vol. 23 (2003), no. 11
DESCRIPTION
Minnesota Herpetological Society NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE
s o I T y
NOVEMBER 2003 VOLUME 23 NUMBER 11
Board of Directors president Randy 81aSU$ 952.925.4237
Vice President Tony Gamble
tgamb!e@attbLcom
Recording Secretary Bam Buzicky
Membership Secretary
763.424.2803
612-916-7575
Nancy Hakomaki 651.341.5707 galo [email protected]
Treasurer
Bell Museum of Nahlmi History, 10 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis Minnesota 55455-0104
The Minnesota Herpetological
s + 1 t o c e y
MHS Webpage: http://www.mnherpsoc.org
MHS Group Email: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mnherpsoc.
Voice Mail: 612624.7065 Marilyn Blasus 952.925.4237 ................ _ ........ _ .. _ .... ___ ............. _ .......................... __ ....... _ .....
November 20m3 Volume 23 Number 11 Newsletter Editor Bill Moss 651.488.1383
Members at Large Heather Clayton 612.788.4664
[email protected] Brian Ingbrelson 763.572.0487
Heather fngbrelson 763.572.0487 [email protected]
Immediate Past President Jodi L. Ahams 612.588.9329
Adoption Sarah Richard
Education
Committees
612.781.9544 [email protected]
Jan Larson 507.263.4391 [email protected]
The Purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to: • Further the education of the membership and the general public in
care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians; Educate the members and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians;
• Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a non· profit, tax·exempt organization. Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in amphibians and reptiles. The Minnesota Herpetological SOCiety Newsletter is published monthly to provide its members with information concerning the society's activities and a media for exchanging information, opinions and resources.
General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota, on the first Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday conflict). The meeting starts at 7:00pm and lasts about three hours. Please check the MHS Voice mail for changes in schedules or cancellations.
Northern Minnesota Submissions to the Newsletter Jeff Korbel 218.586.2588 Ads or Notices must be submitt~d no later than the night of the General Meeting to be l.llllii!y included in the next issue. Longer articles will be printed as time and space allows and Belh Girard 763.691.1650 should be in electronic file format if possible. See inside back cover for ad rates.
[email protected] Submissions may be sent to:
Wehmaster Anke Reinders
Amphibians Greg Kvanbek John Meltzer John Moriarty
Chameleons
Herp Assistance
Vern & Laurie Grassel
Crocodilians Jeff Lang Bill Moss
lizards Nancy Haig Heather Matson
Large Boas Py:lhons l1na CIsewski
Other Snakes Jeff Leclere John Mettzer
Aquatic Turtles Gary Ash John Levell
Terrestrial Turtles Fred Bosman John Levell
651.388.0305 763.263.7880 651.482.8109
763·428-4625
701.772.0227 651.488.1383
763.434.8684 612.554.8446
612.856.2865
651.488.6388 763.263.7880
763.753.0218 507.467.3076
763.476.0306 507.467.3076
The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell museum of Natural History 10 Church St. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104
~or-
Bill Moss 75 Geranium Ave East Saint Paul, MN 55117 -or[email protected]
Copyright 2003, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noled, contents may be reproduced for nonprofit, non-commercial use only. AJI material must be reproduced without change. Proper credit wlll be given
including the author/photographer and the MHS Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.
The Newsletter of the !vlinncsota HCI1>etological Socicty November 2003 Volume 23 Number 11
The Vice-presidents report By Tony Gamble
November General Meeting Friday, November 7th, 2003 7:00 PM
Program: The Secret Lives of Tadpoles
Guest Speaker: Tim Watkins
Tadpoles are often a neglected topic when discussing frogs. What goes on in the larval stage of frogs and toads,
though, is crucial to
gy and life history.
understanding their biolo-
Frogs may spend as little as a few days as tadpoles to several years, and some, such as the Solomon Island leaf frog (Ceratobatrachus guentheri), have skipped the free-living tadpole stage all together and give birth to live young. To truly understand frogs, therefore, you have to understand tadpoles.
November's speaker, Dr. Tim Watkins, has spent his career studying tad-
poles. Much of his
research has looked at how Pacific treefrog
(Pseudacris regilla) tadpoles evade predators. Among the topics he has examined are: the effects of developmental temperature on swimming speed; the effects of predator selection on swimming speed in tadpoles; and correlations between the swimming speed of tadpoles and jumping distance of adult frogs. Dr. Watkins is a new Assistant Professor of Biology at Macalester College in St. Paul. Please come and give him a warm MHS welcome to Minnesota.
