By Herp News
Along a scenic coastal path, Martin Jackson finds he is alone save for springtime flora and birds.
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Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Cornwall: walking the Lizard peninsula
New York illegal animal amnesty nets three alligators
Unwanted or illegal reptiles and amphibians, including three alligators, were turned over to the Suffolk County SPCA on Long Island in New York State in the state’s first-ever illegal animal amnesty.
From LongIsland.com:
The event, which took place at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown, allowed people to drop off illegal animals, no questions asked. Only reptiles and amphibians were accepted, and no penalties were given to individuals who handed over illegal reptiles, as the primary goal of the event was to prevent people from letting unwanted illegal reptiles or amphibians loose on Long Island.
The event was particularly valuable in that three alligators ended up in the safe hands of the SPCA. The alligators were 3 feet, 3.5 feet, and 4.5 feet long. Keeping an alligator is illegal, and includes a fine of up to $250, but releasing an alligator into the wild is a misdemeanor that can lead to jail time.
Just last week, four alligators were fished out of the Peconic River in Calverton near a boat ramp. The 2- and 3-foot-long alligators were sent to the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center.
At least nine alligators were found on Long Island last fall, including two alligators that were found in a supermarket parking lot in Baldwin, one found on a golf course in Wading River, and another found in the parking lot of an Applebee’s in Shirley.
In a separate story, the New York Post reported the alligators were subsequently adopted by the Rainforest Reptile Show, to appear in educational exhibits. …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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MV-Ardgarry-disaster-remembered-at-Lizard-RNLI-lifeboat-station
By Herp News
Byline: MV Ardgarry disaster remembered at Lizard RNLI lifeboat station Page Content: One year on, following a hugely emotive memorial service and the un-veiling of a granite memorial stone at The Lizard Lifeboat station, Patrick Slattery has made an emotional return to visit many friends in The Lizard . Patrick’s father tragically perished along with 11 other crewmen when the vessel MV Ardgarry …
…read more
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Great tits unaffected by warmer springs
By Herp News
The population of a widely dispersed bird species is relatively unaffected by warmer springs, indicating that some species may be adapting to shifts caused by climate change, reports a study published in the journal Science.
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Tortoise named Hornswaggle found safe after neighborhood search
By Herp News
A Portland woman said her tortoise named Hornswaggle was found safe in her neighborhood Sunday afternoon after a two-day search.
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VIDEO: Silas waves goodbye: Cancer patient, 4, see namesake turtle released
By Herp News
Silas the loggerhead turtle made a beeline for the breakers Saturday morning, leaving no doubt where the rehabilitated turtle belongs. Silas Edenfield, the little boy he was named for, stared at the sea from a beach wheelchair on the water's edge as the turtle disappeared.
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Tortoise named Hornswaggle stolen from Portland yard
By Herp News
A Portland woman is searching for her tortoise named Hornswaggle that she says was stolen from a pen in her front yard.
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Turtle genome analysis sheds light on turtle ancestry and shell evolution
By Herp News
From which ancestors have turtles evolved? How did they get their shell? New data provides evidence that turtles are not primitive reptiles but belong to a sister group of birds and crocodiles. The work also sheds light on the evolution of the turtle’s intriguing morphology and reveals that the turtle’s shell evolved by recruiting genetic information encoding for the limbs.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Turtle genome analysis sheds light on turtle ancestry and shell evolution
By Herp News
From which ancestors have turtles evolved? How did they get their shell? New data provides evidence that turtles are not primitive reptiles but belong to a sister group of birds and crocodiles. The work also sheds light on the evolution of the turtle’s intriguing morphology and reveals that the turtle’s shell evolved by recruiting genetic information encoding for the limbs.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Turtle genome analysis sheds light on the development and evolution of turtle-specific body plan
By Herp News
( BGI Shenzhen ) The genome sequences of the soft-shell turtle and green sea turtle offer new clues to the development and evolution of turtle-specific body plan.
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Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Reptile amnesty event held on Long Island
By Herp News
Saturday, anyone with an illegal reptile or amphibian had a chance to surrender it to authorities on Long Island without being punished.
