Reptoman

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   Aug 01

Frankie Tortoise Tails – The Story of Bob the Magic Tortoise

Once, not very far away, there was a land of modest fame where a young boy name Prince resided with his Queen Mom and his King Dad. Prince was a special boy who lived in a spectrum call Autism. The people didn’t know what this meant, nor could they understand his frequent seizures so they just said the Prince was sick and left him alone.

Prince kept to himself and never spoke to anyone. He didn’t understand that he was different he just knew his head was full up inside and he had thoughts no one understood. His seizures struck like sudden thunderstorms and his mind became chaos and darkness.

One day, a magic tortoise named Bob was walking by and saw Prince sitting very quiet in his garden. Bob walked right up to Prince and they became instant friends. Bob decided he must stay and live in the garden that belonged to Prince and his family.

The once silent Prince began speaking to Bob and Bob seemed to understand. Even though no one else could hear Bob speak, Prince would listen to Bob and understood everything Bob said. Prince knew this was because Bob was a magical tortoise.

Everyday Prince would bring flowers and clovers for Bob to eat and he would tell Bob about his day at school. Prince told Bob about the things he thought and he would tell Bob when was feeling bad. Prince told Bob the thoughts in his head got so jumbled up that it sounded like buffalo stampedes, and his seizures stormed through his head like lightning.

Bob told Prince a great secret: when you can breathe like all the winds of the world like I do, your thoughts will fall away like feathers and the thunderstorms loose their thunder. Bob taught Prince to breath in deep like the ocean, to blow slowly like a breeze, to puff strong like a tornado, to breathe warm like the desert, and even blow funny like a raspberry. Prince began to get better, he could sleep through the night, and fewer thunderstorms happened in his head.

King Dad and Queen Mom saw that their son was happier than he had ever been before and the reason they believed was Bob. Everyone could see that Bob was helping Prince. It wasn’t long before everyone believed that Bob was a magical tortoise.

Word about Bob the magic tortoise spread far and wide. A boy who lived outside the realm wanted to know what kind of magic a tortoise could have. One day he stole Bob from Prince’s garden.

The boy took Bob to a mountain top so he could see Bob’s magic for himself.The boy was very cruel and ordered …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times

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   Aug 01

Herp Video of the Week: Snake Shedding!

Check out this video “Snake Shedding,” 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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   Aug 01

Threatened turtle needs surgery to remove fish hook in throat

By Herp News

A turtle on the Canada’s species at risk list has been found in Windsor-Essex with a fish hook lodged in its throat. Tom Preney says someone seeking help brought the spiny softshell turtle to Ojibway Nature Centre earlier this week. The turtle is so big, staff at Ojibway Nature Centre had no choice but to transport it in a standard recycle bin.

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   Jul 31

Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. Provides Section 19(a) Notice

By Herp News

This notice provides stockholders of Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. with information regarding the distribution paid on July 31, 2014 and cumulativ

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   Jul 31

History: Lizard Acres became Surprise

By Herp News

There is a remaining railroad sign at the tracks in Surprise near Grand Avenue and Bell Road marked Lizard Acres.                

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   Jul 31

Ecologists underestimating impacts of old-growth logging

By Herp News

Ecologists may be underestimating the impact of logging in old-growth tropical forests by failing to account for subtleties in how different animal groups respond to the intensity of timber extraction, argues a paper published today in the journal Current Biology. The study, led by Zuzana Burivalova of ETH Zurich, is based on a meta-analysis of 48 studies that evaluated the impact of selective logging on mammals, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates in tropical forests.

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   Jul 31

UPDATE: 50-Pound Tortoise Reunited With Owner

By Herp News

Lynchburg, VA – UPDATE: The missing tortoise has been reunited with his family. Horatio, aka Big Boy, is now back with his owner. The seven year old animal wandered away from his home on Lakeside Drive in Lynchburg last Friday night while the family worked to enlarge his enclosure.

