Batesian mimicry in water snakes?

While searching for morels with my mycology class today, we ended up finding almost as many herps as mushrooms. On campus, in Four-Mile Creek (near the horse stables) we saw 3 huge softshell turtles on a fallen tree in the water. It was difficult to see because they were far away, but their shells appeared to be spotless, which would make them smooth softshells.

Later we spotted a large (approaching 1m) northern water snake about 10m from water, which quickly evaded capture by slithering under a log pile. While searching for its possible escape to the water, we found and captured a smaller water snake (pictured above). While it isn't doing it in the picture, it displayed a very peculiar behavior. When it was constrained by a large mammalian potential predator (me), it flattened its head and puffed out the area on both sides of the back of its head (where the venom glands of a venomous snake would be). This gave its head the more triangular appearance of a venomous snake. It seems that this could potentially be an example of Batesian mimicry, convincing predators that it is more dangerous than it really is.

-posted by Andrew Henterly

green tree frog

I found this green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) last year when I was collecting freshwater limpets for an independent study at Halfway Swamp Creek (near Lake Marion, SC*). This guy is a little more interesting to look at than a freshwater limpet.

*Also the site of an alligator attack last year in which a man lost his arm

posted by Jacob Herman

Catching Turtles

Last Thursday was our most successful field trip this semester. Dr. Boone set turtle traps the night before we went out. One of the traps can be seen in the top image. We caught a fairly large red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta (seen above). We also caught 2 or 3 midland painted turtles, Chrysemys picta, at this site. Finally, it seems warm enough for us to be able to find more than a single herp per trip!
-Dominique Wagner

Real Quick - Last summer at the Aquarium!

This is my good friend Mandy Tripp. She works at the South Carolina Aquarium and I went to visit her last summer and took some pictures! These are similar to the organisms that we saw on our

last field trip. The Eastern King Snake, aka. Inky, was definitely an organism of interest in our lab class, so I'm glad I got a picture of it! Also seen is a Columbian boa constrictor. Her name is Rosie! Next seen is a bearded dragon named Baby! We didn't see him this time around, but I wish we had. He was really docile and just a neat little guy. Then there were the baby crocodiles! Holy cow, they were cute. On our field trip, there was one who was apparently sick. He wasn't nearly as active as the other two little guys in the tank, and he would just do the dead man's float. I felt so sorry for him. I hope he turns our alright. Ok. I'll stop blogging! (Anne Chalmers)

Sea Turtles Rock My Socks Off

Our last field trip was to the South Carolina Aquarium. This trip was really neat for me because I've actually been to the aquarium several times, but because of taking Herpetology, my eyes were open to a bunch of animals and organisms that I had never even noticed before. The creature that really struck my fancy was the Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. I have probably walked by his little tank a dozen times and never noticed him, and even if I did notice him, I wouldn't have thought him cool. It was honestly really neat to see him, or atleast a live specimen of him. In class, he's all gross and ugly and smooshy. Ha! It was also great to see the sea turtles. I had no idea how active the aquarium was in bringing in hurt turtles and other animals, nursing them to health, and eventually, in some cases, setting them free. For the sea turtles that they set free, there is apparently a website that you can go on and see their tracks and trips that they have made since set free. I wish I could remember it. I have attached some pictures from last summer when I went out to Folly beach to watch the release of "Edisto". He was a loggerhead seaturtle over 300lbs! It took him forever to get to the water, and he finally needed help to get there. It took 5 guys, but he finally made it! They attached a satellite transmitter on his back so they could track him, which hopefully you can see in one of the pictures. The rest of the trip was neat, but I thought seeing the sea turtles was the highlight. It's amazing to see just how big they can get. In one of the huge tanks, there were baby loggerheads. You talk about cute. I would have taken them home in a second. After seeing them, I didn't even want to see anything else! PRECIOUS! Even cuter than the terrapins, which is saying something. Overall, the trip to the aquarium was very fun. Though it wasn't really hands on like some of our last field trips, it was nice to just have the animals come to us instead of going and looking for them in a swamp! It didn't take too much of the fun out of it.... (Anne Chalmers)

Grice Turtle Roundup! Well, we got one anyway...

