Reptoman

see reptiles diffenetly

   Oct 16

Amphibian communities collapse in wake of viral outbreak

By Herp News

Two closely related viruses that have been introduced to northern Spain in recent years have already led to the collapse of three different species of amphibian — the common midwife toad, the common toad, and the alpine newt — in the protected area of Picos de Europa National Park. In all, six amphibian species have suffered from severe disease and mass mortality and researchers say that the viruses appear to be on the move.

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   Oct 16

Frankie Tortoise Tails – The Little Sock That Could

Seven days later, Frankie pooped the sock.

Yep, examining sulcata poop is a bit stinky. Because of Frankie, I’ve done this so many times that it no longer disgusts to me.
Posted Image Little sock hidden within sulcata poop.

Dissection confirmed it was my under-ankle sock with the blue stripes.

Not to be left out of any backyard activity, Frankie butted in to see what I was doing.
Posted Image Yummy.
Sock must look appetizing to Frankie because he tried to eat it again. Okay, now that is disgusting.

Sulcata owners learn that their tortoises can and will attempt to eat almost anything: plastic, cloth, shoes, toes, fingers, cigarettes, paper, rocks, scissors, toys, sticks, small children, dogs, gophers, cat poop, dog poop, roofing nails, geckos, yard tools, electrical cords, peanuts, candy, gum, fast food still wrapped, wrappers, scarves, wicker, book bags,……

Let’s put it this way, if Amazon sells it a sulcata will try to eat it.

On a serious note, these are the typical steps to take when a sulcata has eaten an object it should have eaten:
1) Confirm it happen. Search for object. If the object has disappeared completely and was near the sulcata it was probably eaten.
2) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: clean and fill water dish daily or more. Allow tortoise to soak daily, or if it’s too big to soak follow it around the yard with rain sprinkler attachment on a garden hose.
3) Add simple,safe laxatives: cactus pads, aloe vera, various succulents, pumpkin, etc.
4) Check all poop for object.
5) Encourage sulcata to walk, walk, walk.

If things don’t progress or the suclata’s wellness changes, move to more aggressive action.
6) Visit veterinarian for examination, x-ray, appropriate drug therapy, manual cloaca manipulation or surgical removal. …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times

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   Oct 16

Potential drug could ease impact of bacterial lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, tests suggest

By Herp News

By screening over 2,000 approved drugs and natural products, scientists have shown that tannic acid may help ease the impact of bacterial lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Tests completed using experimentally modified frog oocytes show that tannic acid counteracts the harmful effect of an enzyme produced by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). However, more research is needed to find out if tannic acid can help treat S. aureus infections in humans.

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   Oct 16

Road trip for red-eared sliders

Humane society specialist Dave Pauli is taking banned Montana red-eared sliders on a trek to Texas.

From the Independent Record:

The lake is on a wildlife sanctuary created for relocated Grand Canyon burros. Pauli’s trip is no pedal-to-the-metal exercise. Turtles take time. The ones Pauli receives will spend weeks in large ponds in Montana getting used to catching food, diving deep and swimming beyond the glass walls of an aquarium.

A turtle that has lived in shallow water in a short glass tank doesn’t know how to manage the sink-or-swim pond life. Pauli said the animals will be tested to see which are fit for release and which continue to need looking after.

Thursday, Pauli was working with a red-eared slider that was swimming the length of a pool 25 feet long. That turtle will be joined by other turtles submitted during the one-time, red-eared slider turtle turn-in program.

Read more… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 16

Lizard given oxygen after house fire rescue

By Herp News

A LIZARD was given oxygen therapy after it was rescued from a house fire in Chorley Old Road.

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   Oct 15

Lizard rescued from house blaze given oxygen by firefighters

By Herp News

The bearded dragon lizard was in a tank pulled out of a kitchen in Bolton after a fire broke out behind a fridge

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   Oct 15

Lizard given oxygen after house fire rescue

By Herp News

A LIZARD was given oxygen therapy after it was rescued from a house fire in Chorley Old Road.

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   Oct 15

Tomalina the tortoise was stolen from Ouseburn Farm – then returned a few days later

By Herp News

Ouseburn Farm workers feared for the Tomalina's safety after she was snatched from her pen

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   Oct 15

Young herpers help protect threatened frog

Elementary school students helped pass a law that names the threatened California red-legged frog the state amphibian.

From the Desert Sun:

Two students — Samantha Lambarena and Freedom America Payne — traveled to Sacramento in April to sell lawmakers on the idea.

The red-legged frog is the largest native frog in the western United States.

“We think people will protect it just like they protect America’s bald eagle,” Lambarena said during the April hearing.

Read more… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 15

KHAOS7CUTZ's Blog – IS MY MALAYSIAN BOX TURTLE SICK?

