Search found 269 matches
- November 1st, 2014, 6:24 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Sometimes it pays to stop and watch a Uta.
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3495
Re: Sometimes it pays to stop and watch a Uta.
Poor Uta, but that is a great observation!
- September 6th, 2014, 10:07 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Why are Herps Awesome?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 14417
Re: Why are Herps Awesome?
Wonderful thread idea. Love the points already made, and especially Owen's metamorphosis photos. Metamorphosis is one of the things I find most fascinating about herps. I'm teaching herpetology this semester, and it is one of my favorite classes to teach. Below is a video I showed my students last w...
- August 31st, 2014, 3:09 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Observation of "Basking" Behavior in Adult N. viridescens
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4256
Re: Observation of "Basking" Behavior in Adult N. viridescen
Very neat observation and photos, thanks for posting.
It certainly could be a strategy to fight off fungal or bacterial infections. Here's an interesting paper from Cori Richards on that topic:
behavioral thermoregulation and disease
It certainly could be a strategy to fight off fungal or bacterial infections. Here's an interesting paper from Cori Richards on that topic:
behavioral thermoregulation and disease
- August 25th, 2014, 3:51 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: interesting field observation
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3556
Re: interesting field observation
Hi salamanderhunter,
You do need to sign up for flickr to join and add photos. However, you should be able to view nearly all the photos and videos without joining flickr.
Hope you join up!
Mike
You do need to sign up for flickr to join and add photos. However, you should be able to view nearly all the photos and videos without joining flickr.
Hope you join up!
Mike
- August 23rd, 2014, 9:38 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: interesting field observation
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3556
Re: interesting field observation
That is a really fantastic observation! As a kid I used to watch black rats in PA crawling around porch rafters, but never saw one trying to catch prey. Would love to see that. I moderate a flickr group dedicated to Snakes eating in nature . There are now over 1,000 images of various snakes catching...
- June 30th, 2014, 3:45 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Research in Illinois
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2360
Re: Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Research in Illinois
Chad, this is great that you are helping out the research. It sounds like you will be ending the funding drive soon. Since people might find this thread and want to provide more funds for Dr. Phillips' snake work in the future, they can donate directly to the INHS here: http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/...
- May 31st, 2014, 11:02 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2893
Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
I spent last week going through the southern Appalachians, and while I don't have long-term data on the salamanders there, I did notice finding Plethodons was very hit and miss. In some areas, I could find salamanders under every third log, and in others I could flip for hours and not come up with ...
- May 31st, 2014, 10:50 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Rough Green capturing a spider...link to my youtube video.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2559
Re: Rough Green capturing a spider...link to my youtube vide
Excellent! I have always wanted to see one of these eating a spider in the wild.
- May 31st, 2014, 10:48 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Herper and a fan of Heavy Metal Music? Check it....
- Replies: 39
- Views: 10049
Re: Herper and a fan of Heavy Metal Music? Check it....
Fascinating to see a cassette tape - takes me back to the 80s and 90s. Is there a reason to make a demo on a cassette now rather than cd? Scott- Just listened to the web-isode. Loved it- I love how it was set up- interview, tunes, and information about the bands- flawless. You may find the cover of ...
- May 31st, 2014, 10:46 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: goodbye carl
- Replies: 38
- Views: 16750
Re: goodbye carl
What terrible news. I did not know him personally, but greatly enjoyed his posts and he seemed like a wonderful person. Condolences to his friends and family.
- May 26th, 2014, 3:33 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2893
Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
Hi Justin, Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi Kyle, Thanks for the information, that's really interesting. I hadn't known macrodactylum would do that. Do you have any photos of wood frogs from Alberta? I'd be interested in seeing them.
Hi Kyle, Thanks for the information, that's really interesting. I hadn't known macrodactylum would do that. Do you have any photos of wood frogs from Alberta? I'd be interested in seeing them.
- May 19th, 2014, 7:02 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Newt Leg Regeneration
- Replies: 6
- Views: 16409
Re: Newt Leg Regeneration
very cool!