Upcoming Meetings:
December, 2003: Paul Freed -Venomous Snakes of the World
Holiday Banquet: Paul Freed: 25 years of herps at the Houston zoo
cover: Eastern American toad tadpoles § (Bufo americanus americanus) © 2001 John White
Newletter Article Contest By Bill Moss. editor
In an effort to increase the participation by the MHS membership in our newletter, I am going to run a contest for the overall best article. The prize will be: A free sitting at Benda Photography including a free 11x14 Heirloom print This is a package valued at $283!!
The articles can be any herp related subject - care-in-captivity, natural history, biology, personal interest etc. The judging for this contest will be by myself and a group of people to be picked by me. The articles will be rated on interest, composition and impact. You may submit any number of articles. You must be a member.
The contest runs from the Jan. 2004 issue to the Nov. 2004 issue.
Let's get writing!
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TIle Newsletter of the IvJinncsota HClpctological Society Odober 2003 Volume 23 Number 10
News, Notes & Announcements
MHS Board Elections
Elections are coming fast, we will be voting for new officers at the November, 2003, General Meeting. We have some candidates, but we need to have some more. Please email me at [email protected] or call me at 612-916-7575 to let me know you would like to run and for which position.
If you want to get more involved with MHS to learn about its operation, now is the time to step up. The activities are numerous as we participate in RenFest, Minnesota State Fair, Educational Programs, Parades, Grants, Pet Fair, Vet School Open House at the U. of M., and of course, issues involving the propagation and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
Here are the following candidates so far:
President Randy Blasus (incumbant)
Vice-President Tony Gamble (incumbant)
Recording Secretary Barb Buzicky (incumbant)
Membership Secretary Nancy Hakomaki (incumbant)
Treasurer Marilyn Blasus (Incumbant)
Newsletter Editor Bill Moss (incumbant)
Members-at-Large Jodi Aherns Heather Clayton
Page 4
October Critter of the Month The following people brought animals to the September meeting:
Jake
Russian tortoise (T.horsefeldii)
October's Raffle Donors Thanks to the following people for generously donating to the monthly raffle:
Marilyn Blasus MHS
2nd Call for Original Artwork for the Holiday Banquet
Gordon Merck, the MHS Holiday Banquet Chairperson, is asking the artists among the group for a donation of artwork to be raffled as a major prize at our banquet in December. The work can be in any media and should feature (what else?) herps.
Your time will count as MHS volunteer hours. This may also qualify as a donation to a non-profit organization.
Please contact Gordon 952-471-3582 Email: [email protected]
Adoption Report
Committee
by Sarah Richard, Adoption Chair
Another productive month come and gone. We took in 16 animals and placed 24. Yea!1
At this time the only animals remaining in foster are a bunch of Iguanas and a male Anole. Contact Liz or Jaime regarding the Iguanas.
Annual Photo Contest Chairperson Wanted
Nancy Hakomaki is stepping down from her role as the Photo Contest Chair after 3 years of excellent work.
We need someone (or two) to step up and organize the contest which is held during the White Snake Sale in March.
The duties are:
Publicize the contest. Receive, organize and display the entries. Acquire the ribbons and prizes. Prepare and count the ballots
Your total time commitment will probably be about 10-15 hours.
The NewsleUer of the :Minncsota HC1l1etoiogicai Society Novembcr 2003 Vohane 23 Number 11
...fi uring the summer of 1999, I self carefully into the deep well, I explained why there were times eLJ was doing some landscap- could see that Mr. Toad had posi- when the toad didn't look quite ing along the side of my house. tioned himself between two "as big as my fist". The smaller
~;;p~~~:he~~ THE GREAT TOAD on I called "The Little Guy", although I suspect it may have been a female. Mr. Toad was indeed, a Mister. I created a minihabitat In the tengallon tank with a deep layer of clean potting soil and then a layer of sphagnum moss on top. A flowerpot served as their hideyhole and the
look down into the deep well of
saucer was the
the Egress window, I noticed a toad. It was as big as my fisH I called my friend Clint, who was helping me with this project. "As big as your fist, eh?" He sounded doubtful. The next time Clint came over I excitedly showed him where the toad was. He held out his fist. "Okay." I said. "As big as my fist." All summer long the Great Toad Debate raged on. In late September Clint
DEBATE
" p 0 n d J, .
