By Herp News
The Reptile Gardens tourist attraction in Rapid City is now in the record books.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Reptile Gardens listed in Guinness World Records
Reptile Gardens Breaks a World Record
By Herp News
The Reptile Gardens tourist attraction in Rapid City is now in the record books.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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As if there weren’t enough lizards in the world…
By Herp News
New horned lizard Phrynosoma sherbrookei discovered in Mexico
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Scientists uncover new marine mammal genus, represented by single endangered species
By Herp News
This is the story of three seals: the Caribbean, the Hawaiian, and the Mediterranean monk seals. Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the Caribbean monk seal was a hugely abundant marine mammal found across the Caribbean, and even recorded by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage, whose men killed several for food.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Ploughshare tortoises among animals seized in smuggling case
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) is caring for 521 tortoises seized at Ivato Airport in Madagascar.
From the TSA website:
On Sunday, May 11, 521 tortoises – all juveniles – were seized prior to being loaded on a Kenya Aiways flight to Nairobi; the smuggler ran away when his name was called by the information desk and was not apprehended. The shipment included 512 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) and nine Ploughshare Tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora) that were placed with the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) for initial care and safe keeping.
Photo: TSA …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Turtle spotted at Times Beach shore
By Herp News
A TURTLE was found on the shore of Times Beach, Sabroso, Barangay 76-A, Bucana, at 10 p.m. Monday. Personnel of the San Pedro Police Station along with the Pawikan Task Force immediately responded to a call from a resident of Barangay 76-A.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Scientists release odd-looking, Critically Endangered crocodiles back into the wild (PHOTOS)
By Herp News
Among the largest and most endangered crocodilians in the world, the gharial is on the verge of extinction today. This harmless fish-eating crocodile has fewer than 200 adult breeding individuals in the wild, their numbers having plummeted rapidly over the past few decades. But among this gloom and doom, conservationists have been working tirelessly to reinstate the wild populations.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Frankie Tortoise Tails – Pass the Grass
Grass is on my mind. It keeps me up at night. It takes up a lot of my time during the day. No, not “Colorado Grass”. Grass as in Frankie’s grass in his yard, or the lack of grass in Frankie’s yard.
The backyard grass that came with the house is woefully inadequate. Regretfully, we moved in the house during the winter and didn’t know until Spring that Frankie’s yard never had much grass. What it had isn’t enough for a 95 pound sulcata.
Woefully lacking grass. The rest of the yard has no grass.
Hey, mom. No Grass. Do something.
Frankie’s been somewhat patient about the situation. No, I take that back. Frankie has not been patient about a lack of grass in the yard. He mopes about with this sad I-can’t-believe-you-abuse-me look on his face.
I am starving, mom! Wait, is this a giant carrot?
Since there is no grass then I must pick a bag of grass & weeds for him, twice a day, and we all know how well that is going. If I don’t go pick a bag of grass then I must take Frankie for a walk.
Frankie siting by the gate. Well, more like blocking the gate until I get the hint Frankie wants a walk
Used to be Frankie and I would go on walks but we don’t walk any more. The minute he is out the gate he heads to the neighbor’s house where they have real grass. We don’t walk, we graze.
Frankie having thoughts of moving in with the neighbors who actually have grass in their yard.
There’s been some heated discussions as to why there is no grass in our yard and how we’re gonna get some grass: Bad soil, lack of care of previous owners, not enough sun, aliens. We looked at the biggest sun blocker tree and had it removed. No kidding. Took down a perfectly healthy tree so we could grow grass in our yard. Well, okay, it was a Pine Tree and Frankie was eating too many pine needles anyway. It was a good thing to take down.
Timber!
I started planting more grass. Bought Tortoise Grazing Seed from Carolina Pet Supply and planted it in three areas of the yard. It came in great. Then Frankie ate it. The grass still exists but as it’s kept trimmed to the ground by the hungry Frankie. So I bought more seed.
Almost ready to …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times
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A very uncommon newt
Unlike the abundant eastern newts of the genus Notophthalmus, the black-spotted newt, Notophthalmus meridionalis, of southeastern Texas is among the rarest of American salamanders.
