CNAH

Actinemys Access
Wednesday, March 28, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 123
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 March 2007

WESTERN POND TURTLES WANTED

A colleague and I have been looking without success for Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) survey protocols. Our survey site is a pond that is roughly 100 yards long and about 75 yards wide at the widest part. We have found diving protocols for turtle surveys in rivers, but were wondering if there were sources of information on turtle survey protocols specifically for ponds and lakes.

We thank everyone in advance for their advice or information concerning this request.

Foung Vang
California State University, Fresno
Graduate Student
fvang@esrp.csustan.edu

Ambystoma Advice Asked
Thursday, March 05, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 163
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 March 2009

AMBYSTOMA ADVICE ASKED

I am a graduate student in Dr. Rick Relyea's lab at the University of Pittsburgh. I will be raising a large number of larval salamanders of the genus Ambystoma this summer, and I wondered if anyone could offer advice on successfully raising them up to metamorphosis. In particular, I am concerned about what size containers to use to house salamanders individually and also what sort of feeding regimens have proven successful. Species specific or general Ambystomatid advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Heather Shaffery
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Biology
101 Clapp Hall
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
602.399.1422 (cell)
412.624.4458 (office)
hms25@pitt.edu

Ambystoma Data Request
Thursday, May 19, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 44
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 May 2005

Ambystoma Data Request

I am looking for information on the relationship between clutch size and body size in the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and am finding little except one reference (Woodward 1982). Does anyone have data they would be willing to share for A. maculatum or any closely related ambystomatid or know of references I might have missed? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can be contacted at:

Nancy E. Karraker
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
350 Illick Hall
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, New York 13210
nekarrak@syr.edu
(315) 470-6754

Aspidoscelis Assistance
Monday, July 31, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 91
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 July 2006

ASPIDOSCELIS ASSISTANCE ASKED

I am a graduate student in the Biology Department at the University of Michigan at Flint. I am studying the origin and natural history of the Six-lined Racerunner population in Michigan for my thesis. I plan to collect blood from this population in order to perform a molecular analysis, but I also need blood samples from other populations throughout the United States. I would appreciate hearing from anyone willing to share blood/tissue samples. Any assistance would be gratefully acknowledged.

Contact

Teresa Carlson
teresay@umflint.edu

C. atrox Released in Kansas
Friday, July 18, 2003: Hays, Kansas - Hays Daily News
DANGEROUS DIAMONDBACKS RELEASED IN KANSAS
by Travis W. Taggart

Five species of venomous snakes are native to Kansas; these are the Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Massasauga (a rattlesnake), Prairie Rattlesnake, and Timber Rattlesnake. Each species occupies its own unique range within the state. However, there many regions of the state where these distributions overlap. In many places in eastern Kansas, up to three of the species listed may be found within close proximity to one another.

Fortunately, the assemblage of native venomous snakes in Kansas is a relatively benign group. Fewer than fifty bites to humans are reported each year in Kansas, and of those individuals bitten, few retain any debilitating effects from the bite, and death resulting from snakebite in Kansas is almost unheard of (only one death in the last half century). This is not to say that venomous snakes should be taken lightly. Live venomous snakes should be left alone and any bite should be examined by qualified medical help as soon as possible.

But Kansas now has a problem. Recently, a truly giant venomous alien serpent has become a more frequent discovery right in the middle of Kansas at Kanopolis State Park in Ellsworth County. Since 1991, no less than eight Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have been collected and removed from the Park. The latest snake was discovered earlier this summer by some hikers in the Horsethief Canyon area of the park, and delivered to the Sternberg Museum by Research Associate Curtis Schmidt through arrangements with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

The discovery of liberated alien venomous snakes into Kansas is not without precedent. Single specimens of released or escaped Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have occasionally turned up in Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Ellis, Lyon, and Sumner counties. A population of Cottonmouths was established for a short time during the mid 1970's in the Verdigris River between Independence and Coffeyville. And a Mojave Rattlesnake was collected from a quarry in Leavenworth County in 1980. The release of non-native wildlife such as the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake into Kansas poses needless threats to both the ecology of the state and to outdoor enthusiasts alike. It is also illegal.

The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake is large. Average specimens are between three and four feet in length with exceptional specimens reaching lengths of seven feet. They are native to the North American southwest and have a wide range that encompasses an area from northern Mexico into west central Arkansas and west into southeast California. Isolated populations also occur in southern Mexico. The specimens discovered at Kanopolis State Park are approximately150 miles north of their natural range.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes are often quick to crawl away when approached, but will immediately coil and aggressively stand their ground should they be threatened. Their relatively large size means they also have proportionately longer fangs, a considerable quantity of venom to inject, and an increased striking distance. These factors contribute to the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake being responsible for more serious snakebites and fatalities than any other North American reptile. In Texas alone, this species is responsible for the majority of the more than 1,400 cases of snakebite reported each year and for most fatalities. A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake from Kanopolis State Park has already left a Kansas victim without the full use of a hand following intensive care after being bitten.

The origin and status of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes at Kanopolis State Park is unknown. Joseph Collins, Adjunct Curator of Herpetology at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Executive Director of The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH), believes that this species is being released at Kanopolis State Park. According to him, the most telling evidence of this illegal release is that these snakes have been discovered consistently, yet only recently (1991 to date), despite intensive searching in the Kanopolis area by biologists since the early 1900s. It is not known how many or how often they are being released or who is releasing them. Fortunately, despite the fact that Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have been turning up regularly at Kanopolis State Park since 1991, there is no evidence that a breeding population has become established. Future monitoring of the area could help address these questions. Tissues taken from the recently discovered snake hold promise for ultimately determining its source locality. DNA extracted from such tissue can be compared to DNA obtained from Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes throughout their range, and can be tested for genetic relatedness or similarity.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have been collected in Oklahoma, reportedly within 15-50 miles of the Kansas border. While, it is possible that natural populations of this species may eventually be discovered along the Kansas/Oklahoma border in Comanche and Barber counties, the lack of such a discovery over the last century indicates that it is not native to Kansas.

Deirochelys DNA Desired
Monday, February 23, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 162
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 February 2009

DEIROCHELYS DNA DESIRED

I am a Masters student at the University of Central Arkansas. Part of my thesis is concerned with conducting a phylogenetic analysis of the subspecies of the Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) and I am in need of tissue samples for DNA sequencing. Collection location is need for the samples as well, preferable to the county level at least. Any help in obtaining tissue from the field or locating existing tissue in collections would be appreciated.

Nathanael Hilzinger
Department of Biology
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, Arkansas 72035
(865) 556-6179
nxh07001@cub.uca.edu

Diadophis Dermis Desired
Tuesday, November 23, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 17
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 November 2004

Diadophis Dermis Desired

Frank Fontanella, a graduate student at The City University of New York, working under Frank Burbrink, is conducting a range-wide phylogeographic study of the Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus. He wishes to obtain tissues and shed skins from this species. Any samples that the herpetological community could provide would be greatly appreciated. Before shipping tissues, contact Frank at:

ffontanella@gc.cuny.edu

Mailing address for shed skins:

Frank M. Fontanella
College of Staten Island/CUNY
6S-143
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, New York 10314

Eurycea Data Needed
Friday, July 15, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 2
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
www.cnah.org
15 July 2004

EURYCEA DATA NEEDED

Robert D. Davic (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency) is interested in a specific life history aspect of larvae from the Two-lined Salamander complex (Eurycea bislineata, E. cirrigera, E. wilderae). He would like to talk to any herpetologist that has observed the larvae of these species outside flowing water habitat, either in nature or in captivity. He also has an interest in knowing if anyone has conducted experiments on burrowing activity for these larvae. He is aware that some salamander larvae have been observed in nature away from water (e.g., Desmognathus fuscus), but is not aware of any similar observations for Two-lined Salamander larvae.

If you can contribute to Dr. Davic's research, please contact him at

robert.davic@epa.state.oh.us

or

(330) 963-1132

Hemidactylium History
Thursday, March 03, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 31
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 March 2005

Help with Hemidactylium History

I am currently working on a graduate thesis examining genetic divergence in Four-toed Salamanders throughout their entire range in the United States and Canada. Mississippi's location at the periphery of the species range makes those populations of Hemidactylium of particular interest to my project. I am hoping to sample a few areas in that state during the nesting season this year and am looking to find more specific information about locales in Mississippi and dates when females are likely to be found on eggs along the Gulf Coast.

Historical records for the species indicate a distribution in the lower Pearl River Valley of Mississippi, although until now I have been unable to find any specific collection location data pertaining to those records. I recently located two preserved animals in the Tulane University collection with the following data:

*****

Cat No. 4245. Bassfield, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi. Collected 25 November 1930 by A. Cruz (Bassfield is located in Jefferson Davis County; additional information would be helpful.)

Cat No. 18452. Polk Creek Ht 4.7 mi S St. Hwy. 8 towards Langley on road that turns south from Hwy. 8 about 11 mi E of Big Fork, Montgomery County, Mississippi. Collected 3 April 1953 by Alex Faberge (I could not locate any of the aforementioned landmarks in Montgomery or surrounding counties on a USGS topo, aside from State Highway 8 in Grenada County to the north.)

*****

I contacted the Mississippi Museum of Natural History and they have no records for the species in their collections and have no known localities in Mississippi, aside from these two records which I recently passed along to them. If you have any information about the species in Mississippi, or know of anyone who might be able to help, I would be very interested.

Please note that no animals will be killed for this study. Genetic material in the form of tail samples will be taken followed by immediate release at the site of capture. Thank you in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide.

Timothy A. Herman
Masters Program, Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics
Department of Biological Sciences
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
(school): taherma@bgnet.bgsu.edu
(work): timothy.herman@toledozoo.org
(personal): taherman@gmail.com

Holbrookia Help
Monday, July 17, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 88
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 July 2006

HOLBROOKIA HELP

I am a graduate student in Dr. Allan Larson's laboratory at Washington University and a part of my doctoral work is on the phylogeography of Earless Lizards (Cophosaurus and Holbrookia). I have a significant collection of Holbrookia from the southwestern U.S. but am in need of tissues from Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. I would appreciate making contact with anyone that may have tissues or would know of specific localities where Holbrookia have been observed recently and where I could collect. I will secure the appropriate scientific collecting permits for any field work. Please contact me at

rblaine@biology2.wustl.edu

Russell Blaine
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri

Holbrookia Hunt
Tuesday, February 03, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 158
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 February 2009

Holbrookia lacerata (the Spot-tailed Earless Lizard), which is known from central and southern Texas and northern Mexico, appears to have been extirpated from many historical locations. While it is not currently listed as a state or federally threatened or endangered species, its conservation status is uncertain. In order to determine the current distribution and develop a habitat model for the species, The Nature Conservancy of Texas, with help from a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Horned Lizard License Plate Fund and in cooperation with Ralph Axtell and a number of Texas herpetologists and universities, is beginning range-wide surveys this spring and is seeking volunteers and information. If you would like to volunteer to assist in surveys, or if you have information about Holbrookia lacerata that may not currently be included in the historical record, contact Mike Duran at

mduran@tnc.org

or visit

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/features/art27236.html

for more information on the project.

Mike Duran
Vertebrate Zoologist
The Nature Conservancy of Texas
205 North Carrizo Street
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
office: 361-882-3584
cell: 361-249-1712

In Memoriam: A. Stanley Rand
Wednesday, November 30, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 November 2005

A. STANLEY RAND (1933-2005)
Washington Post Service

He pursued the love songs of frogs

A. Stanley Rand, a Smithsonian staff scientist known for his research in herpetology, died of complications from cancer November14, 2005, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was 73.

Rand spent 33 years in Panama at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. His work on frogs and lizards built him an international reputation, colleagues said, and he made significant contributions in animal communication, territoriality, sexual selection and anti-predator systems.

A prolific writer, he published his first scientific article in 1944, when he was 12 years old and presumably assisting his father, a well-known ornithologist, in Canada.

His next publication occurred in 1950, while he was working as an 18-year-old assistant in the division of amphibians and reptiles at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. He wrote or edited more than 150 scientific articles and books, including "Ecology of a Tropical Forest: Seasonal Rhythms and Long-Term Changes" (1982) and "Iguanas of the World: Their Behavior, Ecology and Conservation" (1982).

His research on occasion burst out of the intensely observed world of scientific publications and into the mass media. His work was written up several times in The New York Times, including in a 1977 series on the creative process of scientific research. In 1995, his study on the evolving songs of tzngara frogs attracted the attention of a Dallas Morning News writer, who waxed poetic over the mating calls of amphibians.

Rand was born in Seneca Falls, New York, the son of a world-traveled ornithologist father and herpetologist mother. He grew up in Lake Placid, Florida, Ottawa, Canada, and Chesterton, Indiana, and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

*****

CNAH expresses its sympathy and support to the family and friends of A. Stanley Rand. He will be missed by all of the herpetological community.

In Memoriam: Alison Haskell
Monday, December 18, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 December 2006

In Memoriam: Alison Haskell (1956-2006)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service family and conservation community lost a very special friend yesterday. Alison Haskell died peacefully at her home in Ashfield, Massachusetts in the company of her husband John Rosseel and family and friends.

Alison Haskell was born on December 26, 1956 in Berkeley, California, and grew up on the coast of Massachusetts. She received a B.S. and M.S. in wildlife biology from the University of New Hampshire and University of Massachusetts, respectively. Her masters thesis focused on population ecology of the Plymouth Redbelly Turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris). She studied at Tufts University Veterinary School where she also worked as the chief veterinary technician at the Wildlife Clinic for five years, and became noted for her exceptional ability in handling raptors. In 1993 she joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Research Specialist in the Division of Federal Aid. Alison's passion for wildlife may have been exceeded only by her compassion for her fellow humans, and she channeled that professionally by becoming adept at conflict resolution and facilitation. She assisted many Service and State fish and wildlife agency programs as a trainer and facilitator. She left Federal Aid in 2003 to become the national coordinator for Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC).

Alison was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in late 2002, and upon the insistence of her physicians, took a medical retirement from the Service to focus on treatment and recovery. Despite an unbelievably grueling regimen of surgeries and chemotherapy, Alison formed a non-profit organization, Cures for Ovarian Cancer, to advocate for early detection screening which is not currently a part of routine physical examinations for women or provided for in health care plans. Her campaign took her far and wide speaking to audiences to increase awareness.

An accomplished artist specializing in water color, Alison also formed the non-profit Northeast Wildlife Heritage to raise funds for conservation efforts in the northeast through sale of her art and other crafts she produced.

Alison is survived by her husband John, her parents, two sisters and a brother, and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her two beloved Corgis, Ursa and Ri, named for two of her favorite constellations, Ursa Minor (the little dipper) and Orion (the hunter) and her horse Cody. She leaves a network of friends who she touched deeply with her ability to make others feel good. Alison's spirit will be with us on starry nights when Ursa Minor and Orion grace the sky, but those who knew her well will feel her presence when the planet Venus rises, the diminutive planet that burns brightest.

CNAH Note: Received from PARC. Author unknown.

In Memoriam: Barb Savitzky
Monday, September 14, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 September 2009

IN MEMORIAM: BARBARA A. SAVITZKY (1948-2009)

Barbara A. Savitzky of Norfolk, Virginia, died 22 July 2009 at age 61 at her temporary residence in Arlington, Virginia, following the rapid progression of metastatic breast cancer. A resident of Norfolk for more than 20 years, Dr. Savitzky was an associate professor of biology at Christopher Newport University, from which she retired in 2008 after 18 years of service. Dr. Savitzky was educated at the University of Tennessee, where she received her doctoral degree in ethology (animal behavior).

An authority on the biology of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles, Dr. Savitzky was known for her work on snakes (including Virginia's endangered Timber Rattlesnake), turtles, and salamanders. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Helen B. Conner and the late Edward D. Conner, she previously resided in Farragut, Tennessee, where she served for several years as a firefighter for Rural/Metro Corporation in Knox County. Dr. Savitzky served on the governing boards and committees of scientific and conservation organizations, including the Hampton Land Conservancy and the Herpetologists' League, and as an adjunct faculty member at Old Dominion University.

Dr. Savitzky was widely admired for waging a relentless battle against metastatic cancer, for which she received treatment almost continuously for more than 20 years. She is survived by her husband, Alan H. Savitzky of Norfolk, her son, Christopher Allen and his wife Amy of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and her daughter, Heather J. Allen of Hampton.

The family suggests donations to The Nature Conservancy or the Humane Society of the United States.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Barbara. She was a kind and gentle woman; she will be missed by us all.

In Memoriam: Bern Tryon
Wednesday, May 11, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 May 2011

IN MEMORIAM: BERN TRYON (1947-2011)

Bern Tryon, the Knoxville Zoo director of herpetology and a champion for eastern Tennessee's endangered Bog Turtles, died Friday, 6 May 2011, after a battle with cancer.

Tryon, 64, was Tennessee's best authority on Bog Turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), which he studied and helped to save for 25 years. His dedication to the animals included developing a zoo program that hatches and later releases the turtles in native eastern Tennessee habitats. The conservation awards he earned for his work included one from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Bog Turtle conservation in Tennessee is without a doubt his legacy. I don't know if it would be at all without him," said Zoo Curator of Herpetology Phil Colclough.

A biology graduate of Gardner-Webb University, Tryon began his zoo career in 1971. He worked in herpetology departments at zoos in Atlanta, Fort Worth, Texas, and Houston before coming to Knoxville in 1984.

Some of Tryon's ashes will be scattered at a Bog Turtle site in upper eastern Tennessee, said Colclough. The rest will be spread this fall in an area of South Carolina, a place he visited to search for snakes annually over the last 42 years.

. . . written by Amy McRary
for the Knoxville News Sentinel Company
865-342-6437

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Bern Tryon. He will be missed, not only by us in the herpetological community, but especially by the Bog Turtles.

In Memoriam: Bryce Brown
Friday, June 20, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 June 2008

In Memoriam: Bryce C. Brown (1920-2008)

Bryce Brown was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas. He died of a stroke he suffered on 2 June 2008. Dr. Brown led a quiet but interesting life. Born in Harlingen, Texas, on 7 May 1920, he developed an early interest in natural history. As a young man he put together a collection of wildlife and opened his own private zoo in his backyard, but nothing held his fascination stronger than reptiles, turtles, and amphibians.

He received a Bachelor of Zoology degree from the University of Texas in 1942 and enlisted in the Army as the United States entered World War II. Serving in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, he worked in malaria control. After his return from the war, he became a member of the Texas Herpetological Society. During the war years, THS did not meet. They reconvened in 1947, and by this time Dr. Brown had enrolled in graduate school at Texas A&M University. He received his Masters in 1948 and later received his doctorate from the University of Michigan. He also served as president of THS.

He began his association with Baylor University in 1947, becoming Curator of the Strecker Museum and joining the faculty, teaching zoology, vertebrate biology and herpetology. He served as director from 1966 until his retirement in 1983. He also served as Chairman for the Central Texas Regional Science Fair from 1957 to 1983. He authored a number of articles on herpetological topics and, in 1950, published An Annotated Checklist of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Bryce C. Brown.

In Memoriam: Carl Gans
Monday, December 07, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 December 2009

IN MEMORIAM CARL GANS (1923-2009)

. . . modified from the New York Times

Dr. Carl Gans, 86, died peacefully after a long illness in Austin, Texas, on 30 November 2009. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, where he attended the Talmud Thora Realschule, and emigrated to the United States in 1939. Here he attended George Washington High School in New York City, received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineer from New York University in 1944, an Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineer from Columbia University in 1950, a PE License from New York State in 1950, and a Doctoral Degree in Biology from Harvard in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Command in the Philippines and Japan from 1944 to 1946. Carl was a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellow from 1953 to 1955 conducting reptile studies in Brazil. After working eight years with Babcock & Wilcox installing power boilers, he changed careers and became a Professor of Biology and Department Chairperson at the University of Buffalo (later SUNY) from 1958 to 1971. He moved to Ann Arbor as Professor of Biology and Chairperson of Zoology at the University of Michigan until his retirement in 1998. Carl's work and hundreds of publications were in evolutionary physiology and comparative biomechanics. He carried out his primary studies in the area of reptiles and amphibians. He became world-known as editor of the journal "Morphology" for 25 years and as the editor of the monumental 23-volume "Biology of the Reptilia," published between 1969 and 2009. His first book-length publication was "Biomechanics" in which he combined his engineering and biology backgrounds. He co-authored two biology texts used in universities throughout the United States: "A Photographic Atlas of Shark Anatomy" and "Electromyography for Experimentalists." He also wrote the popular paperback book "Reptiles of the World," translated into many languages. His library of over 20,000 items in herpetology is currently at Ben Gurion University in Israel, which also has his extensive scientific correspondence. Other of his publications may be found at the Scripps Institute, University of California, San Diego, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. His extensive animal collections, which he gathered on five continents over many decades, can be found at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburg, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard.

Carl was predeceased by his wife of fifty years, Mabel Kyoko Andow. He is survived by his brother Leo Gans of Teaneck, New Jersey.

*****

Memorial donations may be made to

THE CARL GANS AWARD

As some of you may be aware, we have been fund-raising for some time to endow the "Carl Gans Award," associated with the Division of Comparative Biomechanics, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB). This award, recently approved by the SICB Executive Committee, is the first such award for the newly founded Division of Comparative Biomechanics and honors the numerous scientific and editorial contributions to biomechanics and herpetology by Carl Gans. To date, we have raised approximately two-thirds of the $25,000 required for endowment of this award. Fortunately, matching funds ($10,000) were generously made available by the late Carl Gans, his brother Leo Gans, and Sandy Gaunt that will provide a 2-for-1 match for the first $5000 contributed, no matter how small that, in conjunction with the matching offer, will let SICB take advantage of this new funding opportunity and enable the award to be established financially. Contributed funds should be marked for the "Carl Gans Award" and be sent to the attention of the SICB Executive Director, Brett Burk (BBurk@BurkInc.com) at the address below. He will deposit them into an account and reserve them for the fund. Send your contribution to:

Brett J. Burk
SICB Executive Director
1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 402
McLean, Virginia 22101

Contributions can also be made online at

https://ssl4.westserver.net/birenheide/secure/sicb/cart/donations.php

Please contact any of us directly should further information be required, and thank you for your support.

Robert Dudley
University of California, Berkeley
wings@berkeley.edu

Dave Carrier
University of Utah
carrier@biology.utah.edu

Ray Huey
University of Washington
hueyrb@u.washington.edu

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Carl. He was a premier scientist, a good man, and his passing leaves a great void in our profession.

In Memoriam: Daryl Karns
Wednesday, June 08, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 June 2011

IN MEMORIAM DARYL R. KARNS (1949-2011)

Dr. Daryl Karns, well-known herpetologist and Professor of Biology at Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana, died at the age of 61 of a sudden heart attack on the morning of 7 June 2011 near his home in Madison. Daryl was an active and vibrant teacher. Since his arrival at Hanover in 1984, Daryl was a dedicated faculty member who brought his passion for research into the classroom. He will be remembered not only as an outstanding teacher and colleague, but also for his wide-ranging research and contributions to the Rivers Institute where he was associate director. His record of service to the Hanover College campus community was significant; he will be greatly missed.

Daryl received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin, his Master's Degree from the University of Kansas, and his Doctorate from the University of Minnesota; his teaching areas at Hanover covered evolution, ecology, and zoology. Daryl earned The Hanover College Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity, a new award first given this year to a member of the faculty in recognition of sustained scholarly or creative achievement.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Hanover College Foundation for Student Travel or Research Development. Contributions can be sent to

Department of Biology
Hanover College
Hanover, Indiana 47243

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Daryl Karns. The entire herpetological community will miss him.

In Memoriam: David Morafka
Wednesday, February 04, 2004: California - David Morafka died on Thursday, January 13th 2004, at his home after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. David made remarkable contributions to western herpetology and was especially known for his pathfinding studies on the conservation of the Bolson Tortoise in Mexico, the biology of Desert Tortoise hatchlings and neonates, and his work on the Panamint Alligator Lizard. He was a scientist of immense integrity and will be greatly missed.

Dr. Morafka was a staunch supporter of public outreach and gave many presentations at California Turtle and Tortoise Club meetings over a three decade period. He was a major catalyst in stimulating the involvement of many of herpetologists in chelonian conservation.

His wife, Sylvia, has made a request for no flowers, but for donations to be made to the Democratic Party.

There will be a Celebration of Life in Dr. Morafka's honor at the Desert Tortoise Council Symposium in February 2004. For details contact Kristin Berry at

kristin_berry@usgs.gov

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sincere sympathy to the Morafka family and friends.

In Memoriam: Edmond Malnate
Saturday, February 07, 2004: Burlington County Times
Edmond V. Malnate, 87, of Medford passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2003 at Virtua West Jersey Hospital in Marlton. Born in Quincy Massachusetts, he resided in Medford for many years. Edmond served in the US Army during WWII. He worked as a Graphic Artist and Art Director for several Advertising Agencies, before becoming the Art Director at Ullman Advertising Agency in Philadelphia . His avocation was in the field of Herpetology, which earned him a grant to study in Europe. Ed was made a member of Sigma Xi in 1975, a society for the promotion of research in the scientific field. After his retirement from the art field, he continued his studies and research at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Ed was a gentle, curious man who helped contribute much to the knowledge of natricine snakes. Son of the late Edmond and Mary Malnate; father of the late Edmond A. Malnate; he is survived by his wife Georgette A. Malnate; and other close friends and neighbors.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sincere sympathy to the Malnate family and friends.

In Memoriam: Ernie Liner
Tuesday, September 28, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
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28 September 2010

IN MEMORIAM ERNEST ANTHONY LINER (1925-2010)

Louisiana herpetologist Dr. Ernest A. Liner died on 23 September 2010 in Houma, Louisiana, at 85 years of age. He was born in Weeks Island, Louisiana, in 1925, the son of Remie and Leonise Arceneaux Liner (both deceased).

Ernie was a longtime, active member of various herpetological societies and his scientific contributions to those organizations will be greatly missed. His main area of interest was Mexican herpetology and he spent much of his life traveling extensively throughout Mexico. He received many honors, but the one most special was the honorary doctorate conferred upon him by the University of Colorado in 1998.

But most of all, he will be missed for his winning smile, his twinkling eyes, and his abundant charm and hospitality. Over the last six decades in the profession of herpetology, there were few who contributed as much to bringing about good will amongst our colleagues. And whether he succeeded or not in calming our profession, in lessening its stridency, or in restoring some sense of civility to its dialogue, he always left you with a grin. All who knew and loved Ernie will greatly miss his good humor. We will miss him so much.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Fayette. Survivors include his remaining sister, Jeannette Liner Gomez, and 12 nieces and nephews.

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ernie Liner. He was a lovable, engaging person of such good will that you easily became his friend for life.

In Memoriam: Ernst Mayr
Friday, February 04, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH

In Memoriam: Ernst Mayr 1904-2005

Ernst Mayr, a Harvard University evolutionary biologist called "the Darwin of the 20th century," has died, the school said Friday. He was 100. Mayr died peacefully on Thursday, February 3, 2005, near his home in Bedford, Massachusetts. Born in 1904 in Kempten, Germany, Mayr earned a medical degree from the University of Greifswald in 1925. Descended from generations of doctors, he broke off his medical career and turned his attention to zoology, earning a doctorate from the University of Berlin just 16 months later.

His family will convene a private memorial service soon at the assisted-living facility where Ernst had lived for the past several years. A more formal, public memorial will be scheduled for the Harvard campus, probably in April.

Ernst lived a very full and long life (100 years as of last July), but still will be missed by all who knew him and his work. He is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family of Ernst Mayr.

In Memoriam: Findlay Russell
Saturday, August 27, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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28 August 2011

IN MEMORIAM FINDLAY EWING RUSSELL (1919-2011)

Herpetologist Findley Russell died peacefully on 21 August 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Russell was born in San Francisco in 1919 to William and Mary Jane Russell. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in science, particularly in the fields of toxicology and toxinology. He received his medical degree from Loma Linda University in 1952 and served as an army medic in World War II where he received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

Findlay Russell was the first president and founding member of the International Society of Toxinology (Toxicon) and continued throughout his life to support the study of toxins and venomous animals. He is recognized as one of the pioneering scientists to progress polyvalent crotalid antivenom for the use of snakebite envenomation. He served as professor of neurology, physiology and biology at the University of Southern California for over 30 years. He authored numerous scientific articles and books. In addition to his medical degree, he held a doctorate in English and was awarded an honorary degree in law from the University of Santa Barbara. His best known herpetological work was "Snake Venom Poisoning," published in 1980 by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

Findlay Russell was a renowned speaker and was well respected by his colleagues. He lived in Portal, Arizona, where he spent much time enjoying the high desert and collecting tarantulas, scorpions, spiders and rattlesnakes. Dr. Russell leaves five children, Christa Russell Cessaro, Sharon Russell Boyle, Robin Russell, Connie Lane, and Mark Russell.

To be able to live one's dream for a lifetime is a great thing. Findlay E. Russell did it.

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Findlay Russell.

*****

In Memoriam: G. W. Folkerts
Tuesday, December 18, 2007: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
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18 December 2007

IN MEMORIAM GEORGE W. FOLKERTS (1938 – 2007)

George W. Folkerts was born on 26 November 1938 and died 14 December 2007 at his residence. He was a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University for the past 38 years. He earned a B.A. degree in zoology and a M.A. degree in botany from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in herpetology from Auburn University. During his career as a teacher and researcher, George studied every aspect of nature. His comprehensive knowledge of the plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates inhabiting the southeastern United States was second to none, and he was a renowned expert in the ecology of disappearing habitat types and declining species. George's passion for conserving nature made him a leader for local, state, and national conservation efforts.

Part of his legacy for these efforts was his being honored by having multiple native species named after him, including most recently the Dwarf Blackbelly Salamander (Desmognathus folkertsi).

In the late 1990s, he led a successful effort to save Auburn University's Davis Arboretum from building encroachment and ensure its preservation as a sanctuary from native plants.

During his tenure as a faculty member at Auburn University, George was a dedicated teacher who loved teaching and was loved by his students. He won numerous teaching awards and exposed countless students to the wonders of the natural world both in the classroom and field. His courses were truly inspirational and his classroom teaching style was one in which students were simultaneously challenged and made to feel comfortable in the presence of a friend or mentor. He has successfully trained many graduate students who have gone on to secure positions as teachers and scientists across the United States.

George was kind to all who met him, generous with the time he offered to others, and humble despite his exceptional accomplishments. He had a magnetic personality that enlivened every gathering and made him a beloved member in the local community. He is survived by his loving wife, Debbie, his sister, Trudy, his daughters, Molly and Merrill, and his son, Evan.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to The Nature Conservancy, or plant a native tree in Memory of George.

In Memoriam: George Dalrymple
Friday, January 07, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH

In Memoriam: George Dalrymple 1948-2005

George Dalrymple died at the age of 56 at home on January 5, 2005, 22 months after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. George was born June 12, 1948 in Staten Island, New York, to Edwin and Averine Dalrymple.

From an early age, he knew he wanted to be a herpetologist. He received his Bachelors degree in Zoology from Rutgers University in 1971, and his PhD in Zoology from the University of Toronto in 1975. He was an assistant professor at The Ohio State University for five years. In 1980, he accepted a position as an associate professor of biology at Florida International University so that he could study the ecology and herpetofauna of the Everglades.

In 1998, he left FIU to work for his own biological consulting firm, Everglades Research Group, Inc. Throughout his career, George always volunteered his time to environmental issues in Miami-Dade County, Everglades National Park, and the State of Florida.

For the past five years, he continued to volunteer his time as a board member of the Florida Wildlife Federation, and the Biff Lampton Memorial/Homestead Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. George sought to preserve natural areas simply for the belief that there should be wild places and wild things.

George is survived by his son Alexander (Coconut Grove), daughter Claire (Perrine), wife Nancy (Homestead), his adopted children, Dixie, Ruger, and Ceili (Homestead), and wild turkeys in Everglades National Park.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Florida Wildlife Federation, P. O. Box 6870, Tallahassee, Florida 32314

In Memoriam: George McDuffie
Tuesday, April 17, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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17 April 2007

IN MEMORIAM: GEORGE THOMAS MCDUFFIE (1927-2007)

George T. McDuffie, a well-known Ohio herpetologist, passed away on 15 April 2007 at the Clermont Nursing and Convalescent Center in southwestern Ohio. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 25 August 1927, George received his Bachelors (1952), Masters (1956), and Doctoral degrees (1960) from the University of Cincinnati, the latter doing research on the natural history of Copperheads in the Buckeye State. His research on these serpents was published in 1963 [Studies on the size, pattern and coloration of the Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen Daudin) in Ohio. Journal of the Ohio Herpetological Society 4: 15-22]. He was one of the founding members of the now disbanded Ohio Herpetological Society (1958-1966).

During the 1950s and 1960s, George mentored many a young aspiring herpetologist in southwestern Ohio, and most of them experienced their first real snake hunt in the field under his watchful eye. He is remembered for his well-developed sense of humor, and on field trips to Shawnee State Forest in southern Ohio, many students and colleagues on their first field trip with him listened in stunned silence to the plethora of risqué limericks that he sang with such gusto and joy (and which they eventually memorized and sang also). More importantly, he took the time and made the effort to teach them how to find amphibians, turtles, and reptiles, and much of what they know today about field herpetology can be traced directly back to George.

At the first Shawnee Herpetological Weekend held at Shawnee State Forest in May 2006, keynote speaker Joseph T. Collins (who grew up in Cincinnati and was mentored during his teenage years by George) dedicated the event to George McDuffie, and spoke fondly of his influence. He recalled a trademark ditty that George invariably sang on field trips, and that in time all who regularly accompanied him knew by heart. With belated apologies to the parents of the young herpetologists he so strongly influenced, it went like this:

"The beer was spilled on the barroom floor,
and the bar was closed for the night.

When from out of his hole came a little old mouse
to sit in the pale moonlight.

Oh, he lapped up the beer on the barroom floor,
and back on his haunches he sat.

And all night long you could hear him roar,
bring on that old damned cat."

*****

George is survived by his beloved wife, Patrica, two children, Mark and Jennifer, a sister, Mathilda, and a brother, Edward. Another brother, Roy, preceded him in death. Memorial contributions should be sent to the

Torch Lake Protection Alliance
P. O. Box 706
Bellaire, Michigan 49615

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and many, many friends of George McDuffie.

In Memoriam: George T. Baxter
Tuesday, April 26, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH

In Memoriam George T. Baxter (1919-2005)

George Baxter, age 86, died Sunday, March 20, 2005, at his home in Green Valley, Arizona. He was born in Grover, Colorado, on March 19, 1919.

He attended high school in Burns and in 1937 he enrolled at the University of Wyoming. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from University of Wyoming and began his teaching career as a zoology instructor in l947. In l951, he earned a PhD from the University of Michigan and returned to Laramie where he taught zoology and physiology for 35 years at the University of Wyoming. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945.

Throughout his career and into his retirement in l984, he earned a national reputation as a distinguished scholar and the acknowledged expert on fish, reptiles, turtles, and amphibians of Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain Region. His books on these subjects are still considered standard references in these fields of study. He received many awards for his teaching and scholarship, including the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award in l995. The latest award given to him was the Department of Interior Conservation Service Award; the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a private citizen by the Secretary of Interior of the U.S. for his work with the recovery efforts for the endangered Wyoming Toad.

He is best known outside of Wyoming in the scientific community as a herpetologist. As senior author, he collaborated with Michael D. Stone to write two editions (1980, 1985) of "Amphibians and Reptiles of Wyoming," and in 1968 was given signal recognition by his colleague, Kenneth Porter, who named the Wyoming Toad in his honor as Bufo baxteri.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Phyllis; a daughter Judy, a son Richard, and his wife Collette, a daughter Linda, a grandson Chris, granddaughters Lisa Fachon and Erin, and great-grandsons Vincent and Zachary.

A memorial celebration is planned in Laramie sometime in July. Donations may be made to the George T. Baxter Fellowship, Department of Zoology and Physiology, Department No. 3166, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82071.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors expresses its sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of George Baxter.

In Memoriam: H. B. Bechtel
Monday, July 13, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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13 July 2009

IN MEMORIAM H. BERNARD BECHTEL (1922-2009)

Dr. H. Bernard Bechtel, of Valdosta, Georgia, died suddenly on Friday, 10 July 2009 in Gainesville, Florida, en route to visit family. He was born on 2 October 1922 near the small western Pennsylvania village of New Enterprise. While he was still an infant, the family moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania where his father obtained work in a dairy. He attended public schools in Johnstown, graduating from Johnstown Central High School in 1940, and began to attend the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Center. This was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army Air Force, where he became an aerial gunner. He participated in 30 missions over Germany as a gunner on B-17s. Following the war, he completed his pre-medical studies at Juniata College in Huntington, Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1950. Following an internship at Reading General Hospital in Reading, Pennsylvania, he established a general practice in Johnstown. In 1955, he married Elizabeth Reimet of Moorestown, New Jersey. In 1956, he accepted a residency in dermatology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. He practiced dermatology in Johnstown from 1959 until 1963, when he and his wife, Bette, moved to Valdosta, where he practiced until he retired in 1997. He was Diplomate in The American Academy of Dermatology.

From a very early age, Dr. Bechtel was an avid student of reptiles, turtles, crocodilians, and amphibians; he was a herpetologist as well as being a dermatologist. He published a book and numerous publications, mostly pertaining to his area of expertise in snake genetics, for which he was widely known. His wife Bette was his partner in this and became a recognized herpetologist on her own after their marriage. Dr. Bechtel is survived by his wife, Bette Bechtel of Valdosta; sister, Alma Mountain of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; two nephews, Joe Mountain of Fort Pierce, Florida, and Ned Mountain of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia.

Dr. Bechtel requested no flowers. Donations may be made to his favorite charity, The National Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, Va., 22203-1606. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at

www.mclanefuneralservices.com

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Bernard Bechtel.

In Memoriam: Harlan Walley
Tuesday, November 10, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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10 November 2009

IN MEMORIAM HARLAN D. WALLEY (1932 – 2008)

by Richard B. King

Born on 7 November 1932, Harlan Walley exhibited an energy for life and love of natural history that began during his childhood in rural Sandwich, Illinois, and continued throughout adulthood. He was a fixture in Northern Illinois University's Department of Biological Sciences, supervising the department's animal care facility from the 1960s (then in Davis Hall) until his retirement in 1999 and curating its natural history museum until his death. Harlan's academic interests centered on herpetology, mammalogy, and Illinois natural history, and he was a valuable, respected, and generous source of information to faculty, students, the community, and the state. His formal training in biology was cut short by the Korean War, during which he served as a Navy medic, and health problems associated with psoriasis, which began at this time. Harlan suffered with this disease and a range of ineffective and sometimes harmful treatments for more than a decade until he found hydrocortisone ointments that allowed him to manage his symptoms. Time-consuming treatments, often at facilities far from home, interrupted his course work so frequently that he abandoned further education.

A true curator, Harlan became obsessed with natural history books and papers at an early age and went on to build a personal collection of more than 60,000 reprints and 3,000 bound volumes. He developed his museum skills through time spent in the Department of Entomology at the Smithsonian Institution and at the Illinois Natural History Survey. It was at the INHS that Harlan established a lifelong relationship with two eminent figures in North American herpetology, Philip W. Smith, who in 1961 authored The Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois, and Hobart M. Smith, who has continued to contribute to the scientific literature into his 90s. It was with Phil Smith that Harlan published his first scientific paper - a note documenting the occurrence of the Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, in Michigan. Harlan was 18 at the time and went on to publish well over 100 manuscripts, many focused on amphibian, turtle, reptile, and mammal natural history and distribution. He also put his reprint collection to good use, regularly contributing entries to the Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. The literature cited sections of his entries are encyclopedic -- a soon to be published entry on the Northern Water Snake includes over 1,000 references. Harlan was an avid reader and supported this habit and his penchant for book collecting by authoring frequent book reviews.

Perhaps one of Harlan's greatest, if sometimes unrecognized, contributions was the informal mentorship he provided to NIU Biology graduate students. Harlan was a resource, lunch companion, and field-trip guide to students with interests in any aspect of biology. He was generous with his reprint collection and often helped start students' publishing careers by urging submission of a life history or distributional observation or including them as coauthors on papers he initiated. He enriched all our lives in unfathomable ways and will be missed.

Harlan D. Walley passed away on 28 June 2008.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Harlan. He will be missed by us all.

In Memoriam: Henri C. Seibert
Monday, October 13, 2003: Athens, Ohio - Ohio University
Henri (Hank) Cleret Seibert, one of the earliest members of the Ohio Herpetological Society and a longtime officer of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, died of a stroke on 7 October 2003.

He was born 15 July 1915, the son of the late George K. and Louise Cleret Seibert in Caen, Normandy, France, and moved to Baltimore, Maryland, when he was six years old. In addition to his wife, Alice White Seibert, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage, he is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Peter K. and Marjorie Seibert of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, Michael W. and Diantha Seibert of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth C. and Richard Purcell of Malvern, Pennsylvania, and four grandchildren.

He attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree cum laude in Biology in 1937. During this time, he was active in the Natural History Society of Maryland and published several ornithological and natural history papers in the Bulletin of that organization.

Seibert earned his Master of Science Degree in Human Biology (School of Hygiene and Public Health) in 1940 at Johns Hopkins University, working under the direction of Raymond Pearl. His thesis, Observations on the Somatic Constitution of Mothers with and without Infant Mortality among their Progeny, was published in Human Biology in 1940. After that, he worked as a biologist for one year at Cold Spring Harbor in New York and published two papers on the genetics of human hair size and shape in the Journal of Heredity, 1941-1942.

Seibert entered the doctoral program at the University of Illinois (Urbana) in 1941, but World War II interrupted his studies. During the period of 1943-1946, he was a biologist researching the effects of radiation on living organisms with the then top-secret Manhattan Project (atomic bomb development) under the football stadium at the University of Chicago. His doctoral dissertation The Relation of Photoperiod and Temperature to Food and Water Consumption, Variations in Weight and Molt in Birds, was completed in 1947 under the direction of Drs. Kendeigh and Shelford.

Seibert came to Ohio University in Athens in 1947 as an Assistant Professor of Zoology. During the next 37 years as a faculty member, he taught herpetology, ecology, and ornithology as well as other courses. He worked his way up the academic ladder becoming a Full Professor in 1961 and served as Chairman of the Department of Zoology from 1962 to 1967. His research on the wildlife of Ohio was funded by numerous grants from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Wildlife Division) and the Wayne National Forest.

Seibert was Curator of the Vertebrate Collections in the Museum of Zoology, a task he inherited from Professor Hershel T. Gier, who had established the teaching/research collection earlier in the 1930s. The collections grew under Seibert's direction as he led many natural history trips to both the southeastern and southwestern United States. The collections of fishes, amphibians, turtles, and reptiles are especially important in documenting biodiversity in southeastern Ohio. He was also active in the Hocking Valley Audubon Society.

Seibert directed 23 Masters Degree Theses at Ohio University. The majority of these concerned the biology of amphibians, birds, turtles, and reptiles. Seibert published approximately 50 papers in scientific journals; too many to list. His interests were broad, as reflected by publications in herpetology, ecology, ornithology, mammalogy, entomology, ecological physiology, reproduction, embryology, limnology, ichthyology, human genetics, anthropology, and natural history. He was one of the earliest supporters of the Ohio Herpetological Society and has held several offices in the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (Board of Directors, 1962-1967; Publication Secretary, 1967-1976; Treasurer, 1970-1987; President, 1989). His lifelong interest and enthusiasm in birds and butterflies kept him active, especially in his retirement years. In recent years, he also was a volunteer at both the Ohio University and University of Delaware Libraries.

Two of Seibert's Masters Degree students left Ohio University to earn Doctoral Degrees elsewhere and to develop professional careers in herpetology. Ronald A. Brandon's Masters Thesis (1958), A Study of the Salamanders of Southeastern Ohio, was published (1960) by Seibert and Brandon. David M. Sever's Masters Thesis (1971), Geographic Variation of Eurycea bislineata (Caudata: Plethodontidae) in the Upper Ohio Valley was published (1972) in Herpetologica. Seibert's most recent herpetological publications were species accounts on Cryptobranchus alleganiensis and Ambystoma opacum in the "Salamanders of Ohio" (Ralph Pfingsten and Floyd Downs, editors, Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin, 1989).

The officers and board of directors of The Center for North American Herpetology express their sympathies to Dr. Seibert's family and close friends. He was a wonderful person, and will be missed by so many.

In Memoriam: Henry S. Fitch
Wednesday, September 09, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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9 September 2009

In Memoriam: Henry S. Fitch (1909-2009)

Henry Sheldon Fitch, 99, of Lawrence, Kansas, one of the premier herpetological ecologists to grace the earth, passed away on 8 September 2009, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was born 25 December 1909, the son of Chester Fitch and Alice T. (Chenery) Fitch in Utica, New York. After a childhood outside of Medford, Oregon, he received his B.A from the University of Oregon and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He then worked as a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the San Joaquin Range in California. His career was interrupted by two tours of army duty in World War II, after which he returned to the San Joaquin Range. He married Virginia Preston in 1946, and shortly afterwards was transferred to Leesville, Louisiana.

In 1948, he assumed a professorship at the University of Kansas where he taught and served as steward of the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation. Although his primary interest was in herpetology, he published papers in community ecology, mammalogy, and ornithology, and he even wrote a book on the spiders of the KU Natural History Reservation. He retired from KU as Emeritus Professor in 1980, but continued to live and work at the Natural History Reservation until 2006.

Survivors in the immediate family include his sons, John and Chester, his daughter, Alice, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. His wife, Virginia, and his three siblings, Chester, Margaret, and Ruth, preceded him in death.

The family suggests that any memorials go to the Henry S. and Virginia R. Fitch Memorial Fund for the support of the KU Fitch Natural History Reservation through the KU Endowment Association, and sent in care of

Rumsey Yost Funeral Home
P. O. Box 1260
Lawrence, Kansas, 66044

Online condolences may be sent to

http://www.pmcfh.com

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Henry. He was a brilliant scientist and a kind and gentle man, and he will be missed so much by so many.

In Memoriam: Henry T. Smith
Tuesday, August 05, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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5 August 2008

IN MEMORIAM HENRY T. SMITH (1954-2008)

On Saturday, 24 May 2008, dear friend and colleague, Henry “Hank” T. Smith, passed away suddenly at his home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Hank came into the world on 9 June 1954, destined to begin work with the Florida Department of Natural Resources in 1987. Since 1993, Hank was the District Biologist for wildlife resources with the Florida Park Service, where he oversaw 25 state parks in southeastern Florida.

He was also an Affiliate Researcher and Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University; in Wilkes Honors College he supervised student research, internships, and theses in biology and environmental studies. He was a driving force in the “Parknership” program that linked the Florida Park Service with various institutions and students to conduct research that met the management needs of the public lands of Florida. Alone and generously with others, Hank published on the ecology of colonial waterbirds, human impacts on wildlife resources, bioeconomics of wildlife management, and, in recent times, exotic herpetofaunal colonization dynamics in Florida. In those past six years, Hank published more than 30 herpetological publications.

It was during these past five or so years that I got to know Hank, and I’m proud to have been a co-author on papers with him, a co-conspirator in project ideas, and most of all, a friend. Needless to say, working with Hank during this time was a white-knuckle ride and great fun. He was energetic and had an eye for detail with his eye not veering from the big picture. He would tease me about my demand for “go-go juice” (strong coffee), but it happened to come in handy in meeting all of our semi-apologetic self-imposed demands. Whether it was for Ernie Cowan, Heather Cress, Gary Busch, or Rick Engeman, to name a few, off we’d go!

On a personal note, Hank was encouraging and caring and he was a true friend. Not surprisingly, the lives he touched can be seen in his many co-authorships, his many friends, and in how much we miss him.

WALTER E. MESHAKA, JR., The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120-0024.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors expresses its sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of Hank.

In Memoriam: Hymen Marx
Wednesday, February 28, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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28 February 2007

IN MEMORIAM HYMEN MARX (1925-2007)

Hymen Marx, husband of Audrey (nee Greene), father of Michael Marx and Nancy (David) Ruesch, grandfather of Melissa, Stephanie and Devyn Joy Ruesch, died on 25 January 2007 in Sun City, Arizona. Hymen Marx was born on 27 June 1925 in Chicago, was a WWII Veteran, and was the Curator of Herpetology at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois, for 42 years. He was a renown snake biologist and published numerous scientific papers during his distinguished career.

Memorial contributions in his name should be made to the Field Museum of Natural History, c/o Harold Voris, Division of Reptiles and Amphibians, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Hymen Marx. We will all miss him.

In Memoriam: J. Alan Holman
Wednesday, August 16, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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16 August 2006

In Memoriam: J. Alan Holman (1931-2006)

Dr. J. Alan ("Al") Holman, passed away on 12 August 2006. Al taught vertebrate paleontology and herpetology courses at Michigan State University until his retirement. Not only was Al a prolific researcher and writer in vertebrate paleontology (focusing on Cenozoic and quaternary herpetofauna), but he was also very interested in and concerned about the biology and conservation of living reptiles, turtles, and amphibians. He was an active member of the Michigan DNR Technical Advisory Committee on Amphibians, Turtles, and Reptiles. He co-authored three popular books on the Michigan herpetofauna and had just finished collaborating on a revision of "Michigan Snakes," to be published soon. But his best known work was "Pleistocene Amphibians and Reptiles in North American," published by Oxford Press in 1995, and still the standard in the field today.

After his retirement, Al had continued his productivity, and always had a few articles and books coming out or in preparation. Despite his full plate of projects, Al never hesitated to stop and give assistance to a colleague or student in need.

Al's contributions to science will be greatly missed, but more than anything, his warmth, kindness and loyal friendship will be irreplaceable.

He was interred next to his wife, Peg Holman, at the Glendale Cemetery on Mount Hope Road in Lansing, Michigan, on 17 August.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of J. Alan Holman.

In Memoriam: Jenny Elwood
Thursday, September 11, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 September 2008

IN MEMORIAM JENNIFER R. LORENZ-ELWOOD (1963-2008)
NOTED SALAMANDER BIOLOGIST

Jennifer Elwood died on 3 September 2008 in Annapolis, Maryland, from complications due to breast cancer. She was born on 27 December 1963 in Camden, New Jersey, to Edith C. and James B. Lorenz of Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey. Dr. Elwood was a vertebrate zoologist and ecologist who specialized in the biology of salamanders. She received her Bachelors Degree in Biology from Lehigh University in 1986, her Masters Degree from Old Dominion University in 1988 and her Doctoral Degree in Biology from Drexel University in 2003. From 1990 to 1994 she was Adjunct Professor at Gloucester County College, Sewell, New Jersey. From 1990 to 1998 she was Adjunct Professor at Camden County College, Blackwood, New Jersey. From 1995 to 1999 she was a teaching assistant and research assistant in the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Drexel University. From 2000 to 2004 she was an Instructor in the Department at Drexel where she taught Ecology, Evolution, Vertebrate Morphology, General Biology and the Graduate Ecology Seminar. From 2004 to 2008 she was Assistant Professor of Biology at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland.

Jenny Elwood’s research interests were in vertebrate evolution, functional morphology and physiological ecology with particular emphasis on salamanders. Her dissertation research was concerned with the induction of heat shock proteins, thermotolerance, and geographic distribution of plethodontid salamanders. Her research project demonstrated the link between a particular molecular adaptation (heat shock protein induction) and range expansion in the salamanders of the Plethodon glutinosus complex. Her Masters thesis work centered on salamander jaw development and comparative morphology using histological techniques, radiography, and dissection. She successfully hatched and reared several salamander species through metamorphosis to obtain serial developmental stages for analyses. She also conducted a descriptive analysis of the mandibular symphysis to determine its value as a potential character for the analysis of salamander phylogeny.

Dr. Elwood was an accomplished laboratory and field biologist, a gifted teacher, and a member of several professional societies. She is survived by her husband, Colonel John Elwood, and her son Thomas and daughter Cecelia.

Two agencies have committed to set up a grant in tribute of the name and memory of Jennifer. She would have liked that. Donations can be forwarded to either the Fort Worth Zoo CIG (Cryptobranchus Interest Group), which focuses on graduate research, or the St. Louis Zoo Hellbender Center, which focuses more on in-house research and projects.

Please note that your contribution is in Jennifer Elwood's memory when sending any gift of money. John Elwood will add additional funds to both when it is complete.

For donations to the Fort Worth Zoo-CIG, send to:

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

For donations to the Saint Louis Zoo, send to:

Saint Louis Zoo Foundation
P. O. Box 790290
St. Louis, Missouri 63179-0290

Please make gifts out to the Saint Louis Zoo Foundation, with “In Memory of Jenny Elwood” in the memo section.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors expresses its deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of Jenny.

In Memoriam: Jim Gubanyi
Tuesday, August 17, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 August 2010

IN MEMORIAM JAMES E. GUBANYI (1944-2010)

Kansas herpetologist James Edward Gubanyi died 15 August 2010 in Topeka. He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, 24 December 1944, son of Emery James Gubanyi and Naomi Nibbelink (Nieman). Jim lived in California until he was 15, when he moved to Kansas with his mother and brother. He graduated from Topeka High School.

Jim was a longtime active member of the Kansas Herpetological Society and his contributions to the organization will be greatly missed. He published at least two dozen notes and articles in the Journal of Kansas Herpetology, Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter, and the Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, most of them on lizards, particularly the Italian Wall Lizard that was introduced from Europe in the 1960s and has been thriving in the Topeka area since that time. Jim had an intense interest in these reptiles, and devoted much time and energy to monitoring their abundance and distribution in urban Topeka.

Recently, Jim loved being a school bus driver for Topeka Lutheran School. He was an avid table tennis player and loved softball, playing on three teams at the time of his death. All who knew and loved him will sorely miss his unique personality and his passion for life. Survivors include his daughter, Marla Gubanyi (Topeka), two grandsons, Julian Gubanyi (Topeka) and Jackson Sprecker (Salina), his mother, Naomi Nibbelink (Topeka), and his brother, Joe Gubanyi (Seward, Nebraska). To leave a message for the family online, visit

www.DoveCremation.com

Memorial contributions may be made in Jim's name to the Kansas Herpetological Society, 1502 Medinah Circle, Lawrence, Kansas 66047.

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jim Gubanyi. He was a lovable, engaging person of good will, with a charm about him so unique that you never forgot him once you met him.

*****

In Memoriam: John Arnett
Friday, November 11, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 November 2011

IN MEMORIAM: JOHN ARNETT (1945–2011)

Zoo herpetologist John Arnett passed away last Sunday, November 6, 2011, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Johnny was born in Jelicho, Tennessee, on 6 June 1945, moved to Cincinnati when he was five years old, and began a long and significant career in the field of zoo herpetology. Along the way, he developed many lifelong friends, all of whom will miss him immensely. Johnny spent most of his career at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden but left for a while to work at the Columbus Zoo and then at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. He then went on to become the first Curator of Reptiles at the Knoxville Zoo before returning to Cincinnati. While in Knoxville, he opened the first large reptile exhibit at that institution.

Johnny had a keen interest in Komodo Dragons and worked diligently, both in the field on Komodo Island and in the zoo community to promote this species early on when there were only a few of them in U.S. zoos. After the first Komodo Dragon was bred in captivity, he became the first international studbook keeper for Komodo Dragons. He also had a strong interest in Giant Salamanders (Cryptobranchidae) as well as all other forms of herpetofauna and field herpetology.

Johnny was an “old school” zoo man and freely expressed his opinions, even if they were not popular. After time and consideration, people generally realized that Johnny was usually right. He was always a loyal friend and he mentored many young zoo herpetologists. He had a great knowledge of the history of zoo herpetology and told great stories about the curators he knew and worked for in the 1960s.

Two of his colleagues represent Johnny well in the following testimonials about him:

"Johnny was a kindred spirit, a true brother. I hope everyone remembers that Johnny had the deepest, ethical and assertive commitment to the welfare of animals. He was one of those rare individuals that actually had the courage of his convictions. That combined with his willingness to call BS when it was happening ruffled lots of feathers. I have the deepest respect for that. Zoos could use more of it. I shall miss him dearly."
David Grow

"One example of Johnny’s commitment to animal welfare that comes to mind is that he felt strongly about taking the time to answer informational phone calls from the public and assist private herpetofaunal owners with their problems. I remember him talking to me about the responsibility we have towards them, and their animals. He believed we should offer advice, and help if we could, since we were considered the experts and had access to much more information than they did back in those days. This was in the 1980s when I was pretty new to the business. We were talking about Green Iguanas and the discouraging number of calls we would get from owners who wanted to donate them or find some magic (cheap and easy) fix to their husbandry and health issues. Johnny considered it a priority to take the time to explain things to these people. We all know the patience and diplomacy that is needed for this, and I respected him so much for doing it. I was greatly influenced by this and am still trying to follow his example, nearly thirty years later—just one more case of his mentoring. I remember being surprised about it at the time, too, as a newcomer stepping into a business that was rife with Arnett-lore of the rowdier variety—and then discovering there was this other facet to Johnny—one of many, I was to learn, as I came to know him. And I am so grateful that I did as he was a great mentor and a dear friend."
Val Hornyak

John Arnett is survived by Tami, his wife of 27 years, and their two daughters, Mariah and Naomi. Tami has requested that anyone who wants to send condolences please do so by email at

tnjarnett1@yahoo.com

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John Arnett. He will be missed, not only by us in the herpetological community, but especially by the Komodo Dragons and Hellbenders.

In Memoriam: John Behler
Wednesday, February 01, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 February 2006

John Behler (1943-2006)

The following announcement was prepared by the Wildlife Conservation Society:

The Board of Trustees and Staff of the Wildlife Conservation Society are profoundly saddened by the death of our esteemed colleague, John L. Behler. John died on Tuesday, 31 January 2006. As Curator of Herpetology at the Bronx Zoo, John began his WCS career in 1970 in the Reptile Department as an intern. John's knowledge and love of wildlife included working with WCS field staff on related projects in Madagascar and Asia and is known and appreciated world-wide. His work exemplified the long history of WCS setting standards for others to follow. He assumed a leadership role among his peers in groundbreaking captive breeding programs for endangered crocodilians, tortoises, and freshwater turtles and also focused on the ecology and behavior of reptilians.

John's quick wit, charm and dedication allowed him to share his life's work with many. Among his numerous affiliations, John was a founding member of the American Zoo and Aquarium's Crocodilian Advisory Group and worked closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Endangered Species Unit. Likewise, Behler served his community on the Sommers Conservation Board and Muscoot Farm Nature Center in Westchester County Park.

Behler authored more than 40 popular and scientific articles, five guidebooks highlighting reptilians and amphibians and co-authored a book "Frogs - A Chorus of Colors" with his wife, Deborah Behler.

We are all saddened by the loss of our friend, a great scientist and conservationist. Our heartfelt sympathies go to John's wife, Debbie; mother, Mildred; sister, Judy Howells; John's children Cindy Sibilia, and David Behler and his five grandchildren.

David T. Schiff
Chairman

Steven E. Sanderson
President and CEO

Wildlife Conservation Society

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to John Behler's family and friends.

In Memoriam: John Werler
Wednesday, March 24, 2004: Houston, Texas - Early in the morning on Sunday, March 21, 2004, the Houston Zoo lost a dear friend and the single most important individual in its storied 82 year history. John Werler was an inspiration and legend to so many people in the world zoo community. Born in 1922, John came to the zoo in 1956 and retired as Zoo Director in 1992. One of the longest serving Zoo Directors in the country, he brought about many significant changes to the Houston Zoo, despite working with limited city resources. He and his late wife Ingrid dedicated countless hours to the zoo. They touched the hearts and minds of all who knew them and our lives will be forever enriched by their compassion and friendship. One cannot speak of John without including his late wife Ingrid. They were an incredible team, always smiling, always laughing, always caring. All of us that had the privilege of knowing John and Ingrid will be forever in their debt for the lasting memories they created for all zoo visitors, staff, and volunteers over the past six decades.

The officers and board of directors of The Center for North American Herpetology express their sympathies to John Werler's family and close friends. He was a wonderful person, and will be missed by so many.

For a more detailed obituary, go to:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/deaths/2466649

In Memoriam: Joseph B. Slowinski
Wednesday, September 12, 2001: Joseph Bruno Slowinski, Curator of Herpetology at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, died on the morning of September 12th, 2001, from the bite of a Multi-Banded Krait (Bungarus multicinctus) in the mountains of northern Myanmar (Burma), despite extraordinary efforts to save him by his companions.

Born in New York City on November 15th, 1962, Joe received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Kansas in 1984, and was awarded his Doctoral Degree from the University of Miami (Coral Gables) in 1991, working under his major professor, Jay Savage. Other academic appointments included a Postdoctoral Fellow (morphological systematics of elapid snakes), National Museum of Natural History (1991-92); Postdoctoral Research Associate (molecular systematics of elapid snakes), Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University (1992-94); Instructor of Biology, Louisiana State University (1994-96); Instructor of Biology, Southeastern Louisiana University (1996-97).

His principal research interests were herpetology (especially venomous snakes), molecular evolution, and phylogenetic analysis. He authored numerous scientific articles as well as one book, Introduction to Genetics, published in 1998 by NTC. He was editor-in-chief and co-founder (in 1997) of the first online herpetological journal, Contemporary Herpetology, and a member of the editorial board of Systematic Biology. Prior to his death, he was collaborating with Robin Lawson, Director of the Academy's Osher Laboratory, on several studies of the molecular phylogenetics of snakes, incorporating both mitochondrial and nuclear genes. He was conducting a comprehensive survey of the herpetofauna of Myanmar. In addition, Joe was part of a large project involving a number of other Academy scientists and several institutions in Yunnan, China, to survey the biodiversity of the western part of the Yunnan Province, specifically a mountain range known as the Gaoligongshan. Joe had previously taped two National Geographic specials (during which, he received a dry bite from a monocled cobra and had venom streamed into his eyes by a new species of spitting cobra that he ultimately described). Joe had recently been awarded a two million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation, to extend his work across the Myanmar border, into China.

The Joseph B. Slowinski Award for Excellence in Snake Systematics has been established by the Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) as a trust in perpetuity in recognition of the scientific achievements of the late Joseph B. Slowinski. CNAH expresses its sympathy and support to the family and friends of Joe Slowinski. Our young and well established colleague will be missed by all of the herpetological community.

Joe is survived by his parents, Martha Crow of Brooklyn, New York, and Ron Slowinski of Kansas City, Missouri, and his sister, Rachel Slowinski of Los Angeles, California.

Articles and accounts about Joe's tragic death have appeared; two can be accessed online at:

http://outside.away.com/outside/adventure/200204/200204_bit_1.adp

http://www.doctorbugs.com/Joseph_Slowinski.html

In Memoriam: Joseph T. Collins
Sunday, January 15, 2012: Lawrence, Kansas -

Joseph Thomas Collins, Jr. 1939 - 2012 Joe passed away Saturday, January 14, 2012, of a massive coronary at his vacation home on St. George Island, Florida.
He was born July 3, 1939, in Crooksville, Ohio, the son of Joseph Thomas Collins and Luvadelle Aichele Collins. After a childhood in Norwood, Ohio, he received an associates degree from the University of Cincinnati.
He wrote his first scientific paper in 1959 and his first book in l974. Since then, he has written over 300 scientific or semi-popular articles and 28 books.
At 19, Joe joined the recently formed regionally based Ohio Herpetological Society and immediately began to play a major role it its transformation into the internationally renowned Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles the worlds largest professional herpetological society. In his tenure Joe served the OHS/SSAR for over 40 years as an Editor, Secretary, Committee chair, and as its President in 1978.
In 1967 Joe joined the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History as a collections manager. He ultimately became the Editor of the Museums publications until his retirement on 5 September 1997 following a distinguished 30-year career. Notable achievements while at KU included his recognition as Conservationist of the Year by the Kansas Wildlife Federation, President of the Kansas Academy of Science, and the 1979 Classified Employee of the Year at KU.
Joe founded the Kansas Herpetological Society in 1974. Under Joes watchful eye, the KHS grew to be largest and most active academically based regional herpetology organization. Joe married Suzanne Cupp on 12 December 1984. They co-founded The Center for North American Herpetology in 1994 to benefit the amphibians, crocodilians, reptiles, and turtles of North America and the scientists that study them. CNAH and the KHS established the Collins Award in 1998 in honor of Joe and Suzannes contributions. Given annually, the Collins Award is the largest cash prize given for excellence in herpetological scholarship and photography.
Recently Joe enjoyed his research positions at the Kansas Biological Survey and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. He also found time to teach herpetology classes at the Regents Center in Overland Park and Washburn University.
Although his primary interest was in herpetology, he also published on mammalogy, ichthyology, systematics, and taxonomy.
Joe is the states most prolific author about Kansass wildlife. The Governor of Kansas proclaimed him the Kansas Wildlife Author Laureate in 1996. His titles include Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas (three editions), Fishes in Kansas, and Turtles in Kansas. He also co-authored the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America.
His parents and his brother, Jeffrey, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Suzanne, a brother Jerry and wife Kay, a daughter Nancy Weaver (Randy), a granddaughter Chelsea (Jamie), and one great-granddaughter Laiken, his mother-in-law, Juanita Hunter, six nephews, one niece and many students whom he considered semi-adopted.
A memorial service was held in the Woodruff Auditorium of the University of Kansas Memorial Union on Sunday 5 February 2012. Contributions in memory of Joe may be given to the charity of the donors choice or to the Collins Award through The Center for North American Herpetology (cnah.org).

In Memoriam: Julian Harrison
Thursday, May 21, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 May 2009

IN MEMORIAM JULIAN R. HARRISON (1934-2009)

Dr. Julian R. Harrison III, husband of Margaret N. Harrison, died peacefully at his home on May 15, 2009. He was 74. Dr. Harrison was born at Baker Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, on 23 August 1934. He was the son of Julian R. Harrison, Jr. and Elizabeth W. Harris Harrison. As a young child he became fascinated with natural history, and this interest was fostered by his parents and by two people at the Charleston Museum, Elizabeth D. Simons and E. Burnham Chamberlain. Simons directed Nature Trailers, an after-school group for children.

When Julian outgrew Nature Trailers, he was introduced to Chamberlain, Curator of Natural History, who allowed him to work in the collections area "behind the scenes" and to participate in field work for the museum. As a teenager, Julian spent many hours in low-country swamps and forests collecting amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians with boyhood friends such as the late John Quinby.

Julian graduated from the College of Charleston in 1956. He earned a Masters Degree at Duke University and a doctorate at the University of Notre Dame, conducting research on the salamanders of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. At Duke, he met his future wife, also a biologist. In 1963, Julian accepted a faculty position in the Biology Department at the College of Charleston, where he stayed until retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1994. He was an outstanding teacher who influenced many students (and other faculty members) and was well respected by his colleagues.

Julian continued his association with the Charleston Museum and also became active in groups such as the Charleston Natural History Society (now a chapter of the National Audubon Society), holding many positions on the CNHS Board, including President. For over a decade he compiled the Charleston Christmas and Spring Bird Counts. In 1980, he co-authored a field guide, "Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia." The University of North Carolina Press will release a revised edition of this guide later this year. After retiring from the College of Charleston, Julian continued his work as a professional herpetologist and naturalist. He was widely recognized as an expert on the salamanders of the southeastern United States. In 2003, he described a new species, Chamberlain's Dwarf Salamander (Eurycea chamberlaini), which he named in honor of his childhood mentor. Late in life, he developed a major interest in the freshwater mollusks of South Carolina. He spent many days as a volunteer, surveying animal populations at places such as Drayton Hall, Francis Beidler Forest, the Dill Refuge and the McAlhany Nature Preserve. Throughout his life, he awakened an interest in natural history in many people, and he freely shared his extensive knowledge of South Carolina and the southern Blue Ridge. To those who knew him, Julian was considered a true "southern gentleman."

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Margaret, son Andy of Charleston, South Carolina, daughter Susan Hall and her husband Donald of Woodstock, Georgia, and their daughters Katherine and Margerie Hall, and his sister Caroline H. Soles of St. Augustine, Florida, and her children, Thrad, Beth and Randy Soles. Contributions may be sent to the Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street, Charleston South Carolina, 29403.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Julian R. Harrison III.

In Memoriam: Karl Maslowski
Thursday, June 08, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
Karl H. Maslowski (1913-2006) photographed, chronicled wildlife around the globe

BY REBECCA GOODMAN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

ANDERSON TWP. - Karl H. Maslowski - a well-known wildlife photographer - wrote a column called "Naturalist Afield" for The Cincinnati Enquirer for more than 50 years.

Mr. Maslowski, 93, died Thursday at his home in Anderson Township (Ohio).

He photographed wildlife around the world, including the Canadian Arctic, the Caribbean jungle and Africa. Thousands of his writings and still photos appeared in books and magazines, including National Geographic, Life, Sports Afield and the Saturday Evening Post (as well as the spectacular cover of National Wildlife in the early 1960s showing a "blue" Bullfrog).

He was one of the first to show nature in all its glorious hues when he began using color film in the late 1930s. He produced more than 70 documentaries and contributed to several Walt Disney nature films including "Earthquake Lake" and "The Living Desert." Mr. Maslowski presented a nationwide lecture series for the Audubon Society and the Smithsonian, and provided footage for a prime-time TV nature series in Cleveland.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on Feb. 5, 1913, Mr. Maslowski moved with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio, the following year. At age 15 he befriended Christian Goetz, president of the Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. Mr. Maslowski helped Goetz, a duck hunter, band birds in the spring. Goetz purchased a camera and turned it over to Mr. Maslowski. His career as a wildlife photographer was born.

While attending evening college at the University of Cincinnati, Mr. Maslowski presented a 10-minute talk about local wildlife, which he illustrated with slides and short movies. His instructor was so impressed that he hired him to produce a series of wildlife programs for the university. Mr. Maslowski subsequently taught natural history and birding courses at the UC evening college.

In 1937, he asked Enquirer editors if he could write a weekly nature column. It appeared in the paper on Sundays until December 1988, interrupted only by his service as a combat motion picture cameraman for the Army Air Corps during World War II. A few years ago, he turned his business - Maslowski Wildlife Productions - over to his sons, Steve and Dave, both of Anderson Township.

Mr. Maslowski was a founder of the Cincinnati Nature Center and Oxbow Inc. In 1977, Miami University awarded him an honorary doctorate; and in 1978, Cornell University presented him the Arthur Allen Award.

His wife, Edna Hadler Maslowski, and a daughter, Karla Long, died previously.

Survivors include another son, Peter of Lincoln, Neb.; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. June 17 at T. P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave. in Mount Washington. Interment will be at Mount Washington Cemetery.

Memorials: Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Teal Town Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45150; Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45203-1130; or Oxbow Inc., P.O. Box 43391, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243.

In Memoriam: Leslie Edward Meade
Tuesday, December 07, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH

Leslie Edward Meade 1941-2004

Morehead, Kentucky - Leslie Edward Meade, 63, retired Morehead State University Professor of Biology, passed away Sunday, December 5, 2004, at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center in Lexington. A member of the MSU faculty from 1971 through May 2003, Les received his BS and MS degrees in biology and chemistry from MSU and the PhD in biological sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to joining the faculty at Morehead State, he taught at Stubenville College and Kent State University, East Liverpool, Ohio.

Les was a member of the Kentucky Academy of Science, Tennessee Academy of Science and the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. He had received several research grants, authored or co-authored numerous scientific articles that appeared in various professional journals, and presented a number of papers. Well known for his work in the areas of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles of Kentucky and vascular flora and small mammals of northeastern Kentucky, Les worked with the Northeast Kentucky Regional Science Fair for 21 years, taught courses on the subjects of snakes and mammals at various 4-H camps for several years, and spoke at schools throughout the region. He also made presentations at Carter Caves State Park and the U.S. Forest Service and had served as a consultant to several industrial projects. Les was probably best known to herpetologists for his work on Kentucky snakes.

Born October 21, 1941, in Syracuse, New York, Les was the son of Irene Swieck Meade of Suwanee, Georgia, and the late Leslie Elwood Meade. Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife, Donna Sublett Meade, whom he married December 23, 1967, and their children, Leslie Scott Meade of Lexington, Kentucky, and Marla Kaye Meade of St. Louis, Missouri. Other survivors include sisters Marcia Scott of Atlanta, Georgia, and Janice Williams of Suwanee, Georgia, half-brothers Ron Meade, George Meade, and Eric Meade, all of Erieville, New York, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, December 8, 2004, in Morehead, Kentucky; entombment was in Forest Lawn Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to the MSU Biology Department through the MSU Foundation, Palmer Development House, Morehead, Kentucky 40351.

In Memoriam: Margaret Stewart
Wednesday, September 20, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
In Memoriam Margaret Stewart (1927-2006)

Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences Margaret "Meg" Stewart passed away on 2 August 2006 after battling pancreatic cancer. Stewart was known for a lifetime of dedication to science, to the University, and to biological conservation. An outstanding teacher who lectured in many different courses, she was particularly interested in mentoring female students. Her graduate trainees are themselves a distinguished group of scientists and academics. Despite her advancing illness, she continued to attend student seminars and thesis defenses until very recently.

Known internationally for her studies of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles, Stewart joined the biology faculty of the University at Albany in 1956. While she officially retired in 1997, Stewart remained an active presence on campus as founding director of the Graduate Program in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy.

Associate Professor George Robinson of the Department of Biological Sciences said, "She spent a lifetime doing the difficult things that others shirked, and her fierce Scots integrity stands out in all her accomplishments."

Stewart was honored in June 2004 with a proclamation honoring her 12 years of service as a member of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. She played a leading role in the Eastern New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and was awarded the Oak Leaf Award in 1997. Stewart was the recipient of the University at Albany's Citizen Laureate Award in 1987. In June, the Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at UNC-Greensboro (her undergraduate alma mater) elected her as an alumna member in honor of her extraordinary career as a scientist and University professor.

Stewart wrote the landmark text, Amphibians of Malawi. One African frog, which she first collected, was later named for her (Phrynobatrachus stewartae) and is known as Stewart's Puddle Frog. She also studied the Mink Frog of the Adirondacks, the frogs of Jamaica, and the Coqui Frog of Puerto Rico. Her distinguished work on the Coqui resulted in an honorary doctorate from the University of Mayaguez in 1996.

In 1979, Stewart became the first woman to lead a professional herpetological organization when she was elected president of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) awarded her its Robert K. Johnson Award in 2005 for excellence in service to the society. The same year, she received the ASIH's highest award, the Henry S. Fitch Award, for long-term excellence in the study of amphibian, chelonian, and/or reptilian biology.

Survivors include her husband, George E. Martin, mathematics professor emeritus at the University at Albany; and her brother, John M. Stewart, a renowned peptide chemist at the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver; as well as two nieces and two nephews.

A memorial service will be announced in the fall. Gifts in Stewart's memory may be made to The University at Albany Foundation with notation for the Margaret Stewart Biodiversity Fund and sent to Sorrell Chesin at the foundation, UAB-201, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222.

In Memoriam: Michael Ewert
Saturday, June 11, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 June 2005

In Memoriam Michael Ewert

Michael Ewert, herpetologist at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, passed away on 7June 2005 from renal-cell carcinoma. Mike was a dedicated and skilled biologist who had diverse interests but specialized in turtle reproductive biology. He was a pioneer in studies of turtle embryology, incubation, development, and sex determination, and authored or co-authored many important publications on these topics. Mike taught and influenced many students and colleagues. Many herpetologists use successful turtle egg incubation techniques based on Mike's research and recommendations. His contributions to the conservation of turtles and understanding of their biology will go on long after his passing.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sincere sympathy to the Ewert family and friends.

In Memoriam: Nelson Hairston
Tuesday, August 05, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 August 2008

IN MEMORIAM NELSON HAIRSTON, SR. (1917-2008)
Noted Salamander Biologist

Nelson Hairston of Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died at age 90 in his sleep on 31 July 2008. He was an internationally renowned ecologist, known for his research on the structure of the communities of organisms in nature and as an early contributor to the field of ecological parasitology. Hairston was born on 16 October 1917 and grew up on his family's Cooleemee Plantation near Mocksville, North Carolina. His early schooling was at Virginia Episcopal School and he obtained BS and MS degrees in Zoology from the University of North Carolina. His PhD studies at Northwestern University, under the advice of Orlando Park, were interrupted by the Second World War, during which he served in the South Pacific working on malaria transmission and treatment. He returned to graduate study at the end of the war and completed his dissertation in 1949 studying the distribution of salamander species in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains.

Hairston married Martha Turner Patton of Swananoa, North Carolina, on 19 August 1942, and after completing his PhD the two of them moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he accepted a faculty position in Zoology at the University of Michigan. He served on the faculty at UM for 27 years, helping to establish there one of the premier programs in the nation in ecology. During this period, he also served for a decade as Director of the Museum of Zoology, and for extended periods as a consultant for the United Nations World Health Organization as an expert on schistosomiasis in the Philippines, Switzerland, Iraq, Kenya, Egypt, Western Samoa and Rhodesia.

In 1974, Hairston accepted a Kenan professorship in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina where he served for twelve years teaching a very popular course in Vertebrate Zoology. Near the end of his career, he was given the Eminent Ecologist Award of the Ecological Society of America and was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He retired in 1986 and soon thereafter wrote three books, one of which, "Ecological Experiments," was translated into several languages.

Nelson Hairston is survived by his wife, Martha of Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill; daughter, Margaret Hairston Searcy of Miami, Florida; son, Nelson G. Hairston, Jr., of Trumansburg, New York; and five grandchildren. His daughter, Martha Hairston Weston, died five years ago. Friends interested in making a donation in his memory are asked to contribute to the Graduate Student Fund of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of the University of Michigan, or to the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina, two departments to which he dedicated his career and remained deeply loyal.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors expresses its sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of Nelson Hairston.

In Memoriam: Phil Humphrey
Sunday, December 06, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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6 December 2009

IN MEMORIAM: PHILIP S. HUMPHREY (1926-2009)

Dr. Philip Strong Humphrey, 83, former director of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History from 1967 to 1995, died on 13 November 2009 at Brandon Woods, Lawrence, Kansas. Phil was born on 26 February 1926 in Hibbing, Minnesota, the son of Watts Sherman and Katharine Strong Humphrey. His family moved to Litchfield, Connecticut, when he was a young child and he graduated from The Forman School in Litchfield. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Phil graduated from Amherst College in 1949 and received a master’s degree and a doctorate in ornithology from the University of Michigan in 1955. He was an assistant professor of ornithology and curator of birds at the Peabody Museum at Yale University from 1957 to 1962. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1960-1961 to study the birds of Argentina. In 1962, he went to the Smithsonian Institution and served as curator of ornithology and then curator of vertebrate zoology until 1967.

*****

A RECOLLECTION

© 2009 by Joseph T. Collins

In 1967, Phil Humphrey was appointed director of the Museum of Natural History and professor of zoology at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He served in that position for 28 years until his retirement in 1995. During his tenure at the KU Museum of Natural History, he started a number of programs that endure to this day. In 1969, he encouraged Ray E. Ashton and me to establish the live snake exhibit on the sixth floor of the museum, an exhibit that remains as popular today as it was at its inception. In addition, he initiated a series of volumes on the vertebrates of Kansas that ran from 1974 to 1995 and resulted in the publication by the museum of eight books (all of them with me as author, co-author, or editor). The last book in this series was published in 1995.

I spent 28 of my nearly 30 years (1968-1997) in the KU Museum of Natural History with Phil Humphrey as its director. I think I was the first person he hired after he arrived. Obviously, we spent a fair amount of time together (he came out to fish for Largemouth Bass in my pond on numerous occasions), and a few of my memories of him might be of interest and are here briefly recounted (as best I can recollect). Both Phil and I were morning people, each arriving at the museum about 6:00 am. From the mid-1970s to the early 1990s, we would drink coffee together for an hour or so in his office. This took place two to three times each week when he was in town and was a pleasant (and sometimes interesting) way to begin the workday. Although I learned much from Phil about his personal philosophy for running a museum and his vision for it, I suspect he got as much out of these gatherings as I did. I soon determined that he was sometimes using me as a sounding board for new ideas or directions that he might (or might not) implement in the museum. I was flattered that he occasionally sought my opinion on how to resolve situations in the museum. On rare occasions he counted on me to let him know when potential problems needed his attention.

In 1972, he asked me to write "Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas," my first book (published in 1974) with the idea of beginning a series on the state of Kansas that would cover all vertebrate animals. But we didn't have much funding. So he "borrowed" money from elsewhere on campus with the promise to pay it back from sales of my book. Fortunately, he was able to do this, and thus began a long run of book publishing that lasted until just before his retirement in 1995. But first we had to raise more money, something not easy to do under the constraints before us at the time. So, although he never directly told me to do it, somehow I knew it was time to make some contacts in the corporate world and I did so. We were able to publish seven more books in the series. The set became the envy of many other museums and states across the nation, and provided a tremendous service to the people of Kansas. In between writing or editing the books, I continued to raise small amounts of money for Phil's various other projects -- we both continued to express amazement at the generosity of the entities that donated money to our museum, he with a twinkle in his eye as he sometimes mused about how they knew we needed such a specific amount for an individual project.

With Phil’s support and blessing, my position and responsibilities in the museum evolved through time. I started in the museum as a vertebrate preparator in the divisions of herpetology and ichthyology, a position that had all the attributes of a collection manager, although such a title was not in general use in natural history museums at the time. Eventually my responsibilities came to include managing editor of the museum's scientific publications. When the museum finally was able to hire a full-time collection manager for herpetology, Phil transferred me (at my request) to half-time editor, half-time zoologist in the division of ichthyology in 1987, and within a few years we had the good fortune to hire Kate Shaw as collection manager in ichthyology, and I became a full-time editor and managing editor. At my retirement, the business cards prepared for me by the museum listed my working titles as herpetologist and editor, positions only distantly related to my first responsibilities when I arrived at the museum back on 1 January 1968. During our morning meetings, Phil and I had often discussed and planned my changing duties (and titles); I was always amazed at his ability to make such things happen with little apparent discomfort to the museum community.

Phil Humphrey early on recognized that the KU Museum of Natural History needed good press, and I had long known that reptiles were very good press. Thus began an interesting quarter of a century of news coverage for the museum that kept us before the public eye statewide on an almost weekly basis. The highlight of this effort was reached in the mid-1980s when Phil came to me one day in the spring and asked if I would put together a set of all the newspaper clippings I had generated during the previous fiscal year. I agreed and asked why. He said, with a smile, that he wanted to show them to the Chancellor during budget discussions for the coming year.

My favorite memories of Phil were those times when Suzanne and I joined he and Mary Lou at their lovely Old West Lawrence home on Louisiana Street for dinner parties, usually with Bob and Sally Hoffmann. He never discussed the museum in these informal settings, and was simply a pleasant, relaxed host. I will always remember him fondly. And I will always be so deeply grateful that he let me pursue my dreams and ideas and projects while protecting me from those that might try to suppress them. He was my patrón.

*****

From various sources . . .

While at KU, Phil continued to do field work in Argentina, and in 1981 he discovered a new species of Steamer Duck. His publications include The Birds of Tierra del Fuego and various titles in the field of ornithology. He was also co-editor of The Darwin Reader. Phil was a member of the American Association of Museums, Sigma XI, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Ornithologists Union, and served on the boards of the National Audubon Society and the World Wildlife Fund.