Sometimes one or the other would bury themselves for days at a time, much to my initial concern. I would feed them crickets from the pet
asked what was photo and text by MHS member Kathy Claugherty I going to do about the toad.
sheets of plastic. His eyes were closed and he was sluggish. Was he starting to hibernate? I gently picked him up, when, look!. .. A few inches away was another toad! With my precious cargo in hand, I rushed inside to place them in their new home. Thus ended the Great Toad Debate. Both toads were never seen together. (I theorized that they
store, (thanks to all the people at Twin City Reptiles for your
help) or grasshoppers from the back yard. Occasionally, I would put an apple slice in for the crickets. Mr. Toad would camp by it whenever he wanted a snack. The Little Guy lived for a year, but Mr. Toad lived for three years. "I didn't think I would ever pick a toad for a pet." I said to Clint. He replied, "Maybe they picked you."
As much as I didn't want to take it out of the "natural" environment, I knew it wouldn't survive the harsh Minnesota winter in the window well. The bottom of it was littered with rocks and plastic. Clint made up my mind for me when he presented a ten-gallon tank and screen top that he picked up at a thrift store. It was getting pretty cool by then, so I set up the tank for "Mr. Toad." As I lowered my ate in shifts.) And it also §
Page 5
The Newsletter of the :i\'linnesota Hell>etoiogicai Society No\'ember 2003 Volume 2B Number 11
MHS Display
Helps Fund in Houston,
Rattlesnake Minnesota
By Karla Kinstler, Director/Naturalist, Houston Nature Center
There was a bounty paid in Minnesota to kill timber rattlesnakes all the way up until 1989.
Then in 1996 the tables turned and it became illegal to kill rattlesnakes in Minnesota.
Laws may change quickly, but attitudes don't. One of the jobs of the Houston Nature Center is to help change those outdated attitudes.
The Houston Nature Center began as an idea in 1996. The City of Houston had spent 10 years fighting to get the Root River Trail extended to Houston, and they had no existing building that would function as a suitable trailhead facility. A Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) grant was secured, and a group of interested Houstonians decided they would like Houston's trailhead to
Page 6
be a nature center.
In July of 2001, after much blood, sweat, and tears, the Houston Nature Center became a reality. Since Houston is only a communi
ty of 1020 people and the Center is owned and operated by the City, it in reality needed to be a multi-purpose building. It serves as a trailhead with restrooms, showers, and visitor information; a nature center with hands-on dis
plays about local flora and fauna and Alice the Great Horned Owl; and a meeting facility for diverse groups such as the Lions, City Council, Chamber of Commerce, and more.
With such a small tax base to rely on, the Houston Nature Center relies very heavily on donations for its success. HNC receives roughly $20,000 per year in cash donations as well as around $8000 worth of donated items. The Minnesota Herpetological Society has joined the growing ranks of donors by funding the mounting of a bullsnake as part of the timber rattlesnake display.
Folks who have lived their whole
lives in the Houston area don't necessarily see why timber rattlesnakes should be protected. After all, they see them every now and then, so they must not be rare. I also get several reports every year of rattlesnakes on the Root River Trail from trail users.
For these reasons, I decided a rattlesnake display was a definite must at the Houston Nature Center. Conservation Officer Dan Book gave us a road-killed rattlesnake in good shape (and proper permits were acquired from the DNR), and I bit the bullet and spent most of one year's display budget on having it mounted.
MHS member Eric Thiss visited HNC and was especially interested in the rattlesnake mount. As he left that day, he found a road-killed
TIIC Newsletter orthe "Minncsota HCllletological Society N ovemhcr 2003 Volumc 23 Number 11
bullsnake, often confused with a rattlesnake, just on the edge of Houston as he was leaving town. He asked if HNC would like it for a comparison to the rattlesnake. I declined due to the cost involved, but Eric didn't leave it at that. He contacted the right people at MHS, and within a week I had confirmation that MHS would pay for mounting the bullsnake!
Eric later found a road-killed fox snake, also commonly confused with rattlesnakes, and advocated for adding it to the rattlesnake displayas a comparison. Wouldn't you know it, when I was at the DNR's annual rattlesnake meeting soon after, DNR Non-game Wildlife Biologist Jaime Edwards volunteered to pay for mounting the fox snake as part of our rattlesnake display with some funding they had received for rattlesnake workl
After much waiting for a volunteer to come up with a good design for displaying our three mounted snakes, my co-worker, Sue Kittleson, inherited several very appropriate display cases. Ta-dah! The snakes were on display within days.
