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 …
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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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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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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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.
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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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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
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By Herp News
Instead of making a robot from scratch, why not start with a turtle? With a simple, non-invasive device attached to its shell, a live red-eared slider could be steered like a remote-controlled toy car a slow one at least, new research shows
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By Herp News
The tree iguana, Liolaemus nigromaculatus, was the second species of the genus Liolaemus to be described and the nominal species of the group nigromaculatus. However, since its description, no scientific study further clarified the identity of this engaging species or its type locality. A recent study by Chilean biologists clarifies the mysteries around this tree iguana, characterizing the species and its dwelling areas.
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By Herp News
Byline: RNLI respond to fishing boat stranded powerless 17 miles south of The Lizard Page Content: The Lizard Lifeboat launched this evening Wednesday 20 May) at 7.13pm to the aid of the Fowey registered fishing vessel Red Vixen . In a position 17 nautical miles south of Lizard Point, reporting a power failure. The Lizard RNLI lifeboat David Robinson under the command of Second Coxswain David …
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By Herp News
Gator attacks 6-year-old: Joey Welch survived a gator attack with only minor injuries last week. The boy's father and bystanders fought the alligator to release the 6-year-old during the attack.
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By Herp News
Byline: Two calls keep The Lizard RNLI busy over bank holiday weekend Page Content: It was a busy bank holiday Sunday for The Lizard lifeboat crew with two emergencies in the space of one afternoon. The first call was to a fishing vessel that had developed a leak. After assisting the people onboard to get the problem under control, the lifeboat was then diverted to a dive boat where medical …
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By Herp News
You can’t mistake an Asian tapir for anything else: for one thing, it’s the only tapir on the continent; for another, it’s distinct black-and-white blocky markings distinguishes it from any other tapir (or large mammal) on Earth. But still little is known about the Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus), including the number surviving. However, researchers in Malaysia are working to change that: a new study for the first time estimates population density for the neglected megafauna, while another predicts where populations may still be hiding in peninsular Malaysia, including selectively-logged areas.
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By Herp News
Instead of making a robot from scratch, why not start with a turtle? With a simple, non-invasive device attached to its shell, a live red-eared slider could be steered like a remote-controlled toy car — a slow one at least, new research shows.
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By Herp News
Rhino poachers have killed 232 rhinos during 2013 so far in South Africa, reports Annamiticus, which averages out to 2.1 a day. The country has become a flashpoint for rhino poaching as it holds more rhinos than any other country on Earth. Rhinos are being slaughter for their horns, which are believed to be a curative in Chinese traditional medicine, although there is no evidence this is so.
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By Herp News
Rhino poachers have killed 232 rhinos during 2013 so far in South Africa, reports Annamiticus, which averages out to 2.1 a day. The country has become a flashpoint for rhino poaching as it holds more rhinos than any other country on Earth. Rhinos are being slaughter for their horns, which are believed to be a curative in Chinese traditional medicine, although there is no evidence this is so.
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It’s a plain fact that a lot of people don’t like snakes, even if those of us here don’t understand why not. And for some reason, a lot of snake-haters find their way to the kingsnake.com Facebook page, where they feel a need to inform us that they don’t like our animals. So a story like this one is both welcome and a little surprising.
From WFLA.com in Tampa, Florida:
A five foot boa constrictor was found crawling around a Super Shuttle Airport van at Tampa International Airport on Sunday afternoon.
Lt. Natalie Brown with Tampa Fire Rescue volunteered to catch the snake after hearing the call go out over the Airport Police radio. Lt. Brown went to the cell phone lot at TIA and found the snake outside of the shuttle. She captured the snake with a pillow case borrowed from a co-worker’s bed.
“I do not like snakes,” said Brown, “I am just glad that the snake is safe. It was dangerous, the snake was in the parking lot and could have been run over.”
“It is a beautiful snake,” said Brown who believes it could be somebody’s pet.