Phil married Mary Louise Countryman on 1 January 1946. She survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Margaret Humphrey, Ashland, Oregon; a son, Dr. Stephen Humphrey and wife Susan, Santa Elena, Costa Rica; two brothers, Watts S. and wife Barbara, Sarasota, Florida, and William M. and wife Ruth, Auckland, New Zealand; a sister, Dorothy Bedell and husband, Peter, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania; two stepsisters, Anne Swain and husband Adrian, Sarasota, Florida, and Patricia Smith and husband Wally, Pittsburgh; a stepbrother, Peter Rowley and wife Terez, New York City; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed tying flies and making fly rods. He enjoyed many fly-fishing trips to various parts of the world. He especially enjoyed fly-fishing in Montana and Wyoming. He also loved playing the piano.

A celebration of life service for Philip Strong Humphrey was held on 16 November 2009 at Plymouth Congregational Church. Inurnment was in Pioneer Cemetery.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Phil. He was a great museum director and a kind person, and he will be missed so much by so many.

In Memoriam: R. C. Bothner
Saturday, March 01, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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1 March 2008

In Memoriam: Richard C. Bothner (1929-2008)

Dr. Richard C. Bothner, Professor Emeritus at St. Bonaventure University passed away at his home in the company of his wife Peg, early Friday morning, 15 February 2008. He was born in Bronx, New York, where he attended Fordham University and from which he received a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biology. In the interim period between these degrees, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force for three years. He and Peggy were married in 1958. He was hired as a Professor of Biology at St. Bonaventure in September of that same year where he quickly became a popular professor at the university until his retirement in 1993. Following retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus and continued to teach part time for several years.

Dick was a passionate naturalist, best known for his mischievous sense of humor and enthusiastic "snake lectures" delivered to countless schools and scouting troops throughout his career. He was a long time member of the three major herpetological societies and authored the SSAR catalog account for Thamnophis brachystoma. In New York, he was the authority on the herpetofauna of western New York, especially the Eastern Hellbender, Shorthead Garter Snake, and Wehrle's Salamander. His field work was cited in numerous publications and most recently he co-authored "The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State," published in 2007 by Oxford University Press.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to Dick's wife, Peg; sister, Patricia Carrol; Dick's children Carl (Rose) Bothner of Rochester, New York, Patricia (Miguel) Villafranca, Peter (Dionne) Bothner, Jane (William) Harkin, nine grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. We are all saddened by the loss of a great scientist, field companion and conservationist.

In Memoriam: R. F. Clarke
Friday, April 04, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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4 April 2008

IN MEMORIAM: ROBERT F. CLARKE (1919-2008)

Dr. Robert F. Clarke, Emporia, Kansas, passed away on, Wednesday, 2 April 2008, at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Kan. He was born 18 October 1919 in Portsmouth, Virginia, He married Elaine McNabb of Melvern, Kansas, in 1947. In 1948, he and Elaine moved to Emporia, Kansas, where he was a stationary engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad and a freelance illustrator. Dr. Clarke had always had a passion for reptiles, turtles, and amphibians, and had amassed a large collection of them. After a rain, one of the biology professors from Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) found him collecting frogs in a ditch and encouraged him to begin college to pursue his passion, which he did in 1952 at the age of 33. He completed his Bachelors Degree in 1955 and Masters Degree in Biology in 1957 at Emporia State University. He received a prestigious National Academy of Science Fellowship to complete his Doctorate in Zoology at the University of Oklahoma in 1963. The family returned to Emporia and he taught at Roosevelt High School on the Emporia State University campus, then became a Biology Department faculty member at Emporia State University in 1968. He was Chairman of the Department of Biology at Emporia State University from 1972 to 1979. He was Assistant to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs from 1969 to 1970, where he helped to start sabbatical leave and tenure policies. He retired from Emporia State University in 1985.

As a naturalist/educator, Robert Clarke taught several areas of biology for more than 30 years, published over 50 works on herpetology, established CPR training programs in Emporia, was instrumental in starting the Chickadee Check-Off Program to assist non-game research in Kansas, was a frequent speaker at colleges and universities as part of the American Institute of Biological Scientists, and was the editor, and editor emeritus, and one of the creators of the Kansas School Naturalist. As an artist/naturalist, he was ranked in the top 10 of Kansas wildlife artists. He designed and illustrated numerous association conference covers and illustrated several of the Kansas School Naturalists. He developed and illustrated over 100 cartoon-like panels entitled "Something Wild" that appeared in over 25 Kansas newspapers.

Dr. Clarke held the office of President for the following organizations: Southwest Association of Naturalists (1971), Kansas Herpetological Society (1972), and Kansas Academy of Science (1981). He was co-founder of the Kansas Conservation Forum and held over 20 professional memberships. Dr. Clarke received the following awards: The Robert L. Packard Outstanding Educator Award by the Southwestern Association of Naturalists (1989), Kansas Wildlife Federation Conservation Communicator Award (1991), The Governor's Kansas Conservationist of the Year Award (1982). He was a Distinguished Alumnus in 1991 from Emporia State University, Emeritus Professor (1986), and Xi Phi Outstanding Graduate Student in Biology from the University of Oklahoma (1961). In his primary profession of herpetology, the pinnacle of his long and productive career was being invested as a Distinguished Life Member of the Kansas Herpetological Society.

Robert is survived by a daughter, Linda Clarke (Emporia), son, John Clarke (Wichita), and four granddaughters, Jessica, Lacy, Tara, and Kristi Clarke (Wichita). His wife, Elaine preceded him in death. He loved his family, lizards and nature, his art and friends, his Model A, making jokes and laughter. His smile and Virginia accent will be missed.

Modified from an obituary published in the Topeka Capital-Journal on 4 April 2008.

*****

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Robert F. Clarke. He will be missed by us all.

*****

In Memoriam: Ray Ashton
Friday, March 19, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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19 March 2010

IN MEMORIAM: RAY E. ASHTON (1945-2010)

© Joseph T. Collins, 2010

Ray E. Ashton, Jr., a well-known herpetologist who specialized in Gopher Tortoise conservation and operated a research and conservation facility devoted to them in Archer, Florida, died on 11 March 2010 of pancreatic cancer. He was 64. Ray was head of the Ashton Biodiversity Research and Preservation Institute, a 200-acre preserve near Watermelon Pond in southwestern Alachua County. The facility includes an office, laboratory, library, herbarium, wet-lab, limited researcher/student housing, tortoise isolation and breeding facilities, and a diversity of native habitats.

Ray was born in Middletown, Ohio, on 30 March 1945 and came of age in herpetology at an auspicious time in the Buckeye state. During his teenage years in southwestern Ohio, he soon met an astonishing number of budding herpetologists from across that state, like-minded folks whose interest in these animals was so intense and so compelling that, to this day, they are often referred to (sometimes affectionately, sometimes otherwise) as "The Ohio Mafia." And Ray was one of them, pursuing undeterred with a single-minded purpose the knowledge necessary to have a notable career in herpetology that spanned nearly a half century.

In 1971, Ray Ashton received a master's degree in biology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a thesis entitled "A Study of the Movements, Home Range, and Winter Behavior of Desmognathus fuscus (Rafinesque)." He went on to write many scientific articles as well as handbooks to the reptiles, turtles, crocodilians, and amphibians of Florida, and in 2008 published his best-known work, “The Natural History and Management of the Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus (Daudin),” co-authored with his wife, colleague, best-friend, and close companion, Pat. He was also co-owner of Ashton, Ashton and Associates, an environmental consulting firm that specializes in sustainable and environmentally sound projects with an emphasis on ecotourism, tourism, greenways, parks, museums, and similar developments.

Ray also served on a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission panel that helped draft guidelines for the protection of Gopher Tortoises, classified as a threatened species in the state. His conservation efforts also took him around the world and across the nation. He was one of the founders of a number of herpetological organizations in several states, including those in North Carolina and Florida.

Ray Ashton served as education director at two state museums (in Lawrence, Kansas, at the KU Museum of Natural History and in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the State Museum of Natural Science), as director of travel planning for three major travel firms including the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and worked for two consulting firms before semi-retiring to found the institute and develop the Ashton research station.

His mother, Betty, wife Patricia, children Kevin and Elizabeth, and grandchild Xander survive Ray. For more information about Ray Ashton's accomplishments, please see

AshtonBiodiversity.org

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Ashton Fund at

SunTrust Bank
14420 West Newberry Road
Newberry, Florida 32669-2765

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Ray Ashton, particularly to Patricia. Ray was a champion of all wildlife, and a fun person to be with in the field; his passing is a great loss to us all. Many a Gopher Tortoise will safely walk a Florida sand ridge because Ray was alive and watchful in protecting them.

In Memoriam: Roger Conant
Friday, December 19, 2003: Albuquerque, New Mexico - USFWS
Roger Conant, co-author with Joseph T. Collins of the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 94 on 19 December 2003, at about 12:30 am in Albuquerque from cancer. His final wishes for cremation and no funeral will be honored. There will be a memorial service in his honor at the University of New Mexico in January 2004.

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sincere sympathy to the Conant family and friends.

In Memoriam: Ron Goellner
Monday, February 27, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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27 February 2006

In Memoriam Ronald Goellner (1945-2006)

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Ron Goellner, Director of Animal Collections at the Saint Louis Zoo. Ron passed away early this morning, February 26, 2006, in the comfort of his home with his loving wife Karen at his side. The entire Saint Louis Zoo community is profoundly saddened by the loss of a man who touched the lives of so many, yet we know that Ron would be the first to tell us to "keep smilin." You cannot conjure memories of Ron and not follow his advice, because he sowed smiles wherever he went.

Born on November 4, 1945, Ron’s career at the Saint Louis Zoo spanned 35 years. He started in the Reptile House in 1970 as a keeper and within a few years was promoted to Curator of Reptiles, a position he held until 1995. For the past ten years, Ron served as the Director of Animal Collections for the Zoo. Although Ron was intensely interested in all reptiles and amphibians, his true passions were Tuataras and Hellbenders. In 1980, Ron traveled to Stephen’s Island in New Zealand to collect environmental data that could be utilized in the construction of a new off-exhibit enclosure for the Zoo’s Tuatara group, which have been in the collection since 1973. In recent years, Ron founded the Center for Hellbender Conservation, which included the construction of a dedicated off-exhibit facility for captive propagation efforts. In addition, he established valuable links with the Missouri Department of Conservation, universities, etc. to forge ahead with cooperative in situ initiatives for the Hellbender in Missouri.

Ron was an avid gardener and had built several ponds around his house to attract local amphibians. He enjoyed a wide array of outdoor activities and particularly loved camping in the Big Bend region of Texas as well as the mountains of southeastern Arizona.

Ron was my zoo mentor and colleague, but most of all he was a dear friend who I will miss.

Jeff Ettling
Curator of Herpetology
Saint Louis Zoo

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Ron Goellner.

In Memoriam: Sean McKeown
Friday, July 19, 2002: Honolulu, Hawaii - Modified from the Star Bulletin 17 July 2002
Herpetologist Sean McKeown, former curator of reptiles at the Honolulu Zoo, died Thursday, July 11th, 2002, at Stanford Medical Center in California. He was 58 years old. McKeown spent twenty years as a curator of reptiles at the Honolulu Zoo and the Chafee Zoological Gardens in Fresno, California. During that time, he helped promote the importance of conservation and captive management and breeding of endangered reptiles and amphibians worldwide. McKeown was an expert on ecology and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. He wrote more than 100 articles on the care and breeding of reptiles and amphibians. His most important published work was Hawaiian Reptiles and Amphibians, which today remains the standard reference to the herpetofauna of the islands. McKeown remained an advocate for Hawaiian wildlife preservation after he moved to Los Osos, California, from Hawaii. He worked closely with former Honolulu Zoo director Paul Breese to help keep Brown Tree Snakes out of Hawaii. The country has lost one of its most brilliant, hardworking and active leaders in wildlife conservation of this era. CNAH extends its deepsest sympathy to the family and numerous friends of Sean McKeown.

In Memoriam: Thom Lewis
Thursday, June 30, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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29 June 2011

IN MEMORIAM: THOMAS EUGENE LEWIS (1960-2011)

Thom Lewis died on 23 June 2011 in a plane crash on Eglin Air Force Base in the panhandle of Florida. He was 50. Thom was the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist for St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge from 1992 to 2008. He was a constant advocate for conservation of the herpetofauna on the island refuge, particularly the Gopher Tortoises and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes that lived there in such abundance. In addition, he promoted many research projects that were eventually funded and accomplished. More recently, he was a wildlife pilot for the USFWS, primarily involved with migratory bird programs. When he died in the crash, he was doing what he loved.

Thom was born on 15 October 1960 in Pasadena, Maryland. He received his Bachelors Degree in 1985 from the University of Maryland and was pursuing a Masters Degree from Texas A&M University at the time of his death. Thom oversaw the endangered Red Wolf Program for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on St. Vincent NWR from 1992 to 2008, and one of his many legacies is the more than twenty Red Wolf pups that were born, survived to adulthood, and were transferred to repatriation programs at other areas across the nation.

Earlier this year, Joe Collins, Suzanne Collins, and Travis Taggart published a 48-page booklet entitled "A Pocket Guide to the Snakes of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge¬—Florida." In it, the dedication reads: "Dedicated to Thomas E. Lewis, who watched over the island and kept it wild." The magnificent beauty and primal majesty of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge remains today as a testament to his wise and vigilant stewardship.

Thom is survived by JoAnne, his wife of over twenty years. A fund to help her with funeral expenses has been set up at

Superior Bank
P.O. Box 699
Apalachicola, Florida 32329

Condolences may be sent to JoAnne Lewis, P.O. Box 712, Apalachicola, Florida 32329.

In memory of Thom, please send donations to the

Florida Wild Mammal Association
198 Edgar Poole Road
Crawfordville, Florida 32327

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Thom Lewis, particularly to JoAnne. Thom was a champion of all wildlife, and a fun person to be with in the field; his passing is a great loss to us all.

In chronological order, a brief bibliography of the published herpetological papers by Thomas E. Lewis includes:

Means, D. Bruce and Thomas E. Lewis. 1997. Geographic distribution: Amphiuma means.Herpetological Review 28(1): 47.

Peacock, Terry and Thomas E. Lewis. 2000. Geographic distribution: Deirochelys reticularia. Herpetological Review 31(2): 110–111.

Thomas E. Lewis and Joseph T. Collins. 2000. Geographic Distribution: Regina rigida. Herpetological Review 31(3): 187.

Lewis, Thomas E., Lisa K. Irwin, and Kelly J. Irwin. 2001. Geographic distribution: Pseudemys nelsoni. Herpetological Review 32(2): 117.

Lewis, Thomas E. and Kelly J. Irwin. 2001. Geographic distribution: Macrochelys temminckii. Herpetological Review 32(4): 274.

Irwin, Kelly J., Thomas E. Lewis, Jay D. Kirk, Suzanne L. Collins, and Joseph T. Collins. 2003. Status of the Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) on St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Franklin County, Florida. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 7: 13–20.

Lewis, Thomas E. 2006. St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge Fish. Amphibian, Reptile and Mammal List. Publication of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Apalachicola, Florida. 8 pp.

In Memoriam: V. R. McDaniel
Tuesday, August 04, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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4 August 2009

IN MEMORIAM VAN RICK MCDANIEL (1945-2009)

Van Rick McDaniel, former Professor of Zoology and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, passed away on 31 July 2009 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Peggy McDaniel, two sisters, Sherry and Betty, three sons, Nathaniel, Jonathan, and Zachary, five daughters, Kimberly, Lana, Catherine, Stacey, and Cynthia, and numerous grandchildren.

Born on 29 October 1945, Rick received his Bachelor of Science Degree in biology and chemistry (1967), and Masters Degree in biology and geology (1969), both at Texas A&I University, and his Doctorate in zoology and paleontology in 1973 from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He began his academic career as an assistant professor of zoology at Arkansas State University in 1973, and remained at that institution until his retirement as an administrator 35 years later.

Although primarily a mammalogist, Rick maintained a steady interest in amphibians, reptiles, and turtles throughout his distinguished career, publishing a total of 22 papers on them during the span from 1969-1999. He chaired or served on the committees of many students that studied herpetofauna, and some of them went on to academic careers in herpetology, most notably Chris T. McAllister, Brian Butterfield, and Walter E. Mashaka, Jr. As an adminstrator at Arkansas State University, he was responsible for bringing to the faculty the well-known and distinguished herpetologist, Stanley Trauth.

*****

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Rick McDaniel. He will be missed by all who knew him.

In Memoriam: Wilfred T. Neill, Jr.
Monday, February 26, 2001: Wilfred T. Neill, Jr., died on February 19, 2001, of pulmonary pneumonia. He was 79. Neill was born in Augusta, Georgia, on January 12, 1922. He received a B.S. from University of Georgia in 1941 (at age 19). After serving in the Army Air Force in W.W. II, he taught at Augusta Junior College, attaining the rank of Professor of Zoology. From 1949 to 1962, he was Research Director at Ross Allen's Reptile Institute. He did some graduate work at the University of Florida in 1964, but left without completing his doctoral degree. He continued to publish research articles and books through the 1960s and 1970s, yielding a cumulative total of about 300 articles and six books (including four for Columbia University Press) in herpetology, biogeography, archaeology, anthropology and various other fields. His health declined steadily after a near-fatal snakebite in 1978. He was a resident at MeadowView Life Center (formerly Lakeland Health Care Center) in Lakeland, Florida, since 1985. He is survived by his son, W. Trammell Neill, III, and his grandson, Daniel B. Neill. A "Biographical Sketch and Bibliography of Wilfred T. Neill" was published in 1993 by the Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service (No. 95). The bibliography is fairly comprehensive. In 1966, Sam Telford honored Neill by describing a new subspecies of snake for him, Tantilla relicta neilli. In addition, Wilfred T. Neill described the following North American taxa: Amphiuma pholeter (1964), Pseudobranchus striatus lustricolus (1951), Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni (1949), and Farancia erytrogramma seminola (1964). CNAH expresses its sympathy and support to the family and friends of Wilfred T. Neill, Jr. He will be missed by all of the herpetological community.

In Memoriam: Wilmer Tanner
Tuesday, November 01, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
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1 November 2011

IN MEMORIAM WILMER W. TANNER (1909–2011)

Dr. Wilmer W. Tanner passed away 28 October 2011 surrounded by his family. Almost two years ago, he was honored on his 100th birthday by family, friends, and colleagues for his ethical hard work and contribution to all of our lives as well as the many lives he has touched over the course of his long and productive career. In 1934, Wilmer chose wisely and married Helen Brown. His wife, Helen Tanner, of 60 years, preceded him in death. He then married Otella Tyndal Devey Tanner who passed away in 1999. His parents, two brothers, Ray and Vasco, and two sisters, Lura and Jean, also preceded him. Two sons and a daughter, Dr. Lynn Tanner, David W. Tanner, and Mary Ann Barnett, as well as ten grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, survive him.

Wilmer was born on 17 December 1909, in Sanpete County, Utah, to John Myron and Lois Ann Stevens Tanner. He received a BS and MA degree from Brigham Young University in Zoology. He taught at Provo High School then obtained his PhD in herpetology from the University of Kansas. He then returned to BYU as a faculty member in 1949. Professor Tanner was focused on research throughout his life with many scientific publications. His graduate students were treated as family members and were all deeply embraced and cared for by this world-renowned naturalist and teacher. The noble and principled example Wilmer maintained over his 101 years generated great intellectual and social benefits to academia. His singular contribution to his profession has been impressive.

From 1960 to 1967, Wilmer edited the journal Herpetologica and succeeded in saving its host organization, the Herpetologists League, from financial collapse. Wilmer was also heavily involved in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was appointed in 1961 (and reappointed in 1966) as secretary-treasurer of the Utah Academy, and elected president of same in 1969 (serving through 1971).

Professor Wilmer Tanner was appointed as the curator of the BYU Life Science Museum in 1972 and quickly began working towards a building for the University's collection. He worked closely with Monte L. Bean and convinced him to fund the construction of a Life Science Museum building. Monte Bean also decided to donate his extensive trophy collection to the University to augment its life science collection. Wilmer oversaw the construction of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum and was quite pleased with the results. Wilmer also worked diligently to create an endowment for the museum. The Bean Museum opened its doors in 1978. At the time of his death, Wilmer was looking forward to the upcoming ground breaking on the expansion of the Museum and was actively engaged in writing and publishing family and museum history. Wilmer set a high bar. The last several years of his life were lived at the Courtyard at Jamestown.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Monte L. Bean Museum, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Lithobates Liver Lust
Thursday, November 04, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 195
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 November 2010

LEOPARD FROG TISSUE SAMPLES NEEDED

I am a graduate student at Black Hills State University (BHSU) and a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service in the Wall Ranger District. I am working on a graduate project involving hybridization, morphology, and habitat preferences of the Northern (Lithobates pipiens) and Plains (Lithobates blairi) Leopard frogs in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. I will be collecting frogs from South Dakota and Nebraska for genetic analysis. The genetic analysis will be used to study hybridization between the two species in the South Dakota/Nebraska/Black Hills area. In an effort to reduce the amount of travel involved in sampling North Dakota and Kansas I am looking for tissue samples of Plains or Northern Leopard frogs from either Kansas or North Dakota. Tissue samples would be much appreciated.

To set up delivery of samples to the university and for any questions, my contact information is below.

Many thanks for any help you can offer.

Alex Grant
954-812-1159 (cell)
605-279-2125 (work)
abgrant@fs.fed.us

Lithobates Loss
Tuesday, April 28, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 174
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 April 2009

LOOKING AT LEOPARD FROG LOSS

I am a graduate student at Marshall University in Thomas Pauley's Herpetology lab. Dr. Pauley and I have been working on a distribution and status study for Lithobates (formerly Rana) pipiens in West Virginia and have achieved some interesting results. I have found a sharp decline of this species throughout the state. In addition, several well-known West Virginia populations that have been present since the 1960s are no longer extant. I currently have one viable population of the Northern Leopard Frog in the state, and this is cause for concern. I am unsure of the cause of the decline of this species and Dr. Pauley and I were wondering if anyone has heard of any of trends similar to this with the species in other states? Any information about this topic would be very helpful. I can be contacted at the email address below.

Amanda Spriggs
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
spriggs@marshall.edu

Lithobates Lust Looms
Friday, June 05, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 176
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 June 2009

LITHOBATES LUST LOOMS

My lab is in need of six to twelve adult male Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens) as soon as possible. Our normal suppliers are all out of stock and we have gravid females ready to lay eggs.

I can pay for any shipping costs. Any help would be much appreciated. Specimens must be obtained under a valid scientific collecting permit from their state of origin.

Jason Rohr
Integrative Biology
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 110
Tampa, Florida 33620
(813) 974-0156
jrohr@cas.usf.edu

Masticophis Motion Monitored
Thursday, October 13, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 63
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 October 2005

Masticophis Movement to be Monitored

A student and I are conducting some behavioral trials of anti-predator behavior in lizards and we are in need of a few more live individuals of the Coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum. We have a couple, but the weather has turned cold in Oklahoma and we have doubts that we can capture more before the active season ends. Does anyone have live Coachwhips that we could borrow? It would be best if they were 30-100 cm in length. The animals would not be harmed and would be returned in good condition after a few weeks of trials. We have an IACUC permit to conduct the work here at Oklahoma State University.

If you have a snake that you would be willing to loan to us for a bit, please contact me.

Dr. Stanley Fox
Oklahoma State University
Department of Zoology
430 Life Sciences West
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-3052
405/744-9682
Fax: 405/744-7824
foxstan@okstate.edu

Necturus Needed
Wednesday, April 19, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 80
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 April 2006

Midwest Mudpuppy Molecules

I am currently working on an undergraduate project involving population genetics of the Common Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. I need samples from the Ohio River and Illinois River populations (Detroit River samples have already been obtained) to compare geographically distinct populations. If anyone has access to known populations in these areas, I would appreciate blood (preferably), tissue, or saliva samples. Also, if any museum or university has specimens with known localities, information on those specimens would also be appreciated.

Thank you.

Rachel Bradfield
Biological Sciences
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
rbradfi@bgsu.edu

Neoseps Notes Needed
Monday, February 06, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 70
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 February 2006

SAND SKINK LOCALITY DATA REQUEST

We are working on compiling range-wide locality data of the Sand Skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) in Florida. The goal of our project is to determine the macro-scale habitat characteristics affecting skink distribution and to quantify the lands where skinks occur (e.g., private, protected, developed) to determine how development has affected populations over time. All data contributed will be kept confidential and only broad-scale range maps or locations will appear in publications stemming from this research.

If you have data on Sand Skink occurrences (either visual sightings or sightings of Sand Skink trails left in the sand) that you are willing to contribute, all we need is the year of the observation and the approximate location. Any locality information you have is useful – ranging from exact GPS coordinates to general localities (i.e., XXX State Park). Also, we will take the data in any format (i.e., photocopied field notes, email correspondence, etc.), and every record contributed is important to the success of this project.

All contributions will be properly acknowledged, and if you would like more information about our project, please feel free to contact me. We would like to receive all observation data by 1 March 2006, if possible.

Thank you for taking the time to read this; please direct any inquiries to:

David Pike
Ecologist, Research Coordinator
Environmental Services Group
Glatting Jackson, Inc.
33 East Pine Street
Orlando, Florida 32801
work: 407-284-4718
cell: 443-570-1395
fax: 407-839-1789
dapike22@hotmail.com

Nerodia Data Needed
Wednesday, November 22, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 105
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 November 2006

WATER SNAKE DATA WANTED AT WU

I am writing to request body size and/or head dimension data for both males and females in the snake genera Nerodia as well as Seminatrix and Regina. These data will be used to examine patterns of SSD in Water Snakes (both intra- and interspecific). As such, multiple populations of multiple species are necessary. I am trying to get the maximum geographic coverage possible for these species. Necessary data include: species, sex, SVL and/or mass, head length, head width, locality represented by data (at least county and state), citation (if published data). If you are willing to provide published (or unpublished) data or have questions, please contact me at

gifford@biology2.wustl.edu

Thank you for your assistance.

Matthew E. Gifford
PhD Candidate
Campus Box 1137
Department of Biology
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri 63130
(314) 935-5302 (office)

Pituophis Phylogeography
Wednesday, March 25, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 166
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 March 2009

COMPARATIVE PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE EASTERN PINE SNAKE

We are using molecular markers to study the phylogeography of the Eastern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), with special reference to potential restoration sites and other conservation issues for this species in the northeastern portion of its range. As such, we seek tissue samples (including shed skins) from all states within the distribution of the Eastern Pine Snake. Samples must be legally collected and come with locality and collector information, and we will acknowledge all contributors in our published reports. If you have available tissue samples that meet those requirements, please contact us for shipping information:

Michael Grundler
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Corson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853-2701
mcg28@cornell.edu

Harry W. Greene
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Corson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853-2701
hwg5@cornell.edu
607-254-4265

Plestiodon Procurement
Friday, June 09, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 85
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 June 2006

I am studying skinks of the Plestiodon (Eumeces) laticeps group and need to acquire a few specimens (5 males, 5 females) each of P. obsoletus and P. septentrionalis to study in the lab. If anyone is doing work (with appropriate permits) within the range of these lizards and has additional specimens available, I would much appreciate hearing from them. I would be happy to pay for shipping. Thank you

Charles M. Watson
Doctoral Candidate
The University of Texas at Arlington
cwatson@uta.edu

Plethodon Paratype Pursuit
Wednesday, December 03, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 155
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 December 2008

PLETHODON PARATYPE PURSUIT

I am trying to determine the disposition of C. S. Brimley's personal collection of herpetological specimens, more specifically with regard to the paratypes of Plethodon clemsonae. Two of the paratypes (CSB 7763 & Clemson College 69) have been found at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

The third specimen (CSB 7762) was kept in Brimely's personal collection, as mentioned by Brimley (1927). A check of the North Carolina State Museum in Raleigh did not turn up this paratype. If anyone has information about CSB 7762, I would much appreciate hearing from them.

Thank you.

Richard Montanucci
Clemson University
rrmnt@clemson.edu

Pseudacris Data Needed
Thursday, October 21, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 12
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 October 2004

Pseudacris Locality Information Needed

I am trying to locate areas in the southeastern U.S. where the Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) and the Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita) can be found calling sympatrically. Areas where they call in the same ponds would be best, but otherwise, areas where they overlap geographically are very useful also. I have already located and worked in sympatric populations in Florida, southwestern Georgia, and Virginia. I need help finding sympatric populations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and eastern Georgia. If you are willing to go through your field notes to check for information on localities in these states, I would be extremely grateful for any leads. This information will help me to complete a study of geographic variation in advertisement calls in these two species. Your assistance would be most valuable. Please send any information to me at

chorusfrog@mail.utexas.edu

Thank you!

Emily C. Moriarty Lemmon, Ph.D. Candidate
Section of Integrative Biology (C0930)
Patterson Lab 141, 24th and Speedway
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712-1064
office/lab phone: 512-471-5302
FAX: 512-471-3878
chorusfrog@mail.utexas.edu

Pseudacris Decline Data
Saturday, July 22, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 89
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 July 2006

PSEUDACRIS DECLINE DATA DESIRED

I'm gathering information about Chorus Frog (Pseudacris) declines across the North American continent as part of a project with Emily Moriarty-Lemmon, Alan Lemmon, and David Cannatella (University of Texas-Austin). I am interested in when, where, and why (if possible) the declines occurred, but where is most important component.

I would be interested in hearing from state or provincial herpetologists as to the conservation status of all their species of Pseudacris (common, threatened, endangered, etc.). I already have information on this species for Pennsylvania, but would be most interested in data (published or unpublished) from other states and provinces.

I can be contacted at:

Joseph T. Collins
State Herpetologist
Kansas Biological Survey
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66047
jcollins@ku.edu

Pseudacris Microsatellites
Monday, November 01, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 14
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 November 2004

Pseudacris Microsatellites

I am interested in contacting anyone who is developing (or knows of the development) of microsatellite primers for frogs of the genus Pseudacris. I am working on Pseudacris maculata population genetics in Yellowstone National Park. I am looking for microsatellite loci that are available (or soon to be available) for this or closely related species. I have found the Call 1998 reference which contains Pseudacris (Hyla) regilla primers, but have found no additional published microsatellite loci. My goal is to have a total of 15 microsatellites for the project, so I would be very interested in exchanging primer sets if I end up pulling some of my own or making other arrangements for collaboration. If anyone can assist me in this, please contact me at

Melanie Murphy
PhD Candidate
School of Biological Sciences
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington 99164
(509) 335-8015
mamurphy@wsu.edu

Pyromelana Pursuit Posted
Monday, April 05, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 April 2009

SONORAN MOUNTAIN KINGSNAKE SURVEY SET

Great Basin National Park and the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be hosting the fifth annual Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) survey from 24 May to 31 May 2010. During these surveys, we've accumulated an impressive amount of information about these secretive and rare snakes in the Great Basin and much of this is due to directly to the efforts of talented and dedicated volunteers.

Contact me for additional information if you think you might like to participate.

Bryan Hamilton - Wildlife Biologist
100 Great Basin National Park
Baker, Nevada 89311
(775) 234-7331 ext. 255 (775) 293-2518 (cell)
(775) 234-7210 (fax)
bryan_hamilton@nps.gov

Rana Research Request
Tuesday, October 04, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 60
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 October 2005

Frog Data Desired

I would like to contact herpetologists involved in size-assessment of amphibian populations of species that are of commercial interest. For example, in the U.S. specimens of the Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) are harvested in order to obtain the legs, which are sold on the commercial market (for consumption in restaurants).

We are requesting information because, in the Danube Delta of Romania, there have been requests submitted by various commercial firms for a license for frog-leg exploitation. Before issuing a permit to them, we feel we must establish a quota for existing frog populations, which might then put limits on the number to be harvested for the commercial market.

To set a quota, we are trying to find out any rsearch details or results that focused both on assessments of numbers of frogs in a given population and on establishment of numbers of frogs that might be removed from said population without long term damage to the a species.

Anyone involved in such research and willing to provide reprints or research results, please contact me at:

Zsolt TÖRÖK
Danube Delta National Institute
165, Babadag Street
Tulcea 820112
Tulcea County, Romania
(+04) 0240 524546, 534548, 524550
Fax (+04) 0240 533547
torok@indd.tim.ro

Regina Request
Thursday, July 31, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 145
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 July 2008

QUEEN SNAKE TISSUE SAMPLES SOUGHT

The Harper Lab at Hendrix College (Conway, Arkansas) is working on a DNA-based project to analyze the Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata) and we are looking for tissue samples from throughout the range of this species. We are starting with a number of samples from the disjunct population in the interior highlands of Arkansas and want to analyze that group in comparison with populations within the main part of this species distribution.

Samples can take the form of shed skin, bone, scale clippings, tail clippings (in ethanol), muscle or liver samples (in ethanol or frozen), or entire dead snakes (frozen). We are not set up to work on tissue that has been fixed in formalin, so we are not interested in those type of samples at this time.

If you have or know of any tissue samples that you would be willing to donate for our project, please contact me to discuss what you have available and how to ship it. We are willing to cover the cost of shipping. All samples need to be from legally collected specimens and we need to know date and location of collection.

Thanks to all in advance for help with this project.

George R. Harper
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Hendrix College
1600 Washington Avenue
Conway, Arkansas 72032-3080
501-450-1359 Office
501-450-4547 Fax
harper@hendrix.edu

Rhyacotriton Remains
Monday, March 30, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 167
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 March 2009

RHYACOTRITON REMAINS REQUESTED

We are trying to complete a synoptic skeletal collection of North American salamanders, at least at the family level. The only family we currently do not have represented in our holdings is Rhyacotritonidae. We wish to obtain a few specimens (must be adults) of Rhyacotriton. Since we want skeletons (which we can prepare here), the specimens to not have to be fluid perfect and we don't even have to have exact collection data. Perhaps there are folks out there, for example, doing drift fence studies in Rhyacotriton territory with some on-site mortality. We certainly would pay any shipping involved with getting a few deceased specimens.

Dennis Parmley
Paleoherpetology Lab
Georgia College & State University
dennis.parmley@gcsu.edu
(478) 445-0817

Sceloporus Search
Wednesday, October 25, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 101
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 October 2006

SCELOPORUS SEARCH FOR STUART

I am seeking citations and (if available) reprints of journal articles, books and book chapters, masters theses, doctoral dissertations, symposium proceedings, papers in press, etc. that concern Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii) for a comprehensive literature review I am preparing for this species. Please send any information to my regular mail or email address below. Thanks in advance.

James N. Stuart
NMDGF-CSD
P. O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-5112
jnstuart61@yahoo.com

Spea Samples Sought
Tuesday, October 31, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 102
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 October 2006

SEEKING SPADEFOOT SAMPLES

I seek tissue samples from the Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons) for use in a phylogeographic study. I am especially interested in collections from central New Mexico and southern Texas. Any samples from Nebraska northward would also be of interest. I can only use tissues that have been either frozen or preserved in 95% ethanol.

If anyone has samples of Spea bombifrons from these areas (or anywhere else) and is willing to share, please contact me at

arice@email.unc.edu

or at the address below to arrange shipping.

Please do not collect specimens from any location unless you have a scientific collecting permit; please also note that state hunting licenses cannot be used to collect scientific specimens in a number of states; specimens taken with a hunting license generally are for personal use only and such specimens are not transferable to any entity, scientific or otherwise. Check your state regulations carefully before collecting specimens.

Thank you for your help.

Amber Rice
Graduate Student
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Biology Department
CB 3280 Coker Hall
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
(919) 962-3595
http://www.unc.edu/~arice/

Storeria Shed Stash Search
Friday, August 25, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 94
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 August 2006

I am writing a natural history note regarding site fidelity during ecdysis in the Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi). If anyone is aware of any other instances of site fidelity during ecdysis in snakes in general or the Brown Snake in particular, I would very much appreciate a reprint or reference. Any personal observations would be greatly appreciated and acknowledged if used with the article. Thank you in advance.

Brian S. Gray
1217 Clifton Drive
Erie, Pennsylvania 16505-5215
(814) 453-4679
no email address available

Terrapene Tissue Travels
Thursday, April 02, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 168
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 April 2009

TERRAPENE TISSUE TRAVELS

With the field season fast approaching, Jim Koukl and I at the University of Texas at Tyler once again solicit any party interested in the conservation of North American Box Turtles (Terrapene spp.) to collect tissue samples from throughout their range for us. The recent economy and a freeze on travel by the University of Texas system precludes us from traveling extensively at this time, which is why we need the help of willing volunteers. We are interested in tissue samples from any of the various species and subspecies of the genus Terrapene found in North America. We are able to obtain DNA from toe nails, toes, tail clips, shell shavings, blood, livers, and any type of muscle tissue. Toe nail clips are probably the easiest to collect and the least invasive, because they grow back. We are interested in samples from both live and dead turtles.Pets (if you have some idea from where they were collected) and roadkill will work fine. We are interested in samples from animals preserved in ethanol and formalin. If you are interested in helping, please let me know and I can provide you with tissue sample collection kits, more details, and answers to any other questions you may have. Thank you.

John S. Placyk, Jr.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Boulevard
Tyler, Texas 75799
903-566-7147
John_Placyk@uttyler.edu

The Collins Award for 1998
Sunday, November 08, 1998: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
8 November 1998

First Collins Award goes to KU Medical Center Student

At the Saturday night (7 November) banquet of the Silver Anniversary Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society, Travis W. Taggart, first-year doctoral student at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, was chosen as the first recipient of the Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Taggart received his undergraduate degree in Kansas at Fort Hays State University, a Masters Degree from Southeast Louisiana State University in Hammond, and is currently enrolled at the KU Medical Center in pursuit of a doctoral degree in molecular biology. At the banquet, James L. Knight, formerly of Salina and now curator at the South Carolina State Museum, representing The Center for North American Amphibians and Reptiles, joined KHS President John Lokke in presenting Taggart with a commemorative plaque and a check for $1000.00, to the applause of the 150 meeting participants from across the state and nation. The Collins Award is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and one of the largest annual presentations made nationally to further research on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. Recipients of The Collins Award, established in the early 1990s with an endowment from Western Resources, are selected from among those scientific talks and papers about Kansas amphibians, turtles, and reptiles that were given or published in the preceding two years (1996 and 1997). The award-winning paper published by Taggart, Status of Bufo debilis (Anura: Bufonidae) in Kansas, was sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and provided extremely valuable information about the natural history and status of the Green Toad (Bufo debilis), a threatened species of amphibian in Kansas.

The Collins Award for 1999
Monday, November 08, 1999: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 November 1999

The Collins Award goes to Emporia State University Researcher

At the Saturday night social and auction of the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society at Pratt County Community College in Pratt on November 6th, Dr. Gregory Sievert, Division of Biological Sciences at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, was chosen as the recipient of The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Sievert is the author of numerous scientific articles, and with his wife, Dr. Lynnette Sievert at ESU, recently publish a booklet, "A Field Guide to Reptiles of Oklahoma," featuring his color photography. At the banquet, Robert Powell, Professor of Biology at Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri, and representing The Center for North American Amphibians and Reptiles, joined KHS President Chris Mammoliti in presenting Sievert with a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00, to the applause of the 75 meeting participants from Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The Collins Award is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on and photography of amphibians and reptiles.

The Collins Award for 2000
Saturday, October 22, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 October 2000

Third Annual Collins Award goes to Texas Researcher

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 27th Annual Meeting at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday and Sunday. The meeting was co-hosted by the Missouri Herpetological Association and the Kansas City Herpetological Society. Over 125 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 36 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation.

At the Saturday night festivities, Emily C. Moriarty, a graduate student at the University of Texas, Austin, was chosen as the third recipient of The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Moriarty is a former Lawrence, Kansas, resident, and recently graduated with honors from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana. At the KHS Silver Anniversary Meeting in 1998, she presented a lecture on the molecular systematics of Western Chorus Frogs in Kansas, and this presentation was judged by the society as the best research on Kansas amphibians, turtles, and reptiles during the preceding two years (1998 and 1999). For her work, Ms. Moriarty was given a plaque and a check for $1000.00 by Robert Powell and Travis W. Taggart, Fort Hays State University and KHS Editor. The Collins Award is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on (even-numbered years) or photography of (odd-numbered years) amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

The Collins Award for 2001
Thursday, November 08, 2001: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 November 2001

Herpetological Society Recognizes Research and Art

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 28th Annual Meeting at Topeka Collegiate School in Topeka, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 3-4, 2001. Over 100 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 28 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speaker was Dr. Walter Meshaka, curator of zoology at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Dr. Meshaka spoke about the Cuban Treefrog, a species that has invaded Florida, spread across much of the state, and has impacted amphibians native to the sunshine state.

At the Saturday night barbecue and festivities, Daniel D. Fogell, instructor at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, was chosen as the fourth recipient of The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Fogell, a longtime KHS member, had his image of a Copperhead selected as the best photograph of a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his beautiful image, Dan Fogell was given a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00 by Kelly J. Irwin, past president of the KHS and a member of the Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology. The Collins Award, established in the early 1990s with an endowment from Western Resources, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on (even-numbered years) or photography of (odd-numbered years) amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

The Collins Award for 2002
Sunday, November 03, 2002: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 November 2002

Herpetological Society Recognizes KSU Research

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 29th Annual Meeting at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 2-3, 2002. Over 100 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 28 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Keynote speaker was Dr. Frank T. Burbrink, professor at the College of Staten Island, Long Island, New York. Dr. Burbrink spoke about the diversity of North American snakes.

At the Saturday night auction and social, John Cavitt, professor of biology at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, was chosen as the fifth recipient of The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Cavitt, a recent doctoral graduate at Kansas State University, Manhattan, had his paper, Fire and a Tallgrass Prairie Reptile Community: Effects on Relative Abundance and Seasonal Activity, chosen as the best scientific title published during the years 2000 and 2001 on native Kansas amphibians, turtles, and/or reptiles. For his published research, John Cavitt was given a commemorative plaque and a check for $1000.00 by Robert Powell, past president of the KHS and a member of the Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology. The Collins Award, established in 1998 with an endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual award made nationally to further research on (even-numbered years) or photography (odd-numbered years) of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

The Collins Award for 2003
Sunday, November 09, 2003: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
SOCIETY RECOGNIZES ART AND RESEARCH

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 30th Annual Meeting at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9, 2003. Over 90 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 21 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speaker was Steven Beaupre, professor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Dr. Beaupre spoke about Timber Rattlesnakes in Arkansas.

At the Saturday night auction and social, Larry Miller, Northern Hills Junior High School, Topeka, was chosen as the sixth recipient of The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Miller, a longtime KHS member, had his image of an Eastern Racer at Castle Rock selected as the best photograph of a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his beautiful image, Miller was given a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00 by Dan Fogell, University of Nebraska at Omaha and a previous recipient of the award in 2001. The Collins Award, established in the early 1990s with an endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on (even-numbered years) or photography of (odd-numbered years) amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

The Collins Award for 2004
Monday, November 08, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 November 2004

Society Recognizes Researcher from Bethel College

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 31st Annual Meeting at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 6-7, 2004. Approximately 110 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 28 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speaker was Alicia Mathis, professor at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. Dr. Mathis spoke about salamander conservation.

Beginning the Saturday night auction and social, Dwight R. Platt, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas, was presented as the seventh recipient of The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology. Dr. Platt, a Distinguished Life Member of the Society, had his article, Lizards and Snakes (Order Squamata) of Harvey County, Kansas selected as the best published paper on native Kansas amphibians, turtles, or reptiles during the years 2002 or 2003. For his published research, Dr. Platt was given a commemorative plaque and a check for $1000.00 by Dr. Eva Horne (KHS President) and Dr. Walter Meshaka (State Museum of Pennsylvania and a Board Member of The Center for North American Herpetology, which co-sponsors the award). The Collins Award, established in the 1997 with an initial endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on and photography of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

The Collins Award for 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
Kansas Herpetological Society
7 November 2005

SOCIETY RECOGNIZES RESEARCH AND ART

Topeka Teacher Receives The Collins Award

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 32nd Annual Meeting at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 4-6, 2005. Over 125 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 31 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speaker was Stanley Trauth, professor at the Arkansas State University. Dr. Trauth spoke about amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians in Arkansas.

At the Saturday night auction and social, Larry L. Miller, Northern Hills Junior high School, Topeka, was chosen as the eighth recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." Miller, a longtime KHS member, had his image of a Common Snapping Turtle selected as the best photograph of a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his beautiful image, Miller was given a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00 by David Oldham, KHS president. "The Collins Award," established in 1998 with an endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on (even-numbered years) or photography of (odd-numbered years) amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. As provided for in the conditions of "The Collins Award," at next year’s meeting of the KHS in Hays, Kansas, the recipient will be chosen for the best scientific paper published or presentation made during 2004 and 2005 on a native Kansas amphibian, turtle or reptile.

In 2006, the Society will meet at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

The Collins Award for 2006
Sunday, November 05, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
Kansas Herpetological Society
5 November 2006

SOCIETY RECOGNIZES RESEARCH

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 33rd Annual Meeting at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 4-5, 2006. Over 100 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 25 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speakers were James L. Knight, curator of the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, and Jerry D. Johnson, professor of biology at the University of Texas-El Paso. Both grew up in Salina, Kansas.

During its business meeting, the KHS members chose Dan Carpenter of Derby, Kansas, as president-elect; Eric Kessler (Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park) was re-elected as treasurer, and Mary Kate Baldwin (Topeka Collegiate School) was re-elected as secretary. Ginny Weatherman (University of Kansas, Lawrence) currently is president-elect and takes office as president on January 1st, 2007. Curtis J. Schmidt (Fort Hays State University) served as president during 2006 and hosted the meeting in Hays this year. He will continue on the KHS Executive Council as past-president during 2007.

During the KHS banquet on Saturday evening, the Society presented a scholarship and a grant. The first was to David Bender, a student at Fort Hays State University, as the recipient of the 2006 Howard K. Gloyd/Edward H. Taylor Scholarship for $125.00, honoring the memory of two great biologists with strong ties to Kansas. The 2006 Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes were made to George R. Pisani, Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. The Kamb Grant was for $125.00, and honors the memory of longtime KHS member Al Kamb of Lawrence, Kansas.

Dr. Eugene D. Fleharty was installed as the eighth Distinguished Life Member of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Dr. Fleharty is Emeritus Curator of Herpetology at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University.

Also at the Saturday night banquet, Henry S. Fitch, University of Kansas, Lawrence, was recognized as the ninth recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." Dr. Fitch, a Distinguished Life Member of the Society, had his article, "A field study of the Timber Rattlesnake in Leavenworth County, Kansas" (co-authored with George R. Pisani, Harry W. Greene, Alice F. Echelle, & Michael Zerwekh) selected as the best published paper on native Kansas amphibians, turtles, or reptiles during the years 2004 or 2005. For his published research, Dr. Fitch was given a commemorative memento and a check for $1,000.00 by Curtis J. Schmidt (KHS President). "The Collins Award," established in the 1997 with an initial endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on and photography of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

After the banquet, the KHS auction was held and Joe Collins raised $2,300.00 for the Society's coffers, selling completely worthless stuff for large sums and absolutely exquisite items for well under their value. So it goes.

In 2007, the Society will meet at the Topeka Zoo in Topeka, Kansas.

For verification and further details about this meeting, presentations, and other activities, contact Joe Collins (785) 393-4757.

The Collins Award for 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
7 November 2007

SOCIETY RECOGNIZES PHOTOGRAPHIC EXCELLENCE

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 34th Annual Meeting at the Topeka Zoo in Topeka, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 2-4, 2007. Over 140 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 30 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speakers were Dr. Emily Moriarty Lemmon, University of Texas at Austin (and former resident of Lawrence, Kansas), and Jonathan Campbell, professor of biology at the University of Texas-Arlington (and a graduate of the University of Kansas).

During its business meeting, the KHS members chose Dan Johnson of Overland Park, Kansas, as president-elect; Eric Kessler (Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park) was re-elected as treasurer, and Mary Kate Baldwin (Topeka Collegiate School) was re-elected as secretary. Dan Carpenter (Friends University, Wichita) currently is president-elect and takes office as president on January 1st, 2008. Ginny Weatherman (University of Kansas, Lawrence) served as president during 2007 and hosted the meeting in Topeka this year. She will continue on the KHS Executive Council as past-president during 2008.

Prior to the KHS auction and social on Saturday evening, KHS President (and KU student) Ginny Weatherman presented a scholarship and a grant. The first was to Melissa Boetig, a student at Washburn University in Topeka, recipient of the 2007 Howard K. Gloyd/Edward H. Taylor Scholarship for $100.00, honoring the memory of two great biologists with strong ties to Kansas. The 2007 Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes was made to Page Klug, Kansas State University, Manhattan. The Kamb Grant was for $150.00, and honors the memory of longtime KHS member Al Kamb of Lawrence, Kansas.

George R. Pisani of the Kansas Biological Survey at the University of Kansas was introduced by Joseph T. Collins as the ninth Distinguished Life Member of the Kansas Herpetological Society. George received a commemorative plaque recognizing his lifetime research accomplishments in herpetology.

Also prior to the Saturday night auction and social, J. Daren Riedle, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, was chosen as the tenth recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." Daren, a long time KHS member, had his image of a Common Map Turtle selected as the best photograph of a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his beautiful image, Daren was given a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00 by Daniel D. Fogell, KHS Awards Committee Chairperson. "The Collins Award," established in 1998 with an endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on (even-numbered years) or photography of (odd-numbered years) amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. As provided for in the conditions of "The Collins Award," at next year’s meeting of the KHS in Wichita, Kansas, the recipient will be chosen for the best scientific paper published or presentation made during 2006 and 2007 on a native Kansas amphibian, turtle or reptile.

At the KHS auction, Joe Collins raised $1,385.00 for the Society's coffers, selling completely worthless stuff for large sums and absolutely exquisite items for well under their value.

In 2008, the Society will meet at Friends University, Wichita.

The Collins Award for 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
Kansas Herpetological Society
14 November 2008

THE COLLINS AWARD FOR 2008

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 35th Annual Meeting at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9, 2008. Over 100 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 26 talks on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles by scientists and students from across the nation. Featured speaker was Dr. Ronald Bonett, professor of biology at the University of Tulsa. He spoke eloquently about cave-dwelling salamanders, creatures most of us rarely get to observe.

During its business meeting, the KHS members chose Kathy Ellis of Wakarusa, Kansas, as president-elect; Eric Kessler (Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park) was re-elected as treasurer, and Mary Kate Baldwin (Topeka Collegiate School) was re-elected as secretary. Dan Johnson (Overland Park, Kansas) currently is president-elect and takes office as president on January 1st, 2009. Dan Carpenter (Friends University) served as president during 2008 and hosted the meeting in Wichita this year. He will continue on the KHS Executive Council as past-president during 2009.

During the KHS Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening, the Society presented a scholarship and a grant. The first was to Ashley Inslee, a student at Fort Hays State University, as the recipient of the 2008 Howard K. Gloyd/Edward H. Taylor Scholarship for $275.00, honoring the memory of two great biologists with strong ties to Kansas. The 2008 Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes was made to Page Klug, a student at Kansas State University. The Kamb Grant was for $300.00, and honors the memory of longtime KHS member Al Kamb of Lawrence, Kansas.

Also at the Saturday night ceremony, Dustin J. Wilgers, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, was recognized as the eleventh recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." Dustin, a long-time member of the Society, had his article, "Effects of Different Burn Regimes on Tallgrass Prairie Herpetofaunal Species Diversity and Community Composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas" (co-authored with Eva A. Horne) selected as the best published paper on native Kansas amphibians, turtles, or reptiles during the years 2006 or 2007. For his published research, Dustin was given a commemorative plaque and a check for $1,000.00 by Daniel Fogell (KHS Awards Committee Chairperson). "The Collins Award," established in the 1997 with an initial endowment from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

After the ceremony, the KHS auction was held and Joe Collins, Dan Fogell and Chad Whitney raised $1,470.00 for the Society's coffers, selling completely worthless stuff for large sums and absolutely exquisite items for well under their value.

At the conclusion of the KHS annual meeting on Sunday, 9 November, the first annual George Toland Award for the best student paper presented at this gathering was given to Steve D. Grant, West Texas A&M University, Canyon. For his talk, entitled "Spatial Ecology of Ornate Box Turtles in a Sand-sage Prairie Ecosystem," Steve received a commemorative memento and a check for $100.00.

In 2009, the Society will meet in or near Overland Park in northeastern Kansas.

The Collins Award for 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 November 2009

THE COLLINS AWARD FOR 2009

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 36th Annual Meeting at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 7-8, 2009. Over 135 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 28 talks on amphibians, reptiles, and turtles by scientists and students from across the nation. Researchers from the following states gave papers: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Keynote speaker was DR. R. ALEXANDER PYRON, post-doctoral researcher at Stony Brook University in New York. Dr. Pyron opened the Saturday morning session and spoke about Kingsnakes; his excellent talk was enthusiastically received.

NEW OFFICERS

During its Saturday afternoon business meeting, the KHS members chose DEREK SCHMIDT (Overbrook, Kansas) as president-elect; Eric Kessler (Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park) was re-elected as treasurer, and Mary Kate Baldwin (Topeka Collegiate School) was re-elected as secretary. Kathy Ellis (Wakarusa) currently is president-elect and takes office as president on January 1st, 2010. Dan Johnson (Overland Park) served as president during 2009 and hosted the meeting in Olathe this year. He will continue on the KHS Executive Council as past-president during 2010.

AWARDS CEREMONY

At the Society Awards Ceremony, held Saturday evening at the Olathe Hampton Inn, the KHS presented three awards, one each for photography, research, and scholarship, and designated a new Distinguished Life Member. The Saturday night awards were:

THE COLLINS AWARD

PAUL RODFRIGUEZ, University of Nebraska at Omaha, was chosen as the twelfth recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." Paul, a long time KHS member, had his image of a Copperhead selected as the best photograph of a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his stunning image, Paul was given a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00. "The Collins Award," established in 1998 with an initial contribution from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on or photography of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

KHS DISTINGUISHED LIFE MEMBER

At the Saturday night KHS Awards Ceremony, Joseph T. Collins, by the authority of the KHS Executive Council, proclaimed and invested his longtime friend, LARRY L. MILLER of Wakarusa, Kansas, as the tenth KHS DISTINGUISHED LIFE MEMBER. For his nearly 70 herpetological publications spanning 1976 to 2009, for his service to KHS over three decades as the Society’s unofficial photographer, and for his successful campaign to have the Ornate Box Turtle declared a state symbol by the Kansas Legislature in 1986, Larry received a commemorative plaque to the enthusiastic applause of the audience.

THE GLOYD-TAYLOR SCHOLARSHIP

J. KENT DANIEL, a student at PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY, received the 2009 "Howard K. Gloyd/Edward H. Taylor Scholarship" for $300.00. The award honors the memory of two world-renown biologists with strong ties to Kansas. Gloyd was born in Ottawa, Kansas, graduated from Ottawa University, received a doctorate from the University of Michigan, and retired as a professor of zoology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Taylor was a longtime professor of zoology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, whose research and scientific writings spanned the globe. Both were Distinguished Life Members of the KHS.

THE ALAN H. KAMB GRANT

The 2009 "Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes" was made to MINDY WALKER, professor of biology at ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY. The Kamb Grant was for $300.00, and honors the memory of longtime KHS member Al Kamb of Lawrence, Kansas, whose interests and enthusiasms for fieldwork on the serpents of the Sunflower State were legend.

THE TOLAND AWARD

On Sunday at the noon conclusion of the KHS meeting, EMILIE BLEVINS from Kansas State University was presented with the second GEORGE TOLAND AWARD for the best student paper given at the gathering. Emilie received a commemorative certificate and a check for $200.00 from Dan Johnson (KHS President) and assembled members of the George Toland family. This award was established to honor the memory and career of George Toland, a Salina high school biology teacher, who had a strong interest in herpetology, an interest that he used to mentor so many students.

The Collins Award for 2010
Tuesday, November 09, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 November 2010

CNAH & KHS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN HERPETOLOGY

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 37th Annual Meeting at the Topeka Zoo in Topeka, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 6-7, 2010. Over 100 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 29 talks on amphibians, reptiles, and turtles by scientists and students from across the nation. Researchers from the following states gave papers: Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Texas.

At the Society Awards Ceremony, held Saturday and Sunday in the Gary K. Clarke Education Center at the Topeka Zoo, CNAH presented two awards and KHS three additional scholarships, grants and awards, and the KHS recognized its first member since 2002 with The Bronze Salamander Award for Distinguished Service to the Society. The awards were:

CNAH The Collins Award

GEORGE R. PISANI, Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence, was chosen as the thirteenth recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." George, a long time KHS member and former president of the Society (1975), had his 2009 article entitled "Virginia valeriae and Storeria dekayi in a northeast Kansas grassland community: Ecology and conservation implications (Journal of Kansas Herpetology 32: 20-36)" selected as the best published paper on a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his recognition, George was given a commemorative plaque and a check for $1000.00. "The Collins Award," established in 1998 with an initial contribution from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on or photography of amphibians, reptiles, and turtles.

CNAH The Toland Award

On Sunday at the noon conclusion of the KHS meeting, KATIE TALBOTT from Fort Hays State University was presented with the third George Toland Award for the best student paper given at the gathering. Katie received a commemorative certificate and a check for $200.00 from Kathy Ellis (KHS President). This award was established to honor the memory and career of George Toland, a Salina high school biology teacher, who had a strong interest in herpetology, an interest that he used to mentor so many students.

KHS Bronze Salamander Award

At the Saturday night KHS Awards Ceremony, the KHS Executive Council recognized TRAVIS W. TAGGART of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, as the tenth recipient of the KHS Bronze Salamander Award, for his years of service to KHS including a decade as editor of the Society's publications. Travis received a commemorative memento featuring a pedestal-mounted bronze Barred Tiger Salamander, artwork from a cast sculptured by longtime KHS member Errol D. Hooper. Jr.

KHS The Gloyd-Taylor Scholarship

JODIE HEARLSON, a student at Emporia State University, received the 2010 "Howard K. Gloyd–Edward H. Taylor Scholarship" for $300.00. The award honors the memory of two world-renown biologists with strong ties to Kansas. Gloyd was born in Ottawa, Kansas, graduated from Ottawa University, received a doctorate from the University of Michigan, and retired as a professor of zoology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Taylor was a longtime professor of zoology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, whose research and scientific writings spanned the globe. Both were Distinguished Life Members of the KHS.

KHS The Kamb Grant

The 2010 "Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes" was made to PRASHANT DESHMUKH, Emporia State University. The Kamb Grant was for $300.00, and honors the memory of longtime KHS member Al Kamb of Lawrence, Kansas, whose interests and enthusiasms for fieldwork on the serpents of the Sunflower State were legend.

KHS The Fitch-Platt Award

The inaugural "Henry S. Fitch–Dwight R. Platt Award for Excellence in Field Herpetology" was made to STANLEY ROTH, Kansas Biological survey, by KHS President Kathy Ellis. The Fitch-Platt Award was for $100.00, and was established in 2009 to honor the major contributions to our profession that were brought about by the rigorous herpetological field work of the late Henry S. Fitch, KHS Distinguished Life Member, and Dwight R. Platt, also a KHS Distinguished Life Member, former student of Henry's, and now professor emeritus at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. Their interests and enthusiasms for fieldwork on the herpetofauna of the Sunflower State were and still are legend.

The Collins Award for 2011
Wednesday, November 09, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 November 2011

CNAH & KHS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN HERPETOLOGY

The Kansas Herpetological Society held its 38th Annual Meeting at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday and Sunday, November 5-6, 2011. Over 125 participants attended scientific paper sessions to listen to 25 talks on amphibians, reptiles, and turtles by scientists and students from across the nation. Researchers from the following states gave papers: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Keynote speaker Richard Kazmaier from West Texas A&M University gave an excellent presentation on Western Indigo Snakes and Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes.

At the Society Award Ceremonies, held Saturday and Sunday in the Great Plains Nature Center, The Center for North American Herpetology presented two awards and KHS three additional scholarships, grants and awards, and the KHS recognized two former officers with The Bronze Salamander Award for Distinguished Service to the Society. The awards were:

CNAH The Collins Award

GREG SIEVERT, Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, was chosen as the fourteenth recipient of "The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology." Greg, a long time KHS member and former president of the Society, had his image of an Eastern Racer selected as the best photograph of a native Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile. For his outstanding image, Greg was given a commemorative certificate and a check for $1000.00. "The Collins Award," established in 1998 with an initial contribution from Westar Energy, Topeka, is the largest biological award given annually in the state of Kansas, and the largest annual presentation made nationally to further research on or photography of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles.

CNAH The Toland Award

On Sunday at the noon conclusion of the KHS meeting, DENISE M. THOMPSON from Missouri State University, Springfield, was presented with the fourth George Toland Award for the best student paper given at the gathering. Denise received a commemorative certificate and a check for $200.00 from Derek Schmidt (KHS President). This award was established to honor the memory and career of George Toland, a Salina high school biology teacher, who had a strong interest in herpetology, an interest that he used to mentor so many students.

KHS Bronze Salamander Award

At the Saturday night KHS Awards Ceremony, the KHS Executive Council recognized former KHS Secretary MARY KATE BALDWIN, Topeka Collegiate School, and former KHS Treasurer ERIC KESSLER, Blue Valley School District Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Overland Park, Kansas, as the eleventh and twelfth recipients of the KHS Bronze Salamander Award, for their decade of service to the Society. Eric and Mary Kate each received a commemorative memento featuring a pedestal-mounted bronze Barred Tiger Salamander, artwork from a cast sculptured by longtime KHS member Errol D. Hooper. Jr.

KHS The Gloyd-Taylor Scholarship

JENNIFER M. SINGLETON, a student at Emporia State University, received the 2011 "Howard K. Gloyd–Edward H. Taylor Scholarship" for $300.00. The award honors the memory of two world-renown biologists with strong ties to Kansas. Gloyd was born in Ottawa, Kansas, graduated from Ottawa University, received a doctorate from the University of Michigan, and retired as a professor of zoology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Taylor was a longtime professor of zoology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, whose research and scientific writings spanned the globe. Both were Distinguished Life Members of the KHS.

KHS The Kamb Grant

The 2011 "Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes" was made to DEXTER MARDIS, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas. The Kamb Grant was for $300.00, and honors the memory of longtime KHS member Al Kamb of Lawrence, Kansas, whose interests and enthusiasm for fieldwork on the serpents of the Sunflower State were extensive during his lifetime.

KHS The Fitch-Platt Award

KHS President Derek Schmidt made the second "Henry S. Fitch–Dwight R. Platt Award for Excellence in Field Herpetology" to EDDIE STEGALL, Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kansas. The Fitch-Platt Award was for $200.00, and was established in 2009 to honor the major contributions to our profession that were brought about by the rigorous herpetological field work of the late Henry S. Fitch, KHS Distinguished Life Member, and Dwight R. Platt, also a KHS Distinguished Life Member, former student of Henry's, and now professor emeritus at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. Their fieldwork on the herpetofauna of the Sunflower State was and still is legend.

For more information, contact

Derek Schmidt
KHS President
dschmidt@ksbroadband.net

Joseph T. Collins
Director, CNAH
jcollins@ku.edu

Uma Needed
Sunday, July 18, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 3
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 July 2004

ATTENTION UMA RESEARCHERS

For a study of chemosensory responses to food in omnivorous Uma, I need access to between 15 and 20 individuals of any Uma species. If anyone is working with these animals currently or has legal access to them, please contact Bill Cooper at

cooperw.ipfw.edu

about a possible collaboration.

CNAH is pleased to assist herpetologists in their scientific endeavors involving the North American herpetofauna.

Uma User Request
Wednesday, February 22, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 73
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 February 2006

WANTED: Live Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizards

If you are currently studying Uma inornata and have permit-covered living specimens or have a permit that allows them to be collected, please contact me about the possibility of a chemosensory study. Although insectivorous phrynosomatid lizards are generally ambush foragers, omnivory has evolved in the genus Uma, and because plants may make up a bigger proportion of the diet in Uma inornata than in other members of the genus, the presence or absence and strength of food chemical discrimination in this species are of great theoretical interest to me.

William E. Cooper
Department of Biology
Indiana University-Purdue University
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
cooperw@ipfw.edu
(260) 481-6311
(260) 481-6087 fax

11th Running of the Lizards
Saturday, September 13, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 September 2008

THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL RUNNING OF THE LIZARDS
. . . from the Christian Science Monitor, 9 September 2008

by David Conrads
(913) 901-0205

Keith Arkenberg, a college senior, has honed his own technique. When trying to catch a lizard, he doesn't sneak up behind it or flash a butterfly net. He just gets down in front of it, stares it in the eye, and snatches it before it darts off.

Which is why Arkenberg, a tall, slender biology major with a brown ponytail, is hunched down in an alley near an auto-parts store here in Topeka, Kansas, across from Dimple Donuts. He is stalking the elusive Italian Wall Lizard. His technique proves triumphant: Over the course of two hours on a sun-dappled day, he snares four of the slithery creatures. "I used to catch a lot of frogs to feed my snakes when I was younger," says Arkenberg. "It's just a matter of getting down in front of them and grabbing them before they take off."

The point, in the end, may not be how he actually catches them. It may be why anyone who is pursuing a college degree, and thus presumably in his right mind, would be chasing lizards on an afternoon in Topeka, Kansas, anyway. In fact, some 30 adults and children are gathered to hunt the four-inch reptiles. They are part of an annual ritual to collect Italian Wall Lizards in the name of science and a little fun.

Pamplona, Spain, has its running of the bulls. Anchorage, Alaska, its running of the reindeer. San Juan Capistrano, California, its swallows. Here in Topeka, it's the Running of the Lizards. For 11 years, college students and a few local residents have been trying to collect and count as many lizards as they can as part of an informal census of the reptiles and to engage in the outdoors.

It isn't a big civic event, really. It's more a part of the career of Joe Collins, a herpetologist for the Kansas Biological Survey at the University of Kansas and an instructor of herpetology at Washburn University in Topeka. It may take a herpetology degree, in fact, to fully appreciate the joys of scampering after lizards in alleyways -- and to actually ambush one.

"Those who have done it before know what has to be done to catch these lizards," Collins told the gathered crowd before the hunt. "Those who haven't, learn just how fast little lizards can be. They really like to hide under the air conditioners at Kentucky Fried Chicken. It's their natural habitat."

_ _ _

The Italians apparently brought the Wall Lizard up right: It is a highly adaptable creature cloaked in a skin of bright colors suitable for a Milan fashion runway. The reptiles have Kelly green backs mottled with black and brown patterns. Turquoise spots dimple their sides.

The size of a large Tootsie Roll, the Italian Wall Lizard is found in various parts of Europe and is the most abundant lizard species in southern Italy. Its presence in Topeka, one of the few American cities with a sizeable colony, is rooted in a bit of serendipity and mystery.

Local experts trace its origins here back to a biological supply house, Quivira Specialties, that was operated by Dr. Charles Burt on SW 21st Street some 40 years ago. Professor Burt -- as he was known in the neighborhood (he received his doctorate in herpetology from the University of Michigan) -- imported a wide variety of reptiles, birds, insects, and other species and sold them to researchers and universities all over the country.

Perhaps it was inevitable, but some of the animals escaped, as captive animals are wont to do. Keith Coleman, who has attended many lizard runs over the years, grew up in a house next door to the supply store. He remembers occasionally seeing exotic birds and snakes and other non-native species in the neighborhood.

Legend has it that when Dr. Burt died, sometime in the 1960s, his widow let all the animals go. Most perished in the cold winter, but since southern Italy is roughly the same latitude as Kansas, the lizards survived, even thrived.

Now, 40 years later, it's estimated that tens of thousands of Italian Wall Lizards, also know as ruin lizards, have taken up residence in the southern section of the state's capital city.

As it turns out, two different lizards have adapted to urban Topeka, the other one being the Western Green Lacerta, which is all green and much larger then the Italian Wall Lizard. It is also far more scarce. The Green Lacertas are more arboreal, living primarily in bushes and low trees and are rarely seen and even more rarely caught. "If you get one of those, that's extra special," Collins tells the group, then adds with a audible wink, "If you're in my class, that's a really good grade."

Many of the gathered reptile hunters are, in fact, Collins's students. Others include former students, a coterie of amateur herpetologists, and interested citizens, among them lots of children, who seem to view the event as a cross between an Easter egg hunt and a reptilian petting zoo.

The primary objective of the event is pure enjoyment. But it also serves to give the students in Collins's class a tuneup before he takes them out on a longer field trip into the woods, where they'll have to wear boots and gloves, grapple with chiggers, and forgo ready access to doughnuts, fast food, and, if possible for this generation, Facebook.

Collins himself looks like a good fit to be a Marlin Perkins of the lizard world. He has a bald pate and a bushy white beard. He looks out from behind wire-rim glasses and smiles readily.

_ _ _

Collins starts the event in a parking lot at SW 21st Street and Gage Boulevard. It is a warm day with peekaboo sunshine – good but not perfect for catching lizards, which come out in the sun and heat. Wearing jeans and sturdy cowboy boots, Collins encourages the crowd to work in groups to better corner the wily creatures.

Then he leads them, Moses-like, across four lanes of traffic to the rear parking lots of several commercial buildings -- an auto-parts store, a dry cleaner, a gas station, an empty video game store. The group fans out over a two-block area, hunting in weeds and tall grass, under rocks and debris, behind dumpsters.

Three college sophomore biology majors work together and manage to catch four among them. Middle-school seventh-grader Jenna Brunkow has a good day, too, corralling two in her first event. Fourth-grader Shania Edmonds's catch is truly a joint effort: A lizard jumps on her back and one of the adults puts it in her bucket.

Others aren't so fortunate. Young Michael Cantrell decrees the whole thing "boring," as he and his brother go home with only a single lizard -- and that one caught by someone else. But Jacob Van Hoye, 12, is so excited by his multiple-lizard outing, he vows to return the next day after school.? (My own scientific conclusion, gleaned from two hours of close study and observation, echoes the common refrain about fishing: One's enjoyment of the Running of the Lizards is directly proportional to number of lizards one catches.)

By 2 pm, the lizard chasing is winding down. The lizard hunters head back across the street to their cars, many of them carrying jars, small plastic aquariums, and other containers holding their quarry. Collins estimates the participants caught more than 40 lizards and spotted at least 100. He plans to take a tiny blood sample from many of the 20 or so he caught and then release them into the "wilds" of urban Topeka. "Everyone had fun," he says of the day. "A lot of people got lizards to take home. The sale of crickets will go up. Life is good."

Abnormal Alligator Activity
Friday, July 07, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 87
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 July 2006

Abnormal Alligator Activity

I am researching American Alligator topics in Florida and I am looking for a herpetologist who studies alligator behavior. Specifically, I would like to contact anyone doing research on a possible correlation between American Alligator behavior and global warming. I hope to hear from someone on this topic and thank anyone in advance for taking the time to respond. My email is shown below.

Sakura Nakamura
Gazeta USA
sakura@gazetausa.com

Alabama Arrests
Tuesday, July 12, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 July 2005

Huntsville Times (Alabama)

Seven convicted on turtle poaching charges in federal investigation
Poachers nabbed in ongoing federal investigation

Six Alabama residents were convicted 28 June 2005 in Calhoun County [Alabama] on multiple counts of violating state laws regarding the possession or sale of protected non-game species related to an ongoing federal investigation into turtle poaching.

Aarion Tucker of Guntersville also was charged in the investigation and was convicted 5 July in Marshall County for five counts of the same violation. Tucker paid $500 in fines plus court costs and $500 restitution to the Alabama Wildlife Federation's Investigative Fund, according to information provided by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The undercover investigation has been ongoing for years and is believed to be centered in the Southeast, with illegal sales of turtles to restaurants and pet stores as far away as Asia and Europe. Dubbed "Operation Snapper," it involves numerous local and state law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with several state wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Alabama Wildlife Federation's Investigative Fund is used to assist the state conservation department with covert operations and resource recovery.

In Calhoun County, James Robert Hall of Anniston was convicted on 19 counts and fined $1,900 as well as $500 restitution to the investigative fund. He also was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was suspended. Hall was given two years probation.

Other convictions:

Teresa Hudson Whitaker, Anniston, 10 counts, $1,000 in fines and $300 restitution

John Edward Wright, Oxford, 9 counts, $900 in fines and $300 restitution

Donald Collins Lehr, Anniston, 5 counts, $500 in fines and $250 restitution

William Davis Lehr, Anniston, 10 counts, $1,000 in fines and $500 restitution

Alabama Turtle Sting
Wednesday, April 27, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 April 2005

Huntsville (Alabama) Times (17 April 2005)

NO MORE SHELL GAMES (Alan Clemons)

Operation Snapper Nets Seven Arrests

A Guntersville man is one of seven Alabama residents charged with multiple violations of state laws involving the illegal possession and sale of turtles to breeders involved with an international poaching network.

The breeders, many of whom are based in Louisiana, considered a major hub of the nation's illegal turtle trade, would raise the turtles and then sell them or their offspring to pet stores, collectors, meat distributors and overseas in Asia and Europe. The undercover investigation is ongoing, with indictments and arrests expected in a nationwide sweep that could include as many as 50 more people.

Aarion Ray Tucker, 39, of Guntersville has been charged with five counts of taking illegal species of turtles. Tucker also is licensed by the state as a commercial angler to operate gill nets. He pleaded guilty in Morgan County last February for two commercial fishing violations in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge waters.

Operation Snapper involved enforcement officers with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources working with enforcement officials in four other Southeastern states, undercover officers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local agencies. Officials have been building the case for at least two years, if not longer, in an attempt to infiltrate the widespread network.

The seven Alabama residents, who range in age from 25 to 80 years old, face a total of 65 counts. If convicted, they face fines up to $500 and six months in jail for each count. None of the seven are charged with violating the federal Lacey Act, which involves interstate wildlife transportation and carries stiffer penalties. However, officials are expected to soon indict or arrest about 50 other people across the country. Approximately 40 may face felony or misdemeanor charges of the Federal Lacey Act, while about 10 others will face lesser state violations in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.

The seven Alabama people arrested caught more than 7,000 Sliders, River Cooters, Mud, Musk, Painted and Box Turtles. An additional 30,000 pounds of Common Snapping Turtles and 2,500 pounds of Softshells also were caught. Conservation department officials said the "vast majority" of the turtles were legally caught and sold, but about 340 were illegally caught and sold in violation of state or federal laws. The seven made more than $30,000 from sales of legal and illegal turtles.

The suspects were arrested, without incident, based on warrants from the investigation. The two oldest suspects, 67-year-old Robert Hall and 80-year-old William Davis Lehr, both of Anniston, are considered by state officials to be the major ringleaders. The turtles were caught on various state waterways, including Lake Guntersville, with wire traps or hoop nets in shallow waters baited with fish or chicken.

Once captured, state officials said, the turtles were sold to turtle farms in Lousiana, Arkansas and Florida. Farmers would keep breeding size turtles in special ponds that prevented their escape, collect the eggs laid by females, incubate them and then sell the hatchlings to buyers in Asia, Europe and throughout the United States.

Turtle meat, prized by restaurants primarily for soups, is sold domestcally and overseas. Asian interests are among the main buyers of turtle meat, along with restaurants in the United States. Smaller turtles were sold to pet stores or over the Internet to collectors. Officials say pet stores are not being targeted for any involvement in the network.

Alison Haskell Herp Award
Wednesday, February 23, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 February 2011

ALISON HASKELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HERPETOFAUNAL CONSERVATION

Request for Nominations

PARC is seeking nominations for the 2011 recipient of our new annual award in memory of our first PARC Federal Coordinator, Alison Haskell (1956-2006).

This award is to recognize an individual in North America who exemplifies extraordinary commitment to herpetofaunal conservation, as did Alison. Alison's tenure with PARC was tragically shortened due to a valiant, but unsuccessful battle with ovarian cancer. Members of PARC aim to keep her memory alive through this annual award.

Nominations are due March 14th. Read more about the award, how to submit nominations, and about Alison, at

http://www.parcplace.org/HaskellAward.htm

We look forward to your nominations.

PARC Administrators

AMNH Herp Pubs Gratis
Wednesday, January 11, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 January 2006

All AMNH Herp Publications Available Gratis

The American Museum of Natural History Library announces the availability of the full legacy of the museum's scientific publications. Both back issues and current-ongoing publications have been digitized and all publications are now available on the web at:

http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace

Darrel Frost
Associate Dean of Science for Collections
Curator-in-charge, Herpetology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, New York 10024

Amphibian Accts Announced
Thursday, September 07, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 September 2006

NEW AMPHIBIAWEB ACCOUNTS ANNOUNCED

AmphibiaWeb (http://amphibiaweb.org) is pleased to announce an agreement with the University of California Press that has enabled us to post all of the species accounts from "Amphibian Declines," edited by Michael Lannoo. We encourage authors to update these accounts. Another new feature of AmphibiaWeb is a monthly update of literature on amphibian declines, prepared by Tim Halliday of the Declining Amphibian Population Task Force. To access the list, go to the home page, click on "Amphibian Declines," then "VII. Recent Scientific Publications." The list is searchable on a month-by-month basis. We are grateful to Dr. Halliday for this useful service.

David B. Wake
Department of Integrative Biology
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
University of California
Berkeley, California 94720-3160

Amphibian Aid
Monday, October 03, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 October 2005

Greenwire
AMPHIBIANS
Environmentalists say $404 million dollars needed for species protection

Environmentalists proposed a $404 million global action plan yesterday at a conference in Washington D. C. to protect and preserve amphibian species. The conference came in response to a study last year that revealed one-third of all amphibian species face a high risk of extinction.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Conservation International joined other wildlife groups to plan further research studies and long term initiatives to protect amphibian habitats. Next is the task of securing funds for the projects from private institutions and individual donors.

"The frogs are trying to tell us something," said Andrew Dobson, a Princeton University professor who studies infectious diseases in the wild. "We're making the world a sicker place and, mercifully, the frogs have picked up on it before humans."

The Global Amphibian Assessment, released last October, revealed that of 5,743 amphibian species, 34 are known to be extinct and more than a hundred others are believed to have suffered extinction. While scientists said the most common threat to amphibians appears to be the fungal disease chytridomycosis, viral disease, habitat loss, drought and pollution are other commonly cited reasons for population declines.

The effect of chytridiomycosis on frog populations in south and central America, Australia, Africa and Europe has become the primary cause for concern as scientists push for captive breeding programs to protect species from the disease.

Not all scientists agree that removing threatened amphibians from the wild is the answer. "We've been running a captive breeding program with the Boreal Toad since 1995," said Cynthia Carey, a professor at the University of Colorado. "We've tried reintroducing them to the wild seven or eight times, but every time they die within a couple of years; if you don't get rid of the fungus, all you're doing is providing it with lunch."

Amphibian Air Agitation
Wednesday, January 24, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 114
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 January 2007

AIR AGITATION OF AMPHIBIANS

Does anyone know of any publications dealing with or anyone doing research on the effects of low level vibrations on amphibians (this is related to wind turbines)?

Michael J. Oldham
Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC)
Biodiversity Section, Fish & Wildlife Branch
Ministry of Natural Resources
300 Water Street, 2nd Floor, North Tower
P. O. Box 7000
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5, Canada
705-755-2160
michael.oldham@ontario.ca

Amphibian Ash Assessment
Monday, August 06, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 131
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 August 2007

FLY ASH AS AMPHIBIAN HABITAT

Although I am aware of several studies, most at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, of the impact of chemical runoff from Fly Ash piles on amphibian larval development, I have not found any documentation that frogs and toads would avoid living (burrowing into) old fly ash piles. I would appreciate feedback from anyone who has evidence that anurans can actually inhabit old fly ash piles as I have been asked to investigate the possibility that Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern Spadefoot) could inhabit 15 acres of very old fly ash, 14 feet thick, at a site in Lawrence County, Ohio, where this state endangered species does exist. The fly ash is basically fine silica dioxide (sand) and vegetation is growing quite nicely on the site.

Any information on this topic would be appreicated and thank you in advance. I can be reached at:

Scott Moody
Ohio University
moody@ohio.edu

Amphibian Road-Kill Mortality
Monday, October 06, 2003: Pennsylvania - HerpDigest
Amphibian Mortality By Road-Kill In A National Park

by John Serrao

Many of the causes of global amphibian declines are so complex in nature that they seem well beyond the ability of the amateur herpetologist or nature lover to become involved. Ozone layer depletion, global warming, agricultural chemicals, chytrid fungi and other phenomena have all been implicated. One other cause, however, is very localized as a possible major problem for amphibians, especially in the heavily-developed eastern United States: automobile traffic. On rainy spring evenings, for example, when the majority of adults of several species of amphibian migrate to their ancestral breeding sites, road-kill can represent a substantial mortality factor. A high percentage of a given area's frogs and salamanders travel to breeding sites on just a few evenings when the weather is right, and many of these may be crushed beneath the wheels of cars along roads that must be crossed.

In the spring of 2002, such a slaughter occurred near a major breeding wetland in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. The evening of March 9th was the first mild, rainy evening at the end of winter and the first night for the emergence of five species of amphibians: the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), Jefferson Salamander (A. jeffersonianum), Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), and Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica). Along a 150 m section of the infrequently-traveled road bordering the large wetland, I counted 650 dead Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers, 30 dead Spotted Salamanders and at least 25 dead Eastern Newts. The National Park Service was notified of this mortality and advised to close the road under similar circumstances the following spring. The Park administration responded favorable to this idea, and on the evening of March 21st, 2003 (the first mild, rainy evening of the year) the road was closed with barricades and patrolled by Park Rangers to prevent any cars from travelling through the breeding area. Park biologists, newspaper reporters, photographers and myself walked the same 150 m stretch of road and watched hundreds of frogs and salamanders cross over safely. The road was also closed to traffic on three other rainy evenings to ensure the safe crossing of later amphibians. Future plans of the National Park may involve the construction of culverts to allow the passage of amphibians beneath the road.

Contact: John Serrao, 2113 Rosemont Drive, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania 18466-3606

Amphibian Surveys for Stoot
Wednesday, January 12, 2011: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST 197
The Center for North American Herpetology
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
12 January 2010

AMPHIBIAN SURVEYS SOUGHT

I am a fourth year honours biology student at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and I am currently undertaking an honours thesis at Lakehead under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Hecnar. I am studying the occupancy structure of amphibian species ranges in eastern North America. I have accumulated several published data sets from various locations in North America, but am looking for a few more sites. I seek data sets which researchers are willing to send my way in order to use them for my thesis.

Parameters that I am looking for include:

- repeated amphibian surveys with sites located in eastern North America with responsibly accurate incidence
- incidence/occupancy (%) by species
- minimum of 15 sites in the data set
- central latitude and longitude coordinates

Data sets along with any queries about my research can be sent to me at

ljstoot@lakeheadu.ca

I look forward to hearing from anyone that can help.

Thanks in advance,

Lauren Stoot
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, Ontario

Amphibians & Asphalt
Wednesday, March 07, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 March 2007

Amphibians and Asphalt Analyzed

AMPHIBIAN ROADKILLS: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Miklós Puky

2006. Amphibian road kills: A global perspective. In: Irwin, C. L., Garrett, P. & McDermott, K. P. (eds). Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation. Raleigh, North Carolina. Center for Transportation and the Environment, North Carolina State University. pp. 325-338.

