By Herp News Air quality in Indonesia was slightly improved in most areas on Thursday following rain on Tuesday night as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo landed in South Sumatra to monitor the archipelago’s firefighting and humanitarian response. But in East Kalimantan, fires continue to threaten the Sungai Wain Protected Forest, a 9,852-hectare expanse of ancient […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Reptile News Around the World' Category
Oct 29
Oct 29
Herp Photo of the Day: Ratsnake
A gorgeous field shot of a very dark Black Rat Snake brings memories of summer back in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran ! Be sure to tell them 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 »Oct 29
Bali’s mountain dwellers govern with ancient palm leaf treatises
By Herp News Deep in the mountains of eastern Bali sits a traditional Aga village, whose inhabtants – legendarily the island’s first – still reside and abide by ancient ways. Long before Indonesian independence, and even before the 11th century, when the fleeing courtiers of Java’s Hindu Majapahit dynasty landed in Bali, the village of […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 29
Great Basin Spadefoot
Vertically elliptical during the daylight hours, the pupils of the Great Basin spadefoot are almost round on dark nights. It has always amazed me how some relatively common—or even abundant—species can evade all efforts to find them. Or at least they evade almost all efforts. I encountered such difficulty when I was trying to photo […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 28
São Paolo Trafficking: Smuggling Brazil’s Wildlife
By Herp News Fairs and small markets scattered throughout the country are one of the main venues where animals are trafficked. Between 60% and 70% of the trafficked animals in Brazil are purchased by Brazilians. Photo by Juliana M Ferreira [dropcap]J[/dropcap]uliana Machado Ferreira moves quickly through the chaotic sprawl of tables and stalls at Vila […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 28
Herp Photo of the Day: Alligator Lizard
How cute is this baby Abronia graminia in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user uggleedog ! Be sure to tell them 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 Snake No products […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 27
Uncovered: How Hong Kong’s ‘legal’ ivory markets fuel elephant poaching
By Herp News At a time when U.S. and China have pledged to take steps to end ivory trade in their countries, Hong Kong — one of the largest hubs for illegal ivory — has refrained from making such commitments, and continues to insist that their “legal” ivory markets are strictly controlled. But according to a […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 27
Herp Photo of the Day: Bullsnake
This pile of noodles in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user hermanbronsgeest reminds us of the variety in the most basic of “morphs”, the normal! Be sure to tell them 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 »Oct 27
The South American Bird Snakes
This Peruvian example, an adult Phrynonax polylepis, has assumed a defensive posture. Phrynonax polylepis? What in the world is that? Actually it is a snake that you might know well. Think the Peruvian and Brazilian lineage of Pseustes poecilonotus, the common bird snake, aka the common puffing snake. As mentioned in an earlier blog this […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 27
Country Star Kevin Fowler Declares War on Rattlesnakes
Photo: Allmusic, Facebook/Kevin Fowler Country Musician Kevin Fowler recently took to facebook to criticize people he feels are “rattlesnake sympathizers”. “All of you people who cry about folks killing rattlesnakes have probably never seen what it looks like when you get bit by one,” wrote Fowler. “All of you rattlesnake sympathizers will change your tune […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 27
Iguana Training for Dummies
How smart are reptiles? Can they be trained like other animals? You might be surprised at just how smart some of our reptilian friends are! The San Diego Zoo recently released a video of one of their Anegada Iguanas(Cyclura pinguis) named Gus being trained using the target method. The Anegada Iguana is a endangered iguana […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 26
Climate change threatens survival of common lizards
By Herp News While there is no doubt that climate change is affecting many organisms, some species might be more sensitive than others. Reptiles, whose body temperature depends directly on environmental temperature, may be particularly vulnerable. Scientists have now shown experimentally that lizards cope very poorly with the climate predicted for the year 2100. Go […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 26
Snake venom helps hydrogels stop bleeding in 6 seconds
Brazilian Lancehead – Gallery Photo by Neverscared A nanofiber hydrogel infused with snake venom may be the best material to stop bleeding quickly, according to scientists at Rice University in Texas. The hydrogel incorporates batroxobin, a venom produced by two species of South American pit viper. It can be injected as a liquid and quickly […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 26
The Long-beaked Echidna: can we save the earth’s oldest living mammal?
