fishery without accounting for the overall population impacts of all the takes added together. This fragmented approach leads to total allowed takes that exceed what sea turtle populations can sustain.

"Bycatch limits must be set unilaterally across all U.S. fisheries with overall impacts to populations in mind, much as it's done for marine mammals," says co-author Bryan Wallace, director of science for Conservation International's Marine Flagship Species Program and adjunct faculty member at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.

The researchers note that actual bycatch rates are likely higher than what the study reports because in many fisheries, particularly the shrimp trawl fishery, the number of on-board observers who document bycatch on fishing vessels is low relative to the sheer volume of fishing that is occurring.
"This paper provides a baseline to examine what is working and what can be improved in preventing sea turtle bycatch," Finkbeiner says. "It (makes) a strong case for the need for increased observer coverage and bycatch reporting."

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations) from materials provided by Duke University.

Journal Reference:
Elena M. Finkbeiner, Bryan P. Wallace, Jeffrey E. Moore, Rebecca L. Lewison, Larry B. Crowder, Andrew J. Read. Cumulative estimates of sea turtle bycatch and mortality in USA fisheries between 1990 and 2007. Biological Conservation, 2011; 144 (11): 2719 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.07.033

Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the following formats:
APA

MLA
Duke University (2011, September 14). Accidental sea turtle deaths drop 90 percent in U.S. fisheries; Improvements in fishing equipment seem to be preventing lethal 'bycatch'. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 16, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/09/110914115848.htm

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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4) Press Release -UF study names new ancient crocodile relative from the land of Titanoboa
GAINESVILLE, Fla. 9/14/11--- Did an ancient crocodile relative give the world's largest snake a run for its money?

In a new study appearing Sept. 15 in Palaeontology, University of Florida researchers describe a new 20-foot extinct species discovered in the same Colombian coal mine with Titanoboa, the world's largest snake. The findings help scientists better understand the diversity of animals that occupied the oldest known rainforest ecosystem, which had higher temperatures than today, and could be useful for understanding the impacts of a warmer climate in the future.

The 60-million-year-old freshwater relative to modern crocodiles is the first known land animal from the Paleocene New World tropics specialized for eating fish, meaning it competed with Titanoboa for food. But the giant snake could have consumed its competition, too, researchers say.

The new species is a dyrosaurid, commonly believed to be primarily ocean-dwelling, coastal reptiles. The new adult specimens challenge previous theories the animals only would have entered freshwater environments as babies before returning to sea.
Fossils of a partial skeleton of the species, Acherontisuchus guajiraensis, show dyrosaurids were key players in northeastern Colombia and that diversity within the family evolved with environmental changes, such as an asteroid impact or the appearance of competitors from other groups, said Christopher Brochu, an associate professor of vertebrate paleontology in the department of geoscience at the University of Iowa, who was not involved in the study.

"We're facing some serious ecological changes now," Brochu said. "A lot of them have to do with climate and if we want to understand how living things are going to respond to changes in climate, we need to understand how they responded in the past. This really is a wonderful group for that because they managed to survive some catastrophes, but they seemed not to survive others and their diversity does seem to change along with these ecological signals."

The species is the second ancient crocodyliform found in the Cerrejon mine of northern Colombia, one of the world's largest open-pit coal mines. The excavations were led by study co-authors Jonathan Bloch, Florida Museum associate curator of vertebrate paleontology, and paleobotanist Carlos Jaramillo of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

"This one is related to a group that typically had these long snouts" Hastings said. "It would have had a relatively similar diet to the other (coastal) species, but surprisingly it lived in a more freshwater environment."

The genus is named for the river Acheron from Greek mythology, "the river of woe," since the animal lived in a wide river that emptied into the Caribbean. Unlike the first crocodile relative found in the area, which had a more generalized diet, the snout of the new species was long, narrow and full of pointed teeth, showing a specialization for hunting the lungfish and relatives of bonefish that inhabited the water.

"The general common wisdom was that ancestrally all crocodyliforms looked like a modern alligator, that all of these strange forms descended from a more generalized ancestor, but these guys are showing that sometimes one kind of specialized animal evolved from a very different specialized animal, not a generalized one," Brochu said. "It's really showing us a level of complexity to the history that 10 years ago was not anticipated."

During the Paleocene in South America, the environment was dominated by reptiles, including giant snakes, turtles and crocodiles. The dyrosaurid family originated in Africa about 75 million years ago, toward the end of the age of dinosaurs, and arrived in South America by swimming across the Atlantic Ocean.

"The same thing that snuffed out the dinosaurs killed off most of the crocodiles alive at the time," Hastings said. "The dyrosaurids are one of the few groups to survive the extinction and later become more successful."

Source: Alex Hastings, 352-273-1821
cell: 440-225-3633, akh@ufl.edu
_______________________________________________________________________
5) San Mateo Woman pleads not guilty in lizard stabbing

Mercury News, (San Jose, California) 21 August 11 by Jason Green

A San Carlos woman charged with fatally stabbing her boyfriend’s pet lizard and later trying to wrestle away a deputy’s gun possibly suffered a mental breakdown triggered by years of domestic violence, her attorney said Friday.

Shawna Kim Apour, 37, pleaded not guilty Friday to a felony count of animal cruelty for the slaying of Speedy, her boyfriend’s bearded dragon, as well as other charges related to the Aug. 13 incident and the run-in Tuesday with the deputy.

“I think this person was put under tremendous emotional and psychological strain,” said defense attorney Chuck B. Smith, alleging that she was abused by her boyfriend over a period of “several years.”
Pointing to his client’s otherwise trouble-free record, Smith said he asked a judge Friday to lower Apour’s bail from $200,000 to $25,000.

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office countered with a request to hike her bail by $50,000 to reflect the fact Speedy had died between the time Apour was charged with animal cruelty and Friday’s hearing, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

“It is now a more serious case,” he said.

The judge kept the bail at $200,000, Wagstaffe said. Apour is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 31.

The events of the case were touched off about 3:40 a.m. Aug. 13 when Apour got up from watching a movie with her boyfriend and retrieved a knife, Wagstaffe said. She then went into a room where her boyfriend keeps his pet lizards and closed the door.

When he heard the top of a terrarium open, he asked Apour through the door what she was doing and she replied, “Nothing. Don’t worry about it,” Wagstaffe said.

After she walked out of the room, the boyfriend saw blood on the inside of the terrarium. Fourteen-year-old Speedy had been stabbed deeply in the shoulder, Wagstaffe said.

Apour left the home in the 1000 block of Crestview Drive, the knife still in her hand, and slashed the 1958 show Buick belonging to her boyfriend’s brother, Wagstaffe said. She then pierced the tires of two nearby cars and carved “hate crime” into the hood of one, he said.

Sheriff’s deputies who arrived at the scene ordered Apour to drop the knife but she waved it at them, Wagstaffe said. They used a Taser to take her into custody. Apour was charged with felony domestic violence, animal cruelty and vandalism, as well as misdemeanors for brandishing a weapon and resisting arrest. She was released on $25,000 bail the same day.

A few days later, a railroad employee called authorities to report a woman, Apour, walking on the tracks near the San Carlos Caltrain station. Her mother was also nearby and had called 911.

When sheriff’s Deputy Bridget Hensley tried to lead Apour away from the tracks, she went for the deputy’s gun and Taser, Wagstaffe said. Hensley held her off until backup arrived to arrest her on suspicion of obstructing and trying to disarm an officer, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor resisting arrest and trespassing.

_________________________________________________________________________________
6) How Todd Bairstow survived a crocodile attack

Sunday Mail (Adelaide, Australia) 8/20/11 by Emily Watkins

It had come down to one final decision: drown or be eaten alive.

After a full half-hour of clinging to mangroves, fighting against a crocodile for his life, Todd Bairstow was ready to give up.

He had even tried to throw his dog at the growling beast in the hope it would eat that instead - but nothing would loosen its grip.

"I was just about to let go - I couldn't do it anymore," he said. "It felt like my arms were just going to snap off.

"I was thinking: right, do I drown myself or get eaten alive?"

The Port Pirie mine worker had been fishing alone on the bank of a Weipa river, in Queensland's north, in March. He was reeling in the line after his first cast when the 3.2m estuarine crocodile launched itself out of the water and latched on to his leg.

Growling like a dog, the croc knocked him over and tried to drag him into the water.

Now, five months and 13 operations later, Mr Bairstow, 29, has finally returned home.

"My life flashed before my eyes. I was thinking about not having kids and that," he said.

"I thought about how upset Mum and Dad would be - it was just flash, flash, flash."

Mr Bairstow said he had managed to grab hold of a mangrove as the crocodile tried to drag him into the river. While he clung to its branches, the croc tried to death roll him three times while it held his legs in its jaws, dislocating both of his knees.

He heard them pop as the croc tried to twist him around.

As minute by minute ticked by, Mr Bairstow yelled desperately for help as he tried to poke it in the eyes and hit it on the head.

"If I had a knife I might have been able to get it in the eyes," he said. "But none of it made any difference."

In a desperate last ditch effort, Mr Bairstow even tried to feed his dog - a three-month-old puppy that had been yapping the entire time - to the hungry croc.

"I went to throw him over my shoulder to the croc, but he took off and left me by myself," he said.

"It was a lonely place to be."

He was just about to let go and be dragged into the murky water when he heard a woman's voice: "Help's coming, love".

"It gave me a second wind," he said.

The woman had heard him screaming from a pub about 350m up the creek, and within minutes his mate, Kevin Beven, was on the bank, pulling him from the beast's jaws.

"And then these four Aboriginal fellas arrived, hitting the croc with rocks and sticks until it p---ed off back into the water," Mr Bairstow said.

His Port Pirie parents, Luke and Cathy, left town as soon as they heard of the attack on March 9, and flew out of Adelaide the next day.

"I thought, 'If he got attacked by a croc, you don't survive'," Luke Bairstow said.

"If he survived, he's got to have horrific injuries, but the main thing was that he was still with us."

Luke and Cathy spent two months at their son's Cairns hospital bedside, wanting to stay until he could walk with crutches.

He is finally back in the family home while he does physiotherapy every day and attends specialist appointments once a month in Adelaide.

Mr Bairstow had been living away from Port Pirie for eight years, working in mines in the Kimberleys, Northern Territory and Cape York.

He said he may need yet another operation on one of his knees, and spent his days cycling, walking and doing weights as physiotherapy.

He said he hoped to be back at his Rio Tinto job in north Queensland at the end of this year.

_____________________________________________________________________________
7) Opinion: The Invasive Ideology- Biologists and conservationists are too eager to demonize non-native species.
By Matthew K. Chew and Scott P. Carroll | September 7, 2011, The Scientist

The story is all too familiar. An introduced landscape plant like Japanese knotweed has “escaped cultivation” and taken root elsewhere, uninvited. A foreign insect like the emerald ash borer has mysteriously appeared and seems to be spreading inexorably. We are earnestly warned that they are “wreaking ecological havoc” and reputedly costing someone millions or even billions of dollars. We react as if we’re under attack, readily applying the label “invaders” to our unwitting tormentors, as if they collectively had it in for us.

Personifying and demonizing the unfamiliar may help direct our dismay, but we hardly need science for that. When scientists focus on provoking public alarm, our science becomes blurred. Science can help work out the ways people move organisms, and investigate why some introduced populations fail while others grow. The demonizing reflex muddles our recommendations regarding which of these cases we can and should do something about.

In the early 1830s, British botanists began distinguishing between species known to have been introduced to an area by people and those without such a history. By the late 1840s the terms “alien” and “native” had been adopted, and a century later, those labels gained moral force with the rise of environmentalism: natives were natural, innocent, untainted by human association; aliens, like their human enablers, had detrimental “impacts,” not effects. Defense against “biological invasions” became a prominent goal of conservation biologists, who decided by acclamation that ”invasive” alien species were a dire threat to biodiversity.

Devil's claw (Martynia annua)Wikimedia Commons, Marco Schmid
t
But judging non-native species by their “lack” of “native” status is unfounded. First, the concept of nativeness lacks reliable ecological content—it simply means that a species under scrutiny has no known history of human-mediated dispersal. And second, not all introductions are so dramatically detrimental as the examples popularized by conservationists and the media. The devil’s claw, for example, a plant “native” to Mexico and surrounding regions, has had no discernible effects on Australia’s existing flora or fauna, despite being recently condemned as a threat to the continent’s biodiversity—long after its introduction in 1860s.

More importantly, sometimes introduced species that persist over decades or centuries become integral to local plant and animal communities, especially so where we have re-engineered the landscape or hydrology to generate an unprecedented environment. Attempting to extract non-natives from such areas may actually destabilize an ecosystem. Consider the tamarisk trees of the southern US plains and deserts. In the early 20th century, academics and government agencies encouraged farmers to plant these Old World trees and shrubs for livestock shade and erosion control. Meanwhile, as the Bureau of Reclamation completely reordered the region’s hydrology with storage and diversion dams, the native riparian woodlands were devastated. The hardier tamarisk trees survived, however, and spread to fill the breach. Since about 1940, an array of federal agencies and environmental groups have spent uncounted hundreds of millions of dollars waging war on tamarisk, despite the fact that eco!
logists have no idea what would replace it should they succeed. The tamarisk has demonstrated its fitness under now-prevailing conditions, and has become a vital riparian ecosystem component even while the war against it continues.

Conversely, routinely favoring “natives” hardly guarantees desirable outcomes. Almost all agricultural plants and domesticated animals were introduced to the places they now grow, and many face significant native pests. After South American potato plants were introduced to North America, for example, they encountered a resilient native insect now known as the Colorado potato beetle. Bringing potatoes to the insect’s native range created a new association between a crop and an insect, turning the once inconsequential beetles into pests. Any sentiment to save the native beetles from the impacts of potato farming is swamped by calls to save potato farmers from the beetles.

Tamarisk treeWikimedia Commons, Jerzy Opioła

Thus, neither a blanket condemnation nor a broad endorsement of any species based primarily on its origin or mode of transportation to now-occupied habitats is a sensible approach to safeguarding the world’s biodiversity or its food supply. Regardless of ”nativeness,” ecologists, policy makers, and conservationists should work to exclude potentially harmful pests. But they need to consider all the costs and benefits of every case on its own merits, in its specific context.

We briefly outlined these arguments in a commentary published in Nature this past June, along with 17 other experienced conservationists (including Joan Ehrenfeld, who passed away June 25 after a year-long illness). A few weeks later, Nature published four reactions (one with 141 signatories, referred to below as “the 141 letter”) that were echoed in some respects by others we received in direct correspondence. Rather than respond to each letter individually (and repetitively), we have attempted to compile them into general objections to which we can make general responses.
Objection 1: We set up and assailed “straw men.”

Our assertion that “invasion biologists and conservationists” generally “oppose non-native species per se,” and our suggestion that the same folks “ignore the benefits of introduced species,” were met with much contention. But we stand by our statements. Invasion biologists and conservationists are a diverse lot, but historically and continuing to the present, they have broadly conflated the relatively descriptive terms introduced, alien, or nonnative species with the more conceptually troubled metaphorical indictment—“invasive species.”

Invasion biologists (none call themselves “introduction” biologists) do seem to recognize the problem, having repeatedly published glossaries that encourage a distinction between merely “introduced” and problematic “invasive” species. But most do not abide by these guidelines. Indeed, even the 141 letter fails to maintain this distinction by hoping that “for some introductions [not some invasions], eradication is possible.”

Still, the authors maintain that invasion biologists do acknowledge beneficial introduced species, arguing that “nobody tries to eradicate wheat”—a globally widespread crop that was disseminated from the Near East. But some restorationists would certainly replace wheat with “native” grassland if given the means and the opportunity. Regardless, the example simply deflects from our point. Our concern is not primarily focused on forcibly maintained monocultures, but with all ecosystems that are now and foreseeably structured in some part by human agency.

Objection 2: The high evolutionary fitness of introduced species signified by their rapid population growth does not guarantee long-term fitness so it should not be taken as evidence of ecological belonging.

Despite its framing, this objection is primarily concerned with human scale stability and continuity. Many ecologists still presume that natural changes occur only at imperceptible rates and that all “good” ecological relationships are permanent and sustain beneficial community functions. But interactions between organisms and their environments are ecological, regardless of how they came to exist, or how long they persist. Evolutionary fitness is a matter of reproductive success under prevailing conditions, even if those conditions are, from a human perspective, “unnatural.” Conversely, when we seek to modulate fitness to conserve threatened or endangered species, or to eradicate so-called “pests,” we are judging whether an ecological interaction should happen with economic, legal, moral, ethical, aesthetic or cultural criteria. As such, these sorts of manipulations are based purely on human constructs, and should not be mistaken for laws or objectives of nature.

Objection 3: Invasion biology is not worthless.

The authors of one published reaction contended we had implied that invasion biologists had made no useful contributions to ecological knowledge. We made no such claim. But invasion biology, like epidemiology, is a discipline explicitly devoted to destroying that which it studies. This necessarily constrains its research program and colors its communications, both internal and external, in very particular ways. We believe, then, that less confrontational, more objective research approaches have greater potential to produce valuable results.

Objection 4: Our supposed contention that potential invaders are easily identifiable soon after detection, so management circumspection is unnecessary, even harmful, is false.

Like objection 3, this assertion extends our claims by implication. We did not categorically object to programs aimed at preventing introductions or eradicating populations of introduced species when it can be done in a dependable, highly targeted manner.

What we object to is an insistence on permanent, hopeless wars on well- and widely-established non-native taxa, conflicts that continuously disrupt ecosystems where introduced species now play significant ecological roles. Furthermore, as long as the many modes of inter- and trans-continental shipping continue to operate, organisms will unexpectedly move along with materials, goods, and people. Thus, although we respect the values inspiring many local conservation and restoration efforts, we caution that continuous “weeding” creates a further, more permanent dependence on human judgment and activity rather than a lesser, more temporary one.

In summary, our motivations echo those of more familiar forms of biodiversity conservation. Our primary goals are better understanding and managing human ecological influences. The approaches we suggest are no easier than those currently being practiced, as understanding and predicting community ecology will continue to challenge our discipline. However, we believe that more careful framing will permit more realistic characterizations of ecosystems, and better inform the multifarious and often inconsistent motivations underlying management interventions. Hence we wrote to expose and open a very practical debate to a wider array of participants. We are pleased that, in addition to the published responses, we have individually received many thoughtful and interesting comments from readers worldwide, and we look forward to continued discussion that might lead to more united conservation efforts.

Matthew K. Chew is an arid lands riparian ecologist and historian of biology at Arizona State University. His experiences coordinating Arizona’s State Natural Areas Program led him to study conceptions of biotic nativeness and belonging. Scott P. Carroll is at the University of California, Davis, and the director of the new Institute for Contemporary Evolution. Observing native insects evolve to exploit introduced plants underlies his belief in the value of evolutionary management in communities of mixed nativeness. This opinion piece expands on a June 2011 commentary in Nature, and aims to respond to a few ensuing reactions, some of which were published as correspondence in Nature in July.
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8) As Diamondback Terrapin nesting declines, center eyes habitat assistance

BRUNSWICK NEWS (Georgia) 30 August 11 (Anna Ferguson Hall)

Hidden under layers of grass and vegetation, the dozen turtle nesting boxes lining the Downing Musgrove Causeway to Jekyll Island go unnoticed by most causal observers.

But for the endangered terrapin turtles that slip into the wire-lined boxes to hatch eggs, the habitat-enhancing tools are vital for survival.

From May to July, terrapin turtles use the boxes to lay and hatch eggs.

The most recent season for the turtles is a cause of some concern to staff members of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The number of nesting turtles dropped by half, said Terry Norton, executive director of the rehabilitation and conservation center on Jekyll Island.

The lower number is a mystery.

"We don't know if it was a barren year or if the terrapin population has had that significant of a decline," Norton said. "We don't have any exact numbers, but we do know, from observation and counts, that the number of nesting turtles is severely decreased."

Of the 12 nesting boxes on the sides of the causeway, three have been found to be more popular with turtles and are being labeled as hot spots, where the majority of the season's nesting turtles migrated to lay eggs, Norton said.

Raccoons - or at least one raccoon - have been a nuisance to nesting turtles this past season. A box in one of the three hot spots was broken into by a raccoon or raccoons on several occasions, Norton said.

Watching the intruder on an camera placed inside the box, Norton was able to see the small night mammal squeeze between the fencing protecting the box and steal eggs.
"This is the first time we've ever had a raccoon get inside a box," he said. "We'll now have to figure out the best way to keep them away."

At the sea turtle center, the hatchling numbers were also down by a large percentage. Norton and staff regularly hatch eggs from terrapins struck by cars on the causeway or hurt in the area, but this season, they were far less active than usual.

Only 40 eggs were hatched at the center this year, compared to 110 last year. Norton isn't sure of the cause of the lower number.

Norton has noticed another strange trend: More males were hatched than females. He said it's likely because temperatures in the nesting boxes were lower along the causeway than in normal hatching territories. The lower temperatures made for more males, he said.

Norton and staff are conducting a study to figure out which nesting box sites would benefit most from being made warmer in order to decrease the male bias condition developed this year, he said.

"Lower temperatures make more males, and we need to find the boxes that would benefit most from being about 86 degrees," Norton said. "We are trying to balance out the male-female ratio to help keep the population healthy."
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Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator
Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator
Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011,
For just $25.00 a copy autographed by both writers. add $6.00 for shipping and handling and you have become a HerpDigest Hero helping it survive.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
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"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes—but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
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"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
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“Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.”—Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

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Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

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Volume # 11 Issue # 44 10/9/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
_________________________________________________________________
LAST CALL-Get Your Guaranteed Autograph copies of “Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator,” by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
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____________________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents
1) From a Times if India Article 9/30/11 about cranes. This bit of information Batgur Turtles was an afterthought.
2) PROCEEDINGS- From the Workshop on Captive Propagation and Sale of Native Reptiles and Amphibians in California- May 10, 2002 -Escondido, California, U.S.A.-
Something I didn’t even know happened let alone that there were Proceedings.
From Introduction. -More of a Policy discussion than a how to as in current TSA meetings
3) Tortoises Yawn—But It's Not Contagious - Ludwig Huber and colleagues earned the 2011 Ig Nobel in physiology for determining that yawning isn't contagious among red-footed tortoises
4) How to Scientifically Know where to Allocate Limited Resources to Save Species -Also known, as Triage- How to Scientifically decide which species are worth saving which aren’t. - New Study
5) Two Florida Species Declared Extinct - Endangered Species Review Too Late to Save South Florida Rainbow Snake, Florida Fairy Shrimp
6)) State by State List of Herps USF&WS is Looking at in 13 Southeastern U.S. States.
7) U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE LISTS THE OZARK HELLBENDER AS ENDANGERED AND MOVES TO INCLUDE HELLBENDERS IN APPENDIX III OF CITES
8) Petition asks for end to snapping turtle hunt (Editor -A look at Canada and it’s turtles. The Last Half of the Story could be Anywhere in the U.S.)


__________________________________________________________
PLEASE KEEP THOSE DONATIONS COMING. You’ve sent in enough donations to ensure that HerpDigest will continue into next year, but how far depends on how much you send.
So any size donation is Helpful - $10- $15-$25-$50-$100. How to donate is the same as how to order a book like the new one on “Invasive Pythons in the U.S,” or the “2012 Turtle Calendar.”(see below)

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It is the only place you will find the punchline of a joke”the space time continuum.”
No herp lover should be without one.

(No turtle was harmed during the filming of (“Turtle TV”) ____________________________________________________________________________
1) From a Times if India Article 9/30/11 about cranes. This bit of information Batgur Turtles was an afterthought.

Batagur Kachua (red-crowned roofed turtle): The National Chambal Sanctuary portion of the Chambal river has received moderate protection since 1979 as India's only protected riverine habitat. It is believed to be one of the last viable habitats for this specie, though even here, Batagur Kachua are rare. Recent annual nesting surveys indicate that fewer than 400 adult females are remaining in the wild. Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur Kachua) is a specie of turtles found in South Asia

______________________________________________________________________
2) PROCEEDINGS- From the Workshop on Captive Propagation and Sale of Native Reptiles and Amphibians in California- May 10, 2002 -Escondido, California, U.S.A.- Something I didn’t even know happened let alone that there were Proceedings.
From Introduction. -More of a Policy discussion than a how to as in current TSA meetings

At its August 3, 2001 meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) received a request to add rubber boas (Charina bottae) to the existing list of three native snake species that can be legally bred in captivity and sold. The Department of Fish and Game (Department) advised that this request opened the general question of what constitutes an appropriate policy guiding broader harvest and use of reptiles and amphibians. In response, the Commission remanded the issue to the Department directing the agency to work with interested parties and draft a broad policy proposal for Commission action

So even if the document is 9 years old, and I don’t know what action was taken, I find all scientific and policy papers might be of some use. You never know what was ignored, minimized that in the light of future ideas or discoveries turned out to be important news, ideas, data...Contact me at asalzberg@herpdigest.org for a copy (pdf file) ______________________________________________________________________________
3) Tortoises Yawn—But It's Not Contagious - Ludwig Huber and colleagues earned the 2011 Ig Nobel in physiology for determining that yawning isn't contagious among red-footed tortoises Copy upon request or try PDF link in article. They sometimes work.

A wasabi alarm, beer bottle-loving beetles, and doomsday math were among the scientific advances honored Thursday with 2011 Ig Nobel Prizes.

National Geographic News, 10/6/11- The unique annual awards go to real research "that first makes people laugh, and then makes them think." The scientific celebration, now in its 21st year, was hosted by the Annals of Improbable Research and several Harvard University student groups.

As usual, more than a half dozen genuine Nobel laureates were onstage at Harvard's Sanders Theater to hand out the coveted prizes.

Tortoises Yawn—But It's Not Contagious
Ludwig Huber and colleagues earned the 2011 Ig Nobel in physiology for determining that yawning isn't contagious among red-footed tortoises—perhaps coming a bit closer to understanding what's behind the common but mysterious behavior.

Tortoises that watched another animal detour around an object to get food were able to learn the behavior by observation and duplicate it rather easily, said Huber, of the University of Vienna in Austria. The tortoises also followed the gazes of others, showing that they attend to what their fellow animals are doing.

But the reptiles did not yawn in response to other tortoises yawning [PDF], as humans and other higher primates have been observed to do. Huber says that combination of results is telling: "We can say that contagious yawning is not purely a simple reflex, because otherwise they would have shown it here," he explained. "We might say that it's based on a more complex kind of social behavior."
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4) How to Scientifically Know where to Allocate Limited Resources to Save Species -Also known, as Triage- How to Scientifically decide which species are worth saving which aren’t. - New Study

Summary of Original Paper published in the Journal Nature Climate Change. by Allen Salzberg--9/30/11 More species could be saved from extinction under climate change thanks to a new model scientists have developed to guide allocation of conservation funding. The international team, led by Dr Brendan Wintle of the University of Melbourne and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, is the first to develop a pioneering decision-support model that incorporates both ecological and economic information to guide conservation investment in the face of climate change.

Although scientists knew that high extinction rates were predicted to increase under climate change, there was little advice to guide how money could be best spent to minimise extinctions.
Dr Wintle said "The best part about this model is that it can be applied to a range of environments, including many of Australia's native ecosystems, to suggest how to allocate funding. Our analysis supports the existing evidence that climate change will substantially accelerate extinction rates. So the first step is that we urgently need to limit global warming to avoid a mass extinction. Given that we are probably committed to a two degree warming by 2050, we need to develop effective strategies for minimizing the number of species that go extinct as a result.

"We only have a limited amount of money to spend on managing biodiversity, so the question becomes, how do we most effectively allocate these funds? We needed a systematic approach to guide conservation investment to minimize extinctions and avoid wasting money. An advantage of our approach is that it makes the costs of a plan explicit, reducing the opportunity for politicization of decisions."

The scientists combined ecological predictions with an economic decision framework to prioritize conservation activities, and tested the model on one of world's most biodiverse and highly threatened ecosystems; the South African fynbos.

"An interesting result of our analysis is that the optimal allocation of money depends strongly on the yearly conservation budget. For example if budgets were small then the whole budget would be dedicated to fire-fighting capacity. However, if more money were available, investment would be directed toward avoiding habitat loss due to clearing and weed invasion," Dr Wintle said.
The team included scientists from the University of Melbourne, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, CSIR South Africa, the NERP Environmental Decisions Hub, RMIT University, NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, University of NSW, the University of Queensland and a group of European researchers.

The work is published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
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5) Two Florida Species Declared Extinct - Endangered Species Review Too Late to Save South Florida Rainbow Snake, Florida Fairy Shrimp

Press Release - Center for Biological Diversity- 10/5/11 Jacksonville, FL.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that two Florida species, the South Florida rainbow snake and the Florida fairy shrimp, have been determined to be extinct. The finding came in response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity in 2010 seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the rainbow snake, fairy shrimp and more than 400 aquatic species in the southeastern United States. Last week the Service announced that 374 other freshwater species in the petition, including 114 in Florida, may warrant protection under Act. All of those species will now get an in-depth review.

“It’s heart-wrenching to learn that these two unique Florida species have been lost forever. Like most species that go extinct, these two were not protected under the Endangered Species Act, which is the most powerful tool we have for saving our nation’s plants and animals from disappearing,” said Tierra Curry, a conservation biologist with the Center.

The South Florida rainbow snake was known only from Fish Eating Creek, which flows into the west side of Lake Okeechobee. The beautiful snake was iridescent bluish-black with red stripes on its back and sides, red and yellow patches on its belly and throat, and a yellow chin. Adults were more than four feet long. It was last seen in 1952.

The Florida fairy shrimp was known from a single pond just south of Gainesville. The pond was destroyed by development, and the species hasn’t been detected elsewhere.

“The government has to determine quickly whether the 114 other Florida species it’s reviewing will get protection so that more of Florida’s heritage isn’t erased by extinction,” said Curry. “The wellbeing of human society is deeply linked to the health of the natural systems we need to sustain life. In the end, saving species will help save us.”

The southeastern United States is home to more unique species of freshwater animals than anywhere else in the world, including mussels, snails and crayfish. Tragically, many of the region’s animals have already been lost to extinction.

Contact: Tierra Curry, (928) 522-3681
Other Herps - Possible Extinction - USF&WS Looking for information on all. Inquire Ms. Curry of CBD where to send.
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6) State by State List of Herps USF&WS is Looking at in 13 Southeastern U.S. States. Overlap of species in states is because those are the last known sightings of species. For Example Hellbender is listed in many states. But the last sighting could be 25 years old in that state. There is also an international trade in Hellbenders so while they collect information they are proposing all Hellbenders for CITES III listing. (Difference between CITES III listing and CITES II?) They need recent sightings. Recent information.

Alabama
Black Warrior waterdog Necturus alabamensis Seepage salamander Desmognathus aeneus One-toed amphiuma Amphiuma pholeter Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis Tennessee cave salamander Gyrinophilus palleucus Barbour's map turtle Graptemys barbouri Escambia map turtle Graptemys ernsti Alabama map turtle Graptemys pulchra Black-knobbed map turtle Graptemys nigrinoda

Arkansas
Oklahoma salamander Eurycea tynerensis
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Western chicken turtle Deirochelys reticularia miaria

Florida
Florida Keys mole skink Eumeces egregius egregius Eastern ribbonsnake - lower Florida Keys Thamnophis sauritus pop. 1 South florida rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma seminola Escambia map turtle Graptemys ernsti Striped mud turtle - lower Florida Keys Kinosternon baurii pop. 1 Barbour's map turtle Graptemys barbouri Florida red-bellied turtle - Florida panhandle Pseudemys nelsoni pop. 1 Chamberlain's dwarf salamander Eurycea chamberlaini Georgia blind salamander Haideotriton wallacei Gulf hammock dwarf siren Pseudobranchus striatus lustricolus Florida bog frog Rana okaloosae One-toed amphiuma Amphiuma pholeter

Georgia

Seepage salamander Desmognathus aeneus
Chamberlain's dwarf salamander Eurycea chamberlaini
Georgia blind salamander Haideotriton wallacei
One-toed amphiuma Amphiuma pholeter
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Tennessee cave salamander Gyrinophilus palleucus
Patch-nosed salamander Urspelerpes brucei
Alabama map turtle Graptemys pulchra
Barbour's map turtle Graptemys barbouri

Kentucky

Streamside salamander Ambystoma barbouri
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Kirtland's snake Clonophis kirtlandii

Lousiana
Pascagoula map turtle Graptemys gibbonsi

Mississippi
One-toed amphiuma Amphiuma pholeter
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Black-knobbed map turtle Graptemys nigrinoda
Alabama map turtle Graptemys pulchra
Western chicken turtle Deirochelys reticularia miaria
Pascagoula map turtle Graptemys gibbonsi

North Carolina
Neuse River waterdog
Necturus lewisi Chamberlain's dwarf salamander
Eurycea chamberlaini
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Seepage salamander Desmognathus aeneus
Northern red-bellied cooter Pseudemys rubriventris

South Carolina
Chamberlain's dwarf salamander
Eurycea chamberlaini
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Seepage salamander Desmognathus aeneus

Tennessee
Tennessee cave salamander Gyrinophilus palleucus
Seepage salamander Desmognathus aeneus
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Streamside salamander Ambystoma barbouri
Cumberland dusky salamander Desmognathus abditus

Virginia
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Northern red-bellied cooter Pseudemys rubriventris

West Virginia
Streamside salamander Ambystoma barbouri
Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
West Vrginia spring salamander Gyrinophilus subterraneus
Northern red-bellied cooter Pseudemys rubriventris
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7) U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE LISTS THE OZARK HELLBENDER AS ENDANGERED AND MOVES TO INCLUDE HELLBENDERS IN APPENDIX III OF CITES
Hellbenders are among the world’s largest salamanders

Press Release, USF&WS 10/6/11 --The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated the Ozark Hellbender as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and also finalized its decision to list the Ozark and Eastern Hellbender in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In combination, these listings will provide significant protection to hellbenders, both domestically and internationally.

Under the ESA, an endangered species is any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Ozark Hellbender, which grows to lengths up to 2 feet, inhabits the White River system in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Ozark Hellbender populations have declined an estimated 75 percent since the 1980s, with only about 590 individuals remaining in the wild. It is believed numbers have dropped because of degraded water quality, habitat loss resulting from impoundments, ore and gravel mining, sedimentation, and collection for the pet trade.
Also threatening the Ozark Hellbender is a fungal disease, chytridiomycosis (chytrid), and severe physical abnormalities (e.g., lesions, digit and appendage loss, epidermal sloughing), which most Ozark Hellbenders exhibit.

In addition, the average age of Ozark Hellbender populations is increasing and few young are being found, indicating problems with reproduction or juvenile survival. This, and the multiple threats from disease and habitat degradation, could lead to extinction of the Ozark Hellbender within 20 years.
“The Ozark Hellbender faces extinction without the protection afforded by the Endangered Species Act,” said Tom Melius, the Service’s Midwest Regional Director. “Listing provides tools and an infrastructure within which partners can pool resources and expertise to help save this species.”
The Service determined that designating critical habitat under the ESA for the Ozark Hellbender is not prudent because the designation would require publication of detailed descriptions of Hellbender locations and habitat, making illegal collection for the pet trade more likely.

To better control and monitor the international trade of Hellbenders, the Service has included both the Ozark and Eastern Hellbender in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Convention). CITES is an international agreement between governments designed to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct as a result of international trade. Collection within the United States and international trade of Hellbenders is of growing concern, particularly as they become rarer and, consequently, more valuable. Listing Hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES would aid in curbing unauthorized international trade, not only by controlling exports from the United States but by enlisting the assistance of 174 other countries that are CITES Parties in controlling trade in the species.

Currently, two [allopatric] subspecies of Hellbenders are recognized, the Ozark Hellbender and the Eastern Hellbender. The Ozark Hellbender only occurs in Missouri and Arkansas, whereas the Eastern Hellbender range includes portions of the following 16 states: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Hellbenders are salamanders with large tails and tiny eyes. Adult Ozark Hellbenders may reach lengths up to 2 feet, and their flattened bodies enable them to move in the fast-flowing streams they inhabit. Hellbenders are habitat specialists that depend on constant levels of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and flow in their aquatic environment. Even minor alterations to stream habitat are likely detrimental to Hellbender populations.

The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to kill, harm or otherwise “take” a listed species. The ESA also requires all federal agencies to ensure actions they authorize, fund, or undertake do not jeopardize the existence of listed species, and directs the Service to work with federal agencies and other partners to develop and carry out recovery efforts for those species. Listing also focuses attention on the needs of the species, encouraging conservation efforts by other agencies (federal, state and local), conservation groups, and other organizations and individuals.

The Service’s final rules to list the Ozark Hellbender as an endangered species and to include Hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES appear in the October 6, 2011, Federal Register. The Ozark Hellbender final rule is also available on the Service’s Midwest Region website at
www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered

and the final rule to include Hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES is also available on the Service’s International Affairs website at
www.fws.gov/international

The listing of the Ozark Hellbender under the ESA will take effect 30 days after publication of the final rule, whereas the listing of Hellbenders in CITES Appendix III will take effect 180 days after publication of the final rule. This additional time is necessary so that the Service can submit required documentation to the CITES Secretariat, which will then notify all CITES Parties of this action taken by the United States.

Contacts for this release are:
Georgia Parham, 812-334-4261 x 1203
Trisha Crabill, 573-234-2132 x 121
Danielle Kessler, 703-358-2644
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8) Petition asks for end to snapping turtle hunt (Editor -A look at Canada and it’s turtles. The Last Half of the Story could be Anywhere in the U.S.)

Midland Free Press, Orilla, Ontario, 9/30/11 by Gisele Winton Sarvis - Snapping turtles may go the way of the endangered spotted turtle if hunting them remains legal, says local naturalist Bob Bowles.

The snapping turtle has been listed as a species at risk since 2009, but the provincial government has not removed them from the legal hunting list. Snapping turtles can be taken with a daily limit of two and a possession limit of five by anyone with a valid sport or fishing licence.

"Some people spend their whole weekend going out with their bare hands and a knife in their teeth, jumping into ponds, grabbing a turtle and cutting its throat," Bowles said. "This is their weekend entertainment."

Bowles has recently started a petition demanding that turtle hunting be banned. The petition is available at Scales Nature Park, local conservation group offices and MPP Garfield Dunlop's office. The initiative has the backing of environmental heavyweights Ontario Nature and the David Suzuki Foundation.

The petition says "we the undersigned petition... that all hunting of snapping turtles, an Ontario and nationally listed species at risk, be banned under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act." It will be sent to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Bowles believes that snapping turtles should have been removed from the list of hunt-able species when they were listed as a species at risk, but this has not happened.

The other problem with hunting turtles is that no one is keeping track of the numbers of turtles in a given area or the numbers of turtles hunted, so the impact to turtle populations is unknown.
"They keep track of numbers for moose, deer and wolves," Bowles said.

Even without hunting, turtle and amphibian numbers are diminishing because their wetland habitats continue to disappear with expanding urban development, Bowles said.

And thousands of turtles are killed each year in the province through road kill. Slow-moving turtles often seeking roadside sand banks to lay eggs cannot get out of the way fast enough to survive a fast-moving vehicle.

Some people intentionally run over turtles, said Bryna Belisle, special projects co-ordinator for Scales Nature Park in Orillia.

"A certain per cent of the population are going out of their way to hit turtles," she said, referring to a scientific study done in Long Point that proved this. Long Point has the highest turtle mortality caused by cars in the province.

Of the eight species of turtles that call Ontario home, seven of them are species at risk. Only the Midland painted turtle remains as a self-sustaining healthy population.

"There is still pressure on the species," Bowles said.

"Turtles have been on this planet for 300 million years and now they are having a hard time surviving."

The spotted turtle and the wood turtle are endangered. The softshell, stinkpot and Blanding's turtle are threatened species. The map turtle is listed as special concern.

"My biggest fear is than my grandkids will never see turtles," Bowles said.

It's not too late for the snapping turtle, said Jeff Hathaway, owner of Scales Nature Park in Oro-Medonte. He explained that the higher the population of a given species, the easier it is to rehabilitate. The lower the number of animals left of a species, the harder it is to bring them back.

"The overall numbers are going down, but there is still enough left to turn it around," he said.

What's needed to keep turtles alive and well is positive intervention from humans. The Ontario Multi Turtle Recovery Team is one organization helping turtles by working to maintain or rebuild wetlands, monitor turtle populations and promote awareness to educate people about the plight of these ancient animals.



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Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator
Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator
Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011,
For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
—Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes—but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
—Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
—Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

“Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.”—Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range
Research on pythons in the United States history
Status of introduced pythons in Florida,
Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere
Methods to control python populations
other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State
TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover, a wicked side view, close-up of a python with its mouth wide open, go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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TURTLES 2012 FULL COLOR CALENDAR
A GREAT GIFT TO YOU OR THAT SPECIAL TURTLE PERSON IN YOUR LIFE
24 Pages, 14" x 12" FULL COLOR, Firefly Books, Shrinkwrapped Wall Calendar
$13.99 USD$ 14.99 CDN Plus $6.00 for S&H in US, $12.00 for Canada, $15.00
for Europe.

Two hundred million years ago, these self-contained creatures shared Earth
with the dinosaurs. Yet long after the demise of their contemporaries,
turtles live on. It is not surprising, then, that they have been associated
with strength, endurance and longevity throughout history, however slowly
they may move. In Turtles 2012, world-renowned photographers catch an
intriguing array of these ancient reptiles on film. The detailed images
provide a captivating glimpse into the environment and behavior of turtles,
while fascinating captions provide background information. Photographed in
their natural settings, these distinctive turtles reveal the qualities that
made their ancestors such survivors.

Firefly Books offers an outstanding selection of 14" x 12" wall calendars.
The nature, landscape and wildlife wall calendars feature the work of some
of the best photographers in the world. Each image is a superb high
resolution reproduction and most are printed without borders making each
page an eye-catching poster.

Turtles Included In Calendar

On cover - Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas),

Inside
Juvenille Bowspirit Tortoise (Chersi angulata)
Galapagos Tortoise, (no scientific name since I can't read it from photo,
and anyway I don't know if they have settled that all are one species, or
separate species, scientific ping-pong)
A Red-Eared Slider-adult-basking )Trachemys scripta elegans
Two Green Sea Turtles, Underwater, (Chelonia mydas)
Common Snapping Turtle (face shot- Chelydra Serpentina)
Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis)
Eastern Box Turtle ) Terrepene carolina carolina
African Spur-thigh tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas)
Two baby red-eared sliders basking )Trachemys scirpta elegans
Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminicki)
Blanding's Turtle (Emybodiea blandingii)

Remember this is the calendar whose photos are the full 14" x 12" size, no
text on photos, so you can hang it up framed or unframed in your
turtle/reptile room. The colors of the turtles are correct. So you get a
calendar and 12 posters.

To see a photo of the cover go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00


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TO ORDER:

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[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 45 10/28/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
_________________________________________________________________
“Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator,” by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
After today you can order the book, but we can not guarantee it will be autographed.
But one guarantee we can make is the the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
And I just came back from a convention of environmental journalists in Miami and that is all they are talking about. So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
So see a copy of the cover, a wicked side view, close-up of a python with its mouth wide open, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
________________________________________________________________________
Turtles 2012 Full Color Calendar - A Great Gift to You or That Special Turtle Person in Your Life. ORDER NOW, I MEAN IT.. We now only have 6 left in stock. Great gift for the holidays. (Nope its not too early to think about them. I’m already trying to figure out what to get the wife.
FULL COLOR, 24 Pages, 14" x 12", Firefly Books, Shrink-wrapped Wall Calendar
$13.99 USD $14.99 CDN Plus $6.00 for S&H in US, $12.00 for Canada, $15.00 for Europe On how to order and for more information see below. For a picture of the cover of the calendar, a beautiful Green Sea Turtle, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Table of Contents

1) Return of the Black Turtle, A Success Story
2) Governmentt calls off Maun crocodile hunt
3) Leatherback turtle washed up on Cumbrian beach, Ireland
4) 100,000 turtles sacrificed in ritual slaughter to celebrate Hindu festival, Bangladesh
5) Python circulating fatty acids study could benefit diseased human heart ________________________________________________________________
1) Return of the Black Turtle, A Success Story Photographer Neil Osborne is raising funds on Emphas.is to document a success story - how one man has helped save the Black Turtle from extinction
Author: Katheine Waters, 10/28/11

Photographer Neil Osborne first became involved in the conservation project to save the black turtle when a magazine sent him to profile scientist Wallace "J" Nichols. "During that first visit, I met Julio Solis, an amazing young man who has fully transitioned from being a fisherman/poacher to a conservation professional and a community leader."

"I spent more time listening to him than I did photographing," says Osborne, "These first few introductions inspired me to start the project."

Initially he hesitated about working with Emphas.is. "They had never worked with a conservation photographer before so this project was the first with a real environmental/wildlife focus," but through the ready support offered it was an easy choice to make.

"Conservation photography is just as much about the deliverables of a project as is the imagery," says Osborne, by this he means not just the app or ebook he and Nichols are considering, nor the printed journal filled with photographs and notes they will publish, but the measurable effect the resulting material will have on raising the profile of the protection project.

"Nichols is already aligning contacts and an opportunity to put our work in front of the president of Mexico. That is the audience we want, along with the governors of various states who have roles in the conservation of the black sea turtle."

Osborne is hoping to raise $11,315 to finance the project. To help him, check the Emphas.is website.
To see video on project go to - bottom of page or go to Emphas.is

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journ ... z1c5izFXy0

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2) Governmentt calls off Maun crocodile hunt

Mmegi, 10/27/11-MAUN: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks has called off an operation to recapture crocodiles that escaped from a farm in Setatunga.

The reptiles escaped from the Okavango Swamps Crocodile Farm last month after floodwaters swept them into the Setatunga River, which is a tributary of the Thamalakane River.Ngamiland Regional Wildlife Officer, Molothanyi Othomile told Mmegi that the search for the crocodiles was stopped because there were no more reports of the reptiles in the Setatunga area.

He said more than 200 crocodiles were captured and returned to the farm. Thirty-five were earlier on shot to reduce conflict as they had already resorted to killing and eating livestock, he said. The shooting was stopped after concerns that the ammunition might contaminate the river and endanger not only the river system but also residents of Setatunga and Tsanakona settlements who rely on it for their water supply.

At the time, government took the decision to kill the crocodiles, the giant reptiles had already slain at least 100 goats and two calves. Although the owners of the animals were promised that the crocodile farm owner Albert Willers would compensate them, they have not yet received anything from him. In an earlier interview with The Monitor, two women farmers in the area, Bosiame David who lost 32 goats and Keseme Taolo expressed worry that they may never be compensated.

Frank Ramsden who is the Member of Parliament for Maun West also feigned ignorance about the crocodiles. "I only read about it in the papers and nobody has informed me about it," he told Mmegi last week, after addressing a Kgotla meeting in Borolong ward.

The escape of the reptiles from the crocodile farm has raised questions about crocodile farming in Botswana and the need for regulation of the industry. According to the Wildlife Department, a farmer can keep as many crocodiles as he can manage. The extent to which a farmer "can manage" crocodiles has become a contentious issue in Maun lately as villagers want to know from government if the farm could be overcrowded.

For example, with over two thousand crocodiles in its cabins and swamps concerns have surfaced that the farm was overcrowded and prone to crocodile escapes whenever there is a flash flood, which is what eventually happened.The ownership and licensing of the farms has also come under scrutiny. Here again the law is silent on whose responsibility it is to monitor the farms.

The Setatunga Farm management in particular has been accused of failing to conform to best environmental practices as they allegedly channel dirty water from the crocodile ponds into the Setatunga River. Efforts by this newspaper to contact the farm owner have been futile. For a month since we have been following this story his mobile either rings unanswered or is off air.

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3) Leatherback turtle washed up on Cumbrian beach, Ireland By Victoria Brenan, News & Star, 10/27/11

An amazing discovery was made on a Cumbrian beach earlier this month when a leatherback turtle washed ashore.

The reptile – which is critically endangered – is not often seen in the waters around Cumbria but the latest appearance has confirmed the breed’s existence in the Irish sea.

They say the turtles have been spotted swimming in the Irish sea, a rich food source for them because of the high levels of plankton and algae but numbers of them have dwindled worldwide due to egg theft.

The male turtle was found by a member of the public who alerted Cumbria Wildlife Trust after making the grim discovery at St Bees around a week ago.

“It was in such a bad condition it’s not easy to say [how it died],” said Alan Wright, of the trust.
“We are still investigating.

“[Other ones] have either been killed by boat propellers or eaten a plastic bag and died. There’s good chance there would be some human involvement in its death.”

Mr Wright said the discovery was ‘good and bad news.’

“It’s good in that we know they are in the sea but obviously bad in that it’s dead. We do get the odd one washing up on shore in Cumbria.”

He said they believed the turtle was between 10 and 15 years old and said they could live for hundreds of years.

The largest one ever found in the UK was reportedly washed up in Wales. It was nearly 10ft long and weighed 916 kilos, equivalent to a Mini.

The turtle’s body was removed by trust officers working with marine bodies, Defra and Natural England.
Experts are now trying to establish how it died.
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4) 100,000 turtles sacrificed in ritual slaughter to celebrate Hindu festival by Daily Mail Reporter, 10/27/11

You must see the pictures that go with this article go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... tival.html

A Hindu festival that celebrates light has been shrouded in darkness following the sacrificial slaughter of up to 100,000 turtles.

Shown in these horrifying images, critically endangered species including the northern river terrapin and the black soft-shell turtle, are sacrificed in the name of religion.

The ancient ritual takes place during the celebration of Kali Puja, which started in Bengal yesterday.
Held once a year, and corresponding with the festival Diwali, sacrifices are made to Kali, the Hindu goddess of power.

During Kali Puja, market streets are teeming with devotees who purchase and consume thousands of turtles.

One of the species found on Dhaka's markets is the northern river terrapin.

On paper it is offered the same level of protection as a tiger.

Another targeted species is the black soft-shell, which has only recently been officially been found in the wild and it has a single population in a pond in the region of Chittagong.

Even though many of the turtles are critically endangered and feature on Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, the slaughter is often overlooked by authorities.

The act has enraged conservation groups in India and abroad.

"Since the killing of turtles was made illegal, this mass slaughter has been carried out in the name of 'religion'," said Dr Rashid of Centre for Advanced Research in Natural Resources & Management (CARINAM) in Bangladesh.

