Search found 60 matches
- March 20th, 2019, 8:12 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Winter Break Happenings-Eastern US Salamanders
- Replies: 6
- Views: 10321
Re: Winter Break Happenings-Eastern US Salamanders
To clarify, the paper cited above doesn't blame the LIA on the collapse of American populations. It implicates a huge decline in population and subsequent revegetation for the worst effects of a cooling period caused by other factors . I've already seen the paper laughed off because American populat...
- January 4th, 2019, 10:14 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: U.S. field guides
- Replies: 13
- Views: 22645
Re: U.S. field guides
I got the Audubon guide when it was new and reasonably current. It hasn't been updated noticeably in 40 years, and everything in it was small to begin with. It was great when it was new but is now badly dated by scores of species, and inadequate compared to others. I have a few other continental/nat...
- March 11th, 2018, 10:41 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: A Couple 2017 South Central Alaska Highlights
- Replies: 5
- Views: 4627
Re: A Couple 2017 South Central Alaska Highlights
I've heard wood frogs in Inuvik NWT, calling from lakes bordered by pine/spruce forest. Saw them in Fort McPherson, as well. In Ft. McPherson, the treeline follows the Peel River valley, but I only saw them at the pond in town. Never saw or heard them on the tundra itself, and never really explored ...
- May 4th, 2017, 4:50 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Field Guide for New Guinea?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 6869
Re: Field Guide for New Guinea?
New Guinea is so diverse and poorly explored, it will be difficult to get anything useful. I have The Common Frogs of New Guinea, but if you add all the less common species and all the species described since, it would still fall far short of what's there. And that's just the frogs :S
- January 25th, 2017, 2:23 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Louisianna and/or East Texas this weekend; last minute trip
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5359
Re: Louisianna and/or East Texas this weekend; last minute t
You're within about 12 hours drive of about ten different [some undescribed] species of "slimy salamander", so depending on where you've seen them before, you may have at least one more lifer.
- January 16th, 2017, 7:28 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Request for accurate Southern Baja Herp List
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7105
Re: Request for accurate Southern Baja Herp List
Peterson Western edition field guide. Off the top of my head, I doubt it's been updated for several taxonomic splits [Phyllodactylus, Crotalus, Elgaria, Anniella, Gopherus, Hyliola], but I don't think more than one of these is found in any given area anyway.
- October 27th, 2016, 5:23 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Laowa 15mm herp shots
- Replies: 12
- Views: 8437
Re: Laowa 15mm herp shots
While most of the shots are striking, I particularly find many of the snake images to be remarkable. The level of sharp detail makes them seem as if they were painted, without regard to real world depth of focus. That is, If I were to look at an animal with my own eyes, less would be in focus than I...
- October 16th, 2016, 6:45 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Lined Snake. Rarest snake in Minnesota?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 11099
Re: Lined Snake. Rarest snake in Minnesota?
With temperatures of about 22C, we found 4 red-bellies and one prairie skink at the south end, my stepson possibly sighting a lined snake in the grass. At the north end, he claims to have seen several garters , and I found a DOR red-sided garter. Today in Faribault [Rice County], five red-sided gart...
- October 14th, 2016, 4:12 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Lined Snake. Rarest snake in Minnesota?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 11099
Re: Lined Snake. Rarest snake in Minnesota?
This thread is a bit old, but would seem to be the most relevant and up to date on the subject. I'm hoping to take the kids out tomorrow to look for lined snakes - the weather seems particularly nice for it. With regard to massasaugas, there's good evidence that they formerly occurred well up the Ca...
- August 24th, 2016, 7:03 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: "New" California rattlesnakes
- Replies: 15
- Views: 9685
Re: "New" California rattlesnakes
I prefer not to even give this man's name any repeat hits online. He's his own editor, publisher, and reviewer. I think the global consensus on his "publications" is to ignore them for ten years, and when necessary resurrect or describe taxa properly. That way his papers become officially ...
- July 13th, 2016, 10:13 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Snakes in the Chiricahua mountains
- Replies: 17
- Views: 9030
Re: Snakes in the Chiricahua mountains
We saw "14" making a cash run, I think, just north of the wall, south of the Chiricahuas. And someone else walking along the road with lots of clothes on at night, in the mountains. Herpwise, we saw one L.knoblochi in Rucker Canyon, along with many Sceloporus virgatus and S.poinsetti , and...
- July 13th, 2016, 8:19 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Peru - Iquitos, Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5460
Re: Peru - Iquitos, Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve
It's a teiid, I think most likely Kentropyx altamazonica. But I haven't sat down with a regional guide or key to be sure.