Thanks, Lt. Brown, for putting aside your own aversion to snakes and doing the right thing, and not just hacking the snake to death as so often happens in similar circumstances!
And herpers, why not head over to the Tampa Fire Rescue Facebook page and let them know we appreciate her compassion?
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Read more here: King Snake
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By Herp News
The misty mountains of the Western Ghats seem to unravel new secrets the more you explore it. Researchers have discovered two new frog genera, possibly restricted to rare and threatened freshwater swamps in the southern Western Ghats of India. The discoveries, described in the open-access journal Zootaxa, prove once again the importance of the mountain range as a biodiversity hotspot.
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By Herp News
Richard Crossley, Jerry Liguori, and Brian Sullivan have produced a unique and much needed bird book in The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors. The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors is a book you study at home so you can easily recognize North American raptors.
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By Herp News
Richard Crossley, Jerry Liguori, and Brian Sullivan have produced a unique and much needed bird book in The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors. The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors is a book you study at home so you can easily recognize North American raptors.
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By Herp News
There's probably no easier way to add a little luxe to your look than with an exotic finish. Of course, if you're looking for something a little more subtle than the snake- and reptile-embossed clothes we saw coming down the Spring '13 runways at Valentino, Gucci , and Proenza Schouler , we're showing you an easy way to test-drive the trend with five standout accessories. From a statement-making …
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By Herp News
THE turtle conservation centre in Penang has scored a first. The centre in Pantai Kerachut on the northwestern tip of the island has hatched its first batch of Olive Ridley turtle eggs for the first time since it was established 23 years ago.
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By Herp News
A TURTLE native to the USA has been found living in the River Foss in York.
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By Herp News
THE turtle conservation centre in Penang has scored a first. The centre in Pantai Kerachut on the northwestern tip of the island has hatched its first batch of Olive Ridley turtle eggs for the first time since it was established 23 years ago.
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By Herp News
GEORGE TOWN: The 23-year-old turtle conservation centre in Penang has scored a first, hatching its first batch of Olive Ridley turtle eggs.
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By Herp News
LONG BEACH, Calif., April 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Rolex 24 at Daytona and Sebring 12 Hour class winner Dion von Moltke has secured a season long drive with the California-based Flying Lizard Motorsports …
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Fishermen in Pakistan spotted an animal almost never seen anymore: A leatherback turtle.
From The International Herald Tribune:
On Tuesday, a group of fishermen operating a monofilament gillnet caught a large leatherback turtle at Gwadar near Surbandar village. Since the turtle was stuck inside their net, the fishermen brought the turtle to the beach, after which the World Wildlife Fund – Pakistan (WWF-P) helped them rescue it and release it back into the sea.
According to WWF-P technical adviser on marine fisheries Muhammad Moazzam Khan, leatherback turtles are very rarely found in the coastal areas of Pakistan. They have been spotted four or five times before but they were all dead.
“It is our luck that leatherback turtles exist in our sea as these are signs of the existence of life in natural position,” Khan said.
WWF-P has trained the fishermen, who venture out into the sea, to make sure they don’t harm the wildlife that is not of interest to them, such as turtles and whales. “We are happy that our fishermen now have a sense of the value of marine life.” The young fishermen had no recollection of leatherback turtles, but the older ones remember seeing them.
Read the rest of the story here.
Photo: WWF-Pakistan …read more
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By Herp News
Title: Could Turtle Gene Findings Aid Human Health? Category: Health News Created: 4/17/2013 6:36:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 4/18/2013 12:00:00 AM
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By Herp News
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., the adviser of NDP, NTG, TPZ, TTP, TYG, TYN and TYY announced today the release of first quarter 2013 reports for each of these funds. The reports are available online at www.tortoiseadvisors.com.
