Missouri school children will be using stuffed animals and telemetry data to learn about box turtles. From the KPLR News: Monday evening more than 200 grade school students will track soft plush box turtles to better understand their ecosystem. ‘We’ll have some of those plush turtles that have those telemetry devices so the kids will […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Reptile News Around the World' Category
May 26
May 26
An arboreal beauty: the green tailed rat snake
There’s just that something about a green snake! Whether they are of the comparative chunkiness of a tree viper or the slender build of a rat snake, it seems that snakes of green color are hobbyist favorites. The racer-thin, rodent and bird eating, red-tailed green rat snake, Gonyosoma oxycephala (this snake also occurs in less […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 26
Herp Photo of the Day: Green tree monitor
Climbing to greet the morning is this beautiful green tree monitor in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user roadspawn! Be sure to tell roadspawn you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more Read more here: King […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
BPA can disrupt sexual function in turtles, could be a warning for environmental health
By Herp News Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in food storage products and resins that line plastic beverage containers. Often, aquatic environments become reservoirs for BPA, and turtle habitats are affected. Now, a collaboration of researchers has determined that BPA can alter a turtle’s sexual differentiation. Scientists are concerned findings could indicate harmful […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes’ quest for fire
By Herp News The eastern diamondback rattlesnake has lost 97 percent of its habitat since Europeans first arrived in America. New research demonstrates the critical nature of one element of the diamondback’s home range, pine savanna. For conservationists seeking surrogate habitats for the now-rare species’ dwindling population, the results underscore the need for prescribed fire […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Evolution puts checks on virgin births
By Herp News It seems unnatural that a species could survive without having sex. Yet over the ages, evolution has endowed females of certain species of amphibians, reptiles and fish with the ability to clone themselves, and perpetuate offspring without males. Researchers have found that in species where females have evolved the ability to reproduce […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
For the first time, scientists tag a loggerhead sea turtle off US West Coast
By Herp News Fifty miles out to sea from San Diego, in the middle of April, under a perfectly clear blue sky, fisheries scientists leaned over the side of a rubber inflatable boat and lowered a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle into the water. That turtle was a trailblazer — the first of its kind ever […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Frog uses different strategies to escape ground, air predators
By Herp News Frogs may flee from a ground predator and move towards an aerial predator, undercutting the flight path. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. Amazon Auto Links
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Ocean myth busted: ‘Toddler’ sea turtles are very active swimmers
By Herp News It turns out sea turtles, even at a tender 6-18 months of age, are very active swimmers. They don’t just passively drift in ocean currents as researchers once thought. Researchers say it’s an important new clue in the sea turtle ‘lost years’ mystery. Where exactly turtles travel in their first years of […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Two new iguanid lizard species from the Laja Lagoon, Chile
By Herp News A team of Chilean scientists discover two new species of iguanid lizards from the Laja Lagoon, Chile. The two new species are believed to have been long confused with other representatives of the elongatus-kriegi lizard complex, before recent morphological and genetic analysis diagnosed them as separate. Go to Source …read more Read […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Ways to avoid catching diseases from pets
By Herp News Pets can pass diseases to humans, especially when a pet owner’s immune system is compromised. Here, veterinarians outline ways for families to avoid disease transmission by choosing the right type of pet–or making small changes in the ways they enjoy the pets they already have. Go to Source …read more Read more […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
What did the first snakes look like?