- July 7th, 2016, 11:18 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Arizona Sistrurus
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4668
Re: Arizona Sistrurus
Good finds! We were there briefly last May, but didn't have the information I do now, or I think we'd have spent some time searching. I think all we saw in that area was some kangaroo rats, several which I caught for return to a zoo in NC. Most of our time was spent between Douglas and the Chiricahu...
- July 4th, 2016, 9:43 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Dishonesty in government
- Replies: 121
- Views: 40753
Re: Dishonesty in government
"So if anyone can cite such research where incidental collecting by the public has produced negative impact on the overall population of a species, I am always willing to learn." Just mentioned the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) In 1988 I saw 6, 89-4, 90-2, 92-1, I have not seen 1 since...
- July 1st, 2016, 11:51 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: A Couple Pics from Az
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4633
Re: A Couple Pics from Az
I used to think the same thing, but my understanding of evolution, taxonomy, and the definition of a species have changed (about the same time that I came to this thinking, someone else published on the very same topic in Zootaxa). Both logically and by definition, the argument fails. Sexual species...
- June 30th, 2016, 6:01 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: A Couple Pics from Az
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4633
Re: A Couple Pics from Az
You're right. Although Crotalus molossus "molossus " is sister to Crotalus basiliscus , Crotalus ornatus sister to Crotalus totonacus , and Crotalus nigrescens sister to all of these [ C.estebanensis and C.m.oaxacus not analyzed], the shortage of specimens of C.nigrescens [clearly a distin...
- June 30th, 2016, 4:27 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: A Couple Pics from Az
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4633
Re: A Couple Pics from Az
You seem to have rounded up a few of the harder to find/marginal-US species. Good job! I see you caught to revision of Gastrophryne , although you use both names. The black-tail is just plain Crotalus molossus now, with Chihuahuan Desert [more or less] animals being Crotalus ornatus . I wish you luc...
- June 2nd, 2016, 10:24 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: LOTR herps
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2323
Re: LOTR herps
There's already a Smaug. Not less than two off the top of my head: Smaug giganteus [sungazer], and Smaug mossambicus [flame-bellied girdletail]. The genus is a two-fold reference, the second being their presence in JRR Tolkien's homeland.
- April 13th, 2016, 6:59 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: snake river/hells canyon zonata sightings
- Replies: 8
- Views: 5322
Re: snake river/hells canyon zonata sightings
I number of years ago I was leafing through a book at Powell's Books, and came across a mention of Plethodon idahoensis in the Blue Mountains of Oregon. I haven't been able to find that reference again, and only had one small chance to search at the edge of the area. Since Dicamptodon aterrimus and ...
- February 24th, 2016, 8:29 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Short trip to Costa Rica
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2734
Re: Short trip to Costa Rica
Senticolis triaspis, or Pseudelaphe flavirufa?
- December 26th, 2015, 9:45 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Newts...because they're there
- Replies: 11
- Views: 8687
Re: Newts...because they're there
And then there are the genetically distinct rough-skins in the Palouse prairie of Idaho.
- December 12th, 2015, 9:16 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Lizards from Chile, Nov 2015
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7210
Re: Lizards from Chile, Nov 2015
Great images from a rarely-reported part of the world. I have fond memories of the many Chilean lizards, especially Liolaemus tenuis and Callopistes maculatus (I have no end of fondness for these "friendly", pretty, outgoing lizards), from their brief import period 25-30 years ago. Finding...
- October 3rd, 2015, 8:25 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Gray Ratsnake Range Question
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5313
Re: Gray Ratsnake Range Question
You're relying on very dated information, as the colors and patterns vary somewhat within genetic groups, and in parallel between groups. Eastern GA has eastern ratsnakes, Scotophis [or Pantherophis , if you prefer] alleghaniensis , while the west has central ratsnakes, S.spiloides . The dividing li...
- October 2nd, 2015, 11:31 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Fall Amphibians near Portland
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4128
Re: Fall Amphibians near Portland
I found what looked almost certainly to be Aneides in Forest Park, but a close look showed it was probably a large P.dunni , albeit in Aneides habitat and Aneides color. Dicamptodon of both species are abundant around the city, with D.tenebrosus especially abundant in Forest Park. Plethodon dunni is...
- October 2nd, 2015, 8:06 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: One last post from prairie Canada - lots of rattlesnakes
- Replies: 19
- Views: 11047
Re: One last post from prairie Canada - lots of rattlesnakes
Great post and great images, again. I've always had difficulty finding Alberta's prairie species, despite knowing their best localities. The only confirmed [but technically unvouchered] location for racers is basically closed to public access now, although I did search another spot nearby where they...