'It's because of this that the authorities turn a blind eye - they are too scared of causing social unrest."
At Dhaka's Tanti Market, the turtles are butchered and their meat, limbs and organs are then sold to customers.

The meat sells for between $10 - $60 per kilo (£6-£37), depending on the species.
Followers believe that by eating the turtle, they will take on its strength and longevity.
During festival, the majority of Bangladesh's Hindu population consume turtle meat.

Businessman Sunil Kumar Bala commented: "We have been eating turtles during Kali Puja for a long time. It is a tradition that we will maintain even if the government tries to stop us."
The turtle trade offers a source of income to up to 30,000 people.

Hari, the longest serving trader of turtles in Dhaka's markets, estimates he has been responsible for killing around 20,000 tons of turtles.

"If this this trade stops, many people's livelihoods will suffer," he said.

"I have been doing this for the last 40 years, if you stop this now, what will I do?"

Turtle conservationists, however, are up in arms.

"The Kali Puja turtle market is a wildlife travesty of the worst kind," said Rick Hudson of the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) in Fort Worth, US.

"The brutality with which turtles are slaughtered is gruesome, shocking and an abomination of nature."

Once the market concludes, the shells are cleaned, scraped of meat and then dried.

The dried shell has multiple uses. It is processed and fed to fish and chicken.

The pharmaceutical industry uses it to make the containers of capsules for antibiotics and other drugs.

However, the majority of dried shell is shipped to south east Asia where it is used in traditional medicine. It is believed that consuming turtle shell increases virility.

As night fell in Dhaka yesterday, the ceremonies began. During sacrifices to Kali, goats were beheaded and turtles impaled upside down on poles.

As they tried to escape, their head and legs were chopped off.

Turtles have been on earth for over 220 million years, even surviving K-T boundary that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Now they are amongst the world's most endangered animals; around half of their 300+ species are threatened with extinction.

"Turtles are being collected, traded, and eaten or otherwise used, in overwhelming numbers.

"They are used for food, pets, traditional medicine-eggs, juveniles, adults, body parts-all are exploited indiscriminately, with little regard for sustainability. On top of the targeted onslaught, their habitats are being increasingly fragmented, destroyed, developed, and polluted," from "Turtles in Trouble" by the Turtle Conservation Coalition.

Over recent years Bangladesh has become a hot spot for the illegal turtle smuggling trade.

Animals are smuggled in from neighbouring nations and then re-exported due to Bangladesh's porous border security.

The current outlook for many of the species is grim.

"This situation is completely unsustainable. Unless the trade for turtles stops and a slaughter in the name of religion is regulated, a number of species will be lost forever," said Dr. Rashid.
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5) Python circulating fatty acids study could benefit diseased human heart Press Relese 10/21/11, Provided by University of Colorado at Boulder

Boulder professor Leslie Leinwand and her team have discovered that huge amounts of fatty acids circulating through the bloodstreams of feeding pythons promote healthy heart growth in the constricting snake, a study with implications for human heart heath. Credit: Photo by Thomas Cooper A surprising new University of Colorado Boulder study shows that huge amounts of fatty acids circulating in the bloodstreams of feeding pythons promote healthy heart growth, results that may have implications for treating human heart disease.

CU-Boulder Professor Leslie Leinwand and her research team found the amount of triglycerides -- the main constituent of natural fats and oils -- in the blood of Burmese pythons one day after eating increased by more than fifty-fold. Despite the massive amount of fatty acids in the python bloodstream there was no evidence of fat deposition in the heart, and the researchers also saw an increase in the activity of a key enzyme known to protect the heart from damage.

After identifying the chemical make-up of blood plasma in fed pythons, the CU-Boulder researchers injected fasting pythons with either "fed python" blood plasma or a reconstituted fatty acid mixture they developed to mimic such plasma. In both cases, the pythons showed increased heart growth and indicators of cardiac health. The team took the experiments a step further by injecting mice with either fed python plasma or the fatty acid mixture, with the same results.

"We found that a combination of fatty acids can induce beneficial heart growth in living organisms," said CU-Boulder postdoctoral researcher Cecilia Riquelme, first author on the Science paper. "Now we are trying to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the process in hopes that the results might lead to new therapies to improve heart disease conditions in humans."

The paper is being published in the Oct. 28 issue of the journal Science. In addition to Leinwand and Riquelme, the authors include CU postdoctoral researcher Brooke Harrison, CU graduate student Jason Magida, CU undergraduate Christopher Wall, Hiberna Corp. researcher Thomas Marr and University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Professor Stephen Secor.

Previous studies have shown that the hearts of Burmese pythons can grow in mass by 40 percent within 24 to 72 hours after a large meal, and that metabolism immediately after swallowing prey can shoot up by forty-fold. As big around as telephone poles, adult Burmese pythons can swallow prey as large as deer, have been known to reach a length of 27 feet and are able to fast for up to a year with few ill effects.

There are good and bad types of heart growth, said Leinwand, who is an expert in genetic heart diseases including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes. While cardiac diseases can cause human heart muscle to thicken and decrease the size of heart chambers and heart function because the organ is working harder to pump blood, heart enlargement from exercise is beneficial.

"Well-conditioned athletes like Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and cyclist Lance Armstrong have huge hearts," said Leinwand, a professor in the molecular, cellular and developmental biology department and chief scientific officer of CU's Biofrontiers Institute. "But there are many people who are unable to exercise because of existing heart disease, so it would be nice to develop some kind of a treatment to promote the beneficial growth of heart cells."

Riquelme said once the CU team confirmed that something in the blood plasma of pythons was inducing positive cardiac growth, they began looking for the right "signal" by analyzing proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and peptides present in the fed plasma. The team used a technique known as gas chromatography to analyze both fasted and fed python plasma blood, eventually identifying a highly complex composition of circulating fatty acids with distinct patterns of abundance over the course of the digestive process.

In the mouse experiments led by Harrison, the animals were hooked up to "mini-pumps" that delivered low doses of the fatty acid mixture over a period of a week. Not only did the mouse hearts show significant growth in the major part of the heart that pumps blood, the heart muscle cell size increased, there was no increase in heart fibrosis -- which makes the heart muscle more stiff and can be a sign of disease -- and there were no alterations in the liver or in the skeletal muscles, he said.
"It was remarkable that the fatty acids identified in the plasma-fed pythons could actually stimulate healthy heart growth in mice," said Harrison. The team also tested the fed python plasma and the fatty acid mixture on cultured rat heart cells, with the same positive results, Harrison said.

The CU-led team also identified the activation of signaling pathways in the cells of fed python plasma, which serve as traffic lights of sorts, said Leinwand. "We are trying to understand how to make those signals tell individual heart cells whether they are going down a road that has pathological consequences, like disease, or beneficial consequences, like exercise," she said.

The prey of Burmese pythons can be up to 100 percent of the constricting snake's body mass, said Leinwand, who holds a Marsico Endowed Chair of Excellence at CU-Boulder. "When a python eats, something extraordinary happens. Its metabolism increases by more than forty-fold and the size of its organs increase significantly in mass by building new tissue, which is broken back down during the digestion process."

The three key fatty acids in the fed python plasma turned out to be myristic acid, palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid. The enzyme that showed increased activity in the python hearts during feeding episodes, known as superoxide dismutase, is a well-known "cardio-protective" enzyme in many organisms, including humans, said Leinwand.

The new Science study grew out of a project Leinwand began in 2006 when she was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor and awarded a four-year, $1 million undergraduate education grant from the Chevy Chase, Md.-based institute. As part of the award Leinwand initiated the Python Project, an undergraduate laboratory research program designed to focus on the heart biology of constricting snakes like pythons thought to have relevance to human disease.

Undergraduates contributed substantially to the underpinnings of the new python study both by their genetic studies and by caring for the lab pythons, said Leinwand. While scientists know a great deal about the genomes of standard lab animal models like fruit flies, worms and mice, relatively little was known about pythons. "We have had to do a lot of difficult groundwork using molecular genetics tools in order to undertake this research," said Leinwand.

CU-Boulder already had a laboratory snake facility in place, which contributed to the success of the project, she said.

"The fact that the python study involved faculty, postdoctoral researchers, a graduate student and an undergraduate, Christopher Wall, shows the project was a team effort," said Leinwand. "Chris is a good example of how the University of Colorado provides an incredible educational research environment for undergraduates." Wall is now a graduate student at the University of California, San Diego.

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Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
—Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes—but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
—Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
—Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

“Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.”—Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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TURTLES 2012 FULL COLOR CALENDAR
A GREAT GIFT TO YOU OR THAT SPECIAL TURTLE PERSON IN YOUR LIFE
24 Pages, 14" x 12" FULL COLOR, Firefly Books, Shrinkwrapped Wall Calendar
$13.99 USD$ 14.99 CDN Plus $6.00 for S&H in US, $12.00 for Canada, $15.00 for Europe.

Two hundred million years ago, these self-contained creatures shared Earth with the dinosaurs. Yet long after the demise of their contemporaries, turtles live on. It is not surprising, then, that they have been associated with strength, endurance and longevity throughout history, however slowly they may move. In Turtles 2012, world-renowned photographers catch an intriguing array of these ancient reptiles on film. The detailed images provide a captivating glimpse into the environment and behavior of turtles, while fascinating captions provide background information. Photographed in their natural settings, these distinctive turtles reveal the qualities that made their ancestors such survivors.

Firefly Books offers an outstanding selection of 14" x 12" wall calendars.
The nature, landscape and wildlife wall calendars feature the work of some of the best photographers in the world. Each image is a superb high resolution reproduction and most are printed without borders making each page an eye-catching poster.

Turtles Included In Calendar

On cover - Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas),

Inside
Juvenille Bowspirit Tortoise (Chersi angulata) Galapagos Tortoise, (no scientific name since I can't read it from photo, and anyway I don't know if they have settled that all are one species, or separate species, scientific ping-pong) A Red-Eared Slider-adult-basking )Trachemys scripta elegans Two Green Sea Turtles, Underwater, (Chelonia mydas) Common Snapping Turtle (face shot- Chelydra Serpentina) Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) Eastern Box Turtle ) Terrepene carolina carolina African Spur-thigh tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Two baby red-eared sliders basking )Trachemys scirpta elegans Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminicki) Blanding's Turtle (Emybodiea blandingii)

Remember this is the calendar whose photos are the full 14" x 12" size, no text on photos, so you can hang it up framed or unframed in your turtle/reptile room. The colors of the turtles are correct. So you get a calendar and 12 posters.

To see a photo of the cover go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream

Here are two books on turtles and tortoises worth having.

New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00

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[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 46 11/4/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator, by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
After today you can order the book, but we can not guarantee it will be autographed.
But one guarantee we can make is the the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
And I just came back from a convention of environmental journalists in Miami and that is all they are talking about. So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
So see a copy of the cover, a wicked side view, close-up of a python with its mouth wide open, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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THE MAGNETS ARE BACK, AND THIS TIME NOT JUST HERPS FOR EVERY $6.00 DONATION WE WILL SEND YOU A BEAUTIFUL MAGNET OF YOUR CHOICE. But remember there is a 4 order minimum. BUT NOTHING IS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM ORDERING MORE THAN FOUR.
BEAUTIFUL COLOR PAINTINGS OF BIRDS, MAMMALS, SEA CREATURES, SHARKS, WHALES, RAYS, BEETLES, BUTTERFLIES, HERPS & MORE.
GREAT GIFTS FOR THE COMING HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, ANY CELEBRATION.
OR JUST TO GIVE TO YOUR SELF.
$6.00 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MAGNET. SHIPPING AND HANDLING IS INCLUDED within the U.S. Overseas is extra.
FOR ALL ORDERS, BUY FOUR OF ONE, OR FOUR DIFFERENT ONES. BUT PLEASE THE AMOUNT IS LIMITED INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO ALTERNATIVES IN CASE WE RUN OUT.

If you would like to see how a specific one looks like, they are all posted in sets on FLICKR AT http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N06/sets/

TO ORDER JUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW

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Table of Contents

1) PARC Request for Nominations
ALISON HASKELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HERPETOFAUNAL CONSERVATION 2)The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles
3) Breaking a Long Silence on Population Control
4) Snakes‚ Feat May Inspire Heart Drugs
5) Bibliography of
Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery: June-September 2011 Volume 20, Issue 2-3 (June-September 2011) with abstracts when available.
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Turtles 2012 Full Color Calendar - A Great Gift to You or That Special Turtle Person in Your Life. ORDER NOW, I MEAN IT.. We now only have 5 left in stock. Great gift for the holidays. (Nope its not too early to think about them. I‚m already trying to figure out what to get the wife.
FULL COLOR, 24 Pages, 14" x 12", Firefly Books, Shrink-wrapped Wall Calendar
$13.99 USD $14.99 CDN Plus $6.00 for S&H in US, $12.00 for Canada, $15.00 for Europe On how to order and for more information see below. For a picture of the cover of the calendar, a beautiful Green Sea Turtle, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream

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1) PARC Request for Nominations
ALISON HASKELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HERPETOFAUNAL CONSERVATION

PARC is seeking nominations for the 2012 recipient of our annual award in memory of our first PARC Federal Agencies Coordinator, Alison Haskell (1956-2006). The Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation is to recognize an individual in North America who exemplifies extraordinary commitment to herpetofaunal conservation, as did Alison, and is an "unsung hero," as Alison was. The award confers a cash prize ($1000) and a commemorative plaque.

Alison's tenure with PARC was tragically shortened due to a valiant, but unsuccessful battle with ovarian cancer. Members of PARC aim to keep her memory alive through this annual award.

Nominations for the award are due 1 December 2011. To read more about the award, how to nominate, and about Alison, click here.
http://www.parcplace.org/news-a-events/ ... award.html
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2) The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles will be held August 16-19, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. The meeting is co-hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG).

The meeting, which has hosted an average of more than 200 attendees over the past six years, represents the largest gathering of non-marine turtle biologists in the world and provides an unmatched opportunity for networking and strategizing turtle conservation. Last year‚s conference was filled with presentations by biologists and conservationists from 13 countries covering 50+ species.
Visit http://www.turtlesurvival.org for more information.

Online registration opens March 12, 2012. Contact Heather Lowe (Hlowe@turtlesurvival.org) for more information.
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3) Breaking a Long Silence on Population Control
11/1/11 Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Major American environmental groups have dodged the subject of population control for decades, wary of getting caught up in the bruising politics of reproductive health.

Yet, virtually alone, the Center for Biological Diversity is breaking the taboo by directly tying population growth to environmental problems through efforts like giving away condoms in colorful packages depicting endangered animals. The idea is to start a debate about how overpopulation crowds out species and hastens climate change ˜ just when the world is welcoming Baby No. 7 Billion.
„Wrap with care, save the polar bear,‰ reads one of the packages. „Wear a condom now, save the spotted owl,‰ says another.

Kierán Suckling, executive director of the center, a membership-based nonprofit organization in Tucson, said he had an aha moment a few years ago. „All the species that we save from extinction will eventually be gobbled up if the human population keeps growing,‰ he said.

In the United States, the birth rate has fallen steadily since the baby boom, from 3.6 births per woman in 1960 to 2.0 today, or just under the replacement level, at which a population replaces itself from one generation to the next. Yet even at that rate, demographers estimate, the country will grow from 311 million people now to 478 million by the end of the century, because of both births and immigration.
The highest birth rates from five to more than six births per woman are occurring in a handful of nations in Africa and Asia, including Nigeria and Yemen. Yet among large economies, the United States is second only to Australia in the amount of carbon dioxide it emits per capita, according to the latest figures from the federal Energy Information Administration.

„Every person you add to the country makes all these tremendous demands on the environment,‰ said Joel E. Cohen, chief of the Laboratory of Populations at Rockefeller University and Columbia University.

But experts are reluctant to suggest an ideal birth rate. There isn’t any magic number, Dr. Cohen said.

As recently as the 1970s, the subject of population control was less controversial, partly because the baby boom years had given rise to concerns about scarcity of resources, some population experts and environmentalists said. Then came China‚s coercive one-child policy and a rise in social conservatism in the United States, combined with the country‚s aversion to anything perceived as restricting individual freedoms, be it the right to bear arms or children.

Some groups also fear whipping up anti-immigrant sentiment and opposition to family planning. Immigration now accounts for about one-third of the growth rate in the United States.

We see reluctance and fear to deal with this issue, said Jose Miguel Guzman of the United Nations Population Fund.

Groups contacted for this article generally declined to discuss the issue or did not return calls.

The Center for Biological Diversity‚s condom campaign, begun on college campuses last year, now includes video ads in Times Square and lobbying in Washington for more family planning services. It is an aggressive strategy even for the center, which is best known for barraging federal agencies with lawsuits intended to protect species and ecosystems.

The condom campaign is intended to raise awareness and help reduce unintended pregnancies. „Reproduction is always going to be a matter of free will,‰ said Randy Serraglio, the manager of the campaign. „This is about getting people to make the connection.

A study published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed how slowing the country‚s population growth rate to 1.5 births per woman from 2.0 could result in a 10 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury and a 33 percent drop by the end of the century.

But the notion that curbing births is an effective way to control emissions is not an easy sell.

When Oregon State University released a study two years ago calculating the extra carbon dioxide emissions a person helps generate by choosing to have children, the researchers received hate mail labeling them eugenicists, and Nazis.

The study, which also calculated the impact of a birth beyond the child‚s lifetime should the offspring reproduce, said that each American child generated seven times as much carbon dioxide over time as one child in China, and 169 times as much as one in Bangladesh. Reducing car travel, recycling and making homes more energy efficient would have a fraction of the impact on emissions that reducing the birth rate would, it found.

There are important consequences to having children, and we tried to quantify them, said Paul A. Murtaugh, an associate professor of statistics and one of the study’s co-authors. It should be on the table. It needs to be.

Some groups, like the World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International, said they worked on population-related issues mostly internationally. The president of the National Audubon Society declined an interview without explanation. The chairwoman of the Green Group, a loose association of several dozen environmental organizations, did not return calls or e-mails.

The Natural Resources Defense Council president, Frances Beinecke, said her group focused on addressing climate change through energy strategies and conservation efforts. Particularly in this economic environment, we‚re not in a position to just add, add, add, Ms. Beinecke said of her group’s agenda.

Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the research on reducing emissions by cutting birth rates was not yet robust enough to make a convincing case for a clear way forward.
A country‚s carbon footprint does not necessarily shrink when the birth rate drops, Mr. Knobloch said. In India and China, he pointed out, smaller families have consumed more as their incomes rose a common trend in developing countries. It gets complex very quickly,‰ he said.

Carl Pope, the chairman of the Sierra Club, said his organization now had one population officer on staff who was working on international reproductive health services. In this country, Mr. Pope said, there are reasons for keeping a low profile on the issue.

Look at Planned Parenthood, he said, recalling the group‚s bruising battle with Republican lawmakers over federal financing last spring. There's a huge atmosphere of intimidation. The moment you say Œfamily planning,‚ immediately somebody pulls out abortion.

The 2.0 fertility rate in the United States is higher than the rates in other developed countries, including Germany and Japan (1.3), Canada (1.6) and Britain (1.8), according to figures from the United Nations.

John Seager, president of the group Population Connection, said organizations had been more assertive about lobbying the Obama administration for money to finance family planning services overseas.

Unintended pregnancies account for roughly half of all annual births in the United States, according to studies by the Guttmacher Institute, which is based in New York and promotes reproductive health worldwide.

By tackling such pregnancies, the fertility rate could be brought down to about 1.9 births per woman, slightly below replacement level yet high enough to ease concerns about economic stagnation and support for the elderly, said John Bongaarts, a demographer with the Population Council, a research group in New York.

Dr. Bongaarts described the inaction by environmental groups as a missed opportunity. The global warming community is staying away from anything having to do with population,he said, and that’s frustrating.

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4) Snakes‚ Feat May Inspire Heart Drugs
By Lawrence K. Altman , NYTimes, October 27, 2011, Reprinted in Science Times 11/1/11

BOULDER, Colo. ˜ Pythons are known for their enormous appetites. In a single meal they can devour animals at least as big as they are ˜ deer, alligators, pigs, household pets.

Equally remarkable is what happens inside the python as it digests its prey. Within a day, its internal organs can double in size. Metabolic rate and production of insulin and lipids soar.

Then, like an accordion, the python‚s organs return to normal size in just a few days. Metabolism slows. Then the snake can fast for months, even a year, without losing muscle mass or showing any ill effects, ready to ambush new prey.

How this process happens so rapidly is a biological mystery with important implications for human health, particularly when it comes to heart failure. Now scientists at the University of Colorado are reporting that they have partly solved it.

In a paper in the current issue of Science, they report that a gorging python expands its heart by enlarging existing cells ˜ a process called hypertrophy ˜ and not by creating new ones. (It is not known whether snakes get heart disease.)

A second finding is that a specific combination of three fatty acids produces enlargement of a python‚s heart, intestines, liver and kidneys. Injections of the combination produce similar growth in the heart of a mouse.

Understanding such exaggerated variations, the researchers say, could help them develop novel ways to delay, prevent, treat or even reverse various hereditary and acquired human diseases.

Substances from other reptiles have been used to develop drugs; for example, the diabetes drug Byetta is derived from a hormone found in Gila monster saliva. And the day may come when doctors literally prescribe snake oil for heart disease.

„Heart failure is the goal‰ of the python research, said Leslie A. Leinwand, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute professor at the University of Colorado and a senior member of the research team. She added that the findings might also lead to treatments to prevent sudden death in young athletes, as well as ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

A gorging python produces an opaque milky plasma composed of fatty acids and other lipids in amounts that would damage a human heart, Dr. Leinwand said. Trigylcerides, the main components of natural fats and oils, zoomed to 50 times the fasting rate.

Dr. Leinwand had been fascinated by a journal article by Stephen M. Secor and Jared Diamond urging other scientists to explore extremes of lifestyles among wild animals. The python research in Boulder began in 2005, when Cecilia A. Riquelme, who had earned a Ph.D. in cell biology in her native Chile, sought a fellowship in Dr. Leinwand‚s laboratory.

An expert in the molecular workings of the heart, Dr. Leinwand knew little such research had been done on pythons. There are structural differences ˜ a python heart has three chambers, a human heart four. Yet she thought experiments in comparative biology might advance human heart research.

Adult pythons can grow as long as 25 feet and as thick as telephone poles, far too large for her laboratory. So she bought a supply of five-footers and asked Dr. Riquelme, How would you feel about working with pythons?

Pythons are not venomous; still, she feared being bitten. But the challenge was too tempting to pass up, and after a harmless bite she overcame her fear.

She started by observing how the python‚s organs grew while the intact prey was in the stomach. The organs regressed in size over about two weeks.

Using chemical stains they developed to measure cell size and the number of nuclei, the investigators determined that the heart expansion was from hypertrophy, not formation of new cells.

Hypertrophy of the human heart occurs in two types. One, from ailments like high blood pressure and heart attacks, is a leading predictor of death. The second type is beneficial and occurs from exercise in conditioned athletes.

The Colorado scientists found that the enlargement of a python‚s heart is analogous to the growth seen in the heart of a human athlete. Among their goals is to better understand how plasma components instruct individual cells to develop into the beneficial ones among athletes or bad ones in disease.

After a year, Dr. Riquelme determined that she could enlarge the heart of a starved python by injecting blood from a feasting one. She then proposed adding the blood‚s straw-colored plasma to rat heart cells to determine whether it had the same effect.

Dr. Leinwand doubted the experiment would work. But it did, repeatedly, and Dr. Riquelme said her colleague „jumped up and down‰ with excitement. Dr. Leinwand called it „the critical finding that motivated us to translate the python biology into mammals.

Still, a major mystery remained: What component of the python plasma caused the cells to enlarge?

Dr. Riquelme used gas chromatography and additional techniques to analyze the proteins, lipids and other components of python plasma in fed and starving pythons.

Several pieces of evidence pointed to fatty acids, which are important in the body‚s energy production and metabolism. In additional experiments, Dr. Riquelme and other members of the Colorado team found that only the specific combination of three fatty acids from a sated python produced the same hypertrophy when injected into a fasting one. The three fatty acids that enlarge the python‚s cells (myristic, palmitic and palmitoleic) occur in proportionately higher amounts in pythons than in humans. Injections of one fatty acid, or a combination of two, did not produce hypertrophy.

Another mystery was what protected the python heart from the toxic effects of huge amounts of the lipids. Further research determined that the protective substance was an enzyme, SOD (for superoxide dismutase), an antioxidant that defends cells exposed to oxygen.

Eventually Dr. Riquelme returned with her family to Chile (though their departure was delayed for months by the giant earthquake in February 2010), and it was left to her colleagues in Colorado to carry out additional experiments. In one, blood plasma from bloated pythons was injected into live mice. Again, surprisingly, mouse heart cells enlarged as they would in a well-conditioned athlete.
Along the way, the Colorado team asked Dr. Secor, now at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, to join in the research. He is an author of the new paper in Science.

The findings leave a number of mysteries still open. What causes the organs to shrink to their fasting size? How would such findings apply to the death of human cells? And will repeated injections of the fatty acid combination safely lead to sustained increase in organ size?

Dr. Leinwand said she carried out the python research with support from federal and Colorado taxpayers and the American Heart Association. But the federal National Institutes of Health rejected her requests for direct financing, calling the relationship between reptiles and human heart disease too remote. In 2007, Dr. Leinwand became a founder of the Hiberna Corporation of Boulder to develop drugs derived from the study of exaggerated variations in animal metabolism. The company helped pay for some of the research.
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5) Bibliography of
Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery: June-September 2011 Volume 20, Issue 2-3 (June-September 2011) with abstracts when available.
Contact authors for copies of papers,
To subscribe go to http://timssnet2.allenpress.com/ECOMARA ... ations.cfm
Website of Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians

Gastrointestinal Disturbances in a Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

David Perpiñán, LV, MSc, DECZM (Herpetology)1,4, Kari Addante, DVM2,5, Elizabeth Driskell, DVM, PhD, DACVP3,6 Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 DW Brooks Dr, Athens, GA 30602, USA 2. 2270 Kingwood Cove Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30045, USA 3. Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 DW Brooks Dr, Athens, GA 30602, USA 4. Current address: Naturavets, Balmes 17, Badalona 08918, Barcelona, Spain 5. Current address: The Village Vets of Decatur, 217 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030, USA Current address: University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, 2522 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61802, USA ____________________________________________________________________
Cerebral Xanthoma in a Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) Eric T. Anderson, DVM1, Brigid V. Troan, DVM, DACVP2, Elizabeth M. Stringer, DVM1,2, Sathya K. Chinnadurai, MS, DVM, DACZM1, Ryan S. DeVoe, DVM, MspVM, DACZM, DABVP (Avian)2 1. Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA 2. North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, USA

ABSTRACT
A case of cerebral xanthomatosis is described in a long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei). A 13-year-old long-nosed snake presented for pronounced lethargy, anorexia, and diminished righting reflex. The snake failed to respond to medical therapy and was euthanized. On histology, a focal cerebral cholesterol granuloma (xanthoma) was found within the lateral ventricle causing mild hydrocephalus, marked compression atrophy of the overlying dorsal cortex, and mild compression and disorganization of the ventral nucleus sphericus. Xanthomatosis is believed to be the cause of the neurological signs and the ultimate lack of response to medical therapy in this case. This case demonstrates another differential for neurologic dysfunction in snakes.
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Detection of a Tortoise Herpesvirus Type 1 in a Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) in Germany Anke C. Stöhr, TÄ1,2, Rachel E. Marschang, PD DMV, DECZM (Herpetology), FTÄ Mikrobiologie, ZB Reptilien1 1. Institut für Umwelt und Tierhygiene, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany 2. Tierarztpraxis Dr. Grommelt, Im Junkerörtel 4a, 77694 Kehl-Kork, Germany, Current address: Kleintierklinik in der Wiehre, Glümerstr.17, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

ABSTRACT
A Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) from Germany was presented for medical examination showing signs of upper respiratory tract disease and hyperuricemia. The tortoise was kept with a Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) for 1 month before presentation. After 1 month of treatment, the respiratory symptoms disappeared. Herpesvirus (HV) was detected from an oral swab by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The use of different PCRs and sequencing a portion of the DNA polymerase gene demonstrated that the virus was identical to other HV isolates from Russian tortoises (tortoise herpesvirus 1, ToHV1) but distinct from HV isolates from other tortoises, including previously described HVs from Hermann's tortoises (ToHV3). This is the first description of the detection of a ToHV1 in a Hermann's tortoise.
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Paramyxovirus Infection in a Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis babcocki) with Respiratory Disease Tibor Papp, MSc Zoology, DVM1, Jürgen Seybold, DMV2, Rachel E. Marschang, PD DMV, DECZM (Herpetology), FTÄ Mikrobiologie, ZB Reptilien1 1. Institut für Umwelt und Tierhygiene, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany 2. Kleintierzentrum Mitteltal, Max-Eyth-Str. 36, 72270 Baiersbronn-Mitteltal, Germany

ABSTRACT
Paramyxoviruses (PMVs) are well documented as a cause of respiratory disease in snakes, but they have only been documented in tortoises in a very few cases. This study describes a leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis babcocki) with lethargy and respiratory disease. Examination of tracheal swabs for bacteria resulted in strong growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Morganella morganii. Despite antibiotic therapy, the animal died. Gross pathology noted severe diffuse consolidation of the lungs. Fourteen different tissue samples were collected for virological examinations. Viruses commonly detected in tortoises (herpesviruses, picorna-like viruses, and ranaviruses) or recently reported in chelonians (adenoviruses) could not be detected in the samples by virus isolation or by molecular methods (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). The samples were tested by reverse transcriptase-PCR for PMVs, and cloaca, heart, liver, and small intestine were found to be positive. Sequence analysis !
of the PMV amplicons revealed that the tortoise was coinfected with at least two different squamatid PMV species and not with a chelonian host-specific PMV. The contribution of these viruses to the observed clinical signs and pathology is unknown.
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Determination of Plasma Osmolality and Agreement Between Measured and Calculated Values in Healthy Adult Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps) Rebecca K. Dallwig, DVM1, Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, MS, PhD, DECZM (Herpetology)1, Mark J. Acierno, MBA, DVM, DACVIM2 1. Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802, USA 2. Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA

ABSTRACT
Determination of plasma osmolality is useful for determining proper administration of fluid therapy. In many reptilian species, the normal plasma osmolality is unknown. To prevent detrimental fluid shifts, knowledge of a patient's osmolality is imperative. The purpose of this study was to determine plasma osmolality in 11 healthy adult male bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and to validate plasma osmolality equations that are used to calculate osmolality in other species. Venipuncture was performed via the ventral coccygeal vein, and plasma biochemical profiles were obtained from a point of care chemistry analyzer. Calculated plasma osmolality was determined using the following equations: 2 (Na+ + K+), (2 [Na+ + K+]) + (Glu/18), (2 [Na+ + K+]) + (UA/16.8) + (Glu/18), and 1.86 (Na+) + Glu/18 + UA/2.8 + 9. Plasma osmolality was measured in duplicate with a freezing-point depression osmometer, and the mean value was calculated for the two osmolality measurements. Measured and !
calculated plasma osmolalities, as well as the plasma biochemical analytes, were normally distributed. The mean measured plasma osmolality was 295.4 ± 9.35 mOsm/kg. There was poor agreement between the measured and calculated osmolalities. Because of these limitations, we modified the calculation [1.85 (Na+ + K+)] to account for expected differences in the primary cations and anions in reptile plasma. This newly proposed formula resulted in good agreement with the measured osmolality. Osmolality of the bearded dragons in this study was similar to that reported in dogs, cats, and other desert-dwelling saurian lizards. When administering fluids to a dehydrated or debilitated bearded dragon, caution is advised as calculated values are not an accurate measure of patient osmolality.
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Effect of Anticoagulant and Venipuncture Site on Hematology and Serum Chemistries of the Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) David Perpiñán, LV, MSc, DECZM (Herpetology)1,3, Douglas L. Armstrong, DVM1, Fernanda Dórea, DVM, MSc2,4 1. Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 South 10th Street, Omaha, NE 68107, USA 2. Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of Georgia, 953 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA 3. Current address: Naturavets, Balmes 17. Badalona 08918, Barcelona, Spain 4. Current address: Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada

ABSTRACT
The effect of anticoagulant and venipuncture site on hematology and serum chemistries was evaluated in eight captive spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera). Animals were randomly and evenly distributed into two groups. On day 0, blood samples were collected from the dorsal coccygeal vein in turtles from group 1 and from the subcarapacial vein in turtles from group 2. On day 15, the same procedure was repeated, but turtles from group 1 were sampled from the subcarapacial vein and turtles from group 2 from the dorsal coccygeal vein. Hematologic samples were placed in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on day 0 and in heparin on day 15. Samples for chemistries were placed in serum separator tubes. All samples in EDTA were hemolyzed. Nonparametric tests were used to assess significant differences in hematologic and biochemical parameters between the two venipuncture sites. Among the biochemical parameters, statistically significant differences were only present for gluc!
ose and potassium, with the median values being higher in samples obtained from the subcarapacial vein. Correlation tests did not show any significant correlation between the values obtained from the two venipuncture sites for any of the biochemical parameters evaluated. There was also a general lack of agreement for values obtained from different venipuncture sites. This study concluded that EDTA is not an appropriate anticoagulant for this species, and serum chemistry values from paired samples taken using different venipuncture sites did not have a significant correlation or agreement.
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Evaluation of MS-222 (Tricaine Methanesulfonate) and Propofol as Anesthetic Agents in Sonoran Desert Toads (Bufo alvarius) Kimberlee B. Wojick, DVM1, Jennifer N. Langan, DVM, DACZM2,3, Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, MS, PhD, DECZM (Herpetology)3 1. Chicago Zoological and Aquatic Animal Residency Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA 2. Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA 3. Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA

ABSTRACT
Toads in the genus Bufo are commonly kept in pet, research, and zoological settings and may require anesthesia during veterinary care. Limited information is available comparing anesthetic protocols in most amphibian species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and cardiopulmonary effects of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) and propofol in Sonoran desert toads (Bufo alvarius). Nine juvenile Sonoran desert toads were anesthetized with an immersion bath of 1 g/L MS-222 and 35 mg/kg intracoelomic propofol with a minimum 2-wk wash-out period between trials. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and reflexes (righting, escape, corneal, superficial pain, and deep pain) were monitored every 5 min for the first 90 min and then every 10 min for the next 90 min during both anesthetic trials. Surgical anesthesia was defined as complete loss of all measured reflexes. MS-222 produced surgical anesthesia in 100% (9/9) of toads, whereas propofol produced surgical anesthesia in!
11.1% (1/9). Mean induction time for the MS-222 trial was 19.9 min (SD: 5.4, MinˆMax: 13ˆ30), with mean duration of surgical anesthesia 23.9 min (SD: 10.8, MinˆMax: 10ˆ42). Mean recovery time after removal from the MS-222 bath was 85.3 min (SD: 18.5, MinˆMax: 60ˆ110). Righting reflex was lost in all animals in the propofol trial at a mean of 23.9 min (SD: 5.5, MinˆMax: 20ˆ35) following administration. A single animal in the propofol trial reached a surgical plane of anesthesia at 25 min post-administration, with surgical anesthesia lasting for 50 min. Mean time to recovery following administration of propofol was 145 min (SD: 47.2, MinˆMax: 60ˆ180); one toad was not fully recovered at the end of the monitoring period. Heart rate was not found to significantly (P > 0.05) change from baseline at any monitoring point for either anesthetic protocol. Respiratory rate was found to decrease significantly (P < 0.05) at all time points between 5 and 65 min in the MS-222 trial and b!
etween 10 and 130 min in the propofol trial. MS-222 at 1 g/L i!
mmersion
was found to reliably produce surgical anesthesia in Sonoran desert toads with a faster onset of action and recovery when compared to propofol administered intracoelomically at 35 mg/kg.

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Health and Reproductive Assessment of a Free-Ranging Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Population Following Translocation Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, PhD, DACZM1,2,3, Tracey D. Tuberville, PhD4, Paul Frank, DVM, DACVR5, Scott J. Stahl, DVM, DABVP (Avian)6, Michael M. McBride, DVM3,8, Kurt A. Buhlmann, PhD4,7, Stephen J. Divers, BVetMed, DZooMed, DACZM, DECZM (Herpetology), FRCVS3 1. Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E Green Street, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA 2. Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA 3. Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery (Zoological Medicine), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA 4. University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802, USA 5. Department of Anatomy and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA 6. Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services, 4105 Rust Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA 7. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA 8. Current address: Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907, USA

ABSTRACT
In 2004, a subset of a translocated population of gopher tortoises (n = 14; Gopherus polyphemus) were captured to determine the overall health of individuals and to investigate the prevalence of selected pathogens. Additionally, ultrasonography and endoscopic visualization of the reproductive tract were compared as methodologies to accurately determine sex and reproductive status. Tortoises were premedicated with butorphanol and induced with propofol. The hematology and biochemical profile values obtained were within the reference ranges previously reported for gopher tortoises. Tortoises were parasitized with Alaeuris spp. of pinworms and trichostrongyles. Ten of the tortoises (71%) were also parasitized by hemogregarines. None of the animals had clinical signs indicative of acute upper respiratory disease (URTD); however, six animals had signs consistent with previous upper respiratory infections. One tortoise had an antibody titer against Mycoplasma agassizii, considered !
to be positive, while an additional five animals had antibody titers considered to be „suspect.‰ We failed to detect Mycoplasma sp., Salmonella sp., or Chlamydophila sp. DNA from any of the animals. In general, morphometric characteristics reliably predicted the correct sex in the majority of animals that were >15 yr of age. When compared to endoscopy, ultrasound examination of the gonads was accurate for sex determination in 57% of the tortoises examined and was 86% accurate in animals >15 yr of age. Ultimately, endoscopy provided the most accurate method for determining sex in chelonians, particularly in juveniles or during nonreproductive seasons.
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 ________________________________________________________________________

New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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TURTLES 2012 FULL COLOR CALENDAR
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24 Pages, 14" x 12" FULL COLOR, Firefly Books, Shrinkwrapped Wall Calendar
$13.99 USD$ 14.99 CDN Plus $6.00 for S&H in US, $12.00 for Canada, $15.00 for Europe. (4 left)

Two hundred million years ago, these self-contained creatures shared Earth with the dinosaurs. Yet long after the demise of their contemporaries, turtles live on. It is not surprising, then, that they have been associated with strength, endurance and longevity throughout history, however slowly they may move. In Turtles 2012, world-renowned photographers catch an intriguing array of these ancient reptiles on film. The detailed images provide a captivating glimpse into the environment and behavior of turtles, while fascinating captions provide background information. Photographed in their natural settings, these distinctive turtles reveal the qualities that made their ancestors such survivors.

Firefly Books offers an outstanding selection of 14" x 12" wall calendars.
The nature, landscape and wildlife wall calendars feature the work of some of the best photographers in the world. Each image is a superb high resolution reproduction and most are printed without borders making each page an eye-catching poster.

Turtles Included In Calendar

On cover - Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas),

Inside
Juvenille Bowspirit Tortoise (Chersi angulata) Galapagos Tortoise, (no scientific name since I can't read it from photo, and anyway I don't know if they have settled that all are one species, or separate species, scientific ping-pong) A Red-Eared Slider-adult-basking )Trachemys scripta elegans Two Green Sea Turtles, Underwater, (Chelonia mydas) Common Snapping Turtle (face shot- Chelydra Serpentina) Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) Eastern Box Turtle ) Terrepene carolina carolina African Spur-thigh tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Two baby red-eared sliders basking )Trachemys scirpta elegans Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminicki) Blanding's Turtle (Emybodiea blandingii)

Remember this is the calendar whose photos are the full 14" x 12" size, no text on photos, so you can hang it up framed or unframed in your turtle/reptile room. The colors of the turtles are correct. So you get a calendar and 12 posters.

To see a photo of the cover go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 47 11/9/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
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Table of Contents

1) MS GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIP: ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE DESERT TORTOISES

2) Frog-killer disease was born in trade- The global amphibian trade spread the lethal chytrid fungus, which is decimating frogs around the planet, and it now looks like it may have created the disease in the first place.

3) The Python Laundry- At least 80% of the green pythons exported each year from Indonesia are illegally caught in the wild and then “laundered” through farms that claim to breed the reptiles.

4) Personality Predicts Success of Invasive Species

5) Research team explores how microbial diversity on frogs defends against disease (Yes, Timing Of Release with Article #2 is Weird)

6) Loggerhead turtles take 45 years to grow up

7) Fighting against Florida's alien invaders (Now the Tegu Lizard)

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Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator, by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
After today you can order the book, but we can not guarantee it will be autographed.
But one guarantee we can make is the the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
And I just came back from a convention of environmental journalists in Miami and that is all they are talking about. So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
So see a copy of the cover, a wicked side view, close-up of a python with its mouth wide open, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
_____________________________________________________________________________
We’ve sold our last Turtle Calendar.
But the MAGNETS are still being given out in return for a min donation of $24.00 or more. (4 magnets) Please also tell us 3 alternative magnets. (We are already out of Green Iguanas and Leather back sea turtles) You can order with credit card through Paypal even if you don’t belong see info on donation page of website. And no need to go to flickr to see the magnets they are all on the donation page of the HerpDigest website.
And don’t stop at $24.00 round up to $30.00 get another magnet. $6.00 for each additional magnet, Free S&H - except not in US contact us. asalzberg@herpdigest.org ____________________________________________________________________________
1) MS GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIP: ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE DESERT TORTOISES

We are seeking a motivated graduate student to join our research team in studying the ecology of juvenile Desert Tortoises. As part of a long-term head-starting program initiated this year, we are interested in a student who will study habitat selection of wild and released head-started juvenile desert tortoises. The goal of the habitat selection research is to identify factors that promote juvenile recruitment and survivorship in the wild, guide the selection of release sites for head-started Desert Tortoises, and inform sustainable energy development to minimize impact to critical habitat features in the Mojave Desert.

The incumbent would be joining a team currently composed of three faculty researchers and a PhD student, all active in this research at the study site. The incumbent would be expected to design and focus his or her research on the development of a juvenile habitat selection model and to assist the research team with complementary aspects of the project, including husbandry of captive juvenile Desert Tortoises.

The ideal candidate would possess prior field experience with Desert Tortoises and their habitat to facilitate permitting in the state of California, GIS skills, and an interest in applied conservation.

The field work will be based in the Mojave National Preserve. The assistantship, through the University of California, Davis, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, covers one academic quarter and summer quarter each year (stipend and tuition fees). A successful applicant must be competitive in the admissions process for the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis as support for remaining academic quarters are expected to come from teaching assistantships during the non-field season.

The application deadline for the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis is 15 December 2011.

For more information about the project, the graduate group, the application process, or my lab, please see my website at the address below or contact me at the address below.

Brian D. Todd
Assistant Professor
Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue
1077 Academic Surge
Davis, California 95616
btodd@ucdavis.edu
530-752-1140
fax: 530-752-4154
http://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty/btodd/
__________________________________________________________________
2) Frog-killer disease was born in trade- The global amphibian trade spread the lethal chytrid fungus, which is decimating frogs around the planet, and it now looks like it may have created the disease in the first place.
November 7, 2011 by Michael Marshall, New Scientist

The team behind this finding are calling for an amphibian quarantine to help slow the disease's spread.
Rhys Farrer of Imperial College London and colleagues sequenced the genomes of 20 samples of the offending fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), collected in Europe, Africa, North and South America and Australia.

They found that 16 of the 20 samples were genetically identical, belonging to a single strain called BdGPL that had spread to all five continents. Tests on tadpoles also revealed that the strain was extremely virulent.

BdGPL's genome showed that it had formed when two strains mated, some time in the past 100 years. The best and simplest explanation is that 20th-century trade, which shipped amphibians all over the world, enabled the mating, says Farrer's supervisor Matthew Fisher.

"We've got to restrict trade, or at least make sure that amphibians are not contaminated," says Fisher.

One approach would be for countries to quarantine all imported amphibians and only allow them to stay if they are uninfected.

When it emerged that trade was spreading chytrid, the World Organisation for Animal Health made the disease notifiable, meaning that countries must report whether they have it or not. But that doesn't stop it spreading.

The two places in most urgent need of protection are Madagascar and south-east Asia, says Fisher: "They're the last redoubts of uninfected amphibian species." Both are hotspots of amphibian diversity, and are clear of BdGPL. Madagascar remains uninfected despite rampant BdGPL in Africa, and a recent survey shows that Asian chytrid strains are not very virulent (PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023179).

If BdGPL reaches these places, it could quickly devastate their frogs. Within months of it reaching Montserrat, in the West Indies, in early 2009, conservationists had to fly giant ditch frogs – also known as mountain chickens – out of the country to save them from extinction.

Countries that already have BdGPL should also institute quarantine, says Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance in New York. "This research shows that recombination can occur and give rise to new virulent strains," he says. "Blocking introduction of new strains will cut down on this."

Daszak adds: "It will be hard to stop the spread of new lineages of Bd, but if we look at the devastation that this pathogen has already caused, we desperately need to try."

Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1111915108 _____________________________________________________________
3) The Python Laundry- At least 80% of the green pythons exported each year from Indonesia are illegally caught in the wild and then “laundered” through farms that claim to breed the reptiles.
Conservation Magazine, David Malakoff | November 4, 2011

- It might sound like a joke: How do you launder a python? But the answer is no laughing matter. At least 80% of the green pythons exported each year from Indonesia are illegally caught in the wild and then “laundered” through farms that claim to breed the reptiles.

“Wildlife breeding farms have been promoted to aid biodiversity conservation by alleviating the pressure of harvest on wild populations,” Jessica A. Lyons and Daniel J.D. Natusch of the University of New South Wales in Australia write in Biological Conservation. Indonesia, for instance, is the only nation where green pythons are found in the wild to allow the export of captive-bred snakes. They pythons (Morelia viridis) are “keenly sought after by reptile keepers” due to their brilliant colors – young snakes are born yellow or red, and then turn green when older. There has been widespread suspicion, however, that many Indonesian traders were mostly trafficking snakes caught in the wild, but there was “no direct evidence of the existence of an illegal trade.”

To see if they could put a wrap on the python case, the researchers surveyed wildlife traders in the Indonesian provinces of Maluku, West Papua and Papua between August 2009 and April 2011. The sorties uncovered a total of 4,227 illegally collected wild green pythons, and found that “high levels of harvest [had]… depleted and skewed the demographics of some island populations.” The researchers also traced snakes from their point of capture to breeding farms in Jakarta where they are to be exported for the pet trade, confirming the reports of wildlife laundering.” The data suggest that “at least 5,337 green pythons are collected each year,” or about 80% of python exports. Often, traders told them, foreign buyers personally identified and selected the wild-caught snakes to be laundered through the farms.

One way to combat laundering, they suggest, is to require breeders “to keep eggshells from the reptiles that are bred and to export them with each individual reptile as evidence of their provenance.” Measurements taken by the researchers show that green python eggs have a distinctive size and shape, and that “with a little knowledge and the aid of reference guide, identifying the eggs of green pythons could be a relatively simple task.” The “eggshell method could be very effective in reducing the laundering and export of wild-caught green pythons through Indonesian breeding farms,” they write.
“Although green pythons are still relatively common in most of the areas in which they occur,” they conclude, the illegal trade is causing “noticeable declines” in some populations. And the authors suggest that using breeding farms to help protect wild populations “needs to be re-evaluated.” –
Source: Lyons, J.A., Natusch, D.J.D. Wildlife laundering through breeding farms: Illegal harvest, population declines and a means of regulating the trade of green pythons (Morelia viridis) from Indonesia. Biol. Conserv. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.10.002 _____________________________________________________________________
4) Personality Predicts Success of Invasive Species Wynne Parry, LiveScience Senior Writer
Date: 08 November 2011 Time: 07:01 PM ET

For invasive species, personality matters, according to new research that explores the question why some animals travel to, survive and take over in foreign habitats.

Humans have spread invasive species — starlings, lionfish, Asian carp and fire ants, to name a few —around the world to new habitats, where they can cause trouble for us and for native species.

A team of three Australian scientists observed two related lizards, one of which has successfully established itself as an invasive overseas, and found the invader had traits, such as a willingness to explore, that seemed to explain its success abroad. They also suggest that species whose members show a range of individual variation in their behavior — in other words, animals with more personality — may have a better shot at becoming invasives.

"Personality and behavioral traits are an important and, to date, unexplored component of the success of these species' invasions," said Bob Wong, a researcher from Monash University in Australia and an author of two recent studies on the subject. [Alien Invaders: Destructive Invasive Species] Making an invasive

A lot of things have to go just right for an invasive species to be born.

"Not only do animals need to be in the right place at the right time in order to be inadvertently transported by humans, but they also need to be able to survive the often harsh and lengthy journey inside consignments of freight," said study researcher David Chapple, also from Monash University.
"When they arrive at the new destination, the stowaways have to contend with being strangers in a strange land and successfully adapt to new environments. In the face of these challenges, the new colonists must also thrive and reproduce before spreading out across the landscape," Chapple said.

Skink story

Chapple, Wong and Sarah Simmonds studied the delicate skink, which is the only Australian lizard species to have become an invasive species overseas, including in the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand. They also looked at the similar garden skink, which has not established itself outside Australia.
After testing and observing the lizards' behaviors in the laboratory, the researchers concluded that the delicate skinks were more adventurous than their garden counterparts, showing more of an inclination to explore their environment. The delicate skinks were also more prone to hide when they found shelter.
This combination may make delicate skinks more likely to sneak into cargo, freight or other human belongings. Once inside, they are more likely to stay hidden, evading border checks and temperature changes that could prove fatal, according to the researchers writing in an article published online Oct. 18 in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

It's important to note that behavioral inclinations alone do not an invasive species make; for example, a hitchhiking species must arrive in a suitable habitat where it can find food it eats.
The importance of personality

While behavioral differences between the two skinks were clear, not all delicate skinks showed themselves to be brave explorers in the lab — evidence of variation among individual animals, otherwise known as personality. As a result, if a group of skinks was given the opportunity to become invaders, only some would likely be successful, the researchers write.
While most attempts to identify behaviors associated with invasive success have focused on species-level traits, some research indicates that variation within a species may enhance its invasion potential, the same team of researchers writes in a separate study, published online Oct. 14 in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

"As we encroach farther and farther into the natural environment, animals have had more opportunities to jump on board our various transports. Given this increase, and the potential impact on biodiversity, it's important that we understand this phenomenon better," Wong said.
___________________________________________________________________________
Research team explores how microbial diversity on frogs defends against disease (Yes, Timing Of Release with Article #2 is Weird) Press Release 11/8/11, Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech.

