Not all venomous snakebites are created equal — and neither are all antivenoms. Now researchers at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) have identfied important differences in venoms that may lead to breakthroughs in snakebite treatment worldwide.

From Phys.org:

LSTM’s Dr Nicholas Casewell, first author and NERC Research Fellow, said: “Our work shows that venom variation observed between related snake species is the result of a complex interaction between a variety of genetic and postgenomic factors acting on toxin genes. This can involve different genes housed in the genome being turned on or off in different snakes at different stages of venom toxin production. Ultimately, the resulting venom variation results in significant differences in venom-induced pathology and lethality and can undermine the efficacy of antivenom therapies used to treat human snakebite victims.”

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By Herp News

Key genes that help burrowing frogs avoid muscle wastage while they are dormant have been discovered by researchers. These genetic insights could help prevent muscle atrophy in bedridden human patients, or even astronauts. For most mammals, including humans, when muscles are inactive over a long period, they lose condition and waste away. However, some animals can remain dormant for several months and yet suffer minimal muscle damage, including green-striped burrowing frogs, the focus of this study.

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Key genes that help burrowing frogs avoid muscle wastage while they are dormant have been discovered by researchers. These genetic insights could help prevent muscle atrophy in bedridden human patients, or even astronauts. For most mammals, including humans, when muscles are inactive over a long period, they lose condition and waste away. However, some animals can remain dormant for several months and yet suffer minimal muscle damage, including green-striped burrowing frogs, the focus of this study.

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Researchers are using a turtle decoy to help determine what may have killed dozens of turtles near Misery Bay on Manitoulin Island.

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Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. today announced that as of June 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $260.4 million and

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This notice provides stockholders of Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. with information regarding the distribution paid on June 30, 2014 and cumulativ

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Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. today announced that as of June 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $492.1 million and its unaud

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Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. today announced that as of June 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $2.4 billion and its unaudited net asset value

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Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corp. today announced that as of June 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $4.5 billion and its unaudited ne

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Tortoise Energy Independence Fund, Inc. today announced that as of June 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $527.7 million and its unaudit

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2K and Turtle Rock Studios announced today that Evolve, the highly anticipated 4v1 cooperative and competitive multiplayer shooter coming to next-gen consoles and PC on October 21, 2014, had a tremendous showing at E3, taking home the coveted E3 2014 Game Critics Award for “Best of Show” among more than 50 awards and editorial honors.

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How do you save turtles and protect motorists’ lives? Build a tunnel.

From KARE 11:

It’s a specialized culvert built in Germany, which has small holes at roadway level to allow sunlight to get into the tunnel.

The location was picked after the MN Herpetological Society documented a large number of turtle crossings which were deemed hazardous to both turtles and motorists, who were stopping on the two-lane highway to avoid hitting them.

The $50,000 price is paid for with a $10,000 grant from the University of Minnesota, a $37,000 grant from the DNR’s Legacy funding, and $3,000 from the Herpetological Society.

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A Malaysian water monitor lizard was captured Friday afternoon at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Personnel from the Hawaii Air National Guard reported seeing a large black lizard running on its hind legs last Thursday.  Initially, base pest control staff was dispatched, but they were not able to locate the lizard where it was spotted, which was …

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A runaway tortoise caused a traffic back up on Old Santa Fe Trail on Tuesday morning. Read more at KOB.com

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A 150-pound “runaway” tortoise was taken into custody by Santa Fe Police Animal Control officers this morning as it slowed… more »

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Hugo, a 63-year-old Galapagos Tortoise, had his annual weighing on Tuesday at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby.

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Police are trying to identify the suspect who broke into a North Carolina reptile store and swiped $30,000 worth of snakes, including a rare python worth $12,500, police said.

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A thief stole more than 30 snakes valued at over $30,000 from a store, according to North Carolina officials.

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Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. today announced that as of June 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $2.4 billion and its unaudited net asset value

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By Herp News

One Stolen Snake Was Valued at $12,500

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A turtle on the loose in Hay River, N.W.T. could wreak havoc on the local ecosystem, says an Alberta reptile expert. Shelly, a red-eared slider, escaped from a backyard on Beaver Crescent in Hay River on Saturday. Dave Law, who runs the Alberta Turtle and Tortoise Society, says it's important the turtle is found.

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Until ten years ago scientist’s knowledge of the reproductive habits of the giant armadillo— the world’s biggest— were basically regulated to speculation. But a long-term research project in the Brazilian Pantanal is changing that: last year researchers announced the first ever photos of a baby giant armadillo and have since recorded a second birth from another female.

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Stephen Loman and William Sargent are a two-man movement saving snakes in Hong Kong.

From the South China Morning Post:

Stephen Loman and William Sargent know more than most just how closely we live with snakes. Although the pair balk at the term snake hunter, they have been rescuing, photographing and releasing snakes in the wild in Hong Kong for decades.Stephen Loman and William Sargent

In that time, Loman, a finance professional, and Sargent, a race organiser, have caught and released more than 1,000 snakes and suffered hundreds of bites.

Even so, both argue – and experts agree – that the fear of snakes is often misplaced. “Snakes get a bad reputation,” says Sargent. “A lot of people don’t know much about snakes. That fear or ignorance leads to killing snakes for no real reason.”

In his experience, it is humans who are a menace to snakes, not the other way around. According to the Hospital Authority there hasn’t been any death attributed to a snake bite in more than 20 years although Hong Kong has some particularly venomous species such as the banded krait, Chinese cobra, coral snake and the red-necked keelback.