- July 18th, 2015, 7:15 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Pacific Giant
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2605
Re: Pacific Giant
Pacific giants are incredibly common around the Portland area. They and Dunn's salamanders occupy almost every stream I've searched in the region. The salamander in the OP's post looks like a Cope's giant to me. In the Seattle metro area I've found many Thamnophis ordinoides , and a couple of Lithob...
- June 8th, 2015, 9:11 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: I've seen it, you seen it ... we've all seen...
- Replies: 58
- Views: 30984
Re: I've seen it, you seen it ... we've all seen...
Perhaps it has little or nothing to do directly with rattlesnakes, and maybe the reverse? Many snakes vibrate their tails, causing a buzz among grasses and dead leaves. Resemblance to sympatric rattlers [where they occur] is simply a bonus and secondary advantage, not the primary one. For rattlers, ...
- March 17th, 2015, 11:21 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: March in Oregon
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3085
Re: March in Oregon
I've seen similar scars in snakes which had been trapped in erosion-control netting.
- February 25th, 2015, 9:49 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Honeymoon herping - Thailand and Malaysia 2014
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7195
Re: Honeymoon herping - Thailand and Malaysia 2014
Some very interesting images, especially the flying snake. I just wish someone would photograph Indochinese salamanders once in a while! I recently was able to photograph a captive-bred Subsessor bocourti at a zoo I work with. Apart from being a beautiful animal, it was actually very docile and easy...
- February 19th, 2015, 11:09 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Has anyone studied Northern x Southern ringneck hybrids?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3674
Re: Has anyone studied Northern x Southern ringneck hybrids?
Experimental evidence that oral secretions of northwestern ring-necked snakes ( Diadophis punctatus occidentalis ) are toxic to their prey http://masonlab.science.oregonstate.edu/files/masonlab/112experimentalevidenceRingnecks.pdf Ring-necked snakes ( Diadophis punctatus ) do not possess a true veno...
- February 19th, 2015, 7:42 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Has anyone studied Northern x Southern ringneck hybrids?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3674
Re: Has anyone studied Northern x Southern ringneck hybrids?
Absence of fangs is one of the diagnostic and definitive traits of Diadophis edwardsii . You'll find it commonly mentioned in field guides. When Diadophis phylogeography was studied, I don't recall any evidence of hybridization of D.edwardsii being presented, although that's definitely a possibility...
- February 18th, 2015, 7:07 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: British Columbia & Alberta, Canada
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5368
Re: British Columbia & Alberta, Canada
There are actually two much more recent records of Phrynosoma douglassi which were published, one of which included an illustration and description of the habitat. Larry published a short paper to specifically bring these records to light. Since then, there have been something like 20 reports, one o...
- February 18th, 2015, 7:28 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: British Columbia & Alberta, Canada
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5368
Re: British Columbia & Alberta, Canada
Great post! A few notes of interest: Pacific chorus frogs in BC haven't been studied yet, but I would bet on many interior specimens being Pseudacris sierra , which is known as far east as western Montana. Boreal toads in Alberta seem to be one of several undescribed species in the complex. Since Ca...
- January 24th, 2015, 8:47 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Educational Ethics
- Replies: 54
- Views: 336239
Re: Educational Ethics
Screw 'em. I'm not aware of any such religious practice [which is not to say they're not real], but in a secular classroom, the onus is on the claimant to prove it's their [reasonable] religious practice, and not simply a more local tradition. The latter gets no accommodation. Regardless of what the...
- January 19th, 2015, 7:00 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Anybody in Cheney WA? Bull snake question
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3460
Re: Anybody in Cheney WA? Bull snake question
No P.c.sayi in Washington. That would be P.c.deserticola, the Great Basin gopher.
- January 14th, 2015, 6:53 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: HerpMapper Highlight - Wood Frog
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4270
Re: HerpMapper Highlight - Wood Frog
I've seen, caught, or heard wood frogs in many places in Canada, and recently got a new county in Minnesota. Many are just sight or sound observations as a kid. In addition, there are many vouchered locations in Canada and Alaska which are not part of HerpMapper. I've seen or caught wood frogs in Fo...