Because of the harsh habitat in which this very pretty 4-inch long salamander has evolved, it is largely restricted to the few permanent ponds within its range, and seldom strays more than a few feet from the water. This newt is aptly named, having many relatively large black spots both on the olive-green dorsum and rich orange venter.
The only black-spotted newts I have seen in the wild were found in the 1960s. Gordy and I stopped to listen to some frogs calling from a small, lilypad covered, roadside pond and there at pond-edge we saw a half dozen newts as well. Since then a few additional examples have been seen by field researchers, but I have not been among the lucky ones.
Despite its rarity in the wild, the black-spotted newt is bred successfully by several zoological parks. Many hundreds are in captivity and several wild populations have been augmented by the release of captive raised examples.
More photos under the jump…
Continue reading “A very uncommon newt” …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Robosnake slithers into your heart
Of course you like snakes. But do you want a snake robot slithering its way into your heart?
That’s just what the Modsnake does — as well as crawl around inside pipes and similar systems looking for damage, and just about anywhere else you’d like to send a snake cam.
Watch below:
…read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Leonardo DiCaprio donates $1M toward ending elephant poaching crisis
By Herp News
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has stepped up with a $1 million donation to the Elephant Crisis Fund, an initiative that aims to stop the ivory poaching crisis.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise Capital Advisors Announces Distribution Dates and Amounts for Closed-End Funds
By Herp News
The closed-end funds managed by Tortoise Capital Advisors declared the following distributions today:
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Potential cure for captive amphibians with chytrid fungus
By Herp News
Researchers have identified an alternative to a sometimes toxic therapy that protects frogs in zoos from a deadly fungal infection that has been destroying the amphibian populations worldwide.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Reptile Gardens listed in Guinness World Records
By Herp News
RAPID CITY — The Reptile Gardens tourist attraction in Rapid City is now in the record books. The facility that is home to more than 200 species of reptiles from around the world is listed in the latest edition of the Guinness World Records book, as the world's largest collection of reptiles.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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After 89-year absence a wolf returns to Iowa…and is shot dead
By Herp News
DNA testing has confirmed that an animal shot in February in Iowa’s Buchanan County was in fact a wolf, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This is the first confirmed gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the U.S. state since 1925.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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A tale of two snake stories
The media usually doesn’t do a very good job with its coverage of snake stories, so when it does, we take notice.
Compare these two articles: One uses science to tell its story, and one uses media panic.
London’s Camden New Journal gives an overview of the discovery of a colony of around 30 Aesculapian snakes living nearby:
But the “non-native species” has been ranked “of high concern” by the London Invasive Species Initiative (LISI), a government advisory quango which has called for the “foreign” family of snakes to be eradicated. It claims, if not stopped, the snakes could spread, causing “serious negative impact” on the eco-system.
This tough-line stance was this week disputed by Dr Wolfgang Wuster, a snake venom expert and senior lecturer of the School of Biological
Science in Bangor University, who told the New Journal: “Any attempt to eradicate the Aesculapian snake would require justification of resources to be devoted to an almost certainly non-problematic introduced species with little prospects of spread, as opposed to the many far more damaging species already out there.”
Sane. Balanced. Investigative, even.
Then there’s the Daily Mail, whose coverage can be well-summed up by the headline: “Colony of killer snakes ‘capable of crushing small children to death’ on loose in London.”
Of course we all know the Aesculapian snake (now Zamenis longissimus, previously Elaphe longissima, is built much like our native bull snakes. and obviously not large enough to kill a child. But why should that get in the way of some sleezy tabloid clickbait?