By Herp News The original snake ancestor was a nocturnal, stealth-hunting predator that had tiny hindlimbs with ankles and toes, according to new research. Snakes show incredible diversity, with over 3,400 living species found in a wide range of habitats, such as land, water and in trees. But little is known about where and when […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
World’s second most endangered turtle on road to recovery
By Herp News 60 captive-raised Myanmar roofed turtles—a species once thought extinct—have been released into their native habitat in Myanmar, conservationists report. The Myanmar roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata) was believed extinct until 2001, when two researchers found a single shell from a recently killed turtle at a village along the Dokhtawady River. Subsequently, live individuals […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Malabar gliding frog: A flying amphibian
Here I come with my first amphibian blog post! India is home to good number of amphibians, including frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Toads and frogs are found in every part of India, whether it’s a city or a jungle, and according to me they are the cutest cold blooded creatures on earth. I have […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
When Prince Harry met lizard Harry
On a trip to New Zealand, Prince Harry met a Tuatara lizard named Harry who is over 100 years old. From the Sunday Express: The royal came face to face with a Tuatara lizard, also named Harry, during a welcome ceremony in the city of Invercargill. The Prince came up close and personal with the […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 25
Herp Photo of the Day: Tokay gecko
Despite their reputation of being angry, the beauty of a Tokay gecko puts it front and center in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user stingray! Be sure to tell stingray you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 23
ainoa's Blog – Turtle Day
Okay, so today is Turtle Day. About 7 months ago while I was randomly walking around the city, I fell upon a pet shop, I went in just to have a look. And saw this tank full of baby red eared sliders, and being as impulsive as I am i decided to get one. Come […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 23
Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes’ quest for fire
By Herp News The eastern diamondback rattlesnake has lost 97 percent of its habitat since becoming an American icon on the Revolutionary-era ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag. New research demonstrates the critical nature of one element of the diamondback’s home range, pine savanna. For conservationists seeking surrogate habitats for the now-rare species’ dwindling population, the […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 23
The injunction against USFWS: What you need to know now
USARK and its lawyers worked at a frantic pace to get a nationwide preliminary injunction (PI) for every single responsible reptile keeper in the continental United States since the recent USFWS Lacey Act listing of reticulated pythons and three species of anacondas. We submitted multiple legal briefs/memoranda to, and had several hearings before, the Federal […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 22
The Ceylon cat snake
If you are a hardcore fan of tree snakes, then I would suggest you put herping India on your to-do list. India is the place where you can find 50-60 species of tree snakes. Most of the tree snakes are from the family of Pit Vipers, Bronzeback Tree snakes, Vine snakes and Cat snakes. In […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 22
Herp Video of the Week: Crocodile dental care
You think getting your kids to brush their teeth is hard, imagine doing it with a croc! Check out the dental care given to Jaws over at Madras Croc Bank in India in our Herp Video of the Week. Submit your own reptile & amphibian videos at http://www.kingsnake.com/video/ and you could see them featured here […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 22
Consumer choice: Shade-grown coffee and cocoa good for the birds, farmers, ecosystems
By Herp News The next time you order that “wake up” cup of Joe or reach for a sweet treat, you may want to consider whether those coffee or cocoa beans were grown in the shade or open sun. Choosing the shade grown variety can offer huge benefits to tropical birds, their ecosystems and farmers […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 21
Burrow borrowers: the blotched tiger salamander
Black-tailed prairie dog burrows scar the landscape. Stop for a moment while driving through Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge in the Black Hills during the hours of daylight and a dozen or more prairie dogs will come running in hope of a handout. Look both ways before you begin driving again because a curious bison […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 21
First new ratttlesnake antivenom in over a decade approved by FDA
A newly approved rattlesnake antivenom is being tested in Arizona. From KVOA.com: The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in Tucson and the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center at Banner-University Medical Center in Phoenix will be conducting a study to find the most effective way to […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 21
First new rattlesnake antivenom in over a decade approved by FDA
A newly approved rattlesnake antivenom is being tested in Arizona. From KVOA.com: The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in Tucson and the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center at Banner-University Medical Center in Phoenix will be conducting a study to find the most effective way to […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 21
Herp Photo of the Day: Bearded Dragon
What a great shot! Check out this close up of the eye of the dragon (a bearded one that is) in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user mecdwell! Be sure to tell mecdwell you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 21
Herp Photo of the Day: Arizona mountain kingsnake
This Arizona mountain king is getting ready for a change in wardrobe in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user nategodin! Be sure to tell nategodin you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more Read more here: […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 20
Sumatran tiger found dead in a pig trap
By Herp News Authorities in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra buried the rotting carcass of a critically endangered female tiger that died after being ensnared by a pig trap on a rubber plantation earlier this month. The creature, a mother who was probably teaching her young to hunt, was found covered in wounds, its […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 20
East meets west at the International Herpetological Symposium
The International Herpetological Symposium is creeping closer to its 38th annual event in San Antonio,Texas. Guest speakers include Tom Crutchfield on his Sal Salvador rock iguana conservation efforts and Jeff Barringer on night-time field herping. I can barely contain my excitement. IHS plays an important role as a place herpetoculturists and herpers can come together, […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 20
Florida alligators are not getting enough food
Water management plans are making it difficult for alligators to find prey. From the Sun Sentinel: The Everglades alligators appear to be suffering from the artificial water management imposed on the area to drain land for cities and farms, he said. Before the canals and pumps and other structures went up over the past century, […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 20
Herp Photo of the Day: Black milk snake
Baby shots are always a favorite! This Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae grabs its first breath in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user nategodin! Be sure to tell nategodin you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more Read […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 20
What did the first snakes look like?