Amphibians are among the most threatened creatures on earth, with some 40 percent of amphibian species threatened or endangered. One of their primary threats is a rapidly spreading disease that attacks the skin cells of amphibians. "Chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease, has been a key factor in the extinctions of many species of frogs around the world," said Lisa Belden, associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech.

Belden is leading a team of researchers from Tech, James Madison University, Villanova University, and the Smithsonian Institution who will study the microbial communities living on the skins of frogs that are surviving the fungal scourge. The effort is one of 11 new Dimensions of Biodiversity projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the aim of transforming, by 2020, "how scientists describe and understand the scope and role of life on earth," according to an NSF news release.

For Belden's team, the lofty goals will be achieved through hands on work in Panama, where the spread of chytrid fungus has been extensively documented. Researchers will swab the skin of frogs in areas with and without chytrid to collect samples of the microbes that live there. They will then release the frogs and assess the microbial community, both in terms of what microbes are there and what they are doing functionally on the skin. To see what microbes are there, researchers will examine their DNA. To see what the microbes are doing, researchers will examine how well they inhibit the growth of the chytrid fungus, and also assess what chemical metabolites are being produced by the microbes. "We expect that in the presence of chytrid fungus, there will be strong selection for the bacteria to produce anti- chytrid fungus metabolites, regardless of what bacterial species are present on the skin," said Belden.

It is all about appreciating the diverse roles of microbes, Belden said. "We are used to equating microbes with germs that make us sick, but, in fact, many microbes are critical to health. Healthy humans, for instance, carry around about 3 pounds of microbes, largely in our guts. These microbes help us absorb our food, break down toxins, and prevent pathogens from gaining a foothold."

Belden's team is interested in whether microbial communities on the skin of frogs have a role in disease resistance, in particular to the devastating chytrid fungus. And if there is such immunity, does it rely on the same mechanism from one frog to another, on different species of frogs, and in different locations?
"Our long-term goal is to try to develop probiotics" – to share the biochemistry employed by beneficial microbes with frogs who need it, she said.

To advance that goal, Belden's team is working with Brian Gratwicke, a research biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and Roberto Ibáñez, a scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. As leaders of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, they are maintaining captive colonies of endangered Panamanian frogs that are highly susceptible to the chytrid fungus. The hope is that the use of probiotics will someday allow release some of these species back into nature.

Members of the $2 million research project led by Belden are Virginia Tech colleagues Leanna House, assistant professor of statistics, and Roderick Jensen, professor of biological sciences; Reid Harris, professor of biology at James Madison University; Kevin Minbiole, assistant professor of organic and natural products chemistry at Villanova University; and the Smithsonian Institute scientists, Gratwicke and Ibáñez.

Jensen will guide the synthesis of the large amount of DNA sequence data that will be produced by the project, and House will develop new statistical methods to capture and analyze information from the DNA and metabolite datasets. "The bioinformatics and statistical analysis portions of the work are critical and provide the framework for advancing our knowledge in this system and also applying our findings to our systems," said Belden.

Minbiole has identified key antifungal metabolites from amphibians' skin bacteria. He will be doing the research on the metabolites the new project identifies. Harris, an ecologist, conducted the original experiments showing that amphibians' skin microbes are important in resisting chytrid fungus and will be involved with ecological surveys and experimental manipulations of the Panamanian frogs' microbes.
Contact: Susan Trulove
trulove@vt.edu">strulove@vt.edu
540-231-5646
Virginia Tech
__________________________________________________________
6) Loggerhead turtles take 45 years to grow up By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature, 11/8/11

The new estimate shows how long it will take turtle conservation efforts to yield results

Loggerhead turtles take almost half a century to reach maturity, say scientists.
A female turtle, the researchers report in the journal Functional Ecology, will not start to lay eggs until she is 45.

This estimate, based on examination of several decades of data on the turtles' growth, has implications for conservation efforts.

It reveals how long it takes for turtles hatched at a protected nesting site to return to that site to breed.
Previous estimates of their age at maturity are all over the place - spanning from 10 years to 35 years”
Prof Graeme Hays Swansea University

Prof Graeme Hays from the University of Swansea, one of the authors of the study, explained how reaching maturity so slowly meant that the turtle population was "less resilient" than previously thought.
"The longer an animal takes to reach maturity, the more vulnerable the population is to [man-made] causes of mortality," said Prof Hays.

This, he explained, was because there was a much higher chance of an individual animal being killed - for example, by being deliberately or accidentally caught in a fishing net - before it had been able to "replace itself" by breeding.

It is, however, extremely difficult to follow the life cycle of a sea turtle. These long-lived marine reptiles are impossible track as they drift through thousands of kilometres of ocean, spending the vast majority of their time underwater.

The team estimated the loggerheads' growth rate by collating measurements of newly hatched turtles "You can't follow one individual throughout its life," Prof Hays explained.

"So previous estimates of their age at maturity are all over the place - spanning from 10 years to 35 years. It was impossible to get some sort of consensus."

To overcome this problem, the researcher and his colleagues embarked on a three-part data trawl.
To estimate the growth rate of newly hatched turtles, the team examined measurements of hatchlings at a nesting site in Florida and compared these with the sizes of the same turtles when they had drifted across to the Azores islands in the middle of the North Atlantic.

This journey - drifting several thousand kilometres on the currents - takes approximately 450 days. The scientists were able to see from the data they examined how much the turtles grew during that time.
The team also used many hundreds of measurements made by scientists who had captured, marked and recaptured individual loggerhead turtles. Using these figures, they were able to chart the animals' growth rate.

All of this data enabled the researchers to use the size of mature loggerhead turtle mothers - measured at several well-studied nesting sites - to estimate their ages.

Bryan Wallace, science adviser for Conservation International's Sea Turtle Flagship Program, said that knowing how long it took turtles to grow up gave "a better idea of how long conservation efforts should be maintained on nesting beaches before we can expect to literally see the results".

Dr Wallace told BBC Nature: "These estimates reinforce that animals like sea turtles take a very long time to recover from human-caused population declines.

"So conservation efforts must be appropriately targeted to address the most important threats, and they must be maintained for decades to ensure success."
_______________________________________________________________________
7) Fighting against Florida's alien invaders (Now the Tegu Lizard) By Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer, In Print: Sunday, October 30, 2011

One day this summer, Susan Arehart noticed her cat, Luna-tick, acting strangely. Arehart, a transplanted New Yorker who now lives in Riverview, thought maybe the cat was stalking a snake in the yard.
But when she got closer, she saw what was it was: a big, black and white lizard with sharp claws, known as a giant Argentine tegu. She figured it was 4 feet long from the tip of its tail to the end of its forked tongue.

She thought it might run when it saw her. It didn't. "That thing stared me right down," she said. "It's not afraid of anything."

Everyone has heard about the pythons in the Everglades. State officials have told hunters to shoot them on sight. Congress is debating whether to ban their importation. Writer Carl Hiaasen jokes about how he'd like to see politicians out seeking a River of Grass photo op attacked by one.

But Frank Mazzotti, one of Florida's top reptile experts, thinks that what everyone ought to be talking about is the tegu — and also the Nile monitor, the Oustalet's chameleon and several other slithery species that have invaded Florida in recent years.

Unlike the pythons, which are pretty well dug in, Mazzotti said, "we've got 140 species that aren't established yet."

That includes species beyond South Florida — for instance, the tegu, a recent fad in the exotic pet trade. Some tegu owners have reported being surprised at how fast their little lizards grew, and how much they ate.

Five years ago tegus — either escaped captives or those turned loose by irresponsible owners — began popping up in rural and suburban Hillsborough County. On top of frightening homeowners and their pets, tegus eat the eggs and the young of ground-nesting birds and gopher tortoises.
State and federal officials should target those reptiles for removal now, before they get as entrenched as the pythons, said Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife ecology professor who has spent more than 25 years studying South Florida reptiles.

"The pythons are just the tip of the iceberg," agreed Steve Johnson, another University of Florida wildlife ecology professor who puts together the online newsletter Invader Updater about non-native invasive fauna. "An early detection network would allow for a more rapid response."
But at this point, Mazzotti said, "there's no money to do risk assessment and early detection." That's too bad, Johnson said, because "by the time we know they're here and established, it's difficult if not impossible to get rid of them."

Instead, most government funding is going toward trying to catch those elusive pythons. Mazzotti said the most effective python-catcher is what he called "the Judas snake," which is a male python outfitted with a radio transmitter and released during mating season to lead scientists to the females. The best catch ever made using a Judas snake, he said, was five females in one day — not a huge haul.
Mazzotti said the only thing that's really made a dent in the python population was last winter's long cold snap.

Mazzotti spent a fairly productive evening in South Florida last week collecting Oustalet's chameleons, voracious eaters which can grow to 2 feet long in their native Madagascar.

"There were more than 100 in a single avocado grove," he said.

Exotic invaders such as the Argentine tegu and the Oustalet's chameleons aren't just a nuisance. Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson says introduction of alien species is second only to habitat destruction by development and agriculture as the leading cause of extinctions worldwide.
Invaders can wreak such havoc that the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, which has begun mapping the rapid spread of invasive species, has estimated they cost the United States $120 billion each year.

Although tegus have been spotted near Miami and in the Ocala National Forest, eastern Hillsborough County has had the thickest infestation, with 69 reports listed on Johnson's website. They may be attracted by the 500-acre Bell Creek Nature Preserve and the 4,900-acre Balm-Boyette Scrub Preserve, both of which are home to scores of gopher tortoises — and their eggs.

Bobby Hill is convinced all of those reports are "nothing but a crock." Hill runs Varnyard Herps Inc., a Panama City company. "I'm the largest breeder of these animals in the world," he said.
Hill says the tegus can be aggressive if provoked, but usually seek out human affection. He's convinced that while there may be multiple reports of tegus found in the wild, "it's the same animal" being sighted over and over, and not hundreds of them.

"How many Bigfoot reports have there been?" he asked.

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spends $600,000 a year trying to track and eradicate invasive species like tegus. About $80,000 of that is aimed solely at reptiles. But more invaders show up every day. A study released this month by the University of Florida found more invasive species are making their home in Florida than anywhere else in the world.
That's not news to homeowners in Riverview such as Arehart.

"When I moved to Florida," Arehart said, "I expected seagulls."

Instead, the retired social worker has seen wild boar, coyotes and tegus. She suggested the state needs a new tourism slogan: "Come down to Florida and you can see everything!"

Arehart said she first heard about tegus four years ago when a tree service employee working for a neighbor reported finding "a dinosaur" in some branches. Soon, she said, "little kids walking home from school started taking pictures of them with their cell phones." Now, she said, "they're everywhere."
She's not the only Riverview resident who's freaked out about the big lizards that don't seem afraid of people. One of her neighbors shot one, she said. Another ran one over with a car. She tried doing that too, "but they're just too quick."

For the first time in her life, she's thinking about buying a gun — not for herself, but to protect her cat. Luna-tick keeps crying to go out, but Arehart won't open the door.

"I don't let her out now," she said. "I don't know what's out there."

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

For a list of invasive reptiles in Florida, and a link to maps showing where they have been found, click on http://www.eddmaps.org/florida/species/type.cfm?id=6


To find out what you can do about non-native wildlife, go to: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonna ... p/
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 48 11/14/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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Table of Contents

1) Wildlife Society conference Awards “Turtles of the United State and Canada”
2) New Book- “The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles”
3) IN MEMORIAM: JOHN ARNETT (1945–2011
4) N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Releases Booklet on Building a Backyard to Attract Herps
5) Business as usual in illegal wildlife (Malaysia)
6) Road salt's second sting - UNC Asheville biologist learns it harms amphibians - and helps mosquitoes thrive
7) Red list changes highlight threats from over-exploitation
8) Early Warning Signs Of a Dying Lake
9) MLB Players Up Their Game with Shots of Snake BloodStaying true to the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” a group of MLB heavy hitters captured the international media spotlight by throwing back a few shots…of warm, fresh snake blood, that is.
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See Below on Information on the new Turtle TV DVD _________________________________________________________
Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator, by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
After today you can order the book, but we can not guarantee it will be autographed.
But one guarantee we can make is the the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
And I just came back from a convention of environmental journalists in Miami and that is all they are talking about. So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
So see a copy of the cover, a wicked side view, close-up of a python with its mouth wide open, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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We’ve sold our last Turtle Calendar.
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But the MAGNETS are still being given out in return for a min donation of $24.00 or more. (4 magnets) Please also tell us 3 alternative magnets. (We are already out of Green Iguanas and Leather back sea turtles)

You can order with credit card through Paypal even if you don’t belong see info on donation page of website. And no need to go to flickr to see the magnets they are all on the donation page of the HerpDigest website.

And don’t stop at $24.00 round up to $30.00 get another magnet. $6.00 for each additional magnet, Free S&H - except not in US contact us. asalzberg@herpdigest.org ______________________________________________________________________
1) At this year’s Wildlife Society conference Turtles of the United State and Canada by Carl H. Ernst and Jeffrey Lovich won the Best Wildlife Book of the year award. I quote from the program “It recognizes excellence in scientific writing characterized by originality of research and thought and high scholastic standard in the manner of presentation.” Book is available at John Hopkins University Press.
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2) New Book- “The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles”
by Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins, and Michael Grayson, Hardcover, 2011, 312 pp. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, $100.00

Finally you will know who was Richard Kemp, after whom the Kemp's ridley sea turtle is named? Is Wake's Gecko named after Berkeley's Marvalee Wake? Or perhaps her husband, David? Why do so many snakes and lizards have Werner in their name? This reference book answers these and thousands of other questions about the origins of the vernacular and scientific names of reptiles across the globe.

From Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti, the Florida cottonmouth subspecies named for Roger Conant, to Xantusia, the night lizard genera namesake of John Xantus, this dictionary covers everyone after whom an extant or recently extinct reptile has been named. The entries include a brief bio-sketch, a list of the reptiles that bear the individual's name, the names of reptiles erroneously thought to be associated with the person, and a summary of major—and sometimes obscure or even incidental—contributions made by the person to herpetology and zoology. An introductory chapter explai!
ns how to use the book and describes the process of naming taxa.

Easy to use and filled with addictive—and highly useful—information about the people whose names will be carried into the future on the backs of the world's reptiles, The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles is a handy and fun book for professional and amateur herpetologists alike.

"Easy to use and filled with addictive—and highly useful—infromation, The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles is a handy and fun book for professional and amateur herpetologists alike."—Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report

"This is a fun and interesting book for herpetologists and students wanting to know the backgrounds of the pioneers in their field."—Wildlife Activist

Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins, and Michael Grayson are the coauthors of The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals, also published by Johns Hopkins.
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3) IN MEMORIAM: JOHN ARNETT (1945–2011)
From the Center for North American Herpetology

Zoo herpetologist John Arnett passed away last Sunday, November 6, 2011, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Johnny was born in Jelicho, Tennessee, on 6 June 1945, moved to Cincinnati when he was five years old, and began a long and significant career in the field of zoo herpetology. Along the way, he developed many lifelong friends, all of whom will miss him immensely. Johnny spent most of his career at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden but left for a while to work at the Columbus Zoo and then at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. He then went on to become the first Curator of Reptiles at the Knoxville Zoo before returning to Cincinnati. While in Knoxville, he opened the first large reptile exhibit at that institution.

Johnny had a keen interest in Komodo Dragons and worked diligently, both in the field on Komodo Island and in the zoo community to promote this species early on when there were only a few of them in U.S. zoos. After the first Komodo Dragon was bred in captivity, he became the first international studbook keeper for Komodo Dragons. He also had a strong interest in Giant Salamanders (Cryptobranchidae) as well as all other forms of herpetofauna and field herpetology.

Johnny was an “old school” zoo man and freely expressed his opinions, even if they were not popular. After time and consideration, people generally realized that Johnny was usually right. He was always a loyal friend and he mentored many young zoo herpetologists, including me. He had a great knowledge of the history of zoo herpetology and told great stories about the curators he knew and worked for in the 1960s.

Two of his colleagues represent Johnny well in the following testimonials about him:

"Johnny was a kindred spirit, a true brother. I hope everyone remembers that Johnny had the deepest, ethical and assertive commitment to the welfare of animals. He was one of those rare individuals that actually had the courage of his convictions. That combined with his willingness to call BS when it was happening ruffled lots of feathers. I have the deepest respect for that. Zoos could use more of it. I shall miss him dearly." David Grow

"One example of Johnny’s commitment to animal welfare that comes to mind is that he felt strongly about taking the time to answer informational phone calls from the public and assist private herpetofaunal owners with their problems. I remember him talking to me about the responsibility we have towards them, and their animals. He believed we should offer advice, and help if we could, since we were considered the experts and had access to much more information than they did back in those days. This was in the 1980s when I was pretty new to the business. We were talking about Green Iguanas and the discouraging number of calls we would get from owners who wanted to donate them or find some magic (cheap and easy) fix to their husbandry and health issues. Johnny considered it a priority to take the time to explain things to these people. We all know the patience and diplomacy that is needed for this, and I respected him so much for doing it. I was greatly influenced by this and am!
still trying to follow his example, nearly thirty years later—just one more case of his mentoring. I remember being surprised about it at the time, too, as a newcomer stepping into a business that was rife with Arnett-lore of the rowdier variety—and then discovering there was this other facet to Johnny—one of many, I was to learn, as I came to know him. And I am so grateful that I did as he was a great mentor and a dear friend."
Val Hornyak

John Arnett is survived by Tami, his wife of 27 years, and their two daughters, Mariah and Naomi. Tami has requested that anyone who wants to send condolences please do so by email at

tnjarnett1@yahoo.com

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4) N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Releases Booklet on Building a Backyard to Attract Herps November 11, 2011 (Editor- Information usable in not just NC, but NY to CA, wherever herps are, sometimes you just a little tinkering to make it work.)

A backyard water garden can attract a variety of animals.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has released “Reptiles and Amphibians in Your Backyard,” a color, 8-page publication that offers tips on creating habitat suitable for the more than 160 species of native frogs, toads, lizards and snakes that reside in the state.
Produced by biologists from North Carolina State University, the Wildlife Commission, N.C. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, the book offers habitat tips such as adding a water garden, planting and maintaining vegetation native to the area, creating hides with rock piles, logs, and brush piles, and limiting the use of chemicals and pesticides to ensure there are no adverse affects on the animals that are attracted to the backyard habitat.

The book also offers a history of the diverse nature of herps in the state, their importance to the ecology, along with color pictures of some of the native herps, their biological makeup, how they reproduce, what they eat, where they are most often found in urban and suburban areas, as well as requirements specific to the animals in order for them to thrive in a backyard environment.

There is also detailed information on actions that threaten the reptiles and amphibians, including topics such as sedimentation and pollution, traffic issues, and habitat loss. To round out the book, information is presented on what communities can do to protect existing ecological areas, including tips on how to reduce roadkill, protect streamside vegetation and wetlands during construction, and minimize sedimentation.

The publication, available in Adobe's PDF format, can be downloaded from:
www.ncparc.org/pubs/Reptiles%20and%20Am ... _final.pdf
Or send a request to asalzberg@herpdigest.org __________________________________________________________________________
5) Business as usual in illegal wildlife Letter Posted on November 11, 2011, in the SunDaily, a Malaysian newspaper.
by Sean Whyte,Chief Executive,Nature Alert

ALONG with others, I have investigated the illegal wildlife trade in Malaysia since 2006. In all that time we have seen no evidence of the trade diminishing, despite government comment and promises in the media to tackle it. In our opinion, Peninsular Malaysia remains a hub for the illegal wildlife trade, which can only be possible due to still almost non-existent law enforcement.

More recently our concerns have spread to Sabah, home to Malaysia’s lucrative ecotourism industry.

The case of the high profile illegal wildlife trader Anson Wong has left many reasonable questions unanswered by Perhilitan, leaving one to presume an intention to protect others implicated in the trade.

In July last year, no less than 400 tortoises were smuggled into Malaysia. The handling of this case can at best be viewed as clumsy or, less generously, as yet another attempt to protect vested interests.

Despite the prestigious National Geographic magazine in January last year raising concerns about corruption in Perhilitan, the department investigated itself and found nothing untoward.

The much protracted case of the Taiping Zoo being prosecuted for the illegal possession of orang utan and other wildlife, eventually resulted in a fine, which has also left questions unanswered. Perhilitan has refused to answer detailed questions. Rather curiously, Perhilitan and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (NRE) chose not to publicise their handling of the case. This same zoo has previously been involved in the illegal importation of gorillas from Africa, for which it was never punished.

Since July this year, we have submitted 50 reports to Perhilitan, a large number of which raise questions about the source of birds and animals we have observed as well as photographed in parks/zoos/pet shops. We have seen no evidence yet of any prosecutions. All our reports are based on first-hand experience supported by photographic evidence.

Earlier last month, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said in an interview, those in government employment must reply to questions from the public. “It is the civil servant’s job. If it’s about implementation and clarification, they can and must do it.” Both the NRE and Perhilitan appear to be blatantly ignoring this directive.

We have therefore come to the conclusion that it remains business as usual for illegal wildlife traders in Malaysia. We ask ourselves daily how this blatant and illegal trade can continue without the approval of people in high places. Even Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officials appear to have their eyes closed.

No one should be under any illusions as there is evidence out there linking illegal wildlife trade with drug trafficking and the illegal supply of weapons. When one turns a blind eye to one, one does it to all three.

I finish with these wise words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.”

Sean Whyte
Chief Executive
Nature Alert

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6) Road salt's second sting - UNC Asheville biologist learns it harms amphibians - and helps mosquitoes thrive By T. DeLene Beeland, Correspondent, Nov. 14, 2011

A sure sign that winter has arrived is when drivers spot chunks of road salt in their lanes. It's safe to say drivers appreciate ice-free roads, but ... ever wonder where all that salt ends up?
In North Carolina, the Department of Transportation spreads, on average, 256,249,901 pounds of salt on state-managed roads each year.

UNC Asheville biologist James Petranka decided to investigate what this seasonal onslaught means for our native amphibians. Because amphibians breathe through their skin and are highly susceptible to environmental contaminants, Petranka wondered if flushes of road salts to their breeding ponds kill them.

The salt, he learned, didn't kill the amphibians outright, though it does harm their growth as juveniles. Perhaps more alarming, he found the road salt is causing problems in the food web.
Mimicking nature

The effect of road salts on lakes and streams is documented, but it's understudied in pools that form seasonally, and seasonal pools are where amphibians prefer to breed in late winter and early spring. After reading a scientific report on road salt effects upon wood frogs and spotted salamanders in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, Petranka couldn't get his mind off what might be unfolding in the mountainous woods of Western North Carolina that surround his office.
The southeastern U.S. lays claim to harboring the greatest diversity of salamanders in the world. Of the 102 salamander species known in the Southeast, 60 are found in North Carolina. Most of this diversity occurs in the western part of the state, where mountain folds create a mosaic of geographically-restricted amphibian populations. Some species look identical, but due to isolation are highly distinct genetically. Some salamanders may never travel more than 200 to 300 feet from where they hatch, Petranka says.

As an amphibian guru, he should know. He authored "Salamanders of the United States and Canada," considered a major reference source. He was also the first researcher who, in the late '80s, established that amphibians use chemical cues in their environment to decide where to lay their eggs. They avoid laying eggs where they sense egg- and larvae-predators, like fish.

To test the effect of road salts, Petranka set up a series of low-tech experiments on UNC Asheville's campus. You know those blue kiddie wading pools you see on your neighbor's lawn? Turns out they are perfect for simulating natural seasonal pools: just the right diameter and depth.

Petranka placed nearly 60 plastic wading pools outdoors and filled them with aged tap water. Next he added algae and protozoans collected with fine nets from natural seasonal pools, plus small crustaceans, like water fleas and copepods. He used leaf litter to mimic the most common type of natural pool bottom. Then he added wood frog and spotted salamander larvae, collected from the wild. Finally, he introduced a road salt mix at levels found in polluted wild pools.

"We couldn't do the experiments in a natural setting because there simply aren't enough seasonal pools left locally," Petranka said. North Carolina is estimated to have lost 90 percent of its wetlands, including seasonal pools, since European contact, mainly due to ditching, draining and damming rivers.
Salt, salamanders, skeeters

Petranka discovered amphibians didn't fare well in the salted pools: Petranka found that even low levels of road salts reduced spotted salamander larvae growth because the salt decimated the water fleas and other invertebrates that they eat.

Because seasonal pools eventually dry, reduced larvae growth can prevent or delay metamorphosis, putting them at risk for higher mortality rates. And those stunted larvae that do survive may reach sexual maturity up to a year later than normal, Petranka says.

He also learned that mosquitoes fared the experimental salt treatment much better - that salted pools can trigger mosquito plagues.

In a natural setting, mosquitoes avoid laying their eggs in ponds where there are amphibian larvae, because the amphibian larvae gobble up the mosquito larvae. But when road salts were applied, mosquitoes were more likely to blossom, as were shore flies and midges. Those insects colonized Petranka's wading pools naturally. After experimenting with different species compositions, Petranka says he's getting a good signal that mosquitoes strongly avoid laying their eggs in pools containing a full array of native species.

"The mosquito larvae have this thick outer cuticle, and they sit just below the water's surface, with a breathing tube sticking up," Petranka said. "It's almost like they are custom-built to withstand a saline environment."

One of the two species of mosquito Petranka documented is a known vector for West Nile virus. "What this means is that in areas where salty runoff reaches seasonal pools, we may be unintentionally selecting for mosquitoes and other salt-tolerant insects," Petranka says.

Alternatives?

Nancy Karraker, lead author to the Adirondacks study that inspired Petranka, says his work is the first to examine the effect of de-icing agents on food webs, not just single species. Karraker, a professor of environmental science at the University of Hong Kong, also expressed hope that because Petranka had found a risk of human disease linked to salt-contaminated wetlands, people and policy makers would be more willing to rectify the problem.

"I think most conservation biologists would agree that it is very important to find a balance between public safety and protecting the environment, when it comes to road de-icing salts," Karraker says, noting that alternative compounds derived from sugar beets are being tested. "The problem with alternative compounds is always price. Rock salt costs about $50 per ton, and other substances including calcium chloride or sugar beet products cost hundreds of dollars per ton. That is why we continue to rely principally on rock salt when better alternatives exist."

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/1 ... z1dhhMcSqu
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7) Red list changes highlight threats from over-exploitation The latest IUCN Red List finds an alarming 40% of Madagascar’s terrestrial reptiles are threatened with extinction

Gland, Switzerland, 11/10/11—the latest update of the world’s list of threatened animals and plant species—the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species—carried out by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) reveals mixed fortunes for many species.

“This update offers both good and bad news on the status of many species around the world,” says Jane Smart, Director, IUCN Global Species Programme.

“We have the knowledge that conservation works if executed in a timely manner, yet, without strong political will in combination with targeted efforts and resources, the wonders of nature and the services it provides can be lost forever.”

The revised list finds an alarming 40% of Madagascar’s terrestrial reptiles are threatened. TRAFFIC has drawn attention to the rampant illegal trade in many of the country’s threatened reptile species, which unless addressed will undermine the laudable creation of conservation areas to protect species like Tarzan’s Chameleon Calumma tarzan, Bizarre-nosed Chameleon Calumma hafahafa and Limbless Skink Paracontias fasika.

Although the number of plant species assessed remains relatively low, some have deteriorated in status, like Taxus contorta, which has declined from Vulnerable to Endangered because of over-harvesting. In 2007, TRAFFIC documented China’s role in the continuing and unsustainable trade in wild Yew trees in the Genus Taxus, whose bark and needles are harvested for the production of anti-cancer medicines.
Others, like the Coco de Mer from the Seychelles—known for its supposed aphrodisiac properties—have declined partly because although all collection and sale of its seed is highly regulated, there is thought to be a significant black market trade in its seed kernels.

The assessment of the world’s tuna species is particularly serious, with five of the eight tuna species in the threatened or Near Threatened categories. TRAFFIC has highlighted the over-fishing of some tuna species, which is placing them at risk of extinction.

26 recently discovered amphibian species have been assessed for the first time, including two—the Blessed Poison Frog Ranitomeya benedicta and Summers’ Poison Frog Ranitomeya summersi that are classified as Vulnerable and Endangered respectively. Both are threatened through a combination of habitat loss and harvesting for the international pet trade.

The ongoing poaching of rhinos is also reflected in the revised Red List, with the status of a number of subspecies deteriorating. It includes formal confirmation of the extinction of the Western Black Rhino Diceros bicornis longipes.

“Even a quick perusal of the threats facing the world’s wild plants and animals identified through the IUCN Red List process reveal the problems caused by unsustainble trade and the danger it poses as a major driver of extinction,” said Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC.
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8) Early Warning Signs Of a Dying Lake
The Scientist, By Richard P. Grant, October 1, 2011

THE PETER LAKE FOOD WEB

Originally, the food web was dominated by minnows eating zooplankton such as water fleas, which survive by consuming tiny water-borne plants. The few largemouth bass in the lake fed on the minnows. But tweak the top of the chain and an ecosystem shift ensues: the increasingly numerous bass devastated the minnow population, leading to large swings in phytoplankton amounts until the food web settled into its new state.

Forecasting the future is a tricky art, but a field test of an important ecological theory now shows that drastic environmental shifts can be predicted, potentially paving the way for preventive intervention. Trophic cascades occur when a layer in the food web is added or removed and an entire ecological system shifts catastrophically as a result. For example, if a top predator becomes extinct—say, by overfishing or hunting—pressure is relieved on its prey. This can have destructive effects on other organisms lower down the food chain as they suddenly experience a higher rate of predation. Steve Carpenter at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and colleagues have now shown that such regime shifts, in this case caused by the deliberate addition of a top predator to a lake in Wisconsin, can be predicted up to a year in advance.

Healthy ecosystems can readily accommodate small disturbances. If the number of fish or the amount of phytoplankton changes, for example, the balance soon recovers. However, in the face of a coming regime shift, ecological theory predicts that recovery will become much slower. But few field studies of entire ecosystems—and none on a large-scale—have tested the hypothesis. Carpenter and his team deliberately created a trophic cascade in Peter Lake, Michigan, using the adjacent Paul Lake as a control, and measured the numbers of each species in both lakes, in order to watch for patterns of change that would precede the trophic cascade. In July 2008, the team initiated the cascade by more than doubling the population of adult largemouth bass—a top predator fish—bringing the total to 81. Paul Lake contained more than 300 adult largemouth bass.

Every summer day for three years, Carpenter and colleagues counted minnows (which eat plankton) and measured the amount of chlorophyll, a proxy for the amount of phytoplankton, in each lake. The chlorophyll could be measured precisely and at high frequency (every five minutes), and it were these data that gave the researchers the first inkling that change was under way. By September 2009, there were large swings in the amount of chlorophyll and “it was pretty clear,” says Carpenter, that a major ecosystem shift was already in progress. By September 2010, the shift was complete: the food web was dominated by larger fish.

Many human-driven catastrophes, such as desertification, fishery collapse, or algal blooms, are caused by small or slow changes in management which lead to collapse. Russell Moll, at the University of California, San Diego, who evaluated the paper at F1000, says, “If there was some way to predict when a regime shift is going to occur in advance,” it might be possible to nudge it back towards a more healthy state. “Having any kind of advance knowledge that we’re about to enter into a regime shift would be useful from both a scientific and a management perspective,” he adds.

But Carpenter sounds a note of caution. The appropriate indicators—the “canaries in the coal mine”—for other ecosystems remain to be discovered. “Before we manage ecosystems using this method we need a lot more research,” he says.

The paper
S.R. Carpenter et al., “Early warnings of regime shifts: a whole-ecosystem experiment,” Science, 332:1079-82, 2011. Free F1000 Evaluation

Correction (10/5/2011): The original version of this article incorrectly stated that water fleas were insects. They are zooplankton, and the article has been corrected. The Scientist regrets the error.
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9) MLB Players Up Their Game with Shots of Snake BloodStaying true to the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” a group of MLB heavy hitters captured the international media spotlight by throwing back a few shots…of warm, fresh snake blood, that is.
Weird Asia News, By Stewart Brently, 11/12/11

The night before their first game on the island, the all-star team boarded the bus for Taipei’s infamous Huaxi Street night market, which is known better by the name “Snake Alley.”

A small but significant tourist trap for foreign visitors to the island’s capital, Snake Alley has made more than a name for itself (pun intended) by offering up a variety of traditional snake “goodies.” The main attraction? Snakes, of course. So what’s the big deal? There are a lot of them, they kill them in front of you, and the blood is drained into shot glasses for those brave enough to try it.

Local folk tradition claims the blood is supposed to imbue the drinker with increased stamina and better skin. Most important, so goes the legend, is that the blood is consumed while still warm from the kill.
While Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano declined to taste the main attraction the first time it was offered to him, his teammates on the tour were more than willing, even enthusiastic, to drop shots of snake blood down the ol’ hatch.

Moments before the shop proprietor made the reptilian sacrifice for the dozen or so players, Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Troy Hawkins set the tone for the group that evening: “I didn’t travel halfway around the world to not do what the natives do, so I’m going to try it.”

Hawkins, known for being adventurous, and the most among the bunch interested in trying popular, even at times infamous, local delicacies, persuaded his buddies to follow his lead with a pitch about the concoction’s highly touted powers.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Andres Torres liked it enough to do at least three shots.
“I just want to try different things,” Torres said. “I think it’s pretty cool. It’s a different culture, so you embrace it. Why not? Plus, it’s supposed to give you energy, and we’re playing tomorrow, so we’ll be ready.”

Fellow outfielder Logan Morrison (Florida Marlins) thought it tasted like wine.
“I’m definitely going to hit home runs on this trip now,” he said. “I’m going to have powers like Spider-Man, but more snake-like powers.”

Colorado Rockies infielder Ty Wigginton took the plunge, too, claiming to be a little nervous.
“I figured it’s once in a lifetime,” Wigginton said. “You might as well give it a shot. Hopefully it does bring me some powers. That would be cool. I can always use a little help.”

On the second round, Robinson Cano relented, even talking his father, Jose Cano, into taking one for the team. Neither thought it was a big deal.

The older Cano, who was a pitcher in Taiwan in the 1990s, confessed, “I never drank it before in my years playing in Taiwan because nobody would drink it with me,” Jose said. “But I finally tried it.”
When asked to comment on the adventure, the team’s tour manager, Bruce Bochy (Milwaukee Giants, manager), praised the guys for their courage.

“I think it’s great,” Bochy said. “You get pumped up for the game, and they’re looking for blood here. There are some warriors on this club to be trying this stuff. It’s good to see.”

After the excursion, some of the players were caught raving about the exotic experience.
Hawkins posted a message to his followers on Twitter that reads as follows: “Tweeps drank the snake blood! Didn’t taste bad, waterd dwn with Rice Liquor ,a lot of fun. Gm time tomorrow sight seeing is OVER!!”

Morrison called the night the coolest part of the trip so far. “I drank snake blood RT @jdidiana@LoMoMarlins Yum. What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen/done so far?”
In the end, it must have worked. The American team cleaned house.

For the foreseeable future, snake blood shots will more than likely become a tradition for visiting athletes to the island.


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The TURTLE TV DVD is here, and just in time for the holidays.

TURTLE TV is a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? All shows star only turtles. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper) and a wonderful excerpt from a hilarious turtle version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” (I never thought I’d ever hear the “space time continuum” used as the punch line for a joke.)

TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).

TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.

A turtle punk rock singer singing his unique version of “Deck the Halls”

Official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

All topped off with a special appearance by a former fake GOP Presidential candidate and NBC TV star.

What more can you want?

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER IN EXISTENCE AND HERPDIGEST HAS THEM ALL.

ORDER NOW, THAT LIMITED NUMBER IS SELLING OUT AS YOU READ THIS.

AND OF COURSE, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO HERPDIGEST.

(No turtles were hurt during the filming of this video.) __________________________________________________________________________
New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00

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New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 49 11/18/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper) TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.
and more.
Like official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

(No turtles were hurt during the filming of this video.) ___________________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents
1)Grants available for research on Box Turtles
2) Virginia Tech to Lead NSF-funded Amphibian Microbe Study
3) Farmers Find Rewards in Helping Bog Turtles (Cash)
4) Whiskers Marked Milestone in Evolution of Mammals from Reptiles
5) Variation in male, female turtle shells provides advantage when facing predators
6) Hybrid Cuban-American Crocodiles on the Rise
7) Save the Snakes: One Man’s Mission
8)New Test for Cryptosporidiosis, an Incurable Disease of Snakes and Lizards

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As on Monday “Diamonds in the Marsh’ is available, the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins. For just a $29.95 donation (Please include $5.00 for S&H) you get a brand new paperback edition help Herpdigest raise some money, but will also enable Herpdigest to donate a part of the proceeds to the Jamaica Bay Diamondback Terrapin Project.
Reserve your copy now. See below on how to order.
_________________________________________________________
Invasive Pythons of the U.S: Ecology of an Introduced Predator, by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Forward by Whit Gibbons.
After today you can order the book, but we can not guarantee it will be autographed.
But one guarantee we can make is the the Most Talked About Herp Book This Fall and Winter. After all the issue of pythons in the US have never left the headlines for the past 5-6 years.
And I just came back from a convention of environmental journalists in Miami and that is all they are talking about. So don’t delay, get your orders in. For more information on the book and how to order see below.
So see a copy of the cover, a wicked side view, close-up of a python with its mouth wide open, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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We’ve sold our last Turtle Calendar.
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But the MAGNETS are still being given out in return for a min donation of $24.00 or more. (4 magnets) Please also tell us 3 alternative magnets. (We are already out of Green Iguanas and Leather back sea turtles) You can order with credit card through Paypal even if you don’t belong see info on donation page of website. And no need to go to flickr to see the magnets they are all on the donation page of the HerpDigest website.
And don’t stop at $24.00 round up to $30.00 get another magnet. $6.00 for each additional magnet, Free S&H - except not in US contact us. asalzberg@herpdigest.org _____________________________________________________________________________
1) Grants available for research on Box Turtles

Box Turtles have been present in North America for millions of years. But the picture is changing rapidly. Every long-term study of the box turtle has concluded that populations are declining at an alarming rate.

In an effort to contribute to the science that may save Box Turtles, in 2009 the Box Turtle Conservation Committee (www.boxturtlesintrouble.org) established the Lucille F. Stickel Box Turtle Research Award to honor Stickel’s box turtle research over a period of forty-five years.
To date, the Stickel Award has supported two important research projects; a summary of the research can be viewed at the above website.

The Committee is currently accepting grant applications (up to $1000) for projects that contribute directly to box turtle conservation, or further our understanding of their natural history, ecology, or reproduction. The closing date for receipt of grant applications is February 1, 2012.
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2) Virginia Tech to Lead NSF-funded Amphibian Microbe Study November 08, 2011 By a GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – A group of scientists led by Virginia Tech will use funding from the National Science Foundation to study the microbes living on the skin of frogs in Central America to learn more about the role of a fungus in a threatening disease called Chytridiomycosis.

The research team, which includes scientists at James Madison University, Villanova University, and the Smithsonian Institution, will use $2 million in funding to study DNA from microbes on the amphibians' skin to find out how some frogs survive Chytridiomycosis infections.

The researchers will swab the skin of frogs in Panama, where the spread of the chytrid fungus is well documented, and will study frogs in areas where the fungus does and does not occur. They then will conduct DNA analyses on the microbes to see how some of them may be inhibiting growth of the chytrid, and then assess what chemical metabolites are being produced by those microbes.
"We expect that in the presence of chytrid fungus, there will be strong selection for the bacteria to produce anti-chytrid fungus metabolites, regardless of what bacterial species are present on the skin," explained Lisa Belden, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, said in a statement.

Virginia Tech scientists will synthesize the DNA sequences produced by the project and will develop new statistical methods to capture and analyze the information from the DNA and metabolite datasets.
"The bioinformatics and statistical analysis portions of the work are critical and provide the framework for advancing our knowledge in this system and also applying our findings to our systems," Belden said.
The project is one of 11 that has been funded under NSF's Dimensions of Biodiversity program.
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3) Farmers Find Rewards in Helping Bog Turtles (Cash) November 14, 2011, 1:50 PMNYTimes (Green Blog), By Deborah Weisberg

The bog turtle, whose numbers have been halved in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states.

The future of the bog turtle, North America’s tiniest reptile and one of its rarest, is in the hands of private landowners who are being given incentives to help it recover, wildlife biologists say.
“We’re engaging so many partners in various projects that for the first time in five years, I feel we’re really moving forward,” says Alison Whitlock, the bog turtle recovery coordinator for the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, which is sponsoring a conference this week in Langhorne, Pa., for a species-status review.

“We’re finding new populations in areas not surveyed in a long time,” she added.
These sites, particularly in the limestone belt that encompasses parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, are wet sedge meadows that contain entire communities of specially adapted plants and animals. Among these are the Canadian burnet, a plant belonging to the rose family; the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly; and bog turtles, as well as the mounds of tussock sedge grass and moss hummocks on which they lay eggs.

Most of these marshy pastures are owned by farmers and others who can now be compensated up to $23,000 by the federal Department of Agriculture for each acre they agree to restore and protect.
Bog turtle numbers in seven Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, from Maryland to Connecticut, have dropped by half in the past 20 years. While some turtles have fallen prey to the illicit pet trade, the biggest blow has been habitat loss or fragmentation as a result of development.

“Bog turtles are a semiaquatic species endemic to wetlands fed by springs and seeps, where groundwater recharge is critical,” said Scott Smith, an endangered-species biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “They lay their eggs on elevated vegetation, but they need to be able to burrow in mud to escape raccoons, foxes and other predators.”

“When you develop and create a lot of impervious surfaces, you alter groundwater budgets, and you may not get recharge,” he said.

Mr. Smith is one of dozens of biologists from federal and state agencies and conservation organizations working to engage landowners in the recovery of bog turtles, which were listed as threatened in 1997 by the federal government and have endangered status in some states.

One of the more successful approaches is the Wetlands Reserve Program, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Enrollees are paid to restore and protect fens and their upland buffer zones and guard against alterations to their hydrology, according to Hathaway Jones, who runs the program in Pennsylvania.

“Before this, we didn’t have a good way to preserve bog turtle sites,” he said. “But Congress set aside money to conserve wetlands. We’re well funded and can make good offers to farmers who would have no other use for this land.”
The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Agriculture Department provide landowners with restoration plans that promote open-canopy habitat. That means removing woody vegetation like red maple and the multiflora rose, and minimizing regrowth through a surprisingly simple means: using livestock for controlled grazing.

“We make the call about whether grazing should be included in a management plan,” said Jessica Groves, a Wetlands Reserve Program manager. She said that the grazing is carefully regulated to protect fens from nutrient impacts and damage to turtle nesting sites. “If fencing is considered part of the restoration, we can pay for that,” she added,

Restoration grazing in Maryland has even spawned niche entrepreneurial opportunities for beef cattle and goat farmers, who have found a profitable way to fatten their livestock for market, Mr. Smith said.
“I know of at least one company that is leasing its goats to folks enrolled in the wetlands restoration program,” he said.. “It’s a good example of market-driven conservation that’s creating a win-win for the goat farmer and the landowner.”

Mr. Smith called the wetlands restoration program the best tool scientists have for ensuring bog turtle recovery, especially when it involves contiguous sites.

“We know that if we enhance habitat and make it suitable, bog turtles will colonize,” he said. “Our goal is to create connectivity among known sites. Enabling animals to cross watershed boundaries helps maintain crucial gene flow.”

Enrollment has grown to include more than 1,000 acres, and enthusiasm is growing among the landowners, Ms. Whitlock said. “The program is helping people understand what an amazing thing they have on their property and encourages them to take ownership, and they absolutely love it.
“They keep an eye out,” she said. “They call police if they see something they don’t like. They are actively involved.
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Whiskers Marked Milestone in Evolution of Mammals from Reptiles

The story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Sheffield. (Nov. 10, 2011) — Research from the University of Sheffield comparing rats and mice with their distance relatives the marsupial, suggests that moveable whiskers were an important milestone in the evolution of mammals from reptiles.

Using high-speed digital video recording and automatic tracking, the research team, which was led by Professor Tony Prescott from the University´s Department of Psychology, have shed light on how rodents such as mice and rats move their whiskers back-and-forth at high speed and in varying ways to actively sense the environment around them in a behaviour known as whisking. Whisking allows mice or rats to accurately determine the position, shape and texture of objects, make rapid and accurate decisions about objects, and then use the information to build environmental maps.

When running in a straight line, rats and mice move their whiskers back-and-forth the same amount on both sides. However when turning, they bias their whisker movements in the direction of the turn, and when the whiskers on one side of the head contact an object, those on the opposite side sweep round to gather more information. These active sensing strategies boost the information gained by the whiskers helping the animals to better understand their world through touch.

In their latest research, the team have shown that whisking like that of rodents, using these active sensing strategies, is also seen in a small South American marsupial -- the grey short-tailed opossum. This animal has many similarities to an early mammal that would have lived more than 125 million years ago; that is, around the same time that the evolutionary lines leading to modern rodents and marsupials diverged.

This evidence suggests that some of the first mammals may also have whisked like a modern mouse or rat, and that the appearance of moveable whiskers was pivotal in the evolution of mammals from reptiles. The research is published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B on 12 November 2011 and will also be presented on the same day at the Society for Neuroscience conference.
The earliest mammals were nocturnal, and tree-living. In order to successfully move around and thrive in this challenging environment these animals needed to effectively integrate information from multiple senses -- sight, sound, smell, and touch. Facial whiskers provided mammals with a new tactile sense not available to reptiles that could help them to get around in the dark.

In addition to continuing to investigate the similarities and differences between rodents and marsupials, the team is also using these insights from biological whisker sensing to develop animal-like robots that can use artificial whiskers to navigate without vision. These robots could have applications in search-and-rescue, particularly in environments, such as disaster sites, where vision is compromised by smoke or dust.

Professor Tony Prescott said: "This latest research suggests that alongside becoming warm-blooded, giving birth to live young, and having an enlarged brain, the emergence of a new tactile sense based on moveable facial whiskers was an important step along the evolutionary path to modern mammals. Although humans no longer have moveable whiskers they were a critical feature of our early mammalian ancestors."
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5) Variation in male, female turtle shells provides advantage when facing predators
Released: 11/15/2011 2:00 PM EST
Source: Allen Press Publishing Services
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newswise — Herpetologica – One way to tell a male turtle from a female turtle is a difference in the shape of their shells. While this pattern of sexual dimorphism is common among turtle species, it could have other effects on turtle biology. The differing shell designs may exhibit different strengths in standing up to the attack of a predator, and therefore the survival rate of one sex over the other.
The current issue of the journal Herpetologica reports on the mechanical implications of shell shape differences between two species of male and female turtles. The Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) is an aquatic species, and the Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is a terrestrial species.
Females turtles tend to have larger, domed shells, which may indicate the ability to hold large clutches of eggs. Males, on the other hand, typically have flatter shells and larger openings for their limbs, allowing them greater movement. This improves their success in courtship and mating.
To test the strength of these varying shells, researchers created digital models of the shells for finite element analysis. This computer model uses simple geometric shapes to create a complex structure—the turtle shell in this case. It then calculates the response of those elemental shapes to create the response of the shell as a whole. Twelve load conditions, representing the bite of a predator at different locations, were applied.

The females of both species fared better than the males, although male and female Wood Turtles were more evenly matched. Female shells showed less stress than male shells. The concave shape of the plastron, or underside, of the male Wood Turtle’s shell in particular exhibited significantly increased stress, indicating it would be more easily punctured by a predator.

These differences between sexes may stem from selection based on other factors besides predation. Currently, there are no data showing that females are more likely to encounter predators, for instance, and that therefore their shells have become better able to withstand such attacks. However, these variations can have an effect on turtles’ lives and offer important implications for turtle conservation efforts.

Full text of the article “Dimorphism in Shell Shape and Strength in Two Species of Emydid Turtle,” Herpetologica, Volume 67, Issue 4, November 2011, is available at:http://www.hljournals.org/ ____________________________________________________________________
6) Hybrid Cuban-American Crocodiles on the Rise Rare Cuban species in danger of being bred out of existence.
Christine Dell'Amore,National Geographic News,Published June 24, 2011

Editor -something old that I missed when it first was published and was sent to me Wed. and is definitely worth publishing)

There's a new Cuban crisis—the island country's rare crocodile is being loved to death by its American cousin, a new study suggests.

Mating Cuban crocodiles and American crocodiles are creating hybrid offspring that threaten the survival of the Cuban species, which has dwindled to about 4,000 wild animals in two isolated Cuban swamps. The ten-foot-long (three-meter-long) reptile is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"That means any loss of animals—be it loss in fact or loss through hybridization—is a grave concern," said John G. Robinson, executive vice president for conservation and science at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

American crocodiles, which are found throughout the Caribbean, are not considered threatened by IUCN. The animals have increasingly moved into the Cuban crocodile's remaining freshwater habitat as it becomes more brackish—or salty—due to agricultural activities, said Robinson, who was not involved in the research.

The Cuban crocodile is the most terrestrial of the crocodiles—walking instead of waddling on their bellies like other croc species, he added. "They're very cool beasts."

For the study, scientists led by Yoamel Milián-García, of the University of Havana, took DNA samples from 89 wild-caught crocodiles and 2 captive crocodiles.

Surprisingly, the results showed that American crocodiles living in Cuba are more closely related to Cuban crocodiles than to other American crocodile populations in Central America.

This suggests that the American and Cuban species are mating much more than thought. When different species mate to create hybrids, genes mix, and eventually one lineage can cause the extinction of the other.

The scientists haven't done behavioral studies to find out if the hybrids are stronger or more aggressive, which can sometimes happen when species interbreed.

Yet the study "will be a wake-up call" for conservationists in Cuba, who have already put a lot of effort into protecting the Zapata swamp—home to about 3,000 of the Cuban crocodiles, WCS's Robinson said.
One obvious strategy, he said, would be to restore the flow of fresh water into the swamps, which would make the habitat less palatable for the American crocodile.

Cuban-American hybrid crocodile research published in the spring issue of the Journal of Experimental Zoology.
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7) Save the Snakes: One Man’s Mission
Editor - Scoop just posted it on the net where I found it.
By Grace Smith, 9/24/11 The Scoop, Celebrates rural life in Stone Mills, Ontario and beyond...


Snakes have been around for over 100 million years, but today, they are threatened by none other than human beings. We have come to fear our slithering friends, lashing out at what is unknown, and our actions may completely stamp out their entire existence.