Dying from a snake bite, even from the most poisonous species, is “very rare” in Hong Kong for several reasons, Lau explains. The city is small, has good infrastructure, and a high standard of medical care. No matter where someone is bitten in Hong Kong, they are never more than an hour away from hospital, and all major hospitals carry antivenom.

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By Herp News

NORTH CAROLINA (WITI) — A sea turtle was rescued this weekend after it was spotted entangled in a mass of netting and a discarded plastic bottle of antifreeze. News Channel 3, WTKR reports a man actually jumped into the water to come to the turtle’s aid. It happened near Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, […]

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A Malaysian water monitor lizard was captured Friday afternoon at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Personnel from the Hawaii Air National Guard reported seeing a large black lizard running on its hind legs last Thursday.  Initially, base pest control staff was dispatched, but they were not able to locate the lizard where it was spotted, which was …

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By Herp News

This notice provides stockholders of Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. with information regarding the distribution paid on June 30, 2014 and cumulativ

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Forget marsupials, the world’s strangest group of mammals are actually those in the Afrotheria order. This superorder of mammals contains a motley crew that at first glance seems to have nothing in common: from elephants to rodent-sized sengi. Last week, scientists announced the newest, and arguably cutest, member of Atrotheria: the Etendeka round-eared sengi.

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Watersnakes, commonly seen in the lakes, rivers and streams of the eastern United States, are invading California waterways and may pose a threat to native and endangered species in the state, according to a study. Nearly half of California’s amphibians are considered Species of Special Concern or are listed under the state or federal Endangered Species Act, and more than 80 percent of the state’s inland fishes are of conservation concern.

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Byline: The Lizard all weather Tamar Class Lifeboat “Rose” launched on service shortly after 2pm on Wednesday 25th June 2014 in response to a mayday call received from a damaged rib which was taking on water. Page Content: The eight meter RIB Neptune with five people on board was taking on water approximately three miles south west of The Lizard Point. Sea conditions on scene were described as …

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Researchers are learning a lot about extinct reptiles from how American alligators eat.

From NatGeo:

What happens when you throw bones to a group of American alligators? This isn’t a question for late night horror movies, but for science.

Standing behind a safety barrier at Florida’s St. Augustine Alligator Farm, University of Tennessee paleontologist Stephanie Drumheller tossed skeletonized cow legs to a crush of curious alligators. Over and over again, the armored archosaurs rushed in to snap at the morsels, and with every bite they left the predatory hallmarks in the form of punctures and scrapes. These traces were what Drumheller was after. Through understanding the damage modern alligators leave on bones, Drumheller and other paleontologists can follow the depredations of alligators and their croc cousins through time.

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Scaly creatures took over Wesselman Woods Nature Center and Preserve Saturday. Snakes, turtles, iguanas and other reptiles were on display for the second annual 'Reptile Roundup.'

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Animal welfare officers called to rescue a reptile from a tree in Thurso discover it was a cuddly toy nailed to a branch.

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PGA.com asked our Facebook friends about unique occurrences on the golf course. There were tales of reptile encounters, ill-timed duck hooks, seismic activity and even sasquatches. “While working in the pro shop we got a Big Foot costume and had a 6 foo 8 kid that also worked there run around the course in it from time to time.” — David Garland Needless to say I put me down for a birdie on that …

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The Japanese-French restaurant comes from the owner of Room 11 and the Petworth Citizen.

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Fitch Ratings assigns 'AAA' and 'AA' ratings to $179.4 million of new senior unsecured notes and $50 million of new mandatory redeemable preferred shares , res

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A giant tortoise is checked in to an on-site clinic at Bristol Zoo after developing the symptoms of sinusitis.

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Check out this video “Pet Iguana,” submitted by kingsnake.com user Minuet.
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By Herp News

A Manitoba cabinet minister said he and other Winnipeg drivers sprang into action upon seeing a woman try to help a turtle that was ambling across Portage Avenue this morning.

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Moose, a cousin to the Komodo Dragon takes special handling and was one of the reptiles the audience was not allowed to touch.

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Summer is always the busy season in the reptile world, with herpers headed off to the field, reptile expo season heating up, and baby reptiles and amphibians popping out left and right. We’ve been busy here at kingsnake.com as well, getting a whole peck of classified changes, updates and upgrades built, tested, and installed.

As you may have noticed over the last few years, we’ve been steadily raising the number of ads that can be posted in each category — from three, then to six, and now to eight per category with a standard account and 12 with an enhanced account!

Other ad posting changes include an optional PayPal ‘Buy It Now’ button, which will allow customers to make purchases directly from the kingsnake.com classifieds if you have a PayPal account. kingsnake.com takes no extra fees for using the ‘Buy It Now’ feature, and it’s quick and easy to include in your ad.

The Classified Vendor Profile system has been updagted as well, receiving a publicly viewable click-through counter in addition to the other cool features such as event listing and customer recommendations that were introduced at launch.

Finally, the classified index has been slightly adjusted to make it more navigable, and to add the ‘New and Updated’ business directory listings, as well as a new Updated Classified Profile listing system that lists the last 10 classified profiles that have been updated by vendors.

To update your classified ad vendor profile please visit http://market.kingsnake.com/account/.
To purchase a classified account please visit http://kingsnake.com/shared/services/classified.php.

Buisness directory listings are on sale for half price ($75.00 off) thru July 4. To add your web site to our business directory please go to http://www.kingsnake.com/services/businessdirectory_SALE75.html to purchase a listing on sale for half price or to update your current listing go to http://www.kingsnake.com/myaccount/bus_dir.php.

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