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Silas waves goodbye: Cancer patient, 4, see namesake turtle released
By Herp News
And hundreds who gathered for the release after the Tybee Turtle Trot watched both Silases with a mix of joy and sorrow. Silas Edenfield, 4, is in hospice care at his Lyons home for incurable liver cancer.
…read more
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Turtle walks to begin in Fort Lauderdale
By Herp News
There are no guarantees, but there's a chance you can watch a 300-pound loggerhead turtle lay eggs this summer during guided turtle walks in Fort Lauderdale. The Museum of Discovery and Science will lead the walks in June and July, peak period for the huge reptiles to emerge from the ocean, dig holes in the sand with their flippers and lay 100 or so eggs.
…read more
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Charlotte ceramicist Paula Smith enters giant turtle in Hilton Head Island competition
By Herp News
Charlotte ceramicist Paula Smith waits to hear the fate of her mosaic turtle.
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Charlotte ceramicist Paula Smith enters giant turtle in Hilton Head Island competition
By Herp News
Charlotte ceramicist Paula Smith waits to hear the fate of her mosaic turtle.
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Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Tortoise stolen from Blackburn pet shop
By Herp News
A TORTOISE has been stolen from a town centre pet shop.
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Reptile Rescuer Needs Building to Store Animals
By Herp News
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – The clock is ticking for the owner of Reptile Rescue who needs to find a place to house 450 animals.
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Reptile Breeders Show to Feature Thousands of Reptiles, Amphibians and Spiders
By Herp News
LODI – Thousands of reptiles, amphibians and spiders will be featured at the Reptile Breeders Show in Lodi on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers want people to see the creatures in a different light. Show promoter Dr. Roy Smith said, “People …
…read more
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Friday reptile news round-up: The ophiophobia edition
The news has been full of stories about snakes turning up where they don’t belong, probably due to warming temperatures as a somewhat late and feeble spring finally takes hold.
In Mississippi, county employees are freaking out over harmless little brown snakes “invading” the local courthouse basement file room. Read more…
More than 100 gartner snakes have been found in a Canadian hospital. Read more…
Connecticut wildlife agencies have some advice for people who are fearful of snakes. “Snakes are probably some of the most misunderstood animals,” said Laura Saucier, a wildlife technician with the DEEP Wildlife Division. “There is no need to fear or hate these reptiles. If you leave snakes alone, they will leave you alone.” Read more…
We couldn’t have said it better.
Have a great weekend, everyone! …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Everglades Reds
Most hobbyists have heard about Okeetee and Miami Corn Snakes, Pantherophis guttatus guttatus, but in Florida there are a few other locales that are home to rather distinctive corn snakes.
Like “Okeetee,” actually an area much greater than just the hunt club from which the name was taken, and Miami (again a larger area), Palm Beach and the Everglades are homes to corn snakes that, although somewhat variable, are often identifiable by appearance to locale.
Let’s take a look at the Everglades phase, a corn snake that is often found right in mangrove habitat at the southernmost tip of the Florida mainland.
Usually only 2 ½ to 3 feet in length, the dorsum bears bright red saddles that are heavily outlined in black and separated by a pretty beige ground color. The sides, predominantly yellow-buff to beige, bear small black spots that may or may not have a red center. The belly is typically “corn snake checkered” but often has a hazy appearance.
Although not uncommon, this is a corn snake phase that is rather seldom seen. But if you’re all the way down in Miami-Dade County looking for the coveted maroon on pearl gray corns there, you might as well continue southward to Monroe County and find yourself a pretty Everglades phase.
More photos under the jump…
Continue reading “Everglades Reds” …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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TVs-‘Boycie-launches-the-new-RNLI-Lizard-Tamar-lifeboat-appeal
By Herp News
Byline: TV’s ‘Boycie’ launches the new RNLI Lizard Tamar lifeboat appeal Page Content: The birthday surprise of a lifetime for TV star John Challis, Boycie from the hit series Only Fools and Horses , turned into a huge boost for the RNLI appeal to help fund the next generation of lifeboat to be based at The Lizard. Boycie, overwhelmed at his VIP welcome by volunteers at the remote lifeboat …
…read more
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£300-for-The-Lizard-Tamar-Lifeboat-Appeal
By Herp News
Byline: £300 for The Lizard Tamar Lifeboat Appeal Page Content: Not missing a chance to boost the funds of The Lizard Tamar Lifeboat fundraising appeal earlier today – two prominent Lizard Lifeboat personnel – Station Mechanic Dan Atkinson and Lifeboat Operations Manager Ned Nuzum grasped a very generous donation of £300 from South West News Service. Following their unusual request to use Ned's …
…read more
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Saturday Is Reptile And Amphibian Amnesty Day On Long Island
By Herp News
It might have been cute when you first got it, but now that snake, lizard, or alligator may be a little to much to handle. If that's your situation, Saturday is the day for your day.