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We had some pretty bad floods here, and finallyits spring(worm season!). My little three toed boxie, Mack,just adores worms, but I never seem to dig in the right spot. So when I came home today I saw 8 small worms in the driveway. So, I set out to the ‘lake’ that just formed at the end of our street. All along the curd, many, MANY worms lay in the water. I grabbed a stick and started moving them onto the street. I used the stick and scooped and got at least 1-3 worms on my stick each scoop! I collected about 30 worms from the curb! We continued on to look at the park and other streets. By the end of the 2 trips I made I had at least 8 small snake sized worms! Some of the worms were at least 7 inches long and pretty darn thick!
My theory is that if all the large worms go in with my little boxie, they will revolt. ![[:D]](http://i1.wp.com/www.turtletimes.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile_big.gif?w=560){kind=icon}
For now, they are all in a bucket with some dirt.I’m going to dump them in my turtles new tank outside.
The new tank looks great! It is 20” by 40” and about 15” high. It is made of plywood and has stilts to keep it off the ground. With holes on the bottom for drainage. For a 4” turtle, it should be pretty good!
It was pretty nice out last weekend, so I brought Mack outside to walk supervised in the yard. My dog, Rowdy, got to say hello. Rowdy seemed to be really curious in Mack, and Mack didn’t really like Rowdy. I don’t really mind as long as my dog doesn’t hurt Mack, which he doesn’t. I sat down with him after having to bring him back onto the grass multiple times. I began to rub his shell, and I think he might have liked it. By then I was already surprised that Mack hadn’t run off to explore the yard. Then he turned aroundtoward my leg and, I guess, tried to burrow under my leg. I’m pretty sure that has nothing to do with turtle love, but some how It made me feel like Mack likes me. 
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Read more here: Turtle Times
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By Herp News
Earlier this month, officials took down a fence allowing the first herd of European bison (Bison bonasus) to enter the forests freely in Germany in over 300 years, reports Wildlife Extra. The small herd, consisting of just eight animals (one male, five females and two calves) will now be allowed to roam unhindered in the Rothaar Mountains as their ancestors did long ago.
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By Herp News
Earlier this month, officials took down a fence allowing the first herd of European bison (Bison bonasus) to enter the forests freely in Germany in over 300 years, reports Wildlife Extra. The small herd, consisting of just eight animals (one male, five females and two calves) will now be allowed to roam unhindered in the Rothaar Mountains as their ancestors did long ago.
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Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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By Herp News
After three months, officials still don’t know for certain what killed at least 14 Bornean elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis) in the Malaysian state of Sabah. However tests do indicate that the herd perished from a “caustic intoxicant,” possibly ingested accidentally or just as easily intentionally poisoned. A distinct subspecies, Bornean elephants are the world’s smallest with a population that has fallen to around 2,000 on the island.
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ExxonMobil is reporting that more than 200 animals, including 125 snakes, were found dead at the site of the Mayflower oil spill, died while being transported, or were euthanized at the clean-up facility.
From THV11.com:
David Eglinton, with ExxonMobil, said 238 animals were captured and 62 were declared dead on arrival, which means they were either found dead or died in transport. Of the 238 captured, 14 died and 64 were released, bringing the death total to 76. One duck, three turtles, and 125 snakes were euthanized, bringing the final total to 205 wildlife deaths.
Exxon said the Unified Command and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission provided for the euthanasia in circumstances where the animals were critically injured or posed a risk to the safety of clean-up personnel.
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By Herp News
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved revisions to its gopher tortoise permitting guidelines April 18 at its meeting near Tallahassee.
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By Herp News
Koos Hermanus would rather not give names to the lions he breeds. So here, behind a 2.4-meter high electric fence, is 1R, a three-and-a-half-year-old male, who consumes 5kg of meat a day and weighs almost 200kg. It will only leave its enclosure once it has been “booked”‘ by a hunter, most of whom are from the United States. At that point the big cat will be set loose in the wild for the first time in its life, 96 hours before the hunt begins. It usually takes about four days to track down the prey, with the trophy hunter following its trail on foot, accompanied by big-game professionals including Hermanus. He currently has 14 lions at his property near Groot Marico, about two and a half hours by road west of Johannesburg.
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