This may sound like a series of small miracles for HNC, because it is. Thankfully, we get LOTS of small miracles. They are what keeps us going and makes us great. Thanks, MHS, for a little miracle.
I'd also like to invite you all to stop by and check out our facility sometime when you're in the neighborhood. §
MHS BOARD MEETING REVIEW by Barb Buzicky, Recording Secretary The Board Meeting was called to order at October 4, 2003 at 6:08 PM CST All Board Members were present except Heather Clayton, NonBoard Members present were Gordon Merck and Jeff LeClere. Minutes from the April and July, 2003, meeting were available in hardcopy. Minutes from the August, 2003, meeting were approved with changes. Treasurer's Report for August and September, 2003, were approved. Membership Report for September, 2003, was approved. General Meeting attendance for September 5, 2003, was 123. General Meeting attendance for October 3, 2003, was 121. President's Report: none Vice-President's Report: confirmed speakers for November, Tim Walkins; December and Holiday Banquet, Paul Freed. Old Business: There is at least one candidate for each office for the elections, there is a shortage for Member-at-Large positions. Jeff LeClere will be filling the open Member-at-Large position until January, 2004. Nametag box, Board Members have laminated tags, there will be paper tags for the election and White Snake Sale. MN Herp Symposium is established as non-profit with the Federal and State officials for the 2005 Upper Midwest Symposium. The State Fair Display looks very nice, other minor adjustments need to be addressed. The 2004 MHS Budget has been approved by the board the budget needs to be
approved at the November, General Meeting by the membership. Holiday Banquet Chair will be Randy Blasus, he is looking for committee members, there will be a flyer in the November Newsletter announcing the event. New Business: Request from the Science Museum of MN, a 3-year grant, project is "Community Partnerships Serving Science," website: www.smm.ora/cbso/, Board is reviewing project. Additional funds were needed for RenFest, $300, moved and approved. RenFest will have a new Chair as Ellen is not renewing, Judy Brumfeld will replace her, there are some issues to be addressed by the Board. MHS insurance has gone up which is due this month, additional funds needed $220, moved and approved. ARAV and Nebraska Midwest, Board approved donating some auction items, moved and approved. Adoption animals needed by the ARAV lab, one alligator and 2 iguanas were donated for the workshop. MHS letterhead and envelopes requested by Heather Ingebretson for solicitation of donations for the White Snake Sale, Nancy Hakomaki stepping down from the Photo Contest, needs a new chair for next year. Per Jodi, U. of M. Vet School wants MHS back for program with 3rd year vet students, 6 people are needed about the 3rd week in January. Benda Photography is requesting a copy of our newsletter for one year due to the advertisement they listed.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM CST. §
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The Newsletter of the l\·lillnesola HCIlJctologkal Society November 2003 Volume 23 Numbcr 11
1~ambling6 Year-end wrap-up by Ellen Heck, outgoing Co-chair
Weather Of the 7 weekends, 5 were almost unbearably hot and the last 2 were freezing. Ah Minnesota weather -loathe it or ignore it. Wait, I forgot the 3rd Saturday - it was almost bearable but was followed by the hottest Sunday of the run. Snake "soup" was very popular on hot days. No, we don't actually cook the snakes. This is just what I call it when a hot snake curls up in a water bowl to cool off, as in "Waiter, there seems to be something in my soup". Angus made his usual rounds. Zelda and Stucky also repeated (very successfully too) in the walking, with an adoption sulcata making his debut as well.
Privies One thing that has never ceased to amaze me is patrons and privies. The set of privies down at our end has a wall just inside the entrance, with a picture of a lady silhouette on the right and a gentleman on the left. You are in theory supposed to go around the wall to your own area. It doesn't actually matter which way you go, since there is no division once you
to have trouble grasping the concept of flipping the little handle to lock the door. I've gotten up close and too personal with more than one person because of this. I have learned to stand back a bit when opening the door in case it is a gentleman inside and he turns to see who is coming in
never dared to ask) what exactly it is they have done in the privy that necessitates this sort of cleaning. I realize that it is period to use one's left hand to wipe off, but really people, we've got this little thing called toilet paper. Please use it with our compliments.