Photo: kingsnake.com user nechushtan …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Sea turtle conservation urgently needed – UMS
By Herp News
KOTA KINABALU: With the recent reports of 60 dead turtles found in waters off Kudat as well as […]
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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The-Lizard-lifeboat-rescues-a-40ft-yacht-in-difficulties-off-Lizard-Point
By Herp News
Byline: The Lizard’s Tamar class all-weather lifeboat Rose launched yesterday afternoon to assist the yacht Marique with 2 people on board which had suffered rigging damage due to the high winds and rough seas, reporting to be 37 miles south of Lizard Point Page Content: The Lizard lifeboat launched just before 3pm to assist the Lowestoft registered yacht Marique which was on passage from Bayona …
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Endangered turtle stranded at Sunset Cliffs
By Herp News
A loggerhead sea turtle found Thursday was the fifth stranded turtle in San Diego this year.
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Guinness names Reptile Gardens largest collection in world
By Herp News
Seventy-seven years after Earl Brockelsby started Reptile Gardens with a sack full of rattlesnakes, the tourist attraction outside Rapid City has become resplendent with reptiles and is now officially the most slithery spot on the planet.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Wildlife: Domestic dog attacks gopher tortoise, mauling its soft shell
By Herp News
Domestic animals cause life threatening injuries to local wildlife, leading to 104 admissions this week to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital.
…read more
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'PBB': Why 'Turtle Song' became worldwide trend
By Herp News
Are you wondering why “Turtle Song” became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter Friday night?
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Endangered turtle stranded at Sunset Cliffs
By Herp News
A loggerhead sea turtle found Thursday was the fifth stranded turtle in San Diego this year.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Herp Video of the Week: Baby Turtle eating raspberry!
Check out this video “Baby Turtle eating raspberry,” submitted by kingsnake.com user Minuet.
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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China pledges $100 million to combat poaching in Africa
By Herp News
The Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, has pledged $100 million to combat poaching in Africa during a visit to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Get Out There And Shine™: Turtle Wax® Introduces The #Reflectie
By Herp News
CHICAGO, May 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Life is not for sitting idly by – especially when there's a freshly washed and waxed car waiting to help you get out and go. That's why Turtle Wax® is introducing the Get Out There and Shine campaign – celebrating the miles of smiles a freshly waxed car brings to drivers everywhere. Before hitting the road this summer, Turtle Wax wants drivers to share …
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Glass frogs are deadbeat dads
While dad’s out screwing around, glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni) embryos have to take care of themselves — and they do.
From Discovery News:
(S)cientists discovered that glass-frog eggs hatched about 21 percent earlier on average when the fathers were removed. They hatched up to about 34 percent earlier when conditions were drier, suggesting that dehydration was the cue the eggs relied on to hatch early.
“Embryos can cope with delinquent dads,” Delia said.
The researchers suggest this kind of embryo behavior may be common among species that provide care to eggs, such as insects, bony fishes and amphibians. “Variation in parental care seems to be the norm rather than the exception,” Delia said.
Photo: kingsnake.com user rockrox83 …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Deepwater Horizon spill penalties helping sea turtles
Fines from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill are being used to help save the lives of sea turtle hatchlings.
Disoriented by the lights of civilization, the newly-hatched turtles often blunder into traffic instead of the sea. By retrofitting nearby homes and businesses with LED lights, however, the risk to the baby tutles is dramatically reduced, because they operate on a frequency the hatchlings can’t see.
From Scientific American:
A lot of the money to fund these retrofits comes out of criminal penalties from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which killed or otherwise affected an estimated 100,000 sea turtles. The first two years of the STC’s retrofit efforts were financed by the Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife (which itself was created with money from Deepwater owner British Petroleum); the organization just received additional funding from the similar Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, both of which are administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
This restitution money, Godfrey says, “has allowed us to actually work with private property owners to go ahead and convert their lights, to work with them, to supplement the money they’re spending. We match money they put in. In some cases where the problem is particularly heinous and the property owners just don’t have the money to fix the problem, we can actually go in and do it for them. That funding mechanism, which has been made available following the spill, has allowed a lot of major progress on this issue.”