By Herp News Echidnas have strong legs, well adapted for digging. They dig their claws into the soil and push it aside, making it almost appear as if they are sinking straight down into the earth. They sometimes vanish below ground for more than 24 hours, though no one knows with what purpose. Photo by […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 26
Herp Photo of the Day: Frilled Dragon
This little Frilled Dragon is ready to take no prisoners in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user Mizzy every once in a while! Be sure to tell them 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 the rest of this entry »Oct 25
Frankie Tortoise Tails – Frank-O-Lantern
From Frankie’s visit to Pet Supermarket dressed as Frank-O-Lantern Enjoy. …read more Read more here: Turtle Times No products found. Amazon Auto Links
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 24
Bats important to survival of rare frog, other species
By Herp News Bat poop matters. So says a study examining a little-known species, the Caucasian parsley frog, and its reliance on insects that breed in bat guano. This is yet another study showing how critically important are bats for the environment. Their role is not limited to controlling agricultural pests; entire cave ecosystems with […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 24
Bats important to survival of rare frog, other species
By Herp News Bat poop matters. So says a study examining a little-known species, the Caucasian parsley frog, and its reliance on insects that breed in bat guano. This is yet another study showing how critically important are bats for the environment. Their role is not limited to controlling agricultural pests; entire cave ecosystems with […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
You know climate change threatens the planet — but your bank account?
By Herp News Could this giant 3D printer stop climate change? [National Geographic] You may be familiar with this amazing technology. It is a 400-million-year-old solar-powered device that extracts CO2 from the atmosphere and converts it into material useful for construction. First observations of the least understood species in the world [UPI] For decades this […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
You know climate change threatens the planet — but your bank account?
By Herp News Could this giant 3D printer stop climate change? [National Geographic] You may be familiar with this amazing technology. It is a 400-million-year-old solar-powered device that extracts CO2 from the atmosphere and converts it into material useful for construction. First observations of the least understood species in the world [UPI] For decades this […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
A surprising threat to Monarch butterfly survival — tropical milkweed
By Herp News The 2012 film ‘The Flight of the Butterflies’ documented the year-long annual migration cycle of the Monarch Butterfly. But now, scientists believe that fewer numbers are actually taking this epic journey. Photo credit: Dave Hart. A recent study concludes that a new, overwintering population of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in the […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
Collaborative research reveals a new view of cell division
By Herp News Basic research into the mechanisms of cell division, using eggs and embryos from frogs and starfish, has led researchers to an unexpected discovery about how animal cells control the forces that shape themselves. During a key point in cytokinesis a cell’s cortex becomes an excitable medium resulting in waves that serve to […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
Herp Photo of the Day: Rattlesnake Friday!
Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Massive support is needed in the conservation of the gorgeous Massasauga Rattlesnake all across the country. That is why they take the spotlight today in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user ratsnakehaven ! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
And Now There Are Two! The Genus Spilotes is now Bitipic
This is the Mexican form of Spilotes pullatus, S. p. mexicana. Spilotes, long a monotypic genus of beautiful black and yellow, neotropical, arboreal, snake, has recently become bitypic—and polymorphic. This was accomplished when a group of herpetologists (see paper mentioned below) undertook the reevaluation of the genus Pseustes, the bird snakes. The result of their […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
Reptile Relocation Successful
Photo: Chris Dresh Instead of a forceful relocation, ecologists in Bournemouth changed the landscape directly impacting the road changes only to allow the animals to relocate naturally. Dorset County Council’s environment councillor, Peter Finney, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our natural environment in Dorset and we strive to find new ways to work alongside our […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
Partnerships are key to The Wildlife Conservation Society’s new conservation strategy
By Herp News The Wildlife Conservation Society has a long, proven track record of environmental stewardship. So when the New York City-based group recently announced an ambitious new global conservation strategy, Mongabay got in touch with WCS president and CEO Cristián Samper to get more details. WCS has identified 15 of the world’s largest wilderness […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 23
Bird market photo yields an unknown monkey species in Indonesia
By Herp News Two photos taken in Jakarta’s notorious bird market suggest that Indonesia’s forests may be hiding a previously undocumented species of monkey. The photos, which showed a langur or leaf monkey with distinctive coloring, including a black face outlined by gold hair, spurred researcher Francesco Nardelli to embark on a five-year survey of […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 22
New study re-assesses conservation status of Peruvian amphibians
By Herp News Eight Peruvian amphibian species listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN should be re-assessed as Threatened. That’s one conclusion of a new study published in Mongabay’s journal Tropical Conservation Science. The study re-assessed the conservation status of 38 amphibian species that an earlier study had determined might meet IUCN criteria for listing […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 22
Hognose Snakes…THINK when you find them!!