- May 19th, 2014, 7:01 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2893
Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
Hi Carl and beemaster, thanks for sharing your observations. And Carl, I would love to have wood frogs and toads in my yard! Hi Kyle, I was also confused by the comment that Andy mentioned. Are you referring to adult paedomorphic tiger salamanders in Alberta? The site we are monitoring consists of a...
- May 18th, 2014, 6:49 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2893
Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
Hi Andy and Kyle, Thanks for the info, glad to hear your populations are going strong! I'm not sure we would have noticed the dip in numbers of individuals if we hadn't been trapping adults. But from the numbers of adults captured in traps (even without the CMR data), there was a clear dip in our po...
- May 17th, 2014, 12:14 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2893
How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
Hi Folks, I would be curious to hear about your impressions of adult Ambystoma numbers at breeding sites this year, especially if you've been following populations for multiple years. I have been estimating population size in a group of smallmouth + hybrid salamanders in Northeast Ohio since 2011. T...
- May 17th, 2014, 12:03 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Some good southeastern stuff from last fall up until now
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4525
Re: Some good southeastern stuff from last fall up until now
Great photos! The cirri on that Eurycea are really fantastic. Also really like that crazy vocal sac on the oak toad.
- May 12th, 2014, 4:50 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Woodhouse's Toad eggs and larva
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1896
Re: Woodhouse's Toad eggs and larva
Great close-up shots!
I think the insect with the tadpole may be a hydrophillid beetle larvae. If you have more photos of it, could probably confirm.
I think the insect with the tadpole may be a hydrophillid beetle larvae. If you have more photos of it, could probably confirm.
- April 14th, 2014, 7:29 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Springtime in the Adirondacks
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1771
Re: Springtime in the Adirondacks
That is fantastic! Never seen a snapper on ice like that. Thanks for sharing.
- April 10th, 2014, 5:23 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Flute, Horn, Treefrog
- Replies: 2
- Views: 993
Re: Flute, Horn, Treefrog
I don't know, I was thinking Billboard top 100! Royalties rolling in ...
- April 9th, 2014, 6:32 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Flute, Horn, Treefrog
- Replies: 2
- Views: 993
Flute, Horn, Treefrog
I enjoy recording frog calls while out herping, and have posted a number of frog call audio clips and videos out on the web. I had never thought much about the recordings or who would be listening to them, until I recently received an email from Spencer Arias, a music composer in NYC. He wanted to i...
- March 30th, 2014, 5:37 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: When will Midwestern Salamanders move
- Replies: 40
- Views: 15972
Re: When will Midwestern Salamanders move
Seems like Cuyahoga County is more popular than I thought! Bummer indeed, Trey, but there will be more days! mfb- Are there any pure smallmouths in the county? I've seen one in central Ohio years ago but finding one close to home would be far more convenient. I typically see hybrids, such as this f...
- March 29th, 2014, 1:29 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: When will Midwestern Salamanders move
- Replies: 40
- Views: 15972
Re: When will Midwestern Salamanders move
small numbers of Ambystoma texanum / hybrids plus a few eggs in some ponds in Cuyahoga county. looks like the big migration has not yet happened at these ponds.
- November 11th, 2013, 7:28 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: The Ambystoma Appreciation Thread
- Replies: 36
- Views: 14047
Re: The Ambystoma Appreciation Thread
Male tiger salamander and wood frogs:
Spotted salamander at breeding site:
Spotted salamander at breeding site:
- August 25th, 2013, 6:13 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: California newt life history and population status
- Replies: 23
- Views: 10359
Re: California newt life history and population status
Sam, Thanks for the extra info, I'll have to visit So Cal for some newting sometime. Fascinating the differences between North and South. One of the other things about Taricha that have fascinated me is their impressive ability to move. Migrating kilometers to a particular site to breed, then migrat...