Abstract: Transportation infrastructure is a major factor determining land use forms. As globally changes in this driver are the most important for biodiversity, roads fundamentally influence wildlife. The effect of roads on wildlife has been categorised in several ways resulting in six to ten categories with road kill as an obvious and important component and amphibians are greatly affected by this factor. As this animal group has been documented to decline from multiple threats world-wide, the study and mitigation of their deaths on roads has become an important conservation priority. It was also detected as a single cause of decline and data has accumulated on related population fluctuations, isolation, decline and extinction in several countries. Genetical studies greatly improved our insight into these processes e.g. by repeatedly proving significantly low heterozigocy in populations of several species living near roads.

Amphibian road kills are known and described for long due to their spectacular nature but the overall effect of transportation infrastructure on amphibians was often underestimated also due to contrasting research results. The speed of transport and the duration and timing of the surveys in which information was collected turned out to be decisive causing 5.5-16 times differences in the number of road killed amphibians recorded mainly in connection with the low visibility and retention time of amphibians on roads. In light of such amphibian-related differences, the often cited national road kill estimates may well be considerably higher in practice, as well.

Amphibian road mortality studies were made nearly exclusively in developed countries, mostly in Europe and North America, and under temperate zone conditions. In general, all terrestrial and semi-aquatic amphibian species can suffer from road kills where they have populations near roads. However, different amphibian species are threatened to a different extent by traffic because of their specific life history characteristics. Besides amphibian specific factors (amphibian movement types, length and direction of movement, velocity, temporal movement pattern, behavioural changes on roads), the spatio-temporal pattern of amphibian road kill is also influenced by habitat and transportation characteristics (especially aquatic habitats and vegation, road density, traffic intensity, vehicle speed, position and structure of roads, awareness of drivers, respectively) and weather conditions (precipitation, temperature, wind). The effect of these factors must be understood before the need for mitigation can be evaluated and measures be designed and built.

Many mitigation measures have been built since the first amphibian tunnels had been created in 1969 near Zürich, Switzerland and a high diversity of technical solutions proved to lower amphibian road kills under different conditions. New research results also highlighted that amphibian tunnels can also be permeable for reptiles, such as snakes and small mammals. However, the lack of maintenance and construction deficiencies are common problems, which lower the efficiency of these measures world-wide.
Road kills also have socio-ecological importance. Successful road-kill related projects have the potential to help the understanding of decision-makers of road-related problems, also leading to the launching of more complex conservation projects including, for example, habitat restoration or compensatory developments near roads. The information of the general public on conservation efforts on roads to reduce road kill, such as the setting up of frog fences in the USA and toad saving campaigns in Europe, through the media clearly help to realise this aim by influencing support provided by different authorities.

*****

This article can be viewed or downloaded on the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Amphibians & Atrazine
Monday, October 01, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 October 2007

EPA Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs
09/25/07
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL FOR ATRAZINE TO AFFECT AMPHIBIAN GONADAL DEVELOPMENT; WHITE PAPER POSTED TO DOCKET

On October 9-12, 2007, EPA will be presenting to the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) the Agency’s analysis of the latest data from laboratory and field studies investigating a possible connection between amphibian gonadal development and the herbicide atrazine. Based on this thorough analysis, EPA finds that atrazine does not adversely affect amphibian gonadal development, and believes there is no compelling reason to pursue additional testing of atrazine for amphibian gonadal effects at this time. EPA is seeking comments and recommendations from the SAP on our analysis of the studies and our conclusions. This SAP meeting will focus on the Agency’s analysis of atrazine and amphibian gonadal development. The Agency is also awaiting the results of atrazine human cancer studies, and has received and is analyzing additional monitoring data from community water systems and data from an ecological watershed monitoring program.

In the October 2007 SAP meeting, EPA will be asking the Panel to comment on the Agency’s approach and criteria for evaluating all the studies. The Agency has also posed a number of specific questions to the SAP regarding studies that the registrant conducted at EPA's request. Because the Agency had access to all the raw data supporting these studies and conducted audits on the independent laboratories performing them, the Agency’s analysis of the studies conducted by Syngenta, the primary registrant, was very rigorous.

The June 29, 2007, FR notice announcing the SAP meeting included a solicitation for members of the public to present comments on this issue to the SAP. The meeting agenda puts a priority on public involvement, with almost the entire first day of the four-day meeting reserved for public comments.

Information concerning how to participate in this SAP meeting can be found at:

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-MEETINGS/2007/June/Day-29/m12571.htm

You can find the White Paper and other background information on EPA’s regulatory actions and decisions for atrazine by referring to the atrazine docket, EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0498, at

http://www.regulations.gov

Anuran Agreement Arranged
Monday, December 08, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 December 2008

CONSERVATION GROUPS AND STATE REACH AGREEMENT ON MEASURES TO PROTECT NATIVE FISH AND AMPHIBIANS FROM FISH-STOCKING
Pact Requires California Department of Fish and Game to Halt Stocking in some State Waters while Impacts are Considered

Sacramento, California — Two conservation groups, Pacific Rivers Council and the Center for Biological Diversity, have reached agreement with the California Department of Fish and Game on interim measures to limit harm to native species caused by fish stocking. The intent is to minimize the harm that hatchery-raised fish inflict on sensitive native fish and amphibian species while the Department prepares an Environmental Impact Report under the California Environmental Quality Act. The Agreement was spurred by a tentative order issued by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette finding that stocking could cause irreparable harm to native species.

"Interim measures limiting stocking are needed to help save California's native fish and frogs from extinction," said Noah Greenwald, biodiversity program director for the Center for Biological Diversity. "Fish and Game will still be able to stock hatchery fish, but mainly in places where they won’t harm native species."

During the past week, biologists from the two conservation groups have held daily conferences with the Department, successfully negotiating interim protections that will allow much of the Department’s research, educational, anadromous fish conservation, native fish reintroduction, and recreational angling programs to continue, while requiring limits on stocking in areas where native species are especially at risk from stocking due to predation, competition, disease, and invasive species.

"The Department needs to consider the environmental impacts of its fish-stocking program before it stocks more fish into waters that are still strongholds for native species," said Dr. Chris Frissell, director of Science and Conservation for Pacific Rivers Council. "This is the only way that the Department can be sure that it is not causing or contributing to the loss of the last remaining populations of these native California animals and the habitat they depend upon."

The Court ruled in May 2007 that fish stocking has "significant environmental impacts" on "aquatic ecosystems" and "in particular, on native species of fish, amphibians and insects, some of which are threatened or endangered." The Court ordered the Department to analyze and mitigate the impacts of the stocking program in an Environmental Impact Report, or EIR, by the end of 2008. The Department returned to court last month to ask for a one-year extension, to January 2010, because the agency has made little progress on the EIR.

To reduce the impact of the Department’s delay, the Center and Pacific Rivers Council asked for interim restrictions on stocking, including not stocking in areas where sensitive native species such as California golden trout, Santa Ana sucker, mountain yellow-legged frog, and Cascades frog, are known to be present or where the Department has yet to survey. In his tentative order, Judge Marlette agreed that interim measures are necessary, but gave the Department until November 24th to negotiate an agreement with the two organizations to determine where stocking could take place pending completion of the EIR.

"The far reaching, often disastrous consequences of stocking hatchery fish on top of native trout and other aquatic species have been known for decades," said Frissell, who has published numerous scientific articles on the ecology of native fish and wildlife species. "It’s far past time the Department of Fish and Game completed a credible review of the environmental impacts of its hatchery program and identified the steps needed to limit its impacts to sensitive native species, as many other states have done. Interim measures are merely a short-term safety net to protect vulnerable species and waters until the State meets its legal mandate to produce a report."

Removing non-native fish once they have been introduced is difficult, expensive and can cause further damage to sensitive species. Many of the sensitive fish and amphibian species are already so seriously depleted by past impacts, including the decades of unmitigated fish stocking, that even one more year of stocking could cause irreversible loss of some populations.

"The mountain yellow-legged frog has disappeared from more than 90 percent of its former range in the Sierra Nevada, and introduced trout are an important cause of this decline," stated research biologist Dr. Roland Knapp. Likewise, unintended consequences of stocking nonnative trout without needed precautions have seriously compromised and set back the State's own conservation and recovery efforts for its imperiled native golden and redband trout. "On a hopeful note, a cessation of stocking and the removal of non-native trout from key sites can allow the recovery of mountain yellow-legged frogs and other native species," Knapp said.

The negotiated agreement allows several important categories of fish stocking carried out or permitted by the Department of Fish and Game to move forward in the coming year. These include stocking that is necessary for reintroduction of native fishes to their historical range; stocking deemed necessary for salmon or steelhead recovery; stocking that is specifically required by ongoing mitigation orders or other legal provisos; specific salmon stamp-funded enhancement stocking programs; most stocking in farm ponds and large, man-made reservoirs; and previously permitted private party stocking. Stocking will be curtailed for the time being in waters where any of 25 native fish and amphibian species (see list below) considered sensitive to fish stocking are known to occur. The agreement provides a basis for further information exchange between the state and conservation groups and allows for amending the provisions to accommodate new information.

The Pacific Rivers Council and Center for Biological Diversity are represented by the Environmental Law Clinic, Mills Legal Clinic at Stanford Law School. For more information about the lawsuit, go to

http://www.pacrivers.org

or

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org

*****

Herpetofaunal Species Protected by today’s agreement:

Rana draytonii California Red-legged Frog, Rana cascadae Cascades Frog, Rana boylii Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, Lithobates pipiens Northern Leopard Frog, Rana muscosa/Rana sierrae Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, Rana aurora Northern Red-legged Frog, Rana pretiosa Oregon Spotted Frog, Ascaphus truei Pacific Tailed Frog, Anaxyrus californicus Arroyo Toad.

Jeff Miller
The Center for Biological Diversity
jmiller@biologicaldiversity.org
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

Contacts:

Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity
(503) 484-7495
Chris Frissell, Pacific Rivers Council
(406) 471-3167
Roland Knapp, University of California, Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory
(760) 647-0034

Anuran Allergy Advice
Wednesday, September 26, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 134
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
26 September 2007

ANURAN ALLERGY ADVICE

As a part of our orientation process for the Montana State University Animal Resource Center, I provide training on the occupational health and safety issues pertaining to animal research activities. Two staff members from our College of Nursing will be using wild-caught North American Leopard Frogs (Lithobates) in their research.

The resource materials I utilize for training purposes only refer to mice, rats, rabbits, etc. Amphibians are conspicuously absent from literature available to me. I was wondering if anyone could provide any information as to exposure concerns related to allergies or illnesses being passed from Leopard Frogs to humans and/or humans to Leopard Frogs?

Any literature citations would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I can be contacted at

Laurie Bachar, REHS
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist
Montana State University
1160 Research Drive
Bozeman, Montana 59718
406-994-7384
406-994-7040 fax

lbachar@montana.edu

Anuran AMP Acquisition
Friday, May 27, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 204
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 May 2011

ANURAN AMP ACQUISITION

Our laboratory would like to obtain samples of the skin secretions of different species of frogs to further test our hypothesis that the system of anti-microbial peptides used by them has evolved at least three times independently within the group (refer to the pdf in the CNAH library, below). We are having difficulty obtaining of some of the New World specimens in particular and would appreciate any assistance that those of you on the CNAH network could offer.

The sampling is non-invasive in the sense that there is no direct tissue sample being taken, but the frogs do have to be irritated to begin producing the skin secretions. The secretion should then be washed into a container with distilled water, which is then cooled with liquid nitrogen before being freeze-dried for shipment. We would naturally cover the associated costs for the freeze-drying and postage et al. and the assistance of all individuals will be formally acknowledged in any publications. We can provide more detail upon request, but what we really need now are some contacts of people who might be able to help. Any frogs sent to us must be accompanied by a scientific collecting permit from their state or province of origin as well as the appropriate US Import/Export documents.

Here is a list of our target species, of which Ascaphus is probably the biggest priority:

Leiopelmatidae: Ascaphus, Leiopelma
Rhinophrynidae: Rhinophrynus dorsalis
Leptodactylidae: any
Leiuperidae: Physalaemus
Eleutherodactylidae: any
Cycloramphidae: any
Hylidae: subfamily Hylinae
Bombinatoridae: Barbourula (Borneo)
Heleophrynidae: Heleophryne (South Africa)
Myobatrachidae: any (New Guinea, Australia)

With many thanks in advance for any help or advice that you can provide.

Prof. Dr. Olaf R.P. Bininda-Emonds
AG Systematik und Evolutionsbiologie
IBU - Fakultät V
Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
26111 Oldenburg
Germany

Phone: +49 441 798 3965
Fax: +49 441 798 193965
olaf.bininda@uni-oldenburg.de
http://www.molekularesystematik.uni-oldenburg.de/

*****

EVIDENCE FOR CONVERGENT EVOLUTION IN THE ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE SYSTEM IN ANURAN AMPHIBIANS

2011. Peptides 32: 20-25

Enrico König & Olaf R. P. Bininda-Edmonds

Abstract: Amphibians are characterized in part by their highly specialized and glandular skin that enables key physiological functions such as cutaneous respiration and defense against a variety of micro- and macroscopic predators via toxic components (e.g., alkaloids and bufodienolids), biogenicamines, neuropeptides and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). To date, DNA sequence information regarding AMP genes in anurans is restricted to only a few anuran families and largely to “higher frogs” (Neobatrachia). Here, we analyze the DNA information for the signal sequences of the AMP precursors in anuran amphibians available to the end of 2009 in an explicit phylogeneic framework to characterize the evolution of this large, diverse gene family. Comparison of cDNA sequences suggests that there are at least three different motifs within the signal peptide sequence of the AMP-precursor corresponding to the evolutionary lineages Neobatrachia, Bombinatoridae (Bombina spp.) and Pipidae (Xenopus laevis). The signal sequences are strongly conserved within each lineage (as previously noted for Neobatrachia), but highly divergent between them. Together with the lack of a linear relationship between the degree of sequence divergence and evolutionary time, we hypothesize that the anuran AMP system has evolved convergently on at least three occasions. However, additional sampling, especially among the largely poorly sampled non-neobatrachian lineages, is required to confirm this hypothesis and could reveal the existence of additional signal sequence motifs.

A pdf of this article is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Anuran Ark Calendar
Thursday, January 17, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 January 2008

I am working with a group of five other professionals representing the Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, Disney, Smithsonian, and Audubon. We are trying to raise awareness about the fact that 2008 is the "Year of the Frog," and also for the Amphibian Ark project (AArk). AArk is a global response to our planet’s amphibian crisis. As many of you are aware, 30 % of the species of frogs worldwide are predicted to go extinct within the immediate future in the worst extinction event since that of the dinosaurs, unless something is done to protect them. We feel this is the consensus wildlife conservation issue for the year 2008. In a historical conservation effort, hundreds of zoos, conservation organizations, and other institutions from around the world will be working together in this cause.

Our group is trying to raise money for this cause and have sold 4000 Year of the Frog calendars that we created. The calendars feature incredible photos donated by leading wildlife photographers and information about the frogs featured, the Year of the Frog, the amphibian crisis, and the Amphibian Ark project. We are not doing this for profit; all proceeds go to helping frogs. Of the 4200 calendars we created, we have roughly 190 left and are hoping to sell those quickly so that the cost of the unsold calendars does not come off the bottom line.

Herpetologists and other biologists wishing to support this effort can take a look at the calendar and see if they are interested in purchasing one (or several) at

http://www.helpafrog.com/

Thanks so much for your help.

Scott Smith
Wildlife Conservation Society
sSmith@wcs.org

Anuran Audio Asking
Friday, February 09, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 118
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 February 2007

SOUTHERN LEOPARD FROG CALL RECORDINGS SOUGHT

I am investigating geographic variation in the mating call in the Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius). I would be appreciative of anyone willing to share recordings of Southern Leopard Frogs (choruses, mixed-species choruses, or individuals) within their natural range. Recordings can be in any format (e.g., digital, tapes, etc.), but must have locality data. Contributors will be acknowledged in any relevant publications. Please contact me at

spinifer@aol.com

Thanks in advance.

Nathan Nazdrowicz
Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
University of Delaware
245 Townsend Hall
Newark, Delaware 19717
office (302) 831-8884
cell (302) 893-3645

Anuran Aural Access
Saturday, December 23, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 December 2006

Put Something Wild in Your Pocket: Free Endangered Wildlife Ringtones!

Thanks to one wild new web site, now you can use your cell phone for calls of an entirely different nature: rousing ringtones of the croaks, chirps and sensational songs of rare and endangered animals from around the world. Just go to the Center for Biological Diversity site

http://rareearthtones.com/

and easily download free ringtones featuring authentic sounds of some of the world’s most threatened owls, tropical birds, frogs, toads and marine mammals.

Our free Web site allows you to listen to all of the wildlife ringtones – including the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) and Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus), or any one of 40 other endangered wildlife species – and have your favorites sent directly to your phone with one easy click.

And what’s more, while you’re sending the ringtones to your phone, you can learn a few things about how you can protect endangered animals and help stop the global extinction crisis. Life is precious. So why should your cell phone sound like everyone else’s? Why spend money to download tired Top 40 tunes when in just a few simple steps – and at no cost – you can pick your favorite call from among 40 rare animals with real star quality?

Trust us: You simply won’t find a free collection like this anywhere else.

At our web site, listen to and download such musical milestones as:

**The electronic-uh Uh Uh Uh Uh Uh by the California Red-legged Frog**

And who could forget:

**The soul-stirring-Barry-White-purring of the Gopher Frog’s Ohhhhhhhhh Oooooooooh (Baby)**

All these ringtones can be yours – but you must act now! Why? Because these ringtones belong to rare and endangered animals, and if you fail to act now, they may not be around much longer.

Friends, this is truly a limited-time offer. There’s no time to waste in learning more about endangered species and how you can protect them.

That’s why, when you go to our free Web site and listen to these unique ringtones, you can download a fact sheet to find out what makes the animals behind them so unique. Better yet, you can take action to help save them – with just one click.

The site features the calls of more than a dozen endangered and threatened North American frogs and toads – such as the Houston Toad, found at only a few locations in Texas.

Many new ringtones will be added soon, including many more North American amphibians.

Act now. Download your rare or endangered species ringtones today.

You’ll be the envy of all your friends. They’ll want to know where you found your wild ringtone. Imagine their faces as they wonder: Is that a frog in your pocket, or. . . ?

Just send them to

http://rareearthtones.com/

where they can get their own!

The Center for Biological Diversity works directly to protect many of the featured ringtone species, including the California Red-legged Frog (California), Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (California, Oregon), Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Sierra Nevada and Southern California), Oregon Spotted Frog (Pacific Northwest), and Yosemite Toad (Sierra Nevada)

Jeff Miller
Bay Area Wildlands Coordinator
Center for Biological Diversity
1095 Market Street, Suite 511
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 436-9682 ext 303
Fax (415) 436-9683

Applied Herpetology Gratis
Tuesday, July 31, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 July 2007

Trial Access to Applied Herpetology

The journal, Applied Herpetology, can be accessed gratis until 15 October 2007. Visit the web address at:

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/ah

Instructions for accessing articles are:

Use the following User Name and Password:

User Name: aphe_trial

Password: aphe_trial

Go to the issue or article of your choice and make sure to fill in the user name and password (shown above) in the "sign in" section on the right-hand side of the page.

CNAH encourages you to take advantage of this generous offer.

Arizona Roadkill
Wednesday, May 25, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 May 2005

Arizona Roadkill: Huge Toll on Park-Area Highways
(A. E. Araiza, Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) 16 May 2005)

More than 50,000 wild animals are run over on roads in and around Saguaro National Park each year, park researchers say. Taking a fresh look at old data, researchers have concluded that an earlier survey of park-area roadkills understated by roughly seven times the true casualty figures for toads, snakes, rabbits, lizards, javelina and other critters.

After five years of weekly surveys of 50 miles of roads that ended in 1999, National Park Service officials determined back then that about 7,100 animals were killed annually in and around the east and west units of Saguaro National Park. But researchers decided the original count was too low after reanalyzing the data to account for surveyor error, for animals that get taken off the road after they're killed and for the limitations of hunting for roadkills by car. "We weren't seeing everything," said Natasha Kline, who has worked as a Saguaro Park biologist nearly 13 years.

But while more animals are apparently dying on park roads than originally had been thought, some changes in road design are slowly occurring to make these and other thoroughfares more wildlife-friendly in the future. The changes will be aimed not just at preventing roadkills but at preserving connections for wild animals crossing roads from one large block of desert to another. As much as $10 million would be spent over the next 20 years on making roads safer for wildlife under a plan that appears to be headed to the May 2006 ballot. The Regional Transportation Authority's 20-year plan would require voter approval of a half-cent sales tax increase to raise $1.9 billion total for a host of other transportation improvements, including widened roads, transit, sidewalks and bike paths. Pima County and state highway planners are looking for other ways to better design roads for wildlife, and the Park Service and county last year collaborated on a large $78,000 culvert project to provide more space for javelina and other animals crossing Sandario Road in Saguaro National Park West.

A major concern stemming from the roadkill study is the effect of the kills on populations of toads and larger animals, including Desert Tortoises, Gila Monsters, badgers and rattlesnakes, said Kline, who worked on the roadkill study. The park is experiencing "massive" roadkill of three [amphibian] species - the Red-spotted Toad, Sonoran [Green] Toad and Couch's Spadefoot, she said. Researchers have, for instance, found that Sonoran [Green] Toads taken from East Speedway north of the park were significantly smaller than those taken from loop roads within the park that close after dark. "This is very suggestive" that the toads' populations are affected by roadkill - not just individual toads, Kline said.

Although no statistics exist directly linking roadkills to declines of larger animals, biologists are concerned about them because they have both low reproductive rates and low adult mortality rates, Kline said. Because they have low adult mortality rates, those creatures tend to live long lives. But because their birthrates are low, "once you start taking adults out of the population, you'll affect it very quickly," said Kline, who has emerged as Saguaro Park's spokeswoman for a study that involves many researchers and volunteers.

The operator of a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center just north of Saguaro National Park East said she's not surprised by the Park Service study's conclusions, because she regularly sees live wild animals in her center that were brought in after somebody found them lying on the road. "It's our No. 1 problem with animals that come in - that they're hit by cars," said Lisa Bates, who gets 300 to 350 injured animals each year at her Tucson Wildlife Center at 13275 E. Speedway, just north of Saguaro Park East. "I would guess that a majority of animals admitted here were hit by cars." When center volunteers go out to rescue wild animals, they're all over the highways every day. Volunteers see a huge amount of roadkill, Bates said.

The sight of wild animals sprawled dead along roads or shoulders makes Rincon Valley Farmers Market executive director Molly Eglin truly sad, she said last week. But while she sees roadkill regularly on the roads, the 50,000-a-year figure shocked her, she said. "I go to town practically every day, and I usually see something practically every day off to the side of the road. But I never imagined it was that many," said Eglin, whose market lies about one mile south of the park's southern border at 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail. "What's worse is the people who drive down Old Spanish Trail like a maniac," Eglin said. "They drive really fast around the curves, the double lines. It's really, really dangerous." One morning last week, as she drove down Freeman Road and then Speedway abutting Saguaro Park East, Kline said that she had already seen six dead animals along park-area roads: a Longnose Snake and a Coachwhip, two ground squirrels, a curved-bill thrasher and a rabbit. Then she stopped at a large wash along Speedway, about 16 miles east of Downtown Tucson, where she said she hopes to get grant money for a series of culverts to accommodate the toads and other animals so they can cross under Speedway instead of into the path of cars. Two years ago, the Park Service and the Pima County Department of Transportation applied for a $500,000 state grant to install two large box culverts and several smaller ones that would accommodate toads. The application failed, but Kline said she expects to seek the grant again. The area along Speedway where the culvert system would go had heavy concentrations of roadkills, ranging 85 to 1,000 in a small area, during the five-year study period ending in 1999, according to a Park Service map of the area.

A County Transportation Department official said he has not heard yet from the service about any effort to try again for the grant. But the department now has a written policy calling for more environmentally sensitive roads in areas known for their wildlife populations, said Rick Ellis, the department's engineering division manager. The county has had the policy since December 2003 and has used it twice. One project, connected with the county's Thornydale Road widening, was to build a higher, wider shoulder with taller trees along Thornydale to accommodate cactus ferruginous pigmy owls trying to cross the road. The second project was the Sandario Road culvert.

Four major state highways in Southern Arizona could also be in line for new, wildlife-friendly design in the next few years because of a grant just obtained by a Flagstaff researcher. That study will focus on how to make those and other roads in the state more hospitable to birds and mammals.

The tally

Estimated annual wildlife roadkills in and around Saguaro National Park East and West (Source: National Park Service)

Reptiles [& Turtles]: 27,000
Amphibians: 17,000
Mammals: 6,000
Birds: 1,000

Arizona Treefrog Action
Tuesday, December 11, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 December 2007

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE UPDATES LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LISTING
ARIZONA TREEFROG (HYLA WRIGHTORUM) LISTED

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals that are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Candidate Notice of Review was published in the December 6, 2007 Federal Register. Four species were removed from the candidate list and five species were added since the last review in September 2006. There are now 280 species recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection.

As part of this review, the Service is soliciting public comment and additional information on these candidate species, as well as information on species that may be eligible for addition to future candidate updates. This information will be valuable in preparing listing documents and future revisions or supplements to the notice of review.

USFWS Director H. Dale Hall highlighted the important role conservation efforts play in reducing risks to species not yet listed. The Surprising Cave Beetle in Kentucky is one example. It was removed as a candidate after an assessment found that the species’ range was larger and the threats to its continued existence had decreased. In addition, Mammoth Cave National Park entered into a 15-year agreement to conserve the cave beetle and its habitat, which includes Surprising Cave and three other caves in the park. This conservation agreement is just one of many such agreements across the country helping to conserve at-risk species before they require ESA protection. More than 150 candidate and at-risk species currently benefit from candidate conservation agreements.

Three other species were removed from the candidate list this year:

The Basalt Daisy, a plant found in Washington, was removed from the candidate list due to conservation efforts and information indicating the species is more abundant than once believed. Surveying and monitoring led to the identification of two additional populations of this plant and the most recent survey further affirmed stable numbers suggested by earlier surveys, leading the Service to conclude that this species no longer meets the definition of a candidate.

The Warm Springs Zaitzevian Riffle Beetle, an insect found in Montana, was removed from the list due to conservation efforts. Through the implementation of a management plan since 1994, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish Technology Center has managed and protected the habitat for the beetle. That protection has been further reinforced by the commitments of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Montana State University through a Conservation Assessment and Strategy signed in 2006, leading to the removal of this beetle from the candidate list.

The Slender Moonwort, a plant known to occur in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and portions of Canada, was removed because it is more abundant than previously recognized and there is insufficient information to justify its continued candidate status.

This year, the Service evaluated several species under the candidate process and found that five warrant ESA protection. The five new candidate species are:

*****

Las Vegas Buckwheat, a species of plant found in Clark and Lincoln Counties, Nevada

New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse, a species of mammal found in Apache County, Arizona; a small portion of Las Animas County, Colorado; and in Colfax, Mora, Otero, and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico

Huachuca/Canelo Distinct Population Segment of the ARIZONA TREEFROG (HYLA WRIGHTORUM), a species of amphibian found in the Huachuca Mountains and adjacent Canelo Hills in Arizona and Rancho Los Fresnos in north-central Sonora, Mexico

Laurel Dace, a species of fish found in Bledsoe and Rhea Counties, Tennessee

San Bernardino Springsnail, a snail found in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.

*****

Identification of candidate species provides resource managers with advance notice of species in need of consultation, allowing them to alleviate threats before the protection of the ESA is required.

The Service has several tools for protecting candidate species and their habitat including a grants program that funds conservation projects by private landowners, states and territories. Additionally, the Service can enter into Candidate Conservation Agreements (CAA), formal agreements between the Service and one or more parties to address the conservation needs of proposed or candidate species, or species likely to become candidates, before they become listed as endangered or threatened. The CAA participants voluntarily commit to implementing specific actions that will remove or reduce the threats to these species, thereby contributing to stabilizing or restoring the species.

The complete notice and list of proposed candidate species appears in today's Federal Register and can be viewed online at

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/candidates/index.html

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 548 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit

http://www.fws.gov

Questions concerning a particular news release or item of information should be directed to the person listed as the contact. General comments or observations concerning the content of the information should be directed to Malcomb Barsella (malcomb_barsella@fws.gov) in the Office of Public Affairs.

Arizona Treefrog Art
Saturday, September 24, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 57
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 September 2005

Line drawing of Hyla wrightorum (formerly Hyla eximia) Needed

Is there an illustrator willing to provide to us a good line drawing of this species (Arizona Treefrog) for our agency magazine? If so, please contact:

James N. Stuart
Conservation Services Division
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
P. O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-5112
(505) 476-8107
FAX: (505) 476-8128
James.Stuart@state.nm.us

Ark Aspidoscelis Assist
Thursday, August 27, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 180
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 August 2009

WALKER WANTS WHIPTAIL DATA

I am searching for information on Cnemidophorus alpinus (= Aspidoscelis alpina), presently known from the Mexican states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Tlaxcala. I would much appreciate being contacted if you have knowledge of museum specimens of this species other than those in the collections of the University of Colorado Museum, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, University of Illinois Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles County Museum, and Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection. In addition, I desire information pertaining to biologists engaged in biochemical, ecological, and other types of studies on this species.

Help on this project is much appreciated.

James M. Walker
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville
jmwalker@uark.edu

Ark Salamander Poster
Friday, September 10, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
www.cnah.org
10 July 2004

Re: The NEW POSTER on Salamanders of Arkansas by Kelly J. Irwin

The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission toll free telephone number, as printed by AGFC on other documents, apparently does not work.
Kelly Irwin does not have copies of the poster, so don't call him.

If you want a free poster, try calling this number (it may work):

1-800-482-8845

Arkansas Herp Cards
Tuesday, January 02, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 January 2007

ARKANSAS HERPETOLOGICAL TRADING CARDS NOW AVAILABLE

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is pleased to announce the availability of a set of 25 trading cards of Razorback reptiles, crocodilians, and turtles. These distinctive 2.5 x 3.5-inch glossy cards display in vivid color the following species (common names as they appear on the cards):

American Alligator, Alligator Snapping Turtle, Common Snapping Turtle, Ornate Box Turtle, Southern Painted Turtle, Spiny Softshell, Eastern Box Turtle, Slider, Broadhead Skink, Five-lined Skink, Northern Fence Lizard, Green Anole, Western Rat Snake, Western Ribbon Snake, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Diamondback Water Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Milk Snake, Mud Snake, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Ringneck Snake, Rough Green Snake, Speckled Kingsnake, and Timber Rattlesnake. Of particular note is the adoption of the modern, more scientifically accurate and informative reptilian generic names (Plestiodon and Pantherophis) and the correct spelling of Pigmy, as in Pigmy Rattlesnake.

For greater accuracy, comprehension, and ease of use, these trading cards adopted the traditional, standard common names for North American species maintained by Collins & Taggart (2002. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology (available as a pdf at the CNAH web site) and updated daily online.

The excellent photography is by Suzanne L. Collins and Eric Maynard.

A gratis set of the cards may be requested from:

April Layher
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
aolayher@agfc.state.ar.us

Arkansas Herp List Online
Friday, January 21, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 January 2005

New Checklist of the Arkansas Herpetofauna

The mission of this website is to distribute and share knowledge regarding the naturally occurring herpetofauna of Arkansas. An effort is made to dispel misconceptions and fears. Information is presented in a healthy, environmentally-conscious manner to promote the beauty and fascination of these spectacular creatures.

CNAH Note: An excellent state herpetofaunal site; highly recommended. Created and maintained by Kory Roberts.

Check it out at:

http://www.snakesofarkansas.com

Arkansas Snake Guide
Thursday, July 22, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 July 2004

New Booklet
ARKANSAS SNAKE GUIDE

by Kelly J. Irwin

A product of the skillful pen of state herpetologist Kelly J. Irwin, this publication is a quick and handy reference to Arkansas snakes, and supplements the information appearing in the recently (2004) published "Amphibians and Reptiles of Arkansas" by Stanley E. Trauth, Henry W. Robison, and Michael V. Plummer. Co-sponsored by The Center for North American Herpetology, this 50-page booklet features the exquisite color photography of Suzanne L. Collins (CNAH, Lawrence, Kansas), and includes text and images for all 36 kinds of serpents known to inhabit Arkansas.

Species included (by common name as they appear in the booklet): Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Western Pigmy Rattlesnake, Texas Coral Snake, Scarlet Snake, Milk Snake, Mississippi Green Water Snake, Plainbelly Water Snake, Broad-banded Water Snake, Diamondback Water Snake, Northern Water Snake, Racer, Great Plains Rat Snake, Black Rat Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Prairie Kingsnake, Speckled Kingsnake, Coachwhip, Rough Green Snake, Western Ribbon Snake, Common Garter Snake, Mud Snake, Graham's Crayfish Snake, Glossy Crayfish Snake, Queen Snake, Eastern Worm Snake, Western Worm Snake, Ringneck Snake, Ground Snake, Brown Snake, Redbelly Snake, Flathead Snake, Rough Earth Snake, and Smooth Earth Snake.

An essential addition to the library of any North American herpetologist.

For greater comprehension and ease of use (both among herpetologists and the general public), this booklet adopts common names as they listed in the recently published (2002) Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition by Joseph T. Collins & Travis W. Taggart (Available gratis from The Center for North American Herpetology).

Publisher: Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Little Rock
Published: 2004
Cost: Gratis
To request a copy, call 1-800-482-8845

For more information or to confirm this news release, contact

Joseph T. Collins
CNAH
1 (785) 749-3467
jcollins@ku.edu

Arkansas Snake Guide Pdf
Tuesday, August 31, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 August 2004

The recently published Arkansas Snake Guide by Kelly J. Irwin, which was out-of-print within weeks of its announcement by CNAH on 22 July 2004, is now available as a gratis downloadable reprint (in color) by accessing the following web site:

http://www.agfc.com/critters/wildlife_snake.html

Just scroll to the bottom and download it using Adobe Acrobat.

Ashton Award Announced
Wednesday, March 19, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 March 2008

RAY ASHTON RECEIVES AWARD FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL & LAND USE COMMITTEE OF THE FLORIDA BAR FOR HIS WORK ON BEHALF OF GOPHER TORTOISES

Ray E. Ashton, Jr., President of the Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc., in Newberry, Florida, and one of the founders of the activist group, The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Imitative, was awarded the 2008 Citizen’s Award at the 14th Annual Public Interest Environmental Conference held at the University of Florida Law School on 28 February 2008.

The award was presented for his outstanding contributions on behalf of Florida environmental and land use policy. Some of the contributions that Ashton has made include work with local county governments in developing policies that support local conservation of Gopher Tortoises and their habitats. Over the past two years, he has worked with seventeen counties to establish programs that will help protect tortoises. Meanwhile over the past ten years, he has been a strong voice attempting to change the old policies of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission from Incidental take to one of long term management and protection through up-listing the tortoise to threatened status in Florida and to encourage relocation of tortoises to well-managed and protected lands. He has proposed reasonable financing of tortoise management that would insure perpetual monitoring and management for generations to come. He and members of The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Imitative proposed a tax exemption to landowners that maintain natural lands. Today farmers cannot maintain their agricultural exemptions on these lands and pay the highest taxes on them. Thanks to the Florida Wildlife Federation and other stakeholders, this tax bill and many changes have been brought forward to create an entirely different way of doing conservation for a species.

All though Ashton is not totally pleased with the current rules being presented to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission in April 2007, he supports the direction they are going and hope that the Commission will follow up on promises to strengthen what is being presented in the near future. If they do not then we will see a continued decline of Gopher Tortoises and the need for them to be federally listed.

*****

Those wishing to congratulate Ray Ashton or wishing to contribute financially to the efforts of his foundation can reach him at:

Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc.
14260 W Newberry Road, #331
Newberry, Florida 32669
www.ashtonbiodiversity.org
352-495-7449
tortfarm2@aol.com

ASIH Collection List
Monday, October 18, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 October 2010

ASIH COLLECTION LIST ANNOUNCED

The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists announces the completion of a revised list of standard codes (abbreviations, acronyms) for ichthyological and herpetological collections, edited by Mark Sabaj Pérez, which has been posted for your review to the ASIH website. The new list builds on the excellent foundation established by several predecessors, most recently the list of codons compiled by John Bruner, which has served our interests well for the last several years. Mark's revised list adds several collections that were not represented earlier and incorporates recent changes to several existing entries. Going forward, Mark also has agreed to post revisions to this new list on a regular basis so that ASIH members (and other taxonomists) have access to an authoritative, comprehensive and up-to-date list at all times. Initially, the list will be available only from the ASIH website. However, we encourage other fish and herp societies-and related resources-to make the list available from their websites as well. We also will investigate the possibility of making the list available via the website of the Biodiversity Collections Index

http://www.biodiversitycollectionsindex.org/static/index.html

as a means of promoting this list as a standard source for taxonomists in general.

You are invited to download the list, which is available in both pdf and xls formats, at

http://www.asih.org

The files are located in the pull-down menu below the "Curation" tab; click Ich & Herp Collection Codes. Mark looks forward to receiving corrections, additions and other appropriate changes to the list, both now and at any time in the future. Please also submit any other suggestions for improvement, and let us know if you have any difficulty accessing the list. Send all comments directly to Mark at

sabaj@ansp.org

ASIH Herp Survey
Tuesday, December 05, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 December 2006

SURVEY OF AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGICAL AND HERPETOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS

The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Collections Committee is conducting an on-line survey of American ichthyological and herpetological collections. This online survey will provide valuable data that will enhance long-term support and maintenance of collections. Based on previous surveys by Poss & Collette (1995) and Collette & Lachner (1976) of ichthyological collections, this survey captures general collection information, as well as more specific information on collection and data management policies (e.g., availability of electronic catalogs). This survey addresses a need for detailed information about ichthyological and herpetological collections, while other ongoing initiatives, such as the Legacy Infrastructure Network for Natural Environments (LINNE), seek to more broadly identify existing collections for inclusion into an accessible network for the scientific community. Results from the survey will be summarized and submitted for publication in Copeia and will be also be available from the main ASIH website, including an improved index to collections.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY AT:

http://chelydra.unm.edu/asihsurvey

If you have any questions, please contact any of the following:

J. Tom Giermakowski
Museum of Southwestern Biology
tomas@unm.edu

Nelson Rios
Tulane University Museum of Natural History
nelson@museum.tulane.edu

Christina A. Wolfe
Collection Manager, Herpetology
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
University of Oklahoma
2401 Chautauqua Avenue
Norman, Oklahoma 73026
(405) 325-7771
(405) 325-7699 (fax)
cwolfe@ou.edu

ASIH Pub Prices Plummet
Monday, August 23, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 August 2010

ASIH PUBLICATIONS OFFERED AT A REDUCED RATE

All special publications of the ASIH and all existing back issues of COPEIA are on sale from today until 31 December 2010 for $0.50/COPEIA issue and $5.00/book-length publication, plus shipping (COPEIA issues: $4.00 domestic, $12.50 international/each; books: $15.00 domestic, $34.00 Canada and Mexico, $56.00 other countries/each) and handling ($5.50 each). The fire sale ends on 31 December 2010.

On 1 January 2011 we will instruct Allen Press to reduce our inventory, so get in on this great deal today. Prices for any remaining inventory will then return to their current rates on 1 January 2011.

Allen Press will accept orders beginning 30 August on the ASIH business office website at

http://asih.allenmm.com

ASIH Symposium Sought
Thursday, February 10, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 198
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 February 2011

HERPETOLOGIST'S WANTED FOR ASIH SYMPOSIUM

I would like to submit a proposal for an ASIH symposium in 2012 on ectotherm ecology with stable isotope analysis. Recently, studies using stable isotope techniques have been focusing on ectotherm ecology.

My own research interests are with applications to modern and paleo-elasmobranch ecology. However, I have noted the limited number of papers on ectotherm taxa and think this symposium would greatly benefit from representation across all ectothermic animals, especially turtles, crocodiles, amphibians, and reptiles. Unfortunately, these taxa are not my area of expertise and I do not know many researchers who focus on these taxa.

Thus, I am asking researchers and/or potential symposium participants with a specialty in herpetofauna to contact me so that I might gauge interest in this topic. I can be contacted at

skim11@uwyo.edu

Sora Kim
Post-doctoral Researcher
Department of Geology & Geophysics
University of Wyoming #3006
Laramie Wyoming 82071
skim11@uwyo.edu

ASIH Travel Grants
Tuesday, February 16, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 February 2010

ASIH STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

Application for the ASIH student travel awards is now open. Travel Awards are designed to help with costs to attend the 2010 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. The recipients will be chosen at random for awards of $300 ($500 for intercontinental travelers). In order to be eligible for this award the student must

a) currently be a graduate student and ASIH member
b) be presenting your research at the 2010 JMIH (poster or oral presentation)
c) have never received a travel award previously

If you are chosen, you must volunteer for four one-hour shifts at the graduate student book raffle table. More information regarding eligibility for intercontinental awards and your participation in the meeting can be found at

http://www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/jointmeeting/grad-student

In order to apply, you must fill out the form that is available for download at

http://www.asih.org/annualmeetings

and email it to me by 3 May 2010.

The form is available via a link for the 2010 annual meeting.

Ryan Chabarria
ryan.chabarria@gmail.com

Asking for Anaxyrus
Monday, March 17, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 141
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 March 2008

ASKING FOR ANAXYRUS

The Fort Worth Zoo is looking for biologists that may be collecting tissues from amphibians (especially bufonids) from the wild and that would be willing to share liver and kidney samples for a vitamin study. The samples should be kept in a cooler and then frozen prior to being shipped to me at the zoo (address below). If any researcher is willing to help, please contact me at:

dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Thanks in advance for any help.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 FAX

Balazs Recognized
Tuesday, April 19, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 April 2005

Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii) 13 April 2005

Balazs receives prestigious award for turtle research

Hawai'i researcher George Balazs has been awarded the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award for his work on the threatened Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. Balazs, a biologist with NOAA Fisheries, helped place the turtles on the federal endangered species list in 1978 and has overseen research on the animals throughout his career -- during which the population has recovered significantly. His work with radio-tagging has shown that the turtles can take long open-ocean routes from their feeding sites to nesting areas and that they can navigate hundreds of miles without landmarks. Many of them make those voyages from the main Hawaiian Islands to nesting beaches in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Apr/13/ln/ln39p.html

Behaving Mpegs Sought
Monday, August 17, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 178
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 August 2009

BEHAVIOR MPEGS SOUGHT

I am about to start teaching a first year course for non-science majors on the natural history of Georgia. I'm looking for short video segments (hopefully mpegs) of amphibian, reptilian and chelonian behavior and wondered if there was some repository for materials like this.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Gary D. Grossman
Professor of Animal Ecology
Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602
gdgrossman@gmail.com

Bog Turtle Book Benefit
Thursday, September 01, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 September 2011

BERN TRYON'S BOG TURTLE BOOK BENEFIT
Turtle Survival Alliance

Recently, well known zoo herpetologist Bern Tryon passed away. Before his death, Bern thought it would be nice if his herpetological library could be sold with ALL the proceeds going to a fund that would provide money each year for field work on the southern populations of the endangered Bog Turtle. Bern had a wonderful library collection of over 500 titles that he has donated to TSA for Bog Turtle conservation efforts. It can be accessed at:

http://www.pondturtle.com/btlmain.html

The Turtle Survival Alliance has agreed to maintain and administer the funds, and I have agreed to list and sell the library. All money collected from the sale of the library will go directly to the TSA BERN TRYON SOUTHERN BOG TURTLE FUND. It is hoped that we can raise a substantial amount to help fund southern Bog Turtle field work well into the future. Any additional donations to this Bog Turtle fund are also welcome.

The quality of Bern's books is first rate. Bern had everything bound and selected the nicest cleanest copies he could find (always hardbound) and with dust jackets. Bern told me, "One thing I have made a point to do is curate my library in such a way that just about all of the appropriate soft-bound volumes have been very nicely hardbound. Often, if I like a certain volume, I have spent more money for this than the volume is worth monetarily, but it is worth it to me." A ten dollar publication from Bern's library may be bound in a $20–S40 binding. Several of the titles were priced by Bern as to what he hoped to get for them. Most of the reprints have Bern’s signature or other stamps of previous owners and are in "used condition." ALL ARE PRICED TO SAVE TURTLES. All proceeds from the sale of these titles go to the Turtle Survival Alliance for the long term preservation of the Bog Turtle.

If you see a title of interest, check with me for availability at

frank@pondturtle.com

If the title is available, I will make up an invoice and all payments will go directly to Heather at TSA. Please do not send her any money until an invoice is received.

Thank you for your help with this worthy endeavor.

Frank Slavens
http://www.pondturtle.com

Boost Butantan's Books
Tuesday, December 14, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
Yemek Tarifleri
Yemek Tarifleri
http://www.yemektat.com/
14 December 2010

A Books for Butantan Update

THE INSTITUTO BUTANTAN LIBRARY IS RE-BUILDING
WITH HELP FROM CNAH & THE WALLACE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

HOW YOU CAN HELP BUTANTAN

The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) recently received a $25,000.00 grant from the Wallace Research Foundation to assist in re-building the academic book titles in the library of the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. A fire at the institute destroyed its research library earlier this year and has left the faculty, staff, and students devastated by the loss of books, data, and research material. While CNAH cannot replace the invaluable intellectual work that went up in flames, we can help to substantially replace the Butantan library so they can begin anew their quest for information about the amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians of the world.

CNAH and the Wallace Research Foundation have partnered with Eric Thiss of Serpent's Tale in Minnesota to purchase books on the herpetofauna of the Western Hemisphere, with an emphasis on North America. We will concentrate on books published since 1935 because many of these are still under copyright and generally are not legally available as electronic downloads on the internet. With respect to journals, please contact Eric Thiss (zoobooks@acegroup.cc) for a list of those we still need. A list of those we already have is appended below.

And we want herpetologists to help us. We need donations of books. Each book that we receive as a donation will be sent to Butantan and will free up funds to purchase another tome. Don't worry about sending duplicate books; we are planning on auctioning off duplicates to raise funds for additional acquisitions. Anyone that can assist CNAH and the Wallace Research Foundation by making such a book donation should send their contribution via U.S. mail media rate to:

Serpent's Tale
P.O. Box 405
Lanesboro, Minnesota 55949
507-467-8733

If you haven't a spare book, send CNAH money. Additional funds mean additional books and help with the freight charges. We need to pay for both. And money is easier to send. Just go to

www.cnah.org

Select PayPal on the CNAH website main page and make a cash donation. Or, if you prefer, send a check to the address below. All donations will be used to purchase books for Butantan. Be sure to add "Butantan" to the PayPal or check memo line.

Cash donations over $50.00 and all book donations will receive a letter of acknowledgement for tax purposes.

Above all, CNAH wishes to thank the Wallace Research Foundation for their generosity and compassion toward the students, faculty, and staff of the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. Without the interest and vision of WRF, this effort by CNAH would not be possible. On behalf of The Center for North American Herpetology Board of Directors and the herpetological community worldwide, we applaud the WRF commitment to education, research, and conservation.

Joseph T. Collins
Executive Director
The Center for North American Herpetology
1502 Medinah Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66047
(785) 393-4757
jcollins@ku.edu

*****

We already have complete bound sets of these journals:

Journal of Herpetology
Herpetological Review
Brimleyana
Chicago Academy of Sciences (herp papers only)
Los Angeles County Museum Science Bulletin (herp papers only)
Chelonian Conservation and Biology
SSAR Herpetological Circulars
University of Kansas Occasional Papers (herp papers only)
Uniiversity of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History (herp papers only)
HL Herpetological Monographs
Herpetologica
Reptile and Amphibian sections of the Zoological Record
Bulletin of the Maryland Herp Society
SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians & Reptiles
Copeia
Yemek Tarifleri

Boreal Toad Bounced
Wednesday, October 05, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 October 2005

. . . from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Southern Rocky Mountain Population of Boreal Toad No Longer Candidate for Listing

USFWS Contacts: Al Pfister(970)243-2778 x 29 or Diane Katzenberger (303)236-4578

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the withdrawal of the Southern Rocky Mountain population of the Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas) from the list of species being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The Service has determined that listing this population of the Boreal Toad at this time is not warranted because it does not constitute a distinct population segment as defined by the ESA. Although no further action will result from this finding, the Service will continue to seek new information on the taxonomy, biology, and ecology of the population, as well as potential threats to their continued existence.

A distinct population segment of a vertebrate species can be treated as a species for purposes of listing if that population segment satisfies specific standards set by the Service's regulations. The standards require it to be discrete from the remainder of the population and significant to the species to which it belongs. The Southern Rocky Mountain population meets the standard for discreteness because it is geographically separated from other populations of the Boreal Toad. However, it does not meet the standard for significance because 1) the population does not persist in an ecological setting unusual or unique for the subspecies (it occurs in a wide variety of habitats across the western United States); 2) the gap resulting from loss of the population would be a relatively small proportion of the overall subspecies range; and 3) the best available scientific information does not permit the Service to conclude that this particular population differs markedly from other populations in genetic characteristics.

The Boreal Toad, the nominate subspecies of the Western Toad (Bufo boreas), is found from coastal Alaska south through British Columbia, western Alberta, Washington, Oregon, and northern California, and east through Idaho, western Montana, western and south central Wyoming, western and central Nevada, the mountains of Utah and Colorado, and extreme northern New Mexico. The range of the Southern Rocky Mountain population of the Boreal Toad is south central Wyoming throughout the mountainous portions of Colorado and into extreme northern New Mexico .

In September 1993, the Biodiversity Legal Foundation and Dr. Peter Hovingh, a researcher at the University of Utah, petitioned the Service to list the Southern Rocky Mountain population of the Boreal Toad as endangered throughout its range in New Mexico, Colorado, and southern Wyoming. The Service initiated a status review and determined in March of 1995 that proposed listing was warranted but precluded by other higher priority actions. The population then became a candidate for listing.

Candidate species are plants and animals for which the Service has sufficient information on their biological status and posed threats to propose them as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but for which development of a listing regulation is precluded by other higher priority listing activities.

After further review of new information and re-evaluation of previously acquired information, the Service determined that listing is not warranted at this time. That decision was based on the best available scientific and commercial information.

A recovery plan for the Southern Rocky Mountain Boreal Toad guides conservation efforts for the population. Management activities include annual monitoring of breeding populations, experimental reintroductions, coordinated habitat protection, and public education.

This finding regarding the withdrawal of the Southern Rocky Mountain Boreal Toad as a candidate species was published in the Federal Register on 29 September 2005.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

*****

For greater comprehension, this release used the standard common names as they appeared in Collins & Taggart (2002, Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology and available gratis as a pdf download at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

The CNAH list is the most recent and most comprehensive list of the herpetofauna of North America, and is the only such list updated daily and available online continuously.

*****

Boyd Lyon Fund Established
Sunday, September 17, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 September 2006

BOYD N. LYON FUND FOR SEA TURTLE RESEARCH ESTABLISHED

It has been but a few weeks since the sudden and tragic death of our friend and colleague, Boyd Lyon, and we are now growing keenly aware of the incredible spirit and passion that Boyd carried with him each day. Its truly amazing how many lives Boyd touched through his sea turtle research, even though he was part of our community for only a few years.

And so I take this opportunity to announce the formation of the BOYD N. LYON SEA TURTLE FUND in his memory, the proceeds of which will be used to support student research projects on Sea Turtles in the future. At the request of Boyd's family and closest friends, the Ocean Foundation has generously reserved the following URL

www.boydlyonseaturtlefund.org

which tells the story of Boyd Lyon and provides a way to make online donations to the fund. If Boyd touched your life, or even if you simply want to help out budding Sea Turtle researchers in the future, I encourage you to visit this website and make a donation, no matter how small.

Both Peter Pritchard and I have agreed to work with Boyd's family to develop the final criteria for awarding these student research funds, and we expect this information will be posted on the website very soon. In the meantime, keep Boyd's spirit alive by living your lives to the fullest.

Jeffrey Seminoff
The Ocean Foundation
jeffrey.seminoff@noaa.gov

Brain Body Data Desired
Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 151
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 November 2008

BRAIN BODY DATA DESIRED

I wish to conduct an Independent Contrasts analysis of brain body data. My sample of 62 species includes crocodilians, chelonians, and squamates (but not the tuatara). I would appreciate any suggestions for sources of one or more phylogenies at the species level. My main source at the moment is the textbook by Zug et al., although the Tree of Life web site (http://tolweb.org/) lists some references. Any suggestions would be much appreciated and can be sent to:

ghurlburt70@yahoo.com

Grant Hurlburt
Departmental Associate, Paleobiology Division
Department of Natural History
Royal Ontario Museum
Ontario M5S 2C6 Canada

British Columbia Herps
Monday, September 19, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 55
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 September 2005

We request any institutions that have specimens of reptiles, turtles, or amphibians in their preserved scientific collections that originated from British Columbia, Canada, please share these records with us (at the very least, let us know that you have some). We are compiling a database and updating our range maps for the province, and have very little in the way of historical data.

Hard copies or electronic databases can be sent to either of the addresses below. Please contact me if you have anything in your collections.

Thank you.

Brent Matsuda
Wildlife Biologist
Stillwater Sciences
279 Cousteau Place, Suite 400
Davis, California 95616
(530) 756-7550 x 228
Fax. (530) 756-7586
brent@stillwatersci.com
www.stillwatersci.com

or

984 West Broadway
P. O. Box 53510
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5Z 1K0 Canada
brent_matsuda@yahoo.ca

Brook Sallies for Beth
Thursday, January 22, 2009: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 156
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 January 2009

EURYCEA TISSUE SAMPLES SOUGHT

I am seeking tissues from Eurycea longicauda longicauda, E. l. melanopleura, and E. lucifuga for my graduate thesis project examining the geographic genetic variation and phylogeography of the E. longicauda complex. I am specifically looking for tissues collected from eastern Missouri, eastern Arkansas, southern Illinois and western Kentucky. Frozen or ethanol-preserved tail-clippings or liver/muscle samples are preferred.

If you have tissues collected from these areas (under proper permitting regulations), please contact me. Shipping costs will be covered.

Thanks in advance for contributions to this project.

Elizabeth K. Timpe
Masters Candidate
Department of Biological Sciences
Oliphant Hall – 800 South Tucker Drive
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104
elizabeth-timpe@utulsa.edu
(678) 699-0579

Bullfrog Disease Transmission
Thursday, September 11, 2003: Emerging Infectious Diseases. August Issue. - HerpDigest
Emerging Pathogen of Wild Amphibians in Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) Farmed for International Trade.

Authors: Rolando Mazzoni, Andrew A. Cunningham, Peter Daszak, Ada Apolo, Eugenio Perdomo, and Gustavo Speranza

Abstract: Chytridiomycosis is an emerging disease responsible for a series of global population declines and extinctions of amphibians. We report the causative agent, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in North American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) farmed for the international restaurant trade. Our findings suggest that international trade may play a key role in the global dissemination of this and other emerging infectious diseases in wildlife. For the entire article go to

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol9no8/030030.htm

where a word version and a downloadable Pdf version of the article are available.

Bullfrog Fungus Farming
Thursday, September 28, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 September 2006

The emerging amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis globally infects introduced populations of the North American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

2006 Biology Letters 2: 455–459

Trenton W. J. Garner, Matthew W. Perkins, Purnima Govindarajulu, Daniele Seglie, Susan Walker, Andrew A. Cunningham and Matthew C. Fisher

Abstract: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is the chytridiomycete fungus which has been implicated in global amphibian declines and numerous species extinctions. Here, we show that introduced North American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) consistently carry this emerging pathogenic fungus. We detected infections by this fungus on introduced Bullfrogs from seven of eight countries using both PCR and microscopic techniques. Only native Bullfrogs from eastern Canada and introduced Bullfrogs from Japan showed no sign of infection. The Bullfrog is the most commonly farmed amphibian, and escapes and subsequent establishment of feral populations regularly occur. These factors taken together with our study suggest that the global threat of B. dendrobatidis disease transmission posed by Bullfrogs is significant.

A gratis downloadable pdf of this paper is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Burned Turtle Backs
Friday, April 22, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 39
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 April 2005

Box up those Burned Turtle Backs

I am investigating evidence of fire-scarring in fossil Box Turtles from the Pleistocene of the southeastern U.S. In order to better characterize the scars of fossil box turtles, I first need to identify and examine modern fire-scarring. Therefore, I am looking for shells (carapace mainly) or more importantly carcasses of North American Box Turtles (genus Terrapene) that I can burn in a controlled wildfire and analyze.

I seek assistance from the herpetology community to help me locate carcasses for this project. I do not need many, but at least a few to better analyze what exactly happens to a turtle shell during burning. Specimens that have been definitively burned previously would also be helpful.

Dana J. Ehret
School of Natural Resources and Environment
University of Florida
and The Florida Museum of Natural History

I can be contacted at:

killerd@ufl.edu
dehret@flmnh.ufl.edu
(352) 871-7944

Butantan Books on eBay
Thursday, March 17, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 March 2011

A Books for Butantan Update

BUY BOOKS ON EBAY FOR BUTANTAN

In 2010, CNAH and the Wallace Research Foundation partnered with Eric Thiss of Serpent's Tale in Minnesota to purchase and ship books on herpetofauna to the library of the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. A fire at the institute destroyed its research library earlier that year and left the faculty, staff, and students devastated by the loss of books, data, and research material. We concentrated on books published since 1935 because many of these are still under copyright and generally are not legally available as electronic downloads on the internet.

The response from the herpetological community has been tremendous. As a result, we have many duplicate books. To resolve this situation, we decided to offer these books at auction on eBay. All proceeds raised will go to purchase and ship more books to the Instituto Butantan. If you wish to participate and assist in this effort, simply go to

www.ebay.com

type in "cnah" and spend freely. Some titles are already up on eBay as of today.

And we will still take donations of books and cash. Each book that we receive as a donation will be sent to Butantan and will free up funds to purchase another tome. Don't worry about sending more duplicate books; we auction them off to raise even more funds for additional acquisitions. Anyone that can assist CNAH and the Wallace Research Foundation by making such a book donation should send their contribution via media rate U.S. mail to:

Serpent's Tale
P.O. Box 405
Lanesboro, Minnesota 55949
507-467-8733

If you haven't a spare book, send CNAH money. Additional funds mean additional books and help with the freight charges. We need to pay for both. And money is so much easier to send. Just go to

www.cnah.org

Select PayPal on the CNAH website main page and make a cash donation. Be sure to add "Butantan" to the PayPal or check memo line. Or, if you prefer, send a check to the address below. All donations will be used to purchase for and ship books to Butantan.

Cash donations over $50.00 and all book donations will receive a letter of acknowledgement for tax purposes.

CNAH is continually thankful to the Wallace Research Foundation for their generosity and compassion toward the students, faculty, and staff of the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. Without the interest and vision of WRF, this effort by CNAH would never have been possible. On behalf of The Center for North American Herpetology Board of Directors and the herpetological community worldwide, we continue to applaud the WRF commitment to education, research, and conservation.

Joseph T. Collins
The Center for North American Herpetology
1502 Medinah Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66047
(785) 393-4757
jcollins@ku.edu

Butantan Gets Big Boost
Friday, December 10, 2010: Lawrence - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 December 2010

Books for Butantan

WALLACE RESEARCH FOUNDATION & CNAH TO ASSIST INSTITUTO BUTANTAN

The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) has received a $25,000.00 grant from the Wallace Research Foundation to assist in re-building the book titles in the library of the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. On 15 May 2010, a fire at the institute destroyed its research library and collections. While CNAH cannot replace the invaluable intellectual work and irreplaceable specimens that were lost, we can help to replace the Butantan library so they can begin anew.

CNAH and the Wallace Research Foundation have partnered with Eric Thiss of Serpent's Tale in Minnesota to purchase books on the herpetofauna of the Western Hemisphere, with an emphasis on North America. Books so acquired will be shipped directly to the Instituto Butantan as they are accumulated.

CNAH takes this opportunity to sincerely thank the Wallace Research Foundation. Without their vision and commitment, this initiative by CNAH would not be possible. On behalf of The Center for North American Herpetology, its Board of Directors, and the herpetological community worldwide, we thank them for their generosity and compassion toward the students, faculty, and staff of the Instituto Butantan.

Joseph T. Collins
Executive Director
The Center for North American Herpetology
1502 Medinah Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66047
(785) 393-4757
jcollins@ku.edu

The Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology is composed of the following individuals: Travis W. Taggart, Dr. Robert Powell, Dr. Walter E. Meshaka, Jr., Kelly J. Irwin, Daniel D. Fogell, Suzanne L. Collins, and Joseph T. Collins.

Butler's Garter Snake
Tuesday, July 22, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 July 2008

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACTION ALERT – BUTLER’S GARTER SNAKE IN TROUBLE

DEADLINE 31 July 2008
Send comments to (via mail, fax, or email):
Rori Paloski
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Endangered Resources
101 South Webster Street, P. O. Box 7921
Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921
608-264-6040
608-266-2925 (fax)
Rori.Paloski@Wisconsin.gov

NOTICE: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is changing the way it interprets its authority and definition of "Take" under the Wisconsin Endangered Species Law, and proposing a new "regulatory framework" for the BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE. These changes would remove most protections for habitat utilized by Endangered and Threatened Species, substantially reducing the Department's regulatory jurisdiction. The new BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE "framework" would allow unregulated development of most upland habitat utilized by the snake for its life cycle. The Department is already implementing these changes without public notice. Comments on these actions are needed by 31 July 2008.

NEW INTERPRETATION OF TAKE REMOVES MOST HABITAT PROTECTIONS FOR ALL ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES.
Background: The proposed "regulatory framework" is based on a new legal interpretation of "Take" and the Department's jurisdiction, which suggests that if no animals are immediately and obviously killed by an action, a "Take" is avoided and the Department has no authority, even if the actions result in significant harm to the resource, or deaths which are not immediately observed. This new interpretation does not acknowledge that destroying a species habitat harms individuals of the species, and does not acknowledge that a Take occurs when mortality results when individuals return to a lost habitat area and cannot find food or shelter, and through loss of reproductive potential and increased mortality from overcrowding in remaining habitat (if any remains). Such mortality would be a direct result of the unregulated habitat loss. The Department also takes no account of cumulative harm, jeopardy, or viability of the resource resulting from these habitat and population losses. This new interpretation essentially removes protections for all Endangered and Threatened species in many, if not most, situations. It allows a person to simply shoo an animal off, or wait for it walk, crawl or fly away, perhaps to get a drink of water, and then destroy the habitat upon which it depends. For the BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE, which feeds almost exclusively on earthworms (which do not occupy saturated wetland soils), upland habitat is crucial for obtaining food and shelter, and incubating embryos. The snakes depend upon grasses and other vegetation for shelter from predators. Pregnant females seek warm upland sunlit areas adjacent to grasses (to which they flee when disturbed). Such basking sites are crucial to embryonic development in this cold-blooded species so proper temperatures can be achieved. Loss of upland habitat would crowd snakes into wetlands, where many would succumb to lack of food and shelter from the elements, overcrowding, and increased predation. Snakes hidden within upland soil and duff retreats at the time of grading, where they take shelter for the night, sit out periods of hot dry weather, and hibernate, would simply be crushed by heavy equipment.
ACTION: Oppose the new interpretation of "Take" and the Department's giving up their jurisdiction. Point out that wildlife depends upon habitat and will die if habitat is destroyed.

THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CEASE IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED NEW BROAD AUTHORIZATION MEASURES WITHOUT A PUBLIC NOTICE PERIOD, AND RESCIND AUTHORIZATIONS ALREADY ISSUED.
Background: The DNR has issued a "regulatory framework" for selected (stakeholder) public review. They are holding meetings about it with stakeholders, and state they will develop a new Broad Authorization based on it after comments are received. The new Broad Authorization will be public noticed and vetted by the Natural Resources Board. If similar to the "framework" being distributed, this Broad Authorization will automatically approve the Take that results from projects which follow certain minimization measures, such as snake fencing, snake removals, and staying 300 feet away from wetland boundaries. However, the Department, by a form letter being distributed to parties currently in the BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE approval process, appears to be implementing the substance of the proposed new Broad Authorization before it is public noticed or reviewed by the NRB.
ACTION: Ask that the Department cease implementing the proposed new Broad Authorization measures without a public notice period, and rescind authorizations already issued. Note that this action does not respect the public review process.

THE DEPARTMENT INCORRECTLY CHARACTERIZES MINIMIZATION MEASURES AS AVOIDANCE.
Background: The "regulatory framework" lists a number of measures which minimize Take of snakes (numbered 5-8). These measures are also listed in the form letter numbered 1-4. The draft regulatory framework correctly refers to these as avoidance measures which minimize Take, but the form letter contradicts this and states these measures actually avoid Take. As a point of fact, these measures do not avoid Take, they only minimize it. The Department's own research, for example, documented that snakes occupy habitat more than 300 ft from a wetland boundary (Joppa, L.N. and S.A. Temple. 2005. Use of upland habitat by BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE (Thamnophis butleri). Bull. Chicago Herpetological Soc. 40(12):221-227.), and ample evidence exists of snakes crossing fence lines and over-wintering in uplands. The incorrect portrayal of minimization measures as complete avoidance is the basis for the removal of protections, and unsupported by science.
ACTION: Oppose the mis-characterization of measures which only minimize Take as complete avoidance. Provide the Department with any observations you have of snakes over-wintering in uplands, snakes fences failing from poor upkeep, snakes found in the "wrong" side of the fence, and snakes observed more than 300 feet from a wetland boundary.

THE PROPOSED REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ALLOWS TAKE WITH NO MITIGATION OR CONSERVATION MEASURES.
Background: The "regulatory framework" lists a number of measures which minimize Take of snakes (numbered 5-8). If any of these measures are implemented, the draft framework allows the project to proceed with no further review, ceding its authority to require conservation measures to avoid cumulative harm and jeopardy. This will result in nearly complete loss of the upland habitats upon which the species depends, with no mitigation required.
ACTION: Support the requirement to minimize Take but only if conservation measures are subsequently required to mitigate impacts and avoid long term harm to the species and communities upon which it depends. These requirements should include wetland buffers and preservation and restoration of upland habitat impacted.

UNSUPPORTED DEFINITION OF OVER-WINTERING HABITAT ALLOWS UNREGULATED TAKE.
Background: The "regulatory framework" uses an unsupported definition of "over-wintering habitat", essentially equating it with wetlands. This is repeated in the form letter. However, there is ample evidence that snakes hibernate in certain upland situations, such as crayfish burrows, rotted tree root channels, loose fill, and old foundations. The Department acknowledges this by claiming they will study the matter. The assertion that BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE only hibernate in wetlands is not supported by a single scientist, and the Take associated with developing upland overwintering sites is being allowed without regulation.
ACTION: Oppose the unregulated Take of snakes in upland hibernating sites. Provide the Department with observations of snakes emerging from upland hibernating sites.

CUMULATIVE HARM AND JEOPARDY.
Background: The "regulatory framework", if approved as a new Broad Authorization, would provide a path leading to essentially no protections for the upland habitat portion of the BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE critical habitat (in most cases), clearly resulting in significant harm to the resource, with no jeopardy analysis performed. The current "regulatory framework" does not acknowledge this, takes no account of cumulative harm, and cedes the Department's authority and obligation to protect the resource. This raises moral issues.
ACTION: Oppose the changes allowing unregulated Take with no habitat preservation, no jeopardy assessment, and no recognition of cumulative harm. Remind the Department of its obligation to protect endangered resources.

CAAR Accounts 2003
Friday, August 29, 2003: Kansas City, Missouri - SSAR
The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (and Turtles and Crocodilians), recently issued twenty new accounts for 2003, eleven of which pertain to North America (north of Mexico). They are:

Necturus alabamensis Black Warrior Waterdog by Bailey & Moler CAAR 761
Hyla cinerea Green Treefrog by Redmer & Brandon CAAR 766
Sceloporus slevini Bunchgrass Lizard by Watkins-Colwell, Smith & Chiszar CAAR 771
Xantusia gracilis Sandstone Night Lizard by Lovich & Grismer CAAR 772
Carphophis Worm Snakes by Ernst, Orr & Creque CAAR 773
Carphophis amoenus Eastern Worm Snake by Ernst, Orr & Creque CAAR 774
Carphophis vermis Western Worm Snake by Ernst, Orr & Creque CAAR 775
Liochlorophis Smooth Green Snakes by Walley CAAR 776
Liochlorophis vernalis Smooth Green Snake by Walley CAAR 776
Regina alleni Striped Crayfish Snake by Dorcas, Poppy, Ernst & Gibbons CAAR 778
Thamnophis radix Plains Garter Snake by Walley, Wusterbarth & Stanford CAAR 779

Copies can be ordered from the SSAR (check elsewhere on the CNAH web site under Herpetological Societies: National)

CAAR Accounts 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 December 2004

The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, recently issued new accounts for 2004, three of which pertain to North America (north of Mexico). They are:

Desmognathus folkertsi Dwarf Blackbelly Salamander by Camp CAAR 782
Plethodon petraeus Pigeon Mountain Salamander by Jensen & Camp CAAR 783
Trachemys gaigeae Mexican Plateau Slider by Stuart & Ernst CAAR 787

Copies can be ordered from the SSAR (check elsewhere on the CNAH web site under Herpetological Societies: National) at:

http://www.cnah.org/societies.asp?id=4

CAAR Accounts 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 March 2006

The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, recently issued twenty new accounts for 2006, one of which pertains to North America (north of Mexico). It is:

Plethodon angusticlavius Ozark Zigzag Salamander by Meshaka and Trauth CAAR 804

Copies can be ordered from the SSAR (check elsewhere on the CNAH web site under Herpetological Societies: National) at:

http://www.cnah.org/societies.asp?id=4

CAAR Accounts 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
26 February 2007

The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, recently mailed twenty new accounts (all dated 2006), three of which pertain to North America (north of Mexico). They are:

CAAR 830 - Leptodactylus fragilis (White-lipped Frog) by Heyer, Heyer, and de Sá
CAAR 831 - Trachemys scripta (Slider) by Seidel and Ernst
CAAR 840 - Crotalus ruber (Red Diamond Rattlesnake) by Beaman and Dugan

Copies can be ordered from the SSAR (check elsewhere on the CNAH web site under Herpetological Societies: National) at:

http://www.cnah.org/societies.asp?id=4

*****

CNAH Note 1: Leptodactylus fragilis (formerly L. labialis) has been called the White-lipped Frog for over half a century; inserting "Thin-toed" in the above CAAR account to create the phrase "White-lipped Thin-toed Frog" makes the name so long and cumbersome that no one will use it. CNAH will continue to use the traditional standard common name White-lipped Frog.

CNAH Note 2: Trachemys scripta has been called simply the Slider for over half a century; inserting "Pond" in the above CAAR account to create the name "Pond Slider" is truly unfortunate (and will be very confusing to non-herpetologists) because this turtle lives in rivers and streams as commonly as it does lakes and ponds. CNAH will continue to use the traditional standard common name Slider. Adding "Pond" to the common name of this chelonian makes it a misnomer.

*****

CAAR Accounts 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 June 2008

The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, recently mailed twenty new accounts, three of which pertain to North America (north of Mexico). They are:

CAAR 848 - Anniella (Legless Lizards) by Lawrence E. Hunt
CAAR 850 – Anniella pulchra (California Legless Lizard) by Lawrence E. Hunt
CAAR 856 – Sceloporus poinsettii (Crevice Spiny Lizard) by Robert G. Webb

Copies can be ordered from the SSAR (check elsewhere on the CNAH web site under Herpetological Societies: National) at:

http://www.cnah.org/societies.asp?id=4

CAAR Accounts 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 March 2010

CAAR ACCOUNTS 2010

The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, recently mailed twenty new accounts, four of which pertain to North America (north of Mexico). They are:

CAAR 861 – Desmognathus abditus (Cumberland Dusky Salamander)
by Steve G. Tilley

CAAR 862 – Gyrinophilus gulolineatus (Berry Cave Salamander)
by Matthew L. Niemiller & Brian T. Miller

CAAR 866 – Pseudacris ornata (Ornate Chorus Frog)
by Brad M. Glorioso

CAAR 871 – Gambelia copeii (Cope's Leopard Lizard)
by C. R. Mahrdt, James A. McGuire & Kent R. Beaman

Copies can be ordered from the SSAR (check elsewhere on the CNAH web site under Herpetological Societies: National) at:

http://www.cnah.org/societies.asp?id=4

Cajun Chelonian Capture
Friday, June 23, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 June 2006

Trapping Survey Results for the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Southeastern Louisiana, with Comments on Exploitation

by Jeff Boundy & Curtis Kennedy

2006. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 5(1): 3–9

ABSTRACT. – Two hundred Alligator Snapping Turtles were trapped at an average rate of 0.057 turtles per trap-night in all but 1 of 33 sites in southeastern Louisiana. Trap rate varied between sites, by harvest pressure levels at sites, and by season, but not by hydrology. Perceived trap rate differences under different harvest regimes appeared to be a function of seasonal differences in trap rate. No differences in sex ratio or percentage of immature turtles were detected between sites, harvest regimes, seasons, or water-body types. Turtle weight varied between harvest regimes and hydrology. Weight–length relations for turtles was highly correlated and similar between sexes, except that males continued to grow to larger sizes than females (males averaged 150% female weight and 118% female carapace length). Sex ratio was 1:1, and immature turtles made up 48% of the total. Average sizes of turtles were very similar between Louisiana and turtles from surveys in several other states. Population structure differed between surveys, with Louisiana having a higher percentage of immature turtles and lower trap rate than elsewhere. Population differences could not entirely be explained by differences in harvest regimes between states. Largescale turtle butchering operations in southern Louisiana have closed, as has commercial harvest. Anecdotal reports that Alligator Snappers were nearly extirpated from a heavily harvested site proved erroneous. Resurvey of sites to determine current population trends is recommended.

This article is available as a gratis downloadable reprint from the CNAH PDF Library at:

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Calif Herp Checklist Online
Thursday, July 15, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 July 2010

Now available

CALIFORNIA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of California is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the California web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes (and their citations) will, however, be immediately accessible through the California checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, California joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. Of special interest, the completion of the California list demonstrates the substantial value of having standardized common names for the entire Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska in the north to the sunny Golden Bear state in the south. This, coupled with scientific names that are updated daily as researchers publish their newest discoveries, makes the CNAH North American herpetofaunal checklists the single most valuable resource for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Calif Tiger Candidate
Saturday, February 28, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 February 2009

CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER DECLARED CANDIDATE
FOR LISTING UNDER CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Court Order Required to Force State to Accept Listing Petition

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission last week formally designated the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) as a candidate for threatened or endangered status under the California Endangered Species Act, extending legal protections to the species for one year while a status review is conducted. The Commission was forced by a Center for Biological Diversity petition and lawsuit, and a recent court of appeals ruling, to make the designation, and yesterday also illegally approved interim “take” regulations that improperly exempt projects that may harm tiger salamanders from the interim take protections under the Act.

“Despite the Fish and Game Commission’s misguided attempts to repeatedly deny protected status to the California Tiger Salamander, the candidate designation sets the listing process back on the right track and should ultimately result in the tiger salamander getting the state protected status it deserves,” said Jeff Miller, a conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Every expert biologist who studies the California Tiger Salamander has weighed in and recommended the species be listed.”

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Commission in 2004 to list the California Tiger Salamander as endangered due to the impacts of urban and agricultural development. The Santa Barbara County salamander population has been listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act since 2000, as has the Sonoma County population since 2003. The central California population has been federally listed as threatened since 2004.

The Commission rejected the petition in 2004, falsely claiming it did not contain all of the data necessary to prove the salamander population deserved protection. The Center filed suit, and the Commission was forced by court order and a state appeals court ruling in September 2008 to accept the petition. The state Supreme Court refused to review the appeals court ruling. The Commission last week voted 3-2 for candidacy, clearly reluctant to protect the species. One Commissioner repeatedly referred to the presence of California Tiger Salamanders on private land as a “salamander problem” and referred to the court that issued the petition acceptance order as a “jerks” and “stupid.”

The Commission also voted Thursday to implement incidental “take” regulation containing overly broad exemptions that allow projects to harm California Tiger Salamanders without conducting an adequate review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

State candidate species are afforded many of the legal protections of endangered or threatened species while a year-long status review is conducted. A final state listing determination for the California Tiger Salamander is due in February 2010.

The court decision on the California Tiger Salamander has potential implications for other poorly monitored species, since the court ruled that the Commission must consider a listing petition if the information would “lead a reasonable person to conclude there is a substantial possibility” that the species could be listed.

In 2008 the Commission denied a listing petition to protect the American Pika, a small relative of the rabbit, which is threatened by warming temperatures due to global climate change. In 2008 it also denied a petition to protect the Pacific Fisher, a small forest carnivore that is related to otters and is threatened by logging and development in California. In both cases, the Commission claimed a lack of information prevented it from acting to protect the species. The Commission last week voted to reconsider the fisher petition rejection at its March meeting, due to the California Tiger Salamander ruling, but is expected to reject the fisher petition once again.

The California Tiger Salamander depends on ephemeral vernal pools for breeding. In recent decades 95 percent of California’s vernal pools have been lost, and at least 75 percent of the salamander’s habitat throughout the state has been eliminated. In Sonoma County, 95 percent of the fragmented and minimal remaining salamander habitat is threatened by development; the Santa Barbara population is also on the verge of extinction. The Sonoma population survives in only seven viable breeding sites and the Santa Barbara population consists of only six breeding groups.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit conservation organization with 200,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Jeff Miller
Center for Biological Diversity
351 California Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, California 94104
Phone: (415) 436-9682 x303 Fax: (415) 436-9683
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

Calif Tiger Crawls Close
Monday, September 08, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 September 2008

CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER MOVES CLOSER TO PROTECTION UNDER CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Appeals Court Reaffirms that State Fish and Game Commission Improperly Rejected Petition to List Salamander

SACRAMENTO—The California state appeals court ruled that the California Fish and Game Commission must consider a petition to list the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act. In a decision with potential implications for other poorly monitored species, the court ruled that the Fish and Game Commission must consider a listing petition if the information would “lead a reasonable person to conclude there is a substantial possibility” that the species could be listed.

“The Fish and Game Commission ignored the multitude of known threats to the Tiger Salamander and dismissed the petition, falsely claiming it did not contain all of the data necessary to prove the salamander population may deserve protection,” said Brian Nowicki of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Today’s ruling should set the listing process back on the right track and ultimately result in the Tiger Salamander getting the state protected status it deserves.”

The decision reaffirms an earlier court decision that rejected the Fish and Game Commission’s claim that there was insufficient proof that the salamander was imperiled. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Commission in 2004 to list the California Tiger Salamander as endangered due to the impacts of urban and agricultural development.

“California deserves better than relying on court orders to compel the Fish and Game Commission to uphold the law to protect the state’s wildlife,” said Nowicki. “Unfortunately, the Commission continues to use this same discredited reasoning to improperly reject other petitions to protect imperiled wildlife.”

The California Tiger Salamander is now set to advance to the status of candidate for state listing. The Santa Barbara County salamander population has been listed as Endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act since 2000, as has the Sonoma County population since 2003. The central California population has been federally listed as Threatened since 2004.

The California Tiger Salamander depends on ephemeral vernal pools for breeding, but in recent decades ninety-five percent of California’s vernal pools have already been lost, and at least 75 percent of the salamander’s habitat throughout the state has been eliminated. In Sonoma County, 95 percent of the fragmented and minimal remaining salamander habitat is threatened by development; the Santa Barbara population is also on the verge of extinction.

In April, the Commission denied a listing petition to protect the American Pika, a small relative of the rabbit, which is threatened by warming temperatures due to global climate change. In July, the Commission denied a petition to protect the Pacific Fisher, a small forest carnivore related to otters, which is threatened by logging and development in California. In both cases, the Commission claimed a lack of information prevented them from acting to protect the species.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit conservation organization with 180,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Jeff Miller
Conservation Advocate
Center for Biological Diversity
351 California Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, California 94104
Phone: (415) 436-9682 x 303
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org

California Herp Concerns
Wednesday, July 08, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 July 2009

ANNOUNCEMENT: CALIFORNIA'S SENSITIVE HERPETOFAUNAL SPECIES UPDATE

California’s list of Amphibian, Turtle, and Reptile Species of Special Concern (ARSSC) is a critical component of the management and protection of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles in the state. The current California ATRSSC list is undergoing a complete revision to better reflect those taxa that require some measure of conservation to stabilize populations and avoid future listing under the California Endangered Species Act. To date, the ATRSSC revision team has developed a set of risk metrics, compiled a list of nominee taxa, and completed a preliminary risk assessment for each nominee based on literature reviews and locality information. Now, we need your help to make sure that we have the most accurate and complete list possible of SSC for potential inclusion in the final list. The best list will require input from as many knowledgeable biologists as possible. If you have data, well-documented field experience, or unpublished observations that are relevant to California’s amphibian, turtle, and reptile fauna, we invite you to share them with us.

Further details, risk assessments, and instructions for submitting feedback are available at

http://arssc.ucdavis.edu

The public comment period closes 31 August 2009.

Bob Thomson (rcthomson@ucdavis.edu)
Amber Wright (anwright@ucdavis.edu)
Brad Shaffer (hbshaffer@ucdavis.edu)
Center for Population Biology
University of California
Davis, California 95616

California Tiger Listed
Friday, March 05, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 March 2010

CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER LISTED AS THREATENED SPECIES

I attended the California Department of Fish and Game Commission hearing yesterday in Ontario, California, where the Commission voted 3 yea - 2 nay to list the California Tiger Salamander as a Threatened Species under the California Endangered Species Act.

Congratulations and thanks to all that have worked so hard over the years to gain protection for this declining species. And thanks to all that submitted letters.

ILeene Anderson
Biologist/Public Lands Desert Director
Center for Biological Diversity
PMB 447
8033 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90046
(323) 654-5943
ianderson@biologicaldiversity.org
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org

California Tiger Salamanders
Tuesday, March 18, 2003: Sacramento, California - FrogLog April 2003
The US Fish & Wildlife Service officially listed the Sonoma County (California) population of the California Tiger Salamander as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biodiversity filed suit for the listing in January 2002 and the subsequent settlement mandated that the USFWS list the species on an emergency basis on 22 July 2002, with a final listing mandated on or before 19 March 2003.

Call for Caribbean Toad Calls
Monday, November 15, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 196
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 November 2010

ADVERTISEMENT CALL RECORDINGS OF HISPANIOLAN AND PUERTO RICAN TOADS ARE NEEDED

I am a doctoral student at the Universidad de La Habana. My research focuses on taxonomy and evolution of Caribbean toads of the Family Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura). I hope to clarify the current taxonomic status and evolution of the endemic taxa in Caribbean basin, integrating the use of morphological, acoustical, and molecular evidence.

We have recorded the typical advertisement calls of all Cuban bufonids and now are analyzing geographical and individual variation. I am interested in obtaining recordings of the other species of toads from neighboring islands in the West Indies, with the aim of comparing the acoustics features of the vocalizations of these taxa in an evolutionary analysis that would permit me to obtain a more complete picture about the phylogenetic relationships among Antillean toads and the evolution of their vocalizations. Recordings of advertisement calls (mating calls) of any West Indian species and complementary field data would be much appreciated.

To set up delivery of recordings to the university and for any questions, my contact information is below.

I am very grateful beforehand for any help the herpetological community can offer.

Roberto Alonso Bosch
Investigador Auxiliar
Museo de Historia Natural "Felipe Poey"
Facultad de Biología
Universidad de La Habana
Ciudad de La Habana. Cuba
ralonso@fbio.uh.cu
robertoalonsous@yahoo.com
Telephone: (537) 836-5779/877-4221
Fax: (537) 832-1321

Canadian Coluber
Wednesday, September 20, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 98
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 September 2006

CANADIAN COLUBER CONSTRICTOR CROSSING?