Favorite memories of the run -Hands-down for me personally is the Twin Cities Pipe and Drum bagpipers jamming with the guys who sell African drums and Australian diggery-doos. It's an unlikely combination but it rocks. Belly and Scottish dancers alike were getting into this and we got the some of the crowd dancing too. We've almost convinced these guys to do a CD together.
get around the wall. It's just that Ellen
The usual Angus walking - trying to convince some people that he is in fact a real animal and offering to have him poop on their shoe to prove it (now, if we could just train him to do thaU) We had one small boy follow us from in front of Bad Manor, through the Narrows and back around the end by the Maypole to Cottage - a 1/2 mile and 25 minute trip - occasionally tOSSing dimes into the basket and
there is a trench (behind another but forgets to stop first. giggling. His parents said that he'd been crying non-stop for almost 3
Watching people wash their hands hours until he saw Angus. I always after using a privy is an experience say, if they follow me home, I get to as well. Some people just wash keep them. Some parents get a very them off with a bit of soap and are speculative look on their faces when done. The others, though, scrub up I say that...
wall) for those gentlemen who wish to be a little more authentic in their doings and this is to the left of the entrance. It is very amusing to watch couples come to the entrance, study the pictures (for up to a full minute), separate, then meet up again immediately once around the wall.
Once inside the privy of their choice, a surprising number of patrons seem
Page 8
as if preparing for'surgery. Each fin- Other things: Hobbit feet (yeah, ger is individually washed, then the baby!)and the hobbits who walked in front and backs of the hands and on them... Morris dancers - those then the arms up to the elbows. I jingly boys in white... watching a have often wondered (but have large puppet blow the last throw in a
T'he Newsletter of the Minnesota HCll)e(ological Society Noyembcr 2003 Volume 23 Number 11
bocce game, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, then falling on his face and having a tantrum while his teammates took turns kicking him ... coaxing self-professed snake loathers to "just touch with one finger", then watching them move down the whole fence, petting all the snakes and lizards... Wet Heather
Jen and Tracy beller. Seeing every- around those people. one again. Finding out I know more about some of these crillers than I Tracie Fullerton thought I did. Having this be my 15th my favorite things: year as a volunteer at Festival (10 in -already said vii the beer booths and 5 with Herps). -having people come to see me Rick and Cabana Boy. Hobbits at the dance this year (thanks everyone) hobbit hole. -Teaching patrons how to dance at
(,null said!) ... Cabana Boy hilling Jen Manna -high-C when returning the shrieks of Remembering the proper response the crowd during parade. Being able to 'Marco!'. Seeing a large and to answer, when asked on humid 950 aggressive tan peasant bocce ball days if I'm hot, "I like to think so" and turned by the threat of a 'purple nuralso saying, "Of course they're real - pie'. Anna on her bollom letting out a and so are the reptiles." Where else wail of 'I protes!!'. Seeing Salsa and can you be this much of a smart Tracy up there, holding their own with aleck without people getting mad at veteran villifiers. you? I'm a lillie teapot. (The knees are
From others:
Bill Moss
very important.) Laughing with a damn nifty bunch of ladies until the Chinese place in Chaska was nearly empty. MUh-nah-muh-nah ...
the drurn booth -hobbits! -last day parade, singing to Eric the Taylor and breaking him (which he said, meant a lot that we took time to do that by the way) -the attempts to wake up Salsa each morning -Muh na muh na
Heather Clayton One of my favorite memories was having the duck decoys and the children's shoe and pacifier in the gator pond for the last weekend. also, girl's Gelling to "know" Salsa in the morn
ing... (we get REAL cozy at the Cottage)
Connie & JW Curry night (for a few hours) at cottage on One of my Fav's was seeing Cabana that last Thursday night. Boy & Mini Me. Another was night- Murph and Scooter became "bud
Jodi Holmstrom (aka Rat Girl) - time wading in the Gator Pond. The dies." Having Jim and Zach there Definitely the pipers and drummers floating candles really had some with me made me very happyl jamming with Peasant Bocce ball effects (dripping goo) LOL. And of § coming in close behind (after all, only course my first parade walk (not far I wimps use the stone balls. Real got pooped on) Most of all gelling to ed. note: Ellen Heck and Nancy players throw peasants) know you all a little better. We are so Hakomaki deserve a lot of credit for the
looking forward to next yearl job they did as co-chairs of the cottage at Bitlners - Renfest for the last (3) years. It's not Steven - Getting to play bocce ball Ananda Wold easy organizing something like this with the Mayor and with the folks I have always loved the feeling of where there are as many as 40 volunteers from Como. Turning 12 and seeing home and family there is at Como per day coming in, many with expectapeople cringe because they remem- Cottage. Each year new people tions that couldn't be met. There were ber playing with the "baby" in 1992. come and they all manage to fit into times when their patience would be rllllDavid - Gelling food (yes, CKC). the family. Like any family there are ning dangerollsly thin while trying to Gelling Abby-dog to give him kisses. our dysfunctional moments and argu- accommodate everyone. In the end, they Linda - In no particular order other ments about dishes and chores. We were able to take a deep breath and than the one I typed them have our rebellious "teenage" mem- adapt admirably. in ...... Meeting the people at Irish bers and our mothers, and siblings, Cottage (one of the only places I and when push comes to shove we hadn't spent a lot of time at in the are all there to get things done and past) and spending a lot of my time be there for each other. That is why I with them. Getting to know Chad, love Como so much, and why I'm so Christy and Brandi. Getting to know glad to be growing up with and
Page 9
OCTOBER REVIEW
by Barb Buzicky
SPEAKER
Speaker: Charles Innis, DVM
Program: Post-Mortem Examination of Reptiles: How the Herpetoculturist Can Contribute to Our Knowledge of Reptile Diseases
Dr. Innis is in town this week for the
10th Annual Conference of the Association for Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) being held in Minneapolis, the
week of October 5th_9th, 2003. Many well-known and distinguished veterinarians will be at this conference.