- August 21st, 2013, 3:48 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: California newt life history and population status
- Replies: 23
- Views: 10359
Re: California newt life history and population status
Sam, this is a great post, thanks for putting it together! I spent a lot of time at ponds and creeks in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties from 2000-2010 mostly working on pacific chorus frogs, but you can't miss the newts too. One thing I have wondered was how much newt populations were boosted by the ...
- August 17th, 2013, 4:50 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4242
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Great stuff! That first redback is pretty wild.
- August 17th, 2013, 4:47 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Peruvian Amazonia, or is that Amazonian Peru?
- Replies: 63
- Views: 109664
Re: Peruvian Amazonia, or is that Amazonian Peru?
What an amazing trip! Thanks for posting all the great photos.
- June 29th, 2013, 11:00 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Oman, June 2013
- Replies: 20
- Views: 9745
Re: Oman, June 2013
This is an amazing and inspiring post. I'd love to visit the middle east sometime. Do you speak any Arabic?
Those herps are great - the white toes on the gecko are especially fascinating!
Mike
Those herps are great - the white toes on the gecko are especially fascinating!
Mike
- June 29th, 2013, 10:49 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Cool sighting while fishing
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1492
Re: Cool sighting while fishing
Excellent sighting! I am often amazed by how snakes eating prey in the wild seem to ignore people watching them.
- May 27th, 2013, 9:59 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Gilled newt
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1633
Re: Gilled newt
Hi John, Neat observation. They can be regularly found in the permanent bodies of water on the ESGR. Here are a couple photos of one. Mike Gilled Newt in SE Michigan http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/salamander/Notophthalmus_viridescens_Sept07bSIG.jpg http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/salamander/Not...
- May 26th, 2013, 4:30 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: New Flickr
- Replies: 70
- Views: 34672
Re: New Flickr
I've long been a proponent of flickr, but I am very frustrated with the changes. I've had a great time meeting people and learning natural history through flickr. I have not yet decided if I'll delete my account.
- April 27th, 2013, 5:31 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Photo piracy
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3480
Re: Photo piracy
Alex (the author of the scientific American article) also has a great entomology/natural history/photography blog that I think many here would enjoy: http://myrmecos.net/ I understand that many people are happy to make their photos available to anyone for free. But just because others share their ph...
- April 27th, 2013, 5:18 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Ophiophagus dessertii
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2332
Re: Ophiophagus dessertii
Fantastic!
- February 23rd, 2013, 9:09 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Anoles - enough said
- Replies: 34
- Views: 23650
Re: Anoles - enough said
That is a really enjoyable post! Seeing those anoles was a real treat. You are probably familiar with Anole Annals ? I would be interested in getting your opinion on the identity of an anole I saw in the Yucatan (near Tulum) a few years ago. Unfortunately, the photo quality is pretty poor. I've gott...
- January 3rd, 2013, 6:17 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Snakes on the hunt- a question.
- Replies: 31
- Views: 6283
Re: Snakes on the hunt- a question.
salamanderhunter - that is an interesting story about the Storeria. I wonder why they weren't scared by your approach? I've been able to closely approach a number of snakes in the middle of a meal, but when they are hunting, I've found them to be much more wary. More photos and info that you may fin...
- January 1st, 2013, 12:35 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Snakes on the hunt- a question.
- Replies: 31
- Views: 6283
Re: Snakes on the hunt- a question.
Fantastic idea for a thread! I haven't seen vipers that were clearly on the hunt. However, I was sitting by a pond around noon one day in late April, and saw a big northern pacific rattlesnake cruise out of the chapparal and down to the edge of the pond, going rectilinear all the way. I believe it w...
- January 1st, 2013, 11:13 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: southern Ohio, 2012
- Replies: 15
- Views: 6513
Re: southern Ohio, 2012
Great year illustrated with great photos! I especially like all your close-up detailed photos of the salamander larvae. They are often overlooked, but some of the patterns of lines and spots on their heads and bodies is truly fantastic. Good luck in 2013!