I would like to obtain information on the former (present?) occurence of Coluber constrictor in the state of New York near its border with Ontario. Most field guides that I've seen (including Conant and Collins 1998) portray the range of this species as reaching up to the border at Niagara. I recently came across an Ontario Geological Survey report (Karrow 1987) that documents the discovery of a Coluber constictor "fossil" near Hamilton, Ontario -- a locality not far from the U.S.-Canadian border. Although this specimen is reported as dating to ca. 4200 years before present, if accurate, it would potentially be proof of the former presence of Eastern Racers in Ontario. Although this wouldn't have any bearing on whether the Eastern Racer was in this part of Ontario in historic times, it does suggest such a possibility, especially if U.S. populations really do come so close to the border area at Niagara. I would appreciate hearing from anyone that knows of records for Coluber constrictor near Niagara.

Jeff Rowell
Toronto, Canada
jeff.rowell@rogers.com

Cane Toad Data Desired
Monday, May 15, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 83
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 May 2006

CANE TOAD (CHAUNUS [formerly Bufo] MARINUS) LOCALITY INFORMATION REQUESTED

We are conducting bioclimatic modeling studies on the Cane Toad, and we need locality information. Ideally, this information would be available with latitude and longitude (GPS), but if you have detailed textual locality information we can use that as well. We have downloaded this information from HerpNet, but many sites are not in HerpNet. If you have any locality information (and/or other information on the species that you would like to share), I would be grateful to receive it. Please send it to me at the following address (email preferred):

Leslie Rissler
Assistant Professor
Box 870345 MHB Hall
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487
rissler@bama.ua.edu
(205) 348-4052

Carcasses for Comparison
Sunday, January 08, 2012: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 209
The Center for North American Herpetology
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
8 January 2012

REPTILE CARCASSES FOR COMPARISON

I am a paleontologist working on a project to compare patterns of growth in extant vertebrates inhabiting distinctive non-stressed and stressed (e.g., drought-prone) environments, as well as addressing questions of intra-skeletal histological variation from single specimens of reptiles, birds, and mammals. I am particularly interested in creating midshaft thin sections of elements spanning the skeleton in modern herps with extensive geographic ranges (e.g., snapping turtles). For example, I would love a sample of a single species that spans high and low latitudes (e.g., Canada to the Gulf Coast). A sample from a single geographic area that exhibits high reptile diversity (possibly with an available bird and mammal collection as well – like the St. Vincent Wildlife Refuge in Florida or Hwange National Park) would also be incredibly helpful. Specimens would be most useful if the locality of death, latitude, body mass, age (or relative age), and date of death are known. I can utilize both skeletons and fresh carcasses from laboratory or wild settings (though skeletons would be a little more useful).

I will cover the costs of shipping specimens to me.

Please contact me if you have specimens that might be used in my study.

Kristi Curry Rogers
Assistant Professor, Biology and Geology Departments
Macalester College, St. Paul Minnesota
rogersk@macalester.edu
651-696-6799

Carolina Herp Atlas Online
Wednesday, March 21, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 March 2007

The Carolina Herp Atlas, developed by the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory, is a online database that uses observations by researchers and citizen scientists to track reptile, turtle, and amphibian distributions in North and South Carolina. The Carolina Herp Atlas offers a simple but effective way to maintain a personal database of reptile, turtle, and amphibian observations. County-level distribution maps can be viewed by anyone who visits the atlas.

Features include:

Log in with username and password requirements to protect privacy.
Species identification web pages to help users correctly identify species.
Geolocator is available to help users pinpoint the exact location of their observation.
Digital photographs can be uploaded for verification of each record.
Each observation is stored in a personal database.
Records can be selected and viewed on a map; data and picture for each observation is presented.

http://www.carolinaherpatlas.org

*****

For greater accuracy, comprehension, and ease of use, this atlas has adopted the traditional, standard common names for North American species maintained by Collins & Taggart (2002. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology (available as a pdf at the CNAH web site) and updated daily online.

*****

Cars Crush Chelonians
Tuesday, October 23, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 October 2007

PROTECTION A SHELL CAN'T PROVIDE
TEAM WORKS TO MOVE TURTLES FROM PLANNED HIGHWAY'S PATH

Jenna Johnson
Washington Post Staff Writer

Their short tails beat back and forth faster as their noses concentrated on a pile of rotting wood, wet leaves and thorny brush in the dense Montgomery County forest. "Look, look," said John Rucker, a turtle activist from Tennessee, pointing at his three Boykin spaniels. "Think they found one." Sure enough, Sparky brought his snout out of the brush with a yellow-spotted Eastern Box Turtle carefully clutched in his teeth.

The half-dozen turtle hunters were combing the woods yesterday along the planned route for Maryland's intercounty connector, which could replace the turtle-friendly habitat with a six-lane toll highway. The aim is to catalogue and fit the turtles with transmitters so they can be rounded up and evacuated from the area when, or if, construction begins.

State Highway Administration officials are heeding the advice of their Box Turtle advisory committee with an "environmental stewardship" campaign to save the turtles from being crushed under bulldozers or trapped under the asphalt, said Robert Shreeve, the connector's environmental manager. The campaign, which began about a month ago, is estimated to cost up to $20,000. Unlike deer, birds, and other woodland and wetland creatures in the area, turtles "are slow-moving and have a very difficult time getting out of the way," Shreeve said during a news conference in the woods yesterday morning.

Major construction on the long-delayed highway was set to begin Oct. 16th but has been put on hold as a federal judge considers two lawsuits alleging that Maryland officials did not properly evaluate the highway's environmental impact. The 18-mile highway would run north of the Capital Beltway connecting Interstate 270 in Gaithersburg and Interstate 95 in Laurel. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. began hearing arguments Monday and is expected to rule this month. While the lawsuits are pending, highway officials and activists are continuing with turtle relocation plans. They have found 90 turtles and hope to bring that number to 150. Some of the creatures were tagged with donated transmitters and released in the spots where they were found, but most are being held in a pen until the transmitters the highway administration ordered arrive.

If the judge rules in the state's favor and major construction begins, officials will locate the turtles, who will probably be hibernating under four to six inches of dirt and leaves. The best way to move "pretty much comatose" turtles is to work on a cold day and keep the turtles at a constant low temperature, said Christopher W. Swarth, a committee member and director of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne Arundel County.

They will then place the turtles in a new hibernation hole on the other side of the highway construction fence, which will be reinforced with thin mesh so the turtles can't crawl back in. Shreeve said construction workers will also be trained on what to do if they spot a turtle: Pick it up and alert the environmentalists. The activists involved said none of them has ever moved this many turtles before -- and they aren't sure whether it will work. "Just because we'll pick up buckets of turtles doesn't mean they'll still be around in a few years," Swarth said.

Eastern Box Turtles can be found in many spots in the region, the activists said, but their population is slowly dwindling for a number of reasons: low egg counts, collisions with fast-moving cars, dwindling habitats, pesticides and, yes, children with sticks. Moving a whole population of turtles, even a few miles, could be enough for that species to disappear from the area.

Turtles hardly ever venture more than a few miles from their home, said Susan Hagood of the Humane Society of the United States. Turtles that are transplanted usually don't settle down, she said, and instead keep wandering in search of home. Plus, the little guys might not be happy being pulled out of hibernation. "We're trying something that history has said doesn't work," she said. "But with a declining species, we can't do nothing."

Although the activists said they were glad the highway administration has publicly supported saving the turtles, they worry that the support came too late. Committee member Sandy Barnett, a longtime herpetologist, said that the panel formed nearly a year ago and that highway officials should have started the process in June so they could mark the turtles before they started their fall hibernation routine. She is also upset that the transmitters have not arrived and will be too large for some of the baby turtles. "It's a $2.4 billion [highway] project," she said. "They have all of these funds to allocate, and they can't take care of these turtles?"

Cars Crush Chelonians
Thursday, September 04, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 146
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 September 2008

CARS CRUSH CHELONIANS

Much recent research has corroborated that freshwater turtle populations are negatively impacted by roads. This impact is largely due to the mortality of females undergoing nesting migrations. Clearly, effective mitigation must incorporate the spatial ecology of female turtles.

To help bridge the gap between research and policy, it is necessary to review distances that freshwater turtles nest from wetlands. By determining the distance that female turtles typically migrate to nest, guidelines can be developed regarding appropriate buffer sizes required to protect them.

The type of natural history information required is rarely reported in the published scientific literature. For this reason we are contacting all who may have unpublished data or observations regarding turtle nest locations to determine if they would be willing to share such information. Our goal is a scientific publication describing core habitat sizes required to protect nesting females of North American freshwater turtles. Our hope is to build on the initial work by R. D. Semlitsch et al. by focusing on a particularly vulnerable group (i.e. female turtles) and including unpublished data.

This effort extends a previous, successful effort to pool and interpret data from many field biologists on the sexes of turtles on roadways, which resulted in a publication that focused attention on the need to protect females from roads. We also plan on creating an independent document detailing nest distances for each species for which data are available that can be easily used and interpreted by land managers and policy makers.

For each observation of an individual turtle nest, we request genus and species of turtle, date of observation (year), location (state), and distance to likely wetland of origin (i.e. nearest wetland). Ancillary data are welcome, particularly relating type of wetland.

Please consider contributing data and contact us with any questions. Thank you in advance for your attention and assistance.

David A. Steen & James P. Gibbs
DavidASteen@gmail.com

Caudate Cousins Count
Friday, August 26, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
26 August 2005

Judge: USFWS Wrong

Court Claims California Tiger Salamander Cousins should be Classified as Endangered

Janene Scully, Associate Editor
Lompoc (California) Record

A judge has ruled that a federal agency ignored scientific evidence and therefore erred when it reduced protections for California Tiger Salamanders in Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties.

In a decision filed Friday, which was hailed by environmentalists and criticized by farmers, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup from the Northern District of California set aside the Fish and Wildlife Service's 2004 rule. That rule labeled Tiger Salamanders in both counties and the rest of Central California as threatened. Previous emergency listings had designated salamanders in Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties as endangered.

But two environmental groups, the Environmental Defense Center and the Center for Biological Diversity, sued the agency last year, challenging its decision to change salamander protections. "It would be unseemly for a court to leave in place a rule that was so riddled with error," the judge wrote, adding that the federal agency's own scientists had supported higher protections for Santa Barbara and Sonoma salamander populations. The decision to eliminate "distinct population segments" in the two counties was "arbitrary and capricious," the judge added.

Scientists believe salamanders in Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties are different from cousins in Central California, and therefore in danger of dying out, though farmers, ranchers, developers and officials strongly disagree. "The final rule was bereft of any analysis ... The prior finding of discreteness was ignored. The prior finding of biological and ecological significance was ignored," the ruling said, calling the agency's rule "substantially and procedurally flawed."

The judge noted the "twists and turns" that demonstrated irregularities in the agency's decision to remove the more stringent protections against the recommendations of scientists. Karen Kraus, an attorney with the Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center, praised the newest ruling. "Our goal was to see the endangered status for the Santa Barbara County population reinstated," Kraus said. "That's what the judge did. The result is, things are returning to the status quo that existed prior to the Service's ruling."

However, Richard Quandt from the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties expressed disappointment. "That's definitely a setback for Santa Barbara County agriculture," he said. A return of the endangered status also ends special rules for cattle ranching in the two counties. Kraus said the judge did not prevent ranchers from conducting routine ranching activities, but added they would need permits to do anything that could harm the amphibian. Quandt, however, noted that the ruling affects up to 180,000 acres of rangeland, and opens up questions regarding routine cattle ranching or grazing that might harm a salamander.

California Tiger Salamanders are stocky, blunt-nosed amphibians that live underground. Vernal pools, or ponds that rise during rains, serve as vital habitat for breeding salamanders.

"It's just another example of how the South County environmental community tries to impose rules and undermine the a economy of North County," Quandt said. Along with the Grower-Shipper's group, other agencies and associations from Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties had joined the lawsuit to support the Fish and Wildlife Service, their former nemesis. They claimed they would suffer "economic and other injuries" if salamanders were reclassified as endangered.

A spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service's Sacramento office said the agency had no comment Friday. "I can't say anything beyond that," said spokesman Jim Nickles, who also declined to say what the immediate impact will be on Central Coast farmers, ranchers and landowners. It wasn't clear Friday when the new rules will become effective or if the ruling will be appealed.

CH Editor Needed
Tuesday, September 15, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 September 2009

CONTEMPORARY HERPETOLOGY MANAGING EDITOR NEEDED

CONTEMPORARY HERPETOLOGY is looking for a Managing Editor. The duties of the Managing Editor(s) may vary depending upon their qualifications, but a basic knowledge of html and desktop publishing software is useful. If interested, please contact Editor Joe Bernardo (see below).

CONTEMPORARY HERPETOLOGY (www.contemporaryherpetology.org) is a rapidly growing, non-profit, electronic, peer-reviewed journal for articles of a herpetological interest. Since 1997, Contemporary Herpetology has provided professional herpetologists with a free forum to rapidly disseminate peer-reviewed work globally. Contemporary Herpetology maintains high scientific and editorial standards. Contemporary Herpetology publishes articles covering all aspects of herpetology, including ecology, ethology, systematics, conservation biology, and physiology. Contemporary Herpetology also publishes monographs, points-of-view, and faunistic surveys of poorly-known areas. Contemporary Herpetology will not publish herpetocultural or anecdotal papers.

Joseph Bernardo
Editor, Contemporary Herpetology
206A Fernow Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853
607-255-2836
607-255-1895 fax
jb787@cornell.edu

Chase/Catch Ctenosaurs
Friday, September 30, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 59
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 September 2005

Ctenosaura Project in Mesoamerica

Three to four volunteers are needed to assist with dissertation research for the spring and summer of 2006. Research will focus on the phylogenetics of the Spinytail Iguanas of Mesoamerica, dating the colonization of these species to the surrounding islands and the hybridization of C. bakeri and C. similis on the island of Utila. The duration of this field season will be divided between the Bay Islands and mainland Honduras (with possible visits to Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador).

Field assistants will be expected to aid in the capture and collection of DNA samples of several species of Ctenosaura. Experience with handling large reptiles, tree climbing, and Spanish language skills are greatly appreciate but not required. A twelve hour work day in a variety of environmental conditions, from swamp to desert, is expected. Volunteers may assist for the full field season or any portion of this time, but a one month minimum volunteer time must be met. Volunteers will be provided with housing and food for the duration of their stay.

For additional information please contact:

Stesha Pasachnik
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
spasachn@utk.edu

Chelonian Cavity Search
Tuesday, October 07, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 149
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 October 2008

CHELONIAN CAVITY SEARCH

I am having difficulty finding information on the long-term impacts of devices implanted into the abdominal cavities of freshwater turtles. Specifically, I am referring to devices that are the size of turtle eggs (or larger) that have been implanted and left in the body cavity for the remainder of the life of the turtle. Are there studies that have assessed the long-term impact of such implants on the health of the turtle? I am particularly looking for information regarding adhesion of foreign objects to body organs.

I would appreciate any references regarding this phenomenon. Thank you in advance.

Dr. Colin Limpus
Chief Scientist
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
P. O. Box 15155
City East
Brisbane Q4002, Australia
col.limpus@epa.qld.gov.au

Chelonian Chemical Concern
Wednesday, May 10, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 82
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 May 2006

Chelonian Chemical Concern

Last fall, an oil company had a significant pipeline break into a small ephemeral prairie stream in the western part of our state. The pipeline spilled roughly 200,000 gallons of saltwater. The primary constituent of the saltwater was chlorides and sulfates with concentrations measuring 180,000 ppm. Baseline conditions for chlorides in this stream are probably in the 5 to 15 ppm range. While clean up measures did their best to mitigate the situation we have had elevated levels of chlorides and sulfates (ranging from 20 ppm to 600 ppm) in the stream since the spill. Various species of dead turtles, fish and amphibians have been recovered from the stream.

As spills of this magnitude are fairly rare in our state we have lots of questions because we are not well versed in predicting what the long term ramifications might be.

My question pertains principally to turtles (e.g. Common Snapping Turtles and Northern Painted Turtles) and amphibians (e.g. Northern Leopard Frogs, Plains Spadefoots, Great Plains Toads, Woodhouse’s Toads, and Barred Tiger Salamanders). Does anyone know of any studies or research that has documented the effects of elevated levels of chlorides (or other chemicals) on turtle and amphibian mortality? Any help would be much appreciated.

Steve Dyke
Conservation Section Supervisor
North Dakota Game & Fish Department
(701) 328-6347

Chelonian Collaboration
Monday, January 15, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 110
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 January 2007

CHELONIAN COLLABORATION

I am seeking an expert in turtle osteology who would be willing to attempt identification of shell fragments from archaeological digs from Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina. Participation would ideally lead to collaborative publication. Please contact

Mary Socci
Crescent Resources
Bluffton, South Carolina
mcsocci@crescent-resources.com
(843) 706-6030

Chelonian Comparison
Friday, December 22, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 108
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 December 2006

CHELONIAN CARCASSES FOR COMPARISON

I am a paleontologist working on a project to compare skeletochronological patterns of growth (using midshaft thin sections of the humerus and femur) in modern Chrysemys picta and Trachemys scripta across their modern geographic range with bones of the same turtle species from a late Tertiary fossil site here in Indiana. I would like to contact herpetologists to see if any would save for me road-kill, or carcasses of wild-caught animals sacrificed for research purposes. I particularly need specimens of C. picta picta, C. picta dorsalis (and more southern populations of C. picta bellii), and of T. scripta throughout its range in North America. I would cover the costs of mailing carcasses to me and skeletonize the carcasses myself.

If you can assist me with this research, please contact me at

James O. Farlow
Professor of Geology
Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne
farlow@ipfw.edu

Chelonian Data Needed
Monday, March 21, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 36
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 March 2005

Cold Chelonian Clutchs Could Commence

Chelonian Hatchling Data Needed

I am writing a review on hibernation and the time of hatchling emergence (fall versus spring) for chelonian species in the southern United States, particularly Apalone spinifera (Spiny Softshell), Sternotherus odoratus (Common Musk Turtle), Graptemys geographica (Common Map Turtle), and Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle). However, information on any species would be useful, and the farther south the better. For northern species, information on Clemmys guttata (Spotted Turtles), Glyptemys muhlenbergii (Bog Turtles), and any species of Graptemys would be useful, but again information on any species would be appreciated. For data to be useful, it should be definitive: i.e., caged nests, actual observations of turtle hatchlings leaving the nest, etc.

If you have any questions, my email address is:

gultsch@biology.as.ua.edu

Gordon R. Ultsch
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0344
Phone: 205-348-1827
Fax: 205-348-1786

Chelonian Etymologies
Friday, March 02, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 122
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 March 2007

CHELONIAN ETYMOLOGIES

Can anyone out there give me the etymological breakdown for CRYPTODIRA and PLEURODIRA? I can't find them on the web. I can be contacted at

raxtell@siue.edu

Thanks in advance.

Ralph Axtell
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville

Chelonian Shells Sought
Thursday, May 04, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 81
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 May 2006

Comparative Turtle Skeletons

I am researching morphological differences in specific shell elements of North American emydid turtles for zooarchaeological and paleontological diagnostics as well as looking at changes in individual elements for a better understanding of evolutionary relationships. I am in need of disarticulated (or disarticulatable) shells, complete or partial, in any stage of decomposition, of all emydid and kinosternid species belonging to the genera Graptemys, Pseudemys, Trachemys, Glyptemys, Clemmys, Deirochelys, Actinemys, Chrysemys, Terrapene, Emydoidea, Malaclemys, Kinosternon, and Sternotherus. In addition, I need specimens of each taxon from different regions. All contributing parties must be permitted to collect such species in their respective states as this material will be permanently catalogued in a chelonian osteological collection here at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, a permitted repository.

George E. Phillips
Curator of Paleontology
Conservation Biology Section
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
2148 Riverside Drive
Jackson , Mississippi 39202-1353
(601) 354-7303 x 149
george.phillips@mmns.state.ms.us

Chelonians & Cars
Wednesday, October 18, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 100
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 October 2006

FEDERALLY LISTED CHELONIANS AND CARS

The transportation bill signed into law last year (the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)) directed the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study of methods to reduce collisions between motor vehicles and wildlife. The Federal Highway Administration has selected the Western Transportation Institute, part of the College of Engineering at Montana State University, to conduct this study. I have been asked to serve on the review team, and also to assist with an assessment of the degree to which a number of federally listed turtles are impacted by road mortality.

Since my work is primarily with Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina), I would like to ask the North American herpetological community to provide me any information or contacts that might be relevant to this phenomenon.

If you know of species from the following list that suffer from substantial road mortality (i.e., collisions are the major threat or among the major threats to the survival of the species), please contact me. I would also very much appreciate recommendations from individuals with knowledge/experience with these species.

Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) - USA except in Sonoran Desert
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) - west of Mobile/Tombigbee Reservoir
Alabama Redbelly Turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis)
Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) - northern portion of range
Flattened Musk Turtle (Sternotherus depressus)
Ringed Map Turtle (Graptemys oculifera)
Yellow-blotched Map Turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata)

Susan Hagood
Wildlife Issues Specialist
Wildlife and Habitat Protection
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
301 258-3149
301 258-3080 (fax)
shagood@hsus.org

Chemicals Change Croakers
Friday, February 17, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 February 2006

PESTICIDE COMBINATIONS IMPERIL FROGS

By Robert Sanders

Berkeley, California – The pesticide brew in many ponds bordering Midwestern cornfields is not only affecting the sexual development of frogs, but is making them more prone to deadly bacterial meningitis, according to a new study by University of California Berkeley scientists.

These physiological effects combine with environmental disruptions to make the life of a frog seem like something out of a horror movie and are likely among the factors causing a decline in amphibian populations worldwide, the researchers said.

Tadpoles raised in water polluted with a combination of nine pesticides, fungicides and herbicides typical of ponds around Midwestern cornfields take longer to become frogs and end up smaller, making it harder for them to eat their normal prey and making them easier prey for other animals. The top frog is having trouble eating a cricket, while the snake has no trouble swallowing the smaller frog.

"If you look at one of these frogs, it's probably a hermaphrodite - plus, it metamorphoses late, which means it is subject to its pool drying up before it can become a frog," said lead researcher Tyrone Hayes, professor of integrative biology at UC Berkeley. "It's also smaller, if it metamorphoses at all, which increases the likelihood it will be eaten and decreases its ability to eat. Plus, it's immuno-suppressed, so more prone to die from infection."

The stress on the frogs is increasing stress hormone levels, he found, which in turn create holes in the thymus gland that likely cause the impaired immune response.

"It's not the pesticides alone or introduced predators or ultraviolet light or global warming that's causing this decline, but the interaction between these on an animal that is pretty sensitive to its environment," said Hayes.

In the new paper, published online last week in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Hayes and his colleagues report four years of experiments showing that, while some of the pesticides, herbicides and fungicides used on corn fields may not by themselves have a noticeable impact on frogs, in combination they create significant effects. Among these are delayed maturation - the tadpoles take longer to metamorphose into frogs - retarded growth and an increased susceptibility to meningitis caused by normally benign bacteria.

Four years ago, Hayes showed that atrazine, the most common weed killer used on corn in the United States, disrupts the sexual development of frogs, feminizing males into hermaphrodites - frogs with female sex organs invading their testes - decreasing the size of their vocal organs, which are critical to mating success, and causing a tenfold drop in testosterone in mature male frogs.

In the current study, he looked again at atrazine as well as three other herbicides, two fungicides and three insecticides used on Midwestern cornfields - a subset of more than two dozen pesticides approved for use. All nine were found in the scientists' study area in Nebraska in pools of water beside cornfields early in the growing season, when spraying typically occurs. Levels ranged from 0.1 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 or more ppb.

Native northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) raised in water with only one of these nine pesticides at 0.1 ppb appeared normal, though the fungicide propiconazole caused a small but significant increase in the time it took tadpoles to start metamorphasis. The insecticide tebupirimphos caused a small but statistically significant decrease in the size and weight of mature frogs.

Mixtures, however, had a much stronger effect. All nine compounds together at 0.1 ppb - one of the lower concentrations measured in the field - lengthened the time to metamorphosis by 15 days, or about 25 to 30 percent. The mixture also caused a frog mortality of 35 percent.

All nine compounds together also produced a startling effect: The longer a tadpole took to mature into a frog, the smaller it was. It's normally the other way around, Hayes said. Separately, six of the pesticides did not affect this correlation, but three disrupted it so that there was no relationship between time to metamorphosis and size at metamorphosis.

"In humans, this is like saying, 'The longer you are pregnant, the smaller your baby will be,' which means the womb is no longer a nurturing environment," Hayes said.

The nine-pesticide combo also damaged the thymus, a part of the immune system, causing 70 percent of frogs to develop flavo-bacterial meningitis. The pesticides atrazine and S-metolachlor, which are marketed as the combination Bicep II Magnum, caused the most thymic damage.

To investigate why, Hayes and his laboratory colleagues, mostly undergraduate students, raised larvae of the common laboratory frog, the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), in water containing these pesticides and found four times the normal level of the stress hormone corticosterone. Hayes suspects that not all of the pesticides affect frogs, but that some enhance or trigger the deleterious effects of others when combined.

"Estimating the ecological risk and the impact of pesticides on amphibians using studies that examine single pesticides at high concentrations only may lead to gross underestimations of the role of pesticides in amphibian declines," he wrote.

In a second study also published online last week in Environmental Health Perspectives , Hayes reported even stronger evidence that atrazine, a powerful endocrine disruptor, both chemically castrates male frogs by blocking the action of the male steroid androgen and feminizes them by stimulating the production of the female hormone estrogen. He was able to produce identical hermaphroditic malformations in frogs by administering estrogen or blocking androgen at the proper time of development.

"One week of exposure at the critical time is all that's required to make these males look feminine, which probably interferes with mating," he said. Noting that some frogs seem to adapt to atrazine by delaying development, presumably so that the critical developmental period takes place when the herbicide is at its lowest, Hayes suspects that not all frogs would be expected to adapt, or to adapt quickly enough, to survive. Plus, delayed maturation comes at the risk of having the pond turn into a puddle and dry up before the frog completely metamorphoses.

Hayes is continuing his studies with various combinations of pesticides to determine which are the true cause of the problem and which serve to enhance the effect of others.

His laboratory colleagues were UC Berkeley students Paola Case, Sarah Chui, Duc Chung, Cathryn Haefele, Kelly Haston, Melissa Lee, Vien Pheng Mai, Youssra Marjuoa, John Parker and Mable Tsui. Co-authors on the atrazine paper were former UC Berkeley students A. Ali Stuart, Atif Collins, Nigel Noriega, Aaron Vonk, Gwynne Johnston and Dzifa Kpodzo, and current students Magdalena Mendoza and Roger Liu.

The work was supported by the National Science Foundation, Henry H. Wheeler, the Park Water Co. and the Howard Hughes Biology Scholar's Program.

Chorus Frog Request
Wednesday, January 25, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 69
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 January 2006

Pseudacris brachyphona Tissue Requested for Phylogeographic Study

Joseph J. Apodaca (University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa), Emily Moriarty-Lemmon (University of Texas, Austin) and Joseph T. Collins (University of Kansas, Lawrence) are conducting a species-wide phylogeographic study on the Mountain Chorus Frog, Pseudacris brachyphona, and seek live specimens from which to obtain tissue. Specimens from anywhere in the range of this anuran would be of great help to our study. Individuals assisting us in obtaining specimens will be gratefully acknowledged in the published results.

If you are able to help, please contact Joseph T. Collins at

jcollins@ku.edu
(785) 393-4757

Thank you in advance.

*****

Joseph J. Apodaca (Principal Investigator)
Department of Biological Sciences
Box 870345
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487
apoda002@bama.ua.edu

Chytrid Compilation
Friday, October 09, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 October 2009

GLOBAL AMPHIBIAN CHYTRID FUNGUS MAPPING PROJECT UPDATE

Amphibian chytrid fungus (Bd) surveillance is rapidly accruing new data worldwide. Our Global Bd Mapping Project has been a success due to the data contributions from people across the planet. Thank You Everyone! We are now doing an update to the global Bd mapping database and the Bd mapping website at

http://www.spatialepidemiology.net

If you have positive or negative Bd data to contribute to this project, please contact Dede Olson at

dedeolson@fs.fed.us

If you are doing Bd surveillance in the US, you may be interested to know where we have data gaps. If you know of data in these US States that we may have missed, please let us know! We are aware of some new studies doing surveillance in these areas, but as of today, we do not have those data.

1. No data:
Connecticut
Delaware
Kentucky
Nebraska
New Jersey
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota

2. Few data:
Arkansas (3 records, 3 species)
Kansas (1 record)
Indiana (1 record)
Maryland (2 records, 2 species)
Massachusetts (1 site, records for 6 species)
Missouri (only really looked at hellbenders so far)
Mississippi (2 records, 2 species, both negative)
New York (1 site, 2 species, both negative)
Oklahoma (3 sites, 5 species, 2 positive -- sites are close together)
Pennsylvania (1 positive site/species)
West Virginia (1 positive site/ species)

We also have rather sparse data for New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada, given the size of the states. Tennessee data all comes from one tiny corner (Great Smoky Mountains).

Dr. Deanna H. (Dede) Olson
Research Ecologist
Aquatic and Land Interactions
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Research Station
Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory
3200 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
dedeolson@fs.fed.us

Cleaning Amphibian Gear
Saturday, September 06, 2003: DAPTF - HerpDigest
The DAPTF leaflet for amphibian workers on field hygiene suggests the use of alcohol (ethanol) as a sterilising agent, in addition to bleaches. However, it has been pointed out that ethanol can be very expensive due to local tax duties and in some countries its availability may be restricted due to lack of supply or laws prohibiting sale. As a substitute, methanol or methylated spirits is suitable. This is often cheaper and more easily obtained. It should be noted that alcohols are flammable liquids and strict safety precautions should be taken when transporting them in vehicles and during their use and disposal. Suitable containers that are clearly labelled should be used and properly stowed during transit according to local laws and rules for transport and safe disposal of flammable liquids.

Tom Langton, Froglife
http://www.froglife.org/

CNAH Common Names List
Sunday, April 05, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 April 2009

The Center for North American Herpetology announces the April 2009 publication of the

SIXTH EDITION of

STANDARD COMMON AND CURRENT SCIENTIFIC NAMES FOR NORTH AMERICAN AMPHIBIANS, TURTLES, REPTILES, AND CROCODILIANS

by Joseph T. Collins & Travis W. Taggart

Color covers
Softbound
iv + 44 pages
ISBN 0-9721937-1-5
Cost: Free (see below)

The first edition of this widely-used compilation, published in 1978, listed 454 species (or kinds) of native amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians, and was quickly adopted nationwide as a source for common names for these North American (north of Mexico) animals, names that could be consistently used worldwide to avoid confusion, both in writing and speaking.

This new sixth edition lists 621 kinds of native amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians in the United States and Canada, an increase of 167 species (27%) since the first edition in 1978 and an increase of 232 species (37%) since 1956, which demonstrates clearly how much the diversity of these animals in North America was previously underestimated.

Also of interest in this sixth edition is the updated section on alien species, those creatures that are not native, have escaped, or have been released in North America, and have established breeding populations in the United State or Canada. Most significant of these are the large Indian Python and Boa Constrictor, which are now breeding residents of southern Florida. These constricting serpents reach large sizes, and can have a serious impact on native wildlife, as well as small livestock and neighborhood pets.

The standard common names in the fourth edition (1997) of this list were used exclusively in the well-known PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA (third edition expanded, 1998, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston), and the standard common names in this sixth edition will be adopted for the forthcoming next edition of the Peterson Guide, which has the widest distribution of any book ever written about these creatures worldwide. Use of standardized common names achieves stability, comprehension, and ease of use throughout the United States and Canada, and thus has the potential to create closer cooperation among biologists across the nation, so that they may work together in the common cause of conserving and protecting these often-neglected creatures.

Users of the CNAH common names list are reminded that in this edition, as in the previous fifth edition, no space is wasted with citations for verifying or justifying scientific name changes or any speculative discussion based on unpublished data. The web site of The Center for North American Herpetology, which is the most frequently-accessed academic herpetological web site in the world, already contains all such citations for changes in this sixth edition and demonstrates once again that CNAH leads the herpetological community worldwide with its ability to organize and deliver in a timely and modern (electronic and print) fashion the scientific information so necessary to our profession. The CNAH web site can be accessed at

http://www.cnah.org

Single copies of this sixth edition of STANDARD COMMON AND CURRENT SCIENTIFIC NAMES FOR NORTH AMERICAN AMPHIBIANS, TURTLES, REPTILES, AND CROCODILIANS, are available free by simply sending a self-addressed 7 x 10 inch manila envelope with first class postage affixed for 4 ounces (currently $1.34; after 11 May 2009, $1.39) to

CNAH
1502 Medinah Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66047

For further information about this release, contact

Joseph T. Collins
(785) 393-4757
jcollins@ku.edu

or

Travis W. Taggart
(785) 650-2445
ttaggart@fhsu.edu

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY is a non-profit 501c3 foundation established in 1994 and headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas.

CNAH in Science
Thursday, March 31, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 March 2005

CNAH Featured in Science Magazine Net Watch

The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) has been featured in Science magazine's Net Watch, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The AAAS is the largest scientific organization in the world and Science magazine has the broadest distribution of any scientific periodical published.

CNAH is a non-profit 501c3 foundation established in 1994 and currently headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas. The foundation is devoted to furthering research on and conservation of the amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians of the United States and Canada. In addition to its extensive library of professional color images (all by Suzanne L. Collins), the foundation makes two awards each year, one of which is the largest herpetological award given annually worldwide. CNAH also operates the largest academic herpetological email contact list in the nation.

CNAH maintains the only online list of current scientific and standard common names for the North American herpetofauna; the list is updated daily. During calendar 2004, the CNAH web site recorded nearly 850,000 hits.

The Science article about CNAH can be viewed online at

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/307/5717/1847e.pdf

For more information or to receive a pdf of the article, contact

Joseph T. Collins
Director
The Center for North American Herpetology
jcollins@ku.edu
(785) 749-3467
(785) 393-4757 (cell)

Coastal Herp Course
Tuesday, February 08, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 February 2011

COASTAL HERPETOLOGY WITH CHATFIELD

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is pleased to offer a new course – Coastal Herpetology – from May 16-27, 2011. The coastal plain of the Southeast boasts an outstanding diversity of amphibians and reptiles, making the region an excellent place to study these often reclusive and elusive creatures. This course will provide students with an introduction to herpetology through lectures and associated readings, discussions of original research papers, and a class project. Topics covered will include the ecology, evolution, life history, diversity, behavior, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. There will also be many field excursions highlighting the methods and techniques for capturing and studying amphibians and reptiles. Be prepared to get wet and muddy since we will be exploring the marshes, pine woods, bayous, and other habitats as we search for and learn about the amphibians and reptiles of the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

College credit is available through the University of Southern Mississippi or one of many affiliated universities.

Applications will be accepted through 2 May 2011.

For more information, visit us at

www.usm.edu/gcrl

or contact the instructor, Dr. Matthew Chatfield, at

mattchat@tulane.edu

Coastal Herp Course
Monday, January 09, 2012: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
9 January 2012

COASTAL HERPETOLOGY COURSE

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is pleased to offer the course – Coastal Herpetology – from 14-25 May 2012. The coastal plain of the southeastern U.S. boasts an outstanding herpetofaunal diversity, making the region an excellent place to study these often reclusive and elusive creatures. This course will provide students with an introduction to herpetology through lectures and associated readings, discussions of original research papers, and a class project. Topics covered will include the ecology, evolution, life history, diversity, behavior, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. There will also be many field excursions highlighting the methods and techniques for capturing and studying herpetofauna. Be prepared to get wet and muddy since we will be exploring the marshes, pine woods, bayous, and other habitats as we search for and learn about the herpetofauna of the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

College credit is available through the University of Southern Mississippi or one of many affiliated universities. For more information, visit us at

www.usm.edu/gcrl

or contact the instructor, Dr. Matthew Chatfield, at

mattchat@tulane.edu

Matthew W. H. Chatfield
Tulane University
Dept of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
400 Lindy Boggs Building
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
(504) 862-8289

Cold Snake Cloaca
Tuesday, December 29, 2009: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 182
The Center for North American Herpetology
The Plantation
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
29 December 2009

SNAKES UNDER ICE

My students recently observed Common Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) overwintering underwater below ice. On 15 December 2009 and again on 17 December 2009, they brought me two different Common Garter Snakes, both of which were taken from an iced-over pond. The pond was 80-85 per cent frozen, and the snakes were taken from the water near the edge of the ice. The first one warmed in my hands, began moving, and was placed in a terrarium in my classroom. By the afternoon, it was striking and was as quite active. I eventually put the first snake in a refrigerator to get its body temperature to ca. 40 degrees F, and then released it when the outside temperatures were 40+ degrees F. The second serpent was returned immediately to the pond.

Can a Common Garter Snake diffuse oxygen through its cloaca, as can some turtles?

Any information on this phenomenon in snakes would be much appreciated. I can be contacted at

ssharp@usd232.org

Scott Sharp
Unified School District 232
Lawrence, Kansas

Collared Lizard Request
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 181
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 November 2009

COLLARED LIZARD LOCATIONS

I am working on an Eastern Collared Lizard project in Arkansas with Dr. Jeff Miller. I'm attempting to create a GIS-based quantitative/predictive map of the distribution of this species. I would like to obtain data on known locations where they occur so I can evaluate the quality of the variables chosen for prediction. I'm currently at the stage of evaluating variables and making arguments for the reason each variable is important to the overall model. Any advice regarding any potential variables I might use or overlook would be appreciated.

Michael Uffenbeck
University of Central Arkansas
Department of Biology
201 Donaghey Avenue
LSC 164 E
Conway Arkansas 72035
michael.uffenbeck@gmail.com

Colorado Cnemidophorus Sought
Tuesday, November 29, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 19
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
29 November 2004

Colorado Cnemidophorus Sought

James M. Walker is interested in determining which museum Benjamin Banta used as a repository for specimens of Cnemidophorus tesselatus and C. sexlineatus obtained by him in pitfall traps in 1963 and 1964 in Fremont County, Colorado. Any assistance from the herpetological community in locating these specimens would be much appreciated. Please contact Dr. Walker at:

jmwalker@uark.edu

James M. Walker
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

Colorado Herp Atlas Online
Monday, July 12, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
www.cnah.org
12 July 2004

NEW COLORADO HERPETOFAUNAL ATLAS ONLINE

Sponsored and managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and developed by Camp, Dresser & McKee, with the advice and assistance of Geoffrey A. Hammerson (author of Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado) & Joseph T. Collins (director of The Center for North American Herpetology).

Many salamander, frog, turtle, lizard, and snake populations are declining rapidly throughout the western United States. In Colorado, some species have become scarce or no longer occur within their historical range. For example, Northern Leopard Frogs formerly were common and widespread in the mountains of the Front Range, but now they are very scarce. Similarly, subalpine wetlands throughout the Southern Rockies formerly hosted many robust populations of toads, but today they are few and highly localized. Northern Cricket Frogs have not been found in Colorado since 1979. What’s going on?

Insufficient information.

The factors responsible for these declines include habitat loss and degradation, competition with non-native species, pollution, excessive harvest or mortality on roads, and disease, but often the causes are unknown. Often we have insufficient information to determine whether a decline is cause for alarm or simply part of a natural fluctuation pattern. A major problem is that for most species we do not have enough information to know whether they are declining, increasing, or maintaining stable populations. This information gap makes it impossible to undertake appropriate and timely protection and management actions.

The Colorado Herpetofaunal Atlas was initiated as a means of assembling and displaying information that will facilitate assessments of the distribution, abundance, and conservation status of reptile and amphibian populations throughout Colorado.

Access it at

http://ndisdev.nrel.colostate.edu/herpatlas/coherpatlas/

For more information or to confirm this news release, contact

(785) 749-3467
jcollins@ku.edu

Common Names List Online
Saturday, September 05, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
The Center for North American Herpetology is pleased to announce that the pdf version of

STANDARD COMMON AND CURRENT SCIENTIFIC NAMES FOR NORTH AMERICAN AMPHIBIANS, TURTLES, REPTILES, AND CROCODILIANS. Sixth Edition (2009) by Joseph T. Collins and Travis W. Taggart

is now available gratis online at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

The first edition of this authoritative compilation, published in 1978, listed 454 species of amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians, and was quickly adopted nationwide as a source for common names for these North American (north of Mexico) animals, names that could be consistently used worldwide to avoid confusion, both in spelling and during conversation.

This sixth edition, published in printed form on 5 April 2009, lists 621 species of amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians in the United States and Canada, an increase of 167 species since 1978 and an increase of 232 species since 1956, which demonstrates clearly how much the diversity of these animals in North America was previously underestimated.

The standard common names in the fourth edition (1997) of this list were used exclusively in the well-known Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America (third edition expanded, 1998, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston), were adopted exclusively in the The Frogs and Toads of North America (recently published by Houghton Mifflin; Elliott et al. 2009) and will be adopted for the forthcoming fourth edition of the Peterson Field Guide, which has the widest distribution of any book ever written about these creatures.

The pdf version of this sixth edition has been updated since the print version was issued on 5 April 2009 (thus far, over 1,100 copies of this latest edition have been requested and mailed worldwide). A few errors of author attribution and date (ordinal and familial only), as well as the usual typos (fortunately, not of a scientific or common name), have been corrected. Should anyone note any other errors, we would much appreciate being notified. We will promptly correct the pdf version and re-install it in the CNAH PDF Library as often as corrections warrant. We anticipate that the next (seventh) edition of this list will be published in 2014.

The CNAH web site, which is the largest academic herpetological web site in the world, has adopted the common and scientific names of this sixth edition. The CNAH web site has had almost 764,000 visitors since it was launched on 1 January 1998, and recorded over 1,000,000 hits in calendar 2008 alone.

Connecticut Amphibian DVD
Wednesday, September 19, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 September 2007

CONNECTICUT AMPHIBIAN DVD AVAILABLE

A new DVD is out that gives never before available views of frogs and salamanders of the northeast US in their native habitats. For information or to order online, visit

http://www.cttrips.com/pages/BLWclips.html

BETWEEN LAND & WATER: LIFE STORIES OF CONNECTICUT'S AMPHIBIANS follows Connecticut's native amphibians over an annual season. Beginning with the thawing of vernal pools in early spring, the documentary follows local frogs and salamanders to reveal their life cycles including spring migrations, calls and breeding seasons, and phases from larval forms through metamorphosis to adults.

Videotaped and narrated by naturalist Brian Kleinman, BETWEEN LAND & WATER also describes aspects of vernal pool, stream, and woodland habitats upon which amphibians rely. Insightful and informative, this DVD provides a valuable new resource for herpetologists and educators, as well as herpetological enthusiasts.

Reviews:

"Connecticut is home to 22 kinds of salamanders, frogs and toads. Most remain hidden in the forests, swamps and streams- until now. Naturalist Brian Kleinman has captured some stunning images on a DVD to bring the world of Connecticut's amphibians into your lab, home or school. The DVD joins Brian as he documents the seasonal life cycles of these fascinating creatures. We experience the sights and sounds of each discovery: the cold, rainy night march of the Spotted Salamanders, a deafening midnight chorus of treefrogs, the springtime aquatic dance of the Eastern Newt, the capture of a "purple salamander" along a forest brook in summer and much more. Close-up images provide a truly unique look at these misunderstood animals. You will be amazed at the patterns, colors and behavior on display in the amphibian world and discover new things with each viewing."

HANK GRUNER, Herpetologist, Project Coordinator, The Connecticut Amphibian Monitoring Project, & Interim Director of the Children's Museum, West Hartford

"The seasonal approach crams in tons of information about the biology, habitat use and natural history of these animals. Viewers get a broad education in amphibian biology and up close and personal with the many diverse native species. Hopefully this documentary will be the eye-opener that catches people's attention and inspires them to go out and learn about frogs and salamanders. It's a treat to see the diversity of Connecticut's amazing amphibians, both in appearance as well as in biology, in such an intimate manner!"

TWAN LEENDERS, Assistant Professor of Biology, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Curatorial Affiliate, Vertebrate Zoology at Yale University's Peabody Museum of Natural History and author of "Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica."

*****

CNAH Note: For greater accuracy, comprehension, and ease of use, this book uses the long-standing, traditional, standard common names for North American species maintained by Collins & Taggart (2002. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology (available as a pdf at the CNAH web site) and updated daily online.

Contaminants & Declines
Tuesday, July 14, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 July 2009

NEW CONTAMINANTS AND AMPHIBIAN POPULATION DECLINES LITERATURE WEBSITE

The literature on the possible role of contaminants in amphibian population declines is hard to find as it is scattered across many journals. The website provides in one place references to this diverse literature.

The site focuses on five areas: papers directly about contaminants and amphibian population declines, contaminants impacts on amphibian immune systems impacts, contaminant transport to remote locations where declines have occurred, synergistic effects and review papers.

The URL is

http://bss.sfsu.edu/cdavidson/contaminants.htm

We hope you find this information useful in your research.

Carlos Davidson
Director and Associate Professor
Environmental Studies Program
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, California 94132
(415) 405-2127
carlosd@sfsu.edu

Court Confirms Caudate
Thursday, December 28, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 December 2006

COURT ORDERS CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION TO CONSIDER IMPERILED CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER FOR LISTING UNDER STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Sacramento - Judge Lloyd G. Connelly of the Sacramento Superior Court has overturned the California Fish & Game Commission’s rejection of a Petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity ("Center") to list the California Tiger Salamander under the state’s wildlife protection law. The written opinion, issued on December 14, 2006, overturned the Commission’s 3-2 vote to reject the Petition to list the salamander under the California Endangered Species Act.

"The thorough and well-reasoned opinion overturned the Commission’s decision because the Commission ignored or mis-represented the overwhelming scientific evidence showing that the salamander is highly imperiled," said Kathy Trisolini of Chatten-Brown and Carstens, who represented the Center pro-bono in the lawsuit. "This decision soundly enforces the requirement that the Commission make listing decisions under the California Endangered Species Act based on the best available science."

The Petition to list the California Tiger Salamander was filed with the Commission in January, 2004. The Commission voted 3-2 to reject the Petition at its October 23, 2004 meeting. Then on December 2, 2004, the Commission adopted written findings purporting to support the rejection.

In a 15-page written order, Judge Connelly criticized the Commission’s decision, stating "[i]n making the findings, the Commission misstated or ignored substantial evidence in the administrative record and relied on conflicting information of doubtful scientific value."

The California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) is an imperiled amphibian found only in California. Historically, the California tiger salamander was found throughout most of the Central Valley, adjacent foothills, and Coast Range, as well as in the Santa Rosa Plain in Sonoma County and in Santa Barbara County.

The majority of historic California Tiger Salamander habitat has already been lost to urban and agricultural development. Extreme habitat fragmentation is increasingly isolating populations and causing local extirpations that will lead rapidly to extinction of the species. It is also threatened by interbreeding with non-native species, predation and other threats. Over two dozen independent scientists that study the species supported the Petition to list the California tiger salamander under the California Endangered Species Act. The Department of Fish and Game, which acts as a scientific advisor to the Commission, also supported the Center’s Petition in every regard and recommended that the Commission accept it and advance the salamander to the stage in the listing process known as "Candidacy."

Under state law, the Commission considers petitions to list species in a two-step process. In the first step, the Department of Fish and Game issues a report evaluating the petition and recommending whether the Commission should the accept the petition for further study. The Commission must accept the petition if it, along with the Department’s report and additional evidence received, indicates that listing "may be warranted." If the petition is accepted, the species is designated as a "Candidate" and the Department conducts a 12-month status review to determine whether listing "is warranted." At the end of the 12-month review, the Department issues a second report to the Commission and the Commission votes as to whether listing "is warranted." During the Candidacy period, the species receives the same protection as a species listed as threatened or endangered.

Judge Connelly ordered the Commission to accept the Petition, which will initiate the full status review and the second stage of the listing process. The decision states:

The court will order the issuance of a peremptory writ of mandate requiring the Commission to set aside its decision rejecting the Center’s 2004 petition to list the CTS and to enter a new decision accepting the petition for consideration pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2074.2, subdivision (a)(2). There is no need or place for the Commission’s reconsideration of the petition because no competent scientific evidence, let alone substantial evidence, in the administrative record supports a rejection of the petition; rather all competent scientific evidence in the record supports a finding of a substantial possibility that CTS listing could occur. Thus the record . . . requires acceptance of the petition as a matter of law.

"The three Commissioners who voted to reject the Petition ignored the science, and instead cast their votes based on political expediency," said Kassie Siegel, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity and author of the 2004 Petition. "This decision sets an important precedent that these political appointees will be held accountable for following the law and providing California’s imperiled wildlife with the important protections it needs and deserves."

In a process that has spanned over a decade and has itself included several lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ("Service") has protected the California Tiger Salamander under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Service listed California Tiger Salamander populations in Sonoma and Santa Barbara counties as "endangered" on an emergency basis in 2002 and 2000, respectively, and California Tiger Salamanders populations in Central California as "threatened" in 2004.

Further information regarding the California Tiger Salamander is available online at

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org

Contacts:

Kassie Siegel, Center for Biological Diversity, (760) 366-2232 x. 302 or (951) 961-7972
Kathy Trisolini, Chatten-Brown and Carstens, 310-314-8040 x. 2 or 818-636-8773

Craugastor Cometh
Tuesday, January 10, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
Andrew J. Crawford and Eric N. Smith (2005. Cenozoic biogeography and evolution in direct-developing frogs of Central America (Leptodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus) as inferred from a phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 35(3): 536-555) placed the North American species Eleutherodactylus augusti in the genus Craugastor. Here is the abstract:

Abstract: We report the first phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data for the Central American component of the genus Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Eleutherodactylinae), one of the most ubiquitous, diverse, and abundant components of the Neotropical amphibian fauna. We obtained DNA sequence data from 55 specimens representing 45 species. Sampling was focused on Central America, but also included Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, and the USA. We sequenced 1460 contiguous base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial genome containing ND2 and five neighboring tRNA genes, plus 1300 bp of the c-myc nuclear gene. The resulting phylogenetic inferences were broadly concordant between data sets and among analytical methods. The subgenus Craugastor is monophyletic and its initial radiation was potentially rapid and adaptive. Within Craugastor, the earliest splits separate three northern Central American species groups, milesi, augusti, and alfredi, from a clade comprising the rest of Craugastor. Within the latter clade, the rhodopis group as formerly recognized comprises three deeply divergent clades that do not form a monophyletic group; we therefore restrict the content of the rhodopis group to one of two northern clades, and use new names for the other northern (mexicanus group) and one southern clade (bransfordii group). The new rhodopis and bransfordii groups together form the sister taxon to a clade comprising the biporcatus, fitzingeri, mexicanus, and rugulosus groups. We used a Bayesian MCMC approach together with geological and biogeographic assumptions to estimate divergence times from the combined DNA sequence data. Our results corroborated three independent dispersal events for the origins of Central American Eleutherodactylus: (1) an ancestor of Craugastor entered northern Central America from South American in the early Paleocene, (2) an ancestor of the subgenus Syrrhophus entered northern Central America from the Caribbean at the end of the Eocene, and (3) a wave of independent dispersal events from South America coincided with formation of the Isthmus of Panama during the Pliocene. We elevate the subgenus Craugastor to the genus rank.

A gratis downloadable pdf of the paper by Crawford and Smith is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Crocodile Re-Classified
Monday, April 09, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 April 2007

AMERICAN CROCODILE DOWNLISTED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reclassified from Endangered to Threatened

Miami, Florida - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that recovery efforts are making it possible to reclassify the American Crocodile in Florida from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

"American Crocodiles were a part of Florida's history for hundreds of years until human activities such as urban development, agricultural conversion and overhunting decimated their populations," said Sam D. Hamilton, the service's southeast regional director. "However, in the past 30 years, we have made great strides in protecting this species and conserving its habitat. Today we can celebrate their comeback as a result of the recovery efforts by numerous dedicated professionals who are helping sustain a vital part of Florida's natural and cultural history."

The service's final reclassification decision comes after the completion of its five-year review required under the ESA for all endangered and threatened species. An endangered species is defined as being in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future. A threatened classification means a species could become endangered. Reclassifying a species from endangered to the less-critical threatened designation is often reflective of recovery efforts reducing imminent threats and allowing populations to increase.

The American Crocodile is being reclassified in southern Florida, its only habitat within the U.S. This crocodilian will remain endangered in other countries, including Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. The American Crocodile in Florida was originally listed as an endangered species in 1975. Their numbers in Florida have grown to an estimated 1,400 to 2,000, not including hatchlings.

The species is one of two native crocodilians -- the other being the American Alligator -- that are known to frequent the U.S. It can be distinguished from the American Alligator by a relatively narrow, more pointed snout and by an indentation in the upper jaw that leaves the fourth tooth of the lower jaw exposed when the mouth is closed. In order to reclassify the American Crocodile from endangered to threatened, the recovery plan requires a sustained breeding population of 60 females. About 95 percent of the remaining American Crocodile habitat in southern Florida has been acquired by federal, state, and county agencies. These protected areas should allow the population to expand and could provide additional nesting opportunities.

Cryptobranchid Cash
Wednesday, February 15, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 February 2006

HELLBENDER GRANT TO BE GIVEN

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group is now accepting applications for their annual Conservation/ Research Grant. This grant was primarily created to provide funds to support in-situ research initiatives. However, other Cryptobranchid conservation and education projects will be considered. One to two grants are awarded annually in amounts ranging from $500 to $1,000 US dollars. Applications may be downloaded from CIG's website at:

http://www.caudata.org/cig

under "research"

Deadline for submissions is 15 March 2006. Grant recipients will be notified by 15 April 2006.

For more information contact Diane Barber at:

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 Fax
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

or Ed Kowalski at:

kowalski.ed@phillyzoo.org

Curlytail Copy Call
Thursday, March 30, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 79
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 March 2006

Call for Cuban Curlytail Copy

I am trying to locate a copy of

Schwartz (1959) The Cuban lizards of the species Leiocephalus carinatus (Gray) Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery, Scientific Publications 10: 1-47.

If anyone has this publication and would be willing to provide me a photocopy, please contact me directly at

gifford@biology2.wustl.edu

Thank you.

Matthew E. Gifford
Doctoral Candidate
Campus Box 1137
Department of Biology
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri 63130
(314) 935-5302

Currently Radiant Amphibians
Thursday, February 19, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 161
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 February 2009

RESEARCH REQUEST ABOUT RADIANT AMPHIBIANS

Dr. Purnima Govindarajulu is seeking information from researchers who have studied (or are studying) the effects of electromagnetic radiation from power lines, or other sources, on amphibians, especially on developing embryos at breeding sites. Please send your published works or any information about ongoing research to Dr. Purnima Govindarajulu at

purnima.govindarajulu@gov.bc.ca

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Data Detection Desiderata
Monday, December 01, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 154
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 December 2008

AMPHIBIAN DATA DETECTION

I am a graduate student studying amphibians in West Virginia wetlands. One of my objectives is to estimate reproductive success, but because of the large size and complex topography of most of the wetlands in my study area, estimation via mark-recapture with drift fences is impossible. Instead, I am using funnel traps to repeatedly capture and count metamorphs; therefore the data will be replicated in space and time. I am trying to find the best method to estimate detection probabilities for these specimens with this type of data.

Any information would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to

gstrain54@yahoo.com

Thank you in advance for any help rendered.

Gabriel Strain
Graduate Research Assistant
Division of Forestry and Natural Resources
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
(301) 876-1070

Davidson Distinguished
Tuesday, February 12, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 February 2008

DAVIDSON COLLEGE HERPETOLOGY LAB AND CABARRUS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT RECEIVE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

The 2008 North Carolina Earth Team Award was presented to Davidson College Biology Department and Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District at the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ annual meeting in Asheville earlier this month. This award was given by the United States Department of Agriculture—Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Association.

“Earth Team” is a Natural Resources Conservation Service volunteer program that provides leadership through partnerships that help people conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources and the environment. Students and staff from the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory, which is part of the Biology Department, volunteered 788 hours in 2007 as “Technical Conservation Aides” with Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District. Their efforts are part of a multi-year research project funded by a National Science Foundation grant.

Recommendations based on Davidson College’s award-winning biological field research are already beginning to inform local land-use planning initiatives. The impact of rapid urbanization in the Charlotte area on wildlife habitat is the focus of this research. Salamanders, along with other species of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles, are being studied to assess current growth trends on the environment.

Conservation planning efforts for the state-designated Clarke Creek Heron Rookery Significant Natural Heritage Area are being informed by preliminary results of Davidson College’s research in a subdivision currently under construction next to a 200-acre wetland complex on Clarke Creek. A regional environmental education field station being planned by Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District at this wetland will engage area primary and secondary school students in ongoing research and conservation efforts.

Deadly Diadophis
Wednesday, October 03, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 October 2007

EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE THAT ORAL SECRETIONS OF NORTHWESTERN RINGNECK SNAKES (DIADOPHIS PUNCTATUS OCCIDENTALIS) ARE TOXIC TO THEIR PREY

Toxicon 50: 810-815 (2007)

Ryan P. O’Donnell, Kevin Staniland & Robert T. Mason

Abstract: Ringneck Snakes (Diadophis punctatus) are suspected of being venomous because their Duvernoy’s gland secretions have high levels of phospholipase activity, which is characteristic of many viperid and elapid venoms, and because anecdotal reports of feeding behavior are consistent with the use of a venom. We tested the toxicity of Northwestern Ringneck Snake oral secretions to a natural prey species, Northwestern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis ordinoides), by injecting 2-35 ul of oral secretions intraperitoneally. All doses were 100% lethal within 180 min. The dose significantly affected the time to loss of a righting response. Neither injection of saline nor denatured oral secretions resulted in loss of a righting response or any visible detrimental effects. We suggest that Northwestern Ringneck Snakes may have evolved venom to subdue larger prey items than the snake would otherwise be capable of taking.

*****

A gratis PDF of this article is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Delaware Herp List Online
Wednesday, October 28, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 October 2009

Now available

DELAWARE HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Delaware is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Delaware web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Delaware checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Delaware joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Desert Herp Course Dawns
Tuesday, February 15, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 February 2011

HERPETOLOGY FIELD COURSE

The SWRS is happy to offer this new 10-day course.

Where and When: Southwestern Research Station (SWRS), Portal, Arizona, 24 July to 3 August 2011.

Course URL: http://research.amnh.org/swrs/herpetology-field-course

Instructors: The course will have several instructors. In 2011, instructors include but are not limited to: Emily Taylor, Charlie Painter, Richard Zweifel, Jay Cole, Justin Congdon, Carol Simon, Matt Goode, and Dawn Wilson.

Participants: The course is designed for students, conservation biologists, and other individuals who have some background in biology. It will emphasize taxonomy, ecology, and field identification of reptiles, turtles, and amphibians of southeastern Arizona and parts of southwestern New Mexico. The course will include lectures, field trips, and laboratories. Collection of specimens during the course will be confined to instructors; no private collecting permitted.

Fees: Tuition for the 10-day, 11-night course is $1300.00 to be paid by all participants on being informed of their acceptance. Tuition covers course fees for the course and room and board at the SWRS. The fee is payable to SWRS by credit card, certified check, or money order. Transportation costs between home and Tucson (air) or SWRS (auto) are to be borne by all participants.

How to Apply

The application form is available on the course web site shown above

For logistics or information about the SWRS you can contact:

Dawn S. Wilson
Director, Southwestern Research Station
P.O. Box 16553
Portal, Arizona 85632
dwilson@amnh.org
520-558-2396
http:research.amnh.org/swrs

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 20 MAY 2011

IF ACCEPTED INTO THE COURSE, FEES ARE DUE BY 10 JUNE 2011

Diamondback Data Desired
Thursday, November 10, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 64
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 November 2005

NATIONWIDE DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN SURVEY NEEDS YOUR HELP

To save Diamondback Terrapins we need to know where they now are, were, and think they should be. You can help us. If you have ever seen Diamondback Terrapins in the wild and/or have experience in the salt marshes of the eastern United States, you have useful information. If you have ever read about local observations of this chelonian, and can tell us where you read it, you can help. Also, whether or not you fill out our survey, please spread news about it far and wide to any one else that might be able to fill it out. The survey can be found at:

http://www.people.hofstra.edu/terrapin

Please take a few minutes of your time to fill out the on-line survey about the current and past status and range of the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), particularly in your area.

Some Background on Diamondback Terrapins

The Diamondback Terrapin inhabits brackish and salt marshes and bays throughout its range. In most of their range, terrapins are unlikely to be confused with any other turtle because they are the turtle that lives in the salt marshes. Historically the Diamondback Terrapin has been reported as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and as far south as Corpus Christi, Texas. They are most commonly seen basking or crossing roads to nest.

Field observations are necessary in order to determine the Diamondback Terrapin's past and current distribution. Along with distribution we would like to know the status of Diamondback Terrapins throughout their range, whether the populations are stable, increasing or decreasing. Your help is requested for providing information on Diamondback Terrapins that you may or may not have seen.

Russell Burke
Department of Biology
114 Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York 11549
(516) 463-5521
fax: 516-463-5112

Please send any questions or comments to:

Russell.L.Burke@Hofstra.edu

Diamondback Day Declared
Thursday, May 13, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 May 2010

DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN DAY

An announcement from the office of Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has proclaimed 13 May as Diamondback Terrapin Day 2010. Alex Zerphy, a student advisor to the Terrapin Institute, appealed to the Governor's Office and successfully had the Diamondback Terrapin acknowledged by official State Proclamation.

*****

A pdf of the proclamation is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Just type O'Malley in the author slot.

*****

CNAH notes with approval the traditional spelling of Diamondback; no unnecessary, superfluous hyphen, no awkward –ed appendage, just . . . Diamondback, the way it has been for over half a century.

Diamondback Drive
Monday, March 19, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 March 2007

DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS NEED HELP

Help save Diamondback Terrapins. Please participate in the petition drive at

http://www.cterrapin.org/index.html

Some states are actively allowing Diamondback Terrapin harvests to increase exponentially to supply growing demands for turtle meat.

Eat mor chikin

*****

This initiative is supported by CNAH.

*****

Diamondbacks Down
Thursday, September 03, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 September 2009

EFFECTS OF RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUPS ON THE EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE (CROTALUS ADAMANTEUS)

by D. Bruce Means

2009. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 4(2): 132-141

Abstract: I analyzed the data on size and numbers of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) for four rattlesnake roundups in the southeastern U.S. (Opp, Alabama, and Whigham, Fitzgerald, and Claxton, Georgia) spanning a period of 50 years (1959-2008). Both numbers of snakes and weights of the largest snakes that participants turned in annually declined in the last two decades. Statements by roundup officials and rattlesnake hunters support that roundup hunting has depleted local rattlesnake populations and forced hunters to travel further to collect snakes in recent years. Declining maximum size of snakes reflects possible age-class truncation, whereby collectors cull older, larger individuals of this long-lived species. Roundups perpetuate negative attitudes about venomous snakes and reduce their populations, whose skins and flesh are subject to high commercial demand. Before the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake becomes threatened throughout its range, state wildlife agencies should either ban the taking of individuals or regulate their taking by developing bag limits and seasonal harvest guidelines. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake would further benefit by refocusing extant roundups as wildlife festivals in which participants celebrate rattlesnakes and other wildlife rather than exploit them, or alternatively changing their theme entirely (such as one roundup that became a Wild Chicken Festival).

*****

A pdf of this article is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

*****

Digital Data Desired
Tuesday, February 01, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 25
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 February 2005

Request for information about photographic and digital voucher curation

I am assembling list of institutions (besides the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at U.C. Berkeley) that give specimen numbers for photographic vouchers for amphibian and reptile specimens used in genetic studies. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who: 1) used this method for vouchering specimens; 2) works at an institution that curates photographic/digital vouchers or 3) knows of such an institution that curates photographic/digital vouchers.

Please email relevant information to:

Parham@socrates.berkeley.edu

James F. Parham, Ph.D.
Joint Genome Institute
Department of Energy
Walnut Creek, California
and
Museum of Paleontology
University of California

Mailing address:

James Parham, Ph.D.
Museum of Paleontology
1101 Valley Life Sciences Building
University of California
Berkeley, California 94720

Disrupting Anurans
Tuesday, February 06, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 116
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 February 2007

LIVE FROGS NEEDED

A colleague and I are working on the effect of endocrine disruptors on the expression of genes that code for gonadotropins in amphibians. We need a few live (or frozen) specimens of Lithobates or Rana to do RT-PCR in this genus. Lithobates pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog) would be ideal, but any species of Lithobates or Rana would be helpful for now. We only need a small number of individuals, preferably a few males and a few females. If applicable, specimens must be accompanied by a current scientific collecting permit from the state of origin. Thanks in advance for your help.

Dr. Daniel J. Meinhardt
Assistant Professor
Biology and Human Biology Programs, LS 455
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
2420 Nicolet Drive
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311-7001
(920) 465-2398
meinhada@uwgb.edu

Donate to CNAH
Wednesday, December 02, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 December 2009

DONATE TO CNAH

Donate $50.00 or more to THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY and receive gratis copies of the 56-page “A Pocket Guide to Pennsylvania Snakes” by Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. and Joseph T. Collins (2009), the 69-page "A Pocket Guide to Kansas Snakes. Second Edition" by Joseph T. Collins and Suzanne L. Collins (2009), and the 50-page "Arkansas Snake Guide" by Kelly J. Irwin (2004).

Donations can be made electronically through PAYPAL by visiting the CNAH web site at

http://www.cnah.org

Checks or money orders should be made out to CNAH and sent to:

CNAH
1502 Medinah Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66047

CNAH is a 501c3 foundation and all donations are fully tax-deductible. CNAH now maintains the most frequently accessed herpetological web site on the Internet worldwide, with over 799,000 visitors since January 1998 and an average of one million hits per year.

Need a tax deduction as the year 2009 comes to a close? Contribute to CNAH. Support academic herpetology.

WHY DO HERPETOLOGISTS VISIT THE CNAH WEB SITE?  

Access the CNAH PDF Library. Download over 1,170 herpetological articles gratis. PDF articles are the future (and will eventually replace print journals). Why? No dues, no trees chopped down, and, above all, fast and free distribution of research and knowledge about amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians to any interested biologist. Why pay dues when you can visit CNAH for free.

Access the CNAH Directory of Herpetologists and be sure to add your name to it. With over 1,640 herpetologists registered, it is the largest such Internet directory in the world.

Access the CNAH Standard Common and Current Scientific Names List. It is the only such list on the internet that is updated daily (by our diligent foundation staff), thus ensuring that users of the web site have instant access to any proposed taxonomic changes involving the North American (north of Mexico) herpetofauna. Also, the CNAH list keeps North American herpetologists apprised of the standard common names and taxonomy that will appear in the next (fourth) edition of the "Peterson Field Guide to Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Eastern and Central North America."  

Access the State and Provincial Herpetofaunal Checklists. They are the only up-to-date, taxonomy–and-common name coordinated lists available for North America on the Internet, ensuring uniform information updated daily. Over half of the 63 states and provinces are done and online.

Access and view over 1,315 professional color images of amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians on the CNAH Standard Common and Current Scientific Names List web pages.

Access the CNAH list of jobs/positions for herpetologists. There aren't that many jobs in our profession, so keep abreast of those offered.  

Access our link sites; we have over 275 links to North American herpetological web sites, the largest such academic assemblage on the internet.  

These are but a few of the many gratis services provided on the CNAH web site. To the many of you who have contributed financially to our foundation (see our Donor list), we express our sincere thanks and gratitude. Your generosity ensured long ago that The Center for North American Herpetology would be permanently endowed, and because of that, we will continue to operate as a constant and reliable source of information through the next millennium and beyond.

*****

A NOTE TO PREVIOUS DONORS

Although donating to CNAH as a sponsor was and is worth it on its own merits, here is an additional special offer by ZOO BOOK SALES/SERPENTS TALE for those of you that have supported us in the past:

ZOO BOOK SALES is offering a 20% discount on ANY mail, phone, or Internet order placed through November of 2010 to ANY donor already listed on the CNAH web page.

Visit zoobooksales.com for a list of available titles or to order online. Call (507) 467-8733 or email

zoobooks@acegroup.cc

with any questions. Please mention "CNAH Donor" when ordering. If ordering online, please type "CNAH Donor" in the purchase order line during check out in order to receive your discount.

Dusky Gopher Frogs Spawn Standoff
Saturday, May 25, 2002: Biloxi, Mississippi - Peter Morton/National Post/Toronto
Dusky Gopher Frogs Spawn Real Estate Standoff

Endangered Species Prompts Sierra Club To Pull Backing For Eco-Friendly Housing

A huge development in rural Harrison County is pitting developers, residents and local officials against 100 Mississippi Gopher Frogs (Rana sevosa), one of the most threatened creatures on the planet. The frogs, named an endangered species by the U.S. government in January, 2001, have won the backing of the Sierra Club. But the club has also endorsed the development, and in any case it is far from certain such sentiments would ensure the frogs' survival in a new South desperate to attract jobs and residents to fatten local tax revenues.Glen Johnson still remembers the day nearly 14 years ago he found what turned out to be the last Gopher Frogs in the state, maybe in the world. After several years of searching, the veteran U. S. Forest Service worker discovered a pond no bigger than a backyard swimming pool and no deeper than a washtub in the flatlands bordering the Gulf of Mexico. "I just stood still and waited for the frogs to start calling," says Mr. Johnson, who has made saving the frogs a personal mission. "They don't really croak -- they make a deep snoring sound." The Mississippi gopher frog is one of the biggest frogs in the United States, about three inches long. It ranges in colour from black to brown to grey and is covered with dark spots and warts Naturalists say it has an endearing feature when captured -- it puts its hands in front of its eyes. Mr. Johnson's discovery was the first sighting in decades. "People have been looking for the past 15 or 20 years and this is, so far, the only place left," says Richard Siegel, a University of Maryland biology professor and one of the few to specialize in the Mississippi Gopher Frog. Once common from the Mississippi Delta to Florida, the frog disappeared from Alabama in 1922 and Louisiana in 1967. In Glen's Pond, tiny orange flags stick out of the water to mark where the frogs were last seen. The entire site is surrounded by a two-foot-high aluminum wall. Yellow police-style "Do Not Cross" tape cordons off the half acre. This is because the other side of the fence is scheduled for a real-estate development -- 30,000 people are expected to move into Tradition, a 4,600-acre residential and commercial project, complete with a golf course, gated communities, schools, churches and shopping malls, in the middle of what used to be an International Paper commercial forest. "It's about as bad as you can get," Mr. Johnson says. But there is hope. The project, which is aimed at families and military retirees, is being billed as the first environment-friendly development in the region and even in the United States. The faceoff between real estate developers and frogs is symbolic of what is happening across the American South. With municipalities trying to cope with the effects of unplanned growth, worrying about fragile eco-systems and their inmates is low on their list of priorities. An unprecedented boom has brought people flocking to Harrison County, drawn by jobs at the new casinos, as well as the huge Kessler Air Force base and nearby U.S. Army bases. Some 20 million tourists visit Harrison County each year for the casinos and to sunbathe on the artificial Long Beach that connects Biloxi to Gulfport. In the past decade alone, the population has jumped 30% to nearly 189,000. But with many of the jobs bringing in less than US$500 a week, that means trailer homes are the fastest and cheapest way to provide housing. The fast-growing population means there has been no chance to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with the sprawl. The unplanned growth has also brought problems with sewage and water supplies to the point where wells are being drilled beside septic tanks. So the Tradition development, despite its massive size, is being embraced by Harrison County, which sees it as a model for future development. Local politicians also hail it as a paragon of environmental sensitivity. "This will be a model for Harrison County," says Connie Rocko, of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors. "And it was the gopher frog that brought the Sierra Club to the table." Tradition is unlike any other project in the region -- a single integrated town that will have up to 15,000 homes, ranging in price from US$80,000 to US$250,000-plus. In addition, its developers were prepared to work with environmentalists to protect the frogs, pledging to preserve as much wetland as possible, with less than 10% being lost to roads. The Sierra Club believes people who might otherwise buy trailer homes will be attracted to the lower-priced houses at Tradition. Then there were the frogs. Knowing the development could face a storm of criticism for its handling -- or mishandling -- of the Mississippi Gopher Frog, the developers commissioned a study of the frogs and their pond, at a cost of US$100,000, or US$1,000 a frog. Second, officials arranged to have the National Guard bring in water to the pond last summer when it dried out prematurely, then hired experts to check ph levels, something else the frog is sensitive to. Still there were worries. Environmentalists and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service were concerned the proposed development was too close to the frog pond. So Tradition was re-designed, moving the golf course and houses well away from the pond. Then the environmentalists did a U-turn. Faced by a storm of criticism from members, the Sierra Club withdrew its blessing, at least partially. Now the club wants more protection for the site, saying it is worried about new roads being built to the project. But with work already starting on the development -- the first homes will be ready by the fall -- the scramble is to find other ponds suitable for the gopher frog, Mr. Johnson says. Volunteers are combing the forests or trying to develop an artificial pond nearby, especially because the new highways have isolated the migrating frog from potential breeding sites. Among its other peculiar habits, the Mississippi Gopher Frog likes to travel at night in search of new ponds. What worries Mr. Johnson the most is that the last remaining Mississippi Gopher Frog will end up flattened into the asphalt on a hot Mississippi night. "I'm afraid the frog may be doomed to extinction," he says. "You can't really fight progress."

Eckert Receives Award
Tuesday, September 30, 2003: Calgary, Alberta, Canada - HerpDigest

Endangered sea turtles have their own "conservation ambassador" in Dr. Karen Eckert. For her efforts to bring together nearly 40 governments, the United Nations, and conservationists in the Caribbean region to save sea turtles, Eckert today was named one of six winners of the 49th annual ChevronTexaco Conservation Awards. As executive director of Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), Eckert has created the largest network of sea turtle research and conservation projects in the world. Her ability to find collaborative solutions that balance community needs and marine protection has reversed the decline of sea turtles in the Caribbean region. Today, WIDECAST, based at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in North Carolina, provides a model for community-based marine resource management. "Creating meaningful partnerships is the key to building a future where humans and sea turtles can live together in balance," said Eckert. Under her leadership, WIDECAST has developed alternative livelihoods for communities once dependent on sea turtle harvesting and helped nations collaborate on eliminating poaching and illegal product sales. WIDECAST also trains wildlife officers, protects nesting beaches, conducts research, drafts legislation, sponsors public awareness campaigns, develops guidelines for "sea turtle eco-tourism" and launches grass-roots conservation groups.

For more information, contact:
Camille Costello at 925.842.2583, ccaj@chevrontexaco.com
Peter Bartelme at 925-842-2590, brtp@chevrontexaco.com

Eleuths Invade Hawaii
Friday, February 28, 2003: Modified from HerpDigest - Honolulu Advertiser
Eradicators Concede Big Island To Frogs (Puerto Rican Coquis and Greenhouse Frogs)

Staff Writer J. Hurley

A $10.7 million plan to rid Hawai'i of its increasing numbers of noisy Caribbean frogs is being updated to acknowledge that eradication is no longer possible on the Big Island. "It's sad but true,'' said Mike E. Pitzler, state director of the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services branch. "This might be an animal we're going to have to live with.' 'Pitzler said the Puerto Rican Coqui and its cousin, the Greenhouse Frog, have tripled their range statewide in the past year.

The tiny creatures have found habitats in 2,000 acres across the state. The four-year eradication plan originally was written by Wildlife Services in 2001, but implementation was postponed because of delays in getting money. The plan describes an all-out assault on the frogs, with Wildlife Services joining other state and federal agencies to mobilize an army equipped with sprayers, vehicles and other equipment. The document is being rewritten in hopes of obtaining about a third of the money ($3.5 million) later this year. Much of the plan hasn't changed, Pitzler said, though now it's being referred to merely as a "control plan'' because of the "astronomical'' numbers of frogs on the Big Island. "There are some places on the Big Island where you have to plug your ears because it's so irritating and loud," he said. "You can see why people are distraught.''

Mindy Wilkinson, state invasive species coordinator, said that at last count there were 273 populations of Puerto Rican Coquis on the Big Island, with at least 23 populations on Maui, five on O'ahu and two on Kaua'i. The frogs also have been found at a hotel on Lana'i and in a shipment of plants turned away from Kaunakakai Harbor on Moloka'i, according to Mele Fong of the Maui Invasive Species Committee. Wilkinson said that while eradication is unlikely on the Big Island, there is still hope for the other islands. "But unless people start to get moving, it's going to be hopeless on all the islands,'' she said.

Earl Campbell, Pacific invasive species coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, stressed that safeguards must be maintained at the critical sites on the Big Island to keep the frogs from spreading further in nursery exports. Campbell, who battled the Big Island frogs for nearly five years in his former job with the USDA, said scientists are seeing the impact on the environment. The frogs are preying on native beetles and crickets. More could be done to knock the frog infestations back, Campbell said, but environmental regulations limit the techniques allowed. Under the Wildlife Services plan, readily available citric acid has replaced caffeine as the chemical of choice because of environmental concerns.

Wildlife Services officials are now testing equipment and application techniques as well as working on the environmental documentation necessary to put the frog-control plan into effect. The effort is being paid for with $200,000 obtained through a University of Hawai'i research program. Pitzler said the agency was hoping to eradicate the frogs on Kaua'i, but workers found that the problem was worse than originally believed. The less noisy Greenhouse Frog was discovered on hotel grounds across the island, he said. In their native Puerto Rico, Eleutherodactylus coqui live in densities of up to 8,000 an acre. Females can produce more than 200 eggs a year and reach sexual maturity in just eight months. The Eleutherodactylus planirostris, or Greenhouse Frog, is about half the Puerto Rican Coqui's size. Both species arrived in Hawai'i in plants imported from the Caribbean. It was most likely by hitchhiking in nursery material that the frogs spread from island to island.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Feb/28/ln/ln03a.html/?print=on

Elwood Cryptobranchid Grant
Tuesday, February 01, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 February 2011

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group
JENNIFER ELWOOD HELLBENDER CONSERVATION GRANT

In honor and memory of Dr. Jennifer R. Lorenz-Elwood, noted salamander biologist, with the aid of several donors, CIG has established a monetary grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of hellbenders.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this award. If funding is provided, the awardee(s) is required to recognize the CIG Jennifer Elwood Hellbender Conservation Grant in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its website or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of hellbenders. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards hellbender conservation.

Application Procedure:

1. Use the application from and attached email announcement, download the forms from the CIG website: www.caudata.org/cig, or contact Diane Barber: dbarber@fortworthzoo.org.

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

3. Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

4. Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by

15 February 2011

to Diane Barber: darber@fortworthzoo.org

5. The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 March of the same calendar year.

Submissions that are late, do not follow format, instructions, etc. will not be considered. This grant is only for hellbender related work. The Ron Goellner Conservation Fund Application will be posted in March 2011 and will be made available for all Cryptobranchid work: Japanese Giant Salamander, Chinese Giant Salamander and Hellbender.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 FAX
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Elwood Hellbender Grant
Tuesday, January 13, 2009: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
13 January 2009

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group announces the

JENNIFER ELWOOD HELLBENDER CONSERVATION GRANT

In honor and memory of Jennifer R. Lorenz-Elwood, noted salamander biologist, with the aid of several donors, CIG has established a monetary grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of Hellbenders.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this grant. If funding is provided, the recipient(s) is required to recognize the CIG Jennifer Elwood Hellbender Conservation Grant in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its web site or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of Hellbenders. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards Hellbender conservation.

Application Procedure:

Obtain the application form from Diane Barber at:

dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by 15 February to Diane Barber at:

darber@fortworthzoo.org

The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 March of the same calendar year.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 FAX
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Elwood Hellbender Grant
Thursday, January 14, 2010: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
The Plantation
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
14 January 2010

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group announces the

JENNIFER ELWOOD HELLBENDER CONSERVATION GRANT

for 2010

In honor and memory of Dr. Jennifer R. Lorenz-Elwood, noted salamander biologist, with the aid of several donors, CIG has established a monetary grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of Hellbenders.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this award. If funding is provided, the awardee(s) is required to recognize the CIG Jennifer Elwood Hellbender Conservation Grant in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its website or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of hellbenders. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards Hellbender conservation.

Application Procedure:

1. Download the forms from the CIG website at www.caudata.org/cig, or contact Diane Barber at dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

3. Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

4. Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by 15 February to Diane Barber: darber@fortworthzoo.org

5. The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 March of the same calendar year.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, TX 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 FAX
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Elwood Hellbender Grant
Tuesday, March 30, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 March 2010

ELWOOD CONSERVATION GRANT AWARDED

The Cyrptobranchid Interest Group Steering Committee is pleased to announce that

Matt Kaunert
Allegheny College
Meadville, Pennsylvania

has been awarded $1,000 from the

CIG Jennifer Elwood Conservation Grant

for his proposal “A Historical Assessment of the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) in a Pennsylvania Stream.” Mr. Kaunert will be replicating a population study originally conducted in 1968, which should yield viable data for conservation of Hellbenders in Pennsylvania.

The CIG SC would like to thank all of the applicants for their submissions and wish them the best of luck with their work.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 Fax
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

ESA Endangered
Wednesday, July 25, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 July 2007

Save the Endangered Species Act

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. That's how I felt when an anonymous source leaked me a copy of the draft Bush plan to kill the Endangered Species Act.

The Center had barely finished blocking Congressman Richard Pombo's latest legislative attack and Pombo himself had been driven out of office. I had anticipated a moment to rest, but instead found myself staying up all night to read hundreds of pages of policy proposals. Reporters needed someone to interpret the legalese so they could leap into action. And they needed it by morning.

What I found was astounding. This was the worst attack on the Endangered Species Act in more than 30 years. Bush is planning to rewrite the nation's endangered species policies from top to bottom, ripping the heart out of the Act.

Through late-night scrambling and aggressive media pitching, we won the first round. Angry articles from Miami to Seattle exposed the plan, forcing Bush to go on the defensive. His spokespeople backpedaled as quickly as they could, claiming the draft wasn't current, they didn't really mean to hurt endangered species, etc.

Now, having regrouped, the administration has pledged to release its official proposal. All indications, including the administration's point-by-point response to the Center's analysis, indicate the new proposal will be nearly as bad as the original.

Bush's planned parting gift to the logging, mining, and development industries is to thoroughly trash the entire basis of endangered species law in the United States.

In fact, the timber industry has already tried to use the early draft regulations in court to completely remove all protections for the Marbled Murrelet. The Center intervened and won round two, forcing the industry to withdraw all references to the draft policies. But they will be back in court as soon as the policies are finalized.

We need your help to beat back the rules that would kill endangered species. In particular, we need funds to immediately begin an aggressive media and legal campaign. It's not cheap work. Please go to:

http://actionnetwork.org/ct/Vd_xEb11Vzh-/donate

We need to raise $10,000 in the next month.

We won the first two rounds of this historic battle, but they were just preludes to the real work ahead. If we don't beat Bush back, once and for all, Wolves, Grizzly Bears, Manatees, Sea Turtles, and my current favorite, the West Virginia Northern Fying Squirrel, will all be threatened with extinction.