HEY IM JUST NOTICING MY MALAYSIAN BOX TURTLE THAT I HAVE HAD FOR 18YRS FRONT LEFT LEG IS TURNING GREEN…HE WALKS ON IT FINE AND HE’S EATING. WHEN I PULL ON IT HE HAS A STRONG PULL BACK..HE HAS THE COMPLETE ROAM OF THE HOUSE SO I DONT KNOW IF RUBBED ON SOMTHING GREEN OR WHAT? ANY SUGGESTIONS …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times

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   Oct 14

Turtle tumors linked to excessive nitrogen from land-based pollution

By Herp News

( University of Hawaii at Manoa ) Hawai'i's sea turtles are afflicted with chronic and often lethal tumors caused by consuming non-native algae 'superweeds' along coastlines where nutrient pollution is unchecked. The disease that causes these tumors is considered a leading cause of death in endangered green sea turtles.

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   Oct 14

‘River wolves’ recover in Peruvian park, but still remain threatened inside and out (photos)

By Herp News

Lobo de río, or river wolf, is the very evocative Spanish name for one of the Amazon’s most spectacular mammals: the giant river otter. This highly intelligent, deeply social, and simply charming freshwater predator almost vanished entirely due to a relentless fur trade in the 20th Century. But decades after the trade in giant river otter pelts was outlawed, the species is making a comeback.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 14

Turtle Beach Recon 320 PC Gaming Surround Sound Headset Now in Stores

By Herp News

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Turtle Beach, the leading audio brand in the video games industry, today announced that the Recon 320 PC and mobile gaming headset is now available in stores and …

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 14

Economy transforms lizard populations

The commercial ties an island has may be key to understanding biodiversity and invasive species.

From the New York Times:

Historically, the diversity and complexity of life on an island was determined largely by its size and distance from other landmasses; if animals couldn’t easily travel to and from an island, few new species would arrive and establish themselves.

But with the shipping trade now allowing species to stow away from one island to the next, commerce has overtaken geography as the key factor in cross-island speciation.

“Humans have switched the system to one that in the past was dominated by speciation but now is dominated by colonization,” said Matthew R. Helmus, an ecologist with the Amsterdam Global Change Institute and the lead author of the study, published in Nature. “That’s really a fundamental shift to the system.”

Read more… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 13

IMMS investigating turtle death while nursing another back to health

By Herp News

The Institute of Marine Mammal Studies is investigating the death of a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle that washed ashore in Gulfport. Meanwhile, another turtle found Monday, and thought to be dead, is undergoing treatment and may be saved.

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   Oct 13

Jane Goodall joins mongabay

By Herp News

Famed primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall—whose image is known the world over—has joined the advisory board of mongabay.org. This is the non-profit branch of mongabay.com, an environmental and science website with a special focus on tropical forests. Goodall first came to global prominence at the age of 26 when she set off to Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania to study chimpanzee behavior.

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   Oct 13

New species named after the struggle for same-sex marriage

By Herp News

Scientists have named new species after celebrities, fictional characters, and even the corporations that threaten a species’ very existence, but a new snail may be the first to be named after a global human rights movement: the on-going struggle for same-sex marriage. Scientists have named the new Taiwanese land snail, Aegista diversifamilia, meaning diverse human families.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 13

New species named after the struggle for same-sex marriage

By Herp News

Scientists have named new species after celebrities, fictional characters, and even the corporations that threaten a species’ very existence, but a new snail may be the first to be named after a global human rights movement: the on-going struggle for same-sex marriage. Scientists have named the new Taiwanese land snail, Aegista diversifamilia, meaning diverse human families.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 13

Lizard see, lizard do?

Humans and advanced primates are capable of learning through imitation, and now evidence suggests reptiles are too.

From Science Daily:

There is considerable debate about the extent to which non-primates are capable of true imitation.

Now researchers from the UK and Hungary have presented the first compelling scientific evidence that reptiles could be capable of social learning through imitation.

They set out to investigate whether the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is capable of imitating another bearded dragon through a simple experiment using a wooden board which contained a doorway.

All subjects successfully copied the actions of the demonstrator lizard, suggesting for the first time that reptiles exhibit social learning through imitation equivalent to that observed in ‘higher’ species.

Read more… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 13

3 siblings die after eating turtle meat

By Herp News

MANILA – Three siblings died after allegedly eating turtle meat in Barangay Liang, Irosin, Sorsogon, police said Monday.

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   Oct 12

Giant lizard causes Arundel pile-up

By Herp News

A MAN’S day out with his pet lizard ended dangerously yesterday when the large reptile escaped from its box causing traffic chaos.