Dr. Innis says that most of his veterinarian practice consists of 80% cats and dogs with the rest reptile and amphibian. He has a large turtle collection of his own along with an extensive herp library. His talk tonight was about the importance of having post-mortem information on deceased animals to aide ongoing research of diseases along with reptile anatomy. He gave us some definitions of terms he used in his talk starting with postmortem which means after death, necropsy which is an animal autopsy, gross necropsy is what we see with the naked eye upon visual observation, pathology is the study of disease, and histopathology is the study of microdisease.
There are many important reasons to have post-mortems or necrop-
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November 2003 Volume 23 Number II
sies done on your animals: to protect your collection especially if you have a large and valuable grouping; to protect your business whereby a disease could wipe you out; to protect yourself from transmittable diseases as some can be passed to humans; for personal curiosity; to learn reptile anatomy; academic curiosity to find out what kills animals; and to study natural diseases such was West Nile Virus. Most vet schools don't have a reptile curriculum so new veterinarians learn from clinical practice and necropsies. There are reasons people don't want to do postmortems on their animals: emotional attachment as they can't face the thought of having their animal dissected; expense which it can be very expensive up to $500 which would include tissue testing; and uninterested veterinarians that are not involved or not motivated.
Dr. Innis gave us some great case examples of some discoveries that were made from necropsies. One of them is about a reticulated python in which the owner did not have any veterinarian care, thus, the animal died of round worm infestation where the worms bored though the intestinal walls which could have easily been prevented with a fecal exam. The best way to learn about reptile anatomy is through the necropsy process as he learned that the pancreas, gall bladder, and spleen, form a triangle in the abdomen where in other animals the gall bladder is associated with the liver. If a veterinarian is performing surgery on an animal, they need to know the exact location of all the organs. Similarly, the kidneys in snakes have a different
shape as they are long and narrow rather then the bean shape in other animals. In the iguana, the heart is located much higher than in other animals.
In 1980, Elliot R. Jacobson discovered a new anatomical structure while doing a post-mortem, esophageal tonsils. New diseases and syndromes have been discovered in animals one of them being vertebrae fusion in older iguanas. He presented many interesting slides of reptilian gross anatomy that illustrated the anatomical position organs in many animals. He is hoping that some day funds will be available to study animal diseases as there is a great importance as some diseases can be transmitted to humans. He recommends finding an interested and motivated vet, and also, search the internet for research studies being done by organizations where the researchers may be interested in a tissue donation for their studies. Just a few sites would be: Turtle Survival Alliance, World Chelonian Trust, Herp Digest, and ARAV.