But not if Matt Ellerbeck has anything to say about it.

Ellerbeck, or the Snake Man as he is known, is a snake advocate and conservationist. His mission is “to help contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered snake species and declining snake populations. And to help bring an end to immense cruelty and abuse that snakes often face.”

Ellerbeck, who is a native of the area, grew up around snakes. He was never taught to fear or hate them like many people have and that has made all the difference.
As a child, he spent all of his summers at his grandparents’ cottage, prowling around marshes, ponds, swamps and forests. This is where he first became acquainted with his favourite reptile: snakes, and his interest grew.

Over the years, he has encountered and observed thousands of snakes but he soon discovered that people did not share his interest: “I learned quickly that many people harbour a fear and hatred of these animals and this concerned me. When I heard people say negative things about snakes, I would defend them.”

Ellerbeck’s interest in snakes only grew as the years passed. “As I got older, my passion and concern for snakes never waned and in 2004, I approached the local conservation authority about developing a snake conservation outreach program.” The objective of this program was to educate people about the true nature of snakes as an effort to help alleviate the hatred and persecution that snakes often receive: “So many myths and misconceptions surround snakes and this misinformation certainly contributes to people’s ill feelings towards them.”

Plainly, people need to be taught.

Ellerbeck does this by providing people with much needed information about snakes. To get his point across, he uses the media, social networking sites, fact sheets and educational presentations.

I was given the opportunity to attend one of Ellerbeck’s presentations at Desert Lake Family Resort—where he has been giving presentations regularly since September 2005—and I wasn’t disappointed. Ellerbeck’s presentation was quite informative, entertaining and enlightening. He spoke passionately, acting as a voice for his silent friends. He touched on many topics during his presentation: myths and misconceptions concerning snakes, how the media has misconstrued the way we view snakes, how humans are endangering the lives of snakes everywhere and what we can do to save them. And not only did Ellerbeck use facts to support his words, he showed us. He used live snakes in his presentation as a way of proving that snakes are gentle, docile creatures that have been given an undeserved, bad reputation. He even encouraged us to pet the snakes.

Ellerbeck does not promote keeping snakes as pets; however the snakes in his presentations have all been rescued from homes where they were neglected or even abused. Though he is breaking his own rule, Ellerbeck uses these snakes for the greater good of all snakes, and it worked. I came into the presentation slightly fearful and very weary, but walked away, after even petting some of the snakes—something I thought I’d never do—very informed and not afraid.

But I shouldn’t have been surprised. He has given hundreds of educational presentations on snakes to thousands of people over the years at many different locations, including: St. Lawrence Islands National Park, the Green Up Environmental Festivals, King’s Town Private School, Ernestown Secondary School, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Desert Lake Family Resort.

After all, Ellerbeck’s work has earned him several honours: he was presented with a special honorarium from the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority to recognize his dedication to snake conservation, he was nominated for a Green Globe Award from the Commerce and Engineering Environment Conference, he was named a Visionary by Within Kingston Magazine and he has been described as “so full of enthusiasm, he looks like he will burst at any moment” by the South Frontenac Natural Environment Committee.

Ellerbeck has appeared in media in Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Montreal and Manitoba. This includes television, radio, newspapers and magazines. He has also been featured in American media in many different states and internationally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Ellerbeck runs numerous online campaigns about snakes to raise awareness. He has also taken in many snakes from neglectful homes and cared for them. These include: anacondas, a Burmese python, a reticulated python, boa constrictors, Amazon tree boas, rear fanged colubrids, several cobras and many more.

And all of this is done in the name of snakes. But you might ask: why should we save the snakes? The answer is simply - snakes are beneficial animals to have around.

Many snakes’ diets consist of insects and rodents. When snake populations decline, the populations of these prey increase, often causing problems for humans, such as: rodent and insect infestations, destroyed crops and spread of unwanted diseases. Snakes keep the number of insects and rodents in check and they do it naturally—without the use of harsh chemicals or pesticides. Also, snakes help save millions of lives every year. Snake venoms are used to treat many serious health problems like cancers, heart and stroke disease, Parkinson’s and many more.

Snakes are our friends, but they are disappearing fast and it is our fault. All of Ontario’s 16 snake species are in decline and over half are federally listed as a Species At Risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Snakes are dying off as a direct result of human beings. Threats such as habitat destruction and road mortality contribute to the loss of snakes, but the largest threat is the deliberate and malicious killings done by fearful people. Unfortunately this fear is undeserved. Many people believe that snakes are aggressive and poisonous. However, this is not true. Snakes are shy and timid and will try to avoid conflict at all costs. They will not make unprovoked attacks on people.

If humans come into contact with a snake, the snake’s first instinct is to flee to shelter. If it can’t do this, it may stay perfectly still to try to blend into its surroundings. And even if it is captured, it still may not resort to biting. It may hiss, make mock strikes with a closed mouth or flail around to try and escape. Snake bites on humans usually only happen when someone is deliberately provoking or harming a snake and they bite in self-defence, and even then they don’t usually inject venom. This is no different than any other animal, including cats and dogs.

So how can you save the snakes?


If you see a snake on the road, help it across. Walking towards it will likely cause it to slither away.
Do not buy snake products of any kind.
Do not use rat poison.
Do not use erosion netting or any similar netting and traps.
Do not catch snakes from the wild for pets.
Do not release captive or exotic snakes into the wild.
Do not support snake charmers or “side show” snake handlers When out in natural areas that snakes frequent, be respectful.
Properly dispose of garbage and recycle.
Do not pick up, handle or capture snakes in the wild, observe only.
Send out positive messages about snakes to people. Keep others informed.

Do what you can to save the snakes. People everywhere are ignorant to the truth about them, but you can help Matt Ellerbeck on his quest to change all of that; “My mission is to educate and inspire people to want to protect snakes and become their stewards.”

If we all follow in his example, the world will be a better place in which snakes everywhere will not have to fear for their lives and we will know better than to fear them.

If you would like to contact Matt Ellerbeck, you may email him at mattellerbeck@live.com or visit his website, www.the-snake-man.com.
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8) New Test for Cryptosporidiosis, an Incurable Disease of Snakes and Lizards From Frank Indiviglio’s Blog That Reptile Place, 11/15/11

A decade or so ago, Cryptosporidiosis became recognized as a major concern in captive snake and lizard collections. Caused by a one-celled parasite known as Cryptosporidium varanii, the disease remains incurable to this day. At the Bronx Zoo, where I worked at the time, tests showed that many snakes already in our collection, along with wild and pet reptiles, might be harboring Cryptosporidium. But diagnosis was difficult and errors were common, resulting in the institution of expensive and time-consuming isolation protocols for new and sick animals. So I was happy to learn of a newly devised test that ensures early, accurate diagnosis of Cryptosporidium…it will surely prove useful to pet keepers and zoos alike.

Crypto and the Pet Trade

A number of factors render Cryptosporidiosis as a major concern, including the popularity of reptile pets and the fact that the parasite can be transferred to people. While not often of major concern to healthy adults, Crypto, as it came to be known, is a danger to immune-compromised individuals (please see article below). A recent survey of 672 pets revealed that 1 in 6 of the Corn Snakes and 1 in 12 of the Leopard Geckos tested harbored Crypto in one form or another.

Crypto is the most common cause of a Leopard Gecko ailment popularly known as “Stick Tail Disease”. The parasite dwells in the small intestine, where it prevents proper absorption of food; various bacteria to take hold as well, due perhaps to damage inflicted on the intestinal walls. Loose stools and weakness follow, and the gecko’s thick tail (which stores fat) wastes away to a mere “stick”. Crypto has caused similar problems in Gila monsters, monitors, chameleons and other species.

Crypto is passed in the feces (in a form known as an oocyst) and can remain alive for years until a host is found. Oocysts are difficult to kill other than by steam, undiluted ammonia and certain disinfectants not generally available to hobbyists.

Crypto in Zoo Animals and Wild Populations

Declining populations of many snakes and lizards makes zoo-based breeding programs all-the-more vital. However, Crypto is incurable; the many zoo animals that now harbor it must be isolated, and cannot be bred as the young will likely be infected as well.

The Importance of the New Test

The first Crypto tests, based on fecal samples, were unreliable because the parasite often appeared sporadically, or in minute populations, and so was easy to miss. Also, related parasites infect the foods eaten by snakes and lizards, and distinguishing between the species of Cryptosporidium present was nearly impossible.

Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna have recently devised a DNA-based test that quickly and accurately reveals the presence of Cryptosporidium parasites (please see article below). The test also allows one to determine whether the parasite is present in the snake or lizard, or entered via the animal’s food.

Caring for Crypto-Positive Reptiles

Early detection is important because there are medications, such as Paromomycin, that can keep Crypto populations low enough to allow the infected reptile to survive. However, treatment is only effective if instituted within a certain time frame.

Crypto-positive reptiles cannot be cured at this time, and will require lifelong treatment and special care. Dr. Kevin Wright of the Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital has written an excellent paper on this subject (please see below); please read it to learn more about caring for such animals and preventing Crypto transmission.
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 50 11/23/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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A TWO FOR ONE DEAL
Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of “Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
AND
Help Diamondback Terrapins - Paraphrasing From Russ Burke the scientist in charge of the terrapin project at Jamaica Bay, NYC.
Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase on iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the very bottom of this newsletter and you find three ways how.
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Table of Contents

1) TURTLE TV is here,
2) Post-doctoral Position at Virginia Tech- Part of large, collaborative project involving multiple labs that will elucidate the community structure and function relationships of symbiotic skin microbes on amphibian hosts along a gradient of chytrid fungus exposure in Panama.
3) Northward Shifts of the Distributions of Spanish Reptiles in Association with Climate Change
4) FrogLog 99 (Regional focus Martime Southeast Asia and Oceania)
5) Long thought extinct, Hula painted frog found once again in Israeli nature reserve- Rare find is akin to the Dead Sea Scrolls of nature conservation.
6) Reward Offered for Sighting of South Florida Rainbow Snake -Feds May Have Prematurely Declared Species Extinct; Reward Intended to Spur Rediscovery, Protection
7) Lizard Societies – Great Desert Skink Families Build Communal Homes
8) Snake Toxin Reveals Pain Clues - Venom from the Texas coral snake causes intense pain by targeting acid-sensing ion channels, providing researchers with potential new targets for pain therapies.
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NEW DISCOUNT HERP BOOKSTORE

Eagle Mountain Publishing recently opened a new division of the company called Cheap Herp Books, and is offering a large selection of herpetological books, reprints, and magazines at discount prices. Nearly all of the items are new or in “like-new” condition.

With the holidays fast approaching, this might be a good time to browse through their inventory and find a gift for that special someone.

Eagle Mountain has pledged to donate a percentage of all the sales resulting from this ad to HerpDigest. WHEN PLACING AN ORDER, THEREFORE, PLEASE BE SURE TO MENTION HERPDIGEST AND THAT YOU SAW THIS D; THE SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR FUTURE ORDERS.

Their web address is: www.CheapHerpBooks.com __________________________________________________________________
1) TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper) TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.
and more.
Like official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only for a donation of $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

(No turtles were hurt during the filming of this video.) _______________________________________________________________________
2) Post-doctoral Position at Virginia Tech- Part of large, collaborative project involving multiple labs that will elucidate the community structure and function relationships of symbiotic skin microbes on amphibian hosts along a gradient of chytrid fungus exposure in Panama.

Position Summary:

An NSF funded postdoctoral position is available in the lab of Dr. Lisa Belden in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech. This is a large, collaborative project involving multiple labs that will elucidate the community structure and function relationships of symbiotic skin microbes on amphibian hosts along a gradient of chytrid fungus exposure in Panama. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the completion of the proposed objectives in Panama, and for generating and carrying out additional collaborative studies that augment the goals of the grant. The incumbent will be expected to submit manuscripts based on the research to peer-reviewed journals and to present the results at national and international scientific meetings. The incumbent will also be responsible for mentoring current graduate and undergraduate students. Candidates with a strong field background must be willing to learn laboratory techniques. Candidates with a strong lab backgroun!
d must be willing to spend time in the field working with amphibians. Position includes a competitive salary and fringe benefits.

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. degree in biology, ecology, microbiology or a related field, with demonstrated experience in tropical field biology or molecular microbial ecology, demonstrated motivation and strong work habits, the ability to work independently as well as with a research group, and demonstrated ability to produce publications based on individual research. Prior field-work with amphibians, fluency in Spanish, knowledge of disease ecology, experience with next-gen sequencing technologies and bioinformatics, and experience successfully mentoring undergraduate students in research are desired.

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and statement of interest upon applying online at www.jobs.vt.edu (posting # 0111209). Three letters of recommendation should be sent via email directly to Dr. Lisa Belden (belden@vt.edu). If have any questions regarding this position, please contact the search chair, Dr. Lisa Belden at belden@vt.edu, 540-231-2505.

Review of applications will begin December 19, 2010.

Belden lab website: http://www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/belden/index.html
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3) Northward Shifts of the Distributions of Spanish Reptiles in Association with Climate Change Conservation Biology Article first published online: 18 NOV 2011 GREGORIO MORENO-RUEDA1, JUAN M. PLEGUEZUELOS2, MANUEL PIZARRO2, ALBERT MONTORI3

Author Information
1 Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), La Cañada de San Urbano, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, E-04120, Almería, Spain, email gmr@eeza.csic.es
2 Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, E-18071, Granada, Spain
3 Departamento de Biologia Animal (Vertebrats), Edifici Ramon Margalef, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: It is predicted that climate change will drive extinctions of some reptiles and that the number of these extinctions will depend on whether reptiles are able to change their distribution. Whether the latitudinal distribution of reptiles may change in response to increases in temperature is unknown. We used data on reptile distributions collected during the 20th century to analyze whether changes in the distributions of reptiles in Spain are associated with increases in temperature. We controlled for biases in sampling effort and found a mean, statistically significant, northward shift of the northern extent of reptile distributions of about 15.2 km from 1940–1975 to 1991–2005. The southern extent of the distributions did not change significantly. Thus, our results suggest that the latitudinal distributions of reptiles may be changing in response to climate change.
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4) FrogLog 99 (Regional focus Martime Southeast Asia and Oceania) is now available at http://www.amphibians.org/blog/2011/11/17/froglog-99/
A couple additional notes:

The Sabin Award for Amphibian Conservation is now open for nominations please see this edition of FrogLog or our website for more details http://www.amphibians.org/asg/grants/ .

If you are interested in submitting an article to FrogLog please contact James P. Lewis at jplewis@amphibians.org. Article guidelines are included towards the back of the current edition. Please do not hesitate to contact him if you have any questions or comments regarding FrogLog or the work of the ASG.

The upcoming schedule for FrogLog is as follows:
January 2012 - South America
March 2012 - Europe, North Africa and West Asia May 2012 - North and Central America and the Caribbean July 2012 – Sub-Saharan Africa September 2012 - Mainland Asia November 2012 - Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania

Please feel free to send this email out to your friends and co-workers and if you are not on the ASG mailing list but would like to be added please email James (at jplewis@amphibians.org) with the subject heading “add me to mailing list”. ________________________________________________________________________
5) Long thought extinct, Hula painted frog found once again in Israeli nature reserve- Rare find is akin to the Dead Sea Scrolls of nature conservation.
By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz.com 11/21/11---Nature and Parks Authority warden Yoram Malka set out

Tuesday for a routine patrol to monitor the birds in the Hula Nature Reserve, but he was also keeping his sharp eyes peeled for a specific type of frog.

Malka had previously promised the scientists researching the reserve that he would once again locate the Hula painted frog, a species of frog that was unique to Israel and was thought to have become extinct more than 50 years ago. This week he kept his promise.

"I saw something jump that didn't look familiar," said Malka. "I rushed over and caught a frog, and when I turned it over I saw that it had a black belly with white spots, the identifying mark of the painted frog. I immediately returned [with it] to the reserve's office and took out the animal handbook, and I saw that what I had found look exactly like the painted frog that appears in the handbook."

Malka's discovery shocked conservationists and scientists who deal with this field in Israel. The Hula painted frog had been one of the primary symbols of natural extinction in Israel after it had disappeared following the drying of Lake Hula in the 1950s.

Dr. Sarig Gafni of Ruppin Academic Center's School of Marine Sciences, an expert in amphibians, was immediately summoned to the reserve, and he arrived with the original scientific paper from 1940 in which the Hula painted frog was described.

"We went through the article, sign by sign, and checked all the indicators, including the distance between the eyes, and it is indeed a Hula Painted Frog," said Gafni. "It's very exciting; to me it's like finding the Dead Sea Scrolls of nature conservation in Israel. We must remember that in the past, only three adult samples of this species had ever been found."

According to Dr. Dana Milstein, an ecologist with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the rare frog got its Hebrew name - agulashon shehor-gahon - from its black belly and round tongue, which, unlike that of other frogs, is not used to catch prey.

For years Israeli researchers have been trying to locate the frog, searching in and around every spring and streambed in the area where the Hula marshes were dried up, but without success. Thus it was assumed that the act of drying up the Hula and the destruction of other natural habitats through pollution and development had sealed the fate of this unique species.

Milstein believes that the frog's discovery is linked to environmental improvements in the Hula reserve.
"In recent years, the water quality has improved, after they started to pour water from fish ponds and nearby springs into the reserve," she said.

The IPNA's next mission is to determine whether there are more frogs aside from the one discovered, which is apparently female.

The fate of the captured frog has yet to be determined. Gafni hopes to be able to return it to the wild as quickly as possible.

To see a photo of the frog , go to http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/ne ... -1.396000#

Update: The rare frog is currently held in an artificial environment in the Hula reserve. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority will invite senior researchers in the field to contribute and to learn about this species, in order to implement the data for the benefit of conserving the specie in nature and preform more survey. In the end of the weeks to come the Israel Nature and Parks Authority will make special tours in the Hula reserve in order to display the discovery to the public. More details in the information center of The Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
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6) Reward Offered for Sighting of South Florida Rainbow Snake -Feds May Have Prematurely Declared Species Extinct; Reward Intended to Spur Rediscovery, Protection

For Immediate Release, -November 22, 2011 TAMPA, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Snake Conservation announced today that they are offering a $500 reward for the first person to document the existence of the South Florida rainbow snake. Both conservation organizations believe that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month prematurely declared the species extinct without conducting targeted surveys and despite several unconfirmed sightings.

“Declaring the South Florida rainbow snake extinct without adequate search effort is scientifically irresponsible,” said Cameron Young, executive director of the Center for Snake Conservation. “We hope that by offering a reward, we can rediscover this amazing reptile and implement conservation measures to ensure its survival into the future.”

The South Florida rainbow snake is a harmless aquatic snake that feeds exclusively on the American eel. It is known from just three specimens, the last of which was collected in 1952 near Fisheating Creek in Glades County, Fla. In early October, the Service declared the snake extinct, thereby denying it protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Service made its determination without conducting any focused surveys for the reclusive reptile and despite anecdotal evidence of snakes eating eels in the Fisheating Creek area.

“It’s heart-wrenching to think the South Florida rainbow snake could be lost forever,” said Collette Adkins Giese, a Center for Biological Diversity attorney focused on the protection of imperiled reptiles and amphibians. “But if we can find these snakes, they’d be very likely to get protection under the Endangered Species Act — the most powerful tool in the country for saving plants and animals from extinction.”

The Service announced the extinction of the South Florida rainbow snake in response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the snake and more than 400 other aquatic species in the southeastern United States. If rediscovered, the rainbow snake would receive an in-depth scientific review along with 374 species from the petition (including 114 in Florida), which the Service found may warrant protection under Act.

Background

The South Florida rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma seminola) is a subspecies of rainbow snake known only from a single population in Fisheating Creek, which flows into the western side of Lake Okeechobee. Fisheating Creek remains relatively pristine and could still support the snakes. But potential habitat in other parts of Florida has been severely degraded by channelization and pollution, especially agricultural runoff. The snake is believed to be nearly entirely aquatic and active only at night, making detection difficult without extensive and specialized survey effort, although there were multiple unconfirmed sightings of the snake in the late 1980s. It’s a beautiful animal, with three red stripes along its iridescent bluish-black back and a belly that is yellow and red with black spots on each scale. Adult snakes can be over four feet long.

Snakes and other reptiles are among the most imperiled vertebrate species on the planet. Globally, nearly one-quarter of all evaluated reptile species are endangered or vulnerable to extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s 2011 Red List. Also, scientists currently lack sufficient information to assess the status of nearly 20 percent of the world’s reptiles. Many species are disappearing faster than scientists can study them.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 320,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
The Center for Snake Conservation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the conservation of snakes and their natural ecosystems and implement positive change in human attitudes towards snakes.

Contact:
Collette Adkins Giese, Center for Biological Diversity, (651) 955-3821 Cameron A. Young, Center for Snake Conservation, (770) 500-0000 _______________________________________________________________________
7) Lizard Societies – Great Desert Skink Families Build Communal Homes From Frank Indiviglio’s blog “The Reptile Blog. This article with photo is at http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatrepti ... nal-homes/

Twenty of the world’s 5,000+ lizard species have been shown to live in family groups (i.e. the Prehensile Tailed Skink, Corucia zebrata, and the USA’s Desert Night Lizard, Xantusia vigilis). Field studies have now revealed that one social lizard – Great Desert Skink or Tjakura, Liopholis kintorei – actually constructs complex, long-term dwellings and lives in extended family groups. Native to the red sand plains of central Australia, it is the only lizard known to exhibit such highly-evolved social behavior.
Natural History and Conservation

The Great Desert Skink is stoutly-built, much like the familiar Blue-Tongued Skink (please see photo) and sports rust to burnt-orange coloration that closely matches the red sands in which it lives; its Aboriginal name, Mulyamiji, means “red nose”.

The diet is comprised largely of beetles, spiders and other invertebrates, with termites being an important food source for part of their active season. Small snakes, lizards and some vegetation are also taken. Please click here to view a photo of this most attractive lizard.

The Great Desert Skink’s range has greatly decreased in recent years, and it is classified as Vulnerable by the Australian Government (please see article below for conservation plan).

Skink “Towns”

The degree of social behavior exhibited by the Great Desert Skink is unprecedented among lizards, and has shocked the herpetological community. Researchers from Macquarie University and Parks Australia have discovered that families comprised of a breeding pair and several generations of offspring cooperatively build complex tunnel systems which are occupied for at least 7 years.

Their subterranean homes have up to 20 entrances and separate latrine areas, and may cover an area spanning 50 feet or more. Tunnel construction and maintenance duties are carried out by family members based upon size, with the largest individuals doing most of the “heavy lifting”…all seem to contribute some effort, however.

Mate Fidelity and Family Ties

Mated pairs of Great Desert Skinks remain together for years. Females seem to copulate only with their mate, but 40% of male skinks father young “outside” of their primary relationship. The young are born alive and remain within the tunnel system of their birth, with their parents and siblings, for several years. How and when they disperse and breed is being investigated.

Biologists hope that further studies of Great Desert Skink communities will reveal insights into the evolution of social behavior in reptiles and other creatures.
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8) Snake Toxin Reveals Pain Clues - Venom from the Texas coral snake causes intense pain by targeting acid-sensing ion channels, providing researchers with potential new targets for pain therapies.
By Tia Ghose | November 16, 2011

Texas coral snake Wikimedia Commons, LA Dawson/Austin Reptile Service

The Texas coral snake’s bite rarely kills, but it can cause intense, persistent pain. Delving into the mechanism underlying the reptile’s vicious venom, researchers have discovered two chemicals that combine and stimulate ion channels previously thought to respond mainly to acid levels, according to a paper published today (November 16) in Nature.

“It’s a new paradigm in thinking,” said neuroscientist Kenton Swartz of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, who was not involved in the study. “There are all these interesting ion channel toxins in venom, but in this case it’s two different molecules that have to interact with each other first before they can alter the ion channel.” By studying the venom and how its toxins mediate pain pathways in the snakes’ victims, researchers may be able to gain new insights into pain perception and possible targets for pain management.

Researchers are interested in teasing out how natural toxins work because they often reveal hidden biological pathways for sensing pain, activating nerves, or regulating heart function, which can lead to new ways to blunt pain, said David Julius, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco.
Julius and his team decided to test snake venoms because of their particularly intense pain response. The team applied samples of several different venoms to mouse neurons and measured how strongly the nerves fired as a result. The most robust response came from the venom of the Texas coral snake, a shy but potentially dangerous snake that lives in forested areas of the southern United States.

Testing the activity of each chemical in the venom, the researchers found that no single chemical on its own caused a response. Slightly stumped, the researchers “took the leap of faith that maybe there’s two components in the venom that act together,” Swartz said. Sure enough, the team found two compounds that formed a complex, which in turn elicited neuronal firing.

The team added the complex to sensory neurons and measured the flow of ions through different channels on the membrane. The toxins caused ions to flow through acid-sensing channels, which, as their name suggests, open or close in response to the pH of the cellular environment. While acid-sensing channels have previously been tied to pain caused by oxygen deprivation in heart tissue, no one had shown that the channels played such a key role in broader pain response before, Julius said.
To confirm that the involvement of the acid-sensing channels in pain in live organisms, the researchers injected the snake toxin into the paws of mice, and the paws shook in pain. Mice engineered to lack this channel, on the other hand, showed no evidence of being in pain, providing “strong evidence for the role of this channel in pain pathways,” Swartz said.

The results could be used to develop new pain medicines, by blocking acid sensing channels or interfering with other chemicals that may activate them, he added. “Any identification of molecules in new pain pathways opens up the possibility of developing drugs that target them as pain therapies.”



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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 51 11/29/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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A TWO FOR ONE DEAL
Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of “Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
AND
Help Diamondback Terrapins - Paraphrasing From Russ Burke the scientist in charge of the terrapin project at Jamaica Bay, NYC.
Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase on iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the very bottom of this newsletter and you find three ways how.
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The MAGNETS are still being given out in return for a min donation of $24.00 or more. (4 magnets) Please also tell us 3 alternative magnets. (We are already out of Green Iguanas and Leather back sea turtles) You can order with credit card through Paypal even if you don’t belong see info on donation page of website. And no need to go to flickr to see the magnets they are all on the donation page of the HerpDigest website.
And don’t stop at $24.00 round up to $30.00 get another magnet. $6.00 for each additional magnet, Free S&H - except not in US contact us. asalzberg@herpdigest.org __________________________________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents

1) COMPLETE HOLBROOK VOLUMES ONLINE
2) PCBs Eating Away at Turtles- Chemicals that have lingered in the environment for decades may be eating away at the bones of turtles and, maybe, us.
3) Jellyfish may be helping leatherback sea turtles make a comeback
4) Bill Nelson's effort to ban interstate python trade concerns Fla. wildlife officials
5) Herbicide Atrazine Spurs Reproductive Problems in Many Creatures, Report Finds
6) Florida looks to ease alligator hunting law
7) Rare salamander, other species prompt state questions (Hellbender) __________________________________________________________________________
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator is still available. See near end of this newsletter for information. ___________________________________________________________________________
TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper) TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.
and more.
Like official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only for a donation of $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

(No turtles were hurt during the filming of this video.) _____________________________________________________________________
NEW DISCOUNT HERP BOOKSTORE

Eagle Mountain Publishing recently opened a new division of the company called Cheap Herp Books, and is offering a large selection of herpetological books, reprints, and magazines at discount prices. Nearly all of the items are new or in “like-new” condition.

With the holidays fast approaching, this might be a good time to browse through their inventory and find a gift for that special someone.

Eagle Mountain has pledged to donate a percentage of all the sales resulting from this ad to HerpDigest. WHEN PLACING AN ORDER, THEREFORE, PLEASE BE SURE TO MENTION HERPDIGEST AND THAT YOU SAW THIS D; THE SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR FUTURE ORDERS.

Their web address is: www.CheapHerpBooks.com __________________________________________________________________
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1) COMPLETE HOLBROOK VOLUMES ONLINE

Full scans of all the works of John Edward Holbrook, the Father of North American Herpetology, including both the first and second editions of his NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY, are available through the Biodiversity Heritage Library. This includes the plates.

To access these works, go to

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/creator/4224

*****

Thanks to CNAH and Dr. Peter Paul van Dijk, Director of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program at Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia, for bringing this link to our attention.
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2) PCBs Eating Away at Turtles- Chemicals that have lingered in the environment for decades may be eating away at the bones of turtles and, maybe, us.
By Eily Sohn, Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:59 PM ET THE GIST

Exposure to PCBs leads to stunted growth and low bone-density in turtles.
Turtle bones grow like human bones do, and enough exposure to PCBs might harm us in similar ways.
PCBs have been long banned but they remain ubiquitous in the environment.

When exposed to certain levels of PCBs, turtles suffer from stunted growth and weak bones, found a new study.

With low bone-density, turtles have a tougher time diving, swimming and chewing their food. And the same is probably true for fish and other wild animals that are exposed to the ubiquitous environmental pollutant.

It's too soon to know what the results mean for people, and our level of exposure is probably much lower than what some turtles experience. But there is reason to believe that the shelled creatures might be sentinels for human health.

"There have been a few published studies done in Nordic countries that correlated individuals who consume a lot of fish with increased incidence of hip fractures," said Dawn Holliday, a physiological ecologist at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

"Turtles make and break bone through a very similar process that mammals and humans do," she added. “If humans were exposed at similar concentrations, it might be relevant.”
PCBs, which were once commonly used in pesticides and a wide variety of industrial fluids, have been banned for decades. But with very slow breakdown times, they are still widespread in the environment, particularly in more developed areas.

In fish, birds, minks and other creatures, PCBs have been linked with slower growth rates, particularly in young animals and developing embryos. Studies have also connected exposure to the chemical with tumors in mink jaws and deformed heads in zebrafish. Exposed adult animals tend to suffer from immune system and related problems.

Holliday and colleague Casey Holliday, who is also her husband, had previously found that PCB exposure caused the metabolisms of turtles to slow down, making them sluggish and less able to turn their food into energy.

To see if turtle bones, too, might be at risk from chemical exposure, the researchers collected diamondback terrapin eggs from the wild, hatched them in the lab, and raised them on frozen brine shrimp.

After eight months to ensure the animals were growing normally, the scientists injected some of the turtles with a dose of PCB 126 that was equivalent to what they might encounter in an urban lake or river. Other turtles got a placebo injection.

Six months later, the researchers reported in the journal Aquatic Toxicology, the shells of the PCB-injected group had grown just one millimeter (0.04-inch) in length, compared to 10 mm (0.4 inches) in the uncontaminated turtles.

"It was such a big difference that you could see it," Dawn Holliday said. "You didn't have to get out a ruler to measure them."

The PCB group also had widespread patches of bone that were not mineralized, while the pollution-free turtles had strong, hard bones. Like dioxins and BPA, PCBs seem to interfere with hormone activity, Holliday said.

The chemicals also appear to disrupt cell growth and differentiation, said Don Tillitt, an environmental toxicologist with the United States Geological Survey in Columbia, Missouri.

Linking illnesses and deformations in wild animal with specific chemicals can be extremely difficult to do, Tillit said. Lab studies like this one add important details that can eventually help scientists both solve and prevent environmental mysteries.

"Every time they make progress in better understanding the adverse effects of chemicals like PCBs, and PCBs in particular," he said, "it quite often helps with ecological risk assessments and how we set regulatory limits for cleaning up sites."

The study is also a reminder that animal deaths aren’t the only sign that something is wrong in the environment.

"When we see effects like this, we know there are things that are maybe more insidious," Tillit said. "It's a good reminder that we have to be on guard."
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3) Jellyfish may be helping leatherback sea turtles make a comeback Massive blooms of jellyfish are big source of food for endangered turtles

By Ludmilla Lelis, Orlando Sentinel
11:06 p.m. EST, November 25, 2011

It's the annual bane of beachgoers: massive "blooms" of jellyfish. This past summer, when the blooms hit Volusia and Brevard counties, thousands of ocean swimmers felt their sting.

But researchers say the very creatures that are such a nuisance to people could be fueling the comeback of one of Florida's endangered species: the leatherback sea turtle.

The largest of the marine reptiles, leatherbacks used to be rare visitors to Florida shores. But over the past two decades, the number of nests dug at Florida beaches has been increasing. This year's count is 600 nests, one of the highest ever at beaches tracked for long-term trends. Nest counts are the main method of assessing sea-turtle population trends.

This success story of sea-turtle conservation has a possible twist, said Kelly Stewart, a researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. When jellyfish are abundant, the leatherbacks have a veritable feast, which could help the female turtles reproduce more often.

"Jellyfish, and any gelatinous species, are the preferred food source for leatherback sea turtles," said Stewart, who completed her doctoral thesis at Duke University on these turtle trends. "So, if there are more jellyfish, that may not be good for people, but is good for the leatherbacks."

Jellyfish aren't really fish but gelatinous creatures related to corals. There are more than 1,000 species around the world, and they have a familiar, umbrella-like body and tentacles. Most have the ability to sting their prey, but their main predators, such as leatherback turtles, seem to be immune to the venom.

In recent years, there have been giant blooms around the world, including several cases involving a jellyfish species that is foreign to an area. Cocoa Beach had such a phenomenon over the Memorial Day weekend with an invasion of mauve stingers, a deep ocean jellyfish that is rare in Florida but common in the Mediterranean.

Although there is some evidence that the blooms are increasing in size and frequency, it's difficult to be sure because there aren't a lot of data on the history of blooms, according to a University of Washington study.

Stewart said a connection between more jellyfish and more leatherback nests needs further study but offers a possible explanation for the resurgence of the turtles.

Ranked as an endangered species, leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles and the only ones lacking a hard shell. In the late 1990s, leatherback nest numbers started to climb dramatically, with some Florida beaches seeing annual increases of as much as 16 percent, Stewart said.

Also, the turtle, which historically nested only in South Florida, has been digging nests farther north. Volusia County, for example, rarely saw a leatherback nest 20 years ago but this year had 13, a record. A leatherback turtle that had been tagged with a satellite tracker even dug a nest in North Carolina after digging nests in Florida, Stewart said.

"It is a remarkable increase, and one of the marvels of sea turtles," said Anne Meylan, research administrator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A co-author of Stewart's study, she credits strong efforts to protect nesting beaches and better monitoring.

However, the study found that nests were increasing even in other countries where the protections are weaker. Stewart said she thinks that means the increases relate to what's happening to turtles in the Atlantic as they travel.

That turtles are reaping a benefit from jellyfish feasts would make sense because of the need for females to fatten up to reproduce. Sea turtles typically nest only every few years, building energy reserves during non-nesting seasons. A typical nest contains 100 or so eggs, and turtles often dig two or three nests a season — all of which quickly depletes the reserves, Stewart said.

But if leatherback turtles have plenty of jellyfish to eat, they may be able to fatten up quicker and reproduce more often, she said. "These nesting cycles can be reduced if they don't have a limit on their food supply."
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4) Bill Nelson's effort to ban interstate python trade concerns Fla. wildlife officials By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post- November 26, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH—
The good intentions of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson to help control the invasion of Burmese pythons in the Everglades has Florida wildlife officials slightly cringing.

Nelson sent a single-page letter to President Obama on Thursday urging him to speed up the process for including the Burmese python and five other pythons roaming around South Florida on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's list of injurious species. That would trigger a ban on the import and interstate trade of the giant constrictors.

"These dangerous snakes have killed people including an innocent child, devoured endangered species and most recently, a Burmese python consumed a 76-pound adult deer," Nelson wrote in the letter. "Further delay is unacceptable and the consequences could be fatal."

While wildlife officials are all for eradicating the wild snakes, they say the unintended consequences of banning the import and interstate trade could lead to even more of the snakes being dumped in the wild by shady dealers stuck with an inventory of worthless snakes.

"We certainly have a concern, in the event they are put on the injurious list, of what would happen to the inventory of the commercial guys," said Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "We have seen cases when animals go on the injurious list and then all of a sudden you find them in the wrong place."

Last year Florida dealers and breeders lost much of their in-state business when it became illegal to acquire the six species of pythons as pets after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission listed them as a conditional species.

Floridians who already owned pet pythons could keep them, but only reptile dealers, researchers and public exhibitors could apply for a permit to import or possess new pythons.

If pythons are further regulated and placed on the federal injurious species list, commercial dealers and breeders will not be able to sell and ship their snakes to buyers in other states, leaving them to figure out how to dispose of their pythons.

While most dealers are "trying to do the right thing," and would not release their snakes in the wild, "it certainly could happen with some of the marginal dealers," Hardin said.

David Barkasy and his wife, Katie Barkasy, are license dealers who have been selling reptiles for more than 20 years. Although the Barkasys do not breed pythons, they said their business ReptilesToGo.com in Myakka City would take at least a 10 percent hit if they cannot buy, sell and ship pythons out of Florida.

"Nationwide this is going to affect a lot of people," Barkasy said. "It's going to have a big impact."

As for dealers' inventory of pythons, if the injurious designation goes into effect, some will let them go in the wild and others will kill them, Barkasy said.

The FWC has no plans for getting rid of the dealers' unwanted snakes. The fate of the pythons "wouldn't be within our purview necessarily," Hardin said.

However, the commission does host non-native pet amnesty days, which allow pet owners to surrender their non-native amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, invertebrates and reptiles at specific locations throughout the state at no charge and with no penalties.

Since the first pythons were spotted in the wild in Florida in the 1980s, captures, hunting and escapes have grabbed headlines around the world. Although the exact number of pythons in the wild is not known, the U.S. Geological Survey has estimated between 5,000 and 100,000 in the Everglades.

The South Florida Water Management District petitioned the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to include the Burmese python as an injurious wildlife species in June 2006. As the district waited for approval, the number of pythons captured rose dramatically, from 170 in 2006 to 367 in 2009.

The district's petition went to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which held public hearings and developed a draft rule. The draft rule went to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, where it has sat for nearly nine months.

"In total, the rule-making process has taken almost five years and in that time, over 100,000 more giant constrictor snakes have entered the U.S.," Nelson wrote. "And until these animals are listed as injurious, they will continue to flow into the country unabated."

But the injurious listing could also encourage smuggling and illegal sales.

"A well-regulated trade is preferable to a black market," Hardin said. "We hope we can have conservation with flexibility and that it is equitable."

Are efforts to get rid of the snakes working? Hardin believes freezing temperatures earlier this year killed many snakes.

The more aggressive African Rock python is nearly 95 percent eradicated, he said.

"There are fewer pythons than there were three years ago," Hardin said. "I think we really have gotten better about knowing where to look."
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5) Herbicide Atrazine Spurs Reproductive Problems in Many Creatures, Report Finds

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2011) — An international team of researchers has reviewed the evidence linking exposure to atrazine -- an herbicide widely used in the U.S. and more than 60 other nations -- to reproductive problems in animals. The team found consistent patterns of reproductive dysfunction in amphibians, fish, reptiles and mammals exposed to the chemical.

Atrazine is the second-most widely used herbicide in the U.S. More than 75 million pounds of it are applied to corn and other crops, and it is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of groundwater, surface water and rain in the U.S.

The new review, compiled by 22 scientists studying atrazine in North and South America, Europe and Japan, appears in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The researchers looked at studies linking atrazine exposure to abnormal androgen (male hormone) levels in fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals and studies that found a common association between exposure to the herbicide and the "feminization" of male gonads in many animals.

The most robust findings are in amphibians, said University of Illinois comparative biosciences professor Val Beasley, a co-author of the review. At least 10 studies found that exposure to atrazine feminizes male frogs, sometimes to the point of sex reversal, he said.

Beasley's lab was one of the first to find that male frogs exposed to atrazine in the wild were more likely to have both male and female gonadal tissue than frogs living in an atrazine-free environment. And in a 2010 study, Tyrone Hayes, a professor of integrative biology at the University of California at Berkeley and lead author of the review, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that atrazine exposure in frogs was associated with "genetic males becoming females and functioning as females," Beasley said.

"And this is not at extremely high concentrations," he said. "These are at concentrations that are found in the environment."

The new review describes the disruptions of hormone function and sexual development reported in studies of mammals, frogs, fish, reptiles and human cells exposed to the herbicide. The studies found that atrazine exposure can change the expression of genes involved in hormone signaling, interfere with metamorphosis, inhibit key enzymes that control estrogen and androgen production, skew the sex ratio of wild and laboratory animals (toward female) and otherwise disrupt the normal reproductive development and functioning of males and females.

"One of the things that became clear in writing this paper is that atrazine works through a number of different mechanisms," Hayes said. "It's been shown that it increases production of (the stress hormone) cortisol. It's been shown that it inhibits key enzymes in steroid hormone production while increasing others. It's been shown that it somehow prevents androgen from binding to its receptor."
The review also consolidates the evidence that atrazine undermines immune function in a variety of animals, in part by increasing cortisol.

"Cortisol is a nonspecific response to chronic stress," Beasley said. "But guess what? Wildlife in many of today's habitats are stressed a great deal of the time. They're stressed because they're crowded into little remnant habitats. They're stressed because there's not enough oxygen in the water because there are not enough plants in the water (another consequence of herbicide use). They're stressed because of other contaminants in the water. And the long-term release of cortisol causes them to be immuno-suppressed."

There also are studies that show no effects -- or different effects -- in animals exposed to atrazine, Beasley said. "But the studies are not all the same. There are different species, different times of exposure, different stages of development and different strains within a species." All in all, he said, the evidence that atrazine harms animals, particularly amphibians and other creatures that encounter it in the water, is compelling.

"I hope this will stimulate policymakers to look at the totality of the data and ask very broad questions," Hayes said. "Do we want this stuff in our environment? Do we want -- knowing what we know -- our children to drink this stuff? I would think the answer would be no."
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6) Florida looks to ease alligator hunting law By David Fleshler Sun-Sentinel Staff Writer, Monday, Nov. 28, 2011

A generation after Florida reopened alligator hunting, state wildlife managers plan their first review ever of the law that has allowed thousands to pursue the state's most famous reptile with gaffs, bangsticks and harpoons.

Alligator hunting resumed in 1988, after this former endangered species rebounded so vigorously that it was showing up in backyards, parking lots and playgrounds. The number of alligators killed - and transformed into gator nuggets, shoes and wallets - rose steadily as quotas expanded, from 2,551 in 2000 to 7,736 last year.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, at its most recent meeting, authorized its staff to begin working on a package of amendments to the alligator hunting law to be presented to the state Legislature. Harry Dutton, coordinator of the alligator management program, said the review may simply streamline a statute that was probably overloaded with rules because of the sensitivity of hunting a former endangered species.

"It was a time when the alligator was just considered fully recovered and there was a lot of concern," he said. "It's been 23 years now. It's probably long overdue."


Charles Lee, advocacy director for Audubon of Florida, said the alligator appears to have stood up well. But he said the population remains too low in some regions, including possibly the Everglades.
And he said the tendency of hunters to go for trophy prey has deprived many parts of the state of the huge, decades-old alligators that had been a part of Florida's natural heritage.

"They are an iconic feature of the natural landscape, so I lament the areas I go to where these big, grandfather alligators have been snuffed out," he said. "They're pretty rare these days, and I think hunters had something to do with that."

Under the current hunting program, the state establishes quotas for different lakes, rivers and regions to prevent excessive hunting in particular areas.

A drawing is held for permits, with more than 6,000 issued for the statewide hunt that ran from Aug. 15 through Nov. 1. Each permit holder may kill up to two alligators.

The hunt is tightly controlled, with tags and forms required for each kill.

Al Hernandez, a Dania Beach electrical contractor who has been hunting alligators for about 12 years, said the state's hunting program appears to have made little dent in alligator populations.
"When I go up the Kissimmee River I see easily 100 gators," he said. "On Lake Okeechobee some nights I see 50 or 60."

Hernandez hunts after midnight, when the alligators are hunting. On one occasion, he encountered a 10-footer consuming a smaller alligator. "You could hear the crunching of the bones," he said.
On a recent hunt on Lake Okeechobee, he saw a nine-footer head out to hunt. He brought his boat behind the gator, and when it turned he snagged it with a hook, used a bangstick to fire a shotgun charge into its brain and - just to be safe - severed its spine at the neck.

He takes his gators to a processing plant that yields gator cubes, which he deep fries with Cajun seasoning.

There are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida swamps, rivers and lakes, with the number fairly stable over the past few years, Dutton said.

Nuisance alligator complaints are up sharply over the past 20 years - from 11,965 in 1991 to 14,418 last year - although they're down from their peak of 18,307 in 2006.

Dutton said the review may result in the removal of extra rules that aren't applied to game animals such as deer. For example, the review may remove the rule requiring minors hunting with a parent to have a separate license, he said. And it may remove the lifetime ban imposed on anyone with a poaching violation.

But he said the review was unlikely to result in an increase or decrease in hunting.

The review will begin with internal staff work as well as public outreach sessions. The aim is to bring proposals late next year to the wildlife commission, a seven-member board appointed by the governor. If the commission approves the proposals, they would go to the state Legislature in 2014.
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7) Rare salamander, other species prompt state questions (Hellbender) Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011By SAMMY FRETWELL - fretwell@thestate.com">sfretwell@thestate.com, from the State.com

No one knows much about hellbenders in South Carolina, but recent federal action has focused attention on whether the big salamanders need special protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The slithering amphibians are among 46 plants and animals being studied in South Carolina for possible listing under the law.

But while environmentalists say the review will help save many dwindling species, state wildlife officials say the federal initiative comes with a price.

Protecting many of these species could restrict development on private land and cost the state a pile of money, say officials with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. One DNR estimate placed the cost in the millions of dollars, although state officials note that it’s too early to say definitively.

“We don’t know for sure yet what is going to happen,” DNR board chairwoman Caroline Rhodes said. “But the expectation is that if these particular species are listed, then you have to have the money to do whatever it is to protect them or re-establish them.’’

Rhodes, recently appointed to chair the board by Gov. Nikki Haley, said she supports the goal of the federal law — to save endangered plants and animals — but she is skeptical that so many species might need special protected status in South Carolina. The review is a sweeping look at species and is not normally taken by the federal agency.

“If a species is clearly endangered, it’s something we would try to do,’’ she said. “But if this is just a stumbling block for economic development ...Well, I hope that wouldn’t happen.”

In response to a legal petition by environmentalists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in September that it would review the status of 374 species in the South to see whether they should receive special protection under the endangered species law. The Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting comments from the public about the multitude of plants and animals that one day could be listed as a federally protected endangered species.

After the comments are received, the government eventually will determine whether more research is needed or whether to list the plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act. The listings aren’t expected immediately because the Fish and Wildlife Service has several hundred other species already under review, agency spokesman Tom Mackenzie said. Action may not be taken to list any of the 374 species for five years or more, he said.

Noah Greenwald, endangered species director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said he’s glad the Fish and Wildlife Service has taken action. As information comes in, the agency will learn more about which plants and animals need extra protection and which do not, he said. His group filed the legal request that prompted the federal review.

“To the extent this does cost money, I’d say it’s money well spent,’’ Greenwald said. “It’s something (wildlife agencies) are supposed to be doing: ensure species are not lost. This is a good thing.’’
In South Carolina, the 46 species that could be listed include four kinds of crayfish, 25 different types of flowering plants, two kinds of fish and numerous insects, the Fish and Wildlife Service reports. Also included on the study list is the Carolina Hemlock, a tree found almost exclusively on dry mountain sides in the southern Appalachians.

As for hellbenders, DNR officials don’t think the animals exist in South Carolina, but they can’t say for sure because they’ve never done an extensive study. Still, they’re hoping their professional opinion will persuade the federal government not to list hellbenders as endangered in this state or initiate costly state studies.

Hellbenders, which can grow to more than two feet long, are among the largest salamanders in North America. Typically, they are found in cold rocky streams across the South. One South Carolina DNR report says two hellbenders were caught in Lake Tugaloo in the state’s northwest corner. Officials suspect the animals were brought there as fish bait and escaped, but they were not native to the lake, the agency’s Breck Carmichael said.

Carmichael also said the robust redhorse, a fish species once thought to be extinct in South Carolina, is making a recovery through efforts to raise them in hatcheries. As a result, they don’t need to be listed, Carmichael said.

Praised by conservationists as a way to protect species that could become extinct, the Endangered Species Act sometimes draws criticism from landowners and businesses worried that the discovery of a rare species will restrict use of their property. The presence of endangered animals or plants, for instance, can require landowners to take extra steps so they won’t disturb the species when developing property.

That has hit home recently with the state-owned Santee Cooper power company. The company says it might have to spend a billion dollars to help protect and revive populations of shortnose sturgeon, a bony fish already listed under the endangered species law. Shortnose sturgeon populations dropped after Santee Cooper built dams to form lakes Marion and Moultrie in the early 20th century.
In the 1990s, landowners also had to work out agreements to protect red-cockaded woodpeckers, which are also endangered in South Carolina.

Greenwald questioned whether the DNR would have to spend much money because of the review. And he said claims that people lose property rights when endangered species are found on their land is an overblown argument.

“Generally, if there is a conflict, the Fish and Wildlife Service goes out of its way to work things out in a way that is equitable to landowners,’’ he said. “I’d also say that if you are a landowner and you are blessed to have unusual species or habitat on your land, in some ways that’s a treasure. You have an opportunity to help preserve species for future generations.’’

But John Frampton, the DNR’s outgoing director, said the state’s budget woes don’t make the matter any easier. The DNR’s budget has been slashed dramatically in recent years.

“We’ve got no money for endangered species,” Frampton said, noting that “if you think you’ve got problems with sturgeon and red cockaded woodpeckers, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science
Volume # 11 Issue # 52 12/3/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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A TWO FOR ONE DEAL
Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of
“Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
AND
Help Diamondback Terrapins - Paraphrasing From Russ Burke the scientist in charge of the terrapin project at Jamaica Bay, NYC.
Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase an iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the very bottom of this newsletter and you find three ways how.
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Table of Contents

1) Some comments on the recent discovery of the Hula painted frog in Israel, some history and what to do with the Hula frogs (there are now two , one I was told they already released.) from Dr. Yehudah L. Werner/The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. & Original Article and update.
2) Wildlife laundering through breeding farms threatens wild population-Wild populations threatened by illegal trade through snake farms
3) New study suggests how toads might predict earthquakes
4) Half of Europe's frogs and toads face extinction in 40 years, 'terrifying' study shows
5) Embryonic Turtles Communicate to Coordinate Hatching
6) Embryonic communication in the nest: metabolic responses of reptilian embryos to developmental rates of siblings (abstract-contacts)
7) St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute is Hell-Bent on Saving Hellbenders with the First-Ever Hatching of Ozark Hellbenders
8) What are India's citizen scientists looking for?