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   Oct 12

No single explanation for biodiversity in Madagascar

By Herp News

No single ‘one-size-fits-all’ model can explain how biodiversity hotspots come to be, finds a study of more than 700 species of reptiles and amphibians in Madagascar. By analyzing the distribution of Madagascar’s lizards, snakes, frogs and tortoises, researchers find that each group responded differently to environmental fluctuations on the island over time. The results are important because they suggest that climate change and deforestation in Madagascar will have varying effects on different species.

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   Oct 12

Herp community shows its generosity and compassion at NARBC

Usually, the NARBC show at Tinley Park is a fun time. Herpers connect and catch up, and we share our love for our hobby and animals.

This year, while there are still good times, the shadow of the loss of Rico Walder to brain cancer, has dimmed some of the good times — but not the spirit of our community.

At the event’s famed auction, $1,600 was raised to help Rico’s family pay the bills that mounted during his long battle with the disease that ultimately claimed his life.

Another $1,200 will go to the Texas Rattlesnake Festival, a competing event to the barbaric “Rattlesnake Roundup” held in Sweetwater each year. The Festival is educational and run by herpers, and is intended to make people aware of the important role rattlers play in the natural ecology.

The rest of the auction’s proceeds will go to fund the work of USARK.

Thanks to all who gave to generously from all of us at kingsnake.com!

Photo: Green tree python auctioned off for Rico’s family, taken by Cindy Steinle …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 12

VMNH Reptile Day

By Herp News

More than 1,300 people turned out to the Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) for Saturday’s Reptile Day Festival, and attendees agreed that it was fun on an epic scale.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 12

Fairbanks reptile rally connects animals with homes

By Herp News

FAIRBANKS — The reptile rally formed like a flash mob in the back of a Fairbanks pet store Saturday afternoon.

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   Oct 10

Fitch Rates Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Pfd at 'AA'; Affirms Existing Ratings

By Herp News

Fitch Ratings assigns 'AA' ratings to the following mandatory redeemable preferred shares issued by Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corp :

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   Oct 10

Herp Video of the Week: Northern Copperhead!

Check out this video “Northern Copperhead,” submitted by kingsnake.com user PH FasDog.
Submit your own reptile & amphibian videos at http://www.kingsnake.com/video/ and you could see them featured here or check out all the videos submitted by other users! …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 09

Google, zoo to leverage ‘TV white space’ to monitor wildlife

By Herp News

Imagine watching a tiger stalk a sambar deer or catching a ghost-like glimpse of the rarely-seen saola—all from your desktop and in real time. Well, this may soon be possible under a new partnership with Google and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which will test TV white space to monitor zoo animals as a trial run for real-time filming life in the wild.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 09

Snakes and snake-like robots show how sidewinders conquer sandy slopes

By Herp News

The amazing ability of sidewinder snakes to quickly climb sandy slopes was once something biologists only vaguely understood and roboticists only dreamed of replicating. By studying the snakes in a unique bed of inclined sand and using a snake-like robot to test ideas spawned by observing the real animals, both biologists and roboticists have now gained long-sought insights.

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   Oct 09

Turtle Beach XO ONE Gaming Headset Now Available in Stores

By Herp News

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Turtle Beach, the leading audio brand in the video games industry, today announced that the XO ONE gaming headset designed for the Xbox One console is now available in stores and at online retailers. The XO ONE, which has an MSRP of $79.95, includes a new proprietary Xbox One audio controller that features mic monitoring and other chat features that …

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 09

'Copycat' Bearded Dragons Mimic Their Peers

By Herp News

Other bearded dragons then watched a video of the lizard opening the door, and scientists monitored whether the other animals imitated the behavior. All eight bearded dragons that watched the 11-second video of the demonstrator lizard followed suit. They opened the door in exactly the same manner as the bearded dragon in the video did, the researchers said. “The ability to learn through …

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 09

Dragon's-eye view

Zoo keepers in San Diego are training a Komodo dragon with the help of a camera attached to his back.

From the Daily Mail:

The 9ft (2.7 metre) creature has been taught to walk towards a series of yellow targets, getting a treat if he manages to complete the task successfully.

Despite its terrifying reputation, this Komodo dragon often responds to its keepers call by waddling towards the targets.

As Komodo dragons spend most of their time resting in the sun, the training provides much-needed exercise for Sunny throughout the day.

And once he masters the trick, keepers can ask Sunny to move into a different area of the exhibit.

The training is also helpful if medical attention is needed, as Sunny could voluntarily move without the need for sedation.

Footage from the GoPro camera is currently being used to review the sessions and give an insight into how Sunny sees his training.