Among those who search for reptiles in North America, there has always been great interest in Eastern Hognose Snakes, Heterodon platirhinos. They are beautiful, variable, display unique behaviors, have an interesting natural history, and are unlike all the other snakes we find locally. Getting a nice picture of a wild Eastern Hognose Snake can be […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 22
The wild side of Peru gets an imaging makeover
By Herp News The dense undergrowth of tropical forests presents a mysterious prospect to wildlife researchers. Often what is easily spotted does not represent the whole, and scientists in the past could spend months, or even years, studying a species before ever observing it. Now traditional data collection methods are being augmented by advanced technologies […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 22
Herp Photo of the Day: Tokay Gecko
Gotta love the up close head shot of this Tokay Gecko in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user The_Reptiles_Den ! Be sure to tell them 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 »Oct 22
Love Potion Developed for Amphibians
Photo: Freshwaters Illustrated/Dave Herasimtschuk/USDA. In the race to save our dying amphibians, a fish endocrinologist developed “Cupids Syringe” also known as Amphiplex. The hormone based chemical helps to encourage better captive breeding. Trudeau knew that the hormone systems controlling mating were nearly identical in fish and mammals, and he reasoned that they should be similar […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
A Very Simple Terrarium for a Very Phat Phrog
Tank, sphagnum, light, and sturdy plants provide an easily built and maintained amphibian terrarium. All that is needed to make a very pretty terrarium for horned and other bulky frogs with limited leaping ability is the tank (ours is a 40 gallon), a complete cover (with horned frogs a cover may not be needed) but […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
Wildlife biology in the 21st century
By Herp News Mark Hebblewhite’s love of wildlife began paying off when he got a job as a Hudson Bay park ranger as an 18-year-old. Now an associate professor in the wildlife biology program at the University of Montana, Hebblewhite studies the delicate balance among predators, prey, the environment and humans. His work carries on […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
Partnerships are key to The Wildlife Conservation Society’s new plan to conserve 50 percent of the world’s biodiversity
By Herp News The Wildlife Conservation Society has a long, proven track record of environmental stewardship. So when the New York City-based group recently announced an ambitious new global conservation strategy, Mongabay got in touch with WCS president and CEO Cristián Samper to get more details. WCS has identified 15 of the world’s largest wilderness […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
Australian Legless Lizards are in Peril for RV park
Photo: Annette Ruzicka/Bush Heritage Australia The habitat of the Australian Legless Lizard population in Canberra is set to be razed in preparation to build an RV park for tourists to rest their weary heads. Conservationists from Bush Heritage Australia are working to save one of the last remaining groups of this species. To capture these […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
76-million-year-old extinct species of pig-snouted turtle unearthed in Utah
By Herp News In the 250-million-year evolutionary history of turtles, scientists have seen nothing like the pig nose of a new species of extinct turtle discovered in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. Amazon Auto Links
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
Herp Photo of the Day: Blood Python
The name says it all. Check out this stunning Cherry Bomb Blood Python in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user jsignoretti every once in a while! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 21
German man arrested in Jakarta with eight earless lizards
By Herp News A German national was apprehended at the international airport in Jakarta as he tried to smuggle eight earless monitor lizards from Borneo out of the country. It was not the first indication of a German connection to the international trade in Earless Monitor Lizards (Lanthanotus borneensis), a small, orange-brown creature with beaded […]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 20
Herp Photo of the Day: Clawed Frog
One of the most common amphibians out there, this Albino Clawed Frog is just hanging around in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user bradtort every once in a while! Be sure to tell them you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could […]
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