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   Jul 31

Fine, jail for monitor lizard skin Goa music instrument

By Herp News

Panaji, July 31 (IANS) Using the skin of the endangered monitor lizard for the ghumat, a traditional clay drum, during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival will attract a fine of Rs.25,000 and a possibility of up to six years in jail, the Goa government cautioned Thursday. A statement issued here said ghumat aficionados should use goat skin instead. The ghumat is a specially designed clay pot …

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   Jul 31

Tortoise torture suspect faces sex charges

By Herp News

An 18-year-old girl who was arrested earlier this month on animal abuse charges after a video appeared to show her and a younger girl torturing a tortoise, is now facing a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a younger child. According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office arrest report, Jennifer Greene “made friends” with a younger boy and then had sexual contact with him. The incident …

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   Jul 31

Seeking justice for Corazón: jaguar killings test the conservation movement in Mexico

By Herp News

Eight years ago, a female jaguar cub was caught on film by a motion-triggered camera trap set in the foothills of canyons, oak forest, and scrubland that make-up the Northern Jaguar Reserve, just 125 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border. Three years later, in 2009, the jaguar reappeared on film as an adult. They called her ‘Corazón’ for the distinctive heart-shaped spot on her left shoulder.

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   Jul 31

Russia regains control of gecko sex satellite

Going where no gecko has gone before, Russia launched a research satellite filled with geckos who will, hopefully, mate in a zero gravity environment. The satellite briefly stopped responding to mission control’s commands, but contact was restored three days later.

From the Washington Post:

At this very moment, a Russian satellite full of geckos — (possibly) having sex — is floating around in space — and mission control has lost the ability to control it.

The Foton-M4 research satellite launched on July 19 with five geckos on board. The plan: To observe their mating activities in the zero-gravity conditions of Earth orbit. Several other earthly creatures, including plants and insects, were also placed on board for experiments.

But shortly after the satellite made its first few orbits, it stopped responding to commands from mission control. The equipment on board, however, is still sending scientific data back to earth, a spokesman for Russia’s Institute of Biomedical Problems said.

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Photo: kingsnake user snake_lab …read more
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   Jul 30

The world’s best mother: meet the octopus that guards its eggs for over four years

By Herp News

The ultimate goal of all species on the planet is procreation, the act of making anew. But few mothers could contend with a deep-sea octopus, known as Graneledone boreopacifica, which researchers have recently observed guarding its eggs for four-and-a-half years (53 months), before likely succumbing to starvation soon after.

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   Jul 30

Winking Lizard to hold Vedett Fest with free samples, Portside involved in collaborations, Fantasy Beer League under …

By Herp News

Winking Lizard holding 'Vedett Fest' with free samples in August, Portside Brewery is involved with two collaborations, National IPA Day is coming up, and lots more in our beer news and notes.

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   Jul 30

Don't fight snakes with snakes, say wildlife experts

Suburban homeowners in Georgia don’t like sharing their backyards with native copperheads, giving rise to a disturbing trend.

From Slate:

Some people are trying to fight snakes with snakes. People in one neighborhood nearby, Druid Hills, which backs up to the Fernbank Forest, imported and released a bunch of black rat snakes into their yards. They hope the snakes will crowd out the copperheads and compete with them for the same food sources. The other day I attended my first-ever snake release party—complete with balloons on the mailbox, a local snake expert, and a kingsnake in a box—right in my own neighborhood after a small child was bitten on the foot while chasing fireflies.

This cannot be normal, can it?

To find out, I reached out to David A. Steen, a wildlife ecologist and research fellow at the Alabama Natural Heritage Program at Auburn University. (And a blogger and occasional writer for Slate.)

“Wow—I don’t even know where to start with what’s wrong with that,” he said of the snake release efforts.