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New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator-The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator,
Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons -Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011,
$25,00 plus $6,00 s&H, For more information on the book and how to order see the very bottom of this newsletter.
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NEW VIDEO- TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper)
TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.
and more.
Like official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only for a donation of $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

(No turtles were hurt during the filming of this video.)
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1) Some comments on the recent discovery of the Hula painted frog in Israel, some history and what to do with the Hula frogs (there are now two , one I was told they already released.) from Dr. Yehudah L. Werner/The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In the early 1950s I helped found and start the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Some years later I participated in the delegation of three that convinced the Minister of Agriculture to found the governmental nature authority (now INPA). Ever since I have been accompanying and supporting both bodies with advice (requested or spontaneous) - and, gradually, with increasing disappointment.

The Hula painted frog Discoglossus nigriventer was discovered by Dr H. Steinitz (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - HUJ) and Dr H. Mendelssohn (The Biological Pedagogical Institute of Tel Aviv) in 1940: two specimens, 40 and 27 mm RA (rostrum-anus length) and two tadpoles. Mendelssohn wanted to observe the frogs' behavior so the larger one ate the smaller one. The remaining material was deposited in the HUJ collection. (The tadpoles were later lost in the 1948 war.) The description appeared only in 1943 (in Copeia) because Mendelssohn disliked writing. The species was encountered another time in 1955, by M. Costa ("Oranim" college). The 80 mm RA specimen was also deposited in HUJ, making it the world's only collection containing full representation of Israel's herpetofauna.

The fact that the species was encounters once in 1940, again in 1955, and never again (till now) did not seem statistically significant. The genus has secretive habits. Had never been properly searched for. In the 1980s my friend, colleague and guest Dr K Klemmer surveyed habitats in the area and mainly on the Golan, driven around by an INPA ranger and jeep. He submitted a report that several ponds looked likely but that due to the typical behavior of this genus, specific search methods were required. To my knowledge, the INPA never followed his advice. From time to time I reminded them, to no avail. I have never heard of any informed search having been made by anybody. People were hiking around, looking and hoping. That this never worked meant nothing.

Now (yesterday, 29 Nov.) another smaller individual was found at the same place, on land, hiding in grass. Related to this, reporters tell of tens of people who have been searching for decades, but it is unclear how they searched..

Meanwhile the first individual has been released and the second is also to be released promptly. The INPA rejected my advice (not "proposal") to use the frog for investigating the environmental preferences of the species, towards planning its conservation. With some investment, one could run a frog in a temperature gradient and in more innovative gradients and see its preferences for temperature depth of water, and substrate. With some caution one could also investigate its physiological responses to temperature. But INPA worries (or so they say) that the population may be so small that this would endanger it. They say this although they also say that apparently the frog recently invaded the reserve from some unknown population outside, thanks to recent improvement of water quality in the reserve. They are not specifying what they mean by water quality.

Yehudah L. Werner
Professor Emeritus of Zoology
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
91904 Jerusalem, Israel

Original article
Long thought extinct, Hula painted frog found once again in Israeli nature reserve- Rare find is akin to the Dead Sea Scrolls of nature conservation.
By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz.com 11/21/11---Nature and Parks Authority warden Yoram Malka set out

Tuesday for a routine patrol to monitor the birds in the Hula Nature Reserve, but he was also keeping his sharp eyes peeled for a specific type of frog.

Malka had previously promised the scientists researching the reserve that he would once again locate the Hula painted frog, a species of frog that was unique to Israel and was thought to have become extinct more than 50 years ago. This week he kept his promise.

"I saw something jump that didn't look familiar," said Malka. "I rushed over and caught a frog, and when I turned it over I saw that it had a black belly with white spots, the identifying mark of the painted frog. I immediately returned [with it] to the reserve's office and took out the animal handbook, and I saw that what I had found look exactly like the painted frog that appears in the handbook."

Malka's discovery shocked conservationists and scientists who deal with this field in Israel. The Hula painted frog had been one of the primary symbols of natural extinction in Israel after it had disappeared following the drying of Lake Hula in the 1950s.

Dr. Sarig Gafni of Ruppin Academic Center's School of Marine Sciences, an expert in amphibians, was immediately summoned to the reserve, and he arrived with the original scientific paper from 1940 in which the Hula painted frog was described.

"We went through the article, sign by sign, and checked all the indicators, including the distance between the eyes, and it is indeed a Hula Painted Frog," said Gafni. "It's very exciting; to me it's like finding the Dead Sea Scrolls of nature conservation in Israel. We must remember that in the past, only three adult samples of this species had ever been found."

According to Dr. Dana Milstein, an ecologist with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the rare frog got its Hebrew name - agulashon shehor-gahon - from its black belly and round tongue, which, unlike that of other frogs, is not used to catch prey.

For years Israeli researchers have been trying to locate the frog, searching in and around every spring and streambed in the area where the Hula marshes were dried up, but without success. Thus it was assumed that the act of drying up the Hula and the destruction of other natural habitats through pollution and development had sealed the fate of this unique species.

Milstein believes that the frog's discovery is linked to environmental improvements in the Hula reserve.
"In recent years, the water quality has improved, after they started to pour water from fish ponds and nearby springs into the reserve," she said.

The IPNA's next mission is to determine whether there are more frogs aside from the one discovered, which is apparently female.

The fate of the captured frog has yet to be determined. Gafni hopes to be able to return it to the wild as quickly as possible.

To see a photo of the frog , go to http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/ne ... -1.396000#

Update: The rare frog is currently held in an artificial environment in the Hula reserve. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority will invite senior researchers in the field to contribute and to learn about this species, in order to implement the data for the benefit of conserving the specie in nature and preform more survey. In the end of the weeks to come the Israel Nature and Parks Authority will make special tours in the Hula reserve in order to display the discovery to the public. More details in the information center of The Israel Nature and Parks Authority. And they have found another one, which I have heard they have released where they found it.
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2) Wildlife laundering through breeding farms threatens wild population-Wild populations threatened by illegal trade through snake farms

November 2011. Wildlife breeding farms have been promoted in some quarters as an aid to biodiversity conservation by alleviating the pressure of harvest on wild populations. There is, however, growing concern that many breeding farms are being used to launder illegally caught wildlife.

Surveys of wildlife traders in the Indonesian provinces of Maluku, West Papua and Papua were conducted between August 2009 and April 2011 to assess the trade of the green python (Morelia viridis), the species currently exported in the largest numbers from Indonesia and declared as captive-bred.
4,227 illegally collected pythons
In total, 4227 illegally collected wild green pythons were recorded during surveys and high levels of harvest were found to have depleted and skewed the demographics of some island populations. Snakes were traced from their point of capture to breeding farms in Jakarta where they are to be exported for the pet trade, confirming the reports of wildlife laundering.
80% green python exports are illegal
Extrapolation of monthly collection estimates provided by traders revealed that at least 5337 green pythons are collected each year, suggesting that at least 80% of the green pythons exported from Indonesia annually are illegally wild-caught.

The results of examination of 139 eggshells from five python species suggest that reptilian eggshells may be used as proof of provenance for each individual reptile exported. This method, in addition to the evidence that breeding farms play a significant role in the illegal exploitation of wildlife, allows conservation managers to begin to adequately monitor, regulate and determine the role of breeding farms in the conservation of wild populations.

The full paper, written by Jessica A. Lyons & Daniel J.D. Natusch, appeared in the journal Biological Conservation
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3) New study suggests how toads might predict earthquakes
December 2, 2011 by Bob Yirka

The trouble with earthquakes, other than their obvious devastation, is that thus far they have proved to be very nearly impossible to predict, despite considerable effort towards that goal; being able to do so would obviously save a lot of lives. Also, despite the fact that there is literally hundreds, if not thousands of years of anecdotal evidence suggesting that some animals may have some innate ability to predict quakes, modern research has instead been steadfastly focused on studying the Earth, rocks, faults, etc.

That may change now that biologist Rachel Grant, from the UK’s Open University has found evidence that toads can predict a quake up to several days before the ground starts shaking. She’s teamed up with NASA geophysicst, Friedemann Freund and the two of them, as they describe in their paper in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, suggest that it might all be because of changes to the pond water in which the toads are living.

Grant was studying the toads that lived in a pond near L'Aquila, Italy, in 2009 in the days just before a devastating earthquake struck. In those few days just before it happened, she noted that the toads began leaving. Their numbers dwindled from just under a hundred, to zero, causing her to write about her observations in the Journal of Zoology. That caught the attention of Freund, who was doing work for NASA in studying what happens to rocks when put under extreme stress, as in say, when an earthquake is in the making. He contacted Grant, and the two of them began investigating ways that such rock pressure could impact the environment where the toads lived.

After some experiments in the lab, the two write that when rocks underground come under pressure as a result of geological processes, they let off charged particles. Such particles can very quickly rise to and above the surface of the Earth, impacting such things as pond water and the biological material in it. In the case of the pond in Italy, it seems the toads may have been reacting to changes they felt in the water itself as ions interacting with it react to form minute amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Or it seems possible that ions interacting with organic material in the pond caused substances to be released that either were toxic or less ominously, simply irritating. Either way, it would explain their sudden exodus.
The problem with proving their theory though, is of course, they’d have to know when and where an earthquake is about to strike so as to allow them to set up testing equipment in advance. Perhaps the best that can be done at this point, is for such information to disseminated all over the world, so that if anyone happens to live near a pond, and notices that the toads are leaving, they would be wise to follow them.

Based on their paper - Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8, 1936-1956; doi:10.3390/ijerph8061936
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4) Half of Europe's frogs and toads face extinction in 40 years, 'terrifying' study shows
Scientists have revealed "terrifying" research that shows rare and tropical frogs, toads, newts and salamanders are facing extinction much sooner than previously thought.
The Guardian, by Sarah Rainey, 11/17/11

Amphibians living in tropical regions, which traditionally boast the highest diversity of animal species, are under the biggest threat in the future, researchers say.

Half of all Europe's frogs, toads and newts could also be driven to extinction within 40 years, their study shows.

Scientists say the rapid decline, which is much bleaker than previously thought, will affect those living in rainforests and jungle climates where they usually thrive.

Around half of amphibian species are declining, while a third are already facing extinction.
The threat, driven by climate change and loss of habitat, has been intensified by the spread of a deadly fungal disearse called chytridiomycosis.

One in three of the world's amphibians - which include frogs, toads, newts and salamanders - is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of endangered species, the Guardian reports.
Researchers led by Dr Christian Hof have carried out the largest study of its kind on the future survival of the creatures.

"What we found looking at climate change, for example, is that many tropical regions, such as northern South America, the Andes and parts of Africa, will be highly impacted," he told the paper.
The scientists used computer modelling to predict the impact of climate change, habitat destruction and disease on amphibian populations.

The results, published in the journal Nature, show that two thirds of the regions with the richest diversity of frog and salamander species will be affected by one or more of the threats by 2080.
The Malagasy rainbow frog and the Chinese giant salamander are among those most critically endangered.

Helen Meredith, amphibian conservationist at the Zoological Society of London, said it was "terrifying" that a third of all species were now facing extinction.

"Dada is deficient or a quarter of them, which means we don't know whether they are threatened with extinction or not," she told the Guardian.
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5) Embryonic Turtles Communicate to Coordinate Hatching
From “Wired UK” by By Olivia Solon, Wired UK, 12/2/11
Murray River turtles communicate with their siblings while they are still in their shells, buried under the soil, in order to coordinate when they hatch.


Achieving this synchronicity isn’t easy. Although the eggs are always laid at the same time in the same nest, those at the top of the nest near the sun-drenched soil develop much faster than those buried deeper in the cooler soil. However, Murray River turtles are able to tell whether their fellow hatchlings are more or less advanced and adapt their pace of development accordingly, allowing the slow-coaches to play catch-up.

Ricky-John Spencer from the University of Western Sydney has been studying the turtles for years. In 2003 he collected dozens of batches of wild turtle eggs, split them into two groups and incubated them at either 25C or 30C. He then reunited the eggs and discovered that they still hatched together. At this point he wasn’t sure whether the colder batch were hatching prematurely or speeding up their development.

To follow this up, his team got hold of pregnant Murray River turtles and let them lay their eggs in a lab environment. They split each lot of eggs into two groups — incubating one group at 26C and the other at 30C. Other batches of turtles eggs were split into two groups but both incubated at 26C. After a week of development, the batches were reunited. Spencer’s student Jessica McGlashan monitored each of the embryo’s metabolism by measuring the heart rate and carbon dioxide emissions.

McGlashan discovered that if embryos were incubated with the more developed peers, they sped up their development. In the weeks running up to hatching, their heart rates sped up and they exhaled 67 percent more carbon dioxide than the control group of turtles whose siblings had stayed at 26C.
Once they hatched, it became clear that these turtles had used up more of their yolk supplies in order to catch up, but they were found to be just as strong as their less rushed counterparts.

The team concluded that the embryos must be able to communicate with each other while they are still in their shells, but it’s not clear how. They suggest that it could be down to changes in the nest that trigger certain hormones that change the turtles’ metabolism. Embryos produce more thyroid hormone when oxygen levels fall. The fast-developing embryos could use up the oxygen levels around the next and emit more carbon dioxide. The reduction in oxygen could cause the slower developers to produce more thyroid hormone and therefore grow faster.
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6) Embryonic communication in the nest: metabolic responses of reptilian embryos to developmental rates of siblings
Jessica K. McGlashan,
Ricky-John Spencer* and
Julie M. Old
+ Author Affiliations
Water and Wildlife Ecology Group, Native and Pest Animal Unit, School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, New South Wales 1797, Australia

↵*Author for correspondence (ricky.spencer@uws.edu.au).

Abstract
Incubation temperature affects developmental rates and defines many phenotypes and fitness characteristics of reptilian embryos. In turtles, eggs are deposited in layers within the nest, such that thermal gradients create independent developmental conditions for each egg. Despite differences in developmental rate, several studies have revealed unexpected synchronicity in hatching, however, the mechanisms through which synchrony are achieved may be different between species. Here, we examine the phenomenon of synchronous hatching in turtles by assessing proximate mechanisms in an Australian freshwater turtle (Emydura macquarii). We tested whether embryos hatch prematurely or developmentally compensate in response to more advanced embryos in a clutch. We established developmental asynchrony within a clutch of turtle eggs and assessed both metabolic and heart rates throughout incubation in constant and fluctuating temperatures. Turtles appeared to hatch at similar developmental!
stages, with less-developed embryos in experimental groups responding to the presence of more developed eggs in a clutch by increasing both metabolic and heart rates. Early hatching did not appear to reduce neuromuscular ability at hatching. These results support developmental adjustment mechanisms of the ‘catch-up hypothesis’ for synchronous hatching in E. macquarii and implies some level of embryo–embryo communication. The group environment of a nest strongly supports the development of adaptive communication mechanisms between siblings and the evolution of environmentally cued hatching.
.
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7) St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute is Hell-Bent on Saving Hellbenders with the First-Ever Hatching of Ozark Hellbenders
Jordan Schaul of The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
National Geographic Daily News12/2/11

In 2007, the St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute announced that their staff herpetologists, including herpetoculturists, and colleagues had achieved the first-ever laying of Ozark hellbender salamander eggs in captivity using only environmental cycling. Although the eggs were not fertile, this was a monumental achievement for hellbender propagation and conservation.

Last month, after a decade of collaboration, the Ron Goellner Hellbender Conservation Center at the Zoo’s Herpetarium and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) officially established a successful breeding program for hellbenders with the hatching of Ozark hellbenders. Neither the federally endangered Ozark hellbender or the more common subspecies– the Eastern hellbender–have ever been bred in captivity. Missouri, incidentally, is the only state where both subspecies of hellbenders occur.
My first encounter with an “Allegheny Alligator” was in front of a glass terrarium at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I had signed up for a graduate class in herpetology taught by the museum’s Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Dr. Tim Matson– a salamander aficionado and expert. So it did not come as a surprise that like other scholastic teaching venues in the organismal sciences his had a living, wet animal ambassador hanging around.

The accepted common name for our classroom’s resident giant salamander is hellbender. In the vernacular you will find colloquial names like “snot otter”, “devil dog”, and “grampus”–all fairly pejorative names. At first glance they do look rather fierce and perhaps unsightly, but they are actually quite docile aquatic amphibians. Since writing about their close relatives, the larger Japanese giant salamanders and visiting them on exhibit here in the states, I have come to think of the cryptobranchids as beautiful animals.

A little bit of folklore and my own imagination lead me to believe that this bizarre amphibian species was a formidable foe. Having sustained bites from small, lungless plethodontid salamanders to bites from juvenile crocodillians, I was a bit wary of this unfamiliar herpetile where as my classmates questioned if it was actually alive. These solitary salamanders don’t move a whole heck of a lot once they get comfortable.

Hellbenders can bite if provoked, but it is fairly rare. These salamanders, the smallest of giant salamanders, attain lengths of over two feet and have lived as long as 29 years in captivity. With skin that is brown with black splotches, the Ozark hellbender has a slippery, flattened body that moves easily through water and can squeeze under rocks on the bottom of streams.

Since 1981, hellbenders were listed as extinct or endangered in four states and remain threatened throughout the rest of their range. Endemic to the U.S., there are two subspecies as mentioned: the Eastern hellbender and the Ozark subspecies.

The Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) occurs in riverine habitats of southern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas and specifically in two river systems. They require cold, clean water to survive. “Capillaries near the surface of the hellbender’s skin absorb oxygen directly from the water–as well as hormones, heavy metals and pesticides,” said Jeff Ettling, Saint Louis Zoo curator of herpetology and aquatics. “If there is something in the water that is causing the hellbender population to decline, it can also be affecting the citizens who call the area home.” To ecologists they are barometers of ecosystem health–likened to “canaries in a coal mine”.

Over the past three decades populations of both salamander subspecies have succumbed to anthropogenic stressors aside from just habitat degradation (i.e. stream impoundments, pollution and siltation) and habitat loss; they have also been impacted by collectors seeking specimens for the pet trade.


There are only about 590 Ozark hellbenders in the wild. At one time there were 8,000 of these highly aquatic caudates living in the Southcentral Missouri waterways. The Ozark subspecies has seen a precipitous decline–a 70% decline–in the last decade. Due to these drastic declines, captive propagation became a priority in the long-term recovery of the species. Fortunately, the St. Louis Zoo and the Missouri Department of Conservation were already trying to conserve this vanishing species through sorta situ conservation efforts.

“We have a 15- to 20-year window to reverse this decline,” said Missouri Department of Conservation Herpetologist Jeff Briggler. “We don’t want the animal disappearing on our watch.”
In 2004, funding from private donors, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and the Zoo covered the cost of building sophisticated facilities including climate-controlled streams to breed the hellbender.

The hellbender propagation facilities include two outdoor streams that are 40 feet long and six feet deep. The area is landscaped with natural gravel, large rocks for hiding and artificial nest boxes, where the fertilized eggs were discovered. A nearby building houses state-of-the-art life support equipment used to filter the water and maintain the streams at the proper temperature.

In addition, two large climate-controlled rooms in the basement of the Zoo’s Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium are the headquarters for the program. The facilities recreate hellbender habitat with closely monitored temperatures, pumps to move purified water, sprinklers synced to mimic the exact precipitation and lights that flick on or dim to account for brightness and shade. The largest room includes a 32-foot simulated stream, complete with native gravel and large rocks for hiding. It houses a breeding group of adult Ozark hellbenders from the the White River in Missouri. Once the hellbender offspring reach 3 to 8 years of age they will be released back into the wild.
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8) What are India's citizen scientists looking for?
By: Lhendup G Bhutia

Date: 2011-11-14, MidDay.com

Place: Mumbai


Computer geeks, school children and professionals from different fields, who have otherwise no inkling of science and research, are turning into its latest foot soldiers. Meet the country's citizen scientists.

Dr Ceaser Sengupta, a pathologist and General Manager with what's considered to be the world's largest thyroid testing laboratory, Thyrocare Technologies Limited, leads a busy life. When he's not at his Turbhe office, his attention is divided between his six year-old daughter, his father and wife, with whom he resides in a swanky highrise in CBD Belapur.

Researchers belonging to Lost Amphibians of India look for amphibians
in the remote area of Latpanchar in North Bengal. The group that
comprises mostly individuals from non-research backgrounds is
undertaking a pioneering project in trying to locate Indian amphibian
species that are feared to have gone extinct.

All this might seem terribly ordinary if you didn't know about Sengupta's parallel life. Occasionally, the 37 year-old takes off to far flung areas of the country, especially forests and swamps, carrying with him a sleeping bag, a supply of dry fruit, and a pair of leather boots that reach his knees, protecting him from snake bites. If unable to locate a cow shed to sleep in, the sleeping bag comes in handy.

On these trips that often last between four days to a month and a half, Sengupta, along with other skilled urban professionals from a variety of career fields, transforms into a 'citizen scientist' or amateur researcher.

Sengupta's task is as ambitious in nature as it is vital. He, along with 500 urban professionals, mostly from non-science and research backgrounds, are part of Lost Amphibians of India (LAI), a group that is searching for 50 Indian amphibian species, mostly frogs and caecilians, that are thought to have gone extinct. While several species have been sighted in the last 10 years, some have eluded researchers for over 169 years.

"It is an extremely important programme. Most Indians are concerned about certain 'prestigious' animals, and hardly ever give a thought to amphibians. Some of the species we are searching for have not been sighted for years. We need to see if they are still around," says Sengupta.

LAI, which was launched in November 2010, has seen an excited response from common citizens. With its 500 members, it has already conducted 30 expeditions, one of which lasted a month-and-a-half in Arunachal Pradesh. The next one, which will be led by Sengupta, is days away and will take him to Maharashtra's Phandsad Wildlife Sanctuary.

LAI is not the only science programme that has seen support from commoners. Snigdha Kar, a 27 year-old Delhi-based employee of UNESCO, who is involved in the coordination and organising of various research programmes for the body, is a researcher in her own right. For the last four years, she has been part of MigrantWatch, a programme with over 1,300 members across the country, that is tracking one of nature's most spectacular events -- the migration of birds.

The programme hopes to ascertain if climate change is affecting the migratory patterns of birds. Kar earlier worked for the Delhi chapter of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and, despite being an amateur, has a keen interest in birds and has been keeping track of 20 different species that regularly fly into Delhi.

To spot these birds, Kar often continues her research when she travels out of Delhi on vacation, and consults books by experts, apart from looking up birds' features on websites. Out of the 20 species of migratory birds that she frequently reports about, Kar finds one particularly tough to spot. "The Greenish Warbler is very tough to identify. It's a small forest bird and we (bird watchers) have hours of discussion just to reach a consensus that it's the Greenish Warbler."

According to Suhel Quader, founder of MigrantWatch that is run by the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, the growing number of Indians from non-research backgrounds getting interested in the natural world provides a great opportunity for both, professional and amateur researchers, to work together.

"For many ecological changes, in particular, documenting what is happening over large spans of space and time is most effectively done through a participatory approach, where interested people volunteer their time and effort in working towards a common goal even though they are distributed throughout the country. When we started, it was obvious that seeking the help of bird watchers was the best way forward," says Quader.

While many have spoken about how eclipses affect the behaviour of animals, few have ever sought to ascertain if this claim is true. Earlier last year, during the January 15 solar eclipse, NCBS tried to do just that.

Over 100 volunteers took part in EclipseWatch, from locations as diverse as Itanagar, Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai, to find that the only clear change in animal behaviour occurred in areas where the maximum eclipse was almost complete (more than 88 per cent coverage of the sun). In these areas, there was a marked reduction in the activity of birds and animals.

Banking on such models, another programme is being run across Kerala schools, before it can be replicated across the country. And it invites adult participation too. Called SeasonWatch, the programme that launched in November 2010, seeks to learn if climate change is affecting the seasonality of trees.

A total of 100 different trees are on their list, and volunteers monitoring them, regularly update findings on the programme website, including the timing of the flowering, fruiting and leaf-flush of the trees. Arun Elassery, SeasonWatch's programme manager, says, "We often hear of trees blooming before hand, or summers lasting longer. We are trying to learn more about these happenings by taking the help of volunteers."

More often than not, volunteers come with a keen interest in nature. Kar, for instance, was troubled to see how a large number of jackals were being run over by vehicles whenever she drove down the narrow Suraj Kund Road that cut across Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, connecting Tuglaqabad to Kant Enclave, "I spotted at least six jackals being run over.

I would always get out of my vehicle, and photograph them while others would continue running over them. Using the photos, I requested the sanctuary officials to lower speed limits on that road but it hardly helped." Later on June 1, when the Nature Conservation Foundation launched a two month-long survey to find out about the numbers and location of Golden Jackals in India, Kar was able to make an invaluable contribution with her notes and photographs.

LAI's team of amphibian scientists are working and using several scientific parameters to identify the Lost! Amphibians of India. Announcements of rediscovered species are expected very soon. In the case of MigrantWatch, it is too early for results of any kind to emerge. As Quader explains, "We have begun formally documenting existing migration timings -- and this will form a baseline against which future patterns can be compared."

Even in Mumbai, smaller programmes that are as much educational in nature as they are research-oriented, are emerging. For instance, Dr V Subhalaxmi, general manager at BNHS -- Education Department, helped launch in February this year, their Be A Scientist For A Day (BASFAD) programme. Here, a few professional researchers lead a group of volunteers into the 33-acre BNHS Nature Reserve in Goregaon to conduct field trips.

Sachin Chogre, an educational officer who conducts research programmes on moth studies, says, "Here, once every month, we organise research groups to study moths, amphibians, birds and flora of the region. We started it, knowing that we'd get a good response. Besides, it's a great way to document changes unfolding in these regions."

Sameer Patil, a freelance computer programmer from Thane, who attended a session of bird spotting, is planning to join another one soon. "Earlier, I could hardly ever identify birds. That day, we were taught about various species and how to identify them from their calls and features. We spread out and were able to document various species that frequent the area," he says. After a period of time, all findings made during the BASFAD programme, will be compiled into a report.

Dr Sengupta says, "When I return home from exhibitions, my body is marked with mosquito bites. But it is all worth it."
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New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator
Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator
Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011,
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"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range
Research on pythons in the United States history
Status of introduced pythons in Florida,
Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere
Methods to control python populations
other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State
TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin
Barbara Brennessel
University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 53 12/12/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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A TWO FOR ONE DEAL
Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of “Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
AND
Help Diamondback Terrapins - Paraphrasing From Russ Burke the scientist in charge of the terrapin project at Jamaica Bay, NYC.
Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase on iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the very bottom of this newsletter and you find three ways how.
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Table of Contents

1) The role of body size on the outcome, escalation and duration of contests in the grey treefrog, Hyla versicolor
2) TERENGGANU RELEASES 66,000 BABY TURTLES TO SEA IN 2011
3) TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen
4) Managed grazing in Tulare County helps Valley lizard
5) First green sea turtles hatched in Delaware - Nest moved twice; next stop is North Carolina
6) End the Everglades horror story -OUR OPINION: Obama administration should enact anti-commerce rule for pythons- The Miami Herald | EDITORIAL- 12/5/11
7) Lizard fans 'traded rare reptile' in China (Chinese crocodile lizards)
8) Lizards face grim fate if not helped, New Zeland’s Commonn, McCanns skink,common gecko and the green or jeweled gecko.
9) Snakes’ movement can’t outpace global warming, scientists warn __________________________________________________________
The MAGNETS are still being given out in return for a min donation of $24.00 or more. (4 magnets) Please also tell us 3 alternative magnets. (We are already out of Green Iguanas and Leather back sea turtles) You can order with credit card through Paypal even if you don’t belong see info on donation page of website. And no need to go to flickr to see the magnets they are all on the donation page of the HerpDigest website.
And don’t stop at $24.00 round up to $30.00 get another magnet. $6.00 for each additional magnet, Free S&H - except not in US contact us. asalzberg@herpdigest.org __________________________________________________________________
1) The role of body size on the outcome, escalation and duration of contests in the grey treefrog, Hyla versicolor Animal Behaviour Volume 82, Issue 6, December 2011, Pages 1357-1366 M.S. Reichert , , H.C. Gerhardt Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, U.S.A.

Aggressive interactions in animals are often resolved in favour of the individual with superior fighting ability, or resource-holding potential (RHP). A recent revival of studies of aggressive behaviour has focused on the assessment strategies used in animal contests. Strategies of dispute resolution through mutual or self-assessment of RHP differ in the predicted relationship between interaction duration and each competitor’s relative and absolute RHP. We studied potential components of RHP (mass, length, body condition) and their relationship to contest duration and the level of escalation in the grey treefrog, Hyla versicolor, using a novel method to stage aggressive interactions in the laboratory. Overall, large males were more likely to win than small males, but they only had an advantage in less escalated interactions and were not more successful in physical fights. There was limited evidence for an effect of body size on interaction duration or the level of escalation!
. Specifically, the body condition of both the smaller and larger contestant was weakly negatively related to the duration and level of escalation of contests. This relationship is the opposite of what would be expected under any assessment strategy. Given these data, coupled with the lack of relationships between other size measures and interaction duration, we conclude that assessment of body size does not occur in contests in H. versicolor. Other unmeasured components of RHP may play a role in determining interaction duration, and the relatively weak and ineffective fighting abilities of this species may limit the dominance of larger individuals. Relatively little is known about aggressive behaviour in frogs. Our method for staging aggressive interactions allows us to address predictions of game theory models in an important group for studies of animal communication.
Highlights
► Little is known about aggressive behaviour in frogs. ► We studied the role of body size in aggressive interactions in grey treefrogs. ► Larger males won more often, but only for less escalated interactions. ► Body size was generally unrelated to the duration or escalation of interactions. ► Assessment in grey treefrog contests is probably not based on body size.
Correspondence: M. S. Reichert, 213 Tucker Hall, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, U.S.A.
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2) TERENGGANU RELEASES 66,000 BABY TURTLES TO SEA IN 2011 Bernama, Malaysia, Yahoo News – Sun, Dec 11, 2011

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu Fisheries Department has released about 66,000 baby turtles to the sea this year.
Its director Zakaria Ismail said the baby turtles were from a total of almost 100,000 eggs that were incubated by the department between March and November this year.
"Most of the turtle eggs were bought by the department together with the World Wildlife Fund, Terengganu," he said when contacted, adding that the hatching programme was to ensure that turtles in Terengganu would not become extinct in future.
According to him, there were now about 115 turtle egg nests where the eggs had not yet hatched, while the department had nine turtle egg incubation and hatching centres including in the islands of Perhentian, Redang and Kapas.
Zakaria said this year had seen the most number of turtle eggs being incubated with 30,660 in Redang Island, followed by Perhentian and Kemaman district with more than 23,800.
He said the department also carried out a sea terrapin hatching programme, with 1,590 baby terrapins produced this year from the 3,577 eggs incubated, mainly in Setiu.

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3) TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper) TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.
and more.
Like official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only for a donation of $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

(No turtles were hurt during the filming of this video.) _______________________________________________________________________
4) Managed grazing in Tulare County helps Valley lizard By Mark Grossi - The Fresno Bee, 12/10/11

They're an ecological odd couple: cows and blunt-nosed leopard lizards. And their relationship just keeps getting better.

The pairing is playing out at Pixley National Wildlife Refuge in southern Tulare County, where heavy rainfall last winter made grasses grow thicker this year.

Normally that would make life miserable for the endangered lizard. The swift little creature gets hung up in thick grasses and becomes an easy target for predators.

But ranchers buy grazing leases from federal officials and bring cows to the refuge. In short order, the hungry cows munch that grass problem away.

"These grasses are not native to the San Joaquin Valley," said biology professor David Germano of the California State University, Bakersfield. "The little critters aren't adapted to the grasses, so grazing is very important in years after big rainfall."

Blunt-nosed leopard lizards are getting help in their natural habitat in the Pixley Wildlife Refuge by cows grazing off thick grasses, making it easier for the lizards to dodge predators. But some biologists and environmentalists say that cattle grazing damages streams and causes erosion.

It's a successful but unlikely marriage of farming and nature. Along with cities, road building and row crops, uncontrolled cattle grazing was among the reasons the lizard almost went extinct in the Valley.
But managed grazing -- fencing cows in areas and moving them after they eat a lot of the grass -- has become a tool of choice for helping endangered animals and even plants in the southern and western parts of the Valley.

The animals and plants evolved in a desert setting over thousands of years, and they need room to live.
Thick grasslands have developed over many decades since European settlers came to the Valley, bringing crops and vegetation with them, scientists say.

Scientists and land managers in the Valley have realized grazing cows would be a useful line of defense against grassland overgrowth.

"We may still have some of these plants and animals only because the land is being grazed by cattle," said Bryan Cypher, a Bakersfield-based ecologist who works for the Endangered Species Recovery Program at California State University, Stanislaus. "It's the best option we have for dealing with nonnative grasses."

But it's not a popular approach with all biologists and environmentalists, who say that cattle grazing damages streams and causes erosion that harms endangered species. Such uncontrolled grazing has proven to be destructive in California meadows and wetlands.

There is a stigma attached to cattle grazing, especially in the pristine meadows of the Sierra Nevada.
The Valley these days is hardly pristine, Cypher says. In the region's arid southern and western areas, wetlands are limited. Grazing does not create a lot of problems here if cows are properly managed, scientists say.

Grazing clearly works at the Pixley refuge, according to surveys done by the Endangered Species Recovery Program. The latest survey in August concluded the lizard population is "robust."
Federal officials at Pixley refuge said they lease about 5,000 refuge acres to cattle ranchers between November and April each year.

Nick Stanley, deputy project leader, said the grazing creates conditions that help not only the blunt-nosed leopard lizard but also two other protected species, the Tipton kangaroo rat and the San Joaquin kit fox.

Grazing is much better than other options for thinning the grass, which would include burning, pesticides or mowing.

Burning would create too much smoke in the Valley's polluted air. Paying for pesticides or mowing makes little financial sense compared to grazing leases, which create a small income stream for the federal government.

The modest monthly fees are usually several dollars per animal.

Grazing also helps revive vegetation that had been declining as grassland conditions spread over the past century.

Said Stanley, "We're finding that grazing helps the native bunch grasses, like iodine bush and coyote bush."
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5) First green sea turtles hatched in Delaware - Nest moved twice; next stop is North Carolina Written by, MOLLY MURRAY, The News Journal, 12/6/11- LEWES — Having survived two tropical storms and a cold snap, three baby sea turtles made history late Sunday when they hatched from their nomadic nests in Lewes.

The green turtle hatchlings are from the first documented sea turtle nest in Delaware. The species is common in tropical waters, such as those off the coast of Florida and the Caribbean, but is extremely rare this far north.

As early as this morning, the young hatchlings and the remaining eggs will begin the next leg of their journey. They will be driven to North Carolina for eventual release into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, said Suzanne Thurman, executive director of the MERR Institute, Delaware's marine rescue organization.

Sand was stirring in the three nest bins on Monday, a sign that more may hatch. The successful hatching was the result of a monumental effort for eggs at the outer limits of viability.
"I did not give up hope for one second," Thurman said. "This is just such a hopeful story. I could not be one bit happier."

Too often, MERR marine animal rescues begin with a tragedy: a dead whale, sick seals or the remains of a sea turtle

This epic began in mid-August, when a female green turtle made her way onto the beach at Herring Point, dug a kidney-shaped hole in the sand and laid 194 ivory-colored eggs, each bigger than a ping pong ball. At dawn, she made her way back to the ocean.

Green sea turtles reach a maximum size of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are believed to reach sexual maturity between 20 and 50 years of age.

It is believed to be the first recorded sea turtle nesting in Delaware, Thurman said. Initially, they thought the turtle was a loggerhead but realized after reviewing photographs that it was a green turtle.
The nest was discovered by Cape Henlopen Park Ranger Curtis Reynolds as he was doing a routine patrol along the beach at Herring Point early one morning.

For the next several hours, Betts kept people away from the turtle.

"I've seen lots of dead turtles and rescues," he said. "But this was the first I've ever seen laying eggs."
Early morning surfers and other folks were beginning to show up just as she began moving back toward the ocean, he said.

The nest was marked with white PVC pipe and yellow caution tape.

Thurman got in contact with officials from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The eggs had been deposited in the high tide zone, an area vulnerable to damage from surf and waves. It took special permission to move the nest.

At the time, Thurman said: "The reality is ... there are a lot of obstacles."
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Northeast Endangered Species officials authorized the movement of the eggs.
The next obstacle came with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Both storms deposited sand on top of the sea turtle nest, and volunteers had to remove the sand by hand.

Then in October, a cold snap hit the area. Typically, temperatures below 78 degrees interrupt incubation of the eggs, said Edna Stetzer, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Stetzer got a temperature monitor from a colleague in North Carolina, placed it in the sand recently and took a reading of 66 degrees.

"It was well below what optimum was," she said.

So state officials worked with the MERR Institute, Delaware's marine mammal stranding organization, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and University of Delaware scientists to move the nest a second time, to a climate-controlled lab at UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes.

Typically, it takes about 60 days for sea turtle eggs to hatch. Based on the day the eggs were laid, that would have been about Oct. 18.

It's been weeks since the due date, but there are lots of factors at play, including the lunar cycle.
"We want to simulate, as much as possible, the natural environment," said Rob Rector, a spokesman for MERR.

Thurman said they are awaiting permits to move the hatchlings and the eggs to the Pine Knoll State Aquarium in North Carolina. There, a scientist familiar with sea turtles will assess their condition and determine whether they are healthy enough to be released, Thurman said.

The idea is they won't expend energy trying to swim to the warmer ocean waters, she said.
Thurman said the hatchlings, which haven't yet grown into their oversized flippers, are "just beautiful."
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6) End the Everglades horror story -OUR OPINION: Obama administration should enact anti-commerce rule for pythons- The Miami Herald | EDITORIAL- 12/5/11

Killer pythons in the Everglades are not a joke, a punch line or a great screenplay for a cheesy horror movie. These large constrictor snakes are real and a danger to the ecological and economic vitality of the River of Grass. These invasive snakes are not natural predators helping to maintain an ecological balance in this environment. Rather, these snakes are gobbling deer and alligators whole and putting people in danger.

The fight to eradicate them has become a drain of scarce public funds. And at a time when restoring the deteriorating River of Grass is environmental imperative No. 1 in Florida, the killer snakes are a huge, creepy menace.

So why won’t the Obama administration sign a rule that would ban the trade in these creatures?
Such imported snakes have been sold on the Internet, at swap shops or at flea markets to people wholly unqualified to handle them. In South Florida, when these snakes outgrew owners’ ability to safely keep them at home, they did the easiest — and most irresponsible — thing possible: Released them into the Everglades. Others sometimes escaped during hurricanes.

A group of Florida’s congressional leaders is calling on the president to enact a rule barring commerce in dangerous snakes. In this highly polarized political climate that has stopped law-making in its tracks, the fact that this is a bipartisan group of officials alone should get Mr. Obama’s attention. Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, on the Democratic side, and Republican Reps. Allen West and David Rivera are among those who are supporting the rule. Here’s want the rule would do: It would put nine species of deadly snakes, including boa constrictors, anacondas and pythons, on a list of banned “injurious species” under the Lacey Act.

The proposal to add the snakes to the list has been under scrutiny for a long five years, predating the current administration in Washington. In 2006, the South Florida Water Management District petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, asking that Burmese pythons be classified injurious. Eighteen months later, in 2008, Fish and Wildlife sought public comment on the proposal.

A year and a half after that, the U.S. Geological Survey determined that constrictor snakes were a threat to the stability of natural ecosystems. In 2010, Fish and Wildlife issued a proposed rule to label the nine species of snakes as injurious; and in March of this year, the White House Office of Management and Budget/Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs received the final ruling.

This rule has been thoroughly vetted, scientifically and otherwise. It’s time to stop the trafficking in these snakes. Many states, including Florida, are out in front of the federal law, where they have made it illegal to breed, sell or possess these animals. The federal rule would stop movement into the United States and across state lines. For instance, in 2003 Congress banned interstate sale of tigers, lions and other big cats.

Adding the nine species of constrictor snakes to the “injurious” list would go a long way in bolstering Florida’s no-possession law, working hand-in-glove to crack down on this deadly scourge. In the fight to save the Everglades, the federal government should not throw good money after bad. It’s time for the administration to prohibit trade in snakes that have become a real-life horror story.
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7) Lizard fans 'traded rare reptile' in China (Chinese crocodile lizards) By Zhao Wen (Shanghai Daily)12/4/11

Reptile enthusiasts accused of trading in endangered Chinese crocodile lizards on the Internet went on trial yesterday at the Huangpu District People's Court.

Huang Wentao and Huang Jie, were charged with illegally selling endangered wildlife while three other men were accused of illegally purchasing an endangered species.

Prosecutors said Huang Wentao, 26, from Guangdong Province, posted a notice at an online chat room for reptile fans in June, offering the protected semi-aquatic lizards for sale.

He then sold three lizards to Huang Jie, a 23-year-old Shanghai resident, for 1,500 yuan (US$236), delivering the animals from Guangdong to Shanghai on June 28, it is claimed. 

According to prosecutors, Huang Jie sold two lizards to friends Yang Lei and Shen Zhenyu, who owned a reptile pet shop on Xitangjia Lane in Huangpu District. The third lizard was sold to fellow reptile enthusiast Sun Yu, the court heard.

In co!
urt, the five accused, all in their 20s, claimed they didn't know the crocodile lizard is listed as a first-class nationally protected species in China.

This was despite having searched online for information on the species found in forests in Hunan and Guizhou provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said prosecutors.

Yang and Shen said they had planned to sell the lizards, whose bony scales on their backs and tails resemble those found on crocodiles, but decided to keep them as pets in their shop because they "liked them very much."

Huang Wentao, an advertising company employee, said he bought five lizards in 2008 for 1,400 yuan and had raised them for three years. Wang told the court he decided to sell the animals as he was busy at work and his home was too small for them.

The five were detained following a tip-off in July, the court heard.

Prosecutors said that the accused had broken China's Criminal Law, regardless of whether they planned to keep as pets or sell the animals.

The court did not announce a verdict yesterday.

Those convicted of illegally buying, transporting or selling nationally protected species or products made from them can be jailed for up to 10 years.

The three lizards are now in Shanghai Zoo. An official, surnamed Chen, told Shanghai Daily they are not in good condition and the zoo has not decided whether to let them hibernate.

An estimated 1 million people own exotic pets - such as snakes, lizards and monkeys - on China's mainland, many of which are protected species.

Crocodile lizards spend much of their time in the water or on overhanging vegetation, preying on fish, tadpoles, snails and insects.
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8) Lizards face grim fate if not helped, New Zeland’s Commonn, McCanns skink,common gecko and the green or jeweled gecko.
by Tracy Miles 12/1/11,Timaru Herald, New Zealand

Attempts are being made to save South Canterbury's remaining lizard populations but fears are that loss of habitat will increase in coming years.

Piles of stones that have lain in South Canterbury paddocks, sometimes cleared from land by farmers more than a century ago, have become home to the common skink.
However, the Rangitata South Irrigation Project is expected to see changes to farming in the area, including moves to dairy farming.

The stone rows, described by Timaru teacher and lizard researcher Hermann Frank as "unique habitats" could well become a thing of the past, as fencelines are removed to allow for large irrigators.
The irrigation project is aimed at providing more reliable irrigation and will service 16,000 hectares of farmland between the Rangitata and Orari rivers, from Arundel to the coast.

The water is expected to be available in 2013.

In South Canterbury excluding the Mackenzie, the once widespread so-called common skink is now isolated to farmland, such as in the stone rows or piles, to gardens and along some beaches.

Mr Frank instigated the first systematic survey of lizards in South Canterbury, excluding the Mackenzie, in 2008, working for a year to identify where the district's lizards are.

He found four species, with what was the common skink being made up of two distinct species, the common (breeding in the stone piles) and the McCanns skink; and two species of gecko, the common gecko and the "very, very rare" green or jewelled gecko.

In a joint project between the Timaru District Council, Forest & Bird and Mr Frank, a disused TDC roading shingle quarry near the Orari Bridge by Geraldine is being prepared as a potential new lizard habitat for endangered colonies.

Mr Frank has also been working to establish connections with farmers to help avert the destruction of the district's common skink population.

He said he needs farmers to let him know well in advance if stones had to be removed so the skinks could be caught and relocated.

He said despite his efforts, stone piles had gone without him being alerted, or he learned about it "right at the time".

There were ways of catching the skinks but it took about two months, and could not be done during winter when they were inactive.

Older people had memories of lizards, from when they were more common, and from trips to the Mackenzie country, but for younger generations many had not seen a lizard and that could explain a lack of awareness, indifference, or them being made low priority.

Mr Frank said a management plan was being created for the quarry which would be made ready with dryland plants such as tussock, coprosma and matagouri, and by creating hiding places for the lizards. However, it was not intended to relocate them there except as an emergency measure.

If we don't try to preserve the remaining lizard populations of New Zealand, "most certainly we will lose them forever," said Timaru lizard researcher Hermann Frank.

The green jewelled gecko, which lives in native vegetation rather than on the ground, is a threatened species and has been targeted by wildlife smugglers.

In South Canterbury this gecko is very rare, Mr Frank said.

"There are virtually only three populations in South Canterbury," making their situation precarious.
It would take a 10-year period of study to get a clearer idea what their numbers are doing, said Mr Frank, who now spends most of his lizard study time hunting for jewelled geckos at weekends, observing the three known populations and hoping to find more.

He cannot reveal where the jewelled lizard populations are locally because of the trade in endangered species.

However, he said after development, pests are the second-biggest threat and appropriate ways of pest control were still being explored.

Weeds were also a threat, with broom and gorse encroaching on native bush being sprayed by farmers, killing the native bush as well.

"The main thing for all the lizards is to protect the habitat so there is no destruction or development."
For New Zealand's lizards as a whole, some species now only survive on predator-free islands and wildlife reserves.

New Zealand's lizard populations were unusual in that there were so many species, 90, for the country's small size – about half skink and half gecko.

Also, New Zealand lizards (all but one species) were the only ones to give birth to live babies, rather than laying eggs, the usual reptilian means of reproduction.
Geckos usually only have twins, once a year.

What exact local numbers of the four South Canterbury lizard species are is unknown.

Mr Frank's study identified that the local common gecko – in this area it is a distinct species of common gecko called the Southern Alps gecko – was mainly now in limestone areas in the South Canterbury hinterland whereas it was likely they used to be further down on the plains also.

Being nocturnal creatures, they were more difficult to spot and he had been unable to find out if geckos were cohabitating with skinks in stone rows on farmland.

At the time of Mr Frank's 2008 lizard study, which excluded the Mackenzie, it was not known what species he would find in South Canterbury.

The study identified four species, the common skink, the McCann's skink, the common gecko and the jewelled gecko.

His study had to work around the habits of the lizards, with skinks coming out to sun only in certain conditions.

Being cold blooded they used the sun to warm up, but would seek shelter from too hot conditions, leaving to hunt for insects among the stones. Where native shrubs are available, they will also eat autumn berries.

With conditions for sunning right, it was still possible to see quite a number, he said.

The McCann's skink was only found in one limestone area, quite separate from the other lizard species, and on two local beaches.


Although not widespread in this area, it was more common in the Mackenzie, he said.

"To have these remnant populations is quite important from a conservation aspect.

"If we can keep these habitats at least to a certain degree intact, so they can continue to live there, that's an important aspect of what we're trying to achieve."
________________________________________________________________
9) Snakes’ movement can’t outpace global warming, scientists warn Courier-Journal,12/6/11, by James Bruggers, The timber rattlesnake could be displaced from much of its range in the eastern U.S. by climate change projected to take place by 2100. Credit: Creative

Indiana University researchers are further documenting the challenge that critters like rattlesnakes will face in trying to adapt to climate change.

“We find that, over the next 90 years, at best these species’ ranges will change more than 100 times faster than they have during the past 320,000 years,” said Michelle Lawing, lead author of a newly published paper and a doctoral candidate in geological sciences and biology at IU Bloomington. “This rate of change is unlike anything these species have experienced, probably since their formation.”
IU says the study, “Pleistocene Climate, Phylogeny, and Climate Envelope Models: An Integrative Approach to Better Understand Species’ Response to Climate Change,” was published by the online science journal PLoS One. The co-author is P. David Polly, associate professor in the Department of Geological Sciences in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences.

Take the timber rattlesnake for example. It’s now found throughout the Eastern United States. The study finds that, with a temperature increase of 1.1 degree Celsius over the next 90 years, its range would actually expand slightly into New York, New England and Texas.

However, temperatures are likely to increase even more. So with an increase of 6.4 degrees Celsius, the upper range of current IPCC projections, the rattlers’ range would “shrink to a small area on the Tennessee-North Carolina border,” the researchers found.

And the eastern diamondback rattlesnake would be displaced entirely from its current range in the southeastern U.S. with a temperature increase of 6.4 degrees.

Basically, snakes can’t move fast enough to adapt. The authors suggest they may need some help, with migration routes and they may need to be relocated.

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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of “Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
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Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase on iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the very bottom of this newsletter and you find three ways how.
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Table of Contents

1) Job Catching Lizards?
2) ORNATE BOX TURTLE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
3) Hellbender Salamander Study Seeks Answers for Global Amphibian Decline
4) Amazon Turtles - Illegal Protein for the Poor, Delicacy for the Rich- A large part of the eggs laid by turtles on the beaches of the Xingu river are lost due to different causes.
5) 42 million turtles born in 2010-11 nesting season in Mexico ,according to Mexican authorties
6) Bibliography of Latest issue of Journal of Herpetology Vol. 45, Issue 4 (Dec 2011)
7) Wildlife Conservation Society Video Advises Department of Defense on Threats of Illegal Wildlife Trade-Latest initiative implores soldiers to cross illegal wildlife products off the holiday gift list, outlines costs to career, mission, and security __________________________________________________________
The MAGNETS are still being given out in return for a min donation of $24.00 or more. (4 magnets) Please also tell us 3 alternative magnets. (We are already out of Green Iguanas and Leather back sea turtles) You can order with credit card through Paypal even if you don’t belong see info on donation page of website. And no need to go to flickr to see the magnets they are all on the donation page of the HerpDigest website.
And don’t stop at $24.00 round up to $30.00 get another magnet. $6.00 for each additional magnet, Free S&H - except not in US contact us. asalzberg@herpdigest.org ___________________________________________________________________
Still Available
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons. See at end of newsletter for additional information on book and how to order.
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1) Job Catching Lizards?