The Ncwslcltcr of the l\ilinnesota Herpetological Society November 2003 Volume 23 Number 11
Empirical Evidence For An Optimal Body Size In Snakes Boback SM, Guyer C.Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849-5414,USA. [email protected] Evolution Int J Org Evolution 2003 Feb;57(2):345-51
The concept of optimal size has been invoked to explain patterns in body size of terrestrial mammals. However, the generality of this phenomenon has not been tested with sirnilarly cornplete data from other taxonomic groups. In this study we describe three statistical patterns of body size in snakes, all of which indicate an optimal length of 1.0 m. First, a distribution of largest body lengths of 618 snake species had a single mode at 1.0 rn. Second, we found a positive relationship between the size of the largest mernber of an island snake assemblage and island area and a negative relationship between the size of the smallest member of an island snake assemblage and island area. Best-fit lines through these data cross at a pOint corresponding to 1.0 m in body length, the presumed optimal size for a one-species island. Third, mainland snake species smaller than 1.0 m become larger on islands whereas those larger than 1.0 m become smaller on islands. The observation that all three analyses converge on a common body size is concordant with patterns observed in mammals and partial analyses of four other disparate animal clades. Because snakes differ so strikingly from mammals (ectotherms, gape-limited predators, elongate body shape) the concordant patterns of these two groups provide strong evidence for the evolution of an optimal body size within
independent monophyletic groups. However, snakes differ from other taxonomic groups that have been studied in exhibiting a body size distribution that is not obviously skewed in either direction. We suggest that idiosyncratic features of the natural history of ectotherms allow relatively unconstrained distributions of body size whereas physiological limitations of endotherms constrain distributions of body size to a right skew. (HerpDigest v4#6)
Amphibian Mortality By Road-Kill In A National Park By John Serrao
Many of the causes of global amphibian declines are so complex in nature that they seem well beyond the ability of the amateur herpetologist or nature lover to become involved. Ozone layer depletion, global warming, agricultural chemicals, chytrid fungi and other phenomena have all been implicated. One other cause, however, is very localized as a possible major problem for amphibians, especially in the heavily-developed eastern United States: automobile traffic. On rainy spring evenings, for example, when the majority of adults of several species of amphibian migrate to their ancestral breeding sites, road-kill can represent a substantial mortality factor. A high percentage of a given area's frogs and salamanders travel to breeding sites on just a few evenings when the weather is right, and many of these may be crushed beneath the wheels of cars along roads that must be crossed.
In the spring of 2002, such a slaughter occurred near a major breeding wetland in the Delaware
Water Gap National Recreation Area in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. The evening of March 9th was the first mild, rainy evening at the end of winter and the first night for the emergence of five species of amphibians: the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), Jefferson salamander (A. jeffersonianum), red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridiscens) spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) and wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Along a 150 m section of the infrequently-travelled road bordering the large wetland, I counted 650 dead wood frogs and peepers, 30 dead spotted salamanders and at least 25 dead newts. The National Park Service was notified of this mortality and advised to close the road under similar circumstances the following spring. The Park administration responded favourably to this idea, and on the evening of March 21 st, 2003 (the first mild, rainy evening of the year) the road was c! losed with barricades and patrolled by Park Rangers to prevent any cars from travelling through the breeding area. Park biologists, newspaper reporters, photographers and myself walked the same 150 m stretch of road and watched hundreds of frogs and salamanders cross over safely. The road was also closed to traffic on three other rainy evenings to ensure the safe crossing of later amphibians. Future plans of the National Park may involve the construction of culverts to allow the passage of amphibians beneath the road. (HerpDigest v4#5)
Page 11
November 2003 Volume 23 Number 11
Attention Students Spring 2004
The University of Minnesota will once again offer Herpetology
FW 4392: Herpetology The Biology of Amphibians and
Reptiles 4 credits
http://www.fw. umn.edu/FW 4392/index.html
The Newsletter of the 1\1innesota HCI]letolof,,>1cal Socicty
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Only $5 Per Month ...... $55 Per Year
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Novcmber 2003 Volume 23
Minnesota Herpetological Society Treasurer's Report Prepared by Marilyn Brooks Blasus, Treasurer
For the Month Ending September 30, 2003
Income: Membership Sales (net) Donations Raffle Misc.
Total Income:
Expense: Newsletter Printing & Postage Other Printing and Postage Program Conservation I Donation Supplies and Refreshments Misc.
Total Expense:
Net Gain I (Loss):
$ 285.00 $ 356.50 $2,356.29 $ 78.00 $ 1,360.00 $ 4,433.79
$ 123.00 $ 0.00 $ 472.42 $ 980.00 $ 28.89 $ 348.22 $ 1,952.53
$ 2,481.26
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Page 13
The Newsletter of the ~.fillllesota Heq}etologlcal Society Noyemher 2003 Volume 23 Number 11
Classified Advertisements Classified ads are free to the membership. Deadline Is the night of the general meeting for inclusion In the next newsletter. 1.0.0 = male, 0.1.0 -'" female, 0.0.1 = unsexed, cb = captive bred, abo = or best offer, + = times run ( ads are run 3 times unless specifically requested to continue).