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Photo:kingsnake.com user coolhl7

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   Jul 30

Esmerelda's Journeys – Turtle Enjoys Hiking

Esmerelda is my wonderful aquatic turtle. We found her as a baby, covered in ants in the park, not moving. We started with a 10 gallon tank; progressed to a 35 gallon octagon, then to a 55 gallon rectangle tank; and, finally, we have an 100 gallon pond enclosure on our back porch for her. She is now 8.5 years old.

We call her Esmie for short and she is buddies with our Rhodesian Ridgeback and Fox Terrier. If we go sit on the back porch, and if she is in her pond, she will swim to the edge and hang her head over and join in the conversation. Not verbally of course, but with attention and head movement back and forth between the talkers.

It has always been a learning experience for me as I knew absolutely nada about raising a turtle. I have managed to have good filtration always which I think is the key to a happy turtle. That and respect. I thought I had run into just about everything (I still remember the first time her flukes peeled off – I thought she was dying :) ). Then we came to egg laying.

Last year was our first experience. She was extremely agitated for weeks – maybe 4 or 5. Then she was “swimming” on the back patio. Finally we researched a bit and learned that females lay unfertilized eggs. Wow!!! Now what.

We let her into the yard for several evenings, as the sand in her pen was not to her liking. Once she laid her eggs I understood why. They must be deep. After several hours of searching for the right spot, then digging and covering the task was done. She started walking “back” but kept stopping. I decided she was exhausted, so I picked her up and returned her to her pen. She was tired for several days, then was her normal self again. Almost forgot, she was ravenous during this time to. I was feeding her at least twice her normal ration.

This year, we didn’t realize she was “ready” for egg laying and our back porch door, as usual, was open during the day for the dogs to go in and out. To make a long story short, Esmie climbed out of her pen and while she had always stayed on the porch, this time she went out. We have 7 acres of property and I swear my husband and I searched all 7 acres and beyond. No Esmie. Again I searched and located a few stories of aquatic turtles leaving and returning within three days. I waited – tried to be patient. I was thrilled to walk out onto the porch the third evening to find Esmie back in her pond awaiting dinner.

Since then I believe she has decided that 3 days away is way too long. She would leave her pen and walk about …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times

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   Jul 29

87 new bird species considered threatened with extinction

By Herp News

Scientists have added 361 new bird species to the IUCN Red List following a major taxonomic review of non-passerine birds, i.e. non-perching or non-songbirds. Worryingly, 87 of these new birds are threatened with extinction, a percentage nearly double the overall threatened percentage for all birds, which currently sits at 13 percent.

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   Jul 29

Don’t eat or touch bat bushmeat amid worsening Ebola outbreak, UN warns

By Herp News

The world’s worst Ebola outbreak was likely begun by a hunter shooting a fruit bat for their dinner or the market, according to the UN. The outbreak has killed over 660 people in six months to date, and recently spread via plane to Nigeria. The disease is particularly deadly with a mortality rate of around 90 percent.

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   Jul 29

Researchers turn up the heat on the chytrid fungus

As the organism that causes chytridiomycosis in amphibians threatens their existence worldwide, a study published in the journal Nature suggests that turning up the heat and the frogs’ own immune defenses may hold the key to beating the fungus.

From the New York Times:

To find out, the scientists swabbed Bd onto the bellies of Cuban tree frogs. After the frogs became infected, the scientists cured them by taking advantage of a weakness of the fungus: it can’t survive for very long at high temperatures.

[University of South Florida chytrid expert Dr. Jason R.] Rohr and his colleagues kept their frog chambers heated to 86 degrees for 10 days, after which the fungi disappeared. The scientists then repeated this procedure three more times.

Frogs that had already been exposed to Bd produced a much stronger immune response to a new infection, the scientists found. They produced more immune cells, and the fungus produced fewer spores.

The exposed frogs were also much more likely to survive an infection than a frog exposed for the first time. What’s more, these effects became stronger after each exposure.