Kieran Suckling
Co-founder and Policy Director
Center for Biological Diversity
ksuckling@biologicaldiversity.org

Everglades Pythons
Thursday, July 07, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 July 2005

Canine Catches Constrictors

Detection Dog Used to Track Alien Burmese Pythons in Everglades
WPLG (Miami, Florida) 1 July 2005

Miami: A detection dog is sniffing out an unusual problem -- his specialty, Burmese Pythons. Because so many non-native snakes have been released by pet owners in South Florida, the population of [these] snakes is growing, especially in the Everglades.

Now, a one-year-old beagle, nicknamed Python Pete, is hot on the trail of the snakes. Pete's owner and handler is wildlife technician Lori Oberhofer. She bought Pete from a Missouri breeder and had him shipped to Florida. "Beagles are used around the world," Oberhofer said. "They have a great sense of smell."

Oberhofer tests Pete's skills often by dragging snakes in a mesh bag through the grass, leaving a scent trail for Pete to track. "I don't want him to get there before me, [so he is] on a short leash so when he sees a python I [can] see him and I can pull him back," Oberhofer said.

His twice-a-week training sessions should be finished by this winter, when it's expected that Python Pete will be ready to spring into action on a regular basis. Once he finds snakes in the Everglades, they will be removed. From the mid-1990s to 2003, more than 50 Burmese Pythons were caught [in the park]. But with the surge in the snake population, last year alone 61 of the snakes were taken out of the park. The plan is to use Pete around park roads and trails where the snakes are most likely to run into people.

*****

CNAH: We suggest that those wishing to learn more about alien Burmese Pythons in the Everglades consult the book where it was first reported, The Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida (2004, Krieger Publishing, Malabar, Florida. 166 pp.) by Walter E. Meshaka, Jr., Brian P. Butterfield, & J. Brian Hauge.

Extinction Example
Friday, October 27, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 October 2006

EXTINCTION EXAMPLE

While talking about the amphibian extinction crisis at the National Science Teachers Associations annual conference, I was asked a question that I had no real answer for and I now solicit your help.

Can anyone provide an example of one species (of any animal) that, because it has gone extinct, has caused specific, direct, consequences to humankind.

The answer to this question should not have the words (could have, might have, or should have) in it.

Examples:

I know that we "might have" learned a lot from the Gastric Brooding Frog, but because it is now extinct, has humankind really directly suffered? Has the ecological balance been thrown so far out of whack in the area that the animal was from that it became inhospitable for humans to live there? Have people lost their jobs and died because of such extinction?

Or the Passenger Pigeon. Are we as a people now suffering because we caused its extinction?

Or Steller's Sea Cow. We killed it. Did it really change the big picture of human existence?

I just need one example.

Thanks for your time.

Jessi Krebs
Supervisor, Reptiles, Turtles, and Amphibians
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
3701 South 10th Street
Omaha Nebraska 68107
402-738-2043
jkrebs@omahazoo.com

Eyes Enumerated
Wednesday, August 09, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 August 2006

EYES ENUMERATED ELECTRONICALLY

There is a free list of published iris colors for 5,600 species of animals. Most are birds, but amphibian, chelonian, reptilian, and mammalian species are also included. The list was collected for research purposes from many different field guides. It can be accessed at

http://www.irispigmentation.com/

Morgan Worthy
Professor Emeritus
Georgia State University
morganworthy@mac.com
www.irispigmentation.com

Fab Five in Dictionary
Monday, August 04, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 August 2008

New Book
DICTIONARY OF HERPETOLOGY

Dr. Harvey B. Lillywhite
University of Florida

This excellent dictionary contains informative definitions about the five major academic herpetological organizations active today worldwide that are immediately recognizable by their initials. In addition to The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH), these entities include Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), Herpetologist’s League (HL), and the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR).

CNAH is pleased to note that retained in this comprehensive volume are the traditional common name usage and spellings such as Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius), Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis), Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus), and Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). It is very important to use standardized common names; this creates an historical trail through time and maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes of the future.

Published July 2008
Hardback
viii + 376 pages
ISBN 1-57524-023-8
List price: $112.50

Available from:

Krieger Publishing Company
P. O. Box 9542
Melbourne, Florida 32902-9542
http://wwww.krieger-publishing.com

To order this book, call:

1 (800) 724-0025 (toll free Mon-Fri 8am-5pm EST)
1 (321) 724-9542 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm EST)

or email them at

info@krieger-publishing.com

Also available from amazon.com

*****

Fancy Glass Stools
Thursday, August 17, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 August 2006

WHAT DO WE LOSE IF WE LOSE THE FROGS?
by Jeffrey P. Bonner
14 August 2006
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

KINGS PLAY CHESS ON FANCY GLASS STOOLS

Anyone know that sentence? It's a mnemonic device, a shorthand way of remembering the categories scientists use to classify all life on Earth. The first letters of each word are the keys:

KINGDOM, PHYLUM, CLASS, ORDER, FAMILY, GENUS and SPECIES

Now, if I said that half of an entire kingdom was going to become extinct in the next five years -- say, the Animal Kingdom -- there would be widespread global panic. Little wonder, as it would be the end of life on this planet as we know it.

On the other hand, if I told you that we just lost another species, you might shrug your shoulders. You might figure that losing a single species is a little like popping a rivet on an airplane. Planes have oodles of rivets. You wouldn't want to lose too many, and you wouldn't want lose an important one -- like the last rivet holding the wing on. But losing an occasional rivet isn't exactly catastrophic.

Where we have problems is toward the middle of our categories. For example, what if we only lose half a "Class" of animals? A Class isn't as broadly encompassing as a Kingdom or a Phylum, but it takes in a lot more than a species or a Genus. Is losing half a Class a catastrophe, or is it just another popped rivet?

Well, we're about to find out. In the next five to ten years, about half of the different kinds of animals that make up the Class known as amphibians probably will become extinct.

There are about 6,000 known species in the class of amphibians: frogs, toads and salamanders take in most of them. As I write this, 32 percent of those 6,000 are threatened, and another 23 percent are believed to be threatened. (We don't have quite enough data to make the call with absolute certainty.)

Amphibians face many of the same problems that other threatened species face: habitat loss, climate change, pollution and so on. But they also face a unique challenge. There is a fungus, which was born in Africa, that is sweeping our planet. It's called the chytrid fungus, and wherever it arrives, it kills about 80 percent of the amphibians in the area within a year. It is lethal only at certain altitudes, so it won't destroy all of the world's amphibians, but more than half is a pretty conservative estimate.

Scientists working with the St. Louis Zoo just confirmed that it's here in Missouri. The fungus cannot be stopped in the wild. Our only hope is to get to the amphibians before the fungus arrives and bring them into zoos and aquariums for breeding and safe-keeping. The hope is that the fungus subsequently will run its course, after which the animals can be released again. Call it "protective custody."

We do not know what the assault of the chytrid fungus means for the web of life that sustains us. Frogs and their kin are both predators and prey. They are critically important in sustaining the delicate balance of nature. But are they just another rivet or do they keep the wings on the plane?

The skin of amphibians is more permeable than ours -- things pass through it fairly easily -- so they have developed some unique biological strategies to protect themselves. For example, their skin produces a wide variety of substances that kill microbes and viruses.

Last year 14 of these substances, taken from just a handful of different frog species, were tested in a lab; three of the 14 showed a remarkable capacity to completely inhibit HIV infection. I was surprised that a discovery that shows such promise for inhibiting the mucosal transmission of AIDS didn't make the news, but maybe I shouldn't be: The fact that we're going to have some very silent nights on this planet in just a few short years hasn't attracted much attention, either.

Contemplating the silence that will replace the thunderous evening chorus of amphibians' calls is bad enough. Even worse is that with the loss of those species, we will lose so many cures for so many things. And it is worse still to imagine what losing half of the world's species of amphibians may mean as we struggle to keep our living airplane from disintegrating.

When I studied biology in high school, I had a delightful mental image of those Kings Playing Chess while sitting On those Fancy Glass Stools. Now it turns out that we are very much like those kings: idling away our time when we should be responding to a horrible threat to our Kingdom.

It is not too late to save many -- perhaps most, maybe even all -- of the amphibians. They are comparatively easy to find and keep healthy in zoos and aquariums until it's safe to release them back into the wild.

The Saint Louis Zoo, for example, has returned thousands of Puerto Rican Crested Toad tadpoles to the pools of their homeland. We also are working in Ecuador to create a survival center in Quito, and we have teamed up with. other zoos to create a survival center in rural Georgia for amphibians of North America.

And right here, at one of the centers of the zoo's WildCare Institute, we are working to save Missouri's rapidly declining population of Hellbenders.

In this struggle, time is short, and we need your awareness and support. Call us at the St. Louis Zoo, and we'll tell you how you can help.

Jeffrey P. Bonner
President
Saint Louis Zoo
One Government Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
(314) 781-0900 x 221
Toll-free: (800) 966-8877

Field Protocol Plea
Thursday, July 27, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 90
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 July 2006

Herp Field Protocols Needed

I am seeking IACUC approval for instructional (demonstration) activities in field classes (Biology of Terrestrial Vertebrates, Herpetology). In several field laboratories, we visit natural sites, where we catch, observe, and release native (non-venomous) amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. Our IACUC research protocols (one species each) are designed for experimental manipulation. They are not readily amenable to our field activities. There seems to be adequate justification for an "instructional" protocol dealing with more than one species. Would anyone care to share successful protocols for field classes at your institution? Has anyone formulated an acceptable "field" protocol format for your IACUC that includes more than one species? I would very much appreciate receiving a copy (that we might adapt for use here).

David H. Nelson
Department of Biological Sciences
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama 36688
(251) 460-6331
(251) 414-8220 (fax)
dnelson@usouthal.edu

Finding Fungal Frogs
Thursday, October 22, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 October 2009

PROTOCOL FOR THE DETECTION OF CHYTRID FUNGUS USING QUANTITATIVE PCR TECHINQUES

While chytridiomycosis has become a major focus of amphibian research worldwide, few herpetologists have any background in the laboratory techniques necessary to detect the fungus, and training classes are rare. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is the most technologically advanced method of diagnosing chytrid infections, and the ability to perform qPCR in one’s own laboratory would both expedite the processing of samples and decrease the costs incurred by sending samples to private laboratories for diagnosis.

SAVE THE FROGS has now made publicly and freely available a detailed protocol for the detection and quantification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This is the most in-depth protocol of its kind in existence, and can be found, along with accompanying slide show, videos and supplementary materials at:

http://savethefrogs.com/chytrid/qpcr.html

The slide show, videos, webpage, and other materials were developed as part of a free course offered by SAVE THE FROGS and the Herpetological Circle of Panama. The course, entitled "Instruction and application of quantitative PCR molecular techniques for the study of amphibian epidemics," took place at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama City on 5-9 October 2009, and was attended by 25 scientists from Panama, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Amphibian populations in all three countries have experienced severe declines in numbers due to the chytrid fungus. This course was taught in Spanish by SAVE THE FROGS Founder & Executive Director Kerry Kriger, with the valuable assistance of Vicky Flechas of Colombia's Universidad de Los Andes. This course effectively doubled the number of scientists on the planet capable of using quantitative PCR for the diagnosis of amphibian chytrid infections.

For more information, contact:

Kerry Kriger
Founder, Executive Director & Ecologist
SAVE THE FROGS!
P. O. Box 2145
Centreville, Virginia 20122
703-376-7945
kerry@savethefrogs.com

Fitch Tribute Call for Papers
Thursday, October 08, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 October 2009

Call for Papers

A TRIBUTE TO HENRY S. FITCH (1909–2009)

The March 2010 issue of Reptiles & Amphibians (published by the International Reptile Conservation Foundation; http://www.ircf.org) will be devoted to the memory of Henry Fitch, arguably the world’s foremost herpetological natural historian. Dr. Fitch also became concerned and addressed issues related to conservation long before most herpetologists recognized the need to do so. To honor his many contributions, the editors of Reptiles & Amphibians are issuing a call for papers to be featured in the commemorative issue.

We are looking for short manuscripts featuring natural history and/or conservation. The ultimate criterion guiding the editors in the selection of papers will be the assumption that Dr. Fitch presumably would have enjoyed reading them. Because Reptiles & Amphibians employs color throughout, we also ask that contributors supplement their manuscripts with high-quality photographs of their subjects, their habitats, and even people conducting fieldwork related to the project in hand.

We are NOT looking for monographs nor are we looking for manuscripts that are more appropriately published in conventional scientific journals. Instead, we want to publish short papers that emphasize descriptive natural history. Dr. Fitch enjoyed and, on numerous occasions, commented on the value of such notes — and that is the tradition we seek to acknowledge and promote. Because mainstream journals rarely publish such observations or descriptive studies (Herpetological Review and a few regional journals are obvious exceptions), many field biologists accumulate in their field notes a plethora of data that will never see the light of day. Those are the gems we seek in honoring Dr. Fitch.

We impose no taxonomic or geographic restrictions, and will consider manuscripts addressing any herpetofaunal species or community.

Manuscripts and accompanying photographs should be submitted electronically as email attachments to Robert Powell at anolis@swbell.net. If image files are too large to send via e-mail, they may be uploaded to the IRCF website (www.ircf.org/uploadfile.php), but be sure to label the upload as indicated in the instructions provided. Authors should use the style employed in recent issues of Reptiles & Amphibians. For contributors not familiar with the journal, an example will be posted on the IRCF website. Guidelines for photographs also are available at

www.ircf.org/downloads/IRCF%20Photo_Graphic%20Submission%20Guide_R1.pdf

Please direct any inquiries to Dr. Powell at the e-mail address listed above.

Call for Photographs

We wish to illustrate many of the species with which Dr. Fitch worked during his long career. A list of his publications through the mid-1980s is available in Vertebrate Ecology and Systematics: A Tribute to Henry S. Fitch (1984. Richard A. Seigel, Lawrence E. Hunt, James L. Knight, Luis Malaret, and Nancy L. Zuschlag, eds. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 10). Although we are eager to receive any high-quality images, we are particularly interested in vertically oriented photographs of sufficient quality and resolution that they could be printed as full-page inserts (criteria are listed at the URL listed above). Also, as above, if image files are too large to send via e-mail, they may be uploaded to the IRCF website.

Note

Because space in the special issue is limited, if the number of acceptable submissions exceeds our capacity to include them all in the March issue, consideration will be given to publishing additional papers in subsequent issues, in effect extending the tribute to Dr. Fitch through those additional issues.

Fla Chelonians Protected
Wednesday, July 01, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 July 2009

FLORIDA IMPOSES STRICT FRESHWATER TURTLE HARVEST BAN

by Taren Reed

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (AP) -- State wildlife officials on Wednesday imposed one of the nation's strongest measures to protect freshwater turtles in Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted at a meeting in Crystal River to officially adopt a new rule to protect the populations of more than two dozen species. They are considered a delicacy in Asia, where thousands are shipped every year. "This decision may be one of Florida's greatest conservation stories," said Commissioner Brian Yablonski.

The new rule will allow a person to take one turtle a day from the wild for most species. Four species that are not of concern to state scientists received a little less protection. Individuals can take two of those turtles a day.

The state's roughly 28 licensed turtle farms will be allowed to continue collecting some wild species to keep their farms going under a "tightly controlled" permitting process. Scientists say removing large numbers of turtles from the wild, especially adult, egg-laying females, can damage the species' ability to reproduce enough to stay viable. Many of the state's exported turtles come from farms, but it's unclear exactly how many are being plucked from the wild and shipped overseas.

The proposal was supported by Gov. Charlie Crist, but not everyone is pleased. Commercial fisherman Robert Whitting, 45, of Lake Placid, said he could lose up to $10,000 a year in extra income from catching and selling the turtles. "I don't know what I'm going to do now," Whitting said Wednesday. "I'll probably have to move to one of the coasts now and strictly do saltwater commercial fishing." Supporters, however, say the ban was needed to keep the state's turtle populations from collapsing.

The Tucson, Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity, along with other conservation groups, had petitioned twelve states to prohibit commercial turtle harvests. "You've got a global market with a seemingly endless demand for turtles, and states that don't strictly regulate or ban harvests are going to quickly be mined out of turtles," said the center's Jeff Miller.

Several other states also have limitations on freshwater turtle harvests, but Florida's new rule is among the nation's most protective. Oklahoma has enacted a moratorium on harvests from public waters while it studies turtle populations. Texas has banned commercial harvests of freshwater turtles on public land, but still allows the practice on private property. And South Carolina passed a limited bill earlier this year, restricting some harvests.

Until last year, there were some limits on turtle harvests in Florida, and some months during the year when certain species couldn't be caught. However, for Softshells, the most commonly used for food and medicines abroad, the season was only closed from May to July. Outside those months, the harvests were unlimited. Under the new rule, the Softshell season remains closed for those three months.

Received from . . .

Jeff Miller
Conservation Advocate
Center for Biological Diversity
351 California Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, California 94104
Phone: (415) 436-9682 x 303
Fax: (415) 436-9683

At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild plants and animals. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species need to survive. We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.

Flatwoods Salamander Filing
Friday, March 09, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 March 2007

CRITICAL HABITAT PROPOSED FOR FLATWOODS SALAMANDER
by David Adlerstein

A proposal by the federal government to designate approximately 31,428 acres across portions of the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina as critical habitat for the [Frosted] Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) will affect both public and private land in Franklin County.

The salamander, a species already protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, could secure additional protection if the designation goes through, thereby affecting practices of the timber industry. It could also affect such activities as dredging wetlands, disposal of dredged material, release of chemicals into breeding ponds, draining breeding ponds, converting pine flatwoods to developed areas and highway construction.

Cary Norquist, assistant field supervisor of the Jackson (Mississippi) ecological services office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the federal action, comes in the wake of a court order that resulted from a lawsuit filed on April 1, 2005, by the Center for Biological Diversity, Wild South, and Florida Biodiversity Project.

The suit challenged USFWS’s prior decision not to designate critical habitat for the flatwoods salamander by arriving at a "not prudent" filing.

"We felt like there was little benefit in designating critical habitat," she said. "In our experience we really hadn’t seen a lot of additional benefit (by the critical habitat designation) and we were concerned about it affecting our relationship with private landowners.

"We also felt it might harm the species, that by identifying those habitats we may make it vulnerable to collecting," she said.

As a protected species, the salamander is protected against any action that would "jeopardize its continued existence," said Norquist.

When critical habitat is designated, she said, decisions are held to the standard of whether an action " will destroy or adversely modify critical habitat," she said.

"The court has said there is a difference between adverse modification of critical habitation (and being a protected species)," Norquist said. "We haven’t been recognizing that there were two different standards. There’s still some confusion about that and we are still developing policy now."

She said the new critical habitat designation will affected permitting when "you have any kind of federal tie in." This would include any and all projects that are federally funded or authorized or sponsored by a federal agency, including wetlands permitting by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers.

"I can’t really tell you what the difference is going to be; it’s going to be reviewed on a case by case basis," she said. "There’s a lighter trigger perhaps for the adverse modification (standard).

"We always work with these folks," she added. "We would work with them and help develop a plan, a recommended burning regimen, or for these areas where the breeding ponds are, we put a buffer on it. We work with private landowners where they can do what they need to do and still preserve the species."

Twelve proposed critical habitat units are located within 11 counties in Florida, two counties in Georgia, and three counties in South Carolina.They include 23,459 acres in federal ownership, 1,138 acres in state ownership, 43 acres in local government ownership, and 6,788 acres in private ownership.

Approximately 11,774 acres that did not meet the definition of critical habitat are proposed for exclusion from the designation. Of these acres, 9,867 acres are military lands with Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans, and 1,907 acres are lands within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge that has an approved Comprehensive Conservation Plan.

A portion of the total lands, Unit FL–9, is comprised of 11 subunits encompassing 23,073 acres in Liberty and Franklin counties. Most of the subunits are comprised primarily of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land lying within the Apalachicola National Forest.

Subunit A of these lands, encompasses 162 acres on private land in Liberty County, east of Hwy. 12 near Estiffanulga.

Subunits B Through K of these lands are comprised of 22,911 acres , most of which is USFS land in the Apalachicola National Forest in Liberty and Franklin counties. Of this total, just 46 acres are under state management, and 1,137 acres are in private ownership.

Unit FL-10 encompasses 162 acres on Tate’s Hell State Forest (managed by the State of Florida’s Division of Forestry) in Franklin County.

Flatwoods salamanders are moderately-sized salamanders that are generally black to chocolate-black with fine, irregular, light gray lines and specks that form a cross-banded pattern across their backs. Adults are terrestrial and live underground most of the year. They breed in relatively small, isolated ephemeral ponds where the larvae develop until metamorphosis. Mature salamanders migrate out of the ponds and into uplands where they live until they move back to ponds to breed as adults.

Flatwoods salamanders are endemic to the lower Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains where they occur in what were historically longleaf pine-wiregrass flatwoods and savannas. Their habitat has been reduced to less than 20 percent of its original extent. Surviving populations of flatwoods salamanders are small, localized, and highly vulnerable to habitat destruction, deterioration, and fragmentation.

A final decision on designating critical habitat will consider all comments and information received by April 9, 2007.

The complete proposal appears in the Federal Register and can be found at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-470.pdf. You may also access the Federal Register notice at

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/hotissues/

A copy also can be obtained by contacting Connie Light Dickard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 39213; phone 601-321-1121.

Florida Exotic Herp Update
Thursday, October 12, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 October 2006

AN UPDATE ON THE LIST OF FLORIDA'S EXOTIC AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SPECIES
Walter E. Meshaka, Jr.
2006. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 19: 16-17.

Abstract: The herpetofauna of Florida is rich and faces many pressing conservation challenges, one of which is exotic species (Meshaka and Babbitt, 2005). The most recent comprehensive treatment of Florida’s exotic herpetofauna listed 40 species as established (Meshaka et al., 2004). Of these, most of the species were lizards (N = 32), especially anoles and geckos, followed by anurans (N = 4), snakes (N = 2), turtles (N = 1), and crocodilians (N = 1). Since publication of that volume, five more exotic lizard species have been reported in Florida. Herein, I summarize these publications in chronological order and relate them to the taxonomic and life history patterns associated with the previous 40 species.

*****

This article can be viewed or downloaded at the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Florida Herp Conservation
Wednesday, December 07, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 December 2005

Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment can Curb Habitat Destruction

Please support our efforts to help save what's left of wild Florida. Our campaign is at a crossroads. Please help us by supporting our petitioning campaign with a donation from your organization. Every dollar donated is going to pay for signature collections . . . it is SO difficult to get an issue on the state ballot . . . our collections total 32,000 so far and we HAVE to get 61,100 petitions by February 1 to qualify for review or FHD probably won't make it onto the 2008 ballot.

Lesley Blackner

*****

The following article may be compelling to those interested in stopping habitat destruction in Florida:
WAKE UP, FLORIDIANS, TO THIS COLD-BLOODED KILLING

Michael Browning
michael_browning@pbpost.com
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/

It is as if the results of the sixth day of Creation, when God made "every thing that creepeth upon the earth," were being canceled out, erased around the edges. Hordes of new people are putting some of Florida's humblest residents to flight, wiping them out in hundreds of thousands, a new book reports.

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES: STATUS AND CONSERVATION IN FLORIDA, a just-published scientific survey edited by Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. and Kimberly J. Babbitt, paints a gloomy picture of what is happening to the state's "herpetofauna," those cool-blooded wriggling things that flourished here thousands of years before we showed up.

Crushed beneath our car wheels, buried by our bulldozers, poisoned by our insecticides and fertilizers, chased from our new back yards and patios as obnoxious pests, eaten alive by exotic red ants, over-collected by egotistical pet owners, Florida's snakes, turtles, frogs, lizards and salamanders face a future that is getting grimmer and narrower year by year.

"Florida has a greater biodiversity of reptiles than any place on the North American continent, just a wonderful diversity of creatures," said Bruce Means, executive director of the Coastal Plains Institute and one of the contributors to the book.

"Unfortunately they are under assault from wildly burgeoning human masses. I've been doing this for 44 years, and I've seen species like the Southern Dusky Salamander just disappear. I am not optimistic about the future at all."

A collection of articles by scientists who are experts in their field, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES: STATUS AND CONSERVATION IN FLORIDA speaks openly of "persecution" and "extirpation," of some reptiles, particularly Box Turtles, Gopher Tortoises and Common Kingsnakes. Scientific abbreviations like "DOR" stand for "Dead on Road," and mean the myriad squashings of frogs, lizards, turtles and snakes beneath our chariot wheels. Some roads, like U.S. 441 across Payne's Prairie in Alachua County, and the Tamiami Trail that runs across Florida from Miami to Tampa, are virtual abattoirs, greased with the gory little bodies of "anurans," as frogs and toads are called scientifically. "On Aug. 5, 1991 I stopped counting after 10,000," biologist Jim Weimer said in a 1996 interview, describing a single night on U.S. 441 across Payne's Prairie. "This was just one night. On May 2, 1991, there were over 5,000 Southern Leopard Frogs killed."

Florida is growing by leaps and bounds. The population is already above 15.3 million and expected to reach 25 million over the next quarter-century. Every hour, 28 new people come to live in Florida, averaged annually. Every hour. There are billions to be made here, in development. "But at what price?" Meshaka and Babbitt ask in their introduction. "Drives to work are unbearable, and one must drive farther and farther to see nature . . . as space runs out, agriculture is now giving way to human development, the borders of which stand cheek to jowl with every major wetland, upland, and estuarine system in the state."

The condition of Florida's herpetofauna has become "drastically unrecognizable" from what it was 50 years ago. In short, these little frogs, snakes, lizards, salamanders, turtles and tortoises are behaving like croaking, slithering, wriggling, plodding-footed, extremely stressed little canaries in a sunny coal mine. Their deaths are hastening the day when Florida, the richest habitat in America for mammals, birds, reptiles, turtles, crocodilians and amphibians, will be little more than a sterile monoculture, a "habitat for humanity" alone.

For richer, for poorer.

The report teems with figures and charts. It is interesting to learn that, enormous as Palm Beach County is, it is not the most biodiverse county in Florida when it comes to herpetofauna. That honor goes to little Franklin County, southwest of Tallahassee in the Big Bend, with 99 native amphibian, turtle, crocodilian and reptile species. Nearby Liberty County is second, with 98, and Santa Rosa County has 97. Palm Beach County, by contrast, has only 69, Martin 44 and St. Lucie 46 species. The least biodiverse place in Florida, when it comes to these creatures, is DeSoto County, just east of Charlotte County near Florida's lower west coast.

We have four native salamander species here, along with 14 native frogs and toads, eight native lizards, 14 kinds of native turtles, 28 native snakes and one crocodilian, the Florida alligator. Palm Beach County is fairly snaky, still. Only 11 counties in the state have more species of snakes than we do.

If you want to grasp the dizzying reach of these creatures' antiquity, consider the lowly [Eastern] Box Turtle. It has been in Florida since the Pliocene Era, which began five million years ago. There are at least three subspecies here, and one island, Egmont Key, off Tampa Bay, used to have so many of them it recalls the time when early 18th-century French explorers in the Gulf referred to all of America as "L'Ile aux Tortues," the Isle of Turtles. Egmont Key became a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974 but it is being eroded and lacks the funds to afford more than a single caretaker. The Box Turtle is generally thought of as "common" in Florida but this report suggests it may not be nearly as common as supposed.

The fate of the Gopher Tortoise is even more dire. This slow-moving creature lives in burrows on sandy uplands, the very sort of land most prized by developers. Bulldozers often entomb the hapless tortoises alive. Thanks to their slow metabolism, they may linger for months underground before dying of thirst and hunger. As many as 68,000 Gopher Tortoises have been killed in Florida over the past 12 years, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission figures, in order to make room for roads, houses, malls, and golf courses. "Current Gopher Tortoise regulations and conservation measures appear to be inadequate to sustain the species in Florida through the next century," writes Ray E. Ashton Jr. in the new report.

The grimmest article of all in the new book is "The Decline and Extirpation of the Kingsnake in Florida," by Kenneth L. Krysko and Daniel J. Smith. The Common Kingsnake is a magnificent creature, coming in several colors, harmless, beautiful and sweet-tempered and therefore much sought-after by collectors, who pay up to $300 for one. Traffic and drainage along the infamous U.S. 441 across Payne's Prairie practically wiped out the snake in the 1960s. By 1977 not a single Common Kingsnake could be found there. Collectors captured practically all the Common Kingsnakes along the Tamiami Trail west of Miami by 1995. Franklin County used to abound with them. A survey in 2000 found a single specimen, mortally wounded on a highway. At present the only large population of Common Kingsnakes lies around and to the west of Lake Okeechobee. Non-native fire ants are busily killing off these refugees.

More grim statistics:

More than 77,590 American Alligators have been killed as "nuisances" because they invaded Florida back yards since 1977; the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission now fields about 5,000 calls each year from alarmed homeowners. The state lets private trappers dispose of them, and their meat and hides were worth nearly $3 million in 1999.

The pet industry is thriving at the expense of wildlife. One Florida collector caught 4,194 Southern Cricket Frogs and sold them over a two-year period. Turtles are captured and sold at the rate of up to 5,663 a year. Rattlesnakes are sought-after for their skins, meat and gallbladders, which are used in Chinese traditional medicine. About 20,000 snakes of all species are removed from the wild annually to be sold as pets.

The legendary Ross Allen of Silver Springs was one of the biggest entrepreneurs. Jolly old Ross Allen was a hero to countless children and Boy Scouts in the 1950s and 1960s. They loved watching him handle snakes fearlessly, and were thrilled to hear how many times he had been bitten by rattlers and survived. They didn't know Allen was in the snake trade up to his neck. Over a five-year period Allen bought and sold 6,858 [Eastern] Rat Snakes alone, the new report says. Allen regarded the woods of central Florida as a kind of infinite piggybank of valuable snakes.

The figures in the new book are devastating. From 1990 to 1994, collectors captured and sold 5,683 salamanders, 88,096 frogs and toads, 17,627 turtles, 189,712 lizards, and 85,311 snakes of all species. Eighty percent of the lizards, 76 percent of the snakes, 50 percent of the turtles and 27 percent of the lizards came from Lake Okeechobee south. This is just the legal, reported trade.

There are some bright spots in the report. American Alligators are thriving, even getting larger. The average "nuisance" Alligator hide now measures 7.3 feet in length. And there are 1.26 million acres of state-protected land in Florida, off-limits to development.

But, say Meshaka and Babbitt, it's time to look at the future with clear eyes. These little reptiles, turtles, and amphibians can't speak, no matter what the Bible says about the "voice of the turtle" being heard in the land. But they are trying to tell us something, the scientists declare: "Rather than just waving our arms to attempt to slow the rate of human growth and habitat alteration, we should anticipate the worst and develop plans that have the potential to maintain current levels of biodiversity."

*****

Please download and SIGN THE PETITION from our website at:

http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/

Florida Herp List Online
Friday, February 26, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
26 February 2010

Now available

FLORIDA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Florida is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Florida web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes (and their citations) will, however, be immediately accessible through the Florida checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list. Access the Florida checklist directly at

http://www.cnah.org/state_nameslist.asp?state_id=9

Most importantly, Florida joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

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To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

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Florida SWG Program
Monday, October 10, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 October 2005

Florida Announces Two Opportunities for Wildlife Grants

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Florida State Wildlife Grants Program

As part of Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program. This is a federally-funded matching grants program, which provides financial support for projects that address conservation needs identified in Florida's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Funded projects typically address conservation of multiple-species or habitats. Visit the Florida State Wildlife Grants Program web site for application and submission instructions:

http://myfwc.com/wildlifelegacy/grantfunding.html

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Nongame Wildlife Grants Program

The Nongame Wildlife Grants Program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provides competitive grants for research, management, and education projects that benefit the state’s nongame wildlife species. Projects must include a clear, specific description of the anticipated benefits to nongame species in Florida. Visit the Nongame Wildlife Grants Program web site at

http://research.myfwc.com/nongame_grants

for program details including eligibility requirements and application instructions.

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Applications for both are due 11 November 2005.

Florida Turtles Forever
Wednesday, January 14, 2009: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
14 January 2009

URGENT E-MAILS NEEDED FOR FLORIDA CONSERVATION (INCLUDING TURTLES)

Because of economic problems, Florida legislators are proposing an immediate suspension of one of the world’s most important land protection programs. The "Florida Forever" program is the largest conservation land acquisition program in the United States; coupled with its predecessors, it has been instrumental in protecting millions of acres of habitat for one of the world’s richest turtle faunas. It is vital to keep this program alive. Please email Florida Governor Charlie Crist as soon as you receive this and urge him to "Please save Florida Forever" (you can use this as the Subject Line; your text can be very short). Florida’s turtles will thank you. Send your email immediately to:

Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

Thank you.

Dale R. Jackson
djackson@fnai.org

Florida Water Snake
Friday, April 01, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 38
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 April 2005

Tissue Samples Needed for Genetic Study of Florida Water Snake

I am requesting tissue samples for the Florida Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata pictiventris, or related subspecies to help establish heterozygosity estimates for newly developed microsatellite loci in this subspecies. These markers will prove useful for future research on Nerodia fasciata, and potentially other closely related species. Blood or tissue are preferred, but scale clippings in 95% ETOH would also be useful. Formalin fixed samples cannot be used. Collection methods will have to comply with our current IACUC protocol.

We can provide collecting supplies for anyone who may be able to assist.

For further information, please contact:

Taylor Edwards
Research Specialist
Genomic Analysis and Technology Core
University of Arizona
Biological Sciences West, room 246
1041 E. Lowell
Tucson, Arizona 85721
taylore@u.arizona.edu
(520) 261-9791

Fluorescent Froglets
Wednesday, January 03, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 109
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 January 2007

Recently, I ran across an article regarding a study on froglet dispersal from a pond, in which the researchers used fluorescent powder to dip the froglets and then tracked them for up to five days before the powder was washed off by rain. I have searched through the most recent issues of Journal of Herpetology and Herpetological Review, but cannot find it (it isn’t the Rittenhouse, Altnether, Semlitsch article in Herp Review 37 (2), 2006). If anyone knows of this reference I would much appreciate hearing from them. Thanks in advance.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 Fax
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Frog Burned in California
Saturday, March 27, 2004: Idyllwild, California - Environmental News Service
Four Fragile Species Burned By 2003 California Fires (including The Southern California Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog

The Center for Biological Diversity released a report Tuesday analyzing the potential regional effects of the October 2003 southern California wildfires on four species listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Two birds - the coastal California gnatcatcher and the least Bell's vireo - the Quino checkerspot butterfly, and the southern California mountain yellow-legged frog have U. S. ranges restricted to southwestern California, and their habitats were all impacted by the recent fires. The report also calls for federal, state, and local agencies to conduct supplemental environmental review of projects that may impact these species because baseline conditions have changed as a result of the fires. In October 2003, more than a dozen wildfires swept across southern California, burning over 740,000 acres. About 95 percent of the fire burned in chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Government agencies often assess local impacts of individual fires on species of concern, but no data were available about the cumulative impacts of all the fires on these species. The proliferation of extremely large development projects and regional permits authorizing significant amounts of "take" of these species in southern California, prompted the Center to conduct the analysis of the potential regional impacts of the fires. The Center used data provided by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Game to analyze the potential effects of the 2003 wildfires on known locations, modeled habitat, and designated critical habitat for each species throughout its range. The results indicate that wildfires burned 19 percent of critical habitat and 27 percent of known locations of the Quino checkerspot butterfly; 12 percent of modeled habitat for mountain yellow-legged frog; 4 percent of known locations, 16 percent of critical habitat, and 28 percent of modeled habitat for the California gnatcatcher; and three percent of critical habitat and two percent of modeled habitat for least Bell's vireo. "We recognize that fire is a natural and important ecological disturbance in southern California," said Monica Bond, Center biologist and primary author of the report. "However, burned habitat can be rendered temporarily unsuitable for these species until vegetation re-grows. The information in the report can be used as a starting point to re-evaluate the baseline conditions for these species in the wake of the 2003 fires." U. S. Geological Survey research indicates that past fire suppression and fuel buildup are not responsible for chaparral fires because extensive fires are the norm in these habitat types, although humans are responsible for most ignitions and have increased fire frequency over the past century. While fire is natural and inevitable in southern California, the Center says developers must be responsible for siting and designing development projects to protect human communities from fire. "The federal and state wildlife agencies must consider the local and landscape level effects of the fires when determining the cumulative impacts of current and future development projects and large scale habitat conservation plans in the region," said Kassie Siegel, an attorney for the Center. The Center suggests that avoiding development in fire-prone areas, using fire resistant building design, and providing defensible space around communities are the measures most effective at preventing loss of homes and human life.

Frog Call Recorder
Thursday, October 06, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 61
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 October 2005

Recorder for Frog Calls

Does anyone know of a good tape recorder to buy for recording frog calls. Preferably something I can afford, and that can record at a good enough quality to actually try and compare calls and analyse them. I heard about recorders that fit onto an ipod, which means you can record as much as you like and it saves the cost of a base unit. Does anyone know if they are good enough for frog calls, or only for human voices?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

M. Firoz Ahmed, MSc
Wildlife Biologist & Conservation Educator
65, Udayachal Path, Christian Basti
Guwahati-781005, Assam, India
firozahmed@sancharnet.in
http:// www.aaranyak.org

Frog Dip Detects Fungus
Friday, February 07, 2003: Australia - Kendall Powell, Nature Magazine
Alex Hyatt of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia has developed a frog dip that helps detect the often-lethal, skin-borne chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which causes widespread frog decline in the Americas, Europe, and Australia by disrupting breathing and water absorption, and maybe secreting a toxin. Aside from frogs, the fungus infects toads and salamanders in the Americas, New Zealand and Europe. It first reached Australia in 1993, is now known to occur in 30 frog species and may have contributed to the extinction of six Australian species. The 15-minute dip is a harmless mix of water and salts that washes the frog's skin. The dip is then tested for the fungus using antibodies or genetic testing. This procedure should eliminate the old sampling method of toe clipping and can be used to non-invasively screen amphibian shipments for lab trade.

http://www.nature.com/nsu/030203/030203-11.html

Frog Frustration Expedited
Thursday, June 28, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 June 2007

Protection of Highly Endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Delayed Again
Species Protection Waiting List Still Growing: Not a Single New Species Has Been Protected in More Than a Year

San Francisco, California: In response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Rivers Council, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today published a “warranted but precluded” decision, agreeing with conservationists that the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) deserves listing as an endangered species, but claiming listing is made impossible by “expeditious progress” on the listing of other species. This is the same decision the agency made more than four years ago, which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals determined it had failed to sufficiently support.

"This decision is obviously a political and callous delaying tactic that is a recipe for extinction of the frog," said Jeff Miller, spokesperson for the Center for Biological Diversity. “Given that the Fish and Wildlife Service has not protected a single species in over a year, their claim that protection of the frog is precluded by other listings falls flat.”

The last species protected by the Fish and Wildlife Service were 12 Hawaiian picture-wing flies listed in a single rule on May 9, 2006. Overall, the Bush administration has listed fewer species under the Endangered Species Act than any other administration since the law was enacted in 1973, to date only listing 58 species compared to 512 under the Clinton administration and 234 under the first Bush administration. Since 2001, the number of species designated as “warranted but precluded” and included on the Fish and Wildlife Service's list of candidate species has grown from 252 to 279 species. At least 25 species have gone extinct on this waiting list after being recognized as candidates for protection.

“The Bush administration has closed the doors on the nation's endangered species,” said Noah Greenwald, conservation biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “If the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog and literally hundreds of other species don't receive the effective protections of the Endangered Species Act, we will lose them forever.”

Noting the frog survives in as little as 10 percent of its original range in the Sierra Nevada, Deanna Spooner of the Pacific Rivers Council wondered: “How much more endangered does a species have to become before the Fish and Wildlife Service will take action? The intent of the Endangered Species Act is being subverted through administrative delay, sentencing the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog and other species in need of immediate protection to extinction through inaction.”

Background

The Mountain Yellow-legged Frog was historically the most abundant frog in the Sierra Nevada, ranging from southern Plumas County to southern Tulare County at elevations mostly above 6,000 feet. In 1959, David Wake, a herpetologist with the U.C. Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, reported so many of the frogs near Tioga Pass that "[i]t was difficult to walk without stepping on them." Surveys 30 years later revealed the frogs were gone.

The Service acknowledges that the frog has disappeared from the vast majority of known historical locations in the Sierra Nevada and that many of the largest populations have completely crashed in recent years; one of the largest remaining populations containing more than 2,000 adult frogs in 1996 had been reduced to only two frogs by 1999. Particularly disturbing are recent frog surveys in relatively pristine areas of the Sierra Nevada, in the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park, that revealed an alarming decline of more than 40 percent in the last five to seven years alone. At this rate of decline, scientists are predicting the frog will become completely extinct in the Sierra within decades.

The species is thought to be declining primarily due to predation by nonnative trout, stocked in many high-elevation Sierra lakes by the California Department of Fish and Game, which prey upon tadpoles and juvenile frogs. Other causes include habitat degradation due to livestock grazing and the impacts of drought and environmental changes caused by global warming. Disease has ravaged many frog populations recently; factors such as pesticides, acid precipitation, and increased ultraviolet radiation as a result of ozone depletion likely render frogs much more susceptible to disease. Recent research has linked pesticides that drift from agricultural areas in the Central Valley and other airborne chemical pollutants to adverse impacts to native amphibians in the Sierra Nevada; pollutants can directly kill amphibians, interrupt breeding and feeding activity and larval development, and also act as environmental stressors, which render amphibians more susceptible to disease.

The Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Rivers Council submitted a formal petition to list the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog in February 2000 and subsequently filed suit in May 2001 to compel the service to respond to the listing petition. In December 2001 the Service was ordered by the Northern District Court to make a final listing determination for the species, resulting in the first “warranted but precluded” determination in January 2003.

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Jeff Miller
Conservation Advocate
Center for Biological Diversity
1095 Market Street, Suite 511
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 436-9682 x303
jmiller@biologicaldiversity.org Contacts: Jeff Miller (510) 499-9185 Noah Greenwald (503) 484-7495 Deanna Spooner (541) 345-0119

Frog Fundraiser
Tuesday, August 07, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 August 2007

FUNDRAISER BY MINNEAPOLIS FOOD FORUM FOR FROGS (AND PAUL)

In May of this year, Paul Wotzka, a hydrologist who worked 16 years for the state of Minnesota, was fired from his job after being barred from testifying at a legislative committee about the levels of the herbicide Atrazine in our state's waters. You can learn more about Paul Wotzka at these two sites:

http://looncommons.org/2007/06/18/another-pca-whistleblower-suit/

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_171123618.html

Atrazine is widely believed by the international scientific community to be dangerous, specifically for its endocrine disruption effects on amphibians, and is banned by the European Union. Atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide in Minnesota waters, and has even been found in the city of Minneapolis storm sewers.

The Eastside Food Co-op's monthly Food Forum on October 10th will be co-hosted by Land Stewardship Project and will serve as a fundraiser for Paul Wotzka and his whistle-blower lawsuit. The fundraiser will be held at the newly renovated Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis. Dr. Tyrone Hayes, Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California Berkeley, has agreed to attend and speak. Dr. Hayes is the leading expert on the dangers of Atrazine. You can learn about what he has come up against speaking about Atrazine, the environment, animal and human health, and the corporate bottom line here:

http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2003/Syngenta-Tyrone-Hayes31oct03.htm

After presentations by Dr. Hayes and Paul Wotzka, there will be a question and answer panel with Hayes, Wotkza, Minnesota State Senator John Marty, and special guests. There will also be a silent auction for gift certificates from the most sustainable-green and righteous-minded chefs from the finest restaurants in the Twin Cities. The Ritz Theater is located at 345 - 13th Ave in NE Minneapolis. Doors open at 6:15 with Paul Metsa performing from 6:30 to 7:00 pm, when the presentations will commence. Come and hear for yourself what our government has tried to suppress. The suggested donation is $20.00, but no one will be turned away from hearing this important information. If you cannot attend but would like to support Paul Wotzka, donations can be made out to the Paul Wotzka Defense Fund and sent to:

Eastside Food Co-op
Attn: Kristina Gronquist
2551 Central Avenue NE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418

We hope you will stand up with us for frogs, water, Paul Wotzka, and all people.

Tom Taylor
Eastside Food Co-op
2551 Central Avenue NE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418
tom@organicconsumers.org

Frog Fungal Infections
Thursday, April 23, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 172
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 April 2009

FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN FROGS

I need information about U.S. organizations or programs that are working on Chytrid fungal infections in amphibians. I require some basic information regarding documentation of infected areas as well as some place to send suspect specimens for biopsy. I work at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in far west Texas and we occasionally have spring die-offs of Leopard Frogs. I had attributed this to sudden cold snaps and pond freeze-over, but am now beginning to suspect something more insidious.

Gordon L. Bell, Jr.
Geologist
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
400 Pine Canyon Drive
Salt Flat, Texas 79847
(915) 828-3251 x 249
Fax: (915) 828-3269
gorden_bell@nps.gov

Frog Sweat Blocks HIV
Thursday, October 27, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 October 2005

Frog Secretions Block HIV Infections

Leigh MacMillan

A new weapon in the battle against HIV may come from an unusual source –- tropical frogs. Investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered that compounds secreted by frog skin are potent blockers of HIV infection.

The findings, reported this month in the Journal of Virology, could lead to topical treatments for preventing HIV transmission and reinforce the value of preserving the Earth’s biodiversity.

"We need to protect these species long enough for us to understand their medicinal cabinet," says Louise A. Rollins-Smith, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, who has been studying the antimicrobial defenses of frogs for about six years. Frogs, she explains, have specialized granular glands in the skin that produce and store packets of peptides, small protein-like molecules. In response to skin injury or alarm, the frog secretes large amounts of these antimicrobial peptides onto the surface of the skin to combat pathogens like bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Rollins-Smith happens to have the laboratory next door to Derya Unutmaz, associate professor of microbiology and immunology. During a hallway chat one day, the two decided it would be interesting to investigate whether any frog peptides have activity against human viruses, specifically HIV, the focus of Unutmaz’s group.

Postdoctoral fellow Scott E. VanCompernolle screened 15 antimicrobial peptides from a variety of frog species for their ability to block HIV infection of T cells, immune system cells targeted by HIV. He found several that inhibited HIV infection without harming the T cells. The Australian Red-eyed Treefrog, Litoria chloris, had the highest levels of peptides that block HIV infection of all species that the researchers tested. The peptides appear to selectively kill the virus, perhaps by inserting themselves into the HIV outer membrane envelope and creating "holes" that cause the virus particle to fall apart, Unutmaz said.

"We like to call these peptides WMDs –- weapons of membrane destruction," Unutmaz quips. It is curious that the antimicrobial peptides do not harm the T cells at concentrations that are effective against the virus, he notes, since HIV’s outer membrane is derived from, and therefore essentially identical to, the cellular membrane. The investigators have proposed that the peptides act selectively on the virus in part because of its small size relative to cells.

The ability of the peptides to destroy HIV was enticing, but to be really effective as antimicrobial agents, they need to prevent transmission of HIV from dendritic cells to T cells, Unutmaz said. Dendritic cells, he explains, are the sentinels of the immune system. They hang out in the mucus-generating surface tissues, scanning for invading pathogens. "Their purpose in life is to capture the enemy, bring it to the lymph node – the command center – and present it to the general, the T cell, to activate a battle plan," Unutmaz says. "It’s a very efficient system that has allowed us to survive many insults, pathogens, and viruses."

But HIV is a wily foe. When it is picked up at the mucosal surface by a sentinel dendritic cell, it somehow evades destruction. Instead, it hides inside the cell, waiting to invade the T cell with a Trojan Horse-like mechanism. The ability of HIV to remain hidden in the dendritic cell, avoiding destruction by circulating antibodies and immune system cells, "may explain why after 20 years we don’t have a vaccine for this virus," Unutmaz says.

To test the effectiveness of the frog peptides in preventing HIV transmission, VanCompernolle first allowed cultured dendritic cells to capture active HIV. He then incubated the HIV-harboring dendritic cells with antimicrobial peptides, washed the peptides away, and added T cells. "Normally the dendritic cell passes the virus to the T cell, and we get very efficient infection of the T cell," Unutmaz says. "But when we treated the dendritic cells with peptides, the virus was gone, completely gone. This was a great surprise."

The finding was puzzling, he explains, since the prevailing notion is that HIV captured by dendritic cells is hidden and protected. The investigators currently are using imaging technologies to test the hypothesis that HIV is actually cycling to the dendritic cell surface. "We think maybe it’s popping its head out, looking around for a T cell, and then going back inside to hide until it cycles out again," Unutmaz said. If peptide is present outside the cell, "it targets the virus that pops up and kills it." Preliminary experiments suggest that the hypothesis is correct. "This is very exciting, as it suggests that these peptides could be very effective since the virus now has nowhere to hide," Unutmaz says. "And if this cycling is really happening, we may be able to generate a vaccine that will target virus captured by dendritic cells."

The frog peptides are an exceptional tool for probing "what the virus knows about the dendritic cell that we don’t know," Unutmaz added. "How does HIV manage to survive and cycle back and forth to the cell membrane? If we can understand that, we’ll find the gaps, and that will open a whole new universe of targets for intervention."

The investigators learned this week that the American Foundation for AIDS Research will fund their continuing quest to understand how the frog peptides kill HIV in dendritic cells. Their plans include imaging how the peptides work, screening additional frog peptides for activity, and testing peptides on a mucosal cell system to study the feasibility of developing them as prophylactics against HIV infection.

"If we are able to learn the mechanisms these peptides are using to kill HIV, it might be possible to make small chemical molecules that achieve the same results," Unutmaz says. Such chemicals would be more practical as therapeutic microbicides.

"This study is a great example of how collaboration across disciplines leads to big discoveries," Unutmaz says. Other members of the department of microbiology and immunology assisted the investigators by providing viruses for testing. The team found that membrane-coated viruses were susceptible to destruction by the frog peptides, but non-coated viruses, such as reovirus and adenovirus, were not affected.

R. Jeffery Taylor, Kyra Oswald-Richter, Jiyang Jiang, Bryan E Youree, Christopher R. Aiken and Terence S. Dermody at Vanderbilt are co-authors of the study. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Elizabeth B. Lamb Center for Pediatric Research, and the National Science Foundation.

CNAH Note: Thanks to Dr. David M. Hillis, University of Texas, Austin, for alerting us to this research news release.

Frog Toe Disk Measurements
Friday, January 14, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 22
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 January 2005

Frog Toe Disk Measurements

I am a graduate student at Marshall University under the guidance of Dr. Thomas K. Pauley. My thesis research involves working with the Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) and have a couple of queries: 1) if anyone has used frog loggers in the past and, if so, do you have a preference for any particular one? and 2) could anyone advise me of any pertinent information when it comes to measuring frog toe disks? Thank you in advance.

Jaime Sias
Graduate Student
Marshall University
Biological Sciences
1 John Marshall Drive
Huntington, West Virginia 25755
304.617.7621
304.525.4956
sias5@yahoo.com

Fungal Fate for Frogs
Wednesday, February 08, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 February 2006

WARMING TIED TO EXTINCTION OF FROG SPECIES

by Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer

Rising temperatures are responsible for pushing dozens of frog species over the brink of extinction in the past three decades, according to findings being reported today by a team of Latin American and U.S. scientists.

The study, published in the journal Nature, provides compelling evidence that climate change has already helped wipe out a slew of species and could spur more extinctions and the spread of diseases worldwide. It also helps solve the international mystery of why amphibians around the globe have been vanishing from their usual habitats over the past quarter-century -- as many as 112 species have disappeared since 1980. Scientists have speculated that rising temperatures and changing weather patterns could endanger the survival of many species, but the new study documents for the first time a direct correlation between global warming and the disappearance of around 65 amphibian species in Central and South America.

The fate of amphibians -- whose permeable skin makes them sensitive to environmental changes -- is seen by scientists as a possible harbinger of global warming's effects. Rising temperatures are threatening the survival of flora and fauna worldwide, including coral reefs in the Caribbean, which serve as critical fish nurseries, and South African rhododendrons, which cannot move to a cooler climate. J. Alan Pounds -- the resident scientist at the Tropical Science Center's Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in Costa Rica and the study's lead author -- worked with 13 other researchers to pin down the link between rising tropical temperatures and the spread of the deadly chytrid fungus that has wiped out dozens of species of harlequin frogs in recent years.

"Disease is the bullet killing frogs, but climate change is pulling the trigger," Pounds said. "Global warming is wreaking havoc on amphibians and will cause staggering losses of biodiversity if we don't do something first."

The paper helps explain how global warming has allowed the chytrid fungus -- which kills frogs by growing on their skin and attacking their epidermis and teeth, as well as by releasing a toxin -- to thrive in Costa Rica and neighboring countries. The higher temperatures result in more water vapor in the air, which in turn forms a cloud cover that leads to cooler days and warmer nights. These conditions favor the fungus, which grows and reproduces best at temperatures between 63 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

At least 110 species of the vibrantly colored amphibians once lived near streams in the Central and South American tropics, but about two-thirds disappeared in the 1980s and 1990s, including the golden toad. While researchers had previously identified the fungus as a major reason for the frogs' demise, they have been trying determine why the disease has taken such a major toll in recent years.

Looking at more than 65 harlequin frog species that had vanished, researchers found that 80 percent of the time there was a correlation between higher temperatures and the species' disappearance. After a warm peak in 1987, for example, five species died off.

"There's a coherent pattern of disappearances, all the way from Costa Rica to Peru," Pounds said in an interview. "Here's a case where we can show that global warming is affecting outbreaks of this disease."

Amphibians are experiencing a precipitous decline in Africa, Asia and North America, according to a comprehensive 2004 survey, which cited climate change as well as deforestation, pollution and habitat loss as key factors.

"We have a biodiversity crisis," said Andrew Blaustein, director of Oregon State University's graduate programs in environmental science. "Amphibians seem to be harder hit than other groups."

Michael Totten, senior director for climate and water initiatives at the environmental group Conservation International, said humans have made it more difficult for animal and plant species to adapt to the shifting climate by fragmenting natural habitat. "Traditionally species have been resilient and capable of going through dramatic climate change, but with humans changing the face of the landscape, we've created lots of prisons for species, and that's the major problem they face," he said.

Stanford University climatologist Stephen Schneider said the new research represents "a creative step in the right direction, but it's still early in the game to sound the 'solved' bell." He added that the study is "just further evidence" that global warming is linked to accelerating extinctions worldwide.

While Pounds and his colleagues are still researching the harlequin frogs' disappearance, their findings are prompting even some scientists who had been skeptical about climate change's impact on amphibians to reassess their position.

James Collins, who studies harlequin frogs at Arizona State University, called the paper "an intriguing contribution" to understanding what is happening to amphibians worldwide. He said the study shows that when it comes to climate change, "these forces don't all move in one direction," since some habitats are becoming drier while others are becoming wetter. Collins and a team of researchers are trying to determine if the chytrid fungus is surfacing in areas where it had never thrived before.

Garter Snake Conservation
Friday, February 16, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 120
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 February 2007

GARTER SNAKE HUSBANDRY

A number of private, local, State, and Federal collaborators have convened in Arizona to explore opportunities for captive propagation/release as a conservation tool in stemming the decline in abundance and distribution that has been documented in two of Arizona's native garter snakes, the Northern Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques megalops) and the Narrowhead Garter Snake (T. rufipunctatus rufipunctatus).

Research on captivity records from zoological institutions across the United States has indicated these species have rarely been kept in captivity and little has been published about captive protocols in general or captive propagation protocols in particular. Consequently, the collaborators have requested that we contact those who maintain, or have maintained, private collections of these two species, or their close taxonomic relatives, to solicit any information on captivity and/or propagation techniques. Specifically, we are seeking information such as:

What was the longest period of time you kept a single specimen alive and feeding in your collection?

What substrate did you try, what worked and what didn't?

What was used for heat sources and how were they applied to form the thermogradient (i.e. overhead/under-tank/both)?

What type of terraria were used, what size and with what type of closing mechanism?

What diet did you use, how were the various prey items offered and at what frequency?

If you have information about other aspects of captive husbandry or propagation of these species that does not fit into any of the above categories, feel free to share that, too! Again, we are looking for insight from the diverse sector of private individuals who maintain private collections who may have kept one or both of these species in the past. Any insight as to what worked, what didn't, and your thoughts as to why, would be a tremendous asset to our effort.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. Email contacts are as follows:

Craig Ivanyi
General Curator, Living Collections
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Tucson, Arizona
civanyi@desertmuseum.org

or

Jeff Servoss
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Arizona Ecological Services Office
2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103
Phoenix, Arizona 85021
jeff_servoss@fws.gov

Garter Snake Diet Data
Thursday, March 17, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 35
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 March 2005

Garter Snake Dietary Data

I am a third year doctoral student at the University of California-Irvine and am investigating the energetic consequences of dietary specialization in Garter Snakes. There are three species that I am interested in collecting this spring and summer. They are Thamnophis couchii, T. ordinoides, and T. sirtalis. If there are any labs that have spare live specimens or know of specific localities where abundant wild populations persist, I would much appreciate receiving the snakes or locality information so that I can collect them (with permits).

If you can help, please contact me at:

Eric Britt
Graduate Student
University of California, Irvine
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
321 Steinhaus Hall
Irvine, California 92697
Phone:(949)824-4585
ebritt@uci.edu

Georgia Herp Checklist
Tuesday, August 18, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 August 2009

Now available

GEORGIA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Georgia is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published which change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level and subspecies-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Georgia web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Georgia checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Georgia joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

******

To view any or all of the available checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Giant Day Gecko in Florida
Sunday, August 24, 2003: Florida - HerpDigest
The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis Gray 1870 (Sauria: Gekkonidae): A New Established Species in Florida

Kenneth L. Krysko, Florida Museum of Natural History, Division of Herpetology, P. O. Box 117800, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, A. Nichole Hooper, College of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Box 100125, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, and Coleman M. Sheehy, III, Florida Museum of Natural History, Division of Herpetology, P. O. Box 117800, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611

2003 Florida Scientist 66(3): 222-225

Abstract: During recent surveys between March and August 2002, we found established populations of the Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis) in the Florida Keys, Monroe County. We recorded 29 individuals on Little Torch Key and three individuals on Grassy Key. Additional records were obtained from Grassy Key, Big Pine Key, and Plantation Key. Both genders and all size classes were recorded on each island, illustrating that this species is presently established as an element of Florida's introduced herpetofauna. Population monitoring, documentation of ecological impacts on Florida's native flora and fauna, and/or eradication efforts should be conducted.

Give Gopherus Tissues
Monday, April 27, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 173
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 April 2009

GOPHERUS TISSUE SAMPLES NEEDED

I am a graduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi conducting a phylogeographic study of Gopherus polyphemus using mtDNA and microsatellites. I have already collected over 400 samples throughout the range but have sampling gaps, especially in the eastern portion of the range. I am also optimizing > 20 new polymorphic microsatellite loci for G. polyphemus, and would like to test for cross-species amplification in other species within the genus Gopherus. If anyone would be able to contribute Gopherus sp. blood/tissue samples to this effort, I would be willing to supply the materials (i.e., vials, buffer, syringes, and needles) and pay for shipping costs.

Please contacted me or my major advisor at:

Joshua.Ennen@usm.edu
Brian.Kreiser@usm.edu

Thanks for your assistance.

Josh Ennen
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5018
Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401
601.266.6556

Goellner Grant Applications
Monday, April 11, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 April 2011

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group
RON GOELLNER CONSERVATION FUND

In honor and memory of Ron Goellner, noted zoologist, CIG offers a yearly grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of Cryptobranchids.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this award. If funding is provided, the awardee(s) is required to recognize the CIG Ron Goellner Conservation Fund in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its website or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of Cryptobranchids. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards giant salamander conservation.

Application Procedure:

1. Use the application from an attached email announcement, download form from

www.caudata.org/cig

or contact

Diane Barber: dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

3. Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

4. Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by 15 May to Diane Barber at

darber@fortworthzoo.org

5. The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 June of the same calendar year.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 FAX
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Goellner Grant Given
Monday, May 18, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 May 2009

2009 GOELLNER GRANT GIVEN

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group Steering Committee is pleased to announce that Paul Hime, St. Louis Zoo, and Joshua Reece, Washington University, Saint Louis, have been awarded $1,000 from the CIG Ron Goellner Conservation Fund for their proposal entitled “Genetic Sex Diagnosis of Cryptobranchus alleganiensis.” The CIG looks forward to learning more about the results of their research in the future.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Goellner Grant Given
Friday, June 04, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 June 2010

HELLBENDERS HERALDED

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group Steering Committee is pleased to announce that Dr. Rod Williams and Shem Unger, Purdue University, have been awarded $960 from the CIG Ron Goellner Conservation Fund for their proposal "Assessment of Genetic Structure Within and Among Eastern Hellbender Populations." Dr. Williams and Mr. Unger are examining the levels of genetic variation and genetic structure among populations of eastern hellbenders within their natural range, including sites from eight states.

The Cryptobranchid Interest Group Steering Committee thanks all of the applicants for their submissions and wishes them the best of luck with their work.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Goellner Hellbender Grant
Thursday, March 19, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 March 2009

THE CRYPTOBRANCHID INTEREST GROUP RON GOELLNER CONSERVATION FUND

In honor and memory of Ron Goellner, noted zoologist, the Cryptobranchid Interest Group offers a monetary grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of cryptobranchid salamanders.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this award. If funding is provided, the awardee(s) is required to recognize the CIG Ron Goellner Conservation Fund in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its website or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of cryptobranchid salamanders. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards cryptobranchid conservation.

Application Procedure:

1. Download the application forms from the CIG website at

http://www.caudata.org/cig

or contact Diane Barber at

dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

3. Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

4. Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by 15 April to Diane Barber at

darber@fortworthzoo.org

5. The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 May of the same calendar year.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Goellner Hellbender Grant
Wednesday, March 31, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 March 2010

THE CRYPTOBRANCHID INTEREST GROUP
RON GOELLNER CONSERVATION FUND

is accepting applications for the

GOELLNER CRYPTOBRANCHID GRANT

In honor and memory of Ron Goellner, noted zoologist, CIG offers a yearly grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of Cryptobranchids.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this award. If funding is provided, the awardee(s) is required to recognize the CIG Ron Goellner Conservation Fund in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its website or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of Cryptobranchids. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards giant salamander conservation.

Application Procedure:

1. Use the application from an attached email announcement or contact Diane Barber (below).

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

3. Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

4. Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by 15 April to Diane Barber.

5. The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 May of the same calendar year.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
817-759-7183 Fax
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Gopher Tortoises Need Hay
Thursday, March 04, 2004: Newberry, Florida - Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative
Request for assistance

NEED FOR "OLD" HAY FOR USE IN GOPHER TORTOISE CONSERVATION

The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative (GTCI) is a program that is helping private landowners and others to protect gopher tortoises on their land and to help create good regulations that permit proper use of the land while insuring the existence of this species for generations to come.

The parent organization of GTCI, the Ashton Biodiversity Research and Preservation Institute, Inc. (non profit 501 3C) has been doing research, along with others to determine how gopher tortoises can be moved from development sites to private or conservation lands in a successful manner. Studies have shown that the idea of just releasing tortoises in good habitat works poorly in saving the animals being moved and establishing a long-term population. Tortoises like most other animals have a homing instinct. Once released, they try to head home. This leads to tortoises wandering until they try to cross a road or going off the protected property to try and settle elsewhere when it becomes obvious to the tortoise that it cannot get back home.

Our studies show that if we contain tortoises within the relocation site by a barrier like hay bales for 3 to 6 months, they will clear their internal homing directions and consider the new site their home. Hay bales work great in that the tortoises cannot see the ground horizon and seem to give up from trying to escape faster. If the hay is put down properly, the tortoises rarely dig under them. Old hay will begin to decompose in about the proper time the barrier should be lifted to allow tortoises to expand their foraging home range thus saving money.

We are asking your help in finding "Old Hay" bales that are too old to be used for food but are still in tact and will likely hold their shape for at least 3 months after they are put out around the tortoise release areas. Individuals who are managing relocations are not required by the state to put in fencing around relocation sites by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (FWC). This means that the donor landowner or the consultants that usually handle these relocations are not willing to buy the hay or other forms of barriers to keep the tortoises in for the required time. We ask that bales be donated but if necessary in some situations a nominal charge may be able to be covered by the owner of the sites where the tortoises are to be relocated.

If you contact us, we will be happy to notify individuals in your area that there is a source of hay that they may arrange to obtain for the placement of these barriers. It takes about 1200 bales to surround 12-15 acres. This is enough area, if the habitat is good to place up to 30 or more tortoises. We would like the hay to come from the same region as the relocation so we do not contribute to the spread of exotic plants.

Please contact us by phone or email if you wish to be a hay donor. We would also like to ask you to place this request in your newsletter or email announcements to your members. This is another way in which private landowners can help conservation.

Thanks for your help.

Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative
14260 W. Newberry Rd. #331
Newberry, Florida 32669
Tortfarm2@aol.com
www.ashtonbiodiversity.com
352-495-7449

Grassland Grants
Wednesday, November 19, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 November 2008

FUNDING FOR PRAIRIE RESEARCH
Grants from Prairie Biotic Research, Inc.

Prairie Biotic Research (PBR), Inc. is a Wisconsin non-profit established in 2000 to foster biotic research in prairies. One way we do this is through a Small Grants Program that funds grants up to $1,000 to individuals for the study of any grassland taxon in the USA. We support both natural history and experimental science. We are especially eager to support independent researchers (individuals lacking institutional support), but anyone may apply. Since 2002, we’ve awarded 61 grants worth $57,097 to researchers in 18 states to study insects, plants, mammals, reptiles, slime molds, mycorrhizal fungi, spiders, and invasive species. Many of these grants supported graduate student research.

In 2009, we expect to fund at least 10 grants of up to $1000 each with the donations we have received, including some restricted by donors to support research in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and in Missouri, where research on Missouri Prairie Foundation properties is of special interest.

To apply for a Grant, contact

Andrew Williams
Prairie Biotic Research, Inc.
P. O. Box 5424
Madison, Wisconsin 53705-0424

or by email at

prairiebioticresearch@gmail.com

for our simple application form with instructions, a two-part historic summary of our Small Grants Program, and a sample researcher agreement form that winners of this competition must sign. Applications must be postmarked by 7 January 2009. Those who won PBR Small Grants Program funding in 2008 are ineligible for this funding in 2009.

We are grateful for gifts received from individuals, businesses, foundations and non-profit organizations in support of our 2009 Small Grants Program: BioLogic Environmental Consulting, LLC; Russell J. Blattner Charitable Trust; Stephen & Nancy Bloom; Kurt Christoffel; Citizens Natural Resources Association of Wisconsin; Robert & Nancy Dott; Tamara Felden; MJ Hatfield; Hillsdale Fund, Inc.; George & Marilyn Johnson; Herbert H. Kohl Charities, Inc.; Roma Lenehan; The Reva and David Logan Foundation; The Fred Maytag Family Foundation; Merganser Fund; Midwest Prairies, LLC; Missouri Prairie Foundation; Richard & Emily Moore; Robert Owen & Catherine Gimse-Owen; The R. D. and Linda Peters Foundation; Ursula Petersen; Jim & Rose Sime; The Soap Opera; Starbucks Coffee -- the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world; Arthur W. Strelow Charitable Trust; Glenn Teschendorf; Elaine & Richard Tinberg; Laura Van Slyke; Andrew Williams; and Kenneth Wood.

Please make a donation to support PBR and our Small Grants Program. Any amount is welcome. PBR is volunteer-run so our overhead is very low. You may specify that your entire tax-deductible donation be given to researchers through our Small Grants Program, or to expand our research endowment that produces income we give away annually through this program. Please help us to help others!

*****

. . . from the Board and Scientific Advisors of Prairie Biotic Research, Inc.

Michael Anderson, Rebecca Christoffel, Jaime Edwards, Kerry Katovich, Douglas LeDoux, Victoria Nuzzo, Ursula Petersen, Dennis Schlicht, Scott Swengel, David Voegtlin, Andrew Williams and Daniel Young

Green Anole Greens
Thursday, March 10, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 33
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 March 2005

Green Anole Density

I am trying to identify botanical plantings which would be likely to increase the population density of Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis). I'm not certain what databases to use or whether someone has already addressed this topic. I am interested in doing a study of population density before and after such plantings.

Anyone with information that might be of use can contact me at:

hitch22306@yahoo.com

Bob Hitch

Green Frog Data Needed
Thursday, July 08, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 1
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
www.cnah.org
8 July 2004

Walter Meshaka, state herpetologist of Pennsylvania, is currently studying geographic variation in life history characteristics of a widespread anuran, the Green Frog (Rana clamitans). If you live within the geographic range of this frog or come into contact with this species, would you consider the following request:

Please email him (wmeshaka@state.pa.us) or write him (State Museum of Pennsylvania, Zoology/Botany, 300 North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0024) with what you know to be the calling season of this frog in your area. It could be for a particular year and site (such as May-October, 2000, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida), or in general for some region of your state (such as usually June-July in southwestern Ontario), or even something in between (such as during June-August 2002 in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties of Pennsylvania). If, for specific areas, you can tell me if males have a yellow throat, so much the better.

Please also note if you are willing for him to reference your information as a personal communication (i.e., pers. comm. followed by your name). This is necessary for him in order to use the information in publication.

We hope that this isn't too much of a request, but we ask because of the enormous pool of natural history expertise that can so easily contribute to something really neat.

Many thanks in advance.

Grotto Salamanders Desired
Wednesday, February 23, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 30
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 February 2005

Grotto Salamanders Desired

I am a graduate student at Wake Forest University under the supervision of Miriam Ashley-Ross. I am studying the feeding biomechanics of Eurycea spelaea (formerly Typhlotriton spelaeus) and am in need of several live specimens (at least 6 cm in total length) for observation. I would appreciate any assistance that anyone can provide in locating and obtaining such specimens.

If you can help, please contact me at the following address:

Melanie Huston
Department of Biology
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109
(336) 682-5521

or by email at

hustmm4@wfu.edu

Grotto Salamanders Sought
Friday, June 02, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 84
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 June 2006

Grotto Salamanders Needed

I am working on my Master's Degree at Wake Forest University under Miriam Ashley-Ross, studying the feeding kinematics of Eurycea spelaea. I would also like to compare them to their sister group, Eurycea tynerensis. If anyone has some extra specimens of either species for non-terminal experiments, I would much appreciate obtaining them. Or I would appreciate obtaining some localities in Arkansas or Oklahoma where I can find them during the summer. I would apply for all appropriate permits before acquiring specimens.

I can be contacted at

hustmm4@wfu.edu

Melanie Huston
Wake Forest University
Department of Biology
Box 7325
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109
(336) 682-5521

Haskell Nominees Sought
Thursday, November 03, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 November 2011

PARC Request for Nominations
ALISON HASKELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HERPETOFAUNAL CONSERVATION

PARC is seeking nominations for the 2012 recipient of our annual award in memory of our first PARC Federal Agencies Coordinator, Alison Haskell (1956-2006). The Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation is to recognize an individual in North America who exemplifies extraordinary commitment to herpetofaunal conservation, as did Alison, and is an "unsung hero," as Alison was. The award confers a cash prize ($1000) and a commemorative plaque.

Alison's tenure with PARC was tragically shortened due to a valiant, but unsuccessful battle with ovarian cancer. Members of PARC aim to keep her memory alive through this annual award.

Nominations for the award are due 1 December 2011. To read more about the award, how to nominate, and about Alison, go to the PARC web site at

http://parcplace.org/news-a-events/haskell-award.html

PARC Coordinators

Hawaiian Sliders
Friday, August 12, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 August 2005

Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii)
by Jan TenBruggencate

Red-eared Sliders quietly become a threat

Red-eared Sliders for generations have been the most popular turtles sold in pet stores, and they also have been frequently dumped into the wild — so much so they have become common in some Hawaiian watersheds.

That's both illegal and a potential threat to native stream animals, but people who have brought the turtles home as pets have few options as the animals outgrow their aquariums. "They don't get sweeter as they get older. They can get snappy," said Christy Martin, public information officer for the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species. Martin recommended that unwanted turtles be taken to a humane society, where they have at least a chance of being adopted. "There's really nothing else you can do with them. That's the most responsible thing to do," she said.

In years past, the animals were sold as juveniles not much bigger than a silver dollar, but after the turtles were linked to the bacterial disease salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1975 banned the sale of red-ear sliders less than 4 inches across. Officials thought the bigger size would make them less appealing to buyers and prevent children from putting the baby amphibians in their mouth, reducing the occurrence of salmonella.

Pet stores in Hawaii and elsewhere still legally sell the Sliders, which can reach nearly a foot in shell length. Since that's more turtle than most folks can handle, and since there is little demand for the larger animals, many have been released into the Hawaiian environment. "That's not a good idea because of the impacts they could have on native species," said Philip Thomas of Hawaiian Ecosystems At Risk, a government-funded organization that supports alien pest control efforts. The state has listed them an "injurious species" because young turtles could feed on 'o'opu, native freshwater gobies that live in Hawaiian streams.

The turtles, whose scientific name is Trachemys scripta elegans, have a green to brown shell, and their green heads have a characteristic red stripe behind the eye from which they get their name. They are known to be in Kawai Nui marsh and surrounding streams on O'ahu, have been found in at least two parts of Maui, and are in the Hanalei and Wailua river basins on Kauai. But they're probably in many other waterways as well. "I've had reports from all over the island," said Don Heacock, aquatic biologist with the state Division of Aquatic Resources on Kauai.

Horticulturist Keith Robinson recently found a 7-inch turtle walking on a road in Wainiha Valley this week, suggesting they also may be in that valley's stream on Kauai's north shore. He said people who saw that turtle recalled having seen others in the Hule'ia River near Lihu'e and in a drainage ditch near Kekaha.

Red-eared Sliders are primarily meat-eaters when young and eat a mixture of meat and vegetation as adults, according to Sean McKeown's book, "Reptiles and Amphibians in the Hawaiian Islands." Young Red-eared Sliders can become carriers of salmonella if they eat tainted meat. Humans can contract the disease from handling the turtles. These turtles can live for up to 25 years. They require fresh water, a place to get out of the water to bask, and proper food. As they grow older, they need considerably more room than the average home aquarium provides.

When the FDA banned the sale of the smallest turtles, it found that 14 percent of all cases of salmonella poisoning in the United States was associated with the handling of pet turtles. Most of the victims were young children.

The organization Tortoise Trust urges people not to buy them in the first place, since little thought generally is given to providing care into their adulthood, if they survive. "There is a massive surplus of unwanted adult turtles looking for good homes, yet thousands of tiny hatchlings continue to be bred each year, making an already desperate humanitarian situation even worse," the organization said on its Web site: http://tortoisetrust.org

Hellbender Help
Thursday, June 21, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 130
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 June 2007

Cryptobranchus Legislation Requested

The West Virginia DNR has requested examples of existing legislation for Eastern Hellbenders or Ozark Hellbenders, so they can introduce a bill during the next legislative session to protect these salamanders. If anybody out there has examples of legislation from states where these amphibians are currently protected and could email it to me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance. I can be contacted at:

Joe Greathouse
Curator of Animals
The Good Zoo at Oglebay
West Virginia
jgreathouse@oglebay-resort.com

Hellbender Helped
Thursday, January 19, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 January 2006

The state of New York listed the Eastern Hellbender as a species of Special Concern in 1983, but that designation did not give the species legal protection. Legislation passed in late 2005 by unanimous approval of the New York State Senate and Assembly and signed by the Governor went into affect on 2 January 2006 giving all Special Concern species protected status. This new bill also gave the Department of Environmental Conservation the authority to regulate the take of all native amphibians and reptiles in the state. As part of the supporting documentation submitted with the proposed bill was the Model State Herpetofauna Regulations developed by PARC.

Hellbender Home Page High
Monday, August 28, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 August 2006

HELLBENDER HOME PAGE UPDATED

The Hellbender Home Page
Promoting the Conservation of North American Giant Salamanders

Whether you're a biologist or naturalist looking for more information about Hellbenders or you've caught a Hellbender on a fishing line, I hope you find this page useful. Hellbenders are one of the largest salamanders in the world, rivaled only by their cousins in China and Japan. These strange, but interesting creatures once thrived throughout the eastern United States.

Today they are limited to relatively few healthy stream systems, mainly in areas that have been protected from human development. Please click on the links to the left on the home page to learn more about Hellbenders, and don't forget to check out the short videos -- Hellbenders look a lot more interesting underwater.

The page has been completed revised and updated by Jeff Humphries. Contact him at

humphri2@yahoo.com

Check out the new updated and revised web site at

http://www.hellbenders.org/

Hellbenders Helped
Thursday, October 06, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 October 2011

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE LISTS THE OZARK HELLBENDER AS ENDANGERED AND MOVES TO INCLUDE HELLBENDERS IN APPENDIX III OF CITES

Hellbenders are among the world’s largest salamanders

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated the Ozark Hellbender as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and also finalized its decision to list the Ozark and Eastern Hellbender in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In combination, these listings will provide significant protection to hellbenders, both domestically and internationally.

Under the ESA, an endangered species is any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Ozark Hellbender, which grows to lengths up to 2 feet, inhabits the White River system in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Ozark Hellbender populations have declined an estimated 75 percent since the 1980s, with only about 590 individuals remaining in the wild. It is believed numbers have dropped because of degraded water quality, habitat loss resulting from impoundments, ore and gravel mining, sedimentation, and collection for the pet trade.

Also threatening the Ozark Hellbender is a fungal disease, chytridiomycosis (chytrid), and severe physical abnormalities (e.g., lesions, digit and appendage loss, epidermal sloughing), which most Ozark Hellbenders exhibit.

In addition, the average age of Ozark Hellbender populations is increasing and few young are being found, indicating problems with reproduction or juvenile survival. This, and the multiple threats from disease and habitat degradation, could lead to extinction of the Ozark Hellbender within 20 years.

“The Ozark Hellbender faces extinction without the protection afforded by the Endangered Species Act,” said Tom Melius, the Service’s Midwest Regional Director. “Listing provides tools and an infrastructure within which partners can pool resources and expertise to help save this species.”

The Service determined that designating critical habitat under the ESA for the Ozark Hellbender is not prudent because the designation would require publication of detailed descriptions of Hellbender locations and habitat, making illegal collection for the pet trade more likely.

To better control and monitor the international trade of Hellbenders, the Service has included both the Ozark and Eastern Hellbender in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Convention). CITES is an international agreement between governments designed to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct as a result of international trade. Collection within the United States and international trade of Hellbenders is of growing concern, particularly as they become rarer and, consequently, more valuable. Listing Hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES would aid in curbing unauthorized international trade, not only by controlling exports from the United States but by enlisting the assistance of 174 other countries that are CITES Parties in controlling trade in the species.

Currently, two [allopatric] subspecies of Hellbenders are recognized, the Ozark Hellbender and the Eastern Hellbender. The Ozark Hellbender only occurs in Missouri and Arkansas, whereas the Eastern Hellbender range includes portions of the following 16 states: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Hellbenders are salamanders with large tails and tiny eyes. Adult Ozark Hellbenders may reach lengths up to 2 feet, and their flattened bodies enable them to move in the fast-flowing streams they inhabit. Hellbenders are habitat specialists that depend on constant levels of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and flow in their aquatic environment. Even minor alterations to stream habitat are likely detrimental to Hellbender populations.

The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to kill, harm or otherwise “take” a listed species. The ESA also requires all federal agencies to ensure actions they authorize, fund, or undertake do not jeopardize the existence of listed species, and directs the Service to work with federal agencies and other partners to develop and carry out recovery efforts for those species. Listing also focuses attention on the needs of the species, encouraging conservation efforts by other agencies (federal, state and local), conservation groups, and other organizations and individuals.

The Service’s final rules to list the Ozark Hellbender as an endangered species and to include Hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES appear in the October 6, 2011, Federal Register. The Ozark Hellbender final rule is also available on the Service’s Midwest Region website at

www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered

and the final rule to include Hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES is also available on the Service’s International Affairs website at

www.fws.gov/international

The listing of the Ozark Hellbender under the ESA will take effect 30 days after publication of the final rule, whereas the listing of Hellbenders in CITES Appendix III will take effect 180 days after publication of the final rule. This additional time is necessary so that the Service can submit required documentation to the CITES Secretariat, which will then notify all CITES Parties of this action taken by the United States.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit

www.fws.gov

Contacts for this release are:

Georgia Parham, 812-334-4261 x 1203
Trisha Crabill, 573-234-2132 x 121
Danielle Kessler, 703-358-2644

Hellbenders Hurting
Monday, July 11, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 July 2005

Kansas City Infozine (Missouri)
by Jim Low

Beleaguered Salamanders Now Plagued by Deformities

Jefferson City, Mo. - Pity the Hellbender. For years, its numbers have been dwindling in the face of indiscriminate killing, illegal collecting, and changes in the streams it inhabits. Even its love life has been affected. Now it faces a new tribulation, physical deformities. What's an amphibian to do? This one is getting help from the conservation agencies.

Missouri is the only state that has both Hellbender subspecies [considered by most modern-day herpetologists to be distinct species] - Ozark and Eastern. To the average person, they are indistinguishable. Both are endangered in Missouri. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is building a case for giving both federal endangered status. As recently as the 1960s, the Show-Me State had thriving populations of both varieties. The Eastern Hellbender still inhabits Meramec, Big, Gasconade, Big Piney and Niangua rivers and the Osage Fork of the Osage River. The Ozark Hellbender lives in the Current, Jacks Fork and Eleven Point rivers, the North Fork of the White River and Bryant Creek. However, since the 1970s, Eastern Hellbender numbers have plummeted 80 percent. During the same period, Ozark Hellbender numbers have declined by 70 percent.

One of the biggest sources of concern about Hellbenders is the failure of recent surveys to discover young specimens or other signs of reproduction. The species has practically disappeared from the streams it used to inhabit in Arkansas. No single factor is known to have caused these precipitous declines. Dam building took a toll as reservoirs covered cold, fast-moving waters that hellbenders require. Gravel mining in streams and other human activity on nearby land allowed gravel and mud to smother more of their habitat. Declining water quality may have played a role, too. Hellbenders absorb oxygen--and anything else in the water--through their skin. Their extra sensitivity to pollution makes them a "canary in the coal mine" for water quality.

Increasing recreational use of the streams where Hellbenders live also has increased pressure on the species. Anglers who accidentally hook Hellbenders sometimes kill them unintentionally. The quadrupling of canoe traffic on some rivers increases disturbance of the rocky bottoms of Ozark streams. No one knows how this might be affecting the big amphibians. Deliberate damage is a problem. Illegal collection for food and medicine in overseas markets and for the pet trade has decimated Hellbender numbers in some rivers. In other areas, dozens of Hellbenders have been found dead on stream banks, apparent victims of human ignorance.

Part of the Hellbender's problem is its appearance. They have wrinkled, mottled skin that varies from gray to brown. Tiny, dark eyes peer from the tops of their heads. They are huge compared to most salamanders. Adult Hellbenders are one to two feet long. Jeff Briggler, [state herpetologist] for the Missouri Department of Conservation, sums up their overall appearance, saying, "They're kind of gross." Their unlovely appearance has led to all sorts of misconceptions. The most damaging is the mistaken belief that Hellbenders have "poison spurs" on their legs and can inflict dangerous wounds. With such folk tales making the rounds, it's no wonder that some anglers kill the Hellbenders they catch. Briggler frequently sees mutilated specimens with wounds from fish gigs or fishing lines trailing from their mouths. The rationale often used to justify killing snapping turtles and other aquatic predators - that they eat game fish - won't work for Hellbenders. Their diet consists almost entirely of crayfish, minnows and other small animals. Besides, there are so few Hellbenders, they couldn't possibly have a significant effect on fish numbers.