Read more… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 09

Lizards in the Caribbean: How geography influences animal evolution

By Herp News

Researchers have enlisted a Caribbean lizard to help them find out on how geography can influence the evolution of animal species.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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   Oct 08

Conservancy transfers loggerhead turtle into larger tank

By Herp News

Wednesday was an emotional day at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida as they transferred a loggerhead turtle into a larger tank –remembering the advocate she was named after.

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   Oct 08

Good news on sea turtle nests

By Herp News

As of last month, 2,459 sea turtle nests were spotted within a 35-mile-long stretch of local shorelines from Longboat Key to Venice.

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   Oct 08

INTERPOL launches African environmental crime unit

By Herp News

To help fight illegal poaching and trafficking, INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police organization, has launched an environmental crimes unit in Africa.

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   Oct 08

The only solution for polar bears: ‘stop the rise in CO2 and other greenhouse gases’

By Herp News

Steven Amstrup, Chief Scientist for Polar Bears International, has worked diligently on polar bears for over 30 years. He radio-collared some of the first bears and discovered that annual activity areas for 75 tracked females averaged at a stunning 149,000 square kilometers. His recent work highlighted the cost of global warming to these incredible animals and the sea ice they so closely depend on.

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   Oct 08

Snake found in only two states may finally get protected status

After being eligible for 15 years, a snake found in only a few counties in two states may be protected as a “threatened” species.

From AL.com:

According to the federal agency, the black pinesnake is found only in Mobile, Washington and Clarke counties in Alabama, and 11 Mississippi counties, including Jackson and George. It has not been seen in Louisiana in more than 30 years.

If deemed threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the government would impose certain restrictions on activities like the use of herbicides, controlled burns and some timber activities in the affected habitat areas.

“The black pinesnake is an important part of the longleaf pine ecosystem in southern Alabama and Mississippi,” Fish & Wildlife Southeast Regional Director Cindy Dohner said in a prepared statement. “Conservation efforts for the black pinesnake align closely with efforts already ongoing in this ecosystem for other wildlife like the gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snake, dusky gopher frog and the red-cockaded woodpecker.”

Read more… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Oct 08

Frankie Tortoise Tails – Sockless

Frankie ate my sock. Um-hum, it is a bit funny. Right now. Frankie eating my socks. Again.

Muddy yard work. It’s fall and yard work increases exponentially. Some mathematician is gonna get me for that comparison. It feels like it’s increased exponentially.

I finely broke down and bought two pallets of centipede sod. Ended up I got the wrong kind as Greg was recommending St. Augustine but I had spend a week talking to someone about Phelsuma cepediana (commonly called the Blue Tail Day Gecko). When I called for the sod I said I wanted “two pallets of cepediana…I mean ceppy, seppy,…what do you guys call it?” Hence I ended up with two pallets of centipede. It should be okay.

Right or wrong, the ultimate test belongs to Frankie. If Frankie eats the grass then the grass is okay. If Frankie doesn’t eat the cepediana……I mean centipede then my next door neighbor gets a free lawn make-over.

The centipede grass was a hit. As Greg and I install it in the back yard Frankie went to work grazing on it.

Don’t worry, we bought this from an organic farm. The sod is grown on soil that grew organic peanuts last year. To help keep the soil healthy, they rotate crops and this year they grew cepediana….I mean centipede grass.

I found about the sod was grown on a previously-peanut-field until the soil was delivered. All the peanut hulls and roots are on the bottom of the sod. I wasn’t worried about Frankie. I was worried about was Greg who is sensitive to peanuts. I warned Greg about it. Greg wasn’t worried about it since he wasn’t the one grazing on the soil.

So we laid the sod. Frankie taste tested each roll. We finely have a Frankie approved yard now almost fully grassed. Sod went down on 1/3 of the yard, 1/3 of the yard is the old grass and I’ve surrender the other 1/3 and call it Frankie’s slide, mud pit and worm farm. It works.

The hard work began after the sod was laid. Greg’s arms had swollen red welts that took days to return to normal (I warned him). We both would soak all the sod daily for up to two weeks regardless of how hot it is outside. In hot weather it’s like standing in your own steam bath while watering.

The greatest burden went to the grazer. Frankie had the difficult choice between the old St Augustine, Pensacola Bahia Grass, clover, weed, hay or the new cepediana…I mean centipede grass. It’s a burden Frankie doesn’t take lightly.

I can see it as he walks around the yard. It’s a bite of Bahia: light, crisp but a bit thin. A taste of St Augustine: short but stout but chewy. The small bitter clover is yummy. The plentiful new cepe..centipede grass is delicious with a slight peanut overtone. A return bite on the favorite Orchard Hay: …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times

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   Oct 08

Lizards in the caribbean: How geography influences animal evolution

By Herp News

Researchers have enlisted a Caribbean lizard to help them find out on how geography can influence the evolution of animal species.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

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