For Sale For Sale: 1.1 adult Timor monitors, breeders. One of the smallest monitor species. $300/pair, abo. Chelsea DeArmond, 651-776-5216 or [email protected] ++
For Sale: 0.0.5 Black ratsnakes (E.o.obsoleta), $10 ea. O.K. Compton 612.872.7266 [email protected] +
Wanted Wanted: All the shed snake skins in the world. Needed for giveaways to kids at educational programs. Call Bob Duerr 651-489-5087
Frozen Rabbits - all sizes. very reasonable - pinkies to Jim Daluge 763.295.2818
Prices Wanted: Creative people to come up adults. with fun MHS rodent sales ads.
Did you know ....... . Classified line ads are run free to MHS members?
Flightless Fruitflies - Excellent food for dart frogs, mantellas, hatchling geckos, baby chameleons, spiderlings, and other small herps. Two species available: Drosophila melanogaster (small) and Drosophila hydei (large). $5/culture or $25/6 cultures. Each culture contains 30 to 50 adult flies and has potential to produce several hundred young. Also, Mealworms, two sizes available -regular and mini. $5/1000. Can be delivered to MHS meetings. Call Tony Gamble 612-747-6682 or email tgam[email protected] +++
For Sale: 2003 hatchling snakes, all produced by me. Corn Snakes: $15.00 - $25.00 depending on color phase. Normals, Anerythristics and Hypomelanistics, ($15.00 ea), Amelanistics and Snows ($20.00 ea) and Ghosts ($25.00 ea). Discounts for quantity purchases. Sinaloan Milk Snakes: $40.00 ea. Ball Pythons: $40.00 ea (only males available) Adult snakes. 1.1 pair of hybrid Northern pine X Bull snake. 3 yr old proven breeders $120.00/ pro 0.1 Bullsnake. 5 yo produced by Randy Blasus. Snappish attitude. $50.00 0.1 Mex Milk snake, 6 yo. Also with a snappish attitude. $60.00 3.8 adult normal Leopard Geckos. Proven breeders. $10.00 to $25.00 each. Make me an offer on the whole group. I can deliver to MHS meetings, Call me at 651 481-0127 ask for Mark Schmidtke Page 14
+
Fuzzies $7/dz Fuzzies
HORl;>ers $8/dz SmAdult Adults $10/dz Med Adult $24/dz
19Adult $30/dz
Jumbo $36/dz
For pick·up at monthly meetings only. Orders Must be placed at least one week in advance of date of meeting at which the frozen rodents are to be delivered. Place orders with Jody Holmstrom at 651.224.7212 or [email protected]
®I§ll' W@I!JJ~ 1NI1§®®~®1§ ll'@ W@I!JJ~ ll'~~®I§ll' ~I!JJ@~I§INJ©I§ \WJ~ll'1KI ~ llU~
[F)~®I§ ~@,
$11 ® ~~Iru 1Ml@1NI1l'1XI $1111 ® ~~Iru WMIru"
p.~ *12th month is free on a one year commitment
•
• Advertising Policies
1i.1Fr::;;;===================~~~. MHS Ad Policy: The MHS assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY regarding the health or ('" legality of any animal, or the quality or legality of any product or service advertised In
MHSAD RATES Business card
1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page
$5/Month $55Near* $10/Month $110Near* $20/Month $220Near* $40/Month $440Near*
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the MHS Newsletter. Any ad may be rejected at the discretion of the Newsletter Editor. Due to space limitations, unpaid and compJlmentary advertisements are subject to occasional omission.
Classified Ads: All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space permits. Ads may be ran three consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmitted. Corresponding members are anowed a complimentary business card advertisement monthly as space permits. Due to federal restrictions on Non-profit mailing permits, we are not allowed to run ads for travel, credit or insurance agencies.
Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Editor, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Deadline
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Is the night of the General Meeting for Inclusion In the next newsletter. Make checks I!I • payable to: Minnesota Herpetological Society.
r-----------------------------------------------, Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application :
New Name
Renewal Address
Membership# City, State, Zip,
Type Phone Email List in MHS Directory? Yes No
Check # Herp related interests
.. Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/year) Contributing ($30/year) BaSIC ($15/year)
Corresponding Memberships: Commercial ($25/year 2 Business Card Ads/year)
Required check info. Drivers lic # State DOB Please enclose the proper payment with your application. Make Checks Payable To: Minnesota Herpetological Society. Membership is for 12 months from the date of approval, a receipt will be sent only upon request. Mail to: Minnesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church SI. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.
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DECEMBER 2005 VOLUME 25 NUMBBR 12