Dr. Rohr and his colleagues also found that amphibians can learn to avoid the fungus. In another experiment, they put oak toads in a chamber. One side of the chamber was contaminated with fungal spores, while the other was fungus-free. They found that toads that had never been exposed to the fungus would explore both sides of the chamber, becoming infected along the way.

But toads that had previous been exposed (and cured with heat) tended to avoid the side of the chamber with the fungus. If they were exposed more than once, they were even less likely to go to there. Dr. Rohr and his colleagues are investigating how the toads learn to avoid exposure to Bd. It’s possible that the toads can detect a chemical made by the fungus.

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Photo: kingsnake.com user Lachesis1 …read more
Read more here: King Snake

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   Jul 28

Over a million pangolins slaughtered in the last decade

By Herp News

One of the world’s most bizarre animal groups is now at risk of complete eradication, according to an update of the IUCN Red List. Pangolins, which look and behave similarly to (scaly) anteaters yet are unrelated, are being illegally consumed out of existence due to a thriving trade in East Asia.

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   Jul 28

Connecticut man accused of shooting pet turtle

By Herp News

STONINGTON, Conn. (AP) — Authorities say a Connecticut man shot to death his girlfriend's pet turtle.

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   Jul 28

Turtle Creek Man Dies After Trying To Break Up Domestic Dispute

By Herp News

A Turtle Creek man died after being struck in the head while trying to break up a domestic fight between his neighbors this weekend.

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   Jul 28

Infrared Camera Catches Keys Sea Turtle Hatchlings

By Herp News

Infrared camera catches loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings emerging from nest in Fla Keys

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   Jul 28

Connecticut man accused of shooting girlfriend's pet turtle

By Herp News

Stonington, Conn. — Authorities say a Connecticut man shot to death his girlfriend's pet turtle.

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   Jul 28

Short-eared dog? Uncovering the secrets of one of the Amazon’s most mysterious mammals

By Herp News

Fifteen years ago, scientists knew next to nothing about one of the Amazon’s most mysterious residents: the short-eared dog. Although the species was first described in 1883 and is considered the sole representative of the Atelocynus genus, biologists spent over a century largely in the dark about an animal that seemed almost a myth.

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   Jul 28

Connecticut man charged with shooting girlfriend's pet turtle

By Herp News

A 31-year-old Stonington man has been charged with cruelty to animals after police say he shot and killed his girlfriend's pet turtle.

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   Jul 28

Turtle & Hughes Boosts Business Efficiency With Infor Distribution SX.e

By Herp News

Infor, a leading provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, today announced that Turtle & Hughes, a leading distributor of electrical and industrial equipment, has successfully …

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   Jul 28

Tortoise Rescue to parents: Real turtles aren't 'Mutant Ninjas'

American Tortoise Rescue is asking parents not to let their kids get pet turtles just because they love the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

From Today Parents:

Hundreds of thousands of live turtles were purchased after each of the previous movies in the franchise, with many later dumped, deliberately killed or flushed down the toilet, the group said on its website. It estimates 90 percent of the animals died.

“We’re asking you to save a turtle’s life and perhaps even your child’s,” co-founders Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson write in an open letter to parents.

Previous film versions of the lovable “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” story have led to thousands of pet turtles being purchased and ultimately abandoned or killed.

“Unfortunately, children do not realize that real turtles do not fly, perform stunts or do any of the exciting moves fictional movie turtles do. Parents, trying to please their children, purchased live turtles which ended up languishing in tanks.”

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Read more here: King Snake

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   Jul 28

North Florida Reptile Farm Supplies Global Market

By Herp News

Less than a mile from downtown Newberry, hidden almost in plain sight, sits a group of unmarked gray warehouse buildings that contain either endless wonders or the stuff of nightmares, depending on how you feel about snakes.