- January 8th, 2015, 9:09 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Herping at Mary's Peak
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4140
Re: Herping at Mary's Peak
I'm glad to see some of the black ones. I herped Mary's Peak a few years ago, and found northern R.aff.variegatus, D.tenebrosus (including a large terrestrial adult), A.truei , and normal phase P.dunni , all at a single site. No luck with the dark dunnis, which were previously described as Plethodon...
- November 18th, 2014, 8:10 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19463
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
It may be interesting to note that many of the species already covered are possible or probable composites of cryptic species [ Desmognathus marmoratus, D.ocoee, D.quadramaculatus, D.conanti, Aneides aeneus, Eurycea spp ., etc], as are a number of those yet-to-be-recorded. I have to agree with the o...
- November 7th, 2014, 11:49 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: New Game-Name That Herp...
- Replies: 24
- Views: 7383
Re: New Game-Name That Herp...
But is that first one L.chiricahuensis or L.fisheri? Distinguishing features aren't visible and locality isn't mentioned.
- August 21st, 2014, 9:06 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: A few finds here and there
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2049
Re: A few finds here and there
Uinta toad, Anaxyrus cf. boreas - probably to be described as A.pictus, or a new name allied with this.
Pygmy horned lizard, Phrynosoma douglasi - could be P.hernandesi, as I don't recall the fine details of where their ranges meet.
Western yellow-bellied racer, Coluber mormon.
Pygmy horned lizard, Phrynosoma douglasi - could be P.hernandesi, as I don't recall the fine details of where their ranges meet.
Western yellow-bellied racer, Coluber mormon.
- August 14th, 2014, 10:12 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Center for North American Herpetology
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3425
Re: Center for North American Herpetology
Yes, but it's not the site. The problem is with Java settings. My old XP laptop opens it fine, but my new Win8 laptop does not, and I haven't figured out how to fix the settings. Nor have I made much effort, since I need the older system for other things anyway.
- July 16th, 2014, 12:10 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Help needed, near Mena AR
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1876
Re: Help needed, near Mena AR
I have posted in the Arkansas forums, but I am still hoping for someone to have the opportunity [and success] at locating my phone for me. While I'd like to find it myself, it could be a while until I get a chance to look again. A reward is still offered. I really prefer my Casio over the Blackberry...
- June 3rd, 2014, 6:00 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Help needed, near Mena AR
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1876
Help needed, near Mena AR
We were herping near Mena, Arkansas last Thursday, and apparently I dropped my phone [complete with photos and videos]. We drove more than 50 miles looking for it, in places where either it should have been easy to find nor where I doubted I had it. In retrospect, I now think it's highly likely that...
- May 3rd, 2014, 8:08 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Garter snake eating crabs?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1828
Re: Garter snake eating crabs?
Wandering garters are known to eat crayfish inland, so I would not be surprised.
Re: Den visit and a nice long-toed salamander in BC
That's an unusual pattern, regardless of the population. It's a different species from those in Vancouver, both of which are potentially undescribed. Alberta probably has two species, one of which is this one, and the other will likely become Ambystoma krausei once a revision is undertaken.
- May 3rd, 2014, 7:49 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Let's see your coeur d'alene salamanders
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2730
Re: Let's see your coeur d'alene salamanders
I've found many, in both Idaho and British Columbia. They can be quite abundant and easy to see on wet rock faces adjacent to roads, and are easily seen just after dark. I've also seen many of them active when air temperatures were only 2-3C in the middle of the night in fall. Other places they can ...
- February 20th, 2014, 10:28 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Rosy Boa now Three-lined Boa?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 6268
Re: Rosy Boa now Three-lined Boa?
No. The link already provided is for a paper specifically on Lichanura , and it was published in 2007. In my experience, it can take as long as 20 years for taxonomic changes to trickle down to hobbyists, although that has dropped a bit with pervasion of the internet. The link works for me. There co...
- February 6th, 2014, 12:08 pm
- Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
- Topic: Spilotes and Pseustes
- Replies: 27
- Views: 12389
Re: Spilotes and Pseustes
P.sulphureus is being transferred to Spilotes, which results in all other Pseustes being assigned to Phrynonax.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... ated=false
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... ated=false
- February 6th, 2014, 11:22 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Top 20 photos / subjects of 2013
- Replies: 18
- Views: 7552
Re: Top 20 photos / subjects of 2013
Cool images. The milksnakes would both now be Lampropeltis gentilis . The kingsnakes are Lampropeltis californiae . The caiman lizard is Dracaena guianensis . I think there was probably some kinda typo or bad optical character recognition there. The coastal rosy boa is probably Lichanura orcutti - L...
- February 6th, 2014, 11:16 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Red Hills salamander blog
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2285