Title: Field Technician Agency: Fitzgerald Lab, Wildlife & Fisheries Science Dept., TAMU Location: Maljamar, New Mexico, U.S.A. Job Description: The laboratory of Dr. Lee A. Fitzgerald is seeking two highly motivated individuals with strong organizational skills to serve as field technicians. This position begins in April and ends in September, 2012.

Primary duties include: general equipment maintenance, processing of wild caught animals (lizards and snakes), and clear communication with supervisor and other technicians regarding tasked duties. Following a thorough introduction and familiarization period (one-two weeks), technician must be capable of performing tasks independently. All work will be conducted out of a field station in Maljamar, NM. Daily schedule revolves around routine checking of pit(fall) traps in the deserts of southern New Mexico.

Qualifications: Minimum requirements: High School Diploma or GED with 2 years of coursework in the life sciences. Ideal candidate will: be in their last year of coursework leading to a B.S. in the life sciences (experience in herpetology is desired), have prior field experience, and most importantly, have a desire to conduct field biological work under harsh conditions.

Last Date to apply: Application review will begin on February 15, 2012.

Website: http://people.tamu.edu/~dlea886/Research.html

To apply send a brief cover letter, resume or CV, and the names of three references familiar with applicants work history to the email address: tamulizardjob@hotmail.com with title WFSC JOB POSTING in the subject line.

*NOTE: please forward questions to Dan Leavitt dlea886@tamu.edu. Dan will be unavailable at the phone number below from December 20 to January 5, 2012.

Salary: $10.00/hr; 40 hr/week Last Date to apply: February 15, 2012 Website: http://people.tamu.edu/~dlea886/Research.html Contact: Dan Leavitt
E-mail: tamulizardjob@hotmail.com(Preferred)
Phone: 979-862-7245
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2) ORNATE BOX TURTLE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Summer Session: May through August

About the program
Summer interns at Colorado Reptile Humane Society are primarily focused on studies on wild T. o. ornata, our native ornate box turtle (see Colorado Box Turtle Project for more details). For 2012, we will be radio tracking numerous turtles to better understand home range and habitat preferences. This work takes place on the eastern plains, involves early mornings, working as part of a team, and field data recording. Data entry and analysis is also part of the internship.

During summer 2012, expect to go out to the field 3-4 times per week, leaving Longmont as early as 5:00 am. We will take 1-2 trips within Colorado conducting surveys for box turtles; one trip may be as long as 2 weeks.

Under the direction of the Lead Intern, you will gain hands-on experience with morphometric data measurements of wild turtles plant identification tracking (radio telemetry) turtles home range calculation map creation.

Other duties
Summer Interns may also provide care for many shelter chelonians (turtles and tortoises). CoRHS shelters approximately 75 chelonians during summer. Other duties involve working with lizards, snakes, and amphibians with opportunities to gain hands-on experience working with many different reptile and amphibian species, including captive-bred foreign and native-born wildlife. This includes daily observations of eating and other normal behaviors, habitat development, enrichment, and maintenance, growth measurements, and socialization where appropriate.

CoRHS interns learn skills such as safe animal handling techniques, cleaning and disinfection procedures, habitat enrichment, diets, food preparation and feeding methods, and may assist experienced staff and volunteers with first-aid treatment procedures.

Expectations
Interns at CoRHS are self-motivated individuals who can both work independently and as part of a team as well as follow established procedures and make suggestions for improvements. Good observational skills are critical as are writing and speaking skills. Interns are required to work during CoRHS's annual open house, Sunday, June 24th, 2012.

Working Conditions
Much of summer work takes place outdoors; Colorado summers are very hot, dry, and sunny. Indoor working conditions are also hot and sometimes also humid.

If you are interning for school credit or have a specific school project that needs to be completed during your time with us, please let us know when you apply.

Recommended prior experience
Previous experience in animal care with reptile, turtle, and amphibian wildlife or domesticated animals is helpful. Degrees (or in progress) in the natural sciences, wildlife management, or environmental education are preferred but we consider interns from any background.

Time requirements and Stipend
We require interns to work a minimum of ten weeks, 30 hours per week (or more if desired) for the course of the summer. We expect to begin the week of May 13 or May 20, 2011. Dates can be flexible and we work together to form a schedule that accommodates everyone. A $500 stipend is provided.

Transportation
Your own transportation to and from the shelter must be provided. It may be possible to car pool with staff or volunteers depending on the specifics of the situation.

Housing
There is currently no on-site housing at CoRHS. If you are coming from a distance, you will be responsible for finding your own housing. However, we are available to make recommendations on affordable housing in the area.

How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, letter of recommendation from an employer or professor, and Internship Application. They can be emailed to volunteer@corhs.org or mailed to:

Colorado Reptile Humane Society
Attn: Summer Intern Program
13941 Elmore Road
Longmont, Colorado 80504

Due Date
Applications are due on or before March 1st, 2012.
Due to insurance reasons you must be 18 or older to apply.

A. E. (Ann-Elizabeth) Nash, Executive Director Colorado Reptile Humane Society (CoRHS) www.corhs.org ____________________________________________________________
3) Hellbender Salamander Study Seeks Answers for Global Amphibian Decline

ScienceDaily (Dec. 19, 2011) — A new study co-authored by University of Florida researchers on the endangered Ozark Hellbender giant salamander is the first to detail its skin microbes, the bacteria and fungi that defend against pathogens.

Published recently in the online journal PLoS One, the study details changes in the salamander's declining health and habitat, and could provide a baseline for how changing ecosystems are affecting the rapid decline of amphibians worldwide.

"Scientists and biologists view amphibians as kind of a 'canary in the coal mine' and their health is often used as a barometer for overall ecosystem health, including potential problems that may affect humans," said study co-author Max Nickerson, herpetology curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus.

More than 2 feet long, the Ozark Hellbender is the one of largest salamander species in the United States. Its unusual biological characteristics include the ability to regenerate injured or missing body parts.

In the new study, lead author Cheryl Nickerson, a professor at Arizona State University, along with NASA and UF scientists, cultured and identified microorganisms from abnormal and injured tissue on the salamanders searching for pathogens that may be causing the lack of regeneration and population decline.

The researchers found several potentially dangerous pathogens, including Aeromonas hydrophila, a bacterium scientists believe is associated with disease and death in both amphibians and fish.
While many different pathogens were found in the injured tissue, no single organism was found to be responsible for the lack of regeneration. Researchers believe the occurrence of abnormalities and injury in the Ozark Hellbender may have many contributing factors, including disease and habitat degradation, and say further study is needed

"If you don't understand an amphibian's skin you don't understand the amphibians," Nickerson said.
Scientists have known about the remarkable powers of salamander regeneration for more than 200 years, but beginning in the 1980s, researchers noticed a sharp decline in the Ozark Hellbender population. They also found a specific population from the North Fork of Missouri's White River was declining dramatically and losing the ability to regenerate.

"We were finding animals with no legs that were still alive with flesh wounds or bones sticking out of limbs," Nickerson said.

"Looking at the microorganisms on their skin can help us understand why these animals aren't regenerating at the rate we're used to seeing, and may lead to conclusions about population declines," he said.

In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added the Ozark Hellbender to the federal endangered species list. Its species name is Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi.

Stanley Trauth, curator of amphibians and reptiles in the department of biological sciences at Arkansas State University, said public awareness of the species is increasing, and Hellbenders have recently been successfully bred for the first time in captivity at the St. Louis Zoo.

"There has been a dramatic decrease in the population and there are a number of factors that contribute to that," Trauth said. "But these types of studies will help provide more consistent results on the impact of microorganisms and animal health."

"In the last 20 years we have been finding a tremendous number of injuries on these animals and those injuries are not healing," Nickerson said. "Now the population is down to almost nothing and we are very worried about the species and the environmental changes around them."

The Ozark Hellbender's fossil record goes back 161 million years and it represents one of the most ancient lines of amphibian life.

"This is about as far, in phylogeny, as that type of regeneration goes, this is the most ancient group of salamanders that we know of," Nickerson said. "They have been through a lot and we want to find out what these changes mean."

"The animals in the river systems in that area, just like in Florida, where we have these huge amounts of spring water you have to worry about it," Nickerson said. "That's a big dome of fresh water and it has implications on human health as well."
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4) Amazon Turtles - Illegal Protein for the Poor, Delicacy for the Rich- A large part of the eggs laid by turtles on the beaches of the Xingu river are lost due to different causes.
By Mario Osava -

BAJO XINGU, Brazil, Dec 19, 2011 (IPS) - "Many people lie" about the common practice of poaching turtles to eat or sell, said a man renowned for his fishing skills who lives on the banks of the Xingu river in Brazil's eastern Amazon jungle region.

He is an illustration of the risks of engaging in the illegal capture of turtles: he has been fined a total of 45,000 reals (24,000 dollars) by the environmental authorities, a staggering sum for local people.

On the last occasion, he was fined for taking eight Giant Amazon river turtles (Podocnemis expansa). "There were only five of them, and I was going to let the two little ones go and only eat three, but they fined me for eight," he complained to IPS.

To pay the steep fine, the fisherman, who preferred to remain anonymous, must rely on his income from extracting latex, used for making natural rubber, from rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) which are abundant in the forests of Bajo Xingu.

Brazilian law bans capturing turtles and their eggs; the only exception is for indigenous peoples within their territories. But the law fails to recognise the survival needs of traditional riverside communities and the descendants of African slaves who hunt for subsistence. Offenders incur heavy fines and are sometimes even arrested.

This is neither rational nor just, says biologist Juarez Pezzuti, a professor at the Federal University of Pará, a northern Amazon jungle state.

Communities of poor riverside dwellers face draconian penalties for their traditional subsistence activities, which hardly threaten turtles in comparison with commercial hunting, he said, adding that fishing of truly endangered species is tolerated at the same time.

Furthermore, since 1992, farming of two turtle species most used for human food, the Giant Amazon turtle and the tracajá or yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) has been encouraged, to supply restaurants authorised to offer their customers turtle meat.

Through its Amazon Turtle Project, Brazil's national environment authority, IBAMA, collects and protects millions of turtle hatchlings in their first weeks of life, to prevent their depredation on the beaches where they hatch, before releasing them into rivers.

But it donates up to 10 percent of the hatchlings to officially recognised turtle farmers. In the case of the yellow-spotted river turtle, up to 20 percent of hatchlings may be handed over.

Hundreds of turtle farms have sprung up without any noticeable reduction of pressure on the turtle populations from hunting and illegal trade. What facts are known indicate that little or nothing has been achieved towards the intended goals: the recovery of reproductive rates and a decrease in the risk of extinction.

Turtle farming for the restaurant trade should be banned, as it transfers to the private sector wild fauna, defined in the constitution as public property that cannot be appropriated, said Pezzuti.

The private turtle farmers are treated completely differently from the riverside dwellers, marking an apparent class distinction. The farmed turtle is served up as a rare delicacy to the patrons of posh restaurants, while the law comes down hard on small-time forest poachers.

And there is another kind of discrimination going on. Turtle meat produced with factory farming techniques, with the creatures taken from their habitat and fattened in captivity in artificial ponds, is granted legal status - unlike the product hunted in the wild, or the potential raising of turtles in their natural habitat.

Modifying the laws that fail to recognise turtle hunting for subsistence so that they allow sustainable catches for food would be an important step towards more effective conservation of turtles and other wildlife, Pezzuti argues.

He also said enforcement of the law is failing, because it is impossible to have enough inspectors in the vast Amazon region. He pointed, meanwhile, to successful examples of participative management in Costa Rica and Ecuador, using turtle eggs from nests trampled by other females, or at risk from river floods.

The ban on turtle hunting frustrates the collection of reliable statistics, sets the local population in opposition to environmental authorities, and hampers integration between traditional and academic knowledge, to the detriment of effective management, the biology professor said.

In order to preserve and even increase turtle populations in the Amazon jungle, Pezzuti proposes including riverside communities as participants in their management. There are community initiatives that have succeeded in recovering populations of these species, but if people are barred from legally enjoying the results, cohesion and long-term management are weakened, he said.

Most of the eggs laid by turtles on beaches in areas like Tabuleiro do Embaubal, a set of more than 100 islands on the final stretch of the Xingu river, never hatch because of flooding of the nests, excessive temperatures and various other causes.

Controlled selective collection of eggs from the most vulnerable nests would not affect the turtles' reproduction, Pezzuti said.

Turtles are prolific breeders, laying over 100 eggs in most of their nests, a reproductive strategy for ensuring the survival of the species in the face of mass mortality from the elements and natural enemies, like seagulls, vultures, other reptiles and fish.

A tiny percentage of turtle hatchlings reach adulthood. But this situation can favour management: taking a few careful measures against predation losses can ensure rapid multiplication of the species.

Over the past three decades, IBAMA's Amazon Turtle Project has demonstrated the success of this practice by protecting turtle nests and gathering and raising hatchlings, to give them a survival advantage when they are released into the wild. Predation on the beaches has been minimised, and the turtle populations have made a comeback in many parts of the rainforest.

For poor riverside dwellers, the meat and eggs of Amazon turtles are a much-needed source of protein.

A 2007 study by Maria de Jesus Rodrigues, a professor at the Federal Rural University of Amazonia, and Luciane de Moura, a fisheries engineer, found a very high protein content in wild turtle meat: 79 percent of dry weight, much higher than in beef or in farmed turtles.

But changing the law is difficult. Those in favour of reform are disorganised and scattered, in contrast with the rising tide of environmental activists who will no doubt oppose any relaxation of the ban. And the environmental crimes law, which stiffened penalties, was enacted relatively recently, in 1998.
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5) 42 million turtles born in 2010-11 nesting season in Mexico ,according to Mexican authorties Times of India, IANS | Dec 22, 2011, 10.52AM IST

MEXICO CITY: Mexican authorities recorded a total of 42.2 million Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Kemp's Ridley sea turtle births during the 2010-11 nesting season, authorities said.



Efforts to secure the protection of female turtles and their nests and safeguard hatchlings' journey to the ocean are led by the National Commission on Natural Protected Areas, or Conanp, at 33 nesting beaches, the Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat said in a statement Tuesday.



Ten of those beaches are natural protected areas, three are located inside biosphere reserves, 15 are internationally designated wetlands sites and the remainder are located in areas without special protection mechanisms, the secretariat said.



Approximately 1.2 million Olive Ridley turtle nests were laid and 23.3 million offspring made their way to the ocean at the Playa de Escobilla sanctuary and Morro Ayuta beach, both located in the southern state of Oaxaca.



A total of 20,574 Kemp's Ridley turtle nests were laid in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas and 534 in the eastern state of Veracruz and an estimated 18.9 million hatchlings reached the sea in those two regions.

"The nesting figure for the latest season is up (compared to the previous season), and therefore the conclusion can be drawn that the population is on the road to recovery," the secretariat said.



In the case of the Leatherback turtle, one of the most threatened turtle species in Mexico, authorities counted a total of 615 nests, mainly on the coasts of the Pacific states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca.

In those states, authorities supervised the entrance to the sea of 15,414 Leatherback offspring.



The secretariat estimates that around 1,647 Leatherback turtle nests were laid along the entire Pacific coast during the 2010-11 nesting season.

Invasion of their habitat (beaches) by man, accidental fishing, depredation of their nests by some communities that still consume their flesh and eggs and injuries suffered by boats' outboard motors are the main dangers sea turtles in Mexico face.

Mexico banned the harvest of sea turtles for commercial or subsistence reasons in April 2006.

(Editor-Anyone out there who could verify this?) ________________________________________________________

6) Bibliography of Latest issue of Journal of Herpetology Vol. 45, Issue 4 (Dec 2011) For abstracts and contacts to get copy of paper go to
http://www.bioone.org/toc/hpet/45/4 for links.

FOCUS ON HERPETOLOGY IN ASIA

Ontogenetic Shifts in Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproduction in the Reeves's Butterfly Lizard Leiolepis reevesii from Hainan, China
Yu Du, Chi-Xian Lin, Long-Hui Lin, Qing-Bo Qiu, and Xiang Ji
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 399-405.

Acoustic Analysis of the Advertisement Calls of the Music Frog, Babina daunchina
Qin Chen, Jianguo Cui, Guangzhan Fang, Steven E. Brauth, and Yezhong Tang
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 406-416.

Cutaneous Resistance to Evaporative Water Loss in the Crab-eating Frog (Fejervarya cancrivora)
Mark L. Wygoda, Theresa F. Dabruzzi, and Wayne A. Bennett
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 417-420.


Postbreeding Movement and Habitat Use of the Plateau Brown Frog, Rana kukunoris, in a High-Elevation Wetland
Yin Qi, Zachary Felix, Yong Wang, Haijun Gu, and Yuezhao Wang
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 421-427.


Levels of Predation Modulate Antipredator Defense Behavior and Metamorphic Traits in the Toad Bufo melanostictus
Santosh M. Mogali, Srinivas K. Saidapur, and Bhagyashri A. Shanbhag
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 428-431.


Use of Oviposition Sites by a Rhacophorid Frog Inhabiting a Coastal Area in Japan
Takashi Haramura
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 432-437.


BEHAVIOR

Competitive Interactions in Phytotelmata—Breeding Pools of Two Poison-Dart Frogs (Anura: Dendrobatidae) in Costa Rica
Mason J. Ryan and Deborah S. Barry
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 438-443.


CONSERVATION

Validation of Diagnostic Tests in Wildlife: The Case of Chytridiomycosis in Wild Amphibians
Lee F. Skerratt, Diana Mendez, Keith R. McDonald, Stephen Garland, James Livingstone, Lee Berger, and Richard Speare
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 444-450.


MORPHOLOGY

Character Variation in Embryonic Development of the Lizard Uta stansburiana
Robin M. Andrews and Virginia W. Greene
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 451-454.



BEHAVIOR
Is Bigger Always Better? Mate Selection in the Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis)
Melissa C. Jones, James R. Dixon, and Michael R. J. Forstner
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 455-456.


MORPHOLOGY

Morphology, Sexual Dimorphism, and Growth in the Smallest Viperid, Bitis schneideri (Reptilia: Squamata: Viperidae)
Bryan Maritz and Graham J. Alexander
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 457-462.


Tadpole of Plectrohyla arborescandens, with Comments on the Identity of the Tadpole of Plectrohyla cyclada
Moises Kaplan and Peter Heimes
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 463-464.


First Record of Morphological Abnormalities in Natural Populations of Two Amphibian Species in Tunisia
Jihène Ben Hassine, Vivian de Buffrénil, and Saïd Nouira
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 465-471.


ECOLOGY
Spatial, Ontogenetic, and Sexual Effects on the Diet of a Teiid Lizard in Arid South America
Jeroen Peter van Leeuwen, Alessandro Catenazzi, and Milena Holmgren
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 472-477.

Microhabitat Selection of Woody Debris by Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) in a Dune Habitat in Ontario, Canada
Stephen J. Hecnar and Darlene R. Hecnar
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 478-483.

CONSERVATION

Factors Influencing Home-Range Sizes of Eastern Indigo Snakes in Central Florida
David R. Breininger, M. Rebecca Bolt, Michael L. Legare, John H. Drese, and Eric D. Stolen
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 484-490.

Anuran Larval Habitat Quality When Reed Canary Grass Is Present in Wetlands
Tracy A. G. Rittenhouse
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 491-496.

Effects of Fire History on Amphibian and Reptile Assemblages in Rosemary Scrub
Kyle G. Ashton and Anna C. S. Knipps
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 497-503.

BEHAVIOR

Multiple Paternity in the Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
Zachary W. Bateson, John D. Krenz, and Robert E. Sorensen
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 504-510.

MORPHOLOGY

Functional Anatomy of the Lateral Nasal Gland in Anuran Amphibians and Its Relation to the Vomeronasal Organ
Christine Nowack
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 511-515.

PHYSIOLOGY

Hematology and Blood Biochemistry of Young Healthy Broad-Snouted Caimans (Caiman latirostris)
M. A. Zayas, H. A. Rodríguez, G. H. Galoppo, C. Stoker, M. Durando, E. H. Luque, and M. Muñoz-de-Toro
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 516-524.

Classification Modeling of Physiological Stages in Captive Balkan Whip Snakes Using Blood Biochemistry Parameters
Rozelindra Coz-Rakovac, Duje Lisicic, Tomislav Smuc, Natalija Topic Popovic, Ivancica Strunjak-Perovic, Margita Jadan, Zoran Tadic, and Jurica Jug Dujakovic
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 525-529.

SYSTEMATICS

Extensive Phylogeographic and Morphological Diversity in Diporiphora nobbi (Agamidae) Leads to a Taxonomic Review and a New Species Description
Danielle L. Edwards and Jane Melville
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 530-546.

POLICY

Toe Clipping of Amphibians and Reptiles: Science, Ethics, and the Law
Gad Perry, Mark C. Wallace, Dan Perry, Howard Curzer, and Peter Muhlberger
Journal of Herpetology Dec 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4: 547-555.
____________________________________________________________________

7) Wildlife Conservation Society Video Advises Department of Defense on Threats of Illegal Wildlife Trade

Latest initiative implores soldiers to cross illegal wildlife products off the holiday gift list, outlines costs to career, mission, and security

NEW YORK (December 22, 2011) – The Wildlife Conservation Society today announced the release of Caught in the Crosshairs: Combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Iraq and Afghanistan—a new video aimed at informing U.S. military personnel about the consequences of buying illegal wildlife products when deployed or stationed overseas.

The video, seen here, is the latest outreach tool in an ongoing initiative supported by the Department of Defense (DoD) Legacy Program that began in 2007 when WCS staff first noticed illegal items for sale on military bases near Kabul, Afghanistan. A subsequent survey of 395 soldiers at Fort Drum in June 2008 revealed that more than 40 percent of those surveyed had purchased or seen someone else in the military purchase products made from wildlife while stationed overseas.

Launched during the holiday season, it is hoped that the new video will educate and remind military personnel returning home to not purchase and transport these products as gifts for family and friends.
Many of the wildlife products available that end up on bases in Afghanistan and Iraq are from locally or globally threatened or endangered species such as snow leopard, Eurasian wolf, and Asiatic black bear. The purchase and transport of such products violates military regulations, U.S. laws such as the Endangered Species Act, national laws of Afghanistan, and obligations to international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Only a small fraction of respondents to our 2008 survey knew about the various laws regulating trade in illegal wildlife,” said WCS North America Program Livelihoods Coordinator Dr. Heidi Kretser. “The video highlights the potential consequences for soldiers purchasing wildlife products and illustrates how demand for these items can put species at risk and contribute to local, regional, and global extinctions.”
Military personnel and affiliates stationed overseas have significant buying power that influences local markets—including driving the demand for wildlife products. This is bad news for iconic wildlife such as snow leopards in Afghanistan that are endangered, yet are sometimes poached for their beautiful coat and other body parts. By demonstrating this cause and effect relationship to military personnel, the video looks to end demand for these products, and therefore, the incentive for dealers to carry them and support poaching.

The video, narrated by actor/director and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity Edward Norton, also alerts the viewer to other dangers of purchasing and transporting illegal wildlife products. These include threats associated with zoonotic disease (pathogens that occur in wildlife that are potentially transmissible to people), the depletion of scarce and/or culturally significant natural resources, and the inadvertent support of organized crime.

The video notes that law enforcement authorities are finding that organized crime groups that smuggle weapons and drugs are increasingly involved with the trade of illegal wildlife – a trade estimated to reach into the billions of dollars.

“We believe the video helps the message resonate with military personnel on several levels, said Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, Energy & Environment. “If something is seized and it is understood that it has been intentionally purchased with the intent of transporting it back to the United States, then they are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and their command is notified. So it could jeopardize a soldier’s entire career.”

WCS Deputy Director of Asia Programs Peter Zahler said, “We are proud to be advising the DoD on this important project to reduce demand for wildlife products, protect military personnel from inadvertently breaking the law, and protect globally significant wildlife. This video will go a long way in helping both WCS and DoD achieve their missions.”

Contacts: SCOTT SMITH: (1-718-220-3698; smith@wcs.org">ssmith@wcs.org) & STEPHEN SAUTNER: (1-718-220 3682; sautner@wcs.org">ssautner@wcs.org)

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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 11 Issue # 55 12/26/11 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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I’d like to thank Carole Demas, David Wake and his wife, and David Servage for their Holiday donations.
Wouldn’t you like to help HerpDigest keep going. Donations of any size are appreciated from $1.00 to $25.00 to $100.00 to...?
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A TWO FOR ONE DEAL
Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of “Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
AND
Help Diamondback Terrapins - Paraphrasing From Russ Burke the scientist in charge of the terrapin project at Jamaica Bay, NYC.
Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase on iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the very bottom of this newsletter and you find three ways how.
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Table of Contents
1) A Sad Health Warning to Everyone in the Tropics from Richard Vogt
2) Dr. Susan Hagood, box turtle researcher extraordinaire, has died of cancer.
3) A Report on Current Florida Freshwater Turtle Laws from Ken Dodd 12/23/11
4) PARC ANNOUNCES 2012 YEAR OF THE LIZARD PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
5) 327 Turtles, Podocnemis expanas adult females destined for Christmas Eve Dinner were confiscated from poachers and released in the Rio Branco near Caracaraí by , ICMBio authorities.
6) Turtles Show Way to Prosperity
7) An Idyllic Picture of Serenity, but Only if You’re Not Inside-Tropical fish hobbyists will tell you their tanks are a source of relaxation, but recent research suggests the fish might disagree.
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Still Available
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons. See at end of newsletter for additional information on book and how to order.
__________________________________________________________________
1) A Sad Health Warning to Everyone in the Tropics from Richard Vogt Telêmaco Jason Mendes-Pinto died yesterday at a very Young age, of Leptospriosis in Santarem, Para, Brazil

This is a warning to everyone in the tropics, wash off the tops of your soda cans and beer cans before drinking the contents. We have no way of knowing what animal may have urinated on the can when it was in a storeroom. We do not know how he contacted the disease often carried by rats and transmitted by their urine. It is more prevalent in the tropics because the bacteria live longer under moist warm conditions. We are playing Russian Roulette.

In 1980 when in a local Argentine restaurant in Mexico City with Oscar Flores Villela and a couple of undergraduate students of Hobart Smith, they asked us what the strange ritual was of people wiping off the top of their beer cans before opening the can, we explained it was to clean the can to prevent picking up diseases. They looked at us as if we were crazy. Perhaps our custom in Mexico of squeezing lime juice on top of the can after it was opened also helped save our lives from these nasty bacteria.
When in Cancun this summer, one of my colleagues washed all products from the supermarket with soap and water, cans, plastic bags, bottles, fruit, vegetables, EVERYTHING. She told me that her brotherinlaw contracted Leptospriosis several years ago at the age of 26 and is alive, but essentially a vegetable.

Jason had great energy and potential, he appeared in my office in Manaus full of energy in May 2009 and was a volunteer in the collection until August of 2011 when he moved back to Santarem to accept a teaching position at a local college, Secretaria de Educação do Estado do Pará, where he began teaching courses in Biology and Chemistry to indigenous students and continued to collect data on herp distribution and ecology.

He got his BS degree in 2008 Inventário de Répteis do Sítio Mapinguarí, Rodovia Estadual Everaldo Martins Km 17, Comunidade de Jatobá, Santarém, Pará, Brasil..in Santarem under the guidance of one of my former students Hipócrates de Menezes Chalkidis.

Jason had just defended his ms thesis Caracterização Ecológica da Herpetofauna de uma Reserva de Uso Sustentável na Amazônia Central in early December 2011.

He was planning on teaching for awhile and then returning to INPA for his doctorate. Amazonian herpetological knowledge will be setback without his driving energy and contagious interest. We will miss his enthusiasm for the small creatures he would bring in and his wonder about variation within species. He had four publications and another four accepted that he did not get to see published. ___________________________________________________________________________
2) Dr. Susan Hagood, box turtle researcher extraordinaire, has died of cancer.

We regret to inform you that Dr. Susan Hagood, box turtle researcher extraordinaire, has died of cancer. Susan completed her PhD at the University of Maryland with a dissertation entitled "Genetic differentiation of selected Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) populations in Fragmented Habitats, and a Comparison of Road-based Mortality Rates to Population Size" in 2009. The title is a little misleading, since she included data on the genetic structure of our Egmont Key box turtle population in addition to the main focus of her study in Maryland. Marian and I hosted her on a collecting trip to Egmont to collect blood for genetic analysis, and we got to know Susan pretty well. She was a good scientist and a very nice person to be around. It is my understanding that her dissertation is available online through ProQuest. At the time of her death, she was working with Dr. Tim King of the USGS Patuxent Research Center to prepare manuscripts for publication; unfortunately, I do!
not know the status of this collaboration. I had the privilege of presenting part of her dissertation for her at this year's TSA meetings in Orlando.

We are also including a copy of her obituary for additional information. We have lost a good friend.

Ken Dodd/Marian Griffey

December 6, 2011
Susan Hagood

AnonymousThe Journal-RegisterThe Journal-RegisterTue Dec 06, 2011, 11:50 AM EST

MEDINA — Susan Hagood, age 54, died of cancer on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at her home in Hanover, PA, with her husband of 28 years, Jerry Boxman, at her side.

Susan was born in Medina, NY, on December 27, 1956, the third child of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Scott Hagood. She attended Medina schools, graduating in 1975.

She completed her undergraduate studies at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and did graduate work at Louisiana State University. Susan received her Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2009.

In the Acknowledgements section of her 2009 doctoral dissertation, Susan wrote, "My husband, Jerry, designed and constructed the turtle holder that was indispensable in each and every sample I obtained, and about which the airport security personnel in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Tampa are still marveling. Our Labrador retriever "Drew" found so many of the turtles captured for this study that I often felt my role was simply to drive her from home to park and back again. My father "a gentleman and a scholar" modeled for me the kind of Ph.D. I'd like to be. While he passed away in 2007, perhaps he knows I may at last succeed.”
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Ken Dodd and others have sent out the sad news that Susan Hagood has died. Ken and I believe that her dissertation from 2009 deserves to be widely disseminated. It is titled: "Genetic differentiation of selected Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) populations in Fragmented Habitats, and a Comparison of Road-based Mortality Rates to Population Size" Please contact me if you would like a copy. Susan belonged to the small group of really first-rate box turtle researchers who also fought for the conservation of this species.

A ROSS KIESTER
CHIEF SCIENTIST
TURTLE CONSERVANCY
BEHLER CHELONIAN CENTER
ROSS@TURTLECONSERVANCY.ORG
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3) A Report on Current Florida Freshwater Turtle Laws from Ken Dodd 12/23/11

Dear All:

The latest issue of " Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations", published by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, has been put out for 2011-2012. The notice states that "Freshwater turtles taken from the wild cannot be sold." It notes that the possession limit for box turtles (species not stated) is two, as it is for Escambia map turtles, loggerhead musk turtles and diamondback terrapins. Alligator snappers, Barbour's map turtles and Suwannee Cooters require a permit for possession. Taking "cooters" (species undefined), Escambia map turtles, and snapping turtles (presumably C. serpentina) from the wild is prohibited because of their similarity of appearance to protected species.

Also, "For all other freshwater turtles, take is limited to one turtle per person per day from the wild for noncommercial use." Softshells may not be taken from May 1-July 31. Collecting freshwater turtle eggs is also prohibited. Transport of more than one turtle at a time is prohibited. The only exception to these rules are red-eared sliders (T. s. elegans) which are not native to Florida. These can be harvested without limit, but they can only be sold outside the state of Florida.

It does not appear that the very rare Clemmys guttata (spotted turtle) receives any protection (at least as stated in these rules).

Note that the regulations do not protect other turtle species, despite other state laws. At Pangea Pets in Gainesville today, I saw a Desert Box Turtle, an Ornate Box Turtle, and a Florida Box Turtle for sale. Naturally, native species under 4 inches were freely available "for educational purposes" (wink, wink).

Cheers

Dr. Kenneth Dodd

(Editor - No changes were made to the above letter. And permission was give to reprint it. Posted on TFTSSG listserv, 12/23/11. Wouldn’t it be nice if not just turtle but reptile and amphibian scientists from other states did similar reports. I would gladly publish them. And anyone one Florida would like to tackle laws on the other herps.) __________________________________________________________________________
4) PARC ANNOUNCES 2012 YEAR OF THE LIZARD PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

PARC is seeking close-up, digital photos of lizards, preferably in their natural habitats or within an educational or conservation context. One winner will be selected each month to be the featured photo as part of the Year-of-the-Lizard online (printable) calendar. Runner-up photos also will be included in the calendar. Additionally, all submitted images will be considered for use in the Year of the Lizard monthly newsletter and website as well as other PARC-related conservation, outreach, and educational efforts. Give us your best shot!

Photos will be judged on quality (resolution, lighting, composition) as well as the general appeal of the subject of the photo. The lizard(s) should be the focus of submitted photos. Photos also should capture the coloration, markings, and overall “personality” of the lizard(s), and should be accompanied by a conservation message related to the photo that highlights a conservation issue for the lizard(s) or its/their habitat. Multiple photos may be submitted.

Photos selected for a given month of the calendar will be selected by the 20th of the previous month (i.e., the winning photo for January will be selected on December 20th, and so on each month); however, photos will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be considered for future months. Winners will be notified of their photo’s selection via email and will be asked to provide a brief personal biography.

Please visit www.yearofthelizard.org for the photo contest entry form that MUST be submitted with photos, and for additional details regarding the photos contest, requirements, and Terms of Use.

More information and details on the Year of the Lizard is now posted at

www.yearofthelizard.org

Please bookmark this address and keep checking back.

Additional questions? Please email

ARCphotocontest@gmail.com">PARCphotocontest@gmail.com

Thank you for your participation.
_______________________________________________________________________
5) 327 Turtles, Podocnemis expanas adult females destined for Christmas Eve Dinner were confiscated from poachers and released in the Rio Branco near Caracaraí by , ICMBio authorities.
Glauco Araújo Do G1, em São Paulo , 12/22/11----

Game wardens recuperated 327 tartarugas and captured 6 trafficers the wild animlas during na operation that began on December 15 and terminated on the 21st in the lower Rio Branco, near Caracaraí (RORAIMA). Supposedly the turtles were destined for Christmas Eve Dinner and were commissioned for the hunters to catch these turtles by people with a lot of political power.

The turtles according to the technician from Instituto Chico Mendes (ICMBio), were found tied up and in sacks, ready to take to Boa Vista, where they were to be delivered to the buyers for R$300 ($225US) for the larger ones and R$100 for the smaller ones

In addition to the turtles 311 eggs were confiscated., disse Antonio Lisboa, chefe do Parque Nacional do Viruá e analista ambiental do ICMBio.

The prisoners Said that the turtles were to be delivered to a particular address to people of high Power in Boa Vista..

The operation was to be extended until December 30 with the help of IBAMA and Military Police of the Environment in the Stat of Roraima. "The registered 23 auto fines. Among the crimes commited by these trafficantes of wildlife, were bad treatment of the animals and formation of na organized trafficking unit “quadrilha". All of the prisoners were taken to the state Penetencery Agrícola Monte Cristo.
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6) Turtles Show Way to Prosperity
By VINCENT M. MALLOZZI 12/26/11Earl Wilson/The New York Times

Passers-by gaze into the display window at a pearl store in Manhattan whose owner keeps turtles because they helped save his family from poverty.
The turtles in a large aquarium in a Midtown window often bring passers-by to a halt, even those used to seeing the unexpected.

“Everyone who passes this store wants to know about the turtles,” said Johnny Lu, whose business specializes in the manufacture and sale of coral and pearl jewelry. “I tell them that my family owes everything we have to the turtles.”

Mr. Lu, a fisherman’s son who grew up in the Penghu Islands off the western coast of Taiwan, was 8 when a typhoon destroyed his father’s boat and fishing equipment, plunging his family into despair.
“We nearly starved to death,” said Mr. Lu, 58, who is one of 11 children. “We ate rotten potatoes for months. We couldn’t afford rice. My mother went to the temple every day and prayed for some kind of miracle, but our situation seemed hopeless. We weren’t starting again from the ground up; we were starting from somewhere beneath the ground.”

Mr. Lu’s mother and father, Lu Hong Kui-Su and Lu Ching-Shui, began making ends meet by collecting coral shells along the golden beaches of Penghu, decorating the shells as jewelry and selling them to local residents.

And then, one tiny step at a time, their miracle began to arrive.

Mr. Lu’s father noticed that turtles roaming the Penghu Islands — also called the Pescadores — often nestled in pearl beds in shallow and deeper waters. He began following the trails of hundreds of turtles and discovered thousands upon thousands of pearls, which he began to sell, along with the coral shells, as jewelry.

In a short time, Mr. Lu’s father became a well-to-do pearl farmer. He opened a factory in Taipei to produce pearl necklaces and other jewelry, and before long, American and other foreign retailers were demanding his product.

The family kept expanding the business. In 1984, Mr. Lu opened a pearl store in Manhattan. Two years later, he, his parents and his siblings created a second, much larger pearl farm on Hainan Island, in the South China Sea.

ohnny Lu says turtles were the reason his family was able to succeed in the pearl business.
At 246 West 38th Street, Mr. Lu has one of his three Manhattan stores. It is also where about two dozen turtles raise the curiosity of people on the street.

“This business will remain with my family for generations to come,” said Mr. Lu, whose Lucoral and Lupearl Corporation also has manufacturing and wholesale arms. “We have a lot of nieces and nephews to put to work.”

One of Mr. Lu’s sisters, Flora Lu, runs the Lucoral Museum and Gift Shop in Honolulu.
In a telephone interview, she said: “I remember being a little girl on the islands, always looking for pearls and for coral shells to recycle because we were really struggling. On the Penghu Islands, turtles are seen as good luck charms, as symbols of hope. Those turtles certainly brought my family good luck. Looking back now, it all seems like a fairy tale.”

Other siblings operate wholesaling and distribution businesses in Hawaii, Hong Kong, mainland China and Japan, and the Lu family’s pearls are sold by retailers in 40 countries, including the United States, Britain, France and Italy.

“Mr. Lu is the godfather of the pearl business,” said Hesham Abdelrahman, a salesman at the 38th Street store, which is called the Lucoral and Lupearl Company.

“Up until the mid-1990s, the Lu family pretty much controlled the entire pearl industry, and though other competitors started jumping into the marketplace, the Lu family is still one of the largest and best-known pearl distributors in the world.”

To help illustrate his point, Mr. Abdelrahman pointed to a wall filled with photographs and letters from first ladies who have worn Lu pearls, including Michelle Obama, Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan, and from Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister.


“The beautiful coral tree with the amethyst base is a work of art and one I will always treasure,” Mrs. Reagan wrote to Mr. Lu in 1981 after visiting the family’s pearl factory in Taipei.
As he fed his turtles one morning, Mr. Lu, who also teaches jewelry making, noted that many of the turtles are donated by local residents whose children have gone off to school and can no longer care for them.

“I tell my neighbors, ‘Bring all of your turtles to me, I’ll take care of them,’ ” Mr. Lu said. “Turtles once saved my entire family, so as long as I’m here, they will always have a home.”
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7) An Idyllic Picture of Serenity, but Only if You’re Not Inside-Tropical fish hobbyists will tell you their tanks are a source of relaxation, but recent research suggests the fish might disagree.
New York Times 12/27/11, by By DOUGLAS QUENQUA

Nearly 13 million American households contain a fish tank, and the average tank size is less than 10 gallons. Yet a study comparing the behavior of common freshwater fish in a variety of habitats found that those kept in such small tanks were considerably more aggressive than those in larger ones — more likely to fight, flare their gills and guard whatever tiny alcoves they could find.

“In larger tanks, the fish were not in continuous eyesight of each other, and were swimming around checking everything out rather than beating the heck out of each other,” said the study’s author, Ronald G. Oldfield, a professor of biology at Case Western Reserve University.

The fish in question were Midas, or “red devil” cichlids, a species popular among hobbyists for their brilliant colors and active swimming habits. Dr. Oldfield used only very young fish to eliminate aggressive behaviors associated with mating.

Dr. Oldfield concedes that the emotional well-being of fish may not tug many heartstrings. “It’s probably not the end of the world,” he said in a telephone interview. Even the Humane Society, which routinely has commercials featuring slow-motion video of abused pets, does not offer guidelines for the treatment of pet fish.

“We work on almost every animal issue under the sun,” a spokesman said by e-mail, “but I don’t think this is one of them.”Still, Dr. Oldfield noted that the average household tank was only one-tenth the size of the smallest tank in the study to yield docile fish. “If people kept dogs in these conditions, they’d be put in prison,” he said. “It’s something we should think about.”

The study consisted of two experiments conducted side by side. In one, Dr. Oldfield tested the effects of overcrowding by keeping tank size constant while increasing the number of fish. In the other, he tested environment by placing three fish in consistently larger and more complex tanks. He then recorded their behavior at least two hours after feeding, to eliminate competitive behaviors related to food.

While aggression seemed to remain constant regardless of the number of fish in a tank, Dr. Oldfield observed that it dropped off considerably once the fish were placed in a 100-gallon tank with several plants and rocks to form alcoves.

The findings confirmed what he found when observing Midas cichlids in the wild. “If you go out and observe these fish swimming in a river,” he said, “they’re not aggressive at all, really.”

This is not the first study to suggest that water-dwelling creatures can become aggressive in small tanks. Biologists at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, recently found that sea urchins turned to cannibalism when kept in small, overcrowded tanks. The researchers were trying to recreate typical farming conditions for sea urchin, a delicacy in Japanese cuisine.

Nor is the idea news to Justin Muir, the owner of City Aquarium, a luxury fish tank business in Brooklyn.
“It just goes back to behavioral exercises,” said Mr. Muir, who has designed tanks for the Yankees pitcher C. C. Sabathia and the Dream Hotel in Manhattan. “More volume of water is always the better bet. It basically keeps the fish healthier, and the tank is more stable.” In that way, he said, fish are like any other pet kept in a small enclosure. But a major difference between fish and, say, Rottweilers is that aggressive behavior in small swimmy things can be entertaining, at least to humans.
“That’s why these fish sell,” Mr. Muir said, “because people like the way they act.”

Indeed, hobbyists who probably don’t view themselves as diabolical gleefully exchange online tales of clashing cichlids. Describing a case of “road rage” between two of her fish, a visitor to Fishchannel.com wrote:

“The two would stand in front of the other twitching their lower fins as in sign language, yelling at the other with ‘You almost hit me you blind fool. Didn’t you see me coming? I had the right of way!’ ”
Overcrowding has also become an issue on fish farms, where salmon or trout are sometimes packed into high-density pens, just as chickens or pigs are on industrial farms. The danger there is less about the happiness of the fish than about their health, said Alan Duckworth, a research scientist with the Blue Ocean Institute in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island. “Some species do better at high densities,” he said, “but the majority of species could be affected by overcrowding. It likely would stress them out, which could increase the amount of disease.”

One frequently cited problem with farmed fish, particularly salmon, is sea lice, whose spread has become such a problem in Scotland that the government is considering a ban on coastal fish farms. For Dr. Oldfield, the welfare of fish is a concern that dates to when he was 6 years old and won a goldfish in a small bowl at a county fair. He says he understands that a 100-gallon tank is beyond the means of the typical tropical fish hobbyist, but people who love their fish should be aware of the damage they may be doing by keeping them in small, bland environments.

“I’m not saying people need to stop keeping fish as pets,” he said, “but they do need to look at the ecology of animal aggression.”

As for goldfish won at carnivals, he said, “they should never, ever be kept in those bowls.”

( Editor- Seems to me this would be true with all herps, mammals, birds. The question is how big an enclosure, How many per enclosure.) ______________________________________________________________________
8) Cranky croc steals Aussie zoo worker's lawn mower By KRISTEN GELINEAU 
Associated Press 12/28/11

SYDNEY (AP) -- A giant saltwater crocodile named Elvis with an apparent affinity for household machinery charged at an Australian reptile park worker Wednesday before stealing his lawn mower.
Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the Australian Reptile Park, north of Sydney, was one of three workers tending to the lawn in Elvis' enclosure when he heard reptile keeper Billy Collett yelp. Faulkner looked up to see the 16-foot (5-meter), 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) crocodile lunging out of its lagoon at Collett, who warded the creature off with his mower.

"Before we knew it, the croc had the mower above his head," Faulkner said. "He got his jaws around the top of the mower and picked it up and took it underwater with him."

The workers quickly left the enclosure. Elvis, meanwhile, showed no signs of relinquishing his new toy and guarded it closely all morning.

Eventually, Faulkner realized he had no other choice but to go back for the mower.
Collett lured Elvis to the opposite end of the lagoon with a heaping helping of kangaroo meat while Faulkner plunged, fully clothed, into the water. Before grabbing the mower, however, he had to search the bottom of the lagoon for two 3-inch (7-centimeter) teeth Elvis lost during the encounter. He quickly found them and escaped from the pool, unharmed and with mower in tow.

Though many may question the wisdom of going after a couple of teeth with a massive crocodile lurking just feet away, Faulkner said finding them was critical. "They clog up the filter systems," he said.
And, he said, "They're a nice souvenir."

Elvis has a history of crankiness and has lunged at staff before, though this is the first time he has stolen something from one of the workers. The croc was initially captured in the northern Australian city of Darwin, where he had been attacking fishing boats. He was then moved to a crocodile farm, where he proceeded to kill his two crocodile girlfriends.

In 2008, he was moved to the reptile park, where he has enjoyed solitary confinement in his own enclosure.

"When they are the dominant croc, they're just full of testosterone," Faulkner said. "He's got his beautiful own yard, he wants to be a solitary creature. He's happy."

Despite having to give up the lawn mower, Elvis was clearly pleased with himself, Faulkner said.
"He's beaten us today ... he's kingpin," Faulkner said. "He's going to be walking around with his chest puffed out all day."

As for the staff at the reptile park?

"I can't lie, the bosses are not going to be happy about the cost of a new lawn mower," Faulkner said with a laugh. "(But) we love it. No one's injured ... and when you get scared and it all turns out to be good, it's actually quite enjoyable."

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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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and hit like. There I post news that for one reason or another doesn’t get into the email version.
Photos and graphs that are part of the story I can’t include in the newsletter. Ditto for interesting videos on Youtube.

[Philsuma]

HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 12 Issue # 1 1/2/12 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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I would thank David and Marvalee Wake, Kathryn Tosney for their donations.
Wouldn’t you like to help HerpDigest keep going. Donations of any size are appreciated from $1.00 to $25.00 to $100.00 to...?
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LAST CHANCE FOR THE TWO FOR ONE DEAL
Donate $25.00 and you will get a copy of “Diamonds in the Marsh” the definitive book on Diamondback Terrapins (paperback).Herpdigest will pay the shipping and handling.
AND
Help Diamondback Terrapins - Paraphrasing From Russ Burke the scientist in charge of the terrapin project at Jamaica Bay, NYC.
Numerous human activities, from 18th century construction projects to harvest hunting to 21st century oil spills have imperiled diamondback terrapins. Conservation of the remaining terrapin populations requires a better understanding of the movements of individuals over long periods of time. Traditional radio telemetry is quite complicated with terrapins because of the technical difficulties of tracking in saltwater, and our lack of information about terrapin behavior make solving these problems difficult. I propose to use iButton temperature loggers to answer the key questions about terrapin behavior needed. The temperatures recorded will tell us how long it basks, just floats in the sea, hunts in the water and more.

HerpDigest will purchase on iButton for each $30.00 donation. Go to the bottom of this newsletter for information on book and how you can order.
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Table of Contents

1) Links describing Florida’s reptile regulations 2)Gopher tortoises stymie Polk SPCA expansion
3) TRADE IN NON-NATIVE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN TEXAS: LESSONS FOR BETTER MONITORING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES INTRODUCTION
4) Pythons and People Take Turns as Predators and Prey
5) Poisonous snakes in luggage at Argentinean airport- A man tried to board a plane in Argentina with almost 250 poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles in his baggage, each meticulously labeled with its Latin name.
6) Bulgarian Roma Clan Member Gets Suspended Sentence over Tortoises
7) Rescued Indian Star Tortoises sent home
8) Cold-blooded cognition: Tortoises quick on the uptake

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Still Available
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons. See at end of newsletter for additional information on book and how to order.
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1) Links a page describing Florida’s freshwater turtle regulations: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/manag ... r-turtles/. This is a link to all reptile oriented regulations: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/Chapter ... ter=68A-25
Sincerely,
Paul Zajicek
Biological Administrator

* * * *
Division of Aquaculture
Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
1203 Governor's Square Blvd, Ste 501
Tallahassee, Florida 32301-2961
Telephone: 850-488-4033
Fax: 850-410-0893
Website: http://www.FloridaAquaculture.com _________________________________________________________________
2)Gopher tortoises stymie Polk SPCA expansion

LAKELAND, Florida, 12/28/11 --
Some gopher tortoises are causing some big problems for the Polk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
According to Bay News 9's partner paper, the Ledger, the organization has hit a roadblock in a major expansion effort for their shelter's medical center - because of gopher tortoises.
The threatened species, which is federally protected, is nesting in the area that the organization wants to use to build.
As a result, the $727,000 project, which includes additional parking, a retention pond, an upgrade to the septic sewer system and a planned dog park, is on hold.
So far dozens have been relocated, but more tortoises still need to get new homes.
The gopher tortoise became a federally protected species after development led to a loss of habitat, which in turn caused their numbers to sharply decline. As a result, the protections were tightened in 2008.