Read more…
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Tracking turtles through time, study may resolve evolutionary debate
By Herp News
Turtles are more closely related to birds and crocodilians than to lizards and snakes, according to a study that examines one of the most contentious questions in evolutionary biology. The research team looked at how the major groups of living reptiles, which number more than 20,000 species, are interrelated. The relationships of some reptile groups are well understood — birds are most closely related to crocodilians among living reptiles, while snakes, lizards and New Zealand’s tuatara form a natural group. But the question of how turtles fit into this evolutionary picture has remained unclear.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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The Adventures of Hotrod, Pokey and Teddy… – New to the Turtle World
I found Turtle Times while doing a search on how to take care of my newly acquired turtles. (Link can be found here). The turtles were originally under my Mom’s care and after some rough patches Mom had to leave which left the Trio behind as she was unable to take them with. She had trusted her ex to take care of them but that was a no go. He wasn’t mean to them, he just forgot about them. I’m not exactly sure how you can forget about them when they’re right there every time you walk in the front door but its not like they are dogs that can let him know.
So the Trio came home with us on either April 19 or 20th to be honest I can’t remember and that’s okay as it certainly doesn’t seem like it was just the other day. And I mean that in a good way. They have filled a blank place that I didn’t know I had. I love watching them and learn the little quirks that make them them.
Their set up is pretty simple. It’s a glass tank that is almost as long as I am tall (I’m 5 foot 4 and 1/2…that half counts dimmit!) and roughly about a foot across and sits on an old dresser that is the same length and just a little wider. The bottom of the tank is filled with sand, then a later of dirt.
From just bumming around Turtle Times I’ve learned quite a bit and karencjacomehas been wonderful help. I’ve learned a LOT. I’ve since added a pile of leaf litter to the cooler end of the tank where they love to hide and the dirt is deeper down there as well so that Hotrod and Teddy could burrow down. I use an aluminum pie pan for their water and have dug into the dirt so that the pan sits flat in the dirt and makes it easy for them to get in and out in their mad dash to the sunny end of the tank.
Food is placed on a large flat rock next to the water pan which seems to be something they like. I started out finding greens for them, clover, dandelions, “pig weed” shoots and grass with the little turtle stick food that came with them. I quickly discovered that they didn’t like the stick food as much as it was assumed and the “turtle treats” aren’t touched at all. After a few trial and errors I learned that they’d eat the stick food for aquatic turtles as long as it wasn’t put in the water. They don’t like it in the water and I don’t blame them since it often looks like something that has come out their other end.
But we have now discovered apples and grapes….oh my god…I think they would seriously eat their body weight …read more
Read more here: Turtle Times
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Retired Md. farmer makes prehistoric reptile discovery
By Herp News
A retired farmer in Accokeek, Md., has made a big find in the world of paleontology. Experts have confirmed he found evidence of a prehistoric reptile along his creek bed.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Retired Md. farmer discovers prehistoric reptile
By Herp News
A retired farmer in Accokeek, Md., has made a big find in the world of paleontology. Experts have confirmed he found evidence of a prehistoric reptile along his creek bed.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Life as a dinosaur was no party
In case you ever wax nostalgic for the age of the giant reptiles, a quick read of The Paleoart of Julius Csotonyi will probably change your mind.
In this image, for instance, the artist has depicted the events that must have led to a block of fossils found in Utah. Not exactly anyone’s idea of a good time.
See more over on Wired Science. …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Beach walks, toys and drinks to celebrate World Turtle Day
By Herp News
In honor of World Turtle Day on May 23, several Florida hotels are celebrating while also helping turtle conservation efforts.
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Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage …
By Herp News
Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. today announced that as of April 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $242.9 million an
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage Ratio Update as …
By Herp News
Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. today announced that as of April 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $441.8 million and its unau
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise North American Energy Corp. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage Ratio Update as …
By Herp News
Tortoise North American Energy Corp. today announced that as of April 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $307.2 million and its unaudited
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise North American Energy Corp. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage Ratio Update as …
By Herp News
Tortoise North American Energy Corp. today announced that as of April 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $307.2 million and its unaudited
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage Ratio Update as of April 30 …
By Herp News
Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. today announced that as of April 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $2.2 billion and its unaudited net asset valu
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corp. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage Ratio Update as …
By Herp News
Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corp. today announced that as of April 30, 2014, the company’s unaudited total assets were approximately $2.5 billion and its unaudited n
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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