So a couple of weeks ago, our class went down to the Grice Marine
Lab. The whole point of our trip was to catch some diamondback
terrapins. We all made it there ok, and the plan for the day was to
take about 6 kids at a time on a boat into the harbor and each group
was to check a turtle trap that Dr. Welch has set out a few days
before hand. The first group went out and only came back with one
terrapin, but it was gorgeous! I was in the second group and we went
out on the boat to check the second trap. There were only 3 traps to
check. When we got the second trap in the harbor and pulled it up, to
our dismay there were no turtles in there! We convinced the boater guy
to check the 3rd trap, even though it was for the next group. He
agreed, as long as we pretended we didn't check it when we got back to
the rest of the class. There weren't any turtles in the 3rd trap
either, which was a big bummer since it was the whole point of our
field trip. I guess the little guys were out basking in the sun
somewhere. It was a gorgeous day. When our group got back, we went
inside the Grice lab and looked a baby terrapins. There were very many
of them that came from the same nest. I think they were using them for
certain experiments for tagging. They could quite possibly be the
CUTEST things I've ever seen, and I really want one now! I was going
to stick one in my pocket but then it pooped, so I thought better
against it. The little guy I was holding loved to stick his neck out
as far as he could manage. He would push against my fingers with his
little webbed feet. It really was precious. I just hope that the
turtles aren't getting too caught up in our local turtle traps. It
would really be shame to see their population suffer. (Anne Chalmers)

Enjoying the weather with Blanchard's Cricket Frog

Over the weekend I decided to enjoy the sun at Hueston Woods and found a Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Acris crepitans, hopping around the side fo the lake. I identfied it by the distinct triangle on the back of it's head and the banding pattern of it's legs. These frogs are very small and are known for their chorusing, which resembles the sound of rocks clicking together. The tadpoles are known for having a distinctive black tip on their tail and metamorphose in four to six weeks after hatching. This particular specimen seemed to be displaying typical behavior as he was just chillin on the bank near alot of vegetation, but still allowing sun exposure (Posted by Brian Ulrich).

They are Everywhere - if you remember to look

I ate at Sticky Fingers Restaurant in North Charleston yesterday. They have a pond that goes partially around the restaurant. I looked in and saw LOTS of Trachemys scripta and two Alligator mississipiensis. I thought I would share the pictures. (Kim Alford)

Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys Kempii)

I thought I would add some pictures I got of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle we saw at the Aquarium. He is being rehabilitated. I got some good ones.

Timber Rattlesnake

Yesterday while I was fishing with my boyfirend, he spotted a snake laying on log on the edge of the pond. I went over to look at it thining it was going to be a harmless snake, but it was actually a juvinille timber rattlesnake. I tried to get a picture of it, but it slittered into the woods before I could. I was really excited to get to see him. Sorry I didn't get a picture so that the rest of y'all could see him.

Megan Creech

Finally, some snakes

While chasing a small northern water snake from crevice to crevice on the bank of a shallow stream, we found this snake instead. This photo shows the queen snake's (Regina septemvittata) very distinctive ventral stripes. Also, in contrast to the water snakes we were finding today, it doesn't have a distinct pattern on its back.

-Andrew Henterly

Turtle Rehab at SC Aquarium

Here is one of the youth terrapins that the aquarium has in their rehab center. I was so excited to see the baby turtles! There were also 3 spotted turtles, 2 terrapins, and 2 musk turtles. i thought that they were so cute. It was also fun that we got to hold them, i loved the interaction that we got with them.
This is Wadmalaw he is a Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys Kempii). He was said to have a degenerative disease that they wer treating with physical therapy. As you can see, when he swims he is only using his right flipper, that is because the left one still has the disease. I currently just swims in circles unless he is on the bottom of the tank. For physical therapy, the volunteers just take him out of the tank and rotate his flipper in a circular motion to stimulate swimming. (also witnesses this take place).

This is a head shot, I was super excited to get up, close, and personal with him.

I was so excited to hear that the aquarium has a sea turtle rescue program. The aquarium has successfully released over 20 rehabilitated sea turtles, currently their largest turtle is at ~330lbs, and they are hoping to release her later on this year.

Janice Craig

the pictures didn't post...so here they are.

Trip to the SC Aquarium

It was more exciting than I expected! It was really hard for me to narrow the pictures down that I wanted to post...but I did it. The first is a picture of a Diamondback Terrapin (Melaclemmys terrapin) giving kisses. I also decided to put a picture of another terrapin posing for the picture. I also included a picture of Alligator mississipiensis, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis [ http://www.hellbenders.org/ ] and of a drawing that looks like it came straight from one of our lab worksheets.

OH Herpetologists Get Funny

Hey ya'll...our class created some cartoons that may not have the broadest audience, but you might find them hilarious: http://www.users.muohio.edu/boonemd/Cartoons.pdf . Or, you might not.