By Herp News The original snake ancestor was a nocturnal, stealth-hunting predator that had tiny hindlimbs with ankles and toes, according to new research. Snakes show incredible diversity, with over 3,400 living species found in a wide range of habitats, such as land, water and in trees. But little is known about where and when […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 19
Endangered, tongueless frog bred in capitivity for first time
The London Zoo has become the first zoo in the world to successfully breed an incredibly rare Lake Oku clawed frog. From the Irish Examiner: The Lake Oku clawed frog is native to only Lake Oku in Cameroon and, due to their unique history of evolution (including the loss of their tongues), the aquatic frogs […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 19
Endangered, tongueless frog bred in captivity for first time
The London Zoo has become the first zoo in the world to successfully breed an incredibly rare Lake Oku clawed frog. From the Irish Examiner: The Lake Oku clawed frog is native to only Lake Oku in Cameroon and, due to their unique history of evolution (including the loss of their tongues), the aquatic frogs […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 19
Desperately seeking smooth green snakes
In many areas where once common, the smooth green snake, Opheodrys vernalis, seem to have become hard to find. In various areas where I have searched – Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia, West Virginia, South Dakota, and New Mexico among them – in locales where the taxon was known to have once been fairly common, I have […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 19
Herp Photo of the Day: Okeetee corn snake
This yearling Okeetee corn snake is just hanging out doing snake things, like climbing a tree, in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran! Be sure to tell cochran you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 19
Luxury hotel chain linked to destruction of rainforests
By Herp News The Mandarin Oriental hotel chain has landed in environmentalists’ crosshairs for the practices of its sister company Astra Agro Lestari, a rapidly expanding palm oil producer with fully developed plantations on an area larger than Singapore. The new She’s Not a Fan campaign – a play off Mandarin’s celebrity-fan endorsement drive – […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 18
Will Florida seen the return of green turtles?
Conservationists are working to make sure Florida has a great turtle season this year, and are on the lookout for green turtles. From news-press.com: Kelly Sloan, sea turtle program coordinator Sanibel/Captiva Conservation Foundation, also has plans to make this a good year for turtles. “Coyotes are a problem,” Sloan explained. “We are going to attempt […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 18
Will Florida see the return of green turtles?
Conservationists are working to make sure Florida has a great turtle season this year, and are on the lookout for green turtles. From news-press.com: Kelly Sloan, sea turtle program coordinator Sanibel/Captiva Conservation Foundation, also has plans to make this a good year for turtles. “Coyotes are a problem,” Sloan explained. “We are going to attempt […]
Read the rest of this entry »May 18
A surprising rescue: Montane trinket snake
I’ve been rescuing snakes and other animals for a long time now, and I’m very well aware of the species found in my area. Nonetheless, my last rescue really surprised me. Two days ago, somewhere around 7 PM or half past, I received a rescue call from a nearby area where I had rescued common […]
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