Briggler said it is impossible to mistake a Hellbender for a fish. He says he suspects some are killed by people who want to see what they are but are afraid to touch them. "I know they look weird," said Briggler, "but they are harmless. There is no good reason to kill them."

For most animals, losses of this kind would not be a problem. But Hellbenders already are scarce, and they don't seem to be producing young. If the adults currently living in Missouri streams die without reproducing, the species could be lost to the state. As if all this were not enough, now Hellbenders must contend with what could be the final insult - physical deformities. Briggler says an alarming number of Hellbenders he has seen in recent years have misshapen toes, legs or eyes. Some are missing appendages. Others have tumors or other abnormalities. The severity of the problem varies from stream to stream. In the Current River, three-quarters of all Hellbenders have some kind of deformity. "This animal already has so much against it right now," said Briggler. "These abnormalities could be the end of them."

The Conservation Department and the Fish and Wildlife Service have brought together other conservation agencies, universities and public zoos to form the Ozark Hellbender Working Group. Together, they are pursuing a bevy of projects to pinpoint the causes of Hellbender decline and reverse it. The public has an important role to play in one of those efforts-population monitoring. "At this point, every sighting is important," said Briggler. "If an angler hooks one and releases it, or if a gigger sees one, we would like to know about it. That kind of information is extremely helpful for keeping track of where these animals still live. I can't tell you how grateful we are to people who take time to call in such sightings." He urged anyone who sees a Hellbender to call him at 573/522-4115, ext. 3201. Several facts will help him make the most of each Hellbender report. Most important is location. He suggests looking for landmarks, such as barns, bluffs or other permanent features. He also needs to know the date of the sighting and the approximate length of the hellbender. Photographs are helpful if they can be taken without keeping the animal out of the water more than a few seconds. Anglers who hook Hellbenders can release them two ways. Removing the hook is best if the animal is not hooked deeply. Otherwise, the line should be cut and the hook left in place. Most animals released this way survive.

Besides studying Hellbenders intensively and investigating possible contributing factors in their decline, the Ozark Hellbender Working Group is trying to develop a captive breeding program. Young hellbenders raised at zoos or fish hatcheries could be used in research or to replenish wild stocks. "I am afraid that without artificial propagation the Hellbender may not survive here," said Briggler.

Herp Field Work in China
Monday, November 28, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 65
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 November 2005

Field Research Opportunity Working on Chinese Herpetofauna

I am working at a field biology research station, Shennongjia Special Nature Reserve, in Hubei Province, China. While my work is on the mammals of the Reserve, the herpetofauna has barely been characterized or studied. The local Forest Department has approved my request for a foreign graduate student to conduct thesis research there on any aspect of the herpetofauna, so long as it helps to describe biodiversity at the site and the results are shared with Chinese scientists and conservation officials.

Shennongjia is a mountain range at a temperate latitude in central China, composed mainly of coniferous and broadleaf deciduous forest. It is highly seasonal, with deep snow and cold temperatures in winter, and warm summers. Snakes seen during field work have included Protobothrops jerdoni (common), Pseudoxenodon sp. (common) and Azemiops feae (status uncertain). This would be an ideal Masters project site for an enterprising student. The student would need to be self-funded (although I might be able to provide some modest assistance), be in excellent physical condition, and be prepared to live in primitive field conditions in a back country camp. The student would design her/his field project with guidance from my Chinese colleagues and myself. Fieldwork is possible only from Spring to early Fall.

Interested individuals should contact:

Dr. Craig Stanford
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California 90089-0032
stanford@usc.edu
(213) 740-1918

Herp Heritage Heralded
Tuesday, September 05, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 96
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 September 2006

HERPETOLOGICAL HERITAGE HERALDED

I have initiated a global herpetological community research project. I would like to invite you to find out more about the global herpetological community and to be a part of the research process by completing the web survey at this website:

http://www.deakin.edu.au/arts/herpetological

I am undertaking this research for my Doctoral Thesis in Sociology through Deakin University in Australia. I anticipate that the results of this research will prove useful to people who have an interest in understanding the great diversity of people involved in herpetology and their individual investment to the profession.

I appreciate your time and consideration of my research request.

Alexia Fry
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of History, Heritage, and Society
Faculty of Arts
Deakin University
221 Burwood Highway
Victoria, Australia 3125
Phone: +61 3 9244 6721
Fax: +61 3 9251 7176
afr@deakin.edu.au

Herp Images on Postage Stamps
Saturday, September 04, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 September 2004

U.S. Reptile, Turtle & Amphibian Stamps Feature Image by Kansas Photographer

The United States Postal Service has issued a commemorative panel of amphibian, turtle and reptile stamps featuring an image by Lawrence, Kansas, wildlife photographer Suzanne L. Collins. Collins, well known nationally for her images of salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes, was surprised to learn of the panel. "I went to the Lawrence post office to purchase some stamps and saw the panel. After reading it closely, I glanced at the credit line at the bottom and both Joe and I were listed along with two other photographers."

Collins' image on the panel is of a Scarlet Kingsnake, used as a backdrop for the text. "We photographed that reptile in Florida a few years ago," she said. "Scarlet Kingsnakes are one of the most attractive reptiles in North America."

For more information, contact

Suzanne L. Collins
scollins@ku.edu
(785) 749-3467

Herp Key Back in Print
Thursday, March 02, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 March 2006

NORTH AMERICAN HERP KEY BACK IN PRINT

The widely-acclaimed laboratory guide, A KEY TO AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AND CANADA by Robert Powell, Joseph T. Collins and Errol D. Hooper, Jr. is back in print. Originally published by the University Press of Kansas in 1998, the Press is pleased to announce that an unprecedented fourth printing has just been received from the printer and is once again available for use in college and university herpetology courses throughout Canada and the United States.

*****

A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada
1998
vi + 131 pages, 257 figures, paperback
ISBN 0-7006-0929-6
$17.95

*****

To order this title from the University Press of Kansas, call

(785) 864–4155
or order from

University Press of Kansas
2502 Westbrooke Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-4444

www.kansaspress.ku.edu

Herp League Electronic
Wednesday, September 21, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 September 2005

Attention Herpetologists & Bibliophiles

Herpetologists League Rate Change Makes Electronic Journal Cheaper

In order to better serve their membership in 2006, Herpetologica and Herpetological Monographs will be available to members in electronic format. Paper copies of the journals will still be available for those who wish to continue to receive them. However, because of the rising cost of printing, storage, and postage for print journals, there will be a rate increase for receiving paper copies of the journals. The membership rate changes are outlined below. Instructions on how to access the electronic journals will be included in an upcoming issue of Herpetologica and Herpetological Monographs.

2006 HL Membership Rates:

Regular member: electronic journals: $50, electronic and paper journals: $75
Student member: electronic journals: $35, electronic and paper journals: $60
Family Subscription: electronic journals: $60, electronic and paper journals: $85
Sustaining member: electronic journals: $75, electronic and paper journals: $100
Contributing member: electronic journals: $100, electronic and paper journals: $125
Patron: (option of either electronic or paper) $1000/year
Life: (one time payment; option of either electronic or paper journals) $1500

Join or renew membership in HL by sending your check to:

Lora L. Smith
Treasurer
Herpetologists' League
P. O. Box 519
Bainbridge, Georgia 39818

*****

CNAH Note: Apparently, the demise of print journals is at hand. This is not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing, just reality. Hopefully, as more folks choose only the electronic version, societal dues will plummet. After all, no paper or ink will be purchased, and the editors have always worked for free; no expense, no dues. Will that be the future?

*****

Herp Litigation Looms
Friday, August 31, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 August 2007

LITIGATION HERPETOLOGICAL LOOMS ACROSS THE LAND

On 30 August 2007, The Center for Biological Diversity, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Department of the Interior for political interference with 55 endangered species recommendations in 28 states. The notice initiates the largest substantive legal action in the 34-year history of the Endangered Species Act.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/press/interference-08-28-2007.html

The species list is on the web site (shown above) and includes the California Tiger Salamander, Alameda Striped Racer, California Red-legged Frog, and Mexican Garter Snake.

Herp Mutualism Hunt
Tuesday, April 07, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 169
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 April 2009

HERPETOFAUNAL MUTUALISM HUNT

I need assistance finding some obscure references to herpetofaunal mutualisms. I am a graduate student working on an independent research project involving herpetofaunal mutualisms. I define a herpetofaunal mutualism as any interaction involving a turtle, crocodilian, lizard, snake, or rhynchocephalian that benefits another organism, whether it be a plant or an animal. With this in mind, I grouped my findings so far into categories: pollination, seed dispersal, cleaning, gut symbionts, and other.

A pollination mutualism would include any reptile, turtle, or crocodilian that is involved in transport of pollen from one plant to another while it gains a food source, and at the same time increases the plant’s ability to reproduce. One example of this is a lizard drinking nectar in Musschiaaurea (Campanulaceae) (Elvers, 1977). A similar type of mutualism, involving plant reproduction, includes seed dispersal. This involves a turtle consuming a fruit, traveling some distance, and defecating seeds, still intact and viable. One example of this can be seen in the Florida Box Turtle and the fruits of Thrinaxmorrissii, Serenoarepens and Byrsonimalucida (Hong, 2003). It was discovered that the seeds of these plants were dispersed several hundred meters from where they were ingested and grew successfully. Another cleaning mutualism is that of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Hawaiian saddleback Wrasse (Zamzow, no date). The Green Turtle’s carapace and plastron are cleaned by the Wrasse that gets a meal by ingesting the algae and other small invertebrates living on the turtle.

This is an eclectic field, and many examples are likely to be buried in gray literature or are otherwise hard to find. I am asking for your help finding these obscure examples. If you know any mutualisms of herpetofauna that may fall into these categories or, more importantly, if you have any out of the ordinary mutualisms, I would very much appreciate hearing about them so I can include them in my research summary.

For direct unpublished observations, I would like as much information as possible regarding the specific interaction.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Kayleigh Erazmus
Hofstra University
mterrapinlove@gmail.com

References

Elvers, I. 1977. Flower-visiting lizards on Madeira. Notulae Botanicae 130: 231-234

Hong, L., Platt, S. & Borg, C. 2003. Seed dispersal by the Florida Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) in pine rockland forests of the lower Florida keys, United States. Plant Animal Interactions. Pp. 539-546.

Zamzow, J. No date. Cleaning Symbioses Between Hawaiian Reef Fishes and Green Sea Turtles, Chelonia mydas. Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation.

Herp Paleo Percentages
Wednesday, February 07, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 117
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 February 2007

PRECEDING PERCENTAGES FOR PALEONTOLOGY

I am looking for a web site that lists the percentages of living herpetological species that are present in preceding Cenozoic Epochs and still earlier geologic Periods.

Stephen Godfrey
Curator of Paleontology
Calvert Marine Museum
P. O. Box 97
Solomons, Maryland 20688
(410) 326-2042 x 28
Godfresj@co.cal.md.us

Herp Photo Competition
Friday, June 01, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
http://www.cnah.org/
1 June 2007

KHS 2007 PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

The tenth "Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology" will be given during the KHS 34th Annual Meeting on 2-4 November 2007 at the Topeka Zoo in Topeka, Kansas, to the KHS member judged to have taken the best photograph of a native species of Kansas amphibian, turtle, or reptile.

The KHS Awards Committee, composed of Daniel D. Fogell (University of Nebraska at Omaha), Travis W. Taggart (Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas) and Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. (State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg), will select the recipient from photographic prints on display in the Gary K. Clarke Education Center, Topeka Zoo, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, 3 November; only KHS members are eligible.

Meeting registrants participating in the KHS Photography competition for "The Collins Award" should set up their images no later than 10:00 am on Saturday (3 November) in the Gary K. Clarke Education Center, Topeka Zoo.

Limber up your cameras. "The Collins Award" for 2007 for the best Kansas herpetofaunal image will be $1000.00. The KHS Executive Council recently voted to make modest monetary awards of $100.00 for second place and $50.00 for third place. All three awards will be presented by KHS President Ginny Weatherman or her designate.

The three winners must be present at the KHS auction on Saturday evening to receive their awards.

For more information about the KHS 2007 annual meeting in Topeka, go to

http://www.cnah.org/khs/AnnualMeetingInfo.html

Herp Rev Chytrid Coverage
Wednesday, October 31, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 October 2007

NEW SSAR HERPETOLOGICAL REVIEW SECTION ON DISTRIBUTION OF CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS

A special section on “Amphibian Chytridiomycosis Geographic Distribution” is being developed. This section will offer a timely outlet for streamlined presentation of research exploring the distribution and prevalence of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is an emerging infectious disease linked to mass mortality of amphibians worldwide, yet Bd detections in amphibians with no symptoms also are known in many areas. To aid in our understanding of the scope of this issue, we encourage submission of studies on Bd geographic distribution, including research on individual species or groups of species, wild or captive animals, native or non-native spec! ies, live animals or museum specimens, environmental samples, and findings with no Bd detections.

We ask authors to: 1) restrict the Introduction of their paper to a maximum of two paragraphs to highlight the context of their study; 2) briefly include both field and laboratory Methods; 3) present Results in a Table, although a map also may be very useful, and limited text; and 4) have a short discussion of a maximum of three paragraphs to touch upon key findings. Please consider including the following information in submissions: coordinates and description of sampling areas (or please note if locations are extremely sensitive to reveal, and provide general area instead); positive and negative results; disposition of voucher specimens; date of specimen collection; name of collaborative laboratory or researcher conducting histological sections or! PCR analyses; and names of cooperative land owners or land management agencies. We aim to expedite the review and publication process!

Please email submissions directly to the Associate Editor of the section, Dr. Dede Olson, at:

dedeolson@fs.fed.us

Herp Stowaways Sought
Monday, June 20, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 206
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 June 2011

HERPETOFAUNAL STOWAWAYS SOUGHT

I am looking for information about observations of herpetofauna and other animals being transported incidental to other activities. Examples might include specimens stowing away in shipments of plants, soil, etc. I would be grateful for any help. Both published and unpublished observations would be equally useful. Thank you in advance.

Malcolm L. McCallum
Managing Editor
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
malcolm.mccallum@herpconbio.org

Herp Teaching Award
Wednesday, January 27, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 January 2010

HERPETOLOGICAL TEACHING AWARD ANNOUNCED

The Herpetology Education Committee (HEC) announces the inaugural Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology, sponsored by the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, The Herpetologists‚ League, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles. The award will be given at the annual Joint Meetings of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists to recognize superior teaching effectiveness and mentoring of students in the area of herpetology. The award recipient will receive a cash prize of US$500, recognition in the form of an official letter from HEC, and a plaque.

To nominate an individual, please submit a letter of nomination to Cathy Bevier (crbevier@colby.edu) by 31 March 2010 that:

1. describes specific evidence to support the nomination (e.g., teaching modules, lab or field exercises)

2. includes names and contact information of at least two peers who are each qualified to review the merits of the nominee, and

3. includes names and contact information of two current or former students or program participants

For details on this award and the nomination procedure, please contact

Cathy Bevier
crbevier@colby.edu

Herp Tissues Needed
Friday, July 18, 2003: Davis, California - H. Bradley Shaffer and David Starkey from the University of California, Davis, are currently seeking tissue samples from a variety of North American reptile and amphibian taxa. Their study examines the patterns of distribution of taxa with differing microhabitat requirements across the Great Plains and Southeastern US, although they are seeking samples from the Midwest and New England. They seek tissue samples from the following taxa: Acris crepitans and A. gryllus, Rana catesbeiana, Coluber constrictor, Masticophis flagellum, Thamnophis sirtalis, Nerodia sipedon, Diadophis punctatus, and Sceloporus undulatus. From the reptilian taxa they are looking for tail clips, or tissue from fresh road killed specimens. For amphibian taxa, they are looking for either toe or tail clips. They store all tissue in 95% ethanol, and would be willing to defray the costs of shipping of any specimens collected. For the study, they are attempting to collect between 10 and 20 individual specimens of each taxa from any given site, but are willing to accept any specimens that can be collected. Anyone that can provide any or all of the above specimens please contact either Dr. Shaffer (hbshaffer@ucdavis.edu) or Dr. Starkey (destarkey@ucdavis.edu).

Herp to Human Disease
Monday, March 08, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 185
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 March 2010

HERP TO HUMAN DISEASE TRANSMISSION

Can anyone provide me literature on human transmission of herpetological diseases. I've read somewhere that Chytrid had been documented as spread through human transmissions. Any assistance will be helpful.

David Kampwerth
Karst Biologist
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Arkansas Field Office
110 South Amity Road, Suite 300
Conway, Arkansas 72032
(501) 513-4477
(501) 513-4480 - fax
David_Kampwerth@fws.go

Herp Trade for Heather
Thursday, June 12, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 143
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 June 2008

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

Project title: Non-game Wildlife Trade in Texas: Analysis and Synthesis of Information and Recommendations for Long-Term Monitoring

Project statement: The objectives of this study are to document the extent of wildlife trade in Texas considering both native and exotic species and using that information to make recommendations for future monitoring. I will be using reported information from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as well as new collected data to determine 1) which species of native and exotic non-game wildlife are currently traded as pets or meat in Texas; 2) describe and quantify patterns of import, export, and re-export to and from Texas; 3) describe and quantify patterns of non-game native and exotic wildlife trade in Texas, including trends in numbers of collectors and dealers, prices, quantities sold, and geographic foci where dealers and collectors operate; and 4) for native species quantify levels of collection from the wild and counties of origin. To summarize findings I will identify strengths and weaknesses of the current reporting system used by TPWD and USFWS, and make policy recommendations regarding monitoring procedures to provide for sustainable use of species existing in or entering into the trade.

In short: This study will be an objective analysis of the reptilian, chelonian, crocodilian, and amphibian trade, and will help regulatory agencies better understand the importance and dynamics of the trade.

What can you do to help? I am asking for pet owners and pet store owners (those with a traditional brick and mortar storefront) across the United States to complete the following web based surveys. Your identity will not be recorded, the surveys will take no more than 5 minutes of your time. Please feel free to forward this link to other herpetocultural enthusiasts, pet owners, or store owners.

Pet Store Owners click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=s9EsDYeWRvSbLHrzr6tnHQ_3d_3d

Pet Owners click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0Sro6nMdrnyIVyK5ZnsZBg_3d_3d

Questions or comments may be directed to my attention at:

Heather Prestridge
Graduate Student
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University, College Station
tcwc@tamu.edu

Herpetology Fieldwork Rules
Wednesday, April 13, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 201
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 April 2011

ANIMAL CARE PROTOCOLS FOR HERPETOLOGICAL FIELDWORK

I would like to know how many universities, especially those with medical schools, require an Animal Care Protocol for their vertebrate courses (Ichthyology, Herpetology, Mammalogy) that have field trips. This information would be much appreciated.

Please reply to

aldridge@slu.edu

Robert D. Aldridge
Department of Biology
Saint Louis University
3507 Laclede
St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2010
Voice 314-977-3916
Fax 314-977-3658
Home 314-647-5165

Herpetology Journal Juiced
Friday, July 10, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 July 2009

JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY RECEIVES AWARD
Ranked Among Top 100 Journals in Biology and Medicine in the Past 100 years

In conjunction with the centennial of the Special Libraries Association (SLA), the BioMedical & Life Sciences Division (DBIO) conducted a poll to identify the 100 most influential journals of Biology & Medicine over the last 100 years. The Division was led in 2008 by Chairperson John Tebo, University of Cincinnati, and in 2009 by Chairperson Jean Crampon, University of Southern California. Three panels, consisting of three experts each, were recruited from the DBIO membership. Each panel composed a series of voter preference questions comparing journals in categories of biology or medicine that fell within its areas of expertise.

The JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY was considered by the DBIO Natural History Panel and competed in the category of “Vertebrate Biology – Reptiles and Amphibians.” It surpassed some estimable competitors to make it into the top 100 journals. It was the only herpetological journal so recognized worldwide. The first issue (1967, Volume One, Numbers 1-4) of the JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY was published in early 1968 under the editorship of Corson J. Hirschfeld, and was the result of a cooperative effort by Corson (Norman, Oklahoma), Kraig K. Adler (Cornell University), and Joseph T. Collins (CNAH Board Member).

The SLA DBIO luncheon and awards ceremony was celebrated in Washington, D.C. on 16 June 2009.

For more information, access:

http://units.sla.org/division/dbio/publications/resources/dbio100.html

Herps Have Hearing
Monday, July 04, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 July 2005

USFWS To Review Status of ESA Listed Ringed Map turtle and Flatwoods Salamander

On 14 June 2005, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted an announcement of the review of the status of 25 species listed under the Endangered Species Act in the southeastern United States. The Ringed Map Turtle (Graptemys oculifera) and the Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) were included. They requested that any new information concerning the status of these species be sent to the Field Supervisor, Jackson Field Office, U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Jackson, Mississippi 39213. Information received in response to this notice of review will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the same address.

An image of the Flatwoods Salamander can be viewed at

http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=807

An image of the Ringed Map Turtle can be viewed at

http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=734

HL E. E. Williams Grant
Friday, September 30, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 September 2011

THE HERPETOLOGISTS' LEAGUE EE WILLIAMS RESEARCH GRANT

The Herpetologists’ League is pleased to announce competitive grants for graduate student research for 2012. These awards are named in honor of the late Ernest E. Williams, the first Distinguished Herpetologist of The Herpetologists’ League.

OVERVIEW

1. An award ($1000.00 maximum amount) will be presented to one winner in each category:

Behavior
Conservation
Ecology
Physiology
Morphology/Systematics

2. See HL web site for application form, complete rules and details:

http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/dox/eewilliamsgrant.pdf.

3. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00 PM MOUNTAIN TIME ON 15 DECEMBER 2011.

4. Send complete application (cover page, proposal, budget, CV) as a single PDF electronically to: Erin Muths at muthse@usgs.gov. Please put “EE Williams Research Grant” in subject line.

5. One letter of support should be sent, preferably by e-mail, directly by the supporter.

6. Proposals will be reviewed by at least two professional scientists, who will provide written feedback by April 2012.

7. Funding dispersed in April 2012 and winners announced at the Herpetologists’ League Business Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, 2012.

RULES – PLEASE READ, THE RULES HAVE CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR

1. The applicant must be a member in good standing of The Herpetologists’ League.

2. The applicant must be registered and in good standing in a degree-granting program (MS and PhD candidates eligible).

3. One proposal per applicant per year.

4. Project must be original work, authored and conducted by the applicant.

5. Projects that are already fully supported by other sources are not eligible.

6. The proposal category must be clearly designated. However, HL reserves the right to judge proposals under a category different from that requested based on evaluation of the subject matter and the number of proposals received in each category.

7. Previous winners are NOT eligible for the award in subsequent years.

8. A short report (2 pg) summarizing the results of the project and a reprint or .pdf of any publication arising from the project is due to secretary of HL when available.

PREPARATION GUIDELINES (SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS)

1. Word limit: 1200 words not including citations, budget, cover page or CV.

2. Double spaced, 12 pt font.

3. Margins: 1 inch.

4. Include the cover page provided at the HL website.

5. Include a detailed budget, as well as sources and amounts of current and pending support.

6. Clearly designate the proposal category on the cover page.

7. Arrange in advance for one letter of support to be sent separately by the supporter.

8. Include a two-page CV that includes telephone, e-mail, and mailing addresses.

Please direct any questions to Ann Paterson, the E. E. Williams Award Chair, at 870-759-4171 or apaterson@wbcoll.edu

Ann V. Paterson
Nell Mondy Chair, Department of Natural Sciences
General Herpetology Section Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology
P.O. Box 3692
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas 72476
www.herpconbio.org

HL Jones-Lovich Grant
Monday, October 03, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 October 2011

JONES-LOVICH GRANT IN SOUTHWESTERN HERPETOLOGY

Thanks to the generosity of Larry Jones and Rob Lovich, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their book, Lizards of the American Southwest (2009, Rio Nuevo Press), goes to support herpetological field research in the American Southwest. HL student members have the chance to compete for a single $1000 grant each year.

1. An award ($1000.00) will be presented to one winner who is studying the amphibians or reptiles of the North American Southwest, including the southwestern United States or northwestern Mexico. This research can focus on any aspect of amphibian or reptile biology, including behavior, conservation, ecology, physiology, or morphology and systematics.

2. See the HL web site for application form, complete rules and details, along with the cover page at:

http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/dox/joneslovichgrant.pdf

3. Entries must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on 9 January 2012.

4. Send complete application (cover page, proposal, budget, CV) as a single PDF electronically to: Carol Spencer at

atrox@berkeley.edu

Please put ‘‘Jones-Lovich Research Grant’’ in the subject line.

5. One letter of support should be sent, preferably by email, directly from the supporter to Carol Spencer at

atrox@berkeley.edu

6. Proposals will be reviewed by at least three professional scientists from the Jones-Lovich Grant Committee, and written feedback will be provided to the students by April 2012.

7. Funding will be dispersed in April 2012 and winners announced at 2012 World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver, B.C.

THE RULES

1. The applicant must be a member in good standing of The Herpetologists’ League.
2. Both M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students are eligible. The applicant must be registered and in good standing in a degree-granting program.
3. One proposal is allowed per applicant per year.
4. The project must be original work that is authored and conducted by the applicant.
5. Projects that are already fully supported by other sources are not eligible.
6. The research must involve amphibians or reptiles that occur in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The animals’ distribution must include at least one of the following states: Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Durango, Nuevo Leon, or San Luis Potosi.

PREPARATION GUIDELINES
(also check the HL website for updates to these details)

1. Word limit: 1200 words, not including citations, budget, cover page or CV.
2. Double spaced, 12 pt font.
3. Margins: 1 inch.
4. Include the cover page provided at the HL website.
5. Include a detailed budget, as well as sources and amounts of current and pending support.
6. Include a two-page CV that includes telephone number, and e-mail and mailing addresses.
7. Arrange in advance for one letter of support to be sent separately by the supporter.

HL Manuscripts Online
Monday, July 03, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 July 2006

HERPETOLOGICA AND HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
NOW USING WEB-BASED SUBMISSIONS

As of 29 June 2006, Herpetologica and Herpetological Monographs will be accepting submissions via AllenTrack, the web-based manuscript submission and tracking system of Allen Press.

AllenTrack will facilitate the review process, and will make the production of the journal more efficient than our current system. Instructions for accessing AllenTrack and submitting manuscripts are available at:

http://Herpetologica.allentrack.net

or

http://herpetologicalmonographs.allentrack.net

Technical questions regarding submission of manuscripts via AllenTrack for either journal should be directed to Daphne Smith at

herpetologica@missouristate.edu

The editors of the journals (Herpetologica: Alicia Mathis; Herpetological Monographs: Lee Fitzgerald) will continue to handle issues concerning content and assessment of manuscript quality.

HL Symposia Sought
Tuesday, November 08, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 November 2005

CALL FOR SYMPOSIUM PROPOSALS FOR THE 2007 HL MEETING

The Herpetologists’ League sponsors thematic symposia for its annual meetings. Any League member may submit a proposal for a symposium for the upcoming meeting by sending a proposal application to the chair of the Symposium Committee. Official sponsorship by the HL allows for the scheduling and announcement of the symposium in the meeting program and registration materials. In addition, a small amount of financial support (a maximum of $2000) is available to support sponsored symposia. Sponsorship by the HL does not guarantee financial support and symposia may be sponsored in name only or funded at a level lower than the requested by the applicants.

The HL President will notify Symposia Chairs of acceptance or rejection of proposals after the Board Meeting occurs at the Annual Society Meetings.

HL SYMPOSIUM APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The Herpetologists' League has adopted the following set of planning guidelines for approval of symposia proposed to be held at annual meetings.

Proposals must be submitted for consideration by HL by the deadline; proposals must not exceed 3 pages in length. Proposals submitted in electronic format are desirable Proposals should contain the following:

1. Symposium Title (or Topic).

2. Name of the Symposium Chair (phone number and e-mail address) and names of associated co-organizers.

3. Information on topic and background. This statement should outline the scope of the planned presentations, the relevance of the topic to herpetology, to HL, and, if appropriate, to the particular meeting (e.g., timeliness or geographic appropriateness), and the goal of the symposia (not to exceed one single-spaced page of text).

4. List of potential speakers and topics, including presentation of titles and institutional affiliations and time to be allocated for each presentation. Only speakers that have indicated their willingness to participate should be listed.

5. Length of symposium, half-day or full-day (one day symposium is a likely maximum).

6. HL funding requested (if any), rationale, and need. Appropriate expenses include full or partial support of travel, housing and/or registration expenses for symposium participants. Funds will not be provided for: stipends, drinks, and/or snacks.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SYMPOSIUM CHAIR(S):

1. Work with symposium participants to obtain titles and abstracts. Abstracts MUST be submitted by the annual meeting abstract deadlines.

2. Develop and submit schedule for the symposium to the Symposium Committee Chair. The Symposium Chair must provide names of the moderators for the symposium.

Interested persons should submit their proposals no later than 15 March 2006 to:

Rafael de Sá
Chair HL Symposium Committee
Department of Biology
University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia 23173
rdesa@richmond.edu

HL Williams Grant
Wednesday, April 20, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 April 2011

THE HERPETOLOGISTS' LEAGUE ERNEST E. WILLIAMS RESEARCH GRANT

The Herpetologists’ League is pleased to announce competitive grants for graduate student research for 2012. These awards are named in honor of the late Ernest E. Williams, the first Distinguished Herpetologist of The Herpetologists’ League.

Overview

1. An award ($1000.00 maximum amount) will be presented to one winner in each category:

Behavior
Conservation
Ecology
Physiology
Morphology/Systematics

2. See HL web site below for application form, complete rules and details:
3. Entries must be received by 5 pm Mountain Time on 15 December 2011
4. Send complete application (cover page, proposal, budget, CV,) as a single PDF electronically to:

Erin Muths at muthse@usgs.gov
(please put “EE Williams Research Grant” in subject line)

5. One letter of support should be sent, preferably by e-mail, directly by the supporter
6. Proposals will be reviewed by at least two professional scientists, who will provide written feedback by April 2012
7. Funding dispersed in April 2012 and winners announced at the closing banquet at the JMIH in Vancouver, British Columbia, 2012

Rules – please read, the rules have changed from last year

1. The applicant must be a member in good standing of The Herpetologists’ League
2. The applicant must be registered and in good standing in a degree-granting program (MS and PhD candidates eligible)
3. One proposal per applicant per year
4. Project must be original work, authored and conducted by the applicant
5. Projects that are already fully supported by other sources are not eligible
6. The proposal category must be clearly designated. However, HL reserves the right to judge proposals under a category different from that requested based on evaluation of the subject matter and the number of proposals received in each category
7. Previous winners are NOT eligible for the award in subsequent years
8. A short report (2 pg) summarizing the results of the project and a reprint or .pdf of any publication arising from the project is due to secretary of HL when available.

Preparation guidelines (see website below for more details)

1. Word limit: 1200 words not including citations, budget, cover page or CV
2. Double spaced, 12 pt font
3. Margins: 1 inch
4. Include the cover page provided at the HL website
5. Include a detailed budget, as well as sources and amounts of current and pending support
6. Clearly designate the proposal category on the cover page
7. Arrange in advance for one letter of support to be sent separately by the supporter
8. Include a two-page CV that includes telephone, e-mail, and mailing addresses

http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/dox/eewilliamsgrant.pdf

Hobart M. Smith Library
Tuesday, December 12, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 December 2006

HOBART M. SMITH HERPETOLOGICAL LIBRARY GOES TO MEXICO

The herpetological library of Hobart Muir Smith has been donated to the Museo de Zoología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México in Ciudad México. For more details, view the article published in the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society by Oscar Flores-Villela entitled "Moving Hobart's Library" on the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Holbrook Artwork Online
Wednesday, November 16, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 November 2011

HOLBROOK NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY ARTWORK ONLINE

The New York Public Library has posted online all of the artwork from John Edward Holbrook's North American Herpetology. The artwork is for sale to those wishing to purchase a single rendering or the entire set. Go to

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/

and type in

North American Herpetology

to view the artwork of the Father of North American Herpetology. The names in the captions beneath each drawing are sometimes misplaced, but each piece of artwork displayed on the web site has the correct (for that time) scientific name as applied by Holbrook.

Houston Toad
Tuesday, May 03, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 May 2005

Lisa Stiffler, Seattle Post Intelligencer (Washington) 3 May 2005

Houston Toad's fate in landowners' hands - Amphibian's numbers shrink along with habitat

Bastrop, Texas: After bouncing around in an SUV for a couple of hours under the blazing summer sun, making pit stops at grassy fields and experimental ponds, Mike Forstner reached ground zero at the Griffith League Ranch Boy Scout camp.

Ringed by loblolly pines with needles so long that you could knit scarves with them was a coffee-colored pond with gently sloping shores. "This is it," the biologist in cowboy boots announced. "Little Big Horn for the Houston Toad."

One of the first animals to win Endangered Species Act protections in 1970, the Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) lives in the "Lost Pines" -- an oasis of forestland in central Texas. But the oasis is shrinking, and so is the toad population.

They vanished from their namesake city in the 1960s. They have been wiped out in at least three Texas counties. The last significant population in all the world is in Bastrop County, which -- thanks to its proximity to the ballooning city of Austin -- is having its own development boom.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's solution has largely been to churn out carbon-copy miniature habitat conservation plans. They have issued dozens of construction permits for subdivisions around the county, covering nearly 1,300 acres.

But the plans are plagued by shortcomings. Basic biological information about Houston Toads is lacking, yet the plans sacrifice significant amounts of land to development. There are no clear triggers for increasing protection if new evidence shows that the toads need it. There is little government oversight to make sure the agreements are adhered to.

And so the region is being cross-stitched with roads. Houses are popping up all over, and with them come toad-hostile lawns, pets and pesticides. The Houston Toad's survival -- its population has shrunk to about 250 in Bastrop County -- rests with the private landowners, experts say.

The plans instruct landowners to limit development. They are told not to cut down trees or disturb wetlands and to try to control pesticide use. In most cases, each landowner pays $2,000 to compensate for land lost to homes, driveways and patios. But there aren't any requirements for setting up preserves -- a key feature of nearly all habitat plans -- and a countywide permit coming up for approval also lacks this provision.

Instead, the new plan requires clusters of construction, or low-density housing that leaves more land untouched. It includes restoration projects and less-damaging logging and agricultural practices, Fish and Wildlife officials said. And it requires for the first time that the county monitor the toad population.

Local residents trying to save the Houston Toad say this is the best they can do. "The problem is that Bastrop County, even though it's bustling, there isn't that much money here," said Tom Dureka, executive director of the Pines and Prairies Land Trust, a conservation group.

Steps have been taken to aid the amphibian. While not required by the plan, more than 1,800 acres have been set aside as preserves using habitat plan fees, federal grants, state funds and donations. Landowners are improving their property for toads under other programs as well. And residents are becoming more tolerant of the toads, said Bob Pine of Fish and Wildlife's Austin office.

"Ten years ago, if you talked about the Houston Toad, people would have probably told you they didn't care about it or were actively against it," he said. Now, "they are maybe seeing that's a good thing to have a species that's unique to their area they can have pride in."

But Forstner, a scientist at Texas State University in San Marcos, said it is going to be a challenge to prevent the Houston Toad from getting snuffed out.

And it may fall to the Boy Scouts and their 4,848-acre ranch to save the day. Forstner is working with the Scouts to try to boost the Houston Toad's numbers by planting trees that provide shade and cover from predators. He and teams of students have slogged there night and day to learn more about the amphibians -- how much treeless grassland they will tolerate, what kinds of ponds they prefer, where the heck they disappear to when the summer heat cranks up. "It's a practical and possible recovery," Forstner said. "It's going to take immense attention and effort."

Hurricane Herp Help
Tuesday, September 13, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 207
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 September 2011

HURRICANE IRENE & LEOPARD FROGS IN THE NORTHEAST

I am seeking information from people familiar with established breeding populations of Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens) in the northeast. I would like to know if anyone has observed breeding or call activity from known populations in the days following Hurricane Irene's deluge? I am mostly focused on frogs in the New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont areas.

I would appreciate both positive reports (calling/breeding) and negative reports (no calling heard or breeding observed) if anyone happens to have such info for the period following the arrival of Hurricane Irene on 28-29 August. Again, I am only seeking information from known, existing/extant breeding populations that people are familiar with.

Please send all replies to

jerfein@eden.rutgers.edu

Many thanks in advance.

Jeremy Feinberg
Doctoral Candidate (Rutgers University)
Guest Researcher (Brookhaven National Lab)

Hybrid Herp Help Request
Wednesday, October 05, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 208
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 October 2011

HERPETOLOGICAL HYBRIDIZATION HELP REQUESTED

I am seeking voluntary collaborator(s) in preparing a complete bibliographic survey of data on interspecific and intersubspecific hybridization in amphibians, both natural and artificial.

Personal interest in bibliographic research, as well as easy access to bibliographic data and paper and/or online resources are needed for such a work.

A good knowledge and/or understanding of genetics, of developmental biology, and of taxonomy would also help for the analysis, but are not indispensable for the bibliographic survey.

The purpose of this work is: (1) to publish the results of this survey, and (2) to analyse the data in the perspective of taxonomic use.

If interested, please contact me at:

adbionomina@gmail.com

Alain Dubois
Professor, Paris Museum

Hybrid Salamanders
Wednesday, June 29, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
29 June 2005

Salamanders found on High School Site are Hybrids; Not an Endangered Species

by Ann Schimke
Ann Arbor News

The eight salamanders found on the site of the new Ann Arbor high school are not endangered Smallmouth Salamanders [Ambystoma texanum] as originally thought. Instead, they are hybrids, part Blue-spotted Salamander [Ambystoma laterale] and part Jefferson Salamander [Ambystoma jeffersonianum], said James Ball, a York Township research scientist in herpetology who did some of the testing on the amphibians.

Neither the Blue-spotted nor the Jefferson Salamander are on the threatened and endangered species list in Michigan, and hybrid salamanders do not qualify as threatened or endangered in the state, either.

District officials, who learned of the salamanders' lineage on June 8, won't alter their plans to create two new ponds and improve other ponds on the site, said district spokeswoman Liz Margolis. She said the district had always intended to treat the salamanders as if they were an endangered species although there was a possibility they were not. That was part of the district's agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which this spring approved the district's elaborate wetland mitigation plan and granted district officials a permit to handle and move the suspected Smallmouths.

Todd Hogrefe, endangered species coordinator in the Wildlife Division of the DNR, said the district and the DNR agreed early on to err on the side of caution by assuming the salamanders found on the Maple Road site were Smallmouths. The recent finding on the salamanders' Jefferson and Blue-spotted lineage "is a very mysterious and interesting result for us," he said. Jefferson Salamanders, while found in parts of the Midwest, are not usually found in Michigan because the state is north of their range, he said.

Initially, seven salamanders thought to be Smallmouths were caught in the district's early collection efforts in April. An eighth salamander similar in appearance to the other seven was discovered later and included among the suspected Smallmouths, said Margolis. Except for two sent to Canada for testing, the salamanders have been living at the Detroit Zoo. The suspected Smallmouths were the reason for a lawsuit filed against the Ann Arbor Public Schools in late April by a group of neighbors concerned the new high school would destroy natural habitat. The group dropped its suit in late May, about two weeks after a Washtenaw County Circuit Court judge denied the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction that would have prevented clearing work at the site.

Even before the supposed Smallmouths were discovered, the district had pledged to collect and relocate the frogs, salamanders and other animals living in a pond on the site to a new pond they are constructing on the northeast side of the site. District officials had budgeted $100,000 for that project, but do not expect to use the full amount, said Margolis.

After the supposed smallmouths were found and additional provisions were added to the wetland mitigation plan, the district budgeted an additional $100,000 for the project, said Margolis. The additions included a new vernal pond in the oak-hickory woodlot on the site and improvements to two existing ponds in the woodlot. Margolis said district officials again don't expect to use the entire $100,000 budgeted for the additional provisions, but don't yet have a final tally of what's been spent.

Ball, who is a scientist at Ford Motor Company during the day, said he suggested testing the eight salamanders to determine their species and Hogrefe and the City of Ann Arbor herpetologist agreed. First, a veterinarian at the Detroit Zoo drew blood from large veins in the backs of the eight salamanders, said Ball. Ball then examined the red blood cells in the sample. He said the size of the cells indicated that the eight salamanders were hybrids, but the test was inconclusive. Ball then shipped two of the eight salamanders via Federal Express to a professor friend at the University of Guelph, in Guelph, Ontario, for further testing. The two salamanders were alive during the shipping, but had to be killed for the additional tests, he said.

The professor, James Bogart, conducted what's called allozyme analysis on the two animals to determine the salamander species that provided their chromosomes. Bogart found that of the salamanders' three sets of chromosomes, two sets were derived from Jefferson Salamanders and one set was derived from Blue-spotted Salamanders, Ball said. What's unclear is where the salamanders' Jefferson lineage comes from, Ball said. It's possible any purebred Jefferson Salamanders were lost from the site years ago, he said.

Clearing work at the new high school site is currently under way. Construction of the new vernal pond in the woodlot is complete and construction of the new pond on the northeast side of the site is near completion. Construction of the building will begin late this summer, with the new school scheduled to open in the fall of 2007.

ICZN Publication Purchase
Wednesday, May 30, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 May 2007

The American Association for Zoological Nomenclature must vacate storage space in National Museum of Natural History to make room for renovations. Therefore, the following items are offered at greatly reduced prices.

*****

"International Code of Zoological Nomenclature." 1999. 4th ed. London: The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, xxix + 306 pp.
(original price $48.00 for individuals)
Sale price $15.00 plus postage; $19.00 postpaid in the U.S. (book rate)

*****

"Towards stability in the names of animals-A history of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1895-1995." 104 pp.
(original price $50.00 for individuals)
Sale price $15.00 plus postage; $19.00 postpaid in the U.S. (book rate)

*****

The following two items are offered as a unit:

"Official lists and indexes of names and works in zoology." 1987. London: The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. 365 pp.

"Official lists and indexes of names and works in zoology. Supplement 1986-2000." 2001. London: The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. 136 pp.
(offered also as a separate item below)

(original price for both $140.00)
Sale price $40.00 plus postage; $45.00 postpaid in the U.S. (book rate)

*****

"Official lists and indexes of names and works in zoology. Supplement 1986-2000." 2001. London: The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. 136 pp.
(Original price $85.00)
Sale price $25.00 plus postage; $29.00 postpaid in the U.S. (book rate)

*****

Terms: Cash or check made out to the American Association for Zoological Nomenclature. Unfortunately, we can not accept money orders or credit cards. Do not send cash in the mail. If you are unable to purchase according to these terms and still wish to acquire any of these items, contact Gardner.

Contact person:

Alfred Gardner
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
National Museum of Natural History
P. O. Box 37012
Room 378 MRC 111
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

gardnera@si.edu
202-633-1276

ICZN ZooBank
Friday, October 21, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 October 2005

In the Classification Kingdom, Only the Fittest Survive

By Carol Kaesuk Yoon
New York Times
11 October 2005
Modified

Carolus Linnaeus, the 18th-century botanist and father of scientific naming, enjoyed the unusual status of international scientific hero.

Celebrated as the creator of a classification system that brought order to the flood of new species being discovered, Linnaeus was revered in his native Sweden and was so widely admired across Europe that he became one of the most frequently painted figures of the 1700s. In fact, the triumph of the Linnaean method, which uses kingdoms of life and two-part Latin names for species, was so complete that it seemed he had forever solved the problem of cataloging the world's living things.

So Linnaeus would most likely be shocked -- after guessing there were fewer than 15,000 species of animals and plants on earth -- to learn that more than 200 years later, scientists are far from finishing the naming of living things and are once again being overwhelmed by an explosion of new species and names. Between 1.5 million and 2 million species have been named, and a deluge of what could be millions more appears imminent.

As a result, scientists have once again been seized by 18th-century paroxysms of fear that the field of classification could descend into chaos with precious information lost. For while the Linnaean method for organizing life is still followed and has held up well, no one oversees what has become the rapid and sometimes haphazard proliferation of species names.

Enter ZooBank, a web-based register to compile the scientific names of all animal species. Proposed recently in the journal Nature by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, a group of scientists in charge of the standard code of rules for animals, ZooBank is the latest entry in a growing field of contenders eager to use the Internet to take on the task of overseeing the naming of life and step into the limelight as the next Linnaeus.

Andrew Polaszek, the executive secretary of the Commission and lead author of the paper in Nature, says one goal of ZooBank is to create a complete list of the scientific names for animals, a basic necessity for scientists that, surprisingly, does not yet exist.

Given that scientists have often given preferential treatment to animals over plants, it should come as no surprise that there is no complete database for all scientific plant names. Don't even bother to ask about other major groups like fungi or the protists (a group including slime molds and amoebas). Only the lowly bacteria can claim a complete inventory. The numbers of species and specialists in the field were few enough in 1980 that the scientists could obliterate all names not on their single approved list and refuse to accept new names except those published in a certain journal.

A major reason that no one has kept track of all the species names is the surprising Wild West sort of freedom that allows names to spring up pretty much anywhere. Let's say a person discovers what she believes is a new species. If she publishes a description of the organism with her newly created name for it, by the internationally accepted rules of science, the name officially stands. But while she might publish in a carefully peer-reviewed scientific journal, she might also publish it, as Dr. Polaszek lamented, "in the little local journal that your neighbor produces in his garage." But while scientists agree that the proliferation is out of control, there is no consensus on who should be in control. And every new initiative has a different flavor and agenda.

ZooBank proposes serving not only as a list keeper but also as gatekeeper, becoming the only official registry of animal names and mandating that all animal names receive ZooBank approval before being considered legitimate, ensuring that all animal names follow the rules of the nomenclature commission's Code.

Iguana Auction
Friday, January 09, 2009: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE The Center for North American Herpetology St. George Island, Florida http://www.cnah.org 9 January 2009 IGUANA AUCTION The Iguana Specialists Group is a Species Survival Commission of The World Conservation Union (IUCN). Through partnerships with government agencies, conservation organizations, and research institutions, the IUCN Iguana Specialists Group seeks to help design and implement immediate and effective conservation measures for this magnificent group of lizards. When this group was first established we focused mostly on West Indian Iguanas of the genus Cyclura. Now, however, we are expanding our focus and working hard to include individuals focusing on all Iguanas throughout the world. In order to help facilitate this goal, we are holding a book auction to raise money in support of international student travel to meetings and workshops. The website is http://www.ircf.org/auction/index.php Stesha Pasachnik Iguana Specialists Group spasachn@utk.edu

Iguanas Invade Keys
Sunday, March 09, 2003: Florida: Big Pine Key - Jennifer Babson
Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana), released at some point in the Florida Keys, appear to be thriving in the subtropical region. ''If you aren't doing battle with the deer or the insects, you are now doing battle with the Iguanas,'' said Scott Wade, executive director of the Big Pine Athletic Association and manager of Monroe County's Blue Heron Park on Big Pine. Hundreds, maybe thousands of them, sunbathe on rocks, climb trees, and lay clutches of eggs throughout this island chain. ''No one really noticed them and then all of a sudden they are everywhere,'' said Becky Arnold, animal shelter director for the Florida Keys SPCA. "They don't have any natural predators other than cars and the occasional dog.'' Lately, it's not unusual for a five-foot-long lizard to stop traffic on the two-lane portion of U.S. 1 that runs through the Keys, forcing motorists to brake for a few minutes. The tree-dwelling Green Iguana is native to the tropical forests of Mexico and Central and South America. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is looking into possible harm caused by the lizards. ''The question is, are they causing a problem in the natural landscape?'' said Chris Bergh, conservation program manager for The Nature Conservancy's South Florida and Florida Keys Program and chairman of the Florida Keys ''Invasive Exotics'' Task Force. Bergh recently drafted a letter asking commission biologists to provide more scientific information about the lizard. ''There is plenty of evidence that they are causing problems in people's residential and commercial landscapes, just from the destruction of vegetation,'' Bergh said. "The friends group for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here in the Keys planted a butterfly garden at the Blue Hole park on Big Pine. ''Immediately afterward, the Green Iguanas moved in and ate pretty much everything,'' Bergh said. Dennis Truse, a member of Iguana Rescue of Central Florida, said the lizards are unfairly left to fend for themselves after their owners abandon them. ''People are not taking responsibility,'' Truse said. ``They get too big and they don't want them anymore and let them go and the next thing you know your neighbors are complaining about an Iguana on the porch."

IHS Herp Photo Contest
Tuesday, December 30, 2003: Alva, Florida - Blue Chameleon Ventures
Bill Love is coordinating the photography contest at the 28th International Herpetological Symposium (IHS) during August 10-13, 2004 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Check out the contest website at

http://www.kingsnake.com/ihs/photo.html

IHS is currently seeking sponsors and prizes, and researching venue(s) to show off the winners (and possibly 2nd and 3rd runners-up) in print and/or online. Please spread the word to all friends and colleagues who may wish to participate.

Bill Love
IHS Photo Contest Coordinator
Blue Chameleon Ventures
P. O. Box 643
Alva, Florida 33920
bill@bluechameleon.org
http://www.bluechameleon.org
(239) 728-2390 (9 am-9 pm EST)

Illinois Herp Checklist Online
Thursday, September 30, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 September 2010

Now available

ILLINOIS HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Illinois is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Illinois web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes (and their citations) will, however, be immediately accessible through the Illinois checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Illinois joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Indiana Mole Salamanders
Friday, April 02, 2004: Indianapolis - Associated Press
Indiana Biologists Find Mole Salamanders
2 April 2004

by Rick Callahan, Associated Press Writer

Indianapolis - Wildlife biologists tromping through a far southwestern Indiana swamp have stumbled onto salamanders never before documented in the state.

The breeding colony of 23 Mole Salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum), brownish-black amphibians that grow to about 4 inches in length, were found last week in Posey County.

"Nobody knew this species lived in Indiana, and it would be interesting to see if it is the only population in the whole state," said Rod Williams, vertebrate curator with Purdue University's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Williams and Brian MacGowan, a Purdue University Extension wildlife specialist, caught one of the mole salamanders in a live trap they were using catch another species of salamander, and then found more nearby.

"With vertebrate species, finding a breeding population of a new species doesn't just happen every day," MacGowan said.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is weighing whether to designate the salamanders as a species of special concern or a state endangered species.

Mole salamanders are common in swamps and wetlands in the southern United States, but also live in extreme southern Illinois, western Kentucky and Missouri.

The Posey County population is among the northernmost reportings for the species to date. They were found in a bald cypress swamp, which occur in Indiana only in its far southwestern corner.

"When you're there among huge bald cypress trees growing in standing water, you almost think you're back in time, or down in the deep south," MacGowan said.

MacGowan said it's unknown if the Mole Salamanders have existed all along in Posey County or if they were recently transported there from Illinois or Kentucky by a flood or some other way. The precise location of the find was not disclosed.

An excellent color image of the Mole Salamander can be accessed at

http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=826

Iris Identification
Wednesday, August 16, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 93
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 August 2006

IDENTIFICATION BY EYE

Is anyone aware of any studies, keys, or other efforts using the iris (pigmentation, color, patterns) to reliably identify amphibians, turtles, and reptiles? I'm already familiar with the irispigmentation web page. Any information on this topic would be much appreciated. My thanks in advance.

Gian L. Rocco
The Penn State Cooperative Wetland Center
Department of Geography
The Pennsylvania State University
205 Walker Building
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
(814) 863-3194
gxr124@psu.edu

Kansas Anurans Monitored
Wednesday, July 23, 2003: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
Kansas is home to 22 kinds of frogs, treefrogs, spadefoots, and toads (known collectively to science as anurans), and we don't know nearly enough about them -- where they live, how many there are, and whether they are doing well, or poorly. But they are important animals in the natural ecosystem of our state, and their well-being is a compelling indicator of the health of their living space, an environment that they share with the citizens of Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (Pratt), in cooperation with the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University (Hays), and The Center for North American Herpetology (Lawrence), is pleased to announce the launching of the KANSAS ANURAN MONITORING PROGRAM (KAMP) web site, effectively immediately at

http://www.cnah.org/kamp/

KAMP was established in 1998 by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) through a grant from their Chickadee Checkoff funds to Joseph T. Collins of The Center for North American Herpetology in Lawrence, Kansas. With the encouragment, cooperation, and advice of Ken Brunson (KDWP), Collins organized and operated a volunteer effort of 50-75 individuals, who monitored the choruses of Kansas frogs, treefrogs, spadefoots, and toads over 45-50 routes across Kansas each spring and summer from 1998 through 2002. The extensive data accumulated during those five years will eventually appear in its entirety on the KAMP web site; currently, data entry is complete for 2001 and 2002, and work on 2000 is underway. In addition to graphs showing chorusing strength and annual time span for singing activity for all 22 species, the web site features color images by noted wildlife photographer Suzanne L. Collins, call recordings compliments of Keith Coleman, Lawrence, Kansas, and a map by species of each site monitored, as well as access to information about routes and volunteers that ran them. Earlier this year, KDWP approached Travis Taggart (Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University) and requested that he organize and display the KAMP data online; the results of his excellent effort can be viewed at the above web site.

And this is just the beginning. Travis Taggart is currently developing an interactive component to the KAMP web site that will permit past volunteers to log on and continue to monitor these interesting amphibians, starting in January 2004. In addition, Kansans interested in joining the volunteer effort will be permitted to acquire a new route of their own. Each individual will be able to enter her or his data online, and watch as the information on their route (and all the other KAMP routes) accumulates and builds through time.

Why? Because we have no idea whether Kansas amphibian populations are growing, declining, or holding steady. Eventually, because of KAMP, we will get a handle on the status of these semi-aquatic creatures, and plan accordingly for their future, and possibly ours.

For more information and confirmation of this release, contact

Ken Brunson
Wildlife Diversity Coordinator
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt 67124
(620) 672-5911
kenb@wp.state.ks.us

Travis Taggart
Adjunct Curator of Herpetology
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Fort Hays State University, Hays 67601
(785) 650-0865
ttaggart@fhsu.edu

Joe Collins
Adjunct Herpetologist
Kansas Biological Survey
University of Kansas, Lawrence 66047
(785) 749-3467
jcollins@ku.edu

Kansas Gecko Grabbed
Thursday, October 19, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 October 2006

EXOTIC LIZARD DISCOVERED IN KANSAS
Andrew Hare
2006. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 19: 8.

The author reports on the discovery of a well established population of the Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in Johnson County in northeastern Kansas.

*****

This article can be viewed or downloaded at the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Kansas Herp Grant
Tuesday, October 28, 2003: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History has been awarded a $281,224 grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to conduct a statewide inventory of amphibians, reptiles and turtles.

Matching funds from the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays, Kansas, and The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrence, Kansas, bring the total value of the project to $391,290.

"Amphibians, turtles, and reptiles are an important part of the ecosystem, and their distributions and habitat needs are poorly understood," said Travis Taggart, newly-appointed associate curator of herpetology at the Sternberg Museum and principal investigator on the project.

"Our goal is to investigate the distribution and conservation needs of these animals so that we can better protect them and their habitat in the future," Taggart said. The herpetofauna can be sensitive indicators of environmental health. By learning about the ecological needs of the herpetofauna, future environmental damage can be monitored, minimized, and, it is hoped, eliminated.

In addition to Taggart, several other museum staff members co-authored the proposal, including Joseph T. Collins, adjunct curator of herpetology, Curtis Schmidt, also a newly-appointed curator of herpetology, Jerry Choate, museum director, and Greg Liggett, assistant director. The grant will fund the paid positions for both Taggart and Schmidt.

"This grant is significant to the Sternberg Museum, and to the study of modern wildlife in general," said Choate. "Basic research into the state's biodiversity is extraordinarily important. Basic questions, like how many species we have and what are their distributions, must be answered before more in-depth studies can be undertaken. And often money for those types of basic studies is not available."

The project is funded in part by a State Wildlife Grant from the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

"The Sternberg Museum is excited to enter into this partnership with Kansas Wildlife and Parks and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Those organizations recognize the importance of learning all we can about the biodiversity of Kansas," Choate said.

"Curtis and I are ready to get out in the field and see what is out there," said Taggart. "It is amazing to think that even right here in Kansas there are many things that are unknown about the state's amphibians, reptiles, and turtles. I think we can go a long way toward filling in the gaps in that knowledge," he said.

Collins, who is also adjunct herpetologist at the Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, pointed out that "this is the largest grant ever made to study amphibians, turtles, and reptiles in Kansas, and represents a significant effort by the Sternberg Museum and Fort Hays State University to focus on the biodiversity of these creatures in our state." He went on to say that "the research collection at the Sternberg Museum will become a very important component of future studies on these creatures, not only in Kansas, but throughout the Great Plains. The DNA material alone will provide researchers across the nation with much needed information for their studies, and will enhance our understanding of these animals not only in Kansas, but throughout their range."

For more information, contact:

Travis W. Taggart (785) 628-5504 (ttaggart@fhsu.edu)
Curtis Schmidt (785) 628-5504 (cjschmidt@fhsu.edu)
Joseph T. Collins (785) 749-3467 (jcollins@ku.edu)

Kentucky Corn Snakes
Friday, October 29, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 13
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
29 October 2004

Eastern Corn Snake Data Needed

Phil Peak and William Bird have been researching the central Kentucky population of Eastern Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) for a number of years and are currently in the process of preparing a paper that will discuss what they have learned. They have been trying to find papers that have been written on Eastern Corn Snakes (i.e., those populations east of the Mississippi, especially isolated populations. With the exception of papers noting the discovery of new distributional records, they have not found any. This is a research request for such papers. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

Email the title (or mail a reprint if you can spare one) of any such paper to:

William.Bird@loukymetro.org

Will Bird
Louisville Zoo
P. O. Box 37250
Louisville, Kentucky 40233

Kentucky Herp Cards
Friday, August 19, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 August 2005

Kentucky Herpetological Trading Cards Now Available

Touchstone Energy is pleased to sponsor a set of 30 trading cards of Kentucky amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. These distinctive 2.5 x 3.5-inch glossy cards display in vivid color the following species and subspecies (common names as they appear on the cards):

Hellbender, Streamside Salamander, Spotted Salamander, Red-spotted Newt, Two-lined Salamander, Slimy Salamander, Northern Red Salamander, American Toad, Gray Treefrog, Spring Peeper, Bullfrog, Green Frog, Pickerel Frog, Common Snapping Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, Red-eared Slider, Spiny Softshell, Northern Fence Lizard, Five-lined Skink, Eastern Slender Glass Lizard, Ringneck Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Black Racer, Milk Snake, Black Rat Snake, Northern Water Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, Northern Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth, & Timber Rattlesnake.

The excellent photography is by John MacGregor, Joe Settles, and other Kentucky photographers.

A gratis set of the cards is available from:

Jeffry E. Hohman
East Kentucky Power Cooperative
P. O. Box 707
Winchester, Kentucky 40392-0707

For those requesting a set, a self-addressed mailing label is appreciated.

Kentucky Herp Checklist
Wednesday, September 02, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 September 2009

Now available

KENTUCKY HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Kentucky is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Kentucky web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Kentucky checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Kentucky joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future.

******

To view any or all of the available checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Kingsnake Survey
Thursday, April 19, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 April 2007

SECOND ANNUAL GREAT BASIN SONORAN MOUNTAIN KINGSNAKE SURVEY

Great Basin National Park and the Nevada Department of Wildlife are pleased to announce the second annual Nevada Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake survey. Sonoran Mountain Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis pyromelana) are rare and extremely secretive in Nevada and very little is known about their ecology, abundance, distribution, and habitat associations. Preliminary surveys of Lampropeltis pyromelana localities in the Great Basin indicate they are montane, utilizing rocky habitats, between 6,000 and 8,000 feet elevation. They are often associated with riparian vegetation, Ponderosa pine, oak brush, piñon and juniper woodland, and sagebrush. They feed primarily on lizards and small mammals, and undergo an ontogenetic shift in feeding ecology, switching from lizards as juveniles, to small mammals as adults. Lampropeltis pyromelana is a thermo-conformer (its body temperatures closely tracks its surrounding thermal environment) and spends greater than 90% of its active season (April-October) under rocks or vegetation. For a snake, it is found at relatively cool temperatures (18-22 °). It is a strongly diurnal or crepuscular species, primarily observed in the Great Basin during May and June, with spikes of surface activity during the summer monsoon season, and the fall. There are several ways to locate this species. Flipping (and replacing) rocks and logs, hiking riparian areas and washes at dawn and dusk when the habitat is in shadow, looking in cracks and crevices with mirrors, slowly walking the edges of talus and scree looking in the interstitial spaces, and generally wandering aimlessly through suitable habitat have proven effective methods to locate Kingsnakes in the Great Basin.

The goals of the roundup are:

1) Inventory Lampropeltis pyromelana in the South Snake Range.
2) Document basic ecology of Lampropeltis pyromelana (thermal preferences, feeding habits, and habitat affinities).
3) Collect basic ecological data on montane Great Basin snake communities.
4) Voucher one individual of each reptile species per locality.

When: The roundup will begin at 9:00 am on Monday 7 May 2007 and run through the evening of Friday, 11 May 2007. Alternatively, if you are interested, surveying will be done on Saturday, 12 May 2007 or Sunday 13 May 2007.

Survey Location

Surveys will take place at two known Lampropeltis pyromelana localities: on the east side of the South Snake Range in Snake Canyon and Lexington Canyon. We’ll survey Snake Canyon on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and Lexington Canyon on Thursday and Friday. The survey locations are approximately 230 miles from Salt Lake City and 280 miles from Las Vegas. The site is remote, with no gas, food, or lodging available for over 20 miles. Camping will be primitive, dry car camping in Snake Creek Canyon.

Directions to Snake Creek Canyon
Take NV highway 487 south from US 50/6. Continue on 487 through the town of Baker until you a reach the sign for Snake Creek Canyon. Turn right onto this dirt road and continue up the canyon until you reach the camp site which will be flagged.

What to bring

Bring the things you need to be comfortable in the field and while camping. GPS, sunscreen, field notebook, snake hooks, snake tongs, mirrors (for shining cracks), gloves (for turning rocks and logs), pillowcases, thermometers, camping equipment, tent, sleeping bag, stove, extra clothes, food, drinking water, etc.

The nearest medical facility is the William B. Ririe Hospital in Ely (70 miles away). Emergency Medical Services are available from Baker and Ely through 911. I will have a hand held radio available for outgoing emergency calls.

Contact:

Bryan Hamilton
100 Great Basin National Park
Baker, Nevada 89311
(775) 234-7331 ext. 255 (phone)
(775) 234-7210 (fax)
bryan_hamilton@nps.gov

Please contact me if you plan on attending and if you have any questions or concerns.

Kluge Library For Sale
Monday, June 16, 2003: Royal Ontario Museum
The herpetological library of Arnold G. Kluge is being sold off via email. Anyone interested in bidding/purchasing should contact:

spring.plum@rogers.com

Our thanks to the folks at thr Royal Ontario Museum for bringing this opportunity to our attention.

La Pine Snake in Trouble
Monday, February 10, 2003: Memphis, Tennessee - Memphis Commercial Appeal by Maria Bibbs
As part of its continuing effort to raise awareness of its conservation work, the Memphis Zoo in early February hosted a two-day, national workshop, during which participants from various forest-conservation organizations discussed how to manage the habitat of the non-poisonous Louisiana pine snake. This snake mostly lives on pocket gophers and may be the rarest U.S. vertebrate. Memphis Zoo reptile curator Steve Reichling has in 25 years of study seen only one in the wild. 68 specimen live in U.S. zoos, and with natural habitat in Louisiana and Texas reduced to less than 3 percent of the original, U.S. Forest Service ecologist Craig Rudolph suggests the population may only be a few hundred. The research, led by Reichling and Memphis zoo research coordinator John Ouellette, could contribute to federal Endangered Species Act listing of the snake. Gary Lester, director of the Fisheries Natural Heritage Program at the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife comments that neither industry, nor government can save the snake alone, and everyone is trying to "build a house that will protect the snake. Original article at:
.
http://www.caller.com/ccct/national_world_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_812_1735487,00.html

LACM Herp Div Eliminated
Thursday, June 26, 2003: Los Angeles, California - Twenty-three positions were eliminated at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History recently, including departments, curators, collections managers, exhibits, and others. The entire Herpetology staff was fired, given a few moments to collect their belongings, and told to leave the building. This includes Herpetology's collection manager and curator. Also fired were the curator of mammalogy, curatorial assistants in birds and insects, a research librarian, and the only surviving botany curator. Research and collections had a total of six people terminated. There were other cuts in exhibits and operations, but it is reported that there were none in administration.

Lake Erie Water Snake
Tuesday, October 28, 2003: Port Clinton, Ohio - HerpDigest
The US Fish & Wildlife Service has approved a five-year, $960,000 recovery plan for the Lake Erie Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) that focuses on protecting snake-friendly shoreline habitat and research and monitoring from 2004 to 2008, says the Port Clinton News Herald for 23 September 2003. The reptile is found on nine Ohio islands and along the Catawba island-Marblehead shoreline. The recovery goal is to "sustain a minimum island population of 5,555 adult snakes for six straight years." The plan calls for permanently securing 4.6 miles of shoreline habitat and 126 acres of inland hibernation habitat, public education programs, biological studies, and private property "snake easements."

Lake Erie Water Snakes
Friday, July 08, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 July 2005

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Scott Shalaway

Not many young women would take pride in being called "the island snake lady" but Kristin Stanford does. Based at Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie, Stanford acquired the nickname shortly after beginning a research project on the endangered Lake Erie Water Snake. It lives only on the rocky shores of western Lake Erie islands, and until Stanford arrived five years ago, it enjoyed a lousy reputation among island residents and visitors.

Water Snakes make poor neighbors. They bask innocently near docks, jetties and piers, and curious travelers, especially children, try to catch them. That's a big mistake because, though they're harmless, they're mean, ill-tempered and quick to bite. Combine their nasty personality with most people's innate fear of snakes and you've got a conservation education nightmare.

Enter Stanford. Five years ago, after completing her master's degree at Northern Illinois University where she studied the Plains Garter Snake, Stanford jumped at the chance to do her doctoral research on the Lake Erie Water Snake. She understood that a key to the unpopular species' survival was convincing the islands' human population that if left alone, Water Snakes are harmless and even ecologically beneficial.

Over the course of four years, Stanford captured Water Snakes on South Bass, Gibraltar, Middle Bass, North Bass and Kelley's islands. Her work included surgically implanting radio transmitters into 61 snakes so she could track their movements and locate their winter dens. The field work is complete, and Stanford is writing her dissertation. But that was the easy part. Convincing people to appreciate Water Snakes was the greater challenge. Having just spent a week at Stone Lab teaching an ornithology class, I observed firsthand that Stanford's people skills are among her greatest assets.

Last year, she taught a popular and successful one-week herpetology class. She obviously excelled because she was recognized last week as one of 2004's outstanding summer instructors at the Stone Lab. This year she's co-teaching a five-week herpetology class. Though the class covers all types of reptiles, turtles, and amphibians, snakes are her passion. One day she turned her class loose on six-acre Gibraltar Island. The assignment was to catch snakes. Ninety minutes later the students returned, each with a pillow case filled with three or four writhing snakes. On a break, I wandered into the herp lab and found Stanford holding an absolutely beautiful Fox Snake. "Fox Snakes live in wetlands along Lake Erie in northwestern Ohio, and I'm studying their abundance and habitat requirements," she said. She's hoping to determine the effects of habitat fragmentation on these boldly patterned constrictors.

With her background, it's only natural that Stanford has acquired the "island snake lady" nickname. But her reputation is largely due to the outreach programs she does throughout a multi-county area. She provides educational programs to schools and other groups and writes a monthly newspaper column in which she answers reader questions about snakes and other herps. In fact, if you have any snake questions, contact her at "theislandsnakelady@yahoo.com."

During my week at Stone Lab, I discovered two additional tangible indications of Stanford's influence. Many driveways on the islands now sport signs provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio DNR that read, "Water Snakes Welcome Here." I doubt there were any of those before Kristin arrived. And finally, there's Arthur Wolf, Stanford's 9-year old protege who lives on Middle Bass Island. "I call him 'My little snake man,'" she said. "He's caught many Water Snakes for me on Middle Bass." His father, who captains one of Stone Lab's research boats, told me he's now catching Fox Snakes for Stanford. Wolf's extraordinary exploits are featured in the current issue of "Wild Ohio for Kids Magazine."

Kristin Stanford does it all -- researcher, teacher, mentor, community relations expert. Not a bad resume for the "island snake lady." For more information about Stone Lab's summer programs, visit its web site (www.stonelab.ohio-state.edu).

Landers Gopherus Grant
Saturday, September 05, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 September 2009

THE J. LARRY LANDERS STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

The J. Larry Landers Student Research Grant is a Gopher Tortoise Council competitive grant program for undergraduate and graduate college students. Proposals can address research concerning Gopher Tortoise biology or any other relevant aspect of upland habitat conservation and management. The amount of the award is variable, but projects up to $2,000.00 have been awarded.

The proposal should be limited to four pages in length and should include a description of the project, a concise budget, and a brief resume of the student. Email submissions in word are preferred.

This is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to access funding for their projects.

The deadline for grant proposals each year is the 15th of September.

Please send submissions to:

Bob Herrington
Chairperson, Research Advisory Committee
Department of Biology
Georgia Southwestern State University
Americus, Georgia, 31709
bherring@canes.gsw.edu
(229) 931-2331

Lee-Yaw Long-toed Localities
Monday, February 16, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 160
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 February 2009

Long-toed Salamander Locality Information Needed

As a side project during my PhD, I am leading an effort to build a comprehensive, cross-border map of the distribution of the Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum). We are looking for any GPS locality points that people may have in their field notes for any of the subspecies of A. macrodactylum. GPS coordinates are required information. Additional/optional useful information that we request:

1) Year of observation
2) Elevation
3) Approximate number of individuals observed and life history stage (adult, larvae. etc.)
4) Prominent landmarks that can be used to verify GPS location
5) Observers name and contact
6) a photo voucher (if possible)

If you have more than one observation, we appreciate the attachment of data as a spreadsheet.

Please send locality information to:v
salamander@zoology.ubc.ca

Thank you for your time and help with this matter. This information will be compiled and made available to researchers and students upon request.

Julie Lee-Yaw
Graduate Student
University of British Columbia

Lee-Yaw Looks for Longtoes
Wednesday, November 21, 2007: Lawrence, KaNSAS - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 135
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 November 2007

INFORMATION ABOUT LONG-TOED SALAMANDERS WANTED

I am starting a PhD and am working with the Long-toed Salamanders, Ambystoma macrodactylum (all subspecies EXCEPT the Santa Cruz population). I am looking for locality data from anywhere within the species range, directions to potential study sites, and information about specific dates when breeding individuals start appearing in the ponds. I am especially interested in populations along the edge of the species range or in areas where two subspecies are thought to co-occur. Any information provided to me will be treated as sensitive and not publicly disclosed.

If anyone can assist me, please email at

lee-yaw@zoology.ubc.ca

Julie A. Lee-Yaw
Zoology Department
University of British Columbia

Lemmon Lab Launched
Monday, October 13, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 October 2008

MORIARTY LEMMON LAB NOW ACCEPTING GRADUATE STUDENTS FOR FALL 2009

The new laboratory of Emily Moriarty Lemmon at Florida State University (Tallahassee) is now accepting enthusiastic and motivated graduate students for Fall 2009, particularly those with herpetological and evolutionary biology interests. The focus of the Moriarty Lemmon Lab is the study of speciation, and to study this process the lab employs an approach that integrates across diverse fields including behavioral ecology, phylogenetics, phylogeography, population genetics, genomics, and ecology.

Members of the lab are encouraged to develop their own herpetology-oriented study systems in North or South America, in addition to collaborating on current projects using Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris) as a model system. Interested prospective students should first contact Dr. Lemmon directly at chorusfrog@bio.fsu.edu to discuss research interests, and then apply through normal Florida State University channels. For more information, please see the laboratory websites at:

http://www.bio.fsu.edu/chorusfrog/index.html

and

http://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty-moriarty-lemmon.php

Lizard Language Labor
Monday, August 30, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 191
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 August 2010

LANGUAGE LABOR FOR LIZARD LORE

In 1874, Marie-Firmin Bocourt described a new Mexican lizard of the genus Holbrookia (H. elegans) in French. As far as I know, no one has ever translated this description or the rest of this paper into English and made it available to those who might be interested.

Would any recipient of the CNAH announcements, fluent in French, agree to do this translation for me and for posterity? If so, please contact me at

raxtell@siue.edu

to make arrangements and agree on a fee.

Thank you.

Ralph Axtell
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Lizard Liver Lust
Wednesday, December 05, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 138
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 December 2007

LUSTING FOR LIZARD LIVER

My colleague, Dr. Anthony Metcalf at California State San Bernardino, and I have been looking at the evolution and subspeciation of Callisaurus draconoides (Zebratail Lizard) in the continental United States using mtDNA sequencing. We have obtained sufficient samples of C. draconoides. We are presently seeking tissue samples from Holbrookia maculata or Cophosaurus texanus to serve as our outgroup comparison. If anyone has tissues of these two taxa available for loan, I would much appreciate hearing from you. I can be contacted at

gbraden@sbcm.sbcounty.gov

Gerald T. Braden
Research Biologist/Interim Curator
San Bernardino County Museum
Biological Sciences Division
2024 Orange Tree Lane
Redlands, California 92374
909.307.2669 x 251

Lizard Lore Lauded
Friday, May 27, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 May 2005

Lizard Book Receives The Hamilton Book Award

Eric R. Pianka, University of Texas, Austin, and Laurie Vitt, University of Oklahoma, Norman, recently co-authored a new book entitled "Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity," published by the University of California Press. The book was the recent recipient of The Hamilton Book Award. According to Publishers Weekly, "In this coffee table nature book, two renowned lizard ecologists explain why these remarkable reptiles not only have as much a place on the planet as humans, but are also helpful in understanding evolutionary biology. Pianka and Vitt describe lizards' incredible diversity and highlight some of the creatures' weirder tools for survival, including blood-squirting eyes, breakaway tails and kaleidoscope camouflage. With the hundreds of extraordinary color photographs picturing lizards in their own habitats, general readers might be tempted to page past text that includes a behavioral overview, a phylogenetic guide and an evolutionary analysis of lizards' past and future. However, most of the research is accessible to non-scientists, thanks to clear writing and layman's anecdotes illustrating nearly every theory. Sidebars contain delightful personal stories about the authors' adventures collecting lizards in remote places, and the book is full of gee-whiz facts: some lizards are tiny enough to be prey for spiders, while others are big enough to eat deer."

Lizard Love Leavings
Friday, August 07, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 177
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
7 August 2009

COLONY OF HATCHLING EASTERN FENCE LIZARDS

This summer, we have been conducting experiments to evaluate geographic variation in embryonic developmental patterns in Sceloporus undulatus. As a result of this research, we expect to have approximately 120 hatchlings from a population in Mississippi and 80 hatchlings from an Indiana population (many eggs have already hatched). Unfortunately, our permits do not allow us to release the hatchlings back into their respective populations. We are looking for someone who is interested in taking our colony of hatchling S. undulatus to use for research purposes. If no one takes these lizards, they will all be euthanized in the near future.

All hatchlings are from eggs that were incubated under either a constant 25 or 28 degrees C in a split-clutch design. All lizards are uniquely toe-clipped, and we can provide information on hatching date, hatchling body size, and sibling relationships if necessary.

Anyone interested in obtaining this colony of lizards must provide an approved IACUC protocol for housing this species.

If interested, please contact:

Dan Warner
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
Iowa State University
353B Bessey Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011
dwarner@iastate.edu

Lizard Paratypes Pursued
Monday, April 23, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 126
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 April 2007

LIZARD PARATYPES PURSUED

I am searching for the paratype series of Cnemidophorus vanzoi collected by Albert Schwartz (ASFS 18420-18442) from the larger of the Maria Islands near St. Lucia Island. Information regarding the present location of these specimens would be appreciated.

James M. Walker
University of Arkansas
jmwalker@uark.edu

Loggerhead DVD
Friday, April 09, 2004: Beaufort, South Carolina - Katy Garland

Environmental Media proudly presents:

Journey of the Loggerhead: An Interactive DVD on Marine Turtles

http://www.envmedia.com/production/loggerhead/index.htm

Now available for pre-release purchasing!!

Special discounts to resellers and marine turtle organizations

For information, contact:

Katy Garland, Director of Science Education, at

kgarland@envmedia.com

Journey of the Loggerhead will introduce viewers to one of the world’s mysterious marine creatures: the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The production will help the general public gain a greater appreciation for this ancient reptile and help build an understanding of the connections between humans and marine turtles. Visit our website for more details and ordering information:

www.envmedia.com

Loggerhead Listing Denied
Wednesday, September 17, 2003: New York - GREENLines Issue 1951 (via HerpDigest)
The USFWS and NMFS have decided against a separate endangered listing for northern and Florida Loggerheads and will maintain threatened status (AP 15 September 2003). Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Center for Biological Diversity had sought to have the sea turtles declared a distinct population segment with a protection upgrade to reduce incidental take deaths from shrimpers and commercial longline fishermen. The agencies also declined to designate critical habitat for the turtles, prompting TIRN to note that the "decisions appear based more on politics than biology."

An excellent color image of a newborn Loggerhead, by Suzanne L. Collins, can be accessed on the CNAH web site at:

http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=687

Lone Star Lizard Lore
Tuesday, March 28, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 March 2006

NEW TEXAS LIZARD ATLAS ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Species account numbers 29 (Anolis carolinensis 22 pages) and 30 (Uta stansburiana 17 pages) of Ralph Axtell's INTERPRETIVE ATLAS OF TEXAS LIZARDS are now out and available.

Interested herpetologists should contact

raxtell@siue.edu

for price and particulars.

Ralph W. Axtell
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, Illinois

CNAH Note: Exquisitely detailed maps that accompany the well-written scientific accounts. A very valuable resource for all herpetologists.

Lost Lone Star Localities
Friday, October 08, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 194
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 October 2010

TEXAS HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY HERPETOFAUNA
PHOTOGRAPHIC VOUCHERS & DATA SOUGHT

If you have ever been to a Texas Herpetological Society field meeting over the past 71 years of their existence, you will understand what I am looking for. I wish to locate several new Texas county herpetofaunal distribution records, which do not have a voucher specimen or any verification or proof to back up their claim of being a new Texas county record.

I've been trying to locate THS photos with some data on the herpetofauna taken during THS field meetings for this historically important reason. Verification of dozens of published THS new Texas county records in THS newsletters can possibly be located by finding just a few of the thousands of specimen photos which were take by amateur and professional herpetologists over the years during these field meetings.

If you have or know anyone who took photos during these field meetings, please contact me so we can attempt to preserve this invaluable locality information.

Thomas G. Vermersch
Texas Herpetological Society
1939-2010 Database Publication
P. O. Box 620796
Las Vegas, Nevada 89162
702 622-7232
tvercver@cox.net

LSU Loan Labor Loss
Friday, April 08, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 April 2011

LSU LOAN LABOR LOSS

During the 2011-2012 academic year, we will be closing the tissue loan program of the LSU Collection of Genetic Resources; this includes tissues of amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians. Because the collection's loan program is very active we spend essentially all of our labor processing loans. As a result, other vital needs of the collection, such as accessioning new material and maintaining the organization of the collection, have been neglected. Addressing these issues will ultimately make the loan process faster and more efficient.

Robb Brumfield
Associate Professor of Biology & Curator of Genetic Resources
Museum of Natural Science & Department of Biological Sciences
119 Foster Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
brumfld@lsu.edu

Lucille Stickel Herp Award
Monday, March 21, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 March 2011

THE LUCILLE F. STICKEL AWARD FOR BOX TURTLE RESEARCH

Box Turtles have been present in North American for millions of years. But the picture is changing rapidly. Every long-term study of the box turtle has concluded that populations are declining at an alarming rate today. Protecting existing populations is complicated by the fact that there is still so much that we do not know about the life history, habitat needs, and population dynamics of box turtles. In an effort to contribute to the science that may save them, the Box Turtle Conservation Committee established the Lucille F. Stickel Box Turtle Research Award in 2009 to honor her fifty years of box turtle research.

To date, the Lucille F. Stickel Award has supported two important research projects; a summary of the research can be viewed at the above website.

In order to continue funding important box turtle research, donations to the Stickel Award are urgently needed. The North Carolina Zoological Society accepts donations for this research grant. All donations are tax deductible and go directly toward research funding.

To donate, please go to

www.boxturtlesintrouble.org

or send a check in any amount made out to the North Carolina Zoological Society. Write Stickel Fund in the bottom left and mail the check to

John Groves
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina 27205

To donate by phone, call the North Carolina Zoo at 336.879.7250 or toll-free 888.244.3736 between 8 am and 5 pm EST.

Maine Herp Posters
Tuesday, March 02, 2004: Amherst, Maine - CNAH
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has published three new posters illustrating in color the amphibians, turtles, and reptiles of their state.

Designed by Ethan Nedeau of BioDrawVersity, the posters cover the following taxa (common names as they appear on the posters):

Poster 1 - Bullfrog, Gray Treefrog, Pickerel Frog, Mink Frog, American Toad, Wood Frog, Spring Peeper, Green Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, Spring Salamander, Spotted Salamander, Blue-spotted Salamander, Eastern Newt, Common Mudpuppy, Northern Two-lined Salamander, Northern Redback Salamander, Four-toed Salamander, and Northern Dusky Salamander.

Poster 2 - Blanding's Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, Wood Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Common Musk Turtle, Common Snapping Turtle, and Painted Turtle.

Poster 3 - Eastern Racer, Ringneck Snake, Brown Snake, Common Garter Snake, Smooth Green Snake, Timber Rattlesnake, Northern Water Snake, Milk Snake, Redbelly Snake, and Eastern Ribbon Snake.

The photography is exquisite, and the informative and excellent text is by Mark McCollough, Phillip deMaynadier, and Ethan Nedeau.

To obtain copies, contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at

(207) 287-8000

The posters are $3.00 each or $8.00 for all three (plus postage & handling), and can be viewed online at

http://www.biodrawversity.com/artwork/Snakes_Front.jpg
http://www.biodrawversity.com/artwork/Turtle_Front.jpg
http://www.biodrawversity.com/artwork/Amphibian_Front.jpg

Map Turtle Molecules
Thursday, January 12, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 68
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 January 2006

Map Turtle Tissue Needed

I am a doctoral student at Iowa State University conducting research on the genus Graptemys. I am looking for a tissue sample of Graptemys ernsti for molecular work. This sample can be in the form of a tail clip, liver sample, muscle sample, blood in buffer, or extracted DNA. If anyone has advice or a sample, please contact me. Any sample should be accompanied by a permit from state where the specimen was obtained. Thank you.

Erin Myers
EEOB Department
251 Bessey Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
emyers1@iastate.edu

Maryland Herp Regs
Tuesday, April 08, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 April 2008

On 28 March 2008, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) announced changes to the existing Reptile, Turtle, and Amphibian Possession and Permit regulations. The changes, effective immediately, add five species of aquatic turtles to the list of regulated species and create a permitted exception for breeding captive turtles with a permit. Aquatic turtles added to the list of regulated species include: Northern Painted Turtle, Eastern Mud Turtle, Northern Redbelly Turtle, Common Musk Turtle, and Diamondback Terrapin.