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3) TRADE IN NON-NATIVE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN TEXAS: LESSONS FOR BETTER MONITORING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES INTRODUCTION HEATHER L. PRESTRIDGE, LEE A. FITZGERALD, AND TOBY J. HIBBITTS

Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 210 Nagle Hall, College Station, Texas 77843, USA, e-mail: hlprestridge@tamu.edu Paper posted at http://herpconbio.org/Volume_6/Issue_3/ ... l_2011.pdf
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 6(3):324–339.
Abstract.—In the United States, trade is monitored at different levels of government and state level insight requires combining federal, state, and local sources of information. Trade in wildlife and their products has implications on wild populations of species involved and introduction of non-native vertebrates, especially amphibians and reptiles, is linked to the commercial trade in these animals. We used: (1) federal databases; (2) surveys of pet owners at live animal expositions; (3) observations of sales at live animals expositions; and (4) data collected from dealers on the Internet to quantify imports, exports, and use of exotic herptiles traded in Texas. We recorded 1,192 unique taxonomic entities of amphibians and reptiles in commercial trade in Texas. A total of 949,901 live specimens were imported to Texas from 2002 to 2008. The top 16 imported taxa made up 73.36% of the trade. Internet and exposition-based trade was dominated by few species of common pets, with !
others represented in small numbers. Much trade persists in known invasive species and others that must have the potential to become invasive. We documented trade in 36 known invasive species, three of which are invasive in Texas. Our approach could serve as a template for assessing trade in non-native species at regional scales. Modifications to national databases would allow exports to be distinguished from re-exports, and adoption of standardized taxonomy would improve understanding of impacts of trade on species. State level management changes should be consistent across all 50 states to add continuity to laws governing non-native amphibians and reptiles kept as pets.
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4) Pythons and People Take Turns as Predators and Prey

ScienceDaily (Dec. 14, 2011) — People and giant snakes not only target each other for food -- they also compete for the same prey, according to a study co-authored by a Cornell University researcher.
More than a quarter of the men in a modern Filipino hunter-gatherer group have been attacked by giant pythons -- yet those same hunter-gatherers often target the pythons as their next meal. The study also finds that both the hunters and the pythons routinely eat local deer, wild pigs and monkeys. "Hunter-gatherers and other primates as prey, predators, and competitors of snakes," is published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"People have speculated for a long time that serpents have had a significant relationship with primates throughout their shared evolutionary history," said Cornell herpetologist Harry Greene, who conducted the study with Thomas Headland, an anthropologist at the SIL International in Dallas. "At least 26 species of non-human primates are eaten by snakes -- and there are many primates that eat snakes. This pattern of complex relationships is broader than those hunter-gatherers, and our paper provides the strongest evidence yet for those relationships." Greene is also a Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.

In the 1960s, Headland recorded ethnographic observations of the Agta Negritos, a modern hunter-gatherer group in the Philippines. An average Agta adult male weighs about 90 pounds, small enough to be eaten by the huge, native reticulated pythons that can grow to 28 feet. In one such attack, a father entered his dwelling to find a python had killed two of his children and was swallowing one of them headfirst. The father killed the snake with his bolo knife and found his third child, a six-month-old daughter, who was unharmed.

The study was funded by the Louis S.B. Leakey Foundation and the Lichen Foundation.
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5) Poisonous snakes in luggage at Argentinean airport- A man tried to board a plane in Argentina with almost 250 poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles in his baggage, each meticulously labeled with its Latin name.

By MICHAEL WARREN,12/28/11
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A man tried to board a plane in Argentina with almost 250 poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles in his baggage, each meticulously labeled with its Latin name.
Czech citizen Karel Abelovsky, 51, was en route to Spain when airport officials made him open his baggage at Buenos Aires' international airport after police spotted the reptiles in the X-ray scanner. They found 247 exotic and endangered species in all, packed inside plastic containers, bags and even socks.

Authorities believe the Czech was a courier for a criminal organization that smuggles exotic species whose exports are banned, a judicial source told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Authorities said Abelovsky only arrived in Argentina days earlier and wouldn't have had time to gather all the animals.
Judge Marcelo Aguinsky believes the boa constrictors, poisonous pit vipers and coral snakes, lizards and spiders could have escaped the cloth suitcase in the unpressurized cabin of the Dec. 7 Iberia flight to Madrid, and perhaps attacked people there or at his final destination in Prague, where antidotes for South American snakes aren't common, the source added.

Abelovsky was released on about $2,500 bail after surrendering his passport and is refusing to talk even though he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Abelovsky runs a Czech website that offers reptiles for sale. A woman who answered the contact number given on the site said she was his wife but did not give her name and said only that her husband was "ordinary."

Czech authorities have no information about Abelovsky, said Martina Kankova, spokeswoman for Czech customs administration. She said authorities have traced several people or broken rings of smugglers of various exotic animals in recent years, including turtles and parrots.

Czech television reported earlier this year that in 2010, customs officials in the country detained 55 smugglers with dozens of exotic animals.

Most of the animals and bugs found on Tuesday are being held under quarantine at the Buenos Aires Zoo, while some of the venomous snakes were sent to Argentina's national health institute, which has a high-security department where scientists develop antidotes using venom from snakes.

The species include lizards native to Mexico and snakes, spiders, snails and other species from northern Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Some were already dead in the suitcase, while others have succumbed to stress since then. Many were quite weak on arrival at the zoo, but most are still alive.

Wild snakes and reptiles are known to carry infectious diseases and so must be kept apart from the public and other animals, said Miguel Rivolta, the lead zoo veterinarian.

"It's difficult to find the right kind of bugs they eat, and to replicate as much as possible their environment in the wild," Rivolta said. "The best thing that can happen to these animals is that they liberate them as soon as possible in their natural habitat."
___
Almudena Calatrava in Buenos Aires and Karel Janacek in the Czech Republic contributed to this story.
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6) Bulgarian Roma Clan Member Gets Suspended Sentence over Tortoises 1/2/12, Sofia News Agency

The 33 tortoises seized from properties of notorious Roma clan leader Tsar Kiro have been placed at the Gea Chelonia Foundation Tortoise Centre in the vilage of Banya. Photo by BGNES

The court has approved a plea agreement between Sophia Hristova, daughter-in-law of the notorious Roma clan leader Kiril Rashkov, and the prosecution, under which she will get a one year suspended sentence with three years of probation and a fine of BGN 5000 for illegally keeping 33 tortoises.
The 34-year-old woman pleaded guilty to charges of illegally keeping 33 tortoises in the period May 27, 2011 - November 16, 2011 in the Izgorqlata Vodentisa ("The Burnt Mill") locality on the territory of the southern Bulgarian village of Katunitsa.

3 of the 33 land-dwelling reptiles are spur-thighed tortoises, which are included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, while the other 30 are Hermann's tortoises, which are protected under Bulgaria's Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The plea agreement is final and takes effect immediately.

The tortoises have been seized by the state and have been taken to the the Gea Chelonia Foundation Tortoise Center located in the village of Banya.

The reptiles were found in early November, when Bulgarian police officers and archaeologists started inspecting Rashkov's properties in Katunitsa using metal detectors because they had been led to believe that his clan had buried vast amounts of gold there.

However, the authorities only discovered the tortoises instead.

Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, and his clan triggered massive tensions across Bulgaria in September after the murder of a teenager in Katunitsa.

On September 23, a van driven by associates of Rashkov ran down and killed 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian Angel Petrov.

On November 22, another representative of the notorious Roma clan, Kiril Rashkov-Jr, the grandson of Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, was sentenced to 8 months of imprisonment for issuing a murder threat to Veselin Hristov.

Rashkov-Jr vowed to appeal the verdict.

Tsar Kiro has been placed at the Plovdiv Prison's dispensary and faces the same charges.
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7) Rescued Indian Star Tortoises sent home Group urges authorities to monitor offenders closely

NewsStraitsTimes 12/27/10 MORE than 600 Indian Star Tortoises were sent home to India last week after the smuggled reptiles were rescued by the authorities a few months ago.

A total of 599 tortoises, stuffed into two luggage bags, were rescued in August after authorities noticed that no one claimed the bags at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

 A month later, the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) confiscated another 100 tortoises in Malacca, and the owner was given a "very stern warning".

 All the tortoises were either infants or juveniles.



Perhilitan consultant Burhanuddin Mohd Nor said the repatriation of the tortoises last Thursday was the first this year.

 Despite the fact that the species cannot be imported into Malaysia and it is illegal to own one as a pet, the Indian Star Tortoises can be found in pet shops. 



Anyone found to be in possession of the species can be fined up to a maximum of RM100,000 per animal or imprisoned up to seven years, under the International Trade of Endangered Species Act 2008.



"We would like to advise those keeping the tortoises as pets to come forward and surrender them to us," Burhanuddin said.

 "We also hope that the public will inform us of pet shops that sell the species."



The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (Traffic) said the Malaysian government should monitor offenders closely as the trade seemed to be more visible now, although underground.

 Its senior programme officer, Kanitha Krishnasamy, said the rescue of the 699 reptiles showed that the trade was very active and a major threat to the tortoises, especially in Southeast Asia.

 "It is important that offenders are prosecuted and made to bear the cost of repatriating the animals as the process is not cheap."

 She added that Traffic appreciated that the Malaysian government worked with the Indian government to send the tortoises home, where they belonged and would be protected.



The Indian Star Tortoise, or geochelone elegans, is found in scrub forests in India and Sri Lanka.

 The species is said to be quite popular in the exotic pet trade, although India has banned its export. 



The reptile was only recently added to the First Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
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8) Cold-blooded cognition: Tortoises quick on the uptake
12/26/11 by Jeff Hecht, New Scientist

Tortoises aren’t noted for their speed but they are surprisingly quick-witted

"IT ALL stems from Moses," says Anna Wilkinson. Moses is her pet red-footed tortoise and a bit of a celebrity in the science world. Why? First, he outsmarted rats in a maze. Then he was the inspiration for a new lab studying reptile intelligence and the evolutionary origins of cognition. Now he has helped Wilkinson win an Ig Nobel prize. Victory for slow and steady.

This fruitful partnership began in 2004, after Wilkinson, now at the University of Lincoln, UK, started graduate school at the University of York, also in the UK. She was studying bird cognition but had earlier become fascinated by tortoises while employed in education and research at Flamingo Land zoo in North Yorkshire, UK. Although working with primates, she found herself drawn to the tortoise enclosure. Even when most of the group was basking in the sun, she recalls, at least one tortoise was exploring or feeding, and when a person walked in they all perked up, sensing that food was likely to follow. "They were always just fascinating," she says. So, a tortoise was the obvious choice as a pet.

Moses's first big academic break came in 2006. Wilkinson was attending a lecture on how rats remember their paths through a maze, when she started thinking: "Moses can do that." Afterwards, she asked the lecturer, Geoffrey Hall, if anyone had tried putting tortoises in such mazes. A literature search indicated that reptiles in general have proved pretty dim when subjected to cognitive tests. Undeterred, Hall and Wilkinson decided to see what Moses was capable of.

The pair set up a tortoise-sized test maze similar to the eight-armed radial structure used for rats and mice, then put Moses through his paces. As with the rodents he was placed in the centre of the maze and given eight chances to retrieve food from the arms - each of which had a morsel at its end. Moses quickly learned to find his way around so that he didn't revisit arms where he had already eaten the food. Like the rodents, he seemed to create a "cognitive map" from the objects he could see in the world beyond the maze. However, when Wilkinson and Hall obscured these landmarks, Moses took up a different strategy - he systematically visited the arm next to the one he had just left, allowing him to retrieve all eight food scraps (Journal of Comparative Psychology, vol 121, p 412). This flexibility of behaviour has never been seen in mammals, which seek new landmarks when old ones are removed. Clever Moses.

Wilkinson and Hall were now interested in why reptiles had performed so poorly in previous cognitive studies. Taking a closer look at the reports, they found the problem. The earlier research had been done at cool temperatures, which left the cold-blooded animals feeling sluggish. Moses, by contrast, had performed at 29 °C, near the average temperature of the red-footed tortoise's native habitat in Central and South America. The warmer temperatures boosted Moses's metabolism, making him alert, lively and ready to conquer a maze.

Having finished her dissertation, Wilkinson started postdoctoral research at the University of Vienna, Austria. There, her supervisor Ludwig Huber encouraged her to pursue her interest in reptiles. In 2007 they set up the cold-blooded cognition lab. With seven more red-footed tortoises - as well as some jewelled lizards - they were ready to find out just how smart reptiles are.

One skill Wilkinson and Huber were keen to explore was gaze-following. The ability to look where another individual is looking is important because it can alert you to potential predators, or food. It is also a complex behaviour, which requires understanding that another animal's gaze can convey useful information, working out where it is looking and turning to focus on the same spot. Gaze-following has long been thought of as a talent exclusive to primates, but recently it has been found in goats and a few birds. It turns out that red-footed tortoises can do it too.

When Huber and Wilkinson shone a laser pointer at an overhead screen to attract the attention of one tortoise, they found that another individual, behind the screen, also looked up (Animal Cognition, vol 13, p 765).

Gaze-following had never been tested in reptiles before. The fact that red-footed tortoises can do it was surprising, given that they are usually solitary in the wild so may not be expected to evolve the ability to take cues from others.

Their performance on a second task was even more intriguing. The researchers found tortoises can learn to find hidden food by watching another tortoise walk around a wall to collect a treat (Biology Letters, vol 6, p 614). This indicates that tortoises are capable of social learning, a trait thought to have evolved as a special cognitive adaptation in social animals. The discovery raises the possibility that social learning may simply be an extension of general learning capabilities rather than a specialist skill.
Moses and his pals have done much to raise the intellectual standing of tortoises, but there is one test they famously failed. Contagious yawning is thought to arise from empathy, but Wilkinson doubted this theory. She spent six months teaching one tortoise to yawn in the hope that others would learn the trick - even though tortoises lack empathy. The yawns stubbornly refused to spread, Wilkinson and Huber reported in a paper that earned them the Ig Nobel prize earlier this year (Current Zoology, vol 57, p 477).

Wilkinson's work is helping revive interest in reptile cognition, says Gordon Burghardt at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. This is important because most research on animal cognition has been on mammals or birds. Reptiles split from those groups more than 250 million years ago, so studies of how they think can shed light on the evolutionary roots of animal intelligence. Burghardt recently found "surprisingly advanced" social learning in pond turtles, a more social group than tortoises. Meanwhile, Manuel Leal and Brian Powell at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, have found that tree-dwelling anole lizards from Puerto Rico can solve simple problems to find food - a behaviour previously seen only in birds and mammals.

Reptiles are clearly far smarter than we thought. Wilkinson has one explanation - at least for Moses and his ilk. Tortoises receive no care after they hatch, so they have to learn on their own, she points out. And with a very high attrition rate, there is strong natural selection for intelligence. "They learn things very fast because they have to do so to survive," she says. "They are learning machines."
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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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TURTLE TV is here, It’s a “freaking hilarious” award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper) TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
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Table of Contents

1) Monograph-A Runaway Train in the Making: The Exotic Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Florida
2) The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS is pleased to offer the course – Coastal Herpetology – from May 14-25, 2012.
3) Herpetological Conservation and Biology- Bibliography- New Issue Announcement
Volume 6, Issue 3 - December 2011
4) Vets and conservation: helping to restore the balance Joseph Flanagan explains how vets are contributing to a unique conservation project in the Galapagos Islands.
5) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 1: endoscopic oophorectomy of females under ketamine-medetomidine anaesthesia
6) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises ( Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 2 phallectomy of males under intrathecal anaesthesia with lidocaine
7) Bibliography of Chelonian Conservation and Biology Vol. 10, No. 2, December 1, 2011

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Eagle Mountain Publishing recently opened a new division of the company called Cheap Herp Books, and is offering a large selection of herpetological books, reprints, and magazines at discount prices. Nearly all of the items are new or in “like-new” condition.

With the holidays fast approaching, this might be a good time to browse through their inventory and find a gift for that special someone.

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Still Available
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons. SDiamonds in the March by Barbara Brennessel wee at end of newsletter for additional information on any of these books and how to order.

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1) Monograph-A Runaway Train in the Making: The Exotic Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Florida Monograph 1. Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. at State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120, USA, E-mail: wmeshaka@state.pa.us URL is - http://herpconbio.org/Volume_6/Monograp ... a_2011.pdf
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2) The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS is pleased to offer the course – Coastal Herpetology – from May 14-25, 2012.
The coastal plain of the Southeast boasts an outstanding diversity of amphibians and reptiles, making the region an excellent place to study these often reclusive and elusive creatures. This course will provide students with an introduction to herpetology through lectures and associated readings, discussions of original research papers, and a class project. Topics covered will include the ecology, evolution, life history, diversity, behavior, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. There will also be many field excursions highlighting the methods and techniques for capturing and studying amphibians and reptiles. Be prepared to get wet and muddy since we will be exploring the marshes, pine woods, bayous, and other habitats as we search for and learn about the amphibians and reptiles of the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. College credit is available through the University of Southern Mississippi or one of many affiliated universities. For more information, visit us !
at www.usm.edu/gcrl or contact the instructor, Dr. Matthew Chatfield, at mattchat@tulane.edu.
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Monograph-A Runaway Train in the Making: The Exotic Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Florida Monograph 1. Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. at State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120, USA, E-mail: wmeshaka@state.pa.us URL is - http://herpconbio.org/Volume_6/Monograp ... a_2011.pdf
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3) Herpetological Conservation and Biology- Bibliography- New Issue Announcement
Volume 6, Issue 3 - December 2011 Open Access (Got to the following URL for links to entire papers and contacts)
http://www.herpconbio.org/contents_vol6_issue3.html

The Editorial Staff at Herpetological Conservation and Biology is pleased to announce the release of the latest issue, Volume 6(3). This issue is packed with editorials, herp-spectives, research articles, and techniques manuscripts. We encourage you to peruse the new website to see the latest issue and also to join our mailing list or our growing community on Facebook. Signing up will ensure you receive the latest news and updates about Herpetological Conservation and Biology!

All of our publications are open-access and freely available to anyone interested. The Governing Board extends its most sincere thanks to authors and readers alike; our success is only made possible by your continued support.

Happy New Year,

Rob Lovich, PhD.
Communications Editor
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
rlovich@herpconbio.org

Editorial

The "Peer" in "Peer Review."
Gad Perry, Jaime Bertoluci, R. Bruce Bury, Robert H. Hansen, Robert Jehle, Jonh Measey, Brad R. Moon, Erin Muths, and Marco A. L. Zuffi

Herp-Spectives

Trade in Non-native Amphibians and Reptiles in Texas: Lessons for Better Monitoring and Implications for Species Introduction.
Heather L. Prestridge, Lee A. Fitzgerald, and Toby J. Hibbitts

The Amphibian Ark: A Global Community for Ex situ Conservation of Amphibians.
Kevin Zippel, Kevin Johnson, Ron gagliardo, Richard Gibson, Michael McFadden, Robert Browne, Carlos Martinez, and Elizabeth Townsend

Research Articles

The Sea Turtles Captured by Coastal Fisheries in the Northeastern Sulu Sea, Philippines: Documentation, Care, 
and Release. [Photo Gallery] Teodora U. Bagarinao

Ecology of a Population of the Earthsnake Conopsis biserialis in the Mexican Transvolcanic Axis.
Oiva Castaneda-Gonzalez, Javier Manjarrez, Irene Goyenechea, and Victor Fajardo

Which Habitat Selection Method is Most Applicable to Snakes? Case Studies of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) and Eastern Fox Snake (Pantherophis gloydi). [Photo Gallery] Brett A. DeGregorio, Brian J. Putman, and Bruce A. Kingsbury

Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in Coastal and Montane California, USA Anurans.
Gary M. Fellers, Rebecca A. Cole, David M. Reinitz, and Patrick M. Kleeman

Thermal Selection and Temperature Preference of the Aquatic Salamander, Amphiuma tridactylum.
Clifford L. Fontenot, Jr. and William I. Lutterschmidt

Ecology of the Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) in Southern Alabama with Evidence of Seasonal Multiple Broods.
Gabriel J. Langford, Joel A. Borden, and David H. Nelson

Reproductive Physiology of the Broad Banded Watersnake, Nerodia fasciata confluens, in Southeastern Louisiana. 
[Photo Gallery] O. Tom Lorenz, Brian D. Horne, Noah J. Anderson, and Ann O. Cheek

Abundance and Roosting Ecology of Chameleons in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania and the Potential Effects of Harvesting. [Photo Gallery]

David A. Patrick, Philip Shirk, James R. Vonesh, Elizabeth B. Harper, and Kim M. Howell Morphological Abnormalities in Amphibian Populations from the Mid-eastern Region of Argentina.
Paola M. Peltzer, Rafael C. Lajmanovich, Laura C. Sanchez, Andres M. Attademo, Celina M. Junges, Clarisa L. Bionda, Adolfo L. Martino, and Agustin Basso

Annual Survival of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) Nesting in Peninsular Florida: A Cause for Concern.
Christopher R. Sasso, Sheryan P. Epperly, and Chris Johnson

Chemosensory Response of the Threatened Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) to Chemical and Visual Stimuli of Mus musculus.
Anthony J. Saviola, William E. Lamoreaux, Regis Opferman, and David Chiszar, Steven J. Price, and Michael E. Dorcas

Population Status and Natural History Notes on the Critically Endangered Stream-dwelling Frog Craugastor ranoides (Craugastoridae) in a Costa Rican Tropical Dry Forest.
Hector Zumbado-Ulate, Federico Bolanos, Beatriz Willink, and Fernando Soley-Guardia

Size Dimorphism and Growth Rates in Distinct Populations of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Nova Scotia in Relation to Environment.
José Lefebvre, Trevor S. Avery, and Tom B. Herman

Techniques

The Use of Fluorescent Powdered Pigments as a Tracking Technique for Snakes.
Bejamin L. S. Furman, Brett R. Scheffers, and Cynthia A. Paszkowski Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Three Survey Methods for Sampling Terrestrial Herpetofauna in South China.
Yik-Hei Sung, Nancy E. Karraker, and Billy C. H. Hau _______________________________________________________________________
4) Vets and conservation: helping to restore the balance Joseph Flanagan explains how vets are contributing to a unique conservation project in the Galapagos Islands.
Downloaded from veterinaryrecord.bmj.com on January 21, 2011 - Published by group.bmj.com Joseph P. Flanagan, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services, Houston Zoo, 1513 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA e-mail: jflanagan@houstonzoo.org

AN ecosystem can be considered to be analogous to a living organism: each species in that ecosystem being analogous to the organs of a body, with the health of the whole dependent upon the health of each of the constituent parts.
Island ecosystems tend to be relatively simple, having relatively few species when compared to larger land masses or continents. Loss of one species or the introduction of others can have a rapid, dramatic impact on other species in the habitat and can cause the ecosystem itself to fail or die. While remnant populations of native species may still exist, they are at different population levels and their interspecies interactions, and impacts on the environment, might be changed.

Wildlife veterinarians can play key roles in the conservation of biodiversity and the restoration of balance in an ecosystem. One typically would think that the role played by veterinarians would be to enhance wildlife production, diagnose disease problems, treat diseased or injured animals, or provide anaesthesia or chemical restraint for translocation of animals. However, as illustrated of this issue (Knafo and others 2011), they can also contribute in other ways; the paper describes how, in a unique situation, the sterilisation of giant tortoises is contributing to the restoration of a natural state on the small island of Pinta in the Galapagos archipelago.

In December 2008, the Galapagos National Park Service asked us about the possibility of sterilising giant tortoises. Could it be done? If possible, what would be needed, and when could it happen?
Each of the islands in the Galapagos is a unique ecosystem. While there are many animal and plant species that are common to many of the islands, each island has a unique combination of plants and animals, unique geology, terrain, weather, and, especially, a unique degree of impact from human degradation. Humans have exploited the islands for nearly 500 years, harvesting wildlife – sometimes to extinction, and introducing domestic animals and pest species such as rodents, but also invertebrates and plants.

Restoration of the island of Pinta was nearly complete. Introduced goats had been eradicated and native vegetation, grazed to near extinction by over 40,000 feral goats, was returning with thick, herbaceous and woody growth. Other native wildlife species were still present. The only key species that was missing was the giant tortoise. Tortoises were harvested by whalers and pirates in the 18th and 19th centuries as a source of fresh meat for use during their long months at sea. Giant tortoises on Pinta were thought to be extinct for most of the last 100 years until a single animal ‘Lonesome George’ was found there in 1971. George was removed to the Charles Darwin Research Station in 1972 amid hopes a mate might be found, and the pair could breed, resulting in repopulation of the island with a species of tortoise found nowhere else on Earth. Despite worldwide efforts to locate tortoises with ‘Pinta’ genes, no mate for George has been found.

The problem on Pinta Island was that, with no herbivore, surviving vegetation was growing unchecked. There was no disturbance, no large seed disperser, and no cropping of lush growth. What should be a mosaic of grassland pampas, scrub and desert vegetation was becoming a woodland with a canopy of vegetation not conducive to the survival and well being of the other species of wildlife present on Pinta. Pinta Island needed a large herbivore, a giant tortoise. The ‘native’ species or a suitable alternative was not yet available. Introduction of another species as surrogate may one day occur, but a ‘habitat engineer’ was needed immediately to maintain biodiversity.

The Galapagos National Park Service has maintained a herd of giant tortoises, which was produced in the early years of its tortoise captive propagation programme. These animals had no known ancestry when hatched, but are now recognised as hybrids between species of tortoises found on the different islands in Galapagos. These animals have no ‘home island’ where they could be released. If sterilised, however, they could be used to help restore the habitat on Pinta, while the search for the most appropriate pure species of tortoise continues. The hybrid tortoises ranged in size from 20 to 100 kg and there were both male and female tortoises in the group.

Veterinarians sterilise a giant tortoise ahead of its release on to Pinta Island in the Galapagos archipelago and discomfort to the animal. Castration or vasectomy would have required an intracoelomic procedure utilising general anaesthesia and a much greater risk of complications. In addition, the procedure developed and performed can be done in the future by local veterinarians without elaborate equipment or advanced surgical skills.

Planning and logistics had to account for performing up to 50 surgeries in one week. A veterinary team, endoscopic surgical equipment, supplies, and medications all had to be brought in. A surgical ‘suite’ had

Elective sterilisation in chelonians is not routinely performed. Surgery of the chelonian reproductive tract is normally performed when there is a health problem such as retained ova in females, or prolapsed phallus in males. In these cases, surgery is generally performed to salvage the life of the patient. There are a number of procedures that can be done to render tortoises reproductively sterile. Males can be castrated, vasectomised, or their phallus can be amputated (the phallus is used for copulation, but does not play a role in the elimination of urinary waste). Females can be ovariectomised or hysterectomised. The goal was that both sexes would be rendered infertile, so there would be no chance of genetic contamination if a pure species from another island is one day introduced to the island.

Ultimately, the decision to perform endoscope-assisted ovariectomy was made because it could be performed through the limited access of the prefemoral fossa. A small incision and minimal tissue handling would result in rapid healing and minimal discomfort to the animal (Knafo and others 2011). Males were sterilised by amputation of the phallus (Rivera and others 2011). The procedure could be done utilising intrathecal anaesthesia, resulting in minimal risk

to be established, and housing identified for postoperative monitoring and recovery. Contingencies for managing emergencies or adverse response to anaesthesia, and aftercare of the patients were necessary. Most importantly, the team had to be able to adapt their skills to solve unique problems and achieve their goals. Surgeries were performed during November 2009.
After recovery, the tortoises were monitored for complications. General health was determined through individual physical examination, haematology and serum chemistry assays, and faecal examinations. Their intestinal tracts had to be free of seeds from any vegetation they consumed before transport to Pinta, so they had to be fed a seed-free herbaceous diet for two months before release. Finally, to prevent the introduction of parasites or other disease-causing agents, the animals had to be screened and prophylactically treated for enteric nematodes before being transported to their release site. Thirty-nine tortoises travelled by boat to Pinta Island in May 2010 to play their part in restoring the balance of nature in this remote part of the world.
Veterinarians skilled in reptile medicine and surgery were critical to the success of this project. The release site was selected based on knowledge of historical habitat used by tortoises on the island. Post-release monitoring of the tortoises is being performed to assess their impact on the environment and to monitor their interactions with other species on the island.

References
KNAFO, S. E., DIVERS, S. J., RIVERA, S., CAyOT, L. J., TAPIA-AGUILERA, W. & FLANAGAN, J. (2011) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tor- toises (Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 1: endoscopic oophorectomy of females under ketamine-medetomidine anaesthesia. Veterinary Record doi: 10.1136/vr.c6520 RIVERA, S., DIVERS, S. J., KNAFO, S. E., MARTINEZ, P., CAyOT, L. J., TAPIA-AGUILERA, W. & FLANAGAN, J. (2011) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 2: phallectomy of males under intrathecal anaesthe- sia with lidocaine. Veterinary Record doi: 10.1136/vr.c6361

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Papers
5) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 1: endoscopic oophorectomy of females under ketamine-medetomidine anaesthesia S. E. Knafo, S. J. Divers, S. Rivera, L. J. Cayot, W. Tapia-Aguilera, J. Flanagan An endoscopic sterilisation technique for use in Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) was developed as part of a conservation and ecosystem restoration project. Fifteen female giant Galapagos tortoises were anaesthetised, intubated and positioned in dorsal recumbency. A bilateral prefemoral approach was made and the ovaries were identified using a 5 mm x 33 cm rigid telescope. In the case of endoscope-assisted oophorectomy, the ovaries were exteriorised through the same incision, the vasculature was ligated and the mesovarium was transected. Two tortoises had immature ovaries that could not be exteriorised. In these animals, endoscopic oophorectomy was performed using radiosurgery. Closure of the incisions was routine. All tortoises except one recovered well from surgery. There were no reported complications six weeks and six months postoperatively, and all were successfully released on to Pinta Island in May 2010.
E-mail for correspondence: ek28@cornell.edu">sek28@cornell.edu ________________________________________________________________________________
6) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises ( Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 2: phallectomy of males under intrathecal anaesthesia with lidocaine Rivera, S. J. Divers, S. E. Knafo, et al.

Rivera, S. J. Divers, S. E. Knafo, P. Martinez, L. J. Cayot, W. Tapia-Aguilera, J. Flanagan
Contact: E-mail for correspondence: rivera@zooatlanta.org">srivera@zooatlanta.org

Lidocaine intrathecal anaesthesia was used to perform phallectomies in 15 hybrid Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) in a field setting as part of a conservation and ecosystem restoration project in the Galapagos Islands. The intrathecal injection was performed in the dorsal intercoccygeal region of the tail. Once the tail and hindlimbs were relaxed and the phallus was easily exteriorised, phallectomy was performed in a routine manner. All the animals recovered well from the procedure and were walking 30 to 60 minutes after surgery. No adverse effects were noted as a result of lidocaine intrathecal anaesthesia. One of the larger animals had evidence of haemorrhage from the surgical site 48 hours postoperatively. All tortoises continued to make full recoveries and were released on to the island of Pinta in May 2010.
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7) Bibliography of Chelonian Conservation and Biology Vol. 10, No. 2, December 1, 2011

The issue is now available online from BioOne at:
http://www.bioone.org/toc/ccab/10/2

The table of contents for this issue is listed below. Click on the links below to view the abstract for each article, or click on the link above to read the table of contents online.

If you need any further help, please visit http://www.bioone.org and click on "help".

Articles

Reproduction and Nesting of the Endangered Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii) on Hainan Island, China Wang Ji-chao, Gong Shi-ping, Shi Hai-tao, Liu Yu-xiang, and Zhao Er-mi Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 159-164.

Fall and Rise of Nesting Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles: Positive Response to Four Decades of Protection (1968–2008) Jeanne A. Mortimer, Rainer G. von Brandis, Anna Liljevik, Roselle Chapman, and John Collie Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 165-176.

Challenges Confronting Sea Turtle Conservation on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea Daniel B. Fitzgerald, Elsa Ordway, Shaya Honarvar, and Gail W. Hearn Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 177-180.)

Olfactory Receptor Genes in Terrestrial, Freshwater, and Sea Turtles: Evidence for a Reduction in the Number of Functional Genes in Aquatic Species Michelle L. Vieyra Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 181-187.

Basking Ecology of the Yellow-Blotched Sawback (Graptemys flavimaculata), an Imperiled Turtle Species of the Pascagoula River System, Mississippi, United States Will Selman and Carl P. Qualls Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 188-197.

Predation by the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) on Sea Turtle Adults, Eggs, and Hatchlings Scott D. Whiting and Andrea U. Whiting Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 198-205.

Nesting Ecology and Nest Predation of Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines, Chelidae) in the Guaporé River of the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon Larissa Schneider, Camila R. Ferrara, Richard C. Vogt, and Alessandro Valdez Guilhon Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 206-212.

Effect of Food Availability on the Abundance of Juvenile Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Inshore Aggregation Areas of the Culebra Archipelago, Puerto Rico Martha P. Rincon-Diaz, Carlos E. Diez, Robert P. van Dam, and Alberto M. Sabat Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 213-221.)

Hatchling Emergence From Naturally Incubated Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Nests in Northern Louisiana Samuel R. Holcomb and John L. Carr Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 222-227.

Abundance, Home Range, and Movement Patterns of the Endemic Species Dahl's Toad-Headed Turtle (Mesoclemmys dahli) in Cesar, Colombia Germán Forero-Medina, Gladys Cárdenas-Arevalo, and Olga Victoria Castaño-Mora Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 228-236.

Origin of Japanese Populations of Reeves' Pond Turtle, Mauremys reevesii (Reptilia: Geoemydidae), as Inferred by a Molecular Approach Dai Suzuki, Hidetoshi Ota, Hong-Shik Oh, and Tsutomu Hikida Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 237-249.

Notes and Field Reports

Hematology, Morphology, and Ultrastructure of Blood Cells of Juvenile Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) Fei-Yan Zhang, Pi-Peng Li, He-Xiang Gu, and Ming-Bin Ye Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 250-256.

Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina, Neonate Overwintering Ecology on Long Island, New York Russell L. Burke and William Capitano Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 256-259.

The Complex Linear Home Range Estimator: Representing the Home Range of River Turtles Moving in Multiple Channels Mathieu Ouellette and Jeffrey A. Cardille Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 259-265.

Change in Physical and Chemical Composition of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Eggshells During Embryonic Development Şükran Yalçin-Özdilek, H. Göksel Özdilek, and M. Kemal Sangün Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 265-270.

Nest Site Preference and Hatching Success of Green (Chelonia mydas) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles at Akyatan Beach, Turkey Oguz Turkozan, Kristina Yamamoto, and Can Yılmaz Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 270-275.

Hypomelanism in Irwin's Turtle, Elseya irwini, from the Johnstone River, North Queensland, Australia Grant S. Turner Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 275-281.

Size at Maturity and Tail Elongation of Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) in the North Pacific Takashi Ishihara and Naoki Kamezaki Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 281-287.
Commentaries and Reviews

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Age at First Nesting Charles W. Caillouet, Donna J. Shaver, André M. Landry, David W. Owens, and Peter C. H. Pritchard Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 288-293.

Turtle Poetry

The Problem of Describing Chelonians
Matthew Godfrey and Lisa Campbell
Chelonian Conservation and Biology Dec 2011, Vol. 10, No. 2: 294-294.

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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˜Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˜but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˜Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˜Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

„Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.‰˜Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006 • 236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

“Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the ‘fresh water, salt water, and everything in between’” —Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.”—Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."—Herpetological Review

“Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.”—Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

“Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ‘What can I do?’ “—Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

“More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history—written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.”—Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science Volume # 12 Issue # 3 1/11/12 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
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Table of Contents
1) Over 4,000 Turtles Saved by Police in India 2)Announcement and Call for Sessions/Workshops- Turtle Survival Alliance
3) Wildlife Conservation Society Announces New Snake Species-Spectacularly colored Matilda’s horned viper is discovered by WCS and Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy-New snake is restricted to remote forest in southwest Tanzania
4) Galapagos Giant Tortoise Species to be Brought Back from Extinction
5) Cosmetic Chemical Hinders Brain Development in Tadpoles
6) Save the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (SE New Mexico and West Texas)
7) Study: Salt water can't halt invasive pythons advance across Florida
8) Microbes May Come To The Rescue Of Endangered Frogs
9) Texas Fire Claims Crocodiles, Exotic Snakes

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Still Available
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons, Diamonds in the March by Barbara Brennessel, Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World (How to Care for them in captivity) go to end of newsletter for additional information on any of these books and how to order.
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1) Over 4,000 Turtles Saved by Police in India

Auraiya (U.P., India) Police busted the consignment of turtles stuffed in 68 sacks having quantity around 60 turtles in each sack with the truck. Three species A. gngeticus, Chitras indica and L. punctata have been identified. Four people have been arrested on the charge of illegal poaching, two of them are based in West Bengal. Shipment was heading to West Bengal.

Photos of turtles available upon request (2 individual and of entire shipment, 4,000 plus turtles in burlap bags in back of truck used to transport turtles.) ____________________________________________________________________________
2)Announcement and Call for Sessions/Workshops- Turtle Survival Alliance

The Turtle Survival Alliance will host the 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles, 16-19 August 2012, Tucson, Arizona

Joint Annual meeting of the Turtle Survival Alliance and IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group

The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) are pleased to announce the dates of their joint Symposium, Thursday – Sunday, August 16–19, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. This is the 10th annual conference hosted by the TSA, and has become the largest gathering of non-marine turtle biologists and captive breeding specialists in the world.

In its first decade, the TSA symposia have exhibited upward growth, maintaining an average attendance of 250 turtle biologists representing over 20 countries! This IS the conference to attend for anyone interested in the biology, ecology, husbandry, and in - and ex-situ conservation of turtles worldwide.

Planning is well underway to ensure that this is the best conference you attend in 2012!

Each year the Program Committee works hard to bring together a wide variety of presentations from around the world, ranging in topic from captive husbandry to field techniques to conservation. This symposium also provides a venue for specialized paper sessions. During its nine-year history, symposia have included special sessions covering China, Madagascar, India, Australia, and South America, Alligator Snapping Turtles, Gopher Tortoises, Southwestern Kinosternids, and the genus Cuora to name a few. Past workshops have dealt with egg incubation, filtration, and translocation.

You can help make this conference better by organizing a session or a workshop.

Sessions – These typically are based upon turtle groupings (e.g. Genus Graptemys), region (e.g. Chinese Chelonians), or a topic (e.g. husbandry, head-starting, chelonian veterinary care and rehabilitation), yet we are open to your suggestions. Session organizers should plan on organizing between 5 and 10 talks on their subject.

Workshops – These provide an active arena to share advancements, new techniques, or specific knowledge about chelonians. Workshops can also provide the opportunity for experienced practitioners to collaborate with other enthusiasts, to develop new ideas about a topic of common interest, and to share experiences with other chelonian enthusiasts as well as to those new to chelonian husbandry and research.

If you are interested in organizing a session or a workshop, please contact Andrew Walde at awalde@turtlesurvival.org. We encourage you to respond as soon as possible as there is room for only a few specialized symposia.

A call for papers and more information regarding the conference will be following in a couple of weeks.

We look forward to seeing you in Tucson!

Andrew Walde & Daren Riedle
Program co-chairs
10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles http://www.turtlesurvival.org/get-involved/conference
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3) Wildlife Conservation Society Announces New Snake Species

Spectacularly colored Matilda’s horned viper is discovered by WCS and Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy

New snake is restricted to remote forest in southwest Tanzania

NEW YORK (January 9, 2012) -- The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced the discovery of a spectacularly colored snake from a remote area of Tanzania in East Africa.

The striking black-and-yellow snake is called Matilda’s horned viper. It measures 2.1 feet (60 centimeters) and has horn-like scales above its eyes.

The discovery is described in the December issue of Zootaxa. Authors of the study include: Michele Menegon of Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy; Tim Davenport of the Wildlife Conservation Society; and Kim Howell of the University of Dar es Salaam.

The authors are keeping the exact location of the new species a secret, since the snake could be of interest to the illegal pet collectors. Its habitat, estimated at only a few square miles is already severely degraded from logging and charcoal manufacture. The authors expect the species will be classified as critically endangered and have already established a small captive breeding colony.

The snake is named after the daughter of co-author Tim Davenport, Director of WCS’s Tanzania Program. For more information and photos about the snake, go to: http://www.atherismatildae.org/

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4) Galapagos Giant Tortoise Species to be Brought Back from Extinction

WASHINGTON, DC, January 9, 2012 –/WORLD-WIRE/– Through a combination of cutting edge genetic research and time-tested field work, scientists have determined that a Galapagos Giant Tortoise species long thought to be extinct in the wild may still be living on the northern end of the island of Isabela, a few hundred kilometers from Floreana, their island of origin.

This week a team of scientists from a number of institutions led by researchers in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at Yale University are reporting new evidence that pure Floreana tortoises (Chelonoidis elephantopus) may still exist on Wolf Volcano on the north end of the island of Isabela.

These results, supported in part by Galapagos Conservancy, provide great hope for recovery of this species, thought to be extinct for nearly 150 years. Having previously found a small number of hybrid tortoises on Wolf Volcano, scientists returned in December 2008 to obtain blood samples from a total of 1669 individuals, approximately 20% of the estimated current tortoise population.

Results reported this week indicate that 84 tortoises were found whose DNA show that they resulted from hybridization events involving a pure Floreana tortoise as one of their immediate parents. Thirty of the 84 tortoises were determined to be less than 15 years old – indicating that the likelihood of pure Floreana tortoises still roaming the slopes of Wolf Volcano is quite high. Historical records indicate that tortoises were often moved between islands by whalers and other visitors to Galapagos in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many ended up on Wolf Volcano. These historical records provide an explanation for the unusually wide range of tortoise types found there — a population mix that would not be expected to occur naturally.

“Galapagos tortoise populations have benefited from a long and successful history of captive breeding and repatriation,” reports Galapagos Conservancy’s Science Advisor Dr. Linda Cayot, whose work as head of herpetology at the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos spanned more than a decade. “With these data in hand, the Galapagos National Park will be able to embark on a rescue mission for the Floreana Giant Tortoise species. We are extremely grateful to all the institutions who have worked together to bring us to this exciting moment.”

These findings come just as the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation, and others are in the initial years of Project Floreana – aimed at restoring that island to a more pristine condition and ensuring a sustainable community for its human inhabitants. Says Dr. Cayot, “Returning true Floreana tortoises as part of that effort is now a dream that could come true.”

Galapagos Conservancy connects people across the globe to conservation efforts taking place in the Galapagos Islands. GC is the only US-based non-profit dedicated solely to the conservation of Galapagos wildlife and landscapes, and is the world’s largest single source of funds for Galapagos conservation.

(To see this release online with photographs and additional background material, please visit: http://www.galapagos.org/2008/index.php?id=323

Contact Information:

For information related to this release and other Galapagos science
programs:

Dr. Linda Cayot, Science Advisor, Galapagos Conservancy.

Ph: 530-283-2904 or lcayot@galapagos.org

For supporting materials and background information:

Lori Ulrich, Director of Marketing, Galapagos Conservancy

Ph: 703-383-0077, Fax: 703-383-1177 or lulrich@galapagos.org

Galapagos Conservancy on the web: http://www.galapagos.org _____________________________________________________
5) Cosmetic Chemical Hinders Brain Development in Tadpoles

ScienceDaily (Jan. 10, 2012) — A new study finds that low concentrations of the chemical methylisothiazolinone has subtle but measurable negative effects on the neural development of tadpoles. The chemical is found in some cosmetics, although the study does not provide any evidence that cosmetics are unsafe for humans.

Scientists, health officials, and manufacturers already know that a chemical preservative found in some products, including cosmetics, is harmful to people and animals in high concentrations, but a new Brown University study in tadpoles reports that it can also interrupt neurological development even in very low concentrations.

In the cosmetics industry, the biocide methylisothiazolinone or MIT, is considered safe at concentrations of less than 100 parts per million. Lab studies, however, have found that lower concentrations affected the growth of animal neurons. Picking up from there, the Brown researchers performed a series of experiments to investigate how 10 days of exposure at concentrations as low as 1.5 ppm would affect whole, living tadpoles as they develop. Their results appear in advance online in the journal Neuroscience.

"The lower concentrations we studied didn't kill the animals or cause any big deformities or affect the behavior you'd see just by looking at them," said Carlos Aizenman, associate professor of neuroscience and the study's senior author. "But then we decided to do a series of functional tests and we found that exposure to this compound during a period of development that's critical for the fine wiring of the nervous system disrupted this period of fine tuning."

Aizenman emphasized that there is no evidence in the study that any products with MIT, such as shampoos or cosmetics, are harmful to consumers.
Neurotoxic effects

When Aizenman and lead author Ariana Spawn explored the consequences of exposing tadpoles to two nonlethal concentrations, 1.5 ppm and 7.6 ppm, they found some deficits both in behavior and in basic brain development.

In one experiment they shined moving patterns of light into one side of the tadpole tanks from below. As they expected, the unexposed tadpoles avoided the light patterns, swimming to the other side. Tadpoles that had been exposed to either concentration of MIT, however, were significantly less likely to avoid the signals.

In another experiment, Aizenman and Spawn, who was an undergraduate at the time and has since graduated, exposed the tadpoles to another chemical known to induce seizures. The tadpoles who were not exposed to MIT and those exposed to the lower concentration each had the same ability to hold off seizures, but the ones who had been exposed to the 7.6 ppm concentration succumbed to the seizures significantly more readily.

In these experiments, seizure susceptibility had nothing to do with epilepsy, Aizenman said, but was instead a measure of more general neural development.

After observing the two significant behavioral effects in the tadpoles, Aizenman and Spawn then sought the underlying physiological difference between exposed and unexposed tadpoles that might cause them. They performed an electrophysiological analysis of each tadpole's optic tectum, a part of the brain responsible for processing visual information. They found evidence that the chemical seems to have stunted the process by which tadpoles prune and refine neural connections, a key developmental step.

"The neural circuits act like the neural circuits of a much more immature tadpole," Aizenman said. "This is consistent with the previous findings in cell cultures."

Aizenman said consumers should know about the study's results and pay attention to the ingredients in the products they use, but should not become worried based on the basic science study.
Aizenman said one area where further studies may be warranted is in cases of repeated exposure in industrial or occupational settings, but the study's broader message may be that chemical manufacturers and independent labs should test more for neurodevelopmental effects of even low concentrations of products. In the specific case of MIT in tadpoles, he noted, "It's resulting in a non-obvious but real deficit in neural function."

Brown University and the Whitehall Foundation funded the research.
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6) Save the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (SE New Mexico and West Texas)

The dunes sagebrush lizard survives in one of the smallest habitats of any lizard -- a tiny area of oak-covered sand dunes in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. This habitat covers less than 2 percent of all land in the Permian basin, but is threatened by oil and gas development and herbicides sprayed by ranchers.

The lizard has already declined by nearly 90 percent in Texas and by at least 20 percent in New Mexico.

In December 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed protecting the lizard under the Endangered Species Act, triggering a one-year deadline to finalize protection.
But the Service has delayed lifesaving protections for an additional six months.

Big Oil is falsely claiming that saving the lizard will endanger the oil industry. In fact, protecting the lizard's habitat would leave almost 39 million acres available for oil and gas development. Reports from the Center for Biological Diversity and findings from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have shown that assertions that saving the lizard would hurt the oil and gas industry are simply not true.

We have only until Jan. 19 to submit comments, so please write now to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in support of protecting the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species, before it's too late.

Then tell all your friends on Twitter and Facebook.

Sample letter:

I am writing in support of Endangered Species Act protection for the dunes sagebrush lizard. The Service has already determined that the best available scientific information shows the lizard faces immediate and significant threats to its continued existence.

The lizard is severely threatened by oil and gas activities and herbicide treatments. There is scientific agreement that the lizard is presently in danger of extinction throughout its entire range; it has been lost from nearly 90 percent of its habitat in Texas and 20 percent of its habitat in New Mexico.

I urge the Service to reject political and industry interference with science and the Endangered Species Act. Please finalize protection for the dunes sagebrush lizard immediately, before the species is lost forever.

Thank you.

Send to
Division of Policy and Directives Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM
Arlington, VA 22203
US
Deadline 1/19/2012
_____________________________________________________________________

7) Study: Salt water can't halt invasive pythons advance across Florida

Written by, Jim Waymer, FLORIDA TODAY, 1/5/12

Ready for mammoth Burmese pythons among the Indian River Lagoon marshes?

A new federal study says even pint-sized python babies can withstand water as salty as the lagoon for up to five months.

And nobody knows how long the big ones can last.

Even ocean water isn’t salty enough to blunt the Burmese python’s slither through Florida, according to the study, which appears in the latest issue of the
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.
Python babies that hatch in the Everglades can endure salt water long enough to allow the invasive serpent to expand its range via ocean and estuary habitats, the researchers found.

“Salinity is very unlikely to be a barrier,” said Bob Reed, a research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, the agency that conducted the study. “They’re certainly well north of Everglades National Park.”

The study, based on lab experiments by USGS, is early evidence that Burmese pythons might survive in bays, inlets, estuaries and even open seas. That crushes biologists’ hopes that salty water might restrict this exotic constrictor. Now, they fear pythons might be able to invade nearby islands, such as the Florida Keys, and beyond.

“Because reptiles, in general, have poor salinity tolerance, it was hoped that salt water would naturally hinder pythons’ ability to expand their range beyond the Everglades,” Kristen Hart, USGS’s lead author on the study, said in a release. “Unfortunately, our results suggest salt water alone cannot act as a reliable barrier to the Everglades python population.”

The snakes had shown up before along the Everglades’ semi-salty margins. The predominantly freshwater wetland is home to the only known wild-breeding population of Burmese pythons in the nation. But scientists weren’t sure how long the snakes could survive in salty areas.

So USGS researchers tested how long hatchling pythons could live with only salt water to drink. They found that, when given only water with salt levels equivalent to ocean water, the hatchling snakes survived about a month. At salt levels comparable with estuaries such as the Indian River Lagoon, they made it up to five months.

Hatchlings are at the most vulnerable stage of a python’s existence, so adult snakes likely could live even longer in salt water, the researchers noted.

Pythons in the study had a saltwater tolerance level that nearly matched the native mangrove snake, a highly salt-tolerant snake found in and around the Everglades.

The study didn’t account for how access to food in saltwater environments might impact survival.
Cold winters might help keep them in check, unless the snakes can escape underground, USGS officials said. The study’s results raise the stakes on python prevention, they added.

“The fact that this study has ruled out one of the most hoped-for forms of physical barriers, salt water, as preventing the spread of invasive pythons in Florida puts even more onus on human action to prevent the spread of these damaging reptiles,” said USGS director Marcia McNutt. “This study demonstrates the distinct possibility that pythons could spread to new suitable habitats one estuary at a time.”
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8) Microbes May Come To The Rescue Of Endangered Frogs
By: Sabri Ben-Achour // January 6, 2012, WAMU 88.5, American University Radio

For years, researchers have been trying desperately to find a cure for a fungus that is killing frog populations the world over. Now, they think a D.C.-area man may have found a solution in his backyard.
A fungus known as amphibian bd or chytrid has been spreading around the world for the past few decades, wiping out amphibian populations in vulnerable areas. One-third of the globe's amphibians are now facing extinction from a host of issues, from habitat loss to pollution, and this fungus is an added assault they really don't need. Scientists are scrambling to find the answer.

In a darkened, quarantined room in Panama's Summit Zoo, keeper Angie Estrada is about to open some special packages. "It's been a long trip for them," she says. "So we're trying to do things quick and not stress them out any more."

Wrapped inside wet balls of moss are six endangered frogs, waiting on a table. A field team spent weeks searching for them in a mountain forest where a human-introduced fungal plague has caused mass die-offs.