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   Jul 27

Malaysia hunts 2 Filipinos for smuggle try of turtle eggs

By Herp News

Malaysian marine police foiled an alleged attempt to smuggle turtle eggs into Sabah by two Filipinos last Friday, the Star online reported.

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   Jul 27

Tortoise Suspected of Helping Baby Alligator Flee the Zoo

By Herp News

A baby alligator named Carlos has broken out of a Michigan zoo, thanks to a large tortoise that regularly strolls around the area. Gary Moore, who runs the GarLyn Zoo in Mackinac County, suspects that the 12-inch hatchling was able to sneak under the double fence because the tortoise wore the dirt away from the bottom of the railing.

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   Jul 26

Rehabilitated turtle from NJ released in Md. – NBC40.net

By Herp News

BERLIN, Md. (AP) – A sea turtle that was rehabilitated in Maryland after being found stunned by the cold in New Jersey has been returned to its natural habitat.

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   Jul 26

Keys Turtle Cam Watchers See Hatch Live

By Herp News

Web-watchers were able to see about 100 baby loggerhead sea turtles hatch via a live-streaming, high definition camera.

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   Jul 26

Giant tortoise rescued from Northern California brush fire

By Herp News

“Abe” survived overnight in a tank firefighters put him in as wildfire destroyed everything around it. pic.twitter.com/w5xlpPKm7d AMADOR COUNTY, Calif. —A 200-pound tortoise was rescued from a wildfire that destroyed much of an Amador County resort.

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   Jul 26

Let a reptile slither into your heart

By Herp News

They aren't at the level of cats and dogs yet, but reptiles are scaling upward in popularity.

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   Jul 26

Repticon Brings Its 1-Day Reptile Event to Lafayette

By Herp News

Repticon, a promoter of nationwide reptile and exotic animal expos, re-introduces it special 1-day-only event, ReptiDay. The event will bring the same unique blend of vendors, breeders, and educators to the Ramada Lafayette Conference Center on August 23. The expo offers hundreds of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, spiders, and small exotic animals to area enthusiasts. Top breeders and …

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   Jul 26

Crafty, egg-stealing lizard could cause environmental crisis

By Herp News

A black-and-white striped bandit from South America has invaded the habitat of threatened and endangered Florida wildlife, according to UF researchers.

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   Jul 26

Tiny new species of frog from Brazil with a heroic name

By Herp News

Molecular analysis helps scientists discover and describe a tiny new species of narrow-mouthed frog from the genus Chiasmocleis. The news species, Chiasmocleis quilombola is named after the quilombos — communities constituted by and used as refuges for slaves who had the brevity to escape in colonial Brazil.

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   Jul 26

Helping save narrow-headed gartersnakes from after-effects of Slide Fire

By Herp News

As a result of the Slide Fire, the burned areas of Oak Creek were at risk for ash-filled flooding due to monsoon rains. When ash blankets the habitat, the fish that the gartersnakes feed on aren’t able to survive. The ash covers rocks and small holes making it difficult for the snake to hide while hunting. Though the snakes can survive for some time without food, they will eventually starve to death. Now a team has undertaken to save the narrow-headed gartersnake in the fire’s aftermath.

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   Jul 25

Breaking: Teens who tortured and killed tortoise in viral video arrested, face felony charges

Breaking news from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

The two teenage girls responsible for the viral video of them torturing a gopher tortoise have been arrested today. Thanks to your concern and tips, Danielle Susan Dionne, 15, and Jennifer Emoke Greene, 18, have been arrested on charges of felony cruelty to animals, a third-degree felony.

They were also charged with a second-degree misdemeanor: taking, harassing, harming or killing a gopher tortoise.

The FWC worked with the State Attorney’s Office of the Fourth Judicial Circuit to decide the appropriate charges related to the crime. State Attorney Angela Corey said, “We are committed to fully prosecuting those responsible for the torture and death of this vulnerable and threatened species.”

The video, which is highly disturbing, can be viewed on the FWC’s Facebook page.
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