In 2007, Maryland prohibited commercial take of Diamondback Terrapins. The new regulations formally adopt that legislative change. Diamondback Terrapins, like the other aquatic turtles listed above, may be bred in captivity with a permit from MDNR.

An individual may take and possess one turtle from each of the species listed. Those animals may be taken from the wild and possessed without a permit but may not be commercially traded or sold. As a result of these regulations, commercial harvest of any aquatic turtle (except Common Snapping Turtle) is now prohibited. The new regulations will allow a person with a reptile and amphibian permit from MDNR to breed turtles in captivity and possess turtles less-than four inches in length.

In addition to the aquatic turtles, Bullfrogs and Green Frogs were added to the list of regulated species. A person may take from the wild or possess up to four of each species without a permit. A person may take 10 Bullfrogs per day for personal use as food.

Several other currently regulated species of reptiles and amphibians were moved to the more restricted lists (B or C) because of conservation concerns for these species. The possession limit for List B species is one from the wild, except for Wood Turtles, Spotted Turtles, and Diamondback Terrapins. No List C species may be possessed or taken from the wild. These are primarily state-listed threatened or endangered species. The Copperhead was moved to List C as a result of another law passed by the General Assembly, which now prohibits the possession of venomous reptiles in Maryland.

MDNR is providing an opportunity for persons in possession of these newly regulated aquatic turtles and frogs to obtain a “grandfathered” permit for any individuals from the list of species that were held in captivity prior to 24 March 2008. Application for this permit must be received by 30 April 2008. Applications may be sent to Permits Coordinator, DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service, 580 Taylor Avenue, E-1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Maryland Salamander Saga
Wednesday, December 27, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 December 2006

TIGER SALAMANDERS TERMINATED

An account of the demise of the Eastern Tiger Salamander in Maryland, outlining the neglect of that state's DNR, entitled "Those rare and endangered state listed species: who is minding the store," was published by David Lee in the December 2006 issue of the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society [41(12): 217-224].

The last Maryland population of Eastern Tiger Salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum, appears to have disappeared from a site that is owned and managed by Maryland DNR. This site was purchased by The Nature Conservancy specifically to protect this species and was later sold to the state with the stipulation that this salamander be managed in perpetuity. The one surviving breeding pond was not monitored and over time silted in, the pH and water depth changed, surrounding vegetation shaded the pond, and blue gills were introduced. Despite years of warnings of alarm from people familiar with the needs of these salamanders and a decline documented by a private individual, the state refused to take action or listen to advice from local herpetologists.

An agency boasting "every thing we do is based on the best available science" failed to maintain a robust viable population under their stewardship since the early 1970s. An agency with a forestry division, wetland specialists, wetland restoration teams, a legal mandate to protect state endangered species, and a state herpetologist, were unable to oversee the well being of a forest dwelling creature on lands they own and manage. One can only imagine how well other locally rare and endangered reptiles, turtles, and amphibians are doing under their care. The article raises the obvious question as to how our other states oversee non-game species of conservation concern.

A gratis PDF of this article is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Mass Herp List Online
Friday, November 13, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 November 2009

Now available

MASSACHUSETTS HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Massachusetts is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Massachusetts web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Massachusetts checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Massachusetts joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Metamorph Moss Allergy
Wednesday, June 03, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 175
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 June 2009

METAMORPHOSING MOSS ALLERGY

I work for Dr. Rick A. Relyea at the University of Pittsburgh and I am currently running an experiment in which I need to keep metamorphosing anurans in containers until they have completely absorbed their tails. Historically, we have used sphagnum moss to keep their environment moist. Unfortunately, I am allergic to sphagnum moss. I was wondering if anyone had ever used a different method or has some suggestions on what I might use to alleviate this problem.

Jenise Brown
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
jmb128+@pitt.edu

Metter Award Applications
Friday, February 04, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 February 2011

DEAN E. METTER AWARD GRANT PROPOSALS SOLICITED FOR 2011

Dean E. (Doc) Metter (1932-2001) was a long-time member of the biology faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he taught zoology, comparative anatomy, evolution, and herpetology. A believer in putting knowledge to the test in the field, Doc provided frequent opportunities for students to engage in fieldwork. In addition, he frequently assisted his graduate students as they ventured out to collect data. Doc was a co-founder of the Bobby Witcher Society, the legacy of which is a scholarship fund. For many years, the interest earned served to reward outstanding herpetology students who intended to continue their education and seek a career in vertebrate biology. That fund now serves a similar purpose by honoring Doc's memory while helping to fund the SSAR- administered Dean E. Metter Memorial Award.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Award is: (1) to honor the memory of Dean E. Metter; (2) to encourage students to pursue field research in herpetology; and (3) to facilitate field research in herpetology by providing funds for relevant expenses.

AWARD AMOUNT
Grants made from the award will be no less than $300 and no more than $1,000. Efforts will be made to fund as many eligible proposals as possible.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college or university and be conducting field-based research in herpetology. This research may occur anywhere in the world, but priority will be given to research conducted in the state of Missouri.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Expenses eligible for funding include: (1) travel expenses (e.g., mileage, airfare) associated with the field research project; and (2) equipment for field-based research (e.g., materials for drift fences, traps, etc.). Funds may not be used for salaries or any other personnel expenses, travel to meetings, equipment or supplies for laboratory-based research (even if applicable to the project), or overhead or indirect costs.

CRITERIA FOR AWARDS
The following criteria will be used to make awards:

A. Scientific merit of the proposed project. B. Nature of the proposed project; priority will be given, in order, to proposals that fall into the following categories:

Natural history studies (e.g., habitat utilization, life tables, demography, reproductive strategies, behavior).

Functional morphology (i.e., relationships between structure and function, particularly as these relate to natural history parameters).

Biogeographic studies, including elucidation of biodiversity in a given area (e.g., regional or national biotic surveys), efforts to determine historical events leading to current distribution patterns, and effects resulting from introductions of alien species.

Evolutionary studies (establishing phylogenies based on morphological or genetic criteria).

Other.

C. Relevance of the field component to the overall execution of the proposed project.

APPLICATIONS AND AWARDS
In keeping with the Society's goal of encouraging participation by the broadest possible community, preference may be given to individuals who might not have access to other funding sources. All applicants must be members of the SSAR. Past recipients of an SSAR GIH award in any category are not eligible for this award. Each proposal must include the following:

(A) TITLE PAGE giving the title of the project, the name, mailing address, office and home telephone numbers and, if possible, fax number and e-mail address of the applicant. The title page should include a statement indicating that applicants will comply with all applicable permit regulations, and adhere to all appropriate animal care guidelines in the course of conducting funded projects.

(B) BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES of the proposed project.

(C) METHODS for carrying out the project.

(D) COMPLETE PROJECT BUDGET (indicating for which expenses support is being solicited), including a listing of all current and pending support for the project.

(E) BRIEF RESUMÉ of the applicant.

(F) LETTER OF SUPPORT from the research advisor, which also will serve to confirm enrollment at an accredited institution. The proposal must be typed, double spaced, and must not exceed 1,200 words, excluding title page, literature cited, CV (resumé), and budget. Proposals should be submitted electronically as email attachments. Submit proposals or questions regarding application procedures to the Chair of the Metter Award Committee, Dr. Joseph J. Beatty (beattyj@science.oregonstate.edu ).

NOTE
All proposals must be submitted no later than 30 MARCH 2011 to be considered; SSAR dues must be paid by the preceding 31 December. Failure to meet these guidelines may result in elimination of a proposal from consideration. Awards will be announced on or around 15 April 2010. Successful applicants are encouraged to submit the results of their research for publication in the Journal of Herpetology or Herpetological Review, or to present their findings at the annual meeting of the SSAR.

The Dean E. Metter Award Recipients for 2010 were:

(1) Matthew Niemiller

Matthew Niemiller is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His major professor is Ben Fitzpatrick and his dissertation research deals with the maintenance of distinct cave and surface forms in the plethodontid salamander genus, Gyrinophilus.  

(2) Michael Reichert 

Michael Reichert is a Ph.D. student in Carl Gerhardt's laboratory at the University of Missouri--Columbia. His research deals with acoustic communication in Hyla versicolor and his proposal requested funds to support his investigations into the role of visual cues in the production of courtship calls.   Michael Reichert is the first student from the University of Missouri--Columbia to win a Dean E. Metter Memorial Award. Dean Metter was a faculty member of the Department of Zoology and then the Division of Biological Sciences at that institution for approximately 30 years.

Joseph J. Beatty
Executive Associate Chairperson
Department of Zoology
3029 Cordley Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon 97331-2914
beattyj@science.oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-5338

Metter Grants 2010
Tuesday, January 20, 2009: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
The Plantation
St. George Island, Florida
http://www.cnah.org
20 January 2010

DEAN E. METTER AWARD GRANT PROPOSALS SOLICITED FOR 2010

Dean E. (Doc) Metter (1932-2001) was a long-time member of the biology faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he taught zoology, comparative anatomy, evolution, and herpetology. A believer in putting knowledge to the test in the field, Doc provided frequent opportunities for students to engage in fieldwork. In addition, he frequently assisted his graduate students as they ventured out to collect data. Doc was a co-founder of the Bobby Witcher Society, the legacy of which is a scholarship fund. For many years, the interest earned served to reward outstanding herpetology students who intended to continue their education and seek a career in vertebrate biology. That fund now serves a similar purpose by honoring Doc's memory while helping to fund the SSAR-administered Dean E. Metter Memorial Award.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Award is: (1) to honor the memory of Dean E. Metter; (2) to encourage students to pursue field research in herpetology; and (3) to facilitate field research in herpetology by providing funds for relevant expenses.

AWARD AMOUNT
Grants made from the award will be no less than $300 and no more than $1,000. Efforts will be made to fund as many eligible proposals as possible.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college or university and be conducting field-based research in herpetology. This research may occur anywhere in the world, but priority will be given to research conducted in the state of Missouri.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Expenses eligible for funding include: (1) travel expenses (e.g., mileage, airfare) associated with the field research project; and (2) equipment for field-based research (e.g., materials for drift fences, traps, etc.). Funds may not be used for salaries or any other personnel expenses, travel to meetings, equipment or supplies for laboratory-based research (even if applicable to the project), or overhead or indirect costs.

CRITERIA FOR AWARDS
The following criteria will be used to make awards:

A. Scientific merit of the proposed project. B. Nature of the proposed project; priority will be given, in order, to proposals that fall into the following categories:

Natural history studies (e.g., habitat utilization, life tables, demography, reproductive strategies, behavior).

Functional morphology (i.e., relationships between structure and function, particularly as these relate to natural history parameters).

Biogeographic studies, including elucidation of biodiversity in a given area (e.g., regional or national biotic surveys), efforts to determine historical events leading to current distribution patterns, and effects resulting from introductions of alien species.

Evolutionary studies (establishing phylogenies based on morphological or genetic criteria).

Other.

C. Relevance of the field component to the overall execution of the proposed project.

APPLICATIONS AND AWARDS
In keeping with the Society's goal of encouraging participation by the broadest possible community, preference may be given to individuals who might not have access to other funding sources. All applicants must be members of the SSAR. Past recipients of an SSAR GIH award in any category are not eligible for this award. Each proposal must include the following:

(A) TITLE PAGE giving the title of the project, the name, mailing address, office and home telephone numbers and, if possible, fax number and e-mail address of the applicant. The title page should include a statement indicating that applicants will comply with all applicable permit regulations, and adhere to all appropriate animal care guidelines in the course of conducting funded projects.

(B) BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES of the proposed project.

(C) METHODS for carrying out the project.

(D) COMPLETE PROJECT BUDGET (indicating for which expenses support is being solicited), including a listing of all current and pending support for the project.

(E) BRIEF RESUMÉ of the applicant.

(F) LETTER OF SUPPORT from the research advisor, which also will serve to confirm enrollment at an accredited institution. The proposal must be typed, double spaced, and must not exceed 1,200 words, excluding title page, literature cited, CV (resumé), and budget. Proposals should be submitted electronically as email attachments. Submit proposals or questions regarding application procedures to the Chair of the Metter Award Committee, Dr. Joseph J. Beatty.

NOTE
All proposals must be submitted no later than 30 March 2010 to be considered; SSAR dues must be paid by the preceding 31 December. Failure to meet these guidelines may resultin elimination of a proposal from consideration. Awards will be announced on or around 15 April 2010. Successful applicants are encouraged to submit the results of their research for publication in the Journal of Herpetology or Herpetological Review, or to present their findings at the annual meeting of the SSAR.

The Dean E. Metter Grant Recipients for 2009 were:

(1) Benjamin Jellen
Benjamin's proposal is entitled Pre-and Post-Copulatory Determinants of Reproductive Success in Missouri Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon).

His research will attempt to show how these snakes communicate using pheromones and how this relates to male and female reproductive success. Benjamin is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at St. Louis University and is working with Robert Aldridge

(2) Jeanine Refsnider
Jeanine's proposal is entitled Can Maternal Nest-site Choice Compensate for the Effects of Global Climate Change on Reptiles with Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination? A Common Garden Experiment using a Model Species.

It deals with Northern Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) and is designed to determine whether local adaptations to nest site choice are more genetically or environmentally driven. Jeanine is working in Fred Janzen's laboratory in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University.

Metter Memorial Grants
Wednesday, February 25, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 February 2009

DEAN E. METTER MEMORIAL FUND APPLICATION
Deadline Extended Until 30 March 2009

Dean E. (Doc) Metter (1932-2001) was a long-time member of the biology faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he taught zoology, comparative anatomy, evolution, and herpetology. A believer in putting knowledge to the test in the field, Doc provided frequent opportunities for students to engage in fieldwork. In addition, he frequently assisted his graduate students as they ventured out to collect data. Doc was a co-founder of the Bobby Witcher Society, the legacy of which is a scholarship fund. For many years, the interest earned served to reward outstanding herpetology students who intended to continue their education and seek a career in vertebrate biology. That fund now serves a similar purpose by honoring Doc's memory while helping to fund the SSAR-administered Dean E. Metter Memorial Award.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Award is: (1) to honor the memory of Dean E. Metter; (2) to encourage students to pursue field research in herpetology; and (3) to facilitate field research in herpetology by providing funds for relevant expenses.

AMOUNT
Grants made from the award will be no less than $300 and no more than $1,000. Efforts will be made to fund as many eligible proposals as possible.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college or university and be conducting field-based research in herpetology. This research may occur anywhere in the world, but priority will be given to research conducted in the state of Missouri.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Expenses eligible for funding include: (1) travel expenses (e.g., mileage, airfare) associated with the field research project; and (2) equipment for field-based research (e.g., materials for drift fences, traps, etc.). Funds may not be used for salaries or any other personnel expenses, travel to meetings, equipment or supplies for laboratory-based research (even if applicable to the project), or overhead or indirect costs.

CRITERIA FOR AWARDS
The following criteria will be used to make awards:

A. Scientific merit of the proposed project

B. Nature of the proposed project; priority will be given, in order, to proposals that fall into the following categories

1. Natural history studies (e.g., habitat utilization, life tables, demography, reproductive strategies, behavior).
2. Functional morphology (i.e., relationships between structure and function, particularly as these relate to natural history parameters).
3. Biogeographic studies, including elucidation of biodiversity in a given area (e.g., regional or national biotic surveys), efforts to determine historical events leading to current distribution patterns, and effects resulting from introductions of alien species.
4. Evolutionary studies (establishing phylogenies based on morphological or genetic criteria)
5. Other.

C. Relevance of the field component to the overall execution of the proposed project.

APPLICATIONS AND AWARDS
In keeping with the Society's goal of encouraging participation by the broadest possible community, preference may be given to individuals who might not have access to other funding sources. All applicants must be members of the SSAR. Past recipients of an SSAR GIH award in any category are not eligible for this award. Each proposal must include the following:

(A) TITLE PAGE giving the title of the project, the name, mailing address, office and home telephone numbers and, if possible, fax number and e-mail address of the applicant. The title page should include a statement indicating that applicants "will comply with all applicable permit regulations, and adhere to all appropriate animal care guidelines in the course of conducting funded projects."

(B) BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES of the proposed project.

(C) METHODS for carrying out the project.

(D) COMPLETE PROJECT BUDGET (indicating for which expenses support is being solicited), including a listing of all current and pending support for the project.

(E) BRIEF RESUMÉ of the applicant.

(F) LETTER OF SUPPORT from the research advisor, which also will serve to confirm enrollment at an accredited institution. The proposal must be typed, double spaced, and must not exceed 1,200 words, excluding title page, literature cited, CV (resume), and budget. Proposals should be submitted electronically as email attachments. Submit proposals or questions regarding application procedures to the Chair of the Metter Award Committee, Joseph J. Beatty, at

beattyj@science.oregonstate.edu

NOTE
All proposals must be submitted no later than 30 March to be considered; SSAR dues must be paid by the preceding 31 December. Failure to meet these guidelines may result in elimination of a proposal from consideration. Awards will be announced on or around 15 April. Successful applicants are encouraged to submit the results of their research for publication in the Journal of Herpetology or Herpetological Review, or to present their findings at the annual meeting of the SSAR.

Mexican Garter Snake
Monday, May 30, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 May 2005

Snake Suit Started

KVOA (Tucson, Arizona) 19 May 2005

Environmentalists Sue USFWS over Mexican Garter Snake

The Center for Biological Diversity is accusing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of failing to respond to a petition seeking the protection of the Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques) as an endangered species.

The Tucson-based organization filed a lawsuit in an attempt to get the federal agency to act on the petition it filed more than a year ago. It says the Mexican Garter Snake has vanished from most of its native range across Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and Mexico, including the San Pedro, Gila, Colorado and Santa Cruz rivers. The snake eats mostly native fish and frogs but also may eat mice and lizards. Biologists say the snake's decline is tied to the disappearance of native fish and frogs and declining quality of stream habitats.

Michigan Necturus Protected
Thursday, January 30, 2003: Michigan - Bradley Wurfel, Office of the Governor of Michigan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials today reminded anglers to return to the water any Common Mudpuppy caught while fishing.

DNR Fisheries managers recently investigated several reports that ice anglers in Southeast Michigan have been catching large numbers of Mudpuppies and leaving them on the ice to die. While perhaps not the most appealing creatures to look at, these salamanders serve an important role in Michigan's aquatic ecosystem and are protected under state law.

In southeast Michigan, mudpuppies often are caught on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River.

"Anglers often leave mudpuppies on the ice to die, because they think they are competitors for popular game species and feed on fish--which is not true--or because they think they are worthless," said Robert Haas, research biologist at the DNR Mt. Clemens Research Station. "Their diet consists of crayfish, snails, insect larvae, worms and some fish eggs, but there is no evidence they damage fish populations."

If a mudpuppy is caught during the ice-fishing season, the law requires its release back into the water. They cannot be taken out of Michigan waters from Nov. 15 through the last Saturday of May. Those caught by anglers typically are 8-12-inches long.

Mudpuppies are native to North American lakes and streams, but their populations have been declining severely in recent decades. They have flattened heads, slimy skin and four legs with four toes on each foot. They also have bushy, reddish gills behind their heads. Their color varies, ranging from a brown to a grayish-brown with scattered dark spots or blotches. For more information on mudpuppies, access the following link:

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364-35084--,00.html

Michigan Herp List Online
Monday, November 23, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 November 2009

Now available

MICHIGAN HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Michigan is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Michigan web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes (and their citations) will, however, be immediately accessible through the Michigan checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Michigan joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Migrant Herp Worker
Thursday, January 20, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 23
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 January 2005

Herp Immigration into Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands

I am a graduate student at Marshall University and am in need of any information pertaining to reptile, turtle, and amphibian immigration into reclaimed surface mine lands. Also any articles involving herpetofaunal populations and mining practices would be most appreciated.

Zachary J. Loughman
Graduate Research Assistant
Marshall University
Department of Biology
400 Hal Greer Boulevard
Huntington, West Virginia 25755
(304) 633-3918 or (304) 697-6026

Milk Snake Moniker
Friday, January 19, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 112
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 January 2007

MISSING MILK SNAKE MONIKER

I remember reading somewhere that Ferdinand Hayden applied the scientific name of Amphibolus sayi to the Pale Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata) in 1858. I have no idea what the source was for that information. Does anyone know the reference? If so, I would appreciate an email from you. Thanks in advance.

Brian Hubbs
P. O. Box 26407
Tempe, Arizona 85285
tricolorbrian@hotmail.com

Minnesota Herp List Online
Monday, October 05, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 October 2009

Now available

MINNESOTA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Minnesota is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Minnesota web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Minnesota checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Minnesota joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Minnesota Turtles
Monday, September 29, 2003: Maplewood, Minnesota - HerpDigest
Minnesota Updates Turtle Regulations

Minnesota has recently updated the statutes and rules regulating the commercial harvest of turtles. These changes will better regulate and will eventually eliminate commercial turtle harvesting in the state of Minnesota. The statutory changes enacted in the 2002 legislative session restricted commercial and recreation turtle licenses to Minnesota residents, increased the license fee from $70.00 to $250.00, and put a moratorium on the sale of new licenses. Current license holders can renew their license. This change will eventually end turtle trapping in Minnesota as current trappers retire or decide it is not economical to continue trapping. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources initiated changes in their rules governing commercial turtle harvest this past spring. Following a public comment period, a public hearing was held before an administrative law judge. The administrative law judge's findings (dated September 9, 2003), with a minor exception, upheld the rule changes. The rule changes include:

1. Limiting commercially harvestable species to Western Painted Turtles, Snapping Turtles, and Spiny Softshells. Previously, all non-threatened species were available for commercial taking. This change protects Smooth Softshells and 3 species of map turtles. 2. Redefines the type and size of allowable traps and limits the number of traps to 40 submerged (snapper traps) and 40 basking (painted traps). Submerged traps were already at 40, but basking traps were unlimited due to a previous lawsuit. Some of the more active painted trappers were running upwards of 200 traps! 3. Trappers will need to keep a daily log of where their traps are located and how many turtles they harvest. The reports will need to submitted monthly during the trapping season. Previously, trappers only had to report once a year on the total number of turtles taken. 4. Established minimum size limits on snappers and softshells of 12" straight-line carapace length. Snappers previously had a size limit of 10" carapace width including the curve, which was a 8.5" straight-line carapace length. Previously, there was no size limit on softshells. 5. Establishes language to allow for commercial turtle farms. The language only allows for commercial raising of only the three species listed above, and once every three years, farmers can take no more than 40 turtles of each species as brood stock. There are only a few people that have been pushing for turtle farms, and whether or not they will be successful remains to be seen.

The only exception the judge had to the rules was the time interval in checking basking traps. The DNR had proposed that the traps be emptied every 48 hours, but the judge determined that the DNR did not adequately demonstrate the need for that time period. The trappers wanted from 3 to 5 days, and the DNR has agreed to a 5 day emptying period for basking traps. While these changes will not result in an outright elimination of turtle harvesting in Minnesota, they will go a long way to help protect Minnesota's turtles.

For more information, contact:

John Moriarty or Richard Baker (Minnesota DNR)
Ramsey County Parks
2015 North Van Dyke Street
Maplewood, Minnesota 55109
(651)748-2500
(651)748-2508 fax
john.moriarty@co.ramsey.mn.us

The full document (20 pages) is available upon request from: asalzberg@herpdigest.org

Missouri Bullfrog Boosted
Tuesday, June 14, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 June 2005

Kansas City Star (Missouri) 9 June 2005

Bullfrog Made Official State Amphibian

Jefferson City, Missouri (AP): It was a small step in state law, a giant leap forward for the Bullfrog. Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Thursday declaring the Bullfrog "the official amphibian of the state of Missouri." He did so with a Bullfrog lounging in a nearby water tank in a classroom at Chinn Elementary School in Kansas City. The idea for the Bullfrog designation came from a fourth-grade class at the school, which lobbied lawmakers by making googley-eyed frogs from green pipe cleaners. The frog legislation passed on the final day of the legislative session last month. The Bullfrog - scientifically known as Rana catesbeiana - is to assume its official state title on August 28, the standard effective date for new Missouri laws. The animal is the largest frog in North America, reaching over 6 inches long with males weighing up to 1 pound. Its deep bellow can sometimes be heard up to one-half mile away. The frog usually is found in ponds, rivers and bogs and generally eats snakes, worms and insects. However, the Bullfrog also eats other frogs. With the addition of the Bullfrog, Missouri now has 20 official symbols, including its flag, a song and numerous varieties of animals. The Bullfrog bill is HB33.

Mole Salamander Monitor
Saturday, February 24, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 121
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 February 2007

MOLE SALAMANDER MONITORING AT MARSHALL

I am a graduate student in herpetology at Marshall University, working under the direction of Dr. Thomas Pauley. I am planning to implement a monitoring protocol for ambystomatid salamanders. I am need of published references regarding ambystomatid monitoring protocols, and any work on ambystomatid terrestrial habitat requirements. Anyone with information on this topic, either references or unpublished material, can contact me by email at:

Frank31383@yahoo.com

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Frank Piccininni
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, West Virginia 25755-2500
(516) 225-8545

Morafka Gopherus Grant
Tuesday, August 31, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 August 2010

DAVID J. MORAFKA MEMORIAL RESEARCH GRANT FOR 2011

In honor and memory of Dr. David J. Morafka, distinguished herpetologist and authority on North American Gopher Tortoises, the Desert Tortoise Council, with the aid of several donors, has established a monetary grant to help support research that contributes to the understanding, management and conservation of tortoises of the genus Gopherus in the southwestern United States and/or Mexico: G. agassizii, G. berlandieri and/or G. flavomarginatus.

Award Amount: $2,000.00 to be given at the Desert Tortoise Council’s Annual Symposium, depending on the availability of funding and an appropriate recipient.

Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with a recognized institution (e.g., university, museum, government agency, non-governmental organization) and may be graduate students, post-doctoral students or other researchers. They must agree to present a report on the results of the research in which grant funds were used at a future symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the research to contribute to the biological knowledge of one or more of the above Gopher Tortoise species, and to their management and conservation. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the research problem, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the research, and the likelihood of successful completion and publication.

Application Procedure:

1. Obtain an application form from the Desert Tortoise Council’s website (www.deserttortoise.org) or print out the form from an e-mail notification.

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the research project in no more than 1,200 words.

3. Applications must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s research advisor, supervisor or a knowledgeable colleague. The letters must be in sealed envelopes addressed to the “Morafka Research Award Selection Committee” with the recommenders’ signatures across the flaps.

4. Completed application materials must be submitted by

3 DECEMBER 2010

to the Desert Tortoise Council
P. O. Box 3273
Beaumont, California 92223

5. A research award recipient will be selected by a committee of Gopher Tortoise biologists appointed by the Desert Tortoise Council Board of Directors.

6. The research award recipient will be notified of his/her selection by 21 January 2011 and the award will be presented at the 2011 Desert Tortoise Council Symposium, 18-20 February 2011.

Morafka Award 2012
Wednesday, August 31, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 August 2011

DAVID J. MORAFKA MEMORIAL RESEARCH AWARD 2012 APPLICATIONS SOUGHT

In honor and memory of Dr. David J. Morafka, distinguished herpetologist and authority on North American gopher tortoises, the Desert Tortoise Council, with the aid of several donors, has established a monetary award to help support research that contributes to the understanding, management and conservation of tortoises of the genus Gopherus in the southwestern United States and/or Mexico: G. agassizii, G. berlandieri, G. flavomarginatus and/or G. morafkai.

Award Amount: $2,000 to be awarded at the Desert Tortoise Council’s Annual Symposium, depending on the availability of funding and an appropriate recipient.

Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with a recognized institution (e.g., university, museum, government agency, non-governmental organization) and may be graduate students, post-doctoral students or other researchers. They must agree to present a report on the results of the research in which award funds were used at a future symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the research to contribute to the biological knowledge of one or more of the above gopher tortoise species, and to their management and conservation. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the research problem, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the research, and the likelihood of successful completion and publication.

Application Procedure:

1. Obtain an application form from the Desert Tortoise Council’s website (www.deserttortoise.org) or print out the form from an e-mail notification.

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the research project in no more than 1,200 words.

3. Applications must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s research advisor, supervisor or a knowledgeable colleague. The letters must be in sealed envelopes addressed to the “Morafka Research Award Selection Committee” with the recommenders’ signatures across the flaps.

4. COMPLETED APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 2 DECEMBER 2011 to the Desert Tortoise Council, P. O. Box 1568, Ridgecrest, California 93556.

5. A research award recipient will be selected by a committee of gopher tortoise biologists appointed by the Desert Tortoise Council Board of Directors.

6. The research award recipient will be notified of his/her selection by 20 January 2012 and the award will be presented at the 2012 Desert Tortoise Council Symposium, 17-19 February 2012.

Morafka Grant 2009
Friday, October 24, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 October 2008

DAVID J. MORAFKA MEMORIAL RESEARCH GRANT

In honor and memory of Dr. David J. Morafka, distinguished herpetologist and authority on North American Gopher Tortoises, the Desert Tortoise Council, with the aid of several donors, has established a monetary grant to help support research that contributes to the understanding, management and conservation of tortoises of the genus Gopherus in the southwestern United States and/or Mexico: G. agassizii, G. berlandieri and/or G. flavomarginatus.

Grant Amount: $2,000 to be awarded at the Desert Tortoise Council’s Annual Symposium, depending on the availability of funding and an appropriate recipient.

Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with a recognized institution (e.g., university, museum, government agency, non-governmental organization) and may be graduate students, post-doctoral students or other researchers. They must agree to present a report on the results of the research in which award funds were used at a future symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the research to contribute to the biological knowledge of one or more of the above Gopher Tortoise species, and to their management and conservation. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the research problem, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the research, and the likelihood of successful completion and publication.

Application Procedure:

1. Obtain an application form from the Desert Tortoise Council’s website at

www.deserttortoise.org

or print out the form from an email notification.

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the research project in no more than 1,200 words.

3. Applications must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s research advisor, supervisor or a knowledgeable colleague. The letters must be in sealed envelopes addressed to the "Morafka Research Award Selection Committee" with the recommenders’ signatures across the flaps.

4. Completed application materials must be submitted by 15 December 2008 to

Desert Tortoise Council
P. O. Box 3273
Beaumont, California 92223

5. A research grant recipient will be selected by a committee of gopher tortoise biologists appointed by the Desert Tortoise Council Board of Directors.

6. The research grant recipient will be notified of his/her selection by 1 February 2009 and the award will be presented at the 2009 Desert Tortoise Council Symposium, 19-22 February 2009.

Morafka Grant for 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 August 2009

THE MORAFKA GRANT FOR 2009

In honor and memory of David J. Morafka, distinguished herpetologist and authority on North American Gopher Tortoises, the Desert Tortoise Council, with the aid of several donors, has established a monetary grant to help support research that contributes to the understanding, management and conservation of tortoises of the genus Gopherus in the southwestern United States and/or Mexico: G. agassizii, G. berlandieri and/or G. flavomarginatus.

Grant Amount: $2,000 to be awarded at the Desert Tortoise Council’s Annual Symposium, depending on the availability of funding and an appropriate recipient.

Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with a recognized institution (e.g., university, museum, government agency, non-governmental organization) and may be graduate students, post-doctoral students or other researchers. They must agree to present a report on the results of the research in which grant funds were used at a future symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the research to contribute to the biological knowledge of one or more of the above species of Gopher Tortoises, and to their management and conservation. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the research problem, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the research, and the likelihood of successful completion and publication.

The grant announcement, with information on how to apply for it, has been posted on the DTC website at

http://www.deserttortoise.org/morafkaaward.html

Glenn R. Stewart
Professor Emeritus of Zoology and Environmental Science
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
(909) 593-6756
grstewart@csupomona.edu

Morafka Memorial Grant
Wednesday, July 11, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 July 2007

ANNOUNCEMENT
DAVID J. MORAFKA MEMORIAL RESEARCH GRANT

In honor and memory of Dr. David J. Morafka, distinguished herpetologist and authority on North American Gopher Tortoises, the Desert Tortoise Council, with the aid of several donors, has established a monetary grant to help support research that contributes to the understanding, management and conservation of tortoises of the genus Gopherus in the southwestern United States and/or Mexico: G. agassizii, G. berlandieri and/or G. flavomarginatus.

Grant Amount: $2,000 to be awarded at the Desert Tortoise Council’s Annual Symposium, depending on the availability of funding and an appropriate recipient.

Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with a recognized institution (e.g., university, museum, government agency, non-governmental organization) and may be graduate students, post-doctoral students or other researchers. They must agree to present a report on the results of the research in which grant funds were used at a future symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the research to contribute to the biological knowledge of one or more of the above gopher tortoise species, and to their management and conservation. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the research problem, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the research, and the likelihood of successful completion and publication.

Application Procedure:

1. Obtain an application form from the Desert Tortoise Council’s website (www.deserttortoise.org) or print out the form from an e-mail notification.

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the research project in no more than 1200 words.

3. Applications must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s research advisor, supervisor or a knowledgeable colleague. The letters must be in sealed envelopes addressed to the “Morafka Research Grant Selection Committee” with the recommenders’ signatures across the flaps.

4. Completed application materials must be submitted by 1 December 2007 to the Desert Tortoise Council, P. O. Box 3273, Beaumont, California 92223.

5. A research grant recipient will be selected by a committee of gopher tortoise biologists appointed by the Desert Tortoise Council Board of Directors.

6. The research grant recipient will be notified of his/her selection by 1 February 2008 and the award will be presented at the 2008 Desert Tortoise Council Symposium.

Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Listed
Thursday, September 19, 2002: Washington D.C. - DAPTF
The Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Listed has been officially listed as a Federally endangered species, effective 1 August 2002. See the U.S. Federal Register Volume 67, Number 127, for details.

Check out the CNAH web site common and scientific names list for a photograph of this amphibian.

Ms Map Turtle Tissue
Wednesday, August 29, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 132
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
29 August 2007

MASTER'S MAP TURTLE TISSUE

I am a graduate student at Ohio University working on the phylogeography of Graptemys ouachitensis for my Master's thesis and I am seeking DNA samples for this turtle across its range. I would appreciate a response from those researchers that have tissues that I might borrow for my project. Tissues or a tail snip in 95% ethanol (or a blood sample) would be useful. I would very much appreciate assistance in locating tissues because the large range of this chelonian precludes extensive sampling on a tight budget. I can be contacted at

Ashley Smith
Ohio University
245 Life Sciences Building
Athens, Ohio 45701
(419) 203-4768
as257306@yahoo.com

Naked Anuran Calendar
Friday, September 02, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 September 2011

HL NAKED FROG CALENDAR

Support research efforts of students in the Herpetologists' League through the purchase of the 2012 HL Graduate Student Calendar. The purchase price of $20 includes all shipping, handling, and any applicable taxes -- 100 % of the proceeds go to support research grants available to HL student members.

For purchase information, go to this URL:

www.zenscientist.com

If you're already an HL member, scroll down your Profile Page and click on the box indicating the HL Graduate Student Calendar (please allow a couple of weeks for shipping). Get your calendar directly from HL now, before supplies run out!

Stephen Mullin
sjmullin@eiu.edu

Narrowmouths Needed
Monday, March 14, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 34
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 March 2005

Narrowmouths Needed

I am a student at the University of Alabama, and I am working on a phylogeographic study of the Eastern Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) with Dr. Leslie Rissler. We need tissue specimens from as many individuals throughout the range of this species as possible to conduct our study. Thus far our collection efforts have produced samples from the northwestern and southeastern corners of Alabama. Individuals from all areas in this species range are needed, along with information on where they were collected. We need data to be as specific as possible; we use GPS coordinates, but county and state where collected would suffice. Any assistance from the Herpetological community would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Jason Chesser
University of Alabama

If you manage to collect or already have specimens of the Eastern Narrowmouth Toad that you would be willing to share with us, please contact me at:

chess002@bama.ua.edu

Our Fedex shipping number is 112 498 656.

Specimens should be shipped to:

Leslie Rissler
MHB Hall, Room 307
P. O. Box 870345
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487

Natives to Namibia
Tuesday, April 05, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 April 2011

NATIVE AMERICANS TO NAMIBIA

I have the opportunity to take four Native American students to Namibia during the upcoming winter break for a field research experience.

Some details:

1) We will be in Namibia for five weeks during the Dec/Jan break, working out of a field station in the Namib desert

2) Pre-trip and post-trip activities will be done as a virtual lab group

3) Each student will be part of a small team working on some kind of reptile ecology project

4) Students will be teamed with undergraduates from Namibian universities

5) All travel, living, and research expenses are covered

6) $3500.00 stipend

If you know of any Native American students who might be interested in this experience, please let them know of this opportunity. Undergraduate students from any university are eligible. Below are my email address and phone number; if any of you on the CNAH list know of a prospective student, I would be pleased to send them some information.

Doug Eifler
Natural Resources
Haskell Indian Nations University
155 Indian Avenue
Lawrence, Kansas 66046 785-424-3397
deifler@haskell.edu

Nebraska Amphibians
Sunday, March 07, 2004: Gothenburg, Nebraska - HerpDigest

Amphibian Colonization of Mitigation Wetlands in Nebraska

Bob Brodman reported in the October 2003 Froglog on the colonization of restored wetland areas on the Kankakee Sands property by amphibians. We have had similar results in Nebraska. The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District along with the Nebraska Public Power District, as mitigation for their five hydroelectric power plants, have purchased two properties along the Platte River in Nebraska totalling over 3,000 hectares. In the past two years the Districts have developed over eight kilometres of linear sloughs, potholes, and a large 15 hectare pond/wetland.

The purpose of these floodplain wetlands is to improve migratory habitat for whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, ducks and geese. To date there has been extensive duck and geese activity on these wetlands with limited crane use. Amphibians however, have colonized the shallow, fishless waters in amazing numbers.

Night-time calling and day-time search surveys as well as drift fences and pitfall traps have identified seven amphibian species in and near the wetlands, with five documented as reproducing. Most numerous in the survey to date are Plains Leopard Frogs (Rana blairi). Also common are Western Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris triseriata), Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), Woodhouse's Toads (Bufo woodhousii) and Plains Spadefoots (Spea bombifrons).

Identified at the areas, but not yet documented as reproducing in the reconstructed wetlands were Cope's Gray Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) and Barred Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). Additional wetlands construction is planned for each property and annual monitoring of amphibian populations will continue.

For more information contact: Mark M. Peyton, Senior District Biologist, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, 320 Avenue D, Gothenburg, Nebraska 69138

mpeyton@cnppid.com

Nebraska Ban
Friday, September 20, 2002: Lincoln, Nebraska - DAPTF
Governor Mike Johanns signed into law new rules promulgated by the state Game & Parks Commission that ban the commercial exploitation of Nebraska's 62 native species of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. The new regulations outlawed the capture and sale of tens of thousands of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. It ended the business of a small number of individuals who sold these animals online to pet stores and out-of-state dealers. Knowledgeable herpetologists, who supported the regulations, said that many species of turtles and reptiles could not reproduce quickly enough to withstand the pressure applied by commercial collectors and dealers. (CNAH extends its sincere thanks to Governor Johanns for signing this enlightened legislation.)

Nebraska Herp Grant
Friday, January 20, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 January 2006

The Nebraska Herpetological Society is offering an annual competitive grant of up to $500.00 to all herpetologists. For 2005-2006 ONLY, the grant applications will be due by 1 March 2006 (postmarked) and we will select an awardee by 15 March 2006. For subsequent years, applications will be due by 15 December for a 1 March award date. Criteria, addresses, and format for the grant proposals can be obtained on the web in both PDF and Microsoft Word format at:

http://www.nebherp.org/herpetology.html

Any questions should be addressed to Dan Fogell at

dfogell@southeast.edu

Nerodio 2007
Sunday, May 06, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 May 2007

NERODIO 2007

Dates for the annual spring census (aka Nerodio 2007) of Lake Erie Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum) will be 28 May to 10 June. As in the past, we will initially census the Bass Islands (28 May to 1 June), then move to Kelleys Island (2 June to 8 June), and return to the Bass Islands (9 June to 11 June). Dates may change slightly depending on weather and success. I am reserving a cottage on South Bass Island (Stone Lab's Sycamore Cottage) for the first week and on Kelley's Island (South Bay) for 2 to 8 June. After that we will be rooming on Gibraltar Island (Stone Lab's Barney Cottage). My hope is to have 6-10 people conducting census work throughout this period. Let me know the dates that you are interested in participating so that I can ensure that there is housing space, etc.

For those of you unfamiliar with NERODIO, my students, colleagues, volunteers, and I census populations of the Lake Erie Water Snake (a subspecific variant of the Northern Water Snake) each spring using standard mark-recapture techniques. Typically, we process on the order of 1,000 Water Snakes over the two-week census period. If you are interested in joining us, or have students that would be interested, let me know.

Richard B. King
Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
(815) 753-7833
(815) 753-0461 fax
rbking@niu.edu

Kristin M. Stanford
Lake Erie Water Snake Outreach & Research Coordinator
Northern Illinois University & OSU F.T. Stone Laboratory
P. O. Box 119
Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456
(419) 285-1847 or (419) 285-2341
(614) 247-6578 fax

Nevada Herp List Online
Monday, November 02, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 November 2009

Now available

NEVADA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Nevada is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Nevada web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Nevada checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Nevada joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only such coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Nevada Kingsnake Survey
Thursday, April 24, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 April 2008

THIRD ANNUAL GREAT BASIN MOUNTAIN KINGSNAKE SURVEY

Great Basin National Park and the Nevada Department of Wildlife are pleased to announce the third annual Nevada Sonoran mountain kingsnake surveys. Mountain Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis pyromelana) are rare and extremely secretive in Nevada and very little is known about their ecology, abundance, distribution, and habitat associations. Preliminary surveys of L. pyromelana localities in the Great Basin indicate they are montane, utilizing rocky habitats, between 6,000 and 8,000 feet elevation. They are often associated with riparian vegetation, Ponderosa pine, oakbrush, piñon and juniper woodland, and sagebrush. They feed primarily on lizards and small mammals, and undergo an ontogenetic shift in feeding ecology, switching from lizards as juveniles, to small mammals as adults. L. pyromelana is a thermo-conformer (its body temperatures closely tracks its surrounding thermal environment) and spends greater than 90% of its active season (April-October) under rocks or vegetation. For a desert snake it is found at relatively cool temperatures (18-22 degrees). It is a strongly diurnal or crepuscular species, primarily observed in the Great Basin during May and June, with spikes of surface activity during the summer monsoon season, and the fall. There are several ways to locate this species. Flipping (and replacing) rocks and logs, hiking riparian areas and washes at dawn and dusk when the habitat is in shadow, looking in cracks and crevices with mirrors, slowly walking the edges of talus and scree looking in the interstitial spaces, and generally wandering aimlessly through suitable habitat have proven effective methods to locate kingsnakes in the Great Basin.

The goals of the surveys are:

Inventory L. pyromelana in the South Snake Range.
Document basic ecology of L. pyromelana (thermal preferences, feeding habits, and habitat affinities).
Collect basic ecological data on montane Great Basin snake communities.
Voucher one individual of each reptile species per locality.

When

Surveys will begin by 9:00 am on Monday May 12th and run through the evening of Friday, May 16th. If you are interested in surveying on Saturday, May 17th or Sunday May 18th, contact Bryan Hamilton at:

100 Great Basin National Park
Baker, Nevada 89311
(775) 234-7331 ext. 255 (phone)
(775) 234-7210 (fax)
bryan_hamilton@nps.gov

Survey Location

Surveys will take place at two L. pyromelana localities, in the South Snake Range, Williams Creek Canyon and Lehman Creek (Map 1). The survey locations are approximately 230 miles from Salt Lake City and 280 miles from Las Vegas. The site is remote, with no gas, food, or lodging available for over 20 miles. Camping will be primitive, dry car camping at Gray Cliffs Group Campground.

Directions to Gray Cliffs Group Campground

Take NV highway 487 south from US 50/6. Continue on 487 into the town of Baker to Highway 488. Turn right onto 488 and continue to the park boundary. Several hundred feet past the park boundary, turn left onto Baker Creek road (graded gravel road). Follow Baker Creek Road to the turn off to Gray Cliffs Group Campground. Turn left at the Gray Cliffs Sign and follow the right fork of the road. We’ll be camping in Loop C.

What to bring

Bring the things you need to be comfortable in the field and while camping.

GPS, sunscreen, field notebook, snake hooks, snake tongs, mirrors (for shining cracks), gloves (for turning rocks and logs), pillowcases, thermometers, camping equipment, tent, sleeping bag, stove, extra clothes, food, drinking water, etc.

Temperatures in the Great Basin in mid-May can be quite cold at night and winter weather is still possible at this time of year. Dress appropriately.

Terrain- Extremely rocky and steep, elevations above 6,000 feet.

Plan on walking for eight hours a day, mostly during morning and evening hours, and flipping (and replacing) lots of rocks.

Methods

Surveys will be walking, time constrained surveys following Crump and Scott (1994). All snakes will be collected and processed. Upon capturing a snake, temperature (ambient and substrate) should be recorded and GPS coordinates taken. Processing will include weighing, measuring, sexing, and scale clipping. One specimen of each species will be archived at BYU. All other snakes will be released at their exact site of capture within 24 hours of capture. L. pyromelana will be photovouchered and a genetic sample collected.

Hazards

Extremely remote, rugged, steep rocky terrain
Elevation
Venomous snakes
Hypothermia
Sunburn

The nearest medical facility is the William B Ririe Hospital in Ely (70 miles away). Emergency Medical Services are available from Baker and Ely through 911. I will have a hand held radio available for outgoing emergency calls. I look forward to seeing everyone. Please contact Bryan Hamilton (above) if you plan on attending and if you have any questions or concerns.

New CNAH Herp Facsimiles
Monday, December 12, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 December 2005

A NEW HERPETOLOGICAL FACSIMILE REPRINT SERIES
sponsored by The Center for North American Herpetology

THE HERPETOLOGY OF HISPANIOLA by DORIS COCHRAN
CNAH Facsimile Reprint Number 1
Original Year of Publication: 1941
Facsimile Year of Publication: 2005
vii + 398 pp. Softbound
ISBN: 1-885209-00-2
Price: $29.95 a copy (postage paid)

A REVISION OF THE KINGSNAKES: GENUS LAMPROPELTIS by FRANK N. BLANCHARD
CNAH Facsimile Reprint Number 2
Original Year of Publication: 1921
Facsimile Year of Publication: 2005
vi + 260 pp. Softbound
ISBN: 1-885209-45-2
Price: $22.95 a copy (postage paid)

THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF NORTH AMERICA by LEONHARD STEJNEGER
CNAH Facsimile Reprint Number 3
Original Year of Publication: 1895
Facsimile Year of Publication: 2005
151 pp. Softbound
ISBN: 1-885209-47-9
Price: $17.95 a copy (postage paid)

VARIATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SNAKES OF THE GENUS PITUOPHIS by OLIVE GRIFFITH STULL
CNAH Facsimile Reprint Number 4
Original Year of Publication: 1940
Facsimile Year of Publication: 2005
vi + 225 pp. Softbound
ISBN: 1-885209-46-0
Price: $19.95 a copy (postage paid)

THE HELLBENDERS by MAX ALLEN NICKERSON & CHARLES EDWIN MAYS
CNAH Facsimile Reprint Number 5
Original Year of Publication: 1972
Facsimile Year of Publication: 2005
viii + 106 pp. Softbound
ISBN: 1-885209-43-6
Price: $12.95 a copy (postage paid)

Pricing above includes postage by media mail within the United States. A free shipping option is valid through 31 December 2005.

With the publication of these five selections, THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY is pleased to initiate its facsimile reprint series, produced and published in cooperation with Eric Thiss of Serpent's Tale & Zoo Book Sales.

The CNAH facsimiles are designed to make available long out-of-print herpetological works about North America and adjoining countries in order to better serve the academic community. Titles will be issued as they become available to the public domain. Suggestions for future titles on North American herpetology are appreciated; let CNAH know what you want.

For this initial offering, we are grateful to our sponsors, Touchstone Energy, Westar Energy, and the R. A. Javitch Natural History Rare Book Foundation for their support. Russ Gurley of Living Art and Bob & Sheri Ashley of ECO donated in-kind services as well.

CNAH is a non-profit 501c3 foundation devoted to promoting the preservation and conservation of North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodiles through education and information. For more information about CNAH, visit our web site at

http://www.cnah./org

*****

NOTE: A discount of 20% per book (30% for the set of five) is offered to all individuals, organizations, and corporations that have contributed a minimum of $25.00 to CNAH (check the CNAH Donors list on the CNAH web site to see if you qualify). Other individuals wishing to qualify for this discount should send their CNAH donation of $25.00 or more (fully tax deductible) directly to Serpents Tale (address and payment methods below).

To order a copy of any or all of these CNAH facsimiles, contact:

Serpents Tale/Zoo Book Sales
403 Parkway Avenue North
P. O. Box 405
Lanesboro, Minnesota 55949-0405

Telephone: (507)467-8733
Webpage: www.zoobooksales.com
E-mail or PayPal to: zoobooks@acegroup.cc
Personal checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, or Paypal accepted as payment.

New Herp Book Series
Monday, April 05, 2004: Tewksbury Institute of Herpetology - New Zoogeographical Series

Tewksbury Institute of Herpetology has formed a partnership with EO Wildlife Conservation & Artistry to publish the herpetological contribution of new series of zoogeographical books covering vertebrate animals. The first two volumes, "The Zoogeography of Turtles, Crocodiles & Tuataras" and "Zoogeographical Atlas" are now available in a deluxe printing in signed and limited numbers exclusively as a gratuity to financial contributors to TIH in the amount of $50 or more. "Turtles." covers the taxonomy and distribution of every species and subspecies of turtle, crocodile and tuatara, including recently extinct forms. "Atlas" covers the massive breakdown of the world's nations, states, provinces and islands, acting as a zoogeographical guide for the entire series. The books, authored by naturalist Mehdi Joseph-Ouni, will be introduced to the broader public sometime in late 2004. "The Zoogeography of Salamanders & Caecilians" is expected in 2005.

For further information please contact

info@TIHerp.org

Also visit our site to learn further about the books:

http://www.tiherp.org/zoogeography/index.html

For information about contributions please visit:

http://www.tiherp.org/donate/index.html

New HL President
Monday, April 03, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 April 2006

Robert Jaeger Resigns as HL President
Linda Ford Assumes HL Presidency

In February 2006, Robert G. Jaeger resigned from his position as President of the Herpetologists' League for personal reasons. His letter of resignation was regretfully accepted, and Vice President Linda S. Ford succeeded to the Presidency in accordance with Article II, Section 2 of The Herpetologists' League Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The office of Vice President (President-Elect) is currently vacant.

The Board of Trustees will address the filling of the office of Vice President, and inform the members of the resolution during the General Meeting at the 2006 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in New Orleans, Louisiana, 12-17 July 2006.

Patrick Owen
Secretary, Herpetologists' League
Department of Biology
The Ohio State University at Lima
owen.133@osu.edu

New Jersey Snake Brochure
Friday, July 20, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 July 2007

FREE FULL COLOR BROCHURE ON NEW JERSEY SNAKES

A full color brochure entitled The Snakes of New Jersey has just been published by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and is available gratis. To view this new brochure, go to

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/pdf/snake_broch07.pdf

To obtain a free copy, contact:

Liz Jackson
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
(908) 637-4125
Liz.Jackson@dep.state.nj.us

*****

For greater comprehension and ease of use (both among herpetologists and the general public), this brochure adopted common names as listed in CNAH's Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians (Fifth Edition) by Joseph T. Collins & Travis W. Taggart (2002) and earlier editions.

New Lizard Species
Tuesday, October 11, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 October 2005

CNAH Board Member Discovers New Species of Lizard

Lawrence Journal World, Lawrence, Kansas
11 October 2005

What's black, white, red and green all over? It's something Avila University professor and CNAH Board member Robert Powell will announce sometime in December.

Powell, a biologist who has been at the Kansas City-based university for 30 years, and Robert Henderson, curator at the Milwaukee Public Museum, have discovered a new species of lizard in the south Caribbean that Powell will get to name in the December issue of the Caribbean Journal of Science.

Powell, who recruits students from around the country each summer to take a research excursion with him to the Caribbean, found the new reptile in June after being tipped off about its existence. The Reverend Bob de Silva, an amateur naturalist from St. Vincent who had visited Union Island, had been the only person to ever report seeing the geckolike lizard, and told Powell about it.

"It is indeed spectacular in its appearance," Powell said from Guana Island in the British Virgin Islands, where he is studying other reptiles. "The lizard is greenish with bright red, black and white spots that seem to jump out at you when he is placed against a plain background. But in its natural habitat, it is hard to see." Powell said the lizard, which is about the size of half a cigarette, probably has been seen before and mistaken for a bug. He said he was excited about his discovery, but his reaction was muted somewhat because he knew the lizard existed, and where to look for it. He said he isn't sure, but thinks the lizard fits the criteria for an endangered species. One example of the still-nameless vertebrate has been preserved at the Kansas University Natural History Museum.

New Virginia Salamander
Monday, November 22, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 November 2004

New Species of Salamander Discovered in Virginia

Standard common name: Big Levels Salamander
Scientific name: Plethodon sherando

Original Description: Highton, Richard. 2004. A new species of Woodland Salamander of the Plethodon cinereus group from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Jeffersoniana 14: 1-22.

Abstract (from Jeffersoniana web site)

Plethodon sherando is described from the Big Levels area of Augusta County, Virginia. It differs from P. cinereus in details of coloration, in having longer legs and fewer vertebrae, as well as in several allozyme values.

CNAH Note: This new amphibian is known only from Augusta County, Virginia. Standard common name is that recommended by the author. This is the tenth species of Woodland Salamander known from the central Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Those interested in obtaining a reprint of this new description can contact the author at:

rhighto1@umd.edu

or can purchase the reprint for $4.00 from

Jeffersoniana
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Martinsville, Virginia 24112

New York Crotalus
Thursday, July 21, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 July 2005

Red Nova (Dallas, Texas)

Group Aims to Save Rattlesnakes in New York Park

Westport, New York: The ponytailed environmentalist hiked down the ridge, over the gray rocks and matted brown leaves, stopped among the hardwoods, and said, "Right down the side, it's prime country here."

The warm, southeast-facing rock cliffs overlooking Lake Champlain mark the northern limit of the Timber Rattlesnake's habitat. Jaime Ethier, in boots and jeans, was bushwhacking from Champlain Palisades down to the pebbled shores of the lake - through terrain where he wouldn't see a coiled dark snake unless he nearly stepped on it. The Adirondack Council conservation director appeared unconcerned. He kept going off the trail to peer into crevices likely to hold a den of poisonous reptiles, whose spiky tails make the telltale rattle or buzzing sound when disturbed. He'd met a rattlesnake almost two years earlier in this forest 110 miles north of Albany and wanted to see another. Ethier was out of luck on a day of overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-50s, probably still too cool for the snakes.

Ethier's group wants to undo state conservation plans to allow mountain bikes in this neck of the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park, afraid cyclists will kill rattlers. Protected by state law, rattlers are considered a threatened species in New York, where bounties that led to their widespread killing were outlawed in 1971. State wildlife officials estimate New York has 3,000 to 6,000 rattlesnakes left, mostly around the Hudson Highlands and a dozen Adirondack dens.

But the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has declined to list them under the federal Endangered Species Act. "There are so few statewide, we feel that losing one or two to a mountain bike would be a tragedy," explained John Sheehan, the council's spokesman. With more than 1,000 miles of trails and primitive roads already open to mountain bikes in the park, the group sees no need to add "recreational conflicts" to the rattlesnake's diminishing range.

Cyclists counter that riding on 5 miles of trails in the Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest will do little harm. "It's a low probability that a biker's going to run a snake over," said Paul Capone, trail coordinator for the Adirondack Park Mountain Biking Initiative. "I'm sure there are rattlesnakes in that area, but for the most part I would say they prefer the habitat on the rocky open areas where bikes will not be riding." Bikes are allowed in 1.3 million acres of Adirondack wild forest and excluded from 1 million acres of more primitive wilderness areas. But as state officials issue new forest conservation plans, cyclists are losing ground. At Split Rock Mountain, they're being kept off trails down to the shoreline. "The reason people like to go there is access to Lake Champlain," Capone said. "It's kind of a critical time for mountain biking."

Wildlife biologists say it's also a critical time for Timber Rattlesnakes, whose bite is seldom fatal to humans (they don't always inject venom). Fear, misunderstanding, development sprawl and their attraction as dead curios or live pets have shrunk numbers, habitat and prospects. Timber Rattlesnakes are found in rugged terrain and hardwood forests from east Texas to southern Wisconsin, and from north Florida to a spot in New Hampshire. Believed gone entirely from Maine and Rhode Island, they are considered threatened or endangered in the Northeast except Pennsylvania, which has licensed hunting.

Rattlers hibernate in winter and are active from about May through September. Females start reproducing at age 8 or 9, giving birth to litters of five to 12 every few years. They mate in late August. "Given their low reproductive rate along with a high mortality rate of young, as well as being killed or captured by humans, the Timber Rattlesnake is in serious trouble in the Northeast," James Beemer, a civilian Defense Department biologist, wrote in a 2001 study.

With no reports of snake-cyclist incidents in the Tongue Mountain Range above Lake George, where mountain biking is allowed on certain trails away from the dens, the state Department of Environmental Conservation says it expects none above Lake Champlain either but will monitor it. Rattlers have not been responsible for any fatalities in New York for decades. Unless you try to pick up or harass one, you stand a better chance of being struck by lightning than bitten, Beemer said.

After studying Timber Rattlesnakes for more than a decade on the U.S. Military Academy's reserve in the Hudson Highlands, he notes that the ambush hunters are deadly to mice, chipmunks and squirrels but are "extremely shy" of humans and will hide or try to leave unnoticed.

Newt Fungus Found
Thursday, August 24, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 August 2006

DEADLY FUNGUS FOUND IN EASTERN NEWTS PURCHASED FROM COMMERCIAL SUPPLIERS

During this year (2006), chytridiomycosis, sometimes referred to as "chytrid fungus" or "Bd" (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), was found in Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) from two well-known commercial vendors of amphibians. In two shipments received from a vendor in the southern portion of the United States, mortality from the disease exceeded 60% of over 400 animals. In another shipment from the East Coast, Eastern Newts tested positive for the disease but no mortality was experienced in over a month of quarantine. Although Bd is very widespread, this may be the first report of infection in a commercial source. The purpose of this note is to alert scientific users to the possibility of the fungus in shipments from these and other suppliers of amphibians. Many species of amphibians in addition to Eastern Newts are susceptible to the disease, so the concern extends beyond a single species. Bd infects epidermis where it is saprophytic on keratin and may interfere with respiration, gas exchange, and uptake of chemicals. Infections are frequently lethal. Studies indicate that Bd may be more deleterious to adult and juvenile amphibians than to larvae, but larvae may carry the disease only to have it expressed after metamorphosis. Amphibians collected and shipped as eggs or embryos may have lower or no incidence of the disease because keratin has not yet formed in these life stages.

To reduce the potential for problems associated with Bd, we recommend that all shipments of wild-caught larvae, juvenile and adult amphibians be inspected for the fungus. This can be done by having someone experienced with the disease examine epidermal scrapings microscopically or histologically. A more definitive method of determining the presence of Bd is to collect epidermal swabs and have them genetically tested via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Quarantining animals for two or more weeks prior to placement in study may aid in diagnosis but will not guarantee absence of the disease. Unusually high sloughing of skin seems to be a sign of infection in newts.

Chytridiomycosis may be treated with anti-fungal medication such as trimethoprimsulfadiazine (TMS), miconazole, or itraconazole (Nichols, D. K. and E. W. Lamirande Froglog, Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force, August 2001). However, investigators should consider if the medication will interfere with the results of their research.

For additional information you may wish to contact

Donald Sparling
Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
dsparl@siu.edu

or

Gretchen Flohr
Department of Zoology
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
GPadgettFlohr@aol.com

Newt Nurture Needed
Tuesday, April 10, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 125
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 April 2007

EASTERN NEWT NURTURE NEEDED

I am an undergraduate student doing research at the University of Pittsburgh under Dr. Rick Relyea. I am currently searching for any information about breeding and raising Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) from egg to metamorphosis. I plan to collect adult Eastern Newts, breed them, and harvest the eggs (all performed in a lab setting). If anyone can provide information on techniques and logistics, I would be most appreciative.

Devin K. Jones
University of Pittsburgh
dkj4@pitt.edu

Newt Tissue Needed
Thursday, February 24, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 199
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 February 2011

NEWT TISSUE SAMPLES NEEDED

A colleague and I are studying hybridization among three subspecies of Eastern Newts and are in need of tissue samples from species we’ll be using as outgroups for phylogenetic analysis (Taricha granulosa, Notophthalmus meridionalis, N. perstriatus). A small sample (tail clip, etc.) in 95% EtOH for each would be sufficient.

Many thanks in advance to any materials anyone can provide.

Gavin R. Lawson
Bridgewater College
glawson@bridgewater.edu

Newt Tissues Needed
Thursday, January 29, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 157
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
29 January 2009

NOTOPHTHALMUS TISSUE SAMPLES SOUGHT

I wish to obtain tissue samples from Notophthalmus viridescens for research project on the phylogeography of the species in the central and southeastern United States. In particular, I need tissues collected from North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Frozen or ETOH-preserved liver samples are preferred, but tail-clippings or muscle will be gladly accepted.

If you have tissues collected from these areas (under proper permitting regulations), please contact me. Shipping costs will be covered.

Thank you in advance for your help with this project.

Dr. Gavin R. Lawson
Department of Biology
402 East College Street
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia 22812
glawson@bridgewater.edu
(540) 828-5467

Nile Monitor Nuisance
Tuesday, February 21, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 February 2006

LOSE THE LIZARDS IN LEE COUNTY

The City of Cape Coral has a population of the Nile Monitor Lizard (Varanus niloticus) perhaps numbering in the thousands. The City has been logging sightings and attempting to eradicate the monitor lizard since 2001. The trapping effort has included city employees, grant-funded individuals, college interns and volunteers. So far, we have captured 120 monitor lizards.

In recent months, monitor lizards have been sighted on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers and in the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Buffer Preserve. They are probably established on Pine Island. The fears that these exotic lizards would spread to the barrier islands are most likely founded. With the realization that the City’s current efforts are not adequate to reduce the population of the monitor lizard, we are enlisting the aid of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. They have been the lead agency dealing with the Brown Tree Snake, African Pouch Rat, and feral hogs among others. They are familiar with the monitor lizard problem and are interested in assessing what is needed to control their population. They are attempting to gauge the amount of local support for an eradication/management effort. They are also interested in meeting with anyone concerned with the spread of the nile monitor in SW Florida.

I am contacting you for support in eradicating the monitor lizard in Lee County, Florida.

The USDA needs to hear from concerned individuals now. The amount of federal funding for this will depend on the amount of public support for its necessity. Please pass this information along to anyone that is concerned with the spread of the monitor lizard in SW Florida. A call, letter, fax or email stating your support of eradication of the monitor lizard would be helpful. Please send to:

Bernice Constantin
Florida and Puerto Rico Wildlife Services State Director
2820 East University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32641
Phone: (352) 377-5556
Fax: (352) 377-5559
Toll-Free: 1-866-487-3297
bernice.u.constantin@aphis.usda.gov

Thank you for your efforts in preserving Florida’s natural resources.

Kraig Hankins
Environmental Biologist, City of Cape Coral
(239) 574-0746
khankins@capecoral.net

Non-Native Species Database
Thursday, October 14, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 10
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 October 2004

Review of Existing Non-Native Species Databases in the United States

How you can help

The Heinz Center's State of the Nation's Ecosystems project, in collaboration with Tom Stohlgren, Science Program Director at the Fort Collins Science Center, is conducting a review of existing non-native species databases in the United States. This effort is part the Center's work on the next edition of the State of the Nation's Ecosystems, which may be accessed at:

http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/

report, scheduled for publication in 2007, and will support work on identifying a consistent set of national indicators for describing non-native species.

If you currently have or are working on a database that involves non-native species of amphibians, turtles, reptiles or crocodilians in the United States, we request that you participate in a short survey (5-10 minutes total) designed to collect general information about your database. We are gathering information on the types of data that are collected on non-native species in the United States. The results of this survey will be reported back to the community through a report and/or journal publication. Other goals of this effort are to ascertain the availability of data for populating the Heinz Center national-level non-native species indicators and to contribute to the development of a larger meta-database of non-native species databases, now being developed by the National Institute of Invasive Species Science (NIISS).

With your cooperation, we hope to obtain metadata associated with all major non-native species databases to accurately assess currently available data and identify where gaps exist. Data contributors will be given the opportunity to establish links to the entire "shared database" through the NIISS website, thus providing access to other non-native species data sets and facilitating data-sharing among researchers, agencies, and organizations. All survey participants will be acknowledged for their contribution on the NIISS website, all necessary permissions will be obtained, and all data will be properly cited and attributed. Please specify in the comments portion of the survey if you would prefer to remain anonymous, and we will gladly honor your request. After reviewing the survey results, we may ask your permission to use selected data for inclusion in the 2007 State of the Nation's Ecosystems report or other publications.

If you are willing to complete this survey, please contact Alycia Waters at:

mawaters@nrel.colostate.edu

To learn more about the National Institute of Invasive Species Science, please go to:

http://www.niiss.org/

If you have questions about the Heinz Center Non-native Species indicators, please contact
Laura Meyerson
meyerson@heinzctr.org
202-737-6307

North Dakota Herp Checklist
Wednesday, September 09, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 September 2009

Now available

NORTH DAKOTA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of North Dakota is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the North Dakota web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the North Dakota checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, North Dakota joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future.

******

To view any or all of the available checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Numb Nerodia Needed
Friday, May 13, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 203
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 May 2011

NUMB NERODIA NEEDS

I am currently involved in a comparative study of Water Snake species of the genus Nerodia from the southeastern United States. In particular, I need 2-3 frozen adult specimens of Nerodia cyclopion (Mississippi Green Water Snake); decent DORs are perfectly usable. If anyone can provide me with a few specimens, I would greatly appreciate it. I will pay shipping charges.

Feel free to contact me at

dennis.parmley@gcsu.edu

Dennis Parmley
Georgia College & State University
Paleoherpetology Laboratory
Herty Hall, CBX 081
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
Office: 478 445-0817
Cell: 478 387-6275

NW Naturalist Back Issues
Monday, October 17, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 October 2005

Society for Northwest Vertebrate Biology (SNVB)

Journal Sets Available at Greatly Reduced Prices

We are trying to reduce the number of back issues of The Murrelet and the Northwestern Naturalist that are in storage. We are selling them to non-members at $55.00 per set including shipping costs. A set includes:

The Murrelet
Complete (almost) sets (ca. 160 issues) starting with Volume 11 (1931) through Volume 69 (1988)

Northwestern Naturalist (continuation of The Murrelet)
Volume 70 to current (Volume 86)

Bonus: Membership in SNVB with journal privileges is currently $25/year and the above $55.00 price includes SNVB membership for 2006.

If you are interested, please notify me by 22 October 2005. Requests will be filled in the order they are received; some issues are limited in number so it is best to contact me quickly.

You don't need to send money at this time; I'll include an invoice in your shipment.

Burr Betts
Editor, Northwestern Naturalist
bbetts@eou.edu

For more information about the Society for Northwest Vertebrate Biology, check out our updated web page at:

http://www.snwvb.org

NY Herp Images Needed
Friday, May 06, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 42
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 May 2005

Herp Images Needed for New York Book

Please consider contributing photographs to the upcoming "Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State: Identification, Natural History and Conservation" (Oxford University Press, available about May 2006).

The authors are James P. Gibbs, SUNY-ESF, Alvin Breisch, NYS DEC, Peter K. Ducey, State University of New York, Cortland, Glenn Johnson, State University of New York, Potsdam, John Behler, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, and Richard Bothner, St. Bonaventure University, Olean.

The book presents updated distribution maps derived from the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project (a compilation of ~60,000 distributional records collected 1990-1999) for the first time. A heavy emphasis on conservation biology of amphibians and reptiles sets the book apart from other regional herp guides. The volume is targeted at the general public. The project recently received an educational grant from the New York State Biodiversity Research Institute to increase the use of color images while maintaining a reasonable sale price.

Might you have any exemplary photographs suitable for inclusion in this book? We seek two types of images. The first is diagnostic images of appropriate morphotypes of all species native to the State, particularly of the rarer forms. Images of the following species are desired:

Eastern Hellbender, Common Mudpuppy, Marbled Salamander, Jefferson Salamander, Blue-spotted Salamander, Spotted Salamander, Eastern Tiger Salamander, Eastern Newt, Northern Dusky Salamander, Allegheny Dusky Salamander, Northern Redback Salamander, Northern Slimy Salamander, Wehrle’s Salamander, Four-toed Salamander, Spring Salamander, Red Salamander, Northern Two-lined Salamander, Longtail Salamander, Eastern Spadefoot, American Toad, Fowler’s Toad, Northern Cricket Frog, Gray Treefrog, Spring Peeper, Western Chorus Frog, Bullfrog, Green Frog, Mink Frog, Wood Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, Southern Leopard Frog, Pickerel Frog.

Common Snapping Turtle, Common Musk Turtle, Eastern Mud Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Bog Turtle, Wood Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, Diamondback Terrapin, Common Map Turtle, Northern Painted Turtle, Blanding’s Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, Spiny Softshell.

Eastern Fence Lizard, Coal Skink, Five-lined Skink, Northern Water Snake, Queen Snake, Brown Snake, Redbelly Snake, Common Garter Snake, Shorthead Garter Snake, Eastern Ribbon Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Ringneck Snake, Eastern Worm Snake, Eastern Racer, Smooth Green Snake, Eastern Rat Snake, Milk Snake, Copperhead, Massasauga, Timber Rattlesnake.

Second, we seek compelling images on any theme related to herp biology, conservation or research in the northeastern United States, e.g., characteristic habitat shots, vernal pool construction efforts, commercial exploitation of amphibians and reptiles, herp rehabilitation, outreach and education efforts, etc. If you have a compelling image from New York state or elsewhere in the northeastern US we are interested in considering it.

Under contractual agreement with the publisher, all royalties from the book will be put into an account at SUNY-ESF to be used for research and advocacy for herp conservation in the northeastern U.S. Thus, we are not able to pay contributors at this time for use of their images. Any contributions used would, however, be fully conspicuously credited and gratefully acknowledged.

Photographs for inclusion in the book will be considered between 1 May and 1 August 2005. Ancillary information for each image (location [county, state] and date is very useful. Digital images are easiest for us to work with (minimum of 300 dpi and preferably 600+ dpi), but slides are also useful and high-quality prints can in some cases be used. Please include ancillary information for each image (county, state, and date if available). To send images for consideration, please transmit digital images by email to James Gibbs at: jpgibbs@esf.edu or send slides or a CD-ROM of digital images to:

James P. Gibbs
250 Illick Hall
SUNY-ESF
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, New York 13210

If you do not now but think that you might at a later point have something to contribute simply send an email of what you might have to James Gibbs:

jpgibbs@esf.edu

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Ohio Herp Checklist Online
Monday, September 21, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 September 2009

Now available

OHIO HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Ohio is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Ohio web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Ohio checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Ohio joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Ohio Snake Guide Online
Monday, June 06, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 June 2011

A POCKET GUIDE TO OHIO SNAKES
by Jerry D. Collins, John P. Mathews & Joseph T. Collins
with photographs by Suzanne L. Collins, John P. Mathews & Others

Download a gratis pdf of A POCKET GUIDE TO OHIO SNAKES at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society, Ford Nature Center (Youngstown), The Mathews Family Trust (Cincinnati), Touchstone Energy (Washington, D.C.), Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Ohio University Southern Nature Center (Ironton), and The Center for North American Herpetology (Lawrence, Kansas).

This pocket guide covers the 25 kinds of snakes found in Ohio, all illustrated with exquisite color images and up-to-date range maps. Pocket guides are an important way to get people involved with wildlife conservation, because the more people become familiar with a group of animals, the more they have invested in them and their habitat. In this guide, the authors reveal the abundant serpent fauna of the Buckeye State, with sections on size, description, and habits.

Contains information on all Ohio serpents and organizes them in the Family Colubridae (Harmless Egg-laying Snakes), Family Dipsadidae (Harmless Rear-fanged Snakes), Family Natricidae (Harmless Live-bearing Snakes), and Family Crotalidae (Pitvipers). Taxonomy is completely updated to reflect recent discoveries using molecular evidence and modern analysis.

For greater accuracy, comprehension, and ease of use, this book adopted the traditional, standard common names for North American species maintained by The Center for North American Herpetology and updated daily online at

http://www.cnah.org

Publisher: The Center for North American Herpetology
Date of Publication: April 2011
60 pages, softbound
55 color images, 25 color maps
ISBN: 978-0-9721937-2-6
First printing: 10,000 copies

For those wishing a paper version, single copies of A POCKET GUIDE TO OHIO snakes are available free by simply doing a self-addressed manila envelope (4 x 6 inches or larger) with $1.56 first class postage affixed and sending it to

CNAH
Ohio Snake Guide
1502 Medinah Circle
Lawrence, Kansas 66047

Oklahoma Herp List Online
Wednesday, March 24, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 March 2010

Now available

OKLAHOMA HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Oklahoma is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Oklahoma web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes (and their citations) will, however, be immediately accessible through the Oklahoma checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Oklahoma joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Oregon Herp List Online
Monday, October 19, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 October 2009

Now available

OREGON HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Oregon is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated simultaneously and daily when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Oregon web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes will, however, be immediately accessible through the Oregon checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Oregon joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the sometimes turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Pa Amphibian DVD
Wednesday, September 13, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 September 2006

NEW DVD: AMPHIBIANS OF PENNSYLVANIA

Natural History cinematographer Tom Diez has recently completed filming and narrating the first program in his new series on the amphibians, turtles, and reptiles of Pennsylvania. The first DVD in the series features Pennsylvania’s Amphibians. The forty-five minute program covers 40 species and includes the 23 species of salamanders and the 17 species of toads and frogs that have been found in Pennsylvania (and the northeastern United States in general). The detailed videography, which includes many close-ups, will help the viewer to identify these fascinating animals. In order to show the variation that exists at the species level, the videographer has, in most cases, filmed three or more different specimens of each species.

Scientific nomenclature used in this DVD is that recommended by Joseph T. Collins, director of The Center for North American Herpetology, and is current as of September 2006. For greater accuracy, comprehension, and ease of use, this DVD adopted the traditional, standard common names for North American species as maintained by Collins & Taggart (2002. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology and updated daily online.

The fee for this DVD is $35.00 dollars (US checks or money orders only) and includes first class postage, shipping, handling, and delivery confirmation. For expedited delivery or non-US shipping, contact Tom Diez (see below).

To order the PENNSYLVANIA AMPHIBIAN DVD, please contact:

Tom Diez Natural History Programs
P. O. Box 182
Oakmont, Pennsylvania 15139
(412) 828-8643
dieztnh4@bellatlantic .net

If using email, please show AMPHIBIAN DVD in the subject area.

Other programs in the series are "Turtles and Lizards of Pennsylvania" and "Snakes of Pennsylvania." These DVDs will be available in late 2006 and early 2007.

Pa Herp Atlas Online
Monday, August 21, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 August 2006

PENNSYLVANIA ONLINE HERPETOLOGICAL ATLAS

Pennsylvania is home to an incredible diversity of amphibian, turtle, and reptile species. For many of these species, scientists and managers do not presently have sufficient information on their distribution and abundance to make informed management decisions. In 1997, Dr. Art Hulse of Indiana University of Pennsylvania began the Pennsylvania Herpetological Atlas Project. He established a network of volunteers to collect information on the distribution of amphibians, turtles, and reptiles throughout the state. The project ran for six years, during which time a tremendous amount of important and useful information was gathered. For example, some of the data were used in the decision to designate two species as endangered in Pennsylvania. However, we still lack critical information on 36 of Pennsylvania’s 73 native amphibian, turtle, and reptile species. Therefore, it was decided to revitalize the Pennsylvania Herpetological Atlas Project in a new online form, as the PENNSYLVANIA ONLINE HERPETOLOGICAL ATLAS. Access it at:

http://www.ship.edu/~tjmare/herp.htm

For greater accuracy, comprehension, and ease of use, this web site adopted the traditional, standard common names for North American species maintained by Collins & Taggart (2002. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology (available as a pdf at the CNAH web site) and updated daily online.

This excellent up-to-date web site is maintained by

Tim Marek
Biology Department
Shippensburg University
tjmare@ship.edu

Pa Lizard & Turtle DVD
Thursday, August 19, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 August 2010

DVDS OF THE HERPETOFAUNA OF PENNSYLVANIA

NEW The Turtles and Lizards of Pennsylvania and the Northeast
(16 species of turtles, 5 species of lizards)

IN STOCK The Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders of Pennsylvania and the Northeast
(23 species of salamanders, 17 species of frogs and toads)

IN STOCK The Snakes of Pennsylvania and the Northeast
(21 species of snakes)

More than eighty species of amphibians, reptiles, and turtlkes are featured on the three DVD’s in this series. This represents every species of amphibian, reptile, and turtle that has be reported for Pennsylvania. The detailed photography, which includes many close-ups, will show the important diagnostic features and the variations in color and pattern that are often found in a species. Educators, students, naturalists and herpetologists will find the programs helpful in identifying these fascinating and often misunderstood animals. Included with each DVD is a booklet containing information on the biology and the life history of each species, and a glossary.

The DVD’s are $35.00 dollars each, or $95.00 dollars for the set of three DVDs. This includes first class postage, shipping and handling (Pennsylvania State & Local Sales Tax where applicable).

For more information on the programs or to order the DVDs, contact Tom Diez as listed below.

Tom Diez
Natural History Programs
P. O. Box 182
Oakmont, Pennsylvania 15139
(412) 828-8643
dieztnh4@comcast.net

Pacific Chorus Frog
Thursday, February 09, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 71
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 February 2006

PSEUDACRIS REGILLA NEEDED FOR PHYLOGEOGRAPHY STUDY

We are conducting a species-wide phylogeographic study of the Pacific Chorus Frog, Pseudacris regilla, from Mexico to Canada. We are looking for people who would be willing to collect two or more live frogs from their local area to contribute to this project. If you are willing to participate, please contact us via Joe Collins (see below) and we will send more details and shipping information. Individuals assisting us in obtaining specimens will be gratefully acknowledged in the published results. Thank you in advance for your help.

Emily Moriarty Lemmon
chorusfrog@mail.utexas.edu
University of Texas
Austin

W. Chris Funk
w_c_funk@yahoo.com
USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem
Science Center
Corvallis, Oregon

Joseph T. Collins
jcollins@ku.edu
University of Kansas
Lawrence

Pacific NW Reptile Courses
Wednesday, March 26, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
26 March 2008

HERPETOLOGICAL FIELD RESEARCH COURSES IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Biol 417a (6 credits)
Ecological Methods
This research methods course supports and is integrated with the Research in Reptile Ecology course

Biol 417b (6 credits)
Research in Reptile Ecology
Primary subject species: Gambelia wislizenii, Aspidoscelis tigris, and Phrynosoma platyrhinos

For more information, go to:

http://fire.biol.wwu.edu/anderson/index.html

or email

Roger.Anderson@wwu.edu

Where: Western Washington University and the Oregon Great Basin Desert
How long: 3 weeks in the Great Basin Desert
Course Instructor: Roger A. Anderson, Biology Department, WWU
Dates: 18 June 2008 to 30 July 2008
Targeted Students: Upper-division Biology and Environmental Science majors
Prerequisite: Permission from course instructor or upper-level course in Ecology, equivalent to BIOL 325 or ESCI 325 at WWU

Course Descriptions:

Biol 417a, Ecological Methods: 6 credits. Field research; comparative investigations and application of alternative methods and instrumentation for measuring an array of ecologically-relevant parameters, such as spatiotemporal variation in microclimate, or vegetation, or terrestrial invertebrate abundance and diversity. Field work will be in three meso-habitats, performed in 3-4 person teams, and will produce publication-quality data. Special Course Fee payable at Summer Session Office by 17 June. The special course fee for Ecological Methods is $400, which is one-half the total for special course fees (i.e., fee total for both courses combined is $800, which is in addition to normal summer session tuition and fees for 12 credits). This field course is self-supporting, that is, the special course fees pay for food, travel, expendable field supplies for camping and research, whereas tuition costs tend to be applied more to purchase of field research equipment and instrumentation. This field course is largely self-supporting, that is, the special course fees pay for food, travel , field supplies for camping and research, and field research equipment and instrumentation. This course must be taken concurrent with Research in Reptile Ecology. 18 June-30 July 2008.

Biol 417b, Research in Reptile Ecology: 6 credits. Field research on the behavioral ecology and physiological ecology of reptiles, conducted in 3 or 4-person teams. Observational-comparative and experimental methods will be learned, and the research results will be analyzed and interpreted with respect to the data collected from Ecological Methods. Field research by the entire class will focus on developing knowledge and understanding of the population ecology of reptiles. Special Course Fee payable at the Summer Session Office by 17 June. The special course fee for Research in Reptile Ecology is $400, which is one-half the total for special course fees (i.e., fee total for both courses combined is $800, which is in addition to normal summer session tuition and fees for 12 credits). This field course is self-supporting, that is, the special course fees pay for food, travel, expendable field supplies for camping and research, whereas tuition costs tend to be applied more to purchase of field research equipment and instrumentation. This course must be taken concurrent with Ecological Methods. 18 June-30 July 2008.

Painted Turtle Pictures
Tuesday, November 14, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 104
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 November 2006

SEEKING PAINTED TURTLE PHOTOGRAPHS

I am examining geographic variation in the standard taxonomic characteristics of Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, and the state of Minnesota, and of Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. I request digital photos, coloured prints, or slides of the carapace and plastron of Painted Turtles from these areas. Photos should have been taken from a perpendicular angle to the shell. Unfortunately, photos taken at an oblique angle are not useful. Locality is essential. Carapace length (straight line) would be useful but not essential. Coloured prints and slides will be returned after scanning. I would also like to request a copy of digital photos of Painted Turtles from these areas that are captured during field activities in 2007.

Contact me by email for further information if you think you can help. Thank you in advance to all who can offer assistance with my investigation.

Wayne Weller
14000 Niagara Parkway, RR 1
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0
Canada
wellerwf@opg.com

Paleo Maps Promoted
Thursday, January 18, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 January 2007

PALEOGEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGIC EVOLUTION OF NORTH AMERICA

Images that track the ancient landscapes of North America

An excellent tool when researching the phylogeography of North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians

The images presented here show the paleogeography of North America over the last 550 million years of geologic history. The 40 images shown here are selected from a suite of approximately 100 maps that are in time slices mostly 5-10 million years apart. By using such tightly spaced time slices, individual paleogeographic and tectonic elements can be followed and intuitively related from time slice to adjacent time slice. Because of space limitations only 40 of the 100 images are presented here but but most shifts of tectonic elements and depositional systems can still be followed. The maps were prepared with the core of North America (Laurentia) fixed. All other tectonic elements are shown moving against or splitting away from Laurentia, thus showing clearly accretionary and rifting events in North America's geologic history. The views were prepared by wrapping a rectangular outline map on a sphere and viewing the globe rotated to 35 degrees N and 100 degrees W. Various stratigraphic, tectonic, and sedimentologic data were added to the map. Topography was "cloned" from digital elevation maps of modern Earth from the USGS, NOAA, and other sources. Colors were adjusted to portray climate and vegetation for the given time and location. The geologic data were gathered from the references listed at the web site. View the maps at:

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.html

The web site was created by

Ron Blakey
Department of Geology
Box 4099
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
(928) 523-2740
ronald.blakey@nau.edu

Paleo Pubs Promoted
Friday, January 12, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
12 January 2007

PALEONTOLOGY PUBLICATIONS PROMOTED

PaleoPublications promotes learning and knowledge through the dissemination of scientific works related to the earth and life sciences. We carry books, periodicals, and reprints by the leadings institutions, associations, and societies. Our offering currently contains 50,000 items on HERPETOLOGY, Entomology, Ornithology, Botany, Aquatic Ecology, and Limnology. We add roughly 1000 new items a month and in December this will included 380 HERPETOLOGY titles from the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. You can view our entire listing at

http://www.paleopubs.com

We buy and sell, from individual items to entire libraries, worldwide.