Estrada carefully teases away strands of moss, until a tiny hand with four little yellow fingers appears. The little frog turns out to be dead.

"Dammit," Estrada says. "It's not alive. This happens sometimes. It sucks." Not only is this frog dead, it's not even the especially rare one she was hoping for. But she says it's what they expected to happen with chytrid.

Rescued frogs and their progeny can now be found in zoos from Germany to Houston. Some are the last of their kind and exist only in captivity.


"Even if you're able to breed them in a lab, they're still susceptible to the chytrid fungus, so you can't really put them back in the rainforest because the chytrid fungus is still there," says Reid Harris, a professor of biology at James Madison University in Virginia.

While thinking about this problem and doing research in Virginia's George Washington Forest, Harris noticed something in the salamanders he was looking at.

"The females would squirm through the eggs periodically," he says. "If the parent deserted the nest, fungus would take over the nest fairly soon, and there would be no survival of the offspring."
Harris' observation eventually led to the discovery of bacteria on the skin of the salamanders. Those bacteria protected the animals against fungal attack.

"The exact mechanism, we hypothesize ,is that it's due to anti-fungal metabolites that are being produced by the bacteria," says Harris. "Maybe the bacteria is somehow stimulating the immune system of the frog. Maybe the bacteria is filling up all the attachment sites so the skin fungus can't find a place to attach."

When Harris removed bacteria from the skin of the salamanders and exposed them to chytrid, the salamanders got sick. When he slathered the salamanders with the bacteria, they did better. Researchers across the country took notice.

"When I heard about that, we immediately got in touch with Reid and said maybe that could help explain what's going on here in California, where you got these yellow-legged frogs that are dying from this fungus," says Vance Vrendenburg at San Francisco State University.

The yellow-legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada mountains were experiencing the same kind of die-offs as in Panama.

"When we started working on this problem, we had 500 populations remaining of these frogs," says Vrendenburg. "We're down to 80 populations left. So they're just dropping like flies."
But he found a few small populations of frogs that survived, and on their skin he found the same protective bacteria. He isolated it in the lab, grew broths full of it, and gave it to more frogs up in the mountains.

"We just capture individual frogs and we give them a little bacterial bath. It looks like soup, and it looks like it worked," he says. "I went back in 2011, I saw 23 frogs, that's it. Just 23 frogs. But of those 23, every single one was an experimental frog that got bacteria in 2010."

The bacteria approach to fighting chytrid fungus is one of several that have come up in the past decade. There's research showing some frogs could develop genetic immunity. And some strains of the fungus are less deadly than others, which could make breeding for resistance a little easier. There's even a type of aquatic crustacean found to eat the fungus. Brian Gratwicke, a conservation biologist with the Smithsonian, says those options would only work under certain circumstances.

"This is the only tool that we can think of at the moment that has a lot of promise in allowing a frog to be reintroduced back into the wild and survive chytrid," says Gratwicke.

As Gratwicke speaks, he and graduate student Matt Becker swab a bright yellow Panamanian Golden Frog in a lab in Front Royal, Va. These frogs, which are so yellow they seem to glow, are believed to be extinct in the wild. But in zoos, they've been multiplying like rabbits. When Becker tried to implant the protective bacteria from the Appalachians in their skin, it wouldn't stick. Not only that, but there were concerns about using non-native bacteria.

"So we went down to Panama in 2009 and collected bacteria from many different amphibian species in populations that were surviving with the chytrid fungus."

They sifted through 500 species of bacteria on frogs that survived local extinctions in Panama, looking for ones that fought chytrid. They found 50. Now, they're hoping one of those will stick to the Golden Frog so one day it might be reintroduced into the wild.

But at least one scientist who's been trying to find solutions for two decades is not so sure.

"I'm quite skeptical, having seen what I've seen in the past 20 years," says Karen Lips, a researcher at the University of Maryland who was among the first to document frog die-offs. "I can't imagine anything is going to be the miracle cure. I hope I'm wrong."

Lips says it's unlikely anyone will be spraying bacteria from a plane, so each frog population would have to be hand-treated. With thousands of species at risk, it's no small task. And it's not clear if the bacteria will be passed from frog to frog, or generation-to-generation in the wild, though there is some promising research in that direction.

"Big scale, I think we have to depend on Mother Nature, on evolution, and hope for the best and do everything we can to stack the deck on the side of the frogs," says Lips.

Knowing more about how the fungus operates will help humans to better manage outbreaks in areas that haven't been hit yet, such as richly diverse Madagascar, adds Lips. The problem is, in many cases, the infection has been so swift and so severe it hasn't given vulnerable species the chance to evolve. For them, these microbes may buy just a little bit of time.

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9) Texas Fire Claims Crocodiles, Exotic Snakes Peter McCrady 
Kerrville Daily Times, Texas

Jan. 05--A manufactured home containing exotic reptiles was consumed with fire Tuesday, killing most of the animal inhabitants according to officials.

Turtle Creek Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call for a fully engulfed structure fire around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Keith Boulevard, off of Upper Turtle Creek Road. Center Point Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the blaze. When firefighters arrived, the owners of the manufactured home were not inside, and no injuries were reported.

According to Wesley Gordon, chief of the Turtle Creek Volunteer Fire Department, about 20 minutes into fighting the fire, they were cautioned that the house contained exotic reptiles, including venomous snakes and crocodiles.

"Having reptiles that could come out and get you at any time adds a whole other thought process to fighting the fire," he said.

The owner said the home was not used as a residence but as a place to keep the exotic animals he and his wife own. Texas law regulates the keeping of dangerous wild animals and includes big cats, bears, hyenas, coyotes, jackals and monkeys. Reptiles are not listed under the definition of dangerous wild animals.

"We just went about fighting the fire and being cautious," Gordon said.

Chief investigator with the Kerr County Sheriff's Department Carol Twiss said all animals were accounted for after the fire, and workers with The Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife were on hand.
"None got loose," she said. "Most perished in the fire. Our main concern was making sure all animals were accounted for and that nothing illegal was going on."

Twiss said there were only two venomous snakes in the manufactured home. An exact number of animals in the home was not immediately available.

According to Gordon, two crocodiles survived the fire, including one that is 5 feet long. The owners retrieved the animals that survived and put them in other tanks on the property.

Investigators believe the source of the fire was a wood burning pool heater, located inside the manufactured home. The fire was extinguished around 4 a.m. Wednesday, and the home is considered a total loss.

"Do you want to know what it feels like to have your entire life go up in smoke? It sucks," the owner said on the loss of the home and reptiles.

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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00 _______________________________________________________________
New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011, For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˘Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˘but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˘Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˘Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

≥Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.≈˘Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range Research on pythons in the United States history Status of introduced pythons in Florida, Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere Methods to control python populations other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9994654@N0 ... hotostream
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England
2006  236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

„Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the Œfresh water, salt water, and everything in between‚‰ ˜Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.‰˜Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."˜Herpetological Review

„Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.‰˜Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

„Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ŒWhat can I do?‚ „˜Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

„More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history˜written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.‰˜Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on the Latest News on Herpetological Conservation, Husbandry and Science
Volume # 12 Issue # 4 1/19/12 (A Not-for-Profit Publication)
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg
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Thanks for their Donations to Wayne Friar and Harold Wahlquist
HerpDigest is a Not-For-Profit Publication That is Entirely Based on Your Donations to Continue.
Wouldn‚t you like to help HerpDigest keep going. Donations of any size are appreciated from $1.00 to $25.00 to $100.00 to...?
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Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico volume 1 and 2 are now available as one set at a $20% Discount - But only until February 15, 2012. (Read more)

Last year, in Volume one the Ernsts covered Heloderma, Micruroides, Micrurus, Pelamis, Agkistrodon, Sistrurus

It was rightfully called a classic.

"Likely to remain the standard reference for the next 20 years."—SciTech Book News, reviewing Venomous Reptiles of North America

NOW COMES PART II

And if you buy the complete set, AND IF YOU ACT FAST- YOU CAN GET SIGNED COPIES OF EACH BOOK AT 20% OFFER. YES ONLY $120 FOR BOTH BOOKS. (To order see the bottom of this message)

Carl and Evelyn Ernst have completely revised their landmark reference Venomous Reptiles of North America to present the most comprehensive review of these animals in years. A review that now needs two volumes to complete. 

Volume One of this definitive work presented dramatically improved species accounts of the venomous lizards and elapid and viperid snakes found north of Mexico's twenty-fifth parallel.

In Volume Two they cover the twenty-one rattlesnakes found in the United States, Canada, and, for the first time, species found only in northern Mexico.

As in Volume I, in Volume II they present the latest research on Crotalus in the United States, Canada, and northern Mexico and feature an extensive bibliography of literature on the subject.

These volumes contain a wealth of information for anyone with an interest in venom, snakes, or herpetology in general.

Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico Volume I & II, provides facts on each animal's diet, reproductive behavior, physiology, ecology, and conservation status. The book also covers details on snakebite, how venom is delivered, venom composition, antivenom production, and medical treatments of envenomation. Each species account includes vivid photographs that aid with identification and detailed maps that show the species range.

AND IF YOU ACT NOW WHAT WOULD COST YOU $150 NOW COSTS YOU ONLY $120.00- 20% off and signed by both authors.

If you already have Volume 1 - or if you’re only interested in one volume you can order a single book for $75.00 plus $6.00 S&H. (It will be signed by both authors)

Go to bottom of this newsletter for information on how to order..

THIS OFFER IS ONLY GOOD UNTIL FEBRUARY 15, 2012 __________________________________________________________________
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Table of Contents
1) Legendary Kansas herpetologist Joe Collins dies
2) World Congress of Herpetology -7 to Meet Vancouver, Canada, 8/8-14, 2012 -Deadline for Submission of Abstracts 2/29/12
3) Lizards may be made smarter by warming world
4) Bid to rescue tortoises caught in fire (Geometetic Tortoises) (South Africa)
5) Leaping Lizards and Dinosaurs Inspire Robot Design (US)
6) Monitor lizards heading for extinction in Malacca (Malyaysia)
7) Researcher says FNQ quolls may have adapted to cane toads (Australia)
8) In Bucks County, volunteers await duty as salamander escorts, (Pennsylvania, US)
9) Why is the land of snakes, so inept at dealing with snake bites? (India)
10) Animal rights activists hopping mad over kits (Ontario, Canada)
11) Cold-stunned turtles washing ashore (North Carolina, US)
12) Turtle Rules Limit Harvest (Georgia, US)
13) This week’s New Yorker has an interesting story on Eric Goode and Behler Chelonian Center.

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TURTLE TV is here, It‚s a „freaking hilarious‰ award winning 30 minute DVD compilation of excerpts from shows and events from a TV station run by turtles for turtles and their friends. - such as you? ALL SHOWS STAR ONLY TURTLES. Not a human to be seen

TURTLE MOVIES- - Star Wars - American Beauty - Blazing Saddles (Yep, that scene) King Kong (Yes the turtle climbs up the side of a skyscraper)
TURTLE SPORTS-- the Turtle Hockey League, the Turtle Basketball League Turtle Drag Racing, even the Turtle Indy 500 (complete with a sensational crash).
TURTLE TV SHOWS- Turtle CSI, Turtle Cops and a turtle cooking show, which the main dish is a cricket cooked in sherry, or should be.
and more.
Like official turtle greetings from the station for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Guaranteed turtle TV fun and madness for 30 full minutes. The perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, yourself. And only for a donation of $15.00 each, which includes S&H anywhere in the U.S. Additional copies are $15.00 each S&H also included. Overseas contact us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org,

Go to bottom of this newsletter for information on how to order..
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Books Still Available
Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator
by Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons,
Diamonds in the March by Barbara Brennessel,
Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World (How to Care for them in captivity)
go to end of newsletter for additional information on any of these books and how to order.
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1) Legendary Kansas herpetologist Joe Collins dies
By Stan Finger, The Wichita Eagle, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012
.
As far as Joe Collins was concerned, snakes have had a bad rap ever since the Garden of Eden.
Mr. Collins’ passion for herpetology inspired generations of students and outdoors enthusiasts.
“For 60 years, I have been obsessed with herpetology,” Mr. Collins said in a video shot by Dan Krull. “I make no apologies for it ... the thrill of discovery just can’t be beat.”
Mr. Collins, who founded the Center for North American Herpetology and was a former instructor at the University of Kansas, died Saturday of a heart attack in Florida. He was 72.
Mr. Collins and his wife, Suzanne, were on their annual five-week trip to document wildlife – such as snakes, turtles and alligators – when he was stricken.
“He was a great mentor to students of all ages, from the very smallest student who might come to him with a tiny little snake to Ph.D. students working on their dissertation,” Suzanne Collins said.
As news of his death spread, many of those who considered Mr. Collins a mentor offered tributes to him on Facebook.
“I remember all these excited kids (including me) running up to Joe with pillow cases full of snakes and lizards, and Joe being equally excited to educate them about what they found,” Mike Zerwekh of San Diego wrote in a forum dedicated to Mr. Collins. “Since then, I’ve made a lot of friends and had some great adventures finding the animals I love. If it wasn’t for Joe, I’m not sure any of that would have happened. He was a true inspiration ... ”
Snakes have a reputation for being evil, which Mr. Collins blamed on the biblical story. But he loved telling audiences how beneficial snakes are to the environment, Suzanne Collins said. They eat enormous numbers of insects and disease-carrying, crop-eating rodents.
“He considered reptiles and amphibians to be his animals,” she said. “He was so passionate and dedicated his life to it.”
Travis W. Taggart, curator of herpetology at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University, said Mr. Collins’ enthusiasm was infectious.
“He really had an eye for people who were wide-eyed about herpetology,” Taggart said. “He was really good at nurturing it and feeding those interests.”
Most people have hobbies, Taggart said, but Mr. Collins didn’t. He was focused at all times on herpetology.
“He woke up thinking about it, and he went to bed thinking about it,” Taggart said.
While Mr. Collins often said he disliked writing, he wrote numerous books. By his own count, he wrote more books about Kansas wildlife than anyone in the history of the state. That’s because he knew books were a vital way to convey information, said Bob Gress, director of the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita.
Perhaps Mr. Collins’ proudest writing accomplishment was serving as co-author for a Peterson Field Guide: “Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America.” Snake enthusiasts consider it the bible of herpetology.
“He was one of those special people that could bridge the academia world with the hobbyist,” Gress said. “He brought interest to the masses.”
Taggart said he would talk to Mr. Collins frequently – about every other day – about one thing or another.
“I’ll miss those conversations,” he said. “You tend to take it for granted. There was a whole lot of wisdom there to tap into.
“It’s a little scary going forward not having that insight and that push.”
Taggart said his herpetology decisions will be guided by a simple question going forward: What would Joe have done if he were still here?
Mr. Collins’ legacy will continue to blossom in the years ahead, he said.
“He’s touched so many people, it can’t help but go on,” Taggart said. “He had so many great ideas and got so many things started.”
A memorial service will be held in Lawrence, Suzanne Collins said, but details haven’t been finalized.
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2) World Congress of Herpetology -7 to Meet Vancouver, Canada, 8/8-14, 2012
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts 2/29/12 - For more information go to:
http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/?section=11
A history of the WCH
While at the 25th meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), international representatives from herpetology societies around the world founded the World Congress of Herpetology (WCH) on August 2, 1982. Kraig Adler and Marinus Hoogmoed were elected founding Secretary General and Treasurer. Initial funding was contributed by herpetology societies around the world, and was put toward the first WCH meeting in at Kent University in Canterbury, UK in 1989. This first meeting, in conjunction with the 32nd annual meeting of SSAR, was the largest meeting of international herpetologists to date.
Purpose
The objectives of the Congress are to promote international interest, collaboration and co-operation in herpetology. These are to be achieved by holding periodic international congresses of herpetology, by establishing specialist committees, by serving as the Section of Herpetology of the International Union of Biological Sciences and by undertaking or encouraging such other activities as will promote these objectives.
The WCH has continued to meet every 3-5 years, as proposed by the constitution.
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3) Lizards may be made smarter by warming world
1/11/12 by Sujata Gupta, New Scientist Magazine
When the heat is on, lizards become smarter – potentially giving them a competitive edge as the world warms.
Previous research has shown that scincid lizards (Bassiana duperreyi) grow larger if their eggs are incubated at higher temperatures.
Joshua Amiel and colleagues at the University of Sydney, Australia, wanted to see if bigger lizards also make better learners, so they incubated nine eggs in cold conditions – 8.5 to 23.5  °C – and 12 in warm conditions – 14.5 to 29.5 °C.
Once hatched, the lizards were put in plastic containers equipped with two hideouts, one blocked off with Plexiglass and the other fully accessible. The researchers, playing predators, scared the lizards by touching their tails with a paintbrush and recorded where the lizards went. After 16 trials, five of the nine cold-incubated lizards still headed for the inaccessible hideout. Just one of the 12 warm-incubated lizards made the same mistake.
"Climate change might not be so bad for these guys," says Amiel.
Journal reference: Biology Letters, DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.1161
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4) Bid to rescue tortoises caught in fire (Geometetic Tortoises)
January 13 2012 at 12:32pm
Cape Argus SIBUSISO NKOMO, Staff Reporter
A rescue mission has been launched to save critically endangered geometric tortoises following the huge four-day veld fire in Tulbagh.
About 100 geometric tortoises had been rescued by yesterday, as well as another 100 common parrot-beaked tortoises and a few angulate tortoises.
CapeNature senior manager Dr Ernst Baard said the rescue was launched to save as many as possible of geometric tortoises, which had lost most of their habitat.
“Many of the tortoises survive the fire, but then die due to their injuries, trauma and the lack of food, water or shelter after the fire. This search-and-rescue mission aims to locate as many as possible of the surviving tortoises to hydrate and provide them with care, so that they can be released back into the area when the veld recovers from the fire,” he said.
While fire is detrimental to the geometric tortoise, endangered plant species may need fire for their survival, CapeNature spokeswoman Marietjie Engelbrecht said.
She said the Elandsberg Nature Reserve conserves two endangered vegetation types – Swartland Alluvium Fynbos and Swartland Shale Renosterveld.
They wanted to save from the fire numerous endemic plant species, including the Elandsberg Brunsvigia (brunsvigia elandmontana), the Dagger-leaf Protea (protea mucronifolia) and the Elandsberg Peacock Moraea (moraea villosa).
CapeNature staff, UWC scientists, staff members of the Elandsberg Nature Reserve and several volunteers are scouring the area.
The fire crossed over the Elandskloof Mountains, raged through the Elandsberg Nature Reserve and destroyed most of the low-lying areas where geometric tortoises live.
The Tulbagh fire was put out after it spread across the Waterval mountains, burning down about 60 percent of a government-owned pine plantation.
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5) Leaping Lizards and Dinosaurs Inspire Robot Design
ScienceDaily (Jan. 4, 2012) — Leaping lizards have a message for robots: Get a tail! University of California, Berkeley, biologists and engineers -- including undergraduate and graduate students -- studied how lizards manage to leap successfully even when they slip and stumble. They found that lizards swing their tails upward to prevent them from pitching head-over-heels into a rock.
But after the team added a tail to a robotic car named Tailbot, they discovered that counteracting the effect of a slip is not as simple as throwing your tail in the air. Instead, robots and lizards must actively adjust the angle of their tails just right to remain upright.
"We showed for the first time that lizards swing their tail up or down to counteract the rotation of their body, keeping them stable," said team leader Robert J. Full, UC Berkeley professor of integrative biology. "Inspiration from lizard tails will likely lead to far more agile search-and-rescue robots, as well as ones having greater capability to more rapidly detect chemical, biological or nuclear hazards."
Agile therapod dinosaurs like the velociraptor depicted in the movie Jurassic Park may also have used their tails as stabilizers to prevent forward pitch, Full said. Their tail movement is illustrated in a prescient chase sequence from the 1993 movie in which the animated animal leaps from a balcony onto a T. rex skeleton.
"Muscles willing, the dinosaur could be even more effective with a swing of its tail in controlling body attitude than the lizards," Full said.
Full and his laboratory colleagues, including both engineering and biology students, will report their discoveries online on Jan. 5 in advance of publication in the Jan. 12 print edition of the journal Nature. The paper's first author, mechanical engineering graduate student Thomas Libby, also will report the results on Jan. 7 at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Charleston, S.C.
Full is enthusiastic about the interplay fostered at UC Berkeley between biologists and engineers in the Center for Interdisciplinary Bio-inspiration in Education and Research (CiBER) lab, within which he offers a research-based teaching lab that provides dozens of undergraduate students with an opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in teams with graduate students. Each team experiences the benefits of how biologists and engineers approach a problem.
"Learning in the context of original discovery, finding out something that no one has ever know before, really motivated me," said former UC Berkeley integrative biology undergraduate Talia Moore, now a graduate student in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. "This research-based lab course … showed me how biologists and engineers can work together to benefit both fields."
"This paper shows that research-based teaching leads to better learning and simultaneously can lead to cutting-edge research," added Full, who last year briefed the U.S. House of Representative's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Caucus on this topic. "It also shows the competitive advantage of interdisciplinary approaches and how involvement of undergraduates in research can lead to innovation."
Full's research over the past 20 years has revealed how the toe hairs of geckos assist them in climbing smooth vertical surfaces and, more recently, how their tails help to keep them from falling when they slip and to right themselves in mid-air.
The new research tested a 40-year-old hypothesis that the two-legged theropod dinosaurs ‑ the ancestors of birds ‑ used their tails as stabilizers while running or dodging obstacles or predators. In Full's teaching laboratory, students noticed a lizard's recovery after slipping during a leap and thought a study of stumbling would be a perfect way to test the value of a tail.
In the CiBER lab, Full and six of his students used high-speed videography and motion capture to record how a red-headed African Agama lizard handled leaps from a platform with different degrees of traction, from slippery to easily-gripped.
They coaxed the lizards to run down a track, vault off a low platform and land on a vertical surface with a shelter on top. When the friction on the platform was reduced, lizards slipped, causing their bodies to potentially spin out of control.
When the researchers saw how the lizard used its tail to counteract the spin, they created a mathematical model as well as Tailbot -- a toy car equipped with a tail and small gyroscope to sense body position ‑ to better understand the animal's skills. With a tail but no feedback from sensors about body position, Tailbot took a nose dive when driven off a ramp, mimicking a lizard's take-off. When body position was sensed and fed back to the tail motor, however, Tailbot was able to stabilize its body in midair. The actively controlled tail effectively redirected the angular momentum of the body into the tail's swing, as happens with leaping lizards, Full said.
Tailbot's design pushed the boundaries of control in robotics in an area researchers call inertial assisted robotics, an attention-grabber at last October's meeting of the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. The UC Berkeley researchers' paper, presented by Libby and fellow mechanical engineering graduate student Evan Chang-Siu, was one of five finalists there among more than 2,000 robot studies.
"Engineers quickly understood the value of a tail," Libby said, noting that when he dropped Tailbot nose-down, it was able to right itself before it had dropped a foot. "Robots are not nearly as agile as animals, so anything that can make a robot more stable is an advancement, which is why this work is so exciting."
Full and his students are now investigating the role of the tail in controlling pitch, roll and yaw while running.
UC Berkeley coauthors include Full and students Moore, Libby and Chang-Siu, along with Department of Integrative Biology undergraduate Deborah Li and graduate students Ardian Jusufi in the Department of Integrative Biology and Daniel Cohen in the Department of Bioengineering.
The work was funded by the National Science Foundation, including the NSF's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program, and the Micro Autonomous Systems Technologies (MAST) consortium, a large group of researchers funded in part by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory that is focused on creating autonomous sensing robots.
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6) Monitor lizards heading for extinction in Malacca

THE STAR (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) 09 January 12
(R.S.N. Murali)

Malacca: Frequent hunting of Malacca's giant monitor lizards, allegedly for their skin and meat as well as their body liquid for aphrodisiac purposes, could drive the reptile to extinction.

“Fifteen years ago, these reptiles could be easily spotted lazing along the river bank of scenic Malacca River. Now, they are hard to come by,” said city councillor Ronald Gan Yong Hoe.

“In some countries, monitor lizards are protected under Endangered Species Acts. We hope the state government will move to conserve our local reptiles,” the member of the Malacca Historic City Council said.

“If nothing is done, the extensive poaching of this reptile could lead to its extinction,” he said.

Gan said the local monitor lizards, known locally as biawak, are large water monitor species (varanus salvator) capable of growing up to three metres long and 25 kilos in weight.

He said that apart from their skin and meat, the reptlie was sought for a liquid from its body that was commonly believed to increase sexual prowess in both men and women.

Gan said the reptile's thick and leathery skin was used for clothing accessories, such as bags and belts, while its meat was said to have healing powers for ailments such as asthma and pneumonia besides increasing sexual prowess.

He said that besides poaching, the reptiles were often exposed to other risks, such as being hit by vehicles when crossing roads.

On a more positive note, Gan said a father and daughter from Australia, who dubbed themselves as Biawak Dundees, were rescuing and treating injured monitor lizards here.

Gan added that following a proposal by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the state government has made lizard- watching one of the features of the Malacca River cruise.

Meanwhile, mayor Zainal Abu said poaching activities along the river bank has declined due to continuous patrols by the council's enforcement officers.

However, he added, there could still be some hunting upstream and it was up to the state Wildlife and National Parks Department to curtail such activity.
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7) Researcher says FNQ quolls may have adapted to cane toads (Sam Davis)
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (Darwin) 09 January 12

A Melbourne-based PhD student says research on how cane toads affect a threatened marsupial found in Far North Queensland may help save the animal from extinction.

The northern quoll, a small nocturnal mammal found in parts of Cape York as well as the Northern Territory and Western Australia has dropped in numbers since the introduction of the cane toad in 1935.

But Deakin PhD student, Hannah Pusey says comparing Queensland's northern quoll population with quolls in the Western Australian Kimberley region might help offset cane toads impact.

"What we're trying to do is look at the long-term impacts of the cane toad and how they might affect the Kimberley [northern] quolls so that we can manage them before the cane toads wipe them all out," Ms Pusey said.

Ms Pusey, who hopes to have her research finished by 2014, says she'd like to know why numbers of northern quolls appear to have stabilised in Far North Queensland recently.

"They may have learned to avoid them [cane toads] in their diet and that's one of the things I'm going to look at but it could also be that they've retreated to areas where there are less cane toads," she said.

Recent studies suggest that some snakes and birds can learn only to eat the non-poisonous parts of cane toads and Ms Pusey says northern quolls could be doing the same thing.

"Other species have done it ... lots of birds have learned to flip them over so that they're avoiding the big glands on the back of their heads," she said. "I think it would be one of the easiest adaptations for the quoll to do. I think they're definitely smart enough to do it."

Coordinator of the Far North Quoll Seekers Network, Luke Jackson says the research may help answer questions many members of his community group have long wondered.

"It's huge. At the moment the research on the impact of cane toads is very limited. We know northern quolls that seem to be living alongside them, so we'd like to know what is it? What are they doing? Is it something that mothers teach them or something else," he said.

"If we can work out what is happening maybe they can find that quolls in the Northern Territory and Western Australia will survive anyway."

Mr Jackson says the group has created a database of northern quoll sightings in the region
.
Ms Pusey, who is working with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy says cane toads are predicted to reach the Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberleys by 2014.

She will start field work in Far North Queensland later in they year.
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8) In Bucks County, volunteers await duty as salamander escorts (Emilie Lounsberry)
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER 1/8/12

On a warm and wet March night, Devich Farbotnik was heading home to Quakertown on a back road when his headlights caught something shiny spilling across the macadam.

He hit the brakes.

Farbotnik, an environmentalist, quickly realized that he had chanced upon - luckily, without also flattening - a surge of salamanders in the heat of their annual breeding rite. Jumping out of his truck, he kept oncoming traffic at bay as he shepherded the slithery paramours from one swampy side to the vernal pool on the other, there to hook up.

A half-dozen mating seasons have passed since then in upper Bucks County, and Farbotnik, now 31, has presided as crossing guard at each. On the first mild, rainy evening of late winter or early spring, he heads for the 518-acre Quakertown Swamp, a favored haunt of not only salamanders but also frogs, toads, birds, and muskrats.

During the salamanders' few nights of canoodling, he posts himself at the tiny amphibians' most beaten paths on rural roads through the swamp in East Rockhill and Richland Townships.

Upwards of 1,000 salamanders might be out and about. "Just one person going through at the wrong time," he said, "could kill a lot."

This year, Farbotnik will get some help.

The Doylestown-based Heritage Conservancy and a brigade of volunteers are planning to set up amphibian-crossing signs at five locations where the salamanders - eight documented species ranging from three to eight inches long - typically traverse the roadways, along with frogs and toads. The seasonal pools become nurseries for their fertilized eggs.

Similar amphibian rescues have taken place in the city's Roxborough section, in Chester County, and Delaware Water Gap. Approached by Farbotnik and Laura Baird, a resource protection specialist for the nonprofit conservancy, township supervisors agreed to provide highway assistance. In Richland, roads will be closed, except to locals, on crossing nights. In East Rockhill, the township has promised to reduce traffic.

The Quakertown Swamp volunteers - about 25 so far - also will be out with clipboards and headlamps doing a census of sorts, counting the salamanders stepping out on date nights, as well as frogs and toads. It will be a baseline for determining, year to year, if the population is declining. "It's taken a few years to finally pull the right people together," said Farbotnik, also a carpenter and an avid birdwatcher who pursued that avocation to every state but Hawaii. Later this week, he will head to Alaska just to look for a dusky thrush.

At the moment, the salamanders are hibernating in the swamp, just south of Quakertown. But in a couple of months, they'll be in Farbotnik's sights.

The salamanders, which live both on land and in water, play an important role in the life cycle of the swamp, the largest inland wetland in Bucks County. The Heritage Conservancy owns about 80 acres of it. With permeable skin that easily absorbs toxic chemicals, the salamanders are a critical indicator of the swamp's well-being. Their very presence, Farbotnik said, "pretty much means there's a healthy ecosystem."

Standing guard over them is easy work, Farbotnik said. But the devil's in the timing.

"They only move when it's raining," he said. And while the larger ones are obvious, spotting the smaller ones can be tough. "You have to really look for them."

Once the salamanders finish doing what they do, they hightail it out of the water and back to the marsh, leaving their progeny to their own devices. But the return trip isn't as potentially calamitous because not all depart the vernal pools at the same time.

Farbotnik said he signals to surprised motorists, who usually know nothing about the annual breeding rite, to stop, and explains what he's doing. The salamanders, he said, are probably just as surprised to see him. "They probably think it's a predator," he said. "I'm sure they don't realize I'm trying to help."
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9) Why is the land of snakes, so inept at dealing with snake bites? (Janaki Lenin)
FIRST POST (Mumbai, India) 1/8/12

The number of people who died of snakebite in India was not known for decades. But there was no doubt thousands perished. This was, after all, the proverbial land of snakes. Finally, in April last year, a study estimated about a million people were bitten by snakes and approximately 46,000 died annually. These first reliable figures illustrate the enormity of the problem rural people face in this country. We also know more people are killed by snakes in India than any other country in the world.

Snakebite is a major occupational hazard in a country where farmers typically walk barefoot along field bunds. While we can exhort them to wear footwear, it will take years for this long-observed practice to change. People also tend to walk in the dark without a torch. For several decades, the price of disposable batteries was prohibitive for ordinary villagers, but the use of the new, affordable Chinese-made rechargeable torches may reduce the death toll. The other habit that puts rural people in harm’s way is sleeping on the floor. When farm economy is floundering, advising them to sleep on bedsteads will only elicit blank, uncomprehending stares. If people get bitten and are rushed to the hospital, the lack of doctors, trained in treating snakebite, as well as the limited availability and effectiveness of antivenom serum, jeopardize their lives further.

The only way to save a person from a lethal venomous snakebite is the administration of antivenom serum, even though too many people rely on superstition and alternative forms of medicine. Indians have had a surefire way of surviving a lethal bite as early as the 1920s, when the Central Research Institute began producing this life-saving drug commercially. Yet, almost a century later, despite snakebite continuing to be a major public health crisis, the availability of antivenom serum in small towns and villages, where bites usually occur, is limited.

Six manufacturers produce a serum made from the venoms of the Big Four: cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper and saw-scaled viper. Despite advances in antivenom production techniques, those of the Indian companies remain relatively unchanged since the 1950s. Several international publications have criticized Indian antivenoms for their impurity and for causing complicating side effects.

All the companies claim identical potency for their antivenom serums, which is astonishingly low. This means many more vials are needed to neutralize the harmful effects of a venomous snakebite. One study says a person needs an average of 51 vials to treat cobra and krait bite, while 32 vials are needed to treat Russell’s viper bite. Another study quoted as much as 91 vials being used to neutralize cobra and krait bites. Such high doses of impure antivenom serum can potentially cause adverse reactions. In Sri Lanka, up to 87% of snakebite victims who were treated with Indian antivenom developed untoward side effects.

A standard clinical procedure to validate the claimed potency values has never been published. Inexplicably, prior to the mid-1950s, antivenom serums were much more potent than those currently available. It’s not clear why the Indian authorities lowered the standards.

The low potency and high adverse reactions have raised doubts about the effectiveness of Indian antivenom serum. Venom is a protein-rich soup with numerous toxins, peptides and enzymes. What snakes eat determines the combination and proportion of these elements in their venom. In many species, the venom of young snakes, which eat small creatures like frogs, undergoes a transformation as they grow older and switch to eating larger animals like rodents. Where they live also appears to influence the kind of venom they produce, even within a species. For instance, the venom of Russell’s vipers in south India is quite different from the north. So antivenom made with the venom of a southern viper may not work against the same species in other parts of the country.

Indian antivenom is produced for four snakes against the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of twelve high-priority species for South Asia. In short, we do not know what coverage the antivenom serum has. Does it neutralize the bites caused by the young of the same species, and is it as effective anywhere in the country. Does the serum made for the Big Four counteract the venom of any others? In the absence of these tests, physicians have no choice but to try and save the lives of their patients with the only tool they have.

In 2010, WHO recommended a set of standard procedures for the assessment and evaluation of antivenoms anywhere in the world. David Williams, a clinical toxinologist working with the Global Snakebite Initiative, says Indian antivenom has to be tested for effectiveness against the high-priority snake species. Only then can doctors be sure that the treatment they are providing their patients, which is often expensive and beyond poor people’s means (between Rs. 450 and 500 a vial), is effective.

Williams further advises that once the lack of effectiveness of the available antivenom serum is established, if the problem cannot be fixed easily, then a new start has to be made to produce a broad-spectrum antidote for the entire region. Several manufacturers should be licensed to produce this life-saving drug. Antivenom should be distributed free or at heavily subsidized rates through the public health system. In Tanzania, people sought antivenom treatment much more readily when it was provided free, which indicates their reliance on traditional medicine and superstition is at least partly driven by cost considerations.

Indian health authorities must recognize snakebite for what it is: a neglected tropical disease that maims and kills tens of thousands of poor people. While the WHO acknowledged this fact in 2009, snakebite is yet to feature in any of the organization’s programs. Besides the development of an effective antivenom serum and training doctors, a major awareness campaign needs to be launched to teach people to avoid being bitten by snakes, as well as the appropriate first-aid practices to follow in the event of a bite. India has to overcome poor governance, abysmal regulation of antivenom quality, and social inequity to arrest the unconscionable loss of lives to snakebite
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10) Animal rights activists hopping mad over kits (Claire Brownell)
WINDSOR STAR (Ontario) 1/7/12 Windsor:

Controversy over the sale of "frog-o-sphere" kits has reached Windsor, with an online petition to get one store to stop carrying them gaining almost 400 signatures in one day.

"I was floored when I saw they were selling these frog-o-spheres, especially at a place called Green Earth, which I thought was more of an eco-friendly, green place to shop," said Dan MacDonald, a longtime animal rights activist who started the petition against the Devonshire Mall store on Thursday. "A tiny frog in a plastic case, that's the least green thing I can think of. They might as well start selling fur coats and deer heads."

The kits, which contain one or more African dwarf frogs, gravel containing micro-organisms and sometimes snails and plants in a small cube-shaped aquarium, have been targeted by animal rights activists before. On its website, PETA calls them "cruel and terribly unnatural cubes" and claims the frogs are often neglected by untrained staff at the stores and warehouses where they're kept before being sold.

Christine, a manager at Green Earth who declined to give her last name, said she wouldn't comment on the petition.

However, she said staff receive training and know to only use dechlorinated water, handle the frogs while wearing gloves and feed them two food pellets per frog twice a week.

Christine said Green Earth has been selling the frogs since the spring and is currently sold out. She was unable to say how many kits the store has sold, but estimated five per cent of customers contact the store to ask for a replacement frog because theirs died shortly after purchase.

"From what we were told, they're very happy in the smaller aquariums because in the wild, they're at risk from predators, so they're constantly hiding. So they feel safer in that smaller container," she said.

Two experts contacted by The Star said the small aquarium was suitable for the frogs, at least until they're sold. David M. Green, a conservationist and amphibian expert at McGill University, said the frogs should be transferred to a tank holding between 75 and 190 litres of water to live long-term.

"You can keep them in there temporarily. Not for their entire lives, no, that's miserable. But they're fine for a few weeks. They live in puddles. They live in muck. They live in mud wallows," he said, adding the water should be kept at room temperature or warmed with a tropical fish heater.

Another expert said he didn't want his name used because he was worried about repercussions from extreme animal rights activists, who have targeted his colleagues in the past. He forwarded an email from his university's administration warning about extremists who made threatening phone calls, firebombed residences and cut the brakes of vehicles belonging to researchers and professors.

He said concerns about the size of the tank are the result of people projecting human concerns onto animals. "Sure, I would like a lot of space to run around, a clean habitat. But I am a human, not a frog," he wrote in an email.

Some postings on animal rights sites say the small tank is to blame for restless, aggressive frogs, but the expert said the source of the problem is more likely something counterintuitive - keeping the tank too clean.

"Probably the cruellest thing about the picture on the website is how clean the water is," he wrote. "Species from this family of frogs are adapted to hiding and feeding on the bottom in murky water."

Regardless of whether the tank environment is suitable, MacDonald said a big part of the problem is how the kits are marketed as toys and gifts, not pets. He said shoppers were tapping on the glass and asking if the frogs were real when he visited the store.

"A lot of people buy these on impulse, because they're very, very cute," he said. "But it is an ecosystem. If that's disturbed, it sets the whole thing off and the frog dies a really terrible death."
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11) Cold-stunned turtles washing ashore (Kate Elizabeth Queram)
STAR NEWS (Wilmington, N Carolina) 1/6/12

The cold snap plaguing large areas of the Tar Heel state is causing problems for sea turtles, who have begun washing up on shore in large numbers after being stunned by quickly-dropping water temperatures.

As of Thursday morning, 19 marine reptiles – three loggerheads, 16 green turtles – had been found on regional beaches, mostly in the Cape Lookout area.

Twelve of the green turtles died Wednesday night, but Jean Beasley, director of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Topsail Beach, said the rest of the group was showing some signs of life.

“I think within 72 hours we should have a pretty good idea,” Beasley said late Wednesday. “It's going to take us a while to warm these turtles up.”

Because reptiles, including turtles, can't regulate their own body heat, they're susceptible to sudden, drastic shifts in water temperature.

“If it's a gradual lowering of temperature, they can survive and do pretty well,” Beasley said. “But if they've been at 78 degrees and it drops into the lower 60s, they are probably going to stun.”

Cold-stunned turtles appear extremely lethargic and in some cases will stop moving entirely as more of their blood supply diverts to the core of their bodies, a condition Beasley said is a relatively common occurrence in North Carolina during the winter months.

“Last year, we had up over 150, and we had quite a few that died,” she said. “The longer they're exposed to the severe cold, the bigger impact it's going to have on their basic systems, their core body and their vital organs, so the sooner we can get them the greater chance they have.”

To recover from a cold stun, sea turtles must be warmed gradually. Raising their core temperature too quickly can result in a reverse shock, which can kill them, Beasley said. And though the extreme cold weather has passed, turtles may continue to wash up on shore in the coming days.

“We'll still have the hangers-on. Those that are under the docks will be showing up on shore, but hopefully we're not going to have another major event,” Beasley said.

If you find a cold-stunned turtle on the beach or in shallow water, call the Topsail Beach facility at (910) 470-2800 or (910) 470-2880, or the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network at (252) 241-7367.

If the turtle is small enough to be moved, Beasley recommends placing it in a garage or carport and covering it with a towel.

“Just keep them out of the weather, but do not start warming them up,” she said. “As soon as those numbers are called, we'll have somebody out to get the turtles.”

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12) Turtle Rules Limit Harvest (Josephine Bennett)
GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING (Atlanta) 1/6/12 Macon, Ga.:

At the end of the month the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board will vote on new rules for taking turtles out of the wild. On Thursday the DNR held a public hearing in Macon.

Right now there are no limits on the number of freshwater turtles trappers and farmers can catch or breed. In 2010 lawmakers passed legislation requiring the DNR to come up with rules on commercial turtles.

David Hem’s been a turtle farmer in North Georgia for 20 years. He takes mature snapping turtles from the wild and harvests their eggs on his farm.

“Most of it’s going to China, the baby turtles. So, all I do, I don’t sell the meat or anything. I have my own turtles, my own ponds. I dig eggs every season and sell the babies after I hatch them and they get shipped. Probably 99 percent of them go to China.”

New rules would require reporting harvest numbers and species. That would limit Hem’s take to 300 snapping turtles a year. DNR officials say the Chinese are buying American turtles for food and medicine after decimating their own wild populations.
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13) This week’s New Yorker has an interesting story on Eric Goode and Behler Chelonian Center.

Limited access to story.
If you don't already subscribe pick it up at a local news-stand.
Subscribers can read this article on their iPad app or in online archive. (Others can pay for access.)

**************Maurice Rodrigues who works with Eric will be talking about this and showing a video called In Search of the Argentine Tortoise. Copies of this video and ones made from previous trips will be available. Meeting is on January 29, 2012, at 11:00 a.m.,in The Arsenal in Central Park, New Yok City, It's Free. But since it's the beginning of the year it's a good time to renew your membership. Go to www.nytts.org for more information.**************************


Summary of story-

LETTER FROM MADAGASCAR SLOW AND STEADY
A Manhattan night-life baron’s race to save an ancient species.
by William Finnegan, January 23, 2012

LETTER FROM MADAGASCAR about herpetophile Eric Goode. The writer travelled with Eric Goode, a fifty-three-year-old Manhattan hotel and restaurant owner, to the northwestern coast of Madagascar, where they met with smugglers to discuss buying one of the world’s rarest tortoises: Astrochelys yniphora, known locally as angonoka and in English as the plowshare tortoise. The plowshares’ last remaining habitat was ninety miles down the coast, in remote scrubland around Baly Bay. Poaching, possessing, and selling plowshares are all illegal under Madagascan law, and trading in them is banned by international treaty, which only increases their value on the global black market. Determined collectors in Europe and the U.S. are said to pay up to a hundred thousand dollars for an adult plowshare. Back at the Hotel Piscine, on the Mahajanga waterfront, a conference on Madagascar’s tortoises and turtles was in progress. Goode, one of the sponsors, had slipped out to conduct a survey of the!
local black market in plowshares. Goode operates in several worlds. He started out in New York, in the seventies, as an artist. In 1983, Goode and three partners opened Area, the art-house night club. He built and bought trendy hotels—the Maritime, the Bowery, the Jane, Lafayette House—and restaurants, including Time Café, the Bowery Bar, and the Waverly Inn. In a parallel life, he is a herpetophile of utmost seriousness. Most of his closest friends are scientists and other herpers. Chelonians—turtles and tortoises—are Goode’s grand passion, and he owns a five-acre compound in Ojai, California, called the Behler Chelonian Center, which is devoted to the care and breeding of endangered turtles and tortoises. It houses five hundred-plus animals of more than two dozen species, and its inhabitants are collectively worth millions on the rare-wildlife market. The Behler Center got eight plowshares, all confiscated animals, from Hong Kong last June, and two from Taiwan in 2010. B!
efore he got his plowshares, Goode began investing in their pr!
otection
in the wild in Madagascar. His main partner there was the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, a British charity. In 1998, the Durrell Trust helped create a national park in Baly Bay for plowshare protection, and it has reintroduced several dozen tortoises to the wild there. The writer and Goode visited the Baly Bay National Park. Mentions Miguel Pedrono and Lora Smith. Goode believes that at least a thousand plowshares have been smuggled out of Baly Bay in recent years. The poaching situation was so bad that Durrell had stopped reintroducing animals to the wild for two years. Describes a visit to the Durrell Trust’s Chelonian Captive Breeding Centre, in Ampijoroa. Olaf Pronk, a Dutch commercial animal trader who lives in Antananarivo, believes that there’s a commercial solution to the plowshare situation. “Make a legal market,” he said. “The best way to reduce illegal trade is to make a legal trade.”

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New Book - Diamondback Terrapins: Gems of the Turtle World ($24.95 plus $6 S&H)Complete Owner's Guide to Keeping and Breeding Diamondback Terrapins. Chapters include Natural History, The Genus Malaclemys, Terrapins in Captivity, Health Care, Breeding, and Conservation. * The first book written on all 7 diamondback terrapin subspecies. * The only book with over 150 color photos of diamondback terrapins. * Book includes picture of the one and only albino diamondback terrapin. * Information and pictures on a possible 8th subspecies. 85 pages. by James Lee and Samuel Chew.
Overseas orders email first for S&H, but Europe is $15.00
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New Book- Invasive Pythons in the United States- Ecology of an Introduced Predator
Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson, Foreword by Whit Gibbons

The first detailed, comprehensive study of this invasive predator
Page count: 176, 188 color photos, 8 maps, 1 table, 7 figures Paperback, c2011,
For just $25.0 add $6.00 for shipping and handling. Getting low on signed copies so order now to make sure you get one. Otherwise non-autographed copies will be sent out.

Reviews

"The amount of misinformation and hysteria surrounding the discovery of viable populations of large pythons has been mind-boggling. This text provides a serious, scientifically-valid overview of an important ecological problem and will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of scientists and non-scientists alike."
˘Richard Seigel, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

"Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes˘but few biological invaders are as dramatic as giant pythons. In this magnificently illustrated book, two accomplished snake biologists separate fact from fiction, and provide a user-friendly but scientifically rigorous account of how the pythons got to the USA, what we know about these troublesome aliens, and what impacts they are likely to have on the complex ecosystems of the Everglades and beyond."
˘Rick Shine, University of Sydney

"This meticulously researched and profusely illustrated work shines a spotlight on the dangers caused by introduction of non-native pythons into South Florida while providing a comprehensive account of what we know about the ecology of Burmese pythons, both in the United States and in their native range. This book will be of considerable interest to a wide range of readers including scholars, researchers, outdoors people, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned about the environmental and human threats posed by this invasive species in the United States."
˘Russell A. Mittermeier, President, Conservation International, and Vice President, IUCN

≥Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide a much-needed examination of the growing impact of Burmese pythons as an invasive species in the United States. By highlighting the many dangers and detrimental effects the introduction of non-native pythons has caused in the Everglades, this book documents the mounting threat which invasives pose to ecosystems everywhere. The first book to focus solely on this issue, Invasive Pythons is well-researched, well-illustrated, and well-timed.≈˘Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Harvard University

Description

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.
Features information on:
General python biology,
Biology of Burmese pythons in their native range
Research on pythons in the United States history
Status of introduced pythons in Florida,
Risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere
Methods to control python populations
other
boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United State
TO ORDER: $25.00 per book, $6.00 for S&H per book. $12 to Canada and Mexico per book $15.00 to Europe and Central and South America per book

So see a copy of the cover go to
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Diamonds in the Marsh - A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin
Barbara Brennessel
University Press of New England
2006  236 pp. 24 Color Illus. 35 B&W illus. 4 Tables. 6 x 9"

The first book-length investigation of a fascinating reptile

She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, she can live at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters.

The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports-until now.

Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.

Reviews:

„Environmentalists, ecologists and marine biologists will delight in this meticulously detailed but highly readable look at the only North American turtle species that can tolerate the Œfresh water, salt water, and everything in between‚‰ ˜Publishers Weekly

A serious treatment of the natural history of one of the most beloved creatures of the Eastern Seaboard... well illustrated with photographs.‰˜Natural New England Magazine

"A comprehensive natural history such as Diamonds in the Marsh is an invaluable tool in the study and conservations of a species, and can provide a solid foundation for future research, conservation, and management decisions. Brennessel effectively pulls together the bulk of literature on the diamondback and communicates it to the reader in a generally clear, uncluttered fashion so as to make it not only a resource for researchers, but also an interesting read for reptile aficionados."˜Herpetological Review

„Useful for anyone interested in coastal species or reptiles.‰˜Northeastern Naturalist

Endorsements:

„Brennessel introduces us to the unsung heroes working to ensure the Terrapin's future. Her book offers inspiration to those wondering, ŒWhat can I do?‚ „˜Charles Landrey, Director, The Turtle Conservation Project, www.NewEnglandTurtles.org

„More than a mere treatise on terrapins; this is a book of fascinating facts about the lives of these turtles, intermingled with pertinent history˜written throughout with lucidity and subtle humor.‰˜Charlotte B. Sornborger, Terrapin Researcher, Barrington Land Conservation Trust and President, Audubon Society of Rhode Island


BARBARA BRENNESSEL is Professor of Biology at Wheaton College. Trained as a biochemist, she is a summer resident of Wellfleet, Cape Cod. She shifted her research interests to the diamondback terrapin after spending the summer of 2001 researching the species with the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.


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TO ORDER:

(Orders are processed the same day Received)

1) Send a check to Herpdigest/Allen Salzberg/67-87 Booth Street -5B/Forest Hills, NY 11375. Make the check out to Herpdigest.

2) By Paypal - our account is asalzberg@herpdigest.org( If you are not a member of Paypal you can still use it with your credit card.)

3) By credit card, Master or Visa, Discover and Amex, only, send us your credit card number, expiration date, billing and shipping address to asalzberg@herpdigest.org. (Though I haven't heard of this happening, a credit card number stolen from an email, I'm told to prevent this send ccard number divided into two emails.)

And don’t forget to include those 3 numbers from the back of the credit card.
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Need a daily fix of herp news go to HerpDigest‚s Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/HerpDiges ... 0624001610
and hit like. There I post news that for one reason or another doesn‚t get into the email version.
Photos and graphs that are part of the story I can‚t include in the newsletter. Ditto for interesting videos on Youtube.