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Rhinos now extinct in Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park
By Herp News
Poachers have likely killed off the last rhinos in Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park, according to a park official.
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Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Emergency: large number of elephants being poached in the Central African Republic (warning: graphic image)
By Herp News
WWF and the Wildlife Conversation Society (WCS) are issuing an immediate call for action as they report that poachers are killing sizable numbers of forest elephants near the Dzanga-Sangha protected areas in the Central African Republic (CAR). The two large conservation groups have evacuated their staff from the area after a government coup, but local rangers are still trying to determine the scale of the killing while defending remaining elephants. In total the conservation groups believe the parks are home to over 3,000 elephants.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Working to save the mystery antelope that’s little bigger than a pet cat (photos)
By Herp News
Little is known about the silver dik-dik (Madoqua piacentinii) population that roams the dense coastal bushlands of eastern Africa, but experts are working to learn more about the mysterious species. Weighing little more than a domestic cat, the small antelopes are found in a long, narrow coastal strip spreading across 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu north to the port town of Hobyo. This coastal strip is known as the Hobyo Grassland and Shrubland eco-region, according to the WWF.
…read more
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Zooming-Zapcats-support-The-Lizard-RNLI-lifeboat-appeal
By Herp News
Byline: Zooming Zapcats support The Lizard RNLI lifeboat appeal Page Content: The Lizard lifeboat station team have given a warm welcome to a single-handed epic adventurer with a difference: speed-loving Neil Bainbridge, who lost an arm after an horrific land-based accident some years ago, is on a mission to pilot his tiny powerboat right round the UK mainland. Neil’s craft is a four-metre-long …
…read more
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Turtle shell withstands 15 minute attack as alligator fails to crack its shell
By Herp News
The turtle survived a 15 minute attack by the alligator in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, after the large reptile gave up when it could not crack its shell.
…read more
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Planning-permission-granted-for-new-RNLI-lifeboat-station-at-The-Lizard
By Herp News
Byline: Planning permission granted for new RNLI lifeboat station at The Lizard Page Content: Cornwall planners have given the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) the go ahead for a replacement lifeboat station at Kilcobben Cove on the Lizard. The charity needs the purpose built facility to house a new Tamar class all-weather lifeboat and to ensure its life saving role can continue in the …
…read more
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RNLI-Lifeguard-recruits-visit-The-Lizard-Lifeboat-station
By Herp News
Byline: RNLI Lifeguard recruits visit The Lizard Lifeboat station Page Content: Included in their busy induction programme to becoming RNLI Lifeguards, patrolling our local beaches for the busy summer season, these new recruits made a familiarisation visit to The Lizard Lifeboat Station earlier this week. Station Coxswain Phil Burgess gave the enthusiastic bunch a very interesting talk about the …
…read more
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The-Lizard-Lifeboat-launches-to-the-rescue-of-36-yacht
By Herp News
Byline: The Lizard Lifeboat launches to the rescue of 36' yacht Page Content: Following a total machinery failure and the prospect of having no navigation lights as darkness approached, the crew of the 36ft Bavaria Yacht 'Reflection' were pleased to receive a tow to the safety of Falmouth from The Lizard Lifeboat last night. A launch request from Falmouth Coastguard soon turned into a hasty dash …
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Robotic baby turtles can teach humans a thing or two
Robots modeled on baby sea turtles may reveal secrets about evolution
From the LA Times:
To better understand how the sea turtles’ flippers work on land, researchers at Daniel Goldman’s CRAB Lab (Complex Rheology and Biomechanics) at Georgia Tech studied the movements of just-hatched sea turtles on the beach of Jekyll Island, a coastal island of Georgia.