Nathan E. Carpenter
PaleoPublications
385 Pebble Beach Way
Eagle, Idaho 83616
208-939-4214
nate@paleopubs.com

Palmer Pine Plaudits
Friday, March 21, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 March 2008

WILLIAM M. PALMER RECEIVES ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE AWARD

William M. Palmer, Curator Emeritus of Herpetology at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award on 15 March 2008. The presentation was made at 11:30 a.m. at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, during Reptile and Amphibian Day, a huge event held annually at the Museum.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. The award is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, exemplary effort in their careers, and outstanding service to their organizations are among the criteria used in selecting recipients of the award.

Bill Palmer was born on 6 December 1935 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has been associated with the North Carolina State Museum in some capacity since he was eight years old. He began working part-time at the Museum in 1953 and became a permanent staff member in 1962. He served as Curator of Zoology, Curator of Lower Vertebrates, Curator of Herpetology, and Director of Research and Collections before retiring in October 1995. His knowledge of North Carolina natural history, dedication to documentation of its herpetofauna, establishment of standard museum techniques with the Museum’s research collections, and encouragement of others to appreciate and conserve North Carolina wild places has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to those who know him. The longleaf pine ecosystem of southeastern North Carolina (for which this award is named) and the creatures that reside there are especially dear to him. Among his many published contributions are Reptiles of North Carolina (UNC Press, 1995), Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia (UNC Press, 1980), and the description of Ophisaurus mimicus, the Mimic Glass Lizard (1987). Bill is a lifetime member and long-time supporter of the North Carolina Herpetological Society. He continues to work part-time with the herpetology collections at the Museum’s Research Lab facility.

Those wishing to congratulate Bill can contact him at:

William M. Palmer
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences
Research Laboratory
4301 Reed Creek Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
919-733-7450 x 755

Penn Snake DVD
Tuesday, December 18, 2007: St. George Island, Florida - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 December 2007

THE SNAKES OF PENNSYLVANIA DVD

As a wildlife cinematographer and lecturer, Tom Diez has presented natural history programs to schools and universities throughout Pennsylvania for over 35 years. He is currently producing and distributing a series of Natural History DVD’s on the amphibians, turtles, and reptiles of Pennsylvania.

The second DVD in this series, THE SNAKES OF PENNSYLVANIA, is now available. This DVD features the 21 species of snakes that have been found in Pennsylvania. This educational and entertaining program is 50 minutes long but may be viewed in shorter segments. There are four, 12-minute chapters in the DVD that describe the 21 species of Pennsylvania snakes. The detailed photography, which includes many close-ups, will help educators, students and naturalists to identify these fascinating and often misunderstood animals. Included with the DVD is an informative booklet containing species accounts and a glossary.

Also available: THE AMPHIBIANS OF PENNSYLVANIA DVD. This DVD is forty-five minutes long and features the 23 species of salamanders and 17 species of frogs and toads that are listed for the state. This can also be viewed as two separate programs: A 26-minute program on the salamanders and a 19-minute program on the frogs and toads with detailed close-ups to show the important diagnostic features of each species. The amphibian booklet contains information on the biology and life history of each species and a helpful glossary.

Both DVD’s are appropriate for upper elementary to university level students.

The DVD’s are US $45.00 dollars each. This includes first class postage, shipping and handling. (Pennsylvania State Sales Tax where applicable.) To order THE SNAKES OF PENNSYLVANIA DVD or THE AMPHIBIANS OF PENNSYLVANIA DVD contact

Tom Diez
Natural History Programs
P. O. Box 182
Oakmont, Pennsylvania 15139
412-828-8643
dieztnh4@verizon.net

"Stunning cinematography introduces the viewer to the fascinating snakes of Pennsylvania. Here the beautiful footage is accompanied by informative narration conveying all the facts that would be found in a thorough field guide. Morphology, coloration, habitat, and temperament are just some of the statistics given for each of the state’s many species . . . Overall, THE SNAKES OF PENNSYLVANIA is as useful as it is visually engaging. A fun and easy field guide."

Comments by Jane De Carlo
Biology Teacher
Norwin School District
North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania 15644

*****

CNAH Note: For greater comprehension, this DVD used the standard common names as they appeared in Collins & Taggart (2002, Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition), published by The Center for North American Herpetology and available gratis as a pdf download at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

The CNAH list is the most recent and most comprehensive list of the herpetofauna of North America, and is the only such list updated daily and made available online continuously.

Pesticide Database Detailed
Thursday, January 25, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 January 2007

DATABASE DETAILS PESTICIDE EFFECTS ON REPTILES, TURTLES & AMPHIBIANS

EUREKA, California, December 22, 2006 (ENS) - The citizens group Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, CATs, has created a user-friendly database of the most recent international research about the effects of pesticide use on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. "By bringing together current research on beleaguered amphibians, turtles, and reptiles, we have made this global information readily accessible to academics, neighborhood activists and students," said Patty Clary, CATs programs director.

The database, called RAP, builds on an earlier one covering literature up to 1998 that was put together by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

"The value of this database is that biologists and other users can easily access information about the effects of pesticides on amphibians, turtles, and reptiles drawn from a variety of sources," said Marlon Gil, a biologist who compiled the database for CATs.

Gil, whose frog research has taken him as far afield as West Africa, said, "Hopefully this will enhance efforts to prevent losses of these species worldwide."

The updated research is searchable by species and genus, location of research, pesticide studied and toxicological effect. It includes a list of 327 scientific papers published since 1999 on the effects of pesticides on amphibians, as well as 128 research papers on pesticides' impacts on turtles and reptiles.

Clary said CATs will update the database as new information becomes available.

The database specializes in field studies from California that are meshed with findings from the unique pesticide-use database of the state's Department of Pesticide Regulation.

California is one of the "hot spots" in the global decline of amphibian populations, and native aquatic frog and toad species have been disappearing for two decades.

For example, research by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1997 has revealed dangerous levels of pesticides in both the bodies of frogs and in their aquatic habitat in pristine areas of the Sierra Nevada. Entire populations of native frogs have vanished, and research has pinpointed pesticide sprays that have drifted hundreds of miles from the Central Valley to settle in wilderness areas.

Founded in 1982, CATs was a major player in a suit that won increased protection from pesticides for the Red-legged Frog, made famous by Mark Twain in his story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

The new database is available at the Californians for Alternatives to Toxics website at:

http://www.alternatives2toxics.org

Phylogenetic Tree Task
Friday, March 20, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 165
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 March 2009

PHYLOGENETIC TREE TASK

I am a Research Masters student interested in the evolution of reproduction in reptiles and crocodilians. I am looking for recent phylogenetic trees on the following families at the species level:

Snakes: Boidae, Pythonidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Viperidae
Lizards: Gekkonidae, Iguanidae, Teiidae, Agamidae, Scinidae, Lacertidae
Crocodilians: Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae

I can be contacted at

loraine.grant@ucdconnect.ie

Any references, advice, and information will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Loraine Grant
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Belfield
Dublin 4
Ireland

Pine Snake Procurement
Wednesday, December 06, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 107
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 December 2006

SEEKING PINE SNAKE SAMPLES

We are searching for Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus, Pituophis m. mugitus, and Pituophis ruthveni tissue samples for a molecular systematic study to determine the taxonomic status of Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi. We need tissue samples that have been either frozen or preserved in 95% ETOH. Only samples from wild-caught individuals will be used and, if available, data should include the state and county from which the sample was taken. Any sample should be accompanied by a permit from the state where the specimen was obtained.

If anyone has samples that they would be willing to share, please contact us to arrange shipping.

Thank you in advance.

James R. Lee, Biologist
The Nature Conservancy
CSTS-ENV; Building 6678
Camp Shelby, Mississippi 39407
601-558-2797 (office)
601-558-2636 (fax)
jlee@tnc.org

Danna Baxley
The University of Southern Mississippi
Department of Biological Sciences
118 College Drive # 5018
Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406
dannaster@yahoo.com

PIT Tag Purchase Posed
Thursday, September 14, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 97
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 September 2006

PIT TAG PURCHASE POSED

Can anyone refer me to a person who might be able to give me insight into which PIT tagging systems (e.g. Biomark, AVID, etc.) are the best for working with snakes? We are looking at purchasing a system.

Allan L. Markezich
Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering
Black Hawk College
Moline, Illinois 61265
309-796-5240
markezicha@bhc.edu

PIT-Tag Problem
Friday, July 11, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 144
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 July 2008

SNAKE SKIN PIT-TAG SLIDING?

Does anyone know of any long-term studies to document migration (or lack of) of PIT tags inserted into snakes for identification purposes? A number of colleagues have informed me of significant migration problems when PIT tags were used in chelonians. But I have not seen anything for snakes. The reason I ask is because of a recent "Notice of New Florida Rules and Regulations Concerning Possession of Captive Wildlife" by the Florida Wildlife Commission regarding identification of certain Reptiles of Concern and Non-Native Venomous Snakes. I am trying to locate any papers where long-term studies have been done in snakes to show that PIT tagging can serve as a permanent marking system.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Elliott Jacobson
University of Florida
jacobsone@vetmed.ufl.edu

Pond Turtle Push
Thursday, December 20, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 December 2007

DEVELOPMENT OF A WESTERN POND TURTLE CONSERVATION STRATEGY

California Department of Fish and Game has recently commissioned Redwood Sciences Laboratory to develop a conservation strategy for the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata). California has a wide variety of biogeographic regions, and an even greater number of conservation issues for this charismatic poikilotherm. Early on in development, we are soliciting input from turtle researchers, scholars, consultants, and enthusiasts statewide to discover and document current and future or potential concerns. We hope to establish and maintain communication with interested parties during development of a proposed plan for the conservation of Western Pond Turtle populations throughout the Golden State.

This is an opportunity for those working with the species to share their experience. We urge you to participate in whatever capacity you can. You can contact us directly at Redwood Science Laboratory. We will also try meeting with folks during upcoming regional conferences and meetings. The first is in January with the CA/NV Amphibian Population Task Force meeting

(see http://www.parcplace.org/meeting_calendar.html for more info)

in San Diego (likely on Wednesday preceding the APTF meeting). We will be at 2008 Western Section of The Wildlife Society meeting in Redding in February, and several other meetings throughout the winter and spring 2008.

Over the next several months we plan to visit each bioregion to assess local conservation issues. If you wish to contribute or participate, let us know how we can facilitate. We are just beginning on this effort and are assembling our contact list of interested parties. You have been contacted because you’ve shown research interest in Western Pond Turtles or their habitats in past years. Our email list is incomplete, so please forward this email or share our contact information with others interested in Western Pond Turtle conservation. Please contact us to indicate whether you’d like to hear more as this project unfolds. Thank you.

Dr. Hartwell Welsh, Jr. (Principal Investigator)

Don Ashton (Primary Contact)
USDA-FS Redwood Sciences Laboratory
1700 Bayview Drive
Arcata, California 95521
dashton@fs.fed.us

Possible EPA Herp Grants
Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
31 January 2006

POSSIBLE HERP GRANTS

Five Star Restoration Grant Deadline March 10th

The National Association of Counties, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Wildlife Habitat Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other sponsors, are pleased to solicit applications for the Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program. The Five-Star Restoration Program provides modest financial assistance on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects that build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. In 2005, 53 projects out of 220 applications received grants averaging $10,000.00.

Information available at:

http://www.nfwf.org/programs/5star-rfp.cfm

In the past, EPA Region 7 has funded additional unsolicited 5 Star-like projects. If you have any questions, please contact me at:

Jason M. Daniels
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
Watershed Planning and Implementation Branch
901 North 5th
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
(913) 551-7443
daniels.jason@epa.gov

Prime Time Turtles
Wednesday, August 24, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 50
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 August 2005

REQUEST FOR UNPUBLISHED FRESHWATER TURTLE AND TORTOISE PRIMERS

We are writing on behalf of the participants of the Workshop on Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Genetics held 7-12 August 2005 at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. This NSF funded workshop consisted of an international panel of turtle researchers and managers from academic institutions, NGOs, government agencies, and the private sector with the overall goal of advancing the field of turtle genetics.

One of the products, which we as a group have committed to producing, is a compilation of all the PCR primers that people have used or are using in genetic studies of freshwater turtles and tortoises. This list of primers for mitochondrial, microsatellite, and other nuclear loci would be distributed in the form of a published paper and a continuously updated web resource.

We have assembled what we think is a nearly complete list of primers from the literature, which we hope will serve as a wonderful resource for the community of turtle researchers and conservationists. However, in assembling this list we also came to realize that a great many or our most useful primers are not in print, but in our freezers or referenced in manuscripts that have not yet been published.

In the interest of facilitating the advancement of turtle genetics and conservation research and to reduce duplication of effort, we would like to include as much of this not-yet-published information as possible, so that we may provide the most comprehensive and current resource that we can. Obviously, the broadest possible participation in this effort will provide the greatest benefit to everyone doing genetic research on turtles. Because of your interest in and experience with genetics research on turtles, we would like to invite you to consider contributing sequences for primers that you have found to be useful but which are not available in the current literature.

We fully realize that the development of effective molecular markers often requires substantial investment of time, effort and money and that research in this field like any other can be competitive. For these reasons many researchers may be legitimately reticent to give away information that has been hard earned. We recognize these as genuine concerns.

We do not wish to see the efforts and expenses of developing markers taken for granted. In fact, it is precisely because of the difficulty and expense of developing molecular markers that we see the inclusion of unpublished information as potentially the most beneficial to the community as a whole. In order to ensure that appropriate credit is given to those who have done the hard work of developing markers, this report will explicitly recognize the contributions of individuals involved in developing previously unpublished markers and will explicitly instruct anyone using primers listed in the publication to cite the original authors or contact developers of previously unpublished information for updated citation information. Inclusion of unpublished primers here would in no way preclude subsequent publication of primer notes, etc., by the original authors with the explicit understanding that such subsequent publications and NOT this report would be the primary references for those primers.

Especially given the fact that much of the current turtle genetic work is done in the time-sensitive context of conservation, we do not want potential contributors to this project to feel that contribution of information would put them at a disadvantage either in publication or competition for limited grant support. In the preparation of this report, we will work with contributors to develop strategies for the controlled distribution of sensitive information in a timely manner that benefits the research and conservation communities but does so without threatening the interests of individual contributors.

As a manifestation of the group's commitment to this endeavor, the following workshop participants have contributed unpublished primer sequences: Tag Engstrom (California State University, Chico), Jack Sites (Brigham Young University), John Bickham (Texas A&M), Nicole Valenzuela (Iowa State University), Philip Spinks (University of California, Davis), Arthur Georges (University of Canberra), Dave Starkey (USDA), Nancy FitzSimmons (University of Canberra), Erin Myers (Iowa State University), Brad Shaffer (University of California, Davis), Fred Janzen (Iowa State University), Chris Feldman (Utah State University), Jim Parham (University of California, Berkeley and Joint Genomes Institute), Tim King (USGS), Hidetoshi Ota (University of Ryukyus), Matt Osentoski (Florida International University), Taylor Edwards (University of Arizona), and Kim Scribner (Michigan State University).

If you have questions, suggestions or concerns, or if you would like contribute primer information please contact Tag Engstrom by email at

tengstrom@csuchico.edu

or by telephone at

(530) 898-6748

For contributions of microsatellite primers please contact Taylor Edwards by email at

taylore@u.arizona.edu

or by telephone at

(520) 621-9791

We thank you in advance for your help in the production of what we hope will be a very useful resource for turtle researchers everywhere.

Matt Osentoski
Erin Myers
Taylor Edwards
Tag Engstrom

The Primer Committee
2005 Turtle Genetics Workshop

For more information about this request, contact:

Taylor Edwards
Arizona Research Laboratories
Genomic Analysis and Technology Core
1041 East Lowell
Biological Sciences West, 246b
Tucson, Arizona 85721

Pulsating Pub Proposal
Tuesday, October 21, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 October 2008

ICZN AMENDMENT PROPOSED TO PERMIT ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION

Dear Herpetologists interested in nomenclature

The ICZN rules governing availability of animal names require publication in a durable medium. To date, that has been interpreted as including paper and 'hard' digital media such as CD-ROMs, but this has become increasingly problematic as electronic publication becomes more common. To address this issue, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is considering an amendment to the Code that will permit electronic publication of new names and nomenclatural acts. A draft has been published today in ZooTaxa, and will be followed by publication in other journals, including the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. This initiates a year-long period for community input, after which a final amendment will be drafted and voted upon by the Commission.

The published draft may be downloaded from the ICZN website at

http://www.iczn.org

or the Zootaxa website at

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/

The summary points are:

1. Electronic-only publications should be allowed, if mechanisms can be found that give reasonable assurance of the long-term accessibility of the information they contain.

2. Some method of registration should be part of the mechanism of allowing electronic publication of names and nomenclatural acts.

3. Physical works that are not paper-based (e.g. CD-ROMs, DVDs) should be disallowed.

We welcome your input on this important topic.

Best wishes,

Ellinor Michel
iczn@nhm.ac.uk

Python Predictions
Wednesday, August 13, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 August 2008

CLAIMS OF POTENTIAL EXPANSION THROUGHOUT THE U.S. BY INVASIVE PYTHON SPECIES ARE CONTRADICTED BY ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELS

2008. R. Alexander Pyron, Frank T. Burbrink & Timothy J. Guiher

PLOS One 3(8): 1-7

Background: Recent reports from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have suggested that invasive Burmese Pythons [Python molurus bivittatus, aka Indian Python, P. molurus] in the Everglades may quickly spread into many parts of the U.S. due to putative climatic suitability. In addition, projected trends of global warming were predicted to significantly increase the suitable habitat and promote further expansion of the snakes. The suggestion of an imminent giant python invasion has generated significant interest in the media, which in turn has spurred warnings of the dangers of pet- and man-eating snakes spreading throughout the U.S. However, the ecological limitations of the Burmese Python with respect to further expansion are not known. Additionally, the possible effects of global warming on the continued existence of the species and their further colonization of the United States are also unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that a predicted continental expansion is highly unlikely, based on the ecology of the organism and the climate of the U.S. Our ecological niche models, which include variables representing climatic extremes as well as averages, indicate that the only suitable habitat in the U.S. for Burmese Pythons presently occurs in Everglades National Park in southern Florida and in extreme southern Texas. Models based on the current range of the snake primarily predict suitable habitat in the only region the snakes have ever been found in the U.S. Future climate models based on global warming forecasts actually indicate a contraction in suitable habitat for Burmese Pythons in the U.S. as well as in their native range, highlighting the significant impact global climate change may have on biodiversity.

Conclusions/Significance: The Burmese Python is limited to a small area of suitable environmental conditions in the United States due to the ecological preferences of the snake. The ability of the Burmese Python to expand further into the U.S. is severely limited by ecological constraints. Global warming is predicted to significantly reduce the area of suitable habitat worldwide, underscoring the potential negative effects of climate change for many species.

*****

A gratis PDF of this article is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Python Purge Posted
Wednesday, March 10, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 March 2010

PYTHON HUNTING SEASON IN FLORIDA

Florida's special Python Hunting Season is underway. From 8 March 2010 until 17 April 2010, any person with a hunting license who pays for a $26.00 permit can take these alien reptiles on state lands around the Everglades in southern Florida. Last year, Florida officials decided to take a more aggressive stance against the invasive species, creating a Python Hunting Season and issuing broader permits to experts to kill as many as possible. The state has held workshops for those folks inexperienced with Pythons; the workshops focused on how to identify, stalk and capture these reptiles. In addition to the introduced and established Burmese Pythons, Northern African Pythons, and Nile Monitors, permit-holders can also take the as yet not-established Green Anacondas when encountered.

For more information, go to

http://myfwc.com/recreation/hunt_pythons.htm

Pythons in Paradise
Thursday, January 11, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 January 2007

The Associated Press filed a story on the Python molurus invasion of the Everglades. Both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times carried it with various photos.

One version can be accessed at:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-creptiles22dec22,0,3195554.story?coll=sfla-news-sfla

R. Bruce Bury Honored
Monday, March 06, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
6 March 2006

PERSPECTIVES, FIELDWORK AND THE ECOLOGY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
A Symposium and Festschrift Honoring R. BRUCE BURY

Over 15 speakers are slated to speak on diverse topics linked to the Symposium theme in this day-long celebration honoring the career accomplishments of R. Bruce Bury; speakers include: Mike Adams, Steve Corn, Doug DeGross, David Germano, Mark Jennings, Eduardo Joyel, Roger Luckenbach, Dede Olson, David Pilliod, Norm Scott, Tanya Wahbe and others. Toward the tail of this event, colleagues will have the chance to regale participants with stories from the Bury past. After the fête, celebrants will be treated to a scrumptious all-you-can-eat Native American salmonbake and clambake spectacular. Hosted by the Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology.

When: Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 8:00 am-10:00pm (Refreshments, lunch, and dinner included)
Where: The Evergreen State College: Olympia, Washington
Cost: $50.00
To register, go to:

http://www.snwvb.org/meetings/registration06.pdf

For additional information and updates:

http://www.snwvb.org/snvb06meeting.html

We hope you can join us for the SNVB/WA TWS annual meeting where Bruce will present a plenary session talk, "Everything I needed to know about biology I learned early or during an odyssey of field trips from Arcata to Zzyxx Springs."

Festschrift contact:

Tara Chestnut
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
WSDOT Olympic Region
Office: 360-570-6739
Cell: 360-480-0862
chestnt@wsdot.wa.gov

Racer Research Request
Tuesday, May 22, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 129
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 May 2007

RACER RESEARCH REQUEST

I am a doctoral student at Kansas State University studying the interactions between grassland birds and their snake predators. I radio-track grassland snakes that have been documented to consume birds or their eggs with an emphasis on Eastern Racers (Coluber constrictor). I am adding a landscape genetic aspect to better understand Eastern Racers on and around the Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan, Kansas. I am also interested in the population structure of Eastern Racers in the Flint Hills and the environmental features that may act as barriers to their gene flow. If appropriate, I would like to request tissue samples from the herpetological community to expand my sample size to a regional scale.

I can be contacted at:

Page Klug
Division of Biology
232 Ackert Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas 66506-4901
(402) 250-6890
pklug@ksu.edu

Rainbow Snake Reward
Friday, November 25, 2011: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 November 2011

REWARD OFFERED FOR SIGHTING OF SOUTH FLORIDA RAINBOW SNAKE

Feds May Have Prematurely Declared Species Extinct; Reward Intended to Spur Rediscovery, Protection

TAMPA, Florida — The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Snake Conservation announced today that they are offering a $500.00 reward for the first person to document the existence of the South Florida Rainbow Snake. Both conservation organizations believe that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month prematurely declared the species extinct without conducting targeted surveys and despite several unconfirmed sightings.

“Declaring the South Florida Rainbow Snake extinct without adequate search effort is scientifically irresponsible,” said Cameron Young, executive director of the Center for Snake Conservation. “We hope that by offering a reward, we can rediscover this amazing reptile and implement conservation measures to ensure its survival into the future.”

The South Florida Rainbow Snake is a harmless aquatic snake that feeds exclusively on the American eel. It is known from just three specimens, the last of which was collected in 1952 near Fisheating Creek in Glades County, Fla. In early October, the Service declared the snake extinct, thereby denying it protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Service made its determination without conducting any focused surveys for the reclusive reptile and despite anecdotal evidence of snakes eating eels in the Fisheating Creek area.

“It’s heart-wrenching to think the South Florida Rainbow Snake could be lost forever,” said Collette Adkins Giese, a Center for Biological Diversity attorney focused on the protection of imperiled reptiles and amphibians. “But if we can find these snakes, they’d be very likely to get protection under the Endangered Species Act — the most powerful tool in the country for saving plants and animals from extinction.”

The Service announced the extinction of the South Florida Rainbow Snake in response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the snake and more than 400 other aquatic species in the southeastern United States. If rediscovered, the Rainbow Snake would receive an in-depth scientific review along with 374 species from the petition (including 114 in Florida), which the Service found may warrant protection under Act.

Background
The South Florida Rainbow Snake (Farancia erytrogramma seminola) is a subspecies of Rainbow Snake known only from a single population in Fisheating Creek, which flows into the western side of Lake Okeechobee. Fisheating Creek remains relatively pristine and could still support the snakes. But potential habitat in other parts of Florida has been severely degraded by channelization and pollution, especially agricultural runoff. The snake is believed to be nearly entirely aquatic and active only at night, making detection difficult without extensive and specialized survey effort, although there were multiple unconfirmed sightings of the snake in the late 1980s. It’s a beautiful animal, with three red stripes along its iridescent bluish-black back and a belly that is yellow and red with black spots on each scale. Adult snakes can be over four feet long.

Snakes and other reptiles are among the most imperiled vertebrate species on the planet. Globally, nearly one-quarter of all evaluated reptile species are endangered or vulnerable to extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s 2011 Red List. Also, scientists currently lack sufficient information to assess the status of nearly 20 percent of the world’s reptiles. Many species are disappearing faster than scientists can study them.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 320,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

The Center for Snake Conservation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the conservation of snakes and their natural ecosystems and implement positive change in human attitudes towards snakes.

Contacts for this release:

Collette Adkins Giese, Center for Biological Diversity, (651) 955-3821
Cameron A. Young, Center for Snake Conservation, (770) 500-0000

Rainbow Whiptail Request
Wednesday, May 16, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 128
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 May 2007

RAINBOW WHIPTAIL REQUEST

For comparisons in revisionary work, I would like to request color photographs, preferably by email (but also by U.S. mail), from anyone possessing shots of live or freshly killed lizards of the Cnemidophorus lemniscatus complex from any area (i.e., C. lemniscatus lemniscatus, C. lemniscatus splendidus, C. lemniscatus ruatanus [Central America], C. arenivagus, C. gramivagus, C. pseudolemniscatus, and C. cryptus).

Your help in this is greatly appreciated.

James M. Walker
University of Arkansas
jmwalker@uark.edu

Range Maps Requested
Thursday, November 30, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 106
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 November 2006

I'm conducting a meta-analysis study on species range limits and am looking for digital range maps for the following crocodilians, turtles, and reptiles:

Malaclemys terrapin
Crocodylus moreletii
Gopherus agassizii
Sistrurus catenatus
Crotalus horridus

Any help in locating such maps on the internet or from an institutional source would be much appreciated. I can be contacted at

julie.lee-yaw@mail.mcgill.ca

Julie A. Lee-Yaw
Graduate Student
Department of Biology
McGill University
(514) 398-4086 ext. 3190

Rattlesnake Data Request
Tuesday, September 21, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 7
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 September 2004

ROCK RATTLESNAKE DATA NEEDED

Bret Welch, a graduate student at Sul Ross State University in western Texas, just initiated his masters thesis project on the Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus), to include the subspecies klauberi, maculosus, and morulus. He is primarily addressing morphology, DNA, and venoms in the combined region of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and México, but wishes to include ancillary information about the habitat of this taxon. He particularly needs information on the geological formations preferred by this serpent as well as data on the range of elevations at which it has been discovered.

If anyone has data on these topics that they are willing to share with Bret Welch, please contact him at

(432) 837-0771

or

choctawvision@aol.com

Rattlesnake Roundup Petition
Friday, February 03, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 February 2006

PETITION TO STOP RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUPS IN NEW MEXICO

This Rattlesnake Roundup Call To Action Petition to Governor Bill Richardson, the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, New Mexico State Game and Wildlife Biologists, and any other parties directly or indirectly related to regulations on reptiles and amphibians in New Mexico, was created by and written by Roy Thibodeau (crotalidae@comcast.net). Those in the herpetological community opposed to rattlesnake roundups may wish to support the petition.

The petition is hosted at

http://www.petitiononline.com/roundups/petition.html

Razorback Boa Bonanza
Monday, July 05, 2010: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 190
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
5 July 2010

BOA CONSTRICTOR BONANZA

As part of my dissertation, I am completing a reproductive study on 16 adult Boa constrictors (10 females, 6 males) from coastal Central America, and would like to offer the snakes to anyone interested in using them for further study or zoological display. All boas were born in captivity from animals collected by Dr. Scott Boback during his dissertation research at Auburn University. He generously donated these boas to me once he had finished and I would like to do the same, if possible. The snakes come from a population that does not grow large in size, so the largest female is approximately 2 meters in length, and most snakes are between 1-2 meters. The females have all been fed varying amounts of Nitrogen-15-labeled L-Leucine in an allocation study. All snakes are in excellent health.

I can ship snakes via Delta Dash, but ask that the recipient of the snakes pay shipping costs. Alternatively, you are welcome to pick up the snakes at our facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Please contact me if you have any questions or interest. I will also be attending JMIH in Providence if you would like to speak with me in person.

James Van Dyke
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Arkansas
601 Science and Engineering Building
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
479-575-2963
juvandy@uark.edu

Redback Data Desired
Monday, October 11, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 9
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 October 2004

Redback Salamander Data Needed

We are examining spatial and temporal variation in the frequency of color morphs of Plethodon cinereus throughout its range. Over the last two years, we have amassed 36,000 records from 1908 to present, mostly from the published literature. We would like to ask if you would be willing to share your unpublished data with us, provided it does not interfere with your own research efforts.

We are looking for site-level tallies of the number of striped, unstriped and erythristic morphs observed along with year of study, site name, township, county and state. We will welcome any contributions and are particularly interested in recent counts (post-2000) and those from the southern part of the species' range, e.g., Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, and Delaware.

We are evaluating changes in morph frequency as a barometer of biotic response to climate change in forests of eastern North America. Preliminary analysis of our data has revealed, for example, that the striped frequency has declined in the United States by some 10% over the last century, consistent with the changes predicted based on increases in ambient temperatures over the same period. Anyone willing to contribute data to this effort should please contact us directly for further information. Thank you for your assistance.

Nancy E. Karraker
Ph.D. Candidate
& James P. Gibbs
Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
350 Illick Hall
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, New York 13210
email: nekarrak@syr.edu
http://www.esf.edu/efb/gibbs/nancy.htm
Phone: (315) 470-6754
Fax: (315) 470-6934

Redback Salamander Request
Tuesday, August 16, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 48
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 August 2005

Redback Salamander Tissues Requested

I am a graduate student at Arkansas State University looking into cross-species amplification of microsatellite primers in Western Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon albagula). Currently, I'm looking for DNA or tissue from Redback Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) to use as a positive control in these experiments with primers developed for that species. I would appreciate obtaining sample or two for this salamander. Also, is anyone else working on a similar problem? I am very interested in the experiences of other researchers with cross-species microsat amping in salamanders, especially within the genus Plethodon. Thanks in advance for any tissues or information. I can be contacted at:

Nathan Stephens
Arkansas State University
nathan.stephens@smail.astate.edu

Redbelly Turtle Data
Tuesday, February 08, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 27
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
8 February 2005

Ashley Fisher is a graduate student at Marshall University and is initiating a two-year project on the Redbelly Turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris) in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. She seeks information related to the Redbelly Turtle, such as its natural history, ecology, or life history.

She would be grateful for citations or pdfs to the above topics, and especially for any unpublished data or observations about this chelonian.

Contact her at:

Ashley Fisher
afisherls@yahoo.com

Red-legged Frog Protected
Monday, October 23, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 October 2006

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WILL PROTECT CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROGS FROM 66 TOXIC PESTICIDES. MANY PESTICIDES CORRELATED WITH AMPHIBIAN DECLINES

San Francisco, California – The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will protect the threatened California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii) from 66 of the most toxic and persistent pesticides authorized for use in California. The agreement, signed this week and expected to be approved by a U.S. District Court, prohibits use of these pesticides in and adjacent to core Red-legged Frog habitats throughout California until the EPA completes formal consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to ensure the chemicals are not jeopardizing or contributing to the decline of the species.

"This agreement will keep toxic chemicals out of essential habitats for the vanishing Red-legged Frog," said Peter Galvin, CBD Conservation Director. "The EPA must now ensure that pesticide applicators look before they leap into activities that can harm Twain’s frog or contaminate the wetlands it depends on. The Court, the EPA and pesticide industry representatives agreed that pesticide-application buffer zones are reasonable and effective protection for frogs until the effects of these chemicals can be assessed. Many of these pesticides are known to be harmful to human health as well."

The agreement is a result of a lawsuit filed by CBD against the EPA in 2002. The Court found in September of 2005 that the EPA had violated the Endangered Species Act by registering pesticides for use without considering how they might impact the continued existence of the Red-legged Frog. The agreement requires the EPA to:

complete formal consultations with USFWS on the impacts of the 66 pesticides on Red-legged Frogs within 3 years;

prohibit interim use of the pesticides within and adjacent to Red-legged Frog habitats, specifically designated critical habitat areas, aquatic features and upland habitats occupied by the frog;

mandate pesticide-free buffer zones adjoining frog habitats (200 feet for aerial pesticide applications to prevent drift and 60 feet for ground applications to prevent runoff);

allow exemptions for public health vector control programs, invasive species and noxious weed programs, and other specific applications that pose little or no risk to frogs; and

distribute an educational brochure for pesticide applicators and county agricultural commissions regarding the Red-legged Frog, impacts of pesticides and contaminants on frogs generally, and describing the interim restrictions on pesticide use in the settlement.

"There is overwhelming evidence that numerous pesticides have potentially serious impacts on Red-legged Frogs and other declining amphibians in California, and the EPA must now assess those impacts," said CBD spokesman Jeff Miller. "The pesticide restrictions will stay in effect until consultations are complete. Informed consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service should result in permanent restrictions on many of the proven harmful contaminants such as atrazine."

The Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies such as the EPA to consult with endangered species experts to determine how activities such as pesticide registration impact species and their critical habitats. This system of checks and balances helps prevent extinctions – scientists believe that the Act has reduced extinction rates in the U.S. by an order of magnitude. The cornerstone of the Act is protection of "critical habitat," which safeguards essential habitat from destruction or adverse impacts and also provides protection of suitable habitat areas not currently occupied by the species. Scientific studies show that species that have their critical habitats protected by the Act are twice as likely to be recovering as those that do not. See

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/Programs/policy/ch/sub1.html

The EPA registers numerous pesticides for use that are applied in or upwind of the frog’s few remaining habitats. Over 200 million pounds of pesticides are applied each year in California without first consulting with USFWS on impacts to imperiled species. A Congressional bill which would gut the Endangered Species Act by repealing habitat protections, introduced by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Tracy) and passed by the House in September of 2005, includes a section giving the EPA a five-year pass from requirements to consult with USFWS scientists over how pesticides could affect the imperiled species.

Historically abundant throughout California, Red-legged Frogs have declined in numbers over 90 percent and have disappeared from 70 percent of their former range. Studies implicate pesticide drift from the Central Valley in disproportional declines of several native frog species in the Sierra Nevada, including red-legged frogs. The USFWS has noted that the percentage of upwind land in agricultural production is 6.5 times greater for Sierra Nevada and Central Valley sites where Red-legged Frogs have disappeared than for sites where frogs still live. Amphibians are declining at alarming rates around the globe, and many scientists believe that industrial chemicals and pesticides may be partially to blame.

Numerous studies have definitively linked pesticide use with significant developmental, neurological and reproductive effects on amphibians. Pesticide contamination can cause deformities, abnormal immune system functions, diseases, injury, and death of red-legged frogs and other amphibians. Red-legged Frog tadpoles are likely to be killed or paralyzed by some herbicides such as triclopyr and insecticides such as fenitrothion. Recent studies by Dr. Tyrone Hayes at the University of California have strengthened the case for banning atrazine, the most common contaminant of ground, surface and drinking water. Dr. Hayes demonstrated that atrazine is an endocrine disrupter that interferes with reproduction by chemically castrating and feminizing male amphibians. Atrazine has been linked to increased prostate cancer and decreased sperm count in men and high risk of breast cancer in women.

The 66 pesticides at issue are: 1,3-dichlorpropene; 2,4-D; acephate; alachlor; aldicarb; atrazine; azinphos-methyl; bensulide; bromacil; captan; carbaryl; chloropicrin; chlorothalonil; chlorpyrifos; chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA); diazinon; dicofol; diflubenzuron; dimethoate; disulfoton; diuron; endosulfan; EPTC; esfenvalerate; fenamiphos; glysophate; hexazinone; imazapyr; iprodione; linuron; malathion; mancozeb; maneb; metam sodium; methamidophos; methidathion; methomyl; methoprene; methyl parathion; metolachlor; molinate; myclobutanil; naled; norflurazon; oryzalin; oxamyl; oxydemeton-methyl; oxyfluorfen; paraquat dichloride; pendimethalin; permethrin; phorate; phosmet; prometryn; propanil; propargite; propyzamide (pronamide); rotenone; simazine; SSS-tributyl phosphororithiolate (DEF or Tribufos); strychnine; thiobencarb; triclopyr; trifluralin; vinclozolin; and ziram.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a non-profit conservation organization with more than 25,000 members dedicated to the protection of imperiled species and their habitats. The lawsuit, settlement agreement, and information on the Red-legged Frog can be found on the Center’s web site at www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/rlfrog/index.html

************************************

Jeff Miller
Bay Area Wildlands Coordinator
Center for Biological Diversity
1095 Market Street, Suite 511
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 436-9682 x 303
Fax (415) 436-9683
Web site

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org
The Center for Biological Diversity protects endangered species and wild places through science, policy, education, and environmental law.

Contacts: Jeff Miller, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 499-9185
Brent Plater, Center for Biological Diversity, (415) 572-6989

Red-legged Frog Reserve
Friday, July 27, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
27 July 2007

Endangered territory: Napa school district leaps over hurdles to build high school in the hills that are home to the California red-legged frog
by Dan Judge, Times-Herald staff writer
ubdJudge@thnewsnet.com

AMERICAN CANYON - The discovery of the California Red-legged Frog [Rana draytonii] in the American Canyon area has been a developer's nightmare and an environmentalist's dream. The endangered amphibian's presence in the eastern hills above American Canyon has long hampered development of one of the city's most desirable pieces of land.

After the California Red-legged Frog was discovered on the site in 1996, any proposed projects required complex negotiations, permitting and compromises with regulatory agencies to ensure the frog's survival. It appears the Napa Valley Unified School District has successfully crossed all those hurdles with its plan to build American Canyon's first high school in frog country.

As part of the deal, the district bought an additional 317 acres it has committed to serve as Napa County's only protected California Red-legged Frog habitat. "This is going to become part of a huge regional preserve system," said Geoff Monk, the school district's environmental consultant. He noted that the area will link up with the 640-acre Jack and Bernice Newell Open Space Preserve and Lynch Canyon in Solano County.

On a recent expedition to the site with a Times-Herald reporter and photographer, Monk was able to point out seven of the elusive frogs in the creeks, ponds and a 100-year-old cistern used as a trough at the former cattle ranch. The trough was filled with tadpoles getting ready to carry on the fight for survival.

Today the frog is found mainly throughout California's central coast with a few isolated populations like the one in American Canyon. The California Red-legged Frogs were able to adapt to drier conditions and made their way up into the hills where their enemy, the introduced Bullfrog, would not follow, he said. "It's kind of like a little safe haven or island," Monk said.

The area's first sighting of California Red-legged Frogs occurred when developers at Vallejo's Hiddenbrooke installed water hazards at a new golf-course. The frogs suddenly showed up but it was only a matter of time before the bullfrogs appeared and now the population is disappearing again. At that point, it was only a theory that the Red-legged Frog might inhabit the future school site just outside American Canyon where four other development proposals have gone belly up, including plans for a golf course, time-share condominiums and houses.

Monk served as the environmental consultant for nearly all the developers and was the one who eventually found the frog. Now almost any development on the east side of Broadway/Highway 29 has to deal with the possibility of having to accommodate the frog to some extent, Public Works Director Robert Weil said. "It takes a lot of time," he said. "You have to figure like an extra year in some cases to deal with it."

The LaVigne residential development hired Monk to build a 2.5 acre wetlands for the frog's benefit to satisfy the regulatory agencies. The city itself may be dealing with that very issue with another biologist's recent discovery of a single California Red-legged Frog at the site of American Canyon's proposed town center.

Despite the confirmed presence of the California Red-legged Frog and the related environmental hurdles, the Napa Valley Unified School District bought the site to build a high school campus to serve 2,200 students and a future middle school. The district has taken a different tack from other developers, spending $4.6 million outright to buy 317 more acres, five times the amount of land needed for the 62-acre school, to permanently preserve as frog habitat.

NVUSD Maintenance and Operations Director Don Evans said the district originally believed it would only need to offer one acre in mitigation for each acre developed but the rapidly disappearing frog population convinced environmental regulatory agencies to up the ante by 3-to 1. Evans felt the district had no choice but to move forward. "The land we found was the only piece of land adjoining the city of American Canyon where we could build a high school," he said. "There was no other option."

The district also knew it would need more land to mitigate the impact of the middle school and a future elementary school that will likely be built in the northern portion of the city, where Evans said the frog has been found. They decided to buy enough land to cover all the projects with some left to sell other developers that may need mitigation land.

The California Red-legged Frog preserve also offers some educational opportunities, Evans said. Science students will be able to study the animal and perhaps even help maintain a portion of the habitat. The district hopes to turn the preserve over to the Napa County Land Trust to manage.

While district officials were not wild about spending the extra money, Evans conceded that it is one of the realities facing modern developers. All the easily available land with few environmental issues has been built over and now a premium must be paid for the rest. "We are aware our world is changing and we have to be sure we're a good partner in th e world," Evans said. "If that partnership means protecting the wildlife, we need to be part of that."

The school district also has been "pre-negotiating" with all of the permitting regulatory agencies involved, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. "They're excited about it," Monk said. "The school district is doing a fantastic job of doing the right thing and is going to get their project."

While some people may think it is a lot of money and fuss over a frog, Monk disagrees. Not only is the disappearance of any part of the ecosystem a troubling warning sign for the overall environment, he said the public will benefit from the permanently dedicated open space. That may not seem so important now, but once development has swallowed up every square inch of possible land over the next couple of hundred years, that permanently protected open space will be priceless, Monk said. "This is going to be preserved in perpetuity for the California Red-legged Frog but who benefits? Man."

Red-legged Reprieve
Wednesday, October 01, 2008: CNAH - Lawrence, Kansas
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
1 October 2008

PROPOSAL TO INCREASE CRITICAL HABITAT AREA FOUR-FOLD FOR CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG

1.3 Million Acres May Regain Protection after Investigation into Interior Department Scandals, Citizen Lawsuit

Sacramento, California – Under scrutiny for political corruption regarding numerous endangered species decisions and facing a lawsuit over improper tampering with protected critical habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to restore significant areas of critical habitat for the California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii). The Service today proposed quadrupling the protected areas by designating approximately 1,804,865 acres of critical habitat for the frog in 28 California counties.

“No endangered species can survive without its habitat intact, and the Red-legged Frog desperately needs protection of adequate wetlands habitat throughout its former range,” said Jeff Miller, conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Today’s proposal is step toward biological meaningful protections for the frog, but unfortunately numerous other endangered species still have inadequate habitat protections because bureaucrats have illegally slashed millions of acres from proposals by agency scientists.”

In November 2007, under pressure brought about by the Center and the media highlighting Interior Department corruption, the Service announced the reversal of six illegal Endangered Species Act decisions, including the California Red-legged Frog’s 2006 critical habitat designation. The Service listed the Red-legged Frog as a threatened species in 1996. It published a proposed rule to designate 4,138,064 acres of critical habitat in 2004. In response to a lawsuit by developers, the Service revised the proposal in 2005 to only 737,912 acres, and finalized the rule in 2006 with just 450,288 acres - a reduction of 90 percent from the original proposed rule. Today’s proposal would increase the critical habitat by approximately 1,354,577 acres.

“Even with the announced increase in acreage, the Red-legged Frog will receive habitat protection for less than half the areas that agency biologists have identified as essential for the recovery of the species,” said Miller. “Under the Bush administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service has consistently slashed the size of proposed critical habitats, so we will be watching the final designation closely.”

In 2007 the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups filed lawsuits challenging the Service’s refusal to properly designate and protect critical habitat areas for 19 endangered species, including the California Red-legged Frog. The suits are part of a broader effort by the Center to challenge political corruption harming 55 endangered species and over 8.5 million acres of wildlife habitat. Many of the flawed critical habitat decisions were engineered by Julie MacDonald, the disgraced former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior who resigned in 2007 following a scathing report by the Inspector General and investigations into political meddling in scientific decisions by MacDonald and other high level officials in the Department of Interior and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

In a 2007 regional review of endangered species decisions potentially tainted by Macdonald, the California/Nevada Operations office of the Service declared that the Red-legged Frog critical habitat decision was invalid and should be redone. Director Dale Hall, in a memo to Assistant Secretary of Interior Lynn Scarlett confirmed the frog as one of the decisions “that should be re-evaluated.”

The Service cited a biased and controversial economic analysis as justification for cutting the original habitat designation for the frog from 4.1 million acres to 450,000 acres, a reduction of 90 percent. From 2000 to 2003 the Service shrunk the size of proposed critical habitats for species on average by 75 percent. The Service is contemplating excluding areas from the final rule for the frog based on a planned revision of the economic analysis, and may exclude other areas based on supposed conservation measures in place to protect the species.

Critical habitat can be the most effective tool for recovering species beyond listing under the Endangered Species Act. A scientific study published in BioScience in 2005 showed that endangered species with critical habitat are twice as likely to recover as species that do not have critical habitat designated.

Made famous in the Mark Twain story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, the California Red-legged Frog has lost more than 70 percent of its historic habitat. Frog populations have declined due to habitat loss from urbanization and introduction of exotic species such as Bullfrogs. The Red-legged Frog is believed to be extinct in the Central Valley and is extirpated from 99 percent of its Sierra Nevada range. Currently, the strongest breeding populations remaining are found along the coast from San Mateo to San Luis Obispo counties.

The Red-legged Frog prefers ponds, marshes and creeks with still water. It requires riparian and upland areas with dense vegetation and open areas for cover, aestivation (summertime hibernation), food and basking. Undisturbed riparian vegetation is also necessary for female frogs to attach their egg masses, which float on the water surface until hatched (6-14 days).

The proposal includes 49 units of critical habitat for the frog in Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Ventura, and Yuba Counties.

Background information on the red-legged frog can be found on the Center for Biological Diversity Web site at:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/amphibians/California_red-legged_frog/index.html

Background information on political interference with endangered species decisions by Fish and Wildlife Service bureaucrats can be found at:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/watchfrogging_political_corruption/index.html

Today's Federal Register notice on the revised critical habitat is at:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20473.pdf

The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit conservation organization with 180,000 members and online activists, dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Contacts:

Jeff Miller, Center for Biological Diversity (510) 499-9185
Peter Galvin, Center for Biological Diversity (707) 986-2600

Center for Biological Diversity
351 California Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, California 94104
Phone: (415) 436-9682 x303
Fax: (415) 436-9683
Web site: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

The Center for Biological Diversity works through science, law, and media to secure a future for all species, great or small, hovering on the brink of extinction.

Reptile Disease Delivery
Thursday, March 23, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 78
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 March 2006

Reptile Disease Transmission

I am working on a project to assess the disease risk to indigenous reptiles of New Zealand. In assessing the state of knowledge of disease impacts on wild and captive reptiles, I would be extremely grateful if you could consider the issues and questions below:

1. Are you aware of any actual negative impacts of parasites or pathogens (indigenous or introduced) on wild reptile populations, and if so could you please provide some basic details?

2. Do you know of any current research or expertise in the field of assessing parasite or pathogenic agents impacting on wild populations, and if so could you please provide a name, areas of experience and contact details, if possible?

3. Do you know of any exotic reptile diseases which persist in wild populations, but which are not known to have a pathogenic impact, and if so could you please provide some basic details?

4. The House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is most commonly intercepted in New Zealand by biosecurity agencies, usually having a port of origin in the Asia Pacific region. These geckos are frequently infected by the parasitic mite, Geckobia bataviensis. Whilst the geckos are likely to be captured or to die whilst in freight storage, I am concerned with the potential from the Geckobia mites to find a new host amongst our indigenous reptiles and to transmit hematozoan, bacterial or viral infection which may cause serious health issues to our naive indigenous herpetofauna. I would be extremely grateful if you are able to suggest any such pathogenic agents you think may be vectored by such a mite?

I appreciate that, as scientists and veterinarians, time is rarely spared to answer obscure emails, and I will appreciate any information you may have to offer. I would be most grateful if you could also respond with a brief email if you have no knowledge of the subject, as this will help me gauge the level of awareness amongst veterinarians of these issues. Many thanks for your time and effort in considering these questions.

James T. Reardon
Programme Manager
Grand and Otago Skink Recovery Programme
Department of Conservation
P. O. Box 5244
Dunedin, New Zealand
tel: ++64 (0)3 474 6925
mobile: ++64 (0)27 464 3230
jreardon@doc.govt.nz

Reptile Facility Roundup
Thursday, September 15, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 54
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
15 September 2005

Reptile Facility Request

I would like to obtain a list of U.S. universities or academic researchers in these universities conducting research with reptiles. I am preparing a powerpoint presentation for a laboratory animal meeting (AALAS) in St Louis in November that will be a review of facility needs for reptile research in an academic setting. I would like to contact a representative from each university to see what type of facility they have for reptiles.

Please contact me at:

JacobsonE@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu

Thank you.

Elliott Jacobson
University of Florida
Gainesville

Reptile Genome Web Site
Tuesday, May 24, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
24 May 2005

Reptile Genome Web Site Launched

The Reptile Genome Working Group is proud to announce the introduction of a web site for Reptilian Genomics -- http://www.reptilegenome.com/

We have developed a short list of reptilian species for possible genome sequencing. We now seek comments that will help us choose the best species and to justify sequencing the entire genome of one or more reptiles. We welcome your input to ensure that the species recommended for sequencing will benefit the largest possible community of scientists who will make use of the data. Please visit

http://www.reptilegenome.com/white_paper/survey.shtml

by Friday 3 June 2005 to help select the species that will be proposed for full genome sequencing.

Please see the website for additional information, to join our email list-serve, or to join our working group. Please also forward this e-mail to anyone who may find this of interest

The Reptile Genome Working Group

Travis Glenn
Travis.Glenn@sc.edu

Scott Edwards
Ed Braun
Wes Warren
Pat Minx
Sandy Clifton
Dorrie Main
Jonathan Losos
Jeremy Gibson-Brown
William Modi
David Pollock
Lisa Davis
Dan Brown
Lou Guillette
Andy Shedlock
David Ray

Reptile Parasite Pursuit
Friday, March 30, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 124
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 March 2007

PARASITE FOCUS FECAL

Does anyone know of a good comprehensive source of information on reptilian parasites detected from fecal samples? Or just reptilian parasites in general? This information would be most useful to me in my research. Thanks in advance.

Pablo Delis
Assistant Professor
Biology Department, FSC 335
Shippensburg University
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania 17257
717-477-1092
717-477-4064 fax
prdeli@ship.edu

Reptile Radiation Request
Friday, March 17, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 77
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 March 2006

REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO LIZARD X-RAYS

I am a graduate student conducting a broad survey of vertebral numbers in lizards. I am attempting to reconstruct evolutionary patterns of vertebral number evolution in this group by mapping data onto phylogenies. Although my vertebral number data set is becoming quite extensive, there are a number of lizard families for which I have poor sampling. These are: Anguidae, Cordylidae, Gerrhosauridae, Diplodactylidae, Pygopodidae, and Varanidae. If anyone has x-rays of species from any of these groups, and would be willing to make them available to me, I would be grateful if you would contact me by email. Thank you for your consideration.

Philip J. Bergmann
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
310 Dinwiddie Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
pbergman@tulane.edu

Reptile Range Required
Tuesday, June 09, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 June 2009

Defenders of Wildlife
The Center for Biological Diversity

COURT ORDERS ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION FOR FLAT-TAILED HORNED LIZARD -- FOR THE THIRD TIME
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must review decision to deny protections

San Francisco – In response to a lawsuit brought by The Center for Biological Diversity and a number of other groups, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to deny the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) protection under the Endangered Species Act was illegal and again ordered the agency to consider protection for the lizard.

"The Flat-tailed Horned Lizard is severely threatened by urban and agricultural sprawl and needs protection as an endangered species to survive," said Noah Greenwald, biodiversity program director at The Center for Biological Diversity. "With today’s court decision, we hope the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finally gotten the message that it can not legally deny this imperiled species protection."

Significantly, the decision rejected a Bush administration policy developed by the solicitor of the Department of the Interior in 2007 that required the Fish and Wildlife Service to ignore loss of historic range when determining if species warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The decision observes that "the Secretary clings to his argument that lost historical habitat is largely irrelevant to the recovery of the species, and thus the ESA does not require him to consider it," and then roundly rejects this position, concluding that past court decisions require "the Secretary to analyze lost historical range."

"This decision goes beyond the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard by seriously undermining the Bush administration’s position that loss of historic range is not a basis for protecting species under the Endangered Species Act," said Greenwald. "The courts have determined today that the Bush administration’s emergency room approach to species protection – in which only species that are on the brink of extinction everywhere are protected – is plainly illegal."

The Flat-tailed Horned Lizard inhabits portions of southern California (Riverside, Imperial and San Diego counties), Arizona (Yuma county), and northwestern Mexico (Sonora, Baja Calif. N). It is severely threatened by habitat destruction caused by urban and agricultural sprawl, off-road vehicles, and other threats.

"This is the third time in the fifteen years since the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard was proposed for listing that a court has told the Fish and Wildlife Service to go back and review its refusal to protect the flat tailed horned lizard under the Endangered Species Act," said Kara Gillon, senior staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife. "These lizards need these protections now more than ever, if we are to avoid the loss of this species and the dwindling wild places that form its last refuge. We're hoping that the third time's the charm; these lizards are running out of time."

The Flat-tailed Horned Lizard was first proposed for listing in 1993. The proposal has since been withdrawn three times with conservation groups successfully challenging each withdrawal in court. The groups involved in the latest court challenge include the Tucson Herpetological Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Horned Lizard Conservation Society, and Sierra Club, who were represented by attorneys Neil Levine, a private attorney, and Bill Snape, senior counsel with the Center for Biological Diversity.

As the common name suggests, the species is recognized by its broad, flattened tail but also has long, sharp horns on its head, two rows of fringe scales along its abdomen, a dark stripe along its backbone, and concealed external ear openings. Adults of this species range in size between 2.5 and 4.3 inches long, excluding the tail.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org

Contact(s)
Kara Gillon, Defenders of Wildlife, (505) 715-3898
Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, (503) 484-7495

Reptile Reproduction
Monday, November 17, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 152
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 November 2008

REPTILIAN REPRODUCTION REQUEST

I am a graduate student at University College Dublin, Ireland. I am attempting to correlate a number of reptilian reproductive attributes across broad-scale phylogenies and have been assembling a dataset of initial egg mass, female body mass, incubation time, number of eggs, and neonate mass. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions for sources of data for this work. Any reprints, pdfs, or contacts would be much appreciated and can be sent to:

loraine.grant@ucdconnect.ie

Thank you.

Loraine Grant
School of Biology and Environmental Science
University College Dublin
Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland

Reptiles React to Roads
Thursday, February 02, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 February 2006

HOW DO HIGHWAYS INFLUENCE SNAKE MOVEMENT?
BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO ROADS AND VEHICLES
2005. Copeia (4): 772-782

by Kimberly M. Andrews and J. Whitfield Gibbons

Abstract: Roads affect animal survivorship and behavior and thereby can act as a barrier to movement, which exacerbates habitat fragmentation and disrupts landscape permeability. Field experiments demonstrated that interspecific differences in ecology and behavior of snakes affected responses of species when they encountered and crossed roads. The probability of crossing a road varied significantly among southeastern U.S. snakes, with smaller species exhibiting higher levels of road avoidance. Species also differed significantly in crossing speeds, with venomous snakes crossing more slowly than nonvenomous ones. All species crossed at a perpendicular angle, minimizing crossing time. A model incorporating interspecific crossing speeds and angles revealed that some species cannot successfully cross highways with high traffic densities. Individuals of three species immobilized in response to a passing vehicle, a behavior that would further prolong crossing time and magnify susceptibility to road mortality. Identifying direct and indirect effects of roads on snakes is essential for mitigating road impacts and for designing effective transportation systems in the future.

A copy of this article can be downloaded gratis by visiting the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Reptilia Relief
Tuesday, September 18, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 September 2007

STUDY SHOWS NORTH AMERICAN REPTILES FARING BETTER THAN EXPECTED

A newly completed assessment of the conservation status of North American reptiles shows that most of the group is faring better than expected, with relatively few species at severe risk of extinction. The comprehensive international assessment was carried out by zoologists from NatureServe, working in partnership with reptile experts from universities, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and Conservation International. The study covers 721 species of lizards and snakes found in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. About one in eight lizards and snakes (84 species) was found to be threatened with extinction, with another 23 species labeled Near Threatened. For 121 lizards and snakes, the data are insufficient to allow a confident estimate of their extinction risk, while 493 species (about two-thirds of the total) are at present relatively secure.

When viewed in comparison with the perils facing other animals, this is reasonably good news for North America’s snakes and lizards (and amphisbaenians). A comparable recent global assessment of amphibians, for example, found nearly one-third of the planet’s amphibians to be at risk of extinction.

The results of the two-year assessment were announced today as a key component of the 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Widely recognized as the most definitive tally of the planet’s threatened wildlife, the Red List is a joint effort led by IUCN and its Species Survival Commission, working with official Red List partners BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe, and the Zoological Society of London. Publication of the conservation status assessments for North American reptiles is a major step towards completion of the first-ever Global Reptile Assessment, an ongoing effort by the Red List Consortium to assess the status of all reptiles worldwide. The North American effort was funded primarily by the Regina Bauer Frankenberg Foundation for Animal Welfare, a New York-based foundation dedicated to the care and conservation of the world’s animals.

For additional information, contact Rob Riordan, NatureServe Director of Communications, 703-908-1831 or by email at

rob_riordan@natureserve.org

Reptilian Replica Research
Friday, November 26, 2004: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 18
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
26 November 2004

Reptilian Replica Research

For research on escape behavior and refuge use by lizards, William E. Cooper is looking for models of Collared Lizards (Crotaphytus) and models of stuffed shrikes or small falcons such as kestrels. Does anybody know where to obtain these? If so, contact Dr. Cooper at:

cooperw@ipfw.edu

William E. Cooper
Department of Biology
Indiana University-Purdue University
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
260-481-6311
260-481-6087 fax

Respiratory Reference
Monday, January 22, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 113
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 January 2007

RESPIRATORY REFERENCE REQUEST

I have need of a good reference(s) detailing the anatomy of the upper respiratory system in a broad range of squamates, especially the position and arrangement of the opening of the trachea. Does any herpetologist know of such a reference(s)? I would much appreciate your help.

Gorden Bell
National Park Service
Gorden_Bell@nps.gov

Rhode Island Herp List Online
Wednesday, December 09, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
9 December 2009

Now available

RHODE ISLAND HERPETOFAUNAL CHECKLIST ONLINE
UPDATED DAILY

Made available as a gratis service by CNAH, the herpetofaunal checklist of the state of Rhode Island is done and has been uploaded. Based on the CNAH North American list, this state checklist will be updated daily and simultaneously with the CNAH list when new discoveries are published that change the higher taxonomy (genus and family) of these creatures. Species-level changes will also be posted daily, but will not change on the Rhode Island web site until evaluated by systematists and published in the print version of the next edition of the CNAH common and scientific names list; these proposed changes (and their citations) will, however, be immediately accessible through the Rhode Island checklist, just as they are for the CNAH main list.

Most importantly, Rhode Island joins the other provinces and states of North America in having available standardized common names, eliminating the confusion and mistakes that can occur when these names are not uniform. This makes the list especially useful for government wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs, land managers, refuge managers and biologists, museums, universities, and zoological parks.

It is very important to use standardized common names for amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians; doing so not only creates an historical trail through time, but also maintains a stability in the present as we embrace the turbulent taxonomic changes that are occurring now and will occur in the future. The CNAH checklist program is the only authoritative coordinated herpetofaunal listing for the provinces and states of North America (north of Mexico), and brings stability to the taxonomy of these creatures across the continent.

******

To view any or all of the available North American provincial or state checklists, go to

http://www.cnah.org/state_list.asp

******

Ribbon Snake Request
Tuesday, August 23, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 49
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 August 2005

Northern Ribbon Snakes Needed

In collaboration with Richard Wassersug (Dalhousie University), I am studying aspects of the thermal biology of thamnophine snakes. We are particularly interested in mechanisms for cold tolerance in these species. An important part of this project will be physiological studies of snakes from northern populations where they are regularly exposed to freezing temperatures. I am particularly interested in comparing the Northern Ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis) to other T. sauritus from the southern extent of the geographic range of this taxon. I am trying to find 5–10 freshly wild-caught, adult specimens of the Northern Ribbon Snake (preferably from as far north in their geographic range as possible). All experimental procedures will be approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Individuals responding to this request must have a current scientific collecting permit for any specimens sent.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Bruce A. Young
School of Biological Sciences
Washington State University
youngb@wsu.edu

Thank you.

Ribbon Snake Research
Monday, October 16, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 99
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 October 2006

RIBBON SNAKE RESEARCH REQUEST

I am requesting information from anybody who has any field experience with Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis proximus, T. sauritus). I am seeking a Masters Degree in Biological Science under Dr. Tom Pauley at Marshall University and plan to study the life history, habitats, distribution, reproduction, emergence and reemergence times, diurnal rhythms, diet, and communities of these slender serpents.

I have found few details of collecting methods in the literature and I need advice. I could particularly use information on trapping techniques as well as details on the best habitats for these reptiles, where to look, when to look, and any other salient advice.

I thank those that respond in advance. I can be contacted at

Noah McCoard
Department of Biological Science
Marshall University
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, West Virginia 25755
(740) 222-3439
nsmccoard@yahoo.com

River Frog Request
Monday, May 02, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 40
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
2 May 2005

River Frog Project

Please contact me if you're doing research on the River Frog (Rana heckscheri) and would be willing to help me out on a project.

Dr. Catherine R. Bevier
Department of Biology
Colby College
5720 Mayflower Hill Drive
Waterville, Maine 04901

(207)872-3687
fax (207)872-3731
crbevier@colby.edu

Roadkill Road Signs
Wednesday, November 28, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 136
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
28 November 2007

RESEARCH REQUEST as to whether ROAD SIGNS REDUCE ROADKILLS

I am looking for any published or unpublished information on the effectiveness of road crossing signs designed to benefit amphibians, turtles, and reptiles. I am planning such a study in northern New York at known turtle crossings that appear to be hotspots of mortality. We hope to evaluate such factors as changes in driver behavior (speed) pre- and post-sign placement as well as effectiveness in reducing mortality. Information about designs of turtle crossings signs is also sought.

If you know of any relevant literature, please reply to Glenn Johnson at

johnsong@potsdam.edu

Thank you.

Glenn Johnson
Chairperson, Department of Biology
SUNY College at Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Avenue
Potsdam, New York 13676-2294
315-267-2710
315-267-3170 fax

Roadside Ringers
Friday, August 18, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
18 August 2006

ROADSIDE & RIPARIAN RINGERS

Compliments of Touchstone Energy, you can now download all 20 of the frog and toad calls of Kentucky taxa to your cell phone for a really cool ringtone. Species included are American Toad, Green Treefrog, Barking Treefrog, Mountain Chorus Frog, Bird Voiced Treefrog, [Eastern] Narrowmouth Toad, Bullfrog, Northern Leopard Frog, Cope's Gray Treefrog, Pickerel Frog, Crawfish Frog, Southern Leopard Frog, [Northern] Cricket Frog, [Eastern] Spadefoot, Fowler's Toad, Spring Peeper, Gray Treefrog, Upland Chorus Frog, Green Frog, and Wood Frog

Go to

http://www.ekpc.com/NewGreenweb/greenindex.htm

Then click on the "free nature ringtone" icon.

Also useful to encourage that special species to start calling in early spring.

Rocky Rattler Roost
Thursday, June 30, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
30 June 2005

Des Moines Register (Perry Beeman)

Snake Sanctuary: Rattlersnakes Roost in Rocky Stretch of Western Iowa

Sioux City, Iowa: Just north of here, Prairie Rattlesnakes slither among rocks and yucca plants in a stretch of Loess Hills that is Iowa's little slice of the West. Across the Missouri River, the Prairie Rattlesnake [formerly known as the Western Rattlesnake until DNA proved it was a distinct species] is common in Nebraska. But these 15 acres in Plymouth County [are] thought to be the species' only home in Iowa.

The Nature Conservancy, a private, nonprofit preservation group hoping to protect the species in Iowa, recently added the snake's hibernating area to its 3,050-acre Broken Kettle Grasslands, which is an important bird sanctuary. This rocky stretch of the silty-soil Loess Hills offers hiding places the snakes need for hibernation. The conservancy bought the land to prevent housing development, traffic, mowing, and, eventually, farming in the area, all of which could harm the snake, said Susanne Hickey, the group's Loess Hills project director. The area is open to the public. "It's a western species that gets into the Loess Hills because it's a drier habitat," Hickey said.

The Broken Kettle area has an estimated 110 adult rattlesnakes, said Conservancy herpetologist Dan Fogell. Fifty of the snakes have been tagged with microchips, which are injected under their skin with a syringe. The $6.50 chips carry a 10-digit code that can be read by passing the scanner over the snake. They are similar to the microchips that veterinarians use in pets. On a recent day, Fogell and crew bet they could find a rattler within five minutes along a ridge a quarter-mile from Iowa Highway 12. They scored.

Fogell, who lives in Omaha and teaches at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, passed an electronic reader over the snake, and immediately saw an identification number in the display. A repeat customer, this snake. Fogell's colleague grabbed the snake with a gizmo similar to the ones some people use to pick things off the floor. Pulling a trigger operates a clamping device on the end. Fogell then grabbed a long plastic tube - picture a bigger and sturdier version of the ones they put on single roses at the floral shops - and pushed the snake's head inside. With the snake unable to bite the scientists, Fogell passed the rattler to a colleague, who weighed and measured it.

The first of five rattlers they found was a female, 31 inches long. These snakes mate in spring and late summer but often keep the sperm for a year before they become pregnant. They give birth to live snakes, often a dozen or more at a time, and hope the blue racers, another snake species, don't eat them. Fogell is tracking the snake population for the Nature Conservancy. Earlier, he used radio transmitters to track the snakes' movements for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. During that study, he discovered that the snakes slither up to two miles away from their rocky homes.

Later, Fogell mentioned that the snakes roam the countryside for two reasons: Sex and food. One of the apparently nervous visitors asked Fogell if there is a time that the venomous snakes are aggressive. "Every day," Fogell replied. Especially if they've just given birth. Judging by the varying volume and frequency of the snakes' rattle-shaking, these snakes were in various stages of agitation.

But the snakes aren't normally aggressive toward humans. There is no record of anyone being bit by a rattlesnake on this land, Fogell said. Most people will find a way to get away from the snake when they hear its warning rattle. Landowners nearby, however, have reported that the snakes have bitten their dogs and cattle.

In Iowa's slice of the West, the rattlers [now] rule.

Roundup Ravages Ranas
Thursday, August 11, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
11 August 2005

Roundup Kills Frogs as well as Tadpoles, Pittsburgh Biologist Finds

PITTSBURGH — As amphibians continue to mysteriously disappear worldwide, a University of Pittsburgh researcher may have found more pieces of the puzzle. Elaborating on his previous research, University of Pittsburgh assistant professor of biological sciences Rick Relyea has discovered that Roundup, the most commonly used herbicide in the world, is deadly to tadpoles at lower concentrations than previously tested, that the presence of soil does not mitigate the chemical’s effects, and that the product kills frogs in addition to tadpoles.

In two articles published in the August 1 issue of the journal Ecological Applications, Relyea and his doctoral students Nancy Schoeppner and Jason Hoverman found that even when applied at concentrations that are one-third of the maximum concentrations expected in nature, Roundup still killed up to 71 percent of tadpoles raised in outdoor tanks.

Relyea also examined whether adding soil to the tanks would absorb the Roundup and make it less deadly to tadpoles. The soil made no difference: After exposure to the maximum concentration expected in nature, nearly all of the tadpoles from three species died.

Although Roundup is not approved for use in water, scientists have found that the herbicide can wind up in small wetlands where tadpoles live due to inadvertent spraying during the application of Roundup.

Studying how Roundup affected frogs after metamorphosis, Relyea found that the recommended application of Roundup Weed and Grass Killer, a formulation marketed to homeowners and gardeners, killed up to 86 percent of terrestrial frogs after only one day.

"The most striking result from the experiments was that a chemical designed to kill plants killed 98 percent of all tadpoles within three weeks and 79 percent of all frogs within one day," Relyea wrote.

Previous studies have determined that it is Roundup’s surfactant (polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, an "inert" ingredient added to make the herbicide penetrate plant leaves) and not the active herbicide (glyphosate) that is lethal to amphibians.

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation, Pitt’s McKinley Fund, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.

*****

Complete Citation

THE LETHAL IMPACT OF ROUNDUP ON AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL AMPHIBIANS
Ecological Applications 15(4): 1118-1124
Rick A. Relyea
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260

Abstract. The global decline in amphibian diversity has become an international environmental problem with a multitude of possible causes. There is evidence that pesticides may play a role, yet few pesticides have been tested on amphibians. For example, Roundup is a globally common herbicide that is conventionally thought to be nonlethal to amphibians. However, Roundup has been tested on few amphibian species, with existing tests conducted mostly under laboratory conditions and on larval amphibians. Recent laboratory studies have indicated that Roundup may be highly lethal to North American tadpoles, but we needed to determine whether this effect occurs under more natural conditions and in post-metamorphic amphibians. I assembled communities of three species of North American tadpoles in outdoor pond mesocosms that contained different types of soil (which can absorb the pesticide) and applied Roundup as a direct overspray. After three weeks, Roundup killed 96–100% of larval amphibians (regardless of soil presence). I then exposed three species of juvenile (post-metamorphic) anurans to a direct overspray of Roundup in laboratory containers. After one day, Roundup killed 68–86% of juvenile amphibians. These results suggest that Roundup, a compound designed to kill plants, can cause extremely high rates of mortality to amphibians that could lead to population declines.

Species used: Bufo maericanus, Hyla versicolor, Rana pipiens

*****

A gratis downloadable pdf of this and other current papers by Relyea is available from the CNAH PDF Library on the CNAH web site home page at:

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

Roundup References
Tuesday, September 13, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 53
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 September 2005

Rattlesnake Roundup Reference Request

I am a student at Central Arizona College enrolled in a two-semester Honors Program.

I am engaged in a research project that examines the negative impacts of rattlesnake roundups on rattlesnakes. The Kansas Herpetological Society position paper regarding rattlesnake roundups has given me a lot of documented evidence that has been helpful. I have also consulted a book, Portrait of a Predator, and various books by Laurence M. Klauber. I'm trying to locate other scholarly sources, but am having some difficulty. For example, I tried finding many of the sources listed in the KHS position paper, but I cannot locate them online.

I continue to try and locate any findings published on roundups and their detrimental effects on rattlesnakes. Local librarians have tried to assist me with this topic, but they have little scientific background, which has made it very difficult to locate such references.

I would be grateful to receive any references to rattlesnake roundups and their negative impacts on rattlesnakes in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and thank in advance anyone responding to this research request.

Aris DeTorres
Central Arizona College

I can be contacted at:

adetorres@cox.net

Roundup Those Ranids
Thursday, November 20, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 November 2008

PITT RESEARCH FINDS THAT LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF PESTICIDES CAN BECOME TOXIC MIXTURE

Concentrations of 10 most popular pesticides that fall within EPA safe-exposure levels, when combined, cause 99 percent mortality in Leopard Frog tadpoles

PITTSBURGH—Ten of the world’s most popular pesticides can decimate amphibian populations when mixed together even if the concentration of the individual chemicals are within limits considered safe, according to University of Pittsburgh research published Nov. 11 in the online edition of Oecologia. Such "cocktails of contaminants" are frequently detected in nature, the paper notes, and the Pitt findings offer the first illustration of how a large mixture of pesticides can adversely affect the environment.

Study author Rick Relyea, an associate professor of biological sciences in Pitt’s School of Arts and Sciences, exposed Gray Treefrog and Leopard Frog tadpoles to small amounts of the 10 pesticides that are widely used throughout the world. Relyea selected five insecticides—carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, endosulfan, and malathion—and five herbicides—acetochlor, atrazine, glyphosate, metolachlor, and 2,4-D. He administered the following doses: each of the pesticides alone, the insecticides combined, a mix of the five herbicides, or all 10 of the poisons.

Relyea found that a mixture of all 10 chemicals killed 99 percent of Leopard Frog tadpoles as did the insecticide-only mixture; the herbicide mixture had no effect on the tadpoles. While Leopard Frogs perished, Gray Treefrogs did not succumb to the poisons and instead flourished in the absence of Leopard Frog competitors.

Relyea also discovered that endosulfan—a neurotoxin banned in several nations but still used extensively in U.S. agriculture—is inordinately deadly to Leopard Frog tadpoles. By itself, the chemical caused 84 percent of the Leopard Frogs to die. This lethality was previously unknown because current regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do not require amphibian testing, Relyea said. His results showed that endosulfan was not only highly toxic to leopard frogs, but also that it served as the linchpin of the pesticide mixture that eliminated the bulk of leopard frog tadpoles.

"Endosulfan appears to be about 1,000-times more lethal to amphibians than other pesticides that we have examined," Relyea said. "Unfortunately, pesticide regulations do not require amphibian testing, so very little is known about endosulfan’s impact on amphibians, despite being sprayed in the environment for more than five decades."

For most of the pesticides, the concentration Relyea administered (2 to 16 parts per billion) was far below the human-lifetime-exposure levels set by the EPA and also fell short of the maximum concentrations detected in natural bodies of water. But the research suggests that these low concentrations—which can travel easily by water and, particularly, wind—can combine into one toxic mixture. In the published paper, Relyea points out that declining amphibian populations have been recorded in pristine areas far downwind from areas of active pesticide use, and he suggests that the chemical cocktail he describes could be a culprit.

The results of this study build on a nine-year effort by Relyea to understand potential links between the global decline in amphibians, routine pesticide use, and the possible threat to humans in the future. Amphibians are considered an environmental indicator species because of their unique sensitivity to pollutants. Their demise from pesticide overexposure could foreshadow the fate of less sensitive animals, Relyea said. Leopard Frogs, in particular, are vulnerable to contamination; once plentiful across North America, including Pennsylvania, their population has declined in recent years as pollution and deforestation have increased.

Relyea published a paper in the October 1 edition of Ecological Applications, reporting that gradual amounts of malathion—the most popular insecticide in the United States—that were too small to directly kill developing leopard frog tadpoles instead sparked a biological chain of events that deprived them of their primary food source. As a result, nearly half the tadpoles in the experiment did not reach maturity and would have died in nature. Relyea published papers in 2005 in the same journal suggesting that the popular weed-killer Roundup® is "extremely lethal" to amphibians in concentrations found in the environment. News releases about Relyea’s previous work are available on Pitt’s Web site at

http://www.news.pitt.edu/

The paper can be found on the Oecologia Web site at

http://www.springerlink.com/content/3420j3486k108805/

or by contacting Morgan Kelly at

412-624-4356 (office)
412-897-1400 (cell)
mekelly@pitt.edu

Roundup/Rodeo Request
Monday, August 29, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 51
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
29 August 2005

Reed Rodeo Roundup Request

I am interested in management of Phragmites australis (Common Reed, a wetland plant species) in the Mobile Delta. This plant is considered non-native to the southeastern U.S. The particular lineage found in the delta is also found in Central America and Asia. The herbicides that we are interesting in using to control this plant are glyphosate (Rodeo - a different formulation than Roundup) and imazapyr (Habitat). Both of these are approved for aquatic application, but I would like more detailed information. I am currently looking for toxicology studies, but any extra help would be appreciated, especially regarding the possible impact on amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians as well as invertebrates.

If you can help with this search, please contact me at:

Jody Thompson
Habitat Ecologist
State Lands Division
Alabama Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources
64 North Union Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Office (334) 353-9145
Fax (334) 242-0999
jody.thompson@dcnr.alabama.gov

Rudy Reposed
Monday, April 14, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
14 April 2008

RUDY KOMAREK, RATTLESNAKE POACHER

In early March 2008, Rudy Komarek (aka “Cobra King”), a notorious Timber Rattlesnake poacher and sometime showman, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 79. Apart from several well-known bounty hunters who took thousands of Timber Rattlesnakes at taxpayers’ expense in three northeastern New York counties and one western Vermont county (see Jon Furman’s Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York, University of New England Press, 2007), no single individual had a detrimental impact on northeastern populations of this species as great as that of Komarek. During the second half of the 20th century, Komarek’s extensive commercial collecting of reptiles in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia flourished in a career that spanned four decades. In 1994, Brown, Jones, and Stechert (Bulletin Chicago Herpetological Society 29:74-79) detailed Komarek’s federal felony conviction for interstate trafficking, describing him as a “nefarious hominid” who single-handedly caused severe depletion or extirpation of many populations of Timber Rattlesnakes in the northeast. Using Stechert’s long-term monitoring data of many of the same rattlesnake dens that Komarek is known to have exploited, Brown et al. (1994) estimated that Komarek accounted for over 2,900 Timber Rattlesnakes taken from 27 dens in eight counties in New York. We now believe that this estimate is overly conservative. Since our report was published, Stechert has continued to conduct detailed status surveys in New York, the results of which -- in conjunction with the poacher’s own admissions in recent years -- now allow us to provide an improved estimate of Komarek’s take. Our revised estimate suggests that, over a lifetime of collecting, Komarek took or killed approximately 4,000 to 6,000 (best median estimate 5,000) Timber Rattlesnakes in New York, as well as hundreds in adjoining states. Over the past 25 years, the Timber Rattlesnake has been legally protected as a threatened species in New York. Before Komarek fled the state (settling for several years in Pennsylvania and finally retreating to semi-retirement in Florida), he is believed to have had about a fourteen-year period of taking the species following its listing and protection in New York. Although an era of outright depletion of Timber Rattlesnakes may have slowed considerably due to Komarek’s demise, we must take note of a variety of new and continuing threats to this snake’s habitats and populations caused by greatly expanded urban sprawl in the form of housing and commercial developments.

Randy Stechert
50 School Street
Narrowsburg, New York 12764

and

William S. Brown
Department of Biology
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
wbrown@skidmore.edu

Running of the Lizards 2007
Tuesday, September 04, 2007: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 September 2007

THE TENTH ANNUAL RUNNING OF THE LIZARDS

This event, held each year as part of Joe Collins' herpetology class at Washburn University, is open to the public, and consists of trying to count and catch as many Italian Wall Lizards as possible near the intersection where they were first released in Topeka over four decades ago (in the 1960s). Italian Wall Lizards are native to Italy, but were released (or escaped) from a biological supply business once located on the northwest corner of 21st and Gage. Once loose, they liked the neighborhood, took up residence, established themselves, and now are found there in huge numbers. They have spread as far north as the world famous Topeka Zoo and their numbers in Topeka are estimated in the tens of thousands.

Joe Collins' students from Washburn University will gather near Dimple Donuts at noon on Sunday, 9 September, to census these lizards for the tenth straight year.

Topekans are invited to enjoy two hours of lizard chasing, as Joe's class learns an important lesson -- small lizards are not easy to catch. They are alert, swift, and take advantage of every nook and cranny they can find, and there are a lot of nooks and crannies at 21st and Gage. To catch them, you must throw caution to the winds and get down with the lizards -- on your hands and knees. Eye to eye, clawed toe to manicured fingernail, where the victory goes to the swift and cunning. The lizards are usually swifter and more cunning, but sometimes a student gets lucky. And gets a really good grade.

Wear sneakers and bring gloves.

*****

For more information about this release, contact Joe Collins at

(785) 749-3467
(785) 383-4757 (cell)
jcollins@ku.edu

Salamander Egg Energy
Tuesday, February 10, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 159
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
10 February 2009

SALAMANDER EGG ENERGY SOUGHT

Does anyone know of any literature regarding the energy content of salamander eggs (preferably those of the genus Plethodon)? Even better, does anyone have data pertaining to the energy content of salamander eggs? Such information or data would greatly assist me in my research. Please respond directly to me at:

giffo031@umn.edu

Thank you for any help you can render.

Matthew E. Gifford
Postdoctoral Research Associate
The Bell Museum of Natural History
University of Minnesota
100 Ecology, 1987 Upper Buford Circle
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108
(612) 625-5709

Salamander Eggs Sought
Wednesday, October 22, 2008: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH RESEARCH REQUEST Number 150
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
22 October 2008

AMPHIUMA EGGS WANTED

I am a developmental biologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and am interested in obtaining amphiuma embryos for research. If anyone has managed to obtain fertilized eggs from the wild or from captive pairs, I would much appreciate your assistance with my research.

If you can help, please contact me at:

cohn@zoology.ufl.edu

*****

Martin Cohn
Department of Zoology
P. O. Box 118525
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Salamander Scout Soars
Friday, June 17, 2005: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
17 June 2005

SCOUT EARNS EAGLE AWARD BY PROTECTING ENDANGERED SALAMANDERS
Demonstrates Project to Advisors, Peers

Austin, Texas: Jonathan Hillis of Scout Troop 399 found out that protecting endangered salamanders demands a mix of biology, engineering, and sweat. Hillis recently received the prestigious Eagle Scout Award, earned in part by coordinating several projects at Barton Springs. His projects helped restore and enhance habitat for the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum) at two spring sites (Eliza Springs and Sunken Garden Springs). Some of Hillis’s efforts included fortifying eroded soil around the base wall of a spring pool, transplanting aquatic plants to help stabilize sediment, and removing concrete and rusted wires from an outflow stream.

A similar project at Eliza Springs last year dramatically increased the number of salamanders at that site. The Barton Springs Salamander is a Federally-listed endangered species known only to occur in four sites that collectively make up the Barton Springs complex.

On 14 June, Hillis walked officials and media through his restoration efforts on-site at Sunken Garden Springs. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and City of Austin presented Hillis with certificates of appreciation for his restoration efforts at Barton Springs. Other dignitaries present were Mayor Will Wynn, City of Austin, Renne Lohoefner, State Administrator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Robert Pine, Supervisor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin Ecological Services, Ron George, Director, Wildlife Science, Research, and Diversity, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Dr. Duane Schlitter, Program Leader, Wildlife Science, Research and Diversity, Texas Parks and Wildlife.

CONTACTS for this release:

City of Austin, Watershed Protection & Development Review Department
Lynne S. Lightsey, (512) 974-3538

U. S. Fish and Wild