- December 30th, 2012, 11:53 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 5 Footed Salamander! - and other pics
- Replies: 14
- Views: 4526
Re: 5 Footed Salamander! - and other pics
Neat observation on the deformity! Has anyone seen a deformity like the photo below? It shows a spike-like deformity coming out of the side of the tail of an adult california newt observed during the breeding season. http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/salamander/Taricha_torosa_tail_deformity_2010_02_...
- September 15th, 2012, 11:59 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Just a snake in a log
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3475
Re: Just a snake in a log
Looks like your project is pretty exciting! How many snakes have you been able to track? What's the longest distance you've seen them move?
- July 30th, 2012, 6:10 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Giant Water bug Predation
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4116
Re: Giant Water bug Predation
Water bugs eating adult anurans is a topic that has interested me for over a decade. I ran a quick 'web of knowledge' search for "palustris and lethocerus" and did not turn anything up. I checked a couple other searches, and didn't find anything specific on pickerel frogs and giant water b...
- June 24th, 2012, 8:26 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Desmognathus courting(videos)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1365
Re: Desmognathus courting(videos)
What a great series of videos! The arm raising behavior is fascinating. This is probably one of the coolest things I've seen on fieldherpforum. Mike
- June 12th, 2012, 5:00 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Red-spotted Newt Longevity
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1695
Re: Red-spotted Newt Longevity
Petranka's book "Salamanders of the United States and Canada" is an excellent resource for this type of information. It belongs in every herper's library. You can also find a good summary of studies at amphibiaweb: http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Notophthalmus&where...
- June 10th, 2012, 4:53 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Garter Snake eating Toad
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1516
Re: Garter Snake eating Toad
Neat observations! A few weeks ago a group of us spotted a northern water snake chowing down on a toad. Mike
- June 10th, 2012, 4:44 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: All-you-can-eat in Texas
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1808
- June 10th, 2012, 4:43 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Biting off more than one can chew?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3172
Re: Biting off more than one can chew?
That's awesome! Anyone know what comprises the majority of an Eastern Milk's diet in the wild? Are garters thier preferred food item? When I was a kid I caught one and it never ate rodents ( or anything for that matter) so I released it after a while....funny it never occurred to me that they might...
- June 10th, 2012, 4:40 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 150 year old Bufo specimen - a puzzle
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2774
Re: 150 year old Bufo specimen - a puzzle
What a great find! That is incredibly valuable.
Are you thinking of using the specimens in your herpetology class? Have you thought about donating the specimens to a larger museum, possibly in exchange for specimens?
Thanks for sharing it!
Mike
Are you thinking of using the specimens in your herpetology class? Have you thought about donating the specimens to a larger museum, possibly in exchange for specimens?
Thanks for sharing it!
Mike
- May 12th, 2012, 6:15 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Storeria occipitomaculata
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4984
Re: Storeria occipitomaculata
Great idea John, Both Storeria are very under-appreciated snakes. I don't have any photos, but I do have a natural history anecdote. Over the last three summers in Ohio, I've worked in the same field (the mesocosm field John V knows). For the first two summers we frequently saw milk snakes, but rare...
- May 5th, 2012, 10:42 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Alternatives to Conant & Collins Peterson Guide?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2123
Re: Alternatives to Conant & Collins Peterson Guide?
Yes. I prefer the older Conant & Conant. The Latin names aren't up to date, but you can more readily identify the animal and then convert Natrix to Nerodia with something newer. I'm an old guy...... I've got the newest version, but I also pick up old editions for a different reason. I really li...
- May 5th, 2012, 10:34 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis calling side by side
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3878
Re: Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis calling side by si
That is fantastic! I think this is the first recording of heard taken of the frogs calling at the same time and place. It really illustrates the call differences much more clearly than listening to two separate recordings.
- April 6th, 2012, 3:55 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Bullfrog combat!
- Replies: 4
- Views: 625
Re: Bullfrog combat!
That is a very cool interaction to document! The pattern on the frogs is pretty interesting too. Whereabouts did you see them?
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for posting!