The researchers noticed that the sea turtles were able to maintain the same speed on both sandy and firmer terrain, by bending their wrists on sandy ground and keeping their wrists rigid when running on hard ground.
In order to study their movements more closely without bringing baby sea turtles into the lab, one of Goldman’s students built FlipperBot, a robot model of a baby sea turtle that has the ability to bend its wooden flipper wrist or keep it rigid.
After putting FlipperBot through a number of tests, the scientists found that Mother Nature, and the baby sea turtles, have got it right. The robot was able to traverse a manufactured poppy seed terrain more quickly when it was allowed to bend its wrist. They also found that the robot, as well as the baby sea turtles, slowed down when they encountered previously disturbed poppy seeds or sand.
So, why does this matter? Well, the research can help engineers design robots that can successfully traverse many types of terrain. It might also help turtle conservationists understand what conditions can slow down baby turtles during that all-important first run, and finally, it may even help answer some evolutionary questions.
Read the full story and watch video of the turtle robot here.
Photo: Nicole Mazouchova / Georgia Tech …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Monitor lizard found wandering El Mirage streets
By Herp News
A bystander saw the lizard in the road near 127th Avenue and Larkspur Road in El Mirage and was able to capture it in a large plastic container.
…read more
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Bizarre, little-known carnivore sold as illegal pet in Indonesian markets (photo)
By Herp News
Few people have ever heard of the Javan ferret-badger, but that hasn’t stopped this animal—little-known even to scientists—from being sold in open markets in Jakarta according to a new paper in Small Carnivore Conservation. The Javan ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis) is one of five species in the ferret-badger family, which are smaller than proper badgers with long bushy tails and elongated faces; all five species are found in Asia.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Bizarre, little-known carnivore sold as illegal pet in Indonesian markets (photo)
By Herp News
Few people have ever heard of the Javan ferret-badger, but that hasn’t stopped this animal—little-known even to scientists—from being sold in open markets in Jakarta according to a new paper in Small Carnivore Conservation. The Javan ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis) is one of five species in the ferret-badger family, which are smaller than proper badgers with long bushy tails and elongated faces; all five species are found in Asia.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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Turtle becomes 'biobot' with scheme that controls voluntary behavior
By Herp News
Turtles, like most critters, instinctively avoid obstacles. Researchers have tapped into this instinct to steer a turtle without sticking probes into its brain or muscles, an achievement that could lead to a world crawling with animals doing the bidding of humans.The feat is achieved by attaching a half cylinder to the turtle's shell that is remotely controlled to turn one way or another. Part …
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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China ‘looting’ Africa of its fish
By Herp News
Just 9% of the millions of tonnes of fish caught by China’s giant fishing fleet in African and other international waters is officially reported to the UN, say researchers using a new way to estimate the size and value of catches. Fisheries experts have long considered that the catches reported by China to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) are low but the scale of the possible deception shocked the authors.
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Turtle Journal team coming to First Congregational in Wareham
By Herp News
Don Lewis, aka the “Turtle Guy,” and Sue Wieber Nourse, will transform Wareham’s First Congregational Church at 11 Gibbs Ave. into the storm-tossed Atlantic coastline through the magic of digital media Saturday, May 11.
…read more
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Turtle population threatened, rehab centre has high success
By Herp News
INCREASED marine traffic in Gladstone Harbour could be killing its turtle population, according to Townsville’s Sea Turtle Foundation.
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New frog species named after Freddie Mercury
Say hello to Froggie Mercury! A newly discovered species of frog in India’s biodiversity hot-spot, the Western Ghats, has been named after the late Freddie Mercury: Mercurana myristicapalustris.
From TheHindu.com, an account of the discovery of this and one other new species of frog:
The… genus has been christened ‘Mercurana’ to commemorate Freddie Mercury, late iconic lead singer of the British rock band Queen. Mercury (his pen name) was of Indian Parsi origin and had spent major part of his childhood in India in Panchagni, located in the northern part of the mountain range, where the frog now bearing his name has been discovered.
While the ‘Beddomixalus bijui’ was found in the swamp forests of the Anamalai and high ranges of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, ‘Mercurana myristicapalustris,’ is restricted to highly fragmented and threatened low land ‘Myristica’ swamp forests in the foothills of the Agastyamalai hills in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
More here! …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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