Paedomorphic two-lined in Ohio

This Thursday we ventured off to Harker's run and found a paedomorphic southern two-lined salamander, Eurycea cirrigera.



In the picture you can make out the paedomorphic traits if you look close enough to it's neck.



Here's some general information about Eurycea cirrigera:
The distinct feature on these salamanders are the two-lines running down it's back and they extend to the tip of the tail, while the lines become more dashed on the northern two-lined salamander. Can have cirri, which some speculate is for the purpose of detecting female chemicals. They live close to water, both in woodland and open areas, and can be found under rocks. This one specifically was found in the water because it retains gills from it's larval stage. The population of this creature isn't in danger, but land alteration and pollution has a potential to drop the population of this species. (Post by Bahram Khosraviani)

Loggerhead

This loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was rescued from South Carolina waters by biologists from the SC Aquarium sea turtle hospital. Its wound is on the upper right corner of the carapace. It weighs over 300 lbs and will be released after rehabilitation. We saw this turtle as well as a Ridley's sea turtle during our "behind the scenes" tour of the SC Aquarium.

SC slimy salamander

We found this South Carolina slimy salamander (Plethodon variolatus) under a log in Francis Marion National Forest. Nasolabial and costal grooves were apparent, plus some really great slimy secretions!
Jacob H

Red-headed rock agama (Agama agama)

While studying abroad in Kenya in the spring semester of last year I came across many cool herps.  The one shown in the picture above is the red-headed rock agama (Agama agama).  As the name implies these lizards are often found on rocks basking in the sun as this agama is doing here.  They are found in sub-Saharan Africa and can occupy a wide range of habitats such as urban, suburban, and in the wild.  Their size averages around 20cm for females and 25cm for males.  They are insectivores eating ants, grasshoppers, beetles and termites.  To hunt they use a sit and wait strategy and catch their insect prey with there tongue with the tip covered in mucous to help they to hold onto their small prey.  The brightly colored head of this agama is specific to breeding males.  During the breeding season males will acquire a red head and neck and a bright blue body, whereas when the breeding season is over they return to a brown color. Females and juveniles are much more cryptic then males and are brown in color all the time.  (Posted by Roland T. Lefebvre)

water snake

Over the summer, I saw this and many other northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon) near a stream in John Bryan State Park, OH. This one was on the ground but I saw them most often on logs in or overhanging the water. If you try to catch them, they usually make it into the water pretty fast, but I also found out they are fast biters when cornered.
-posted by Andrew Henterly

SC mystery herp #10

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our freshwater turtle trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #9

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our freshwater turtle trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #8

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our first FMNH trip?? (This was the best photo I have of this guy. Does anyone have a better photo to share?)

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #7

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our first FMNH trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #6

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our first FMNH trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #5

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our first FMNH trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #4

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our second FMNH trip?? (This is the best picture I have of this guy...)

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #3

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our second FMNH trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #2

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our second FMNH trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC mystery herp #1

Hey SC herpers - anyone want to comment on this specimen that was found on our second FMNH trip??

(posted by Allison Welch)

SC herpers at Francis Marion - again!

Here we are behind the Sewee Visitor's Center in the Francis Marion National Forest, having just finished hiking the trail behind the visitor's center.

And on the I'on Swamp Trail, also in the Francis Marion, relaxing before heading back to campus.

(posted by Allison Welch)

A sexy man

Here is the very sexy American toad I found at Woodland Trails on Thursday. Kudos to Brain Lutter for his skills with the net.
Notice the perturbed look on this fellow's face. Doubtless he thought the end was near, as he was chortling a few pitiful warning chirps and puffing himself up like a balloon. Little did he know, we only wanted to take his picture.
-Melanie Davis

Releasing Bufo Americanus

On Thursday April 10th, 2008 we ventured to woodland trails to locate herps. Our first order of business was to release a few Bufo americanus' back into their natural habitat after a year in the laboratory.

Here is a video of the escape:


Also here is a picture of the Toads enjoying their homeland:



Bufo americanus information:
A relatively abundant toad found throughout America, they require a freshwater pond or pool for early development. Physically they are a stout creature with a thick skin and warts. their color can range from yellow to black or green. Their size ranges from 50-100 mm and they have dark patches which include 1 or 2 warts, which distinguishes it from the Bufo woodhousi which can be confused with the American Toad (Post by: Bahram Khosraviani