Friday, May 3, 2013


We were out doing research one day and we were walking down one of the streams leading to the Guadalupe River and I saw this little cricket frog (Acris gryllus) and I caught him and then make a joke that he was my friend because he wasn't jumping out of my hand. Then when I tried to let him go he came swimming back to me so I picked him up one more time. While Dr. Distel was talking he notice the frog was in my hand and told me to to let the frog go and I told him I would have but it came bac to me. Soon after the frog turns around and jumps on me, scaring me a bit. I had no idea where it went I was just tod to hold still. The picture above is the result of my story :), once I looked down I took him off and said my farewell and we moved on. MY LITTLE BUDDY. ---- Schreiner University

Thursday, May 2, 2013


I caught this Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) outside of my house sunning itself on a rock wall. It was one of the more difficult lizards I have attempted to catch by hand because it is so quick. The lizard itself was a large male adult, roughly five inches, being nearly the max size for this species. I could tell it was a male from the blue coloring on its underside which was quite vibrant at the time I caught this lizard. Even though this is a common species in the area this is the first time I have managed to catch and identify a member of the species. The coloring of this lizard against the white rock wall it was resting on was how I managed to spot this Tree lizard in the first place. I handled the lizard for about five minutes or so attempting to identify it and take the best quality photo I could with an iPhone then released it on the rock wall where I found it. After had released the lizard the animal decided it needed to do a few pushups before scurrying off behind the rock wall. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Article Review: Female Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) choose nest sites that produce offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness



This article is about a study done to determine if female Eastern Hognose snakes actively choose their nesting sites based upon temperature to promote the development of healthier offspring. To do this, the researchers first had to determine the average temperatures of nest sites in the wild.  So, they located 21 nests and placed temperature recording devices next to the eggs.  They also placed one of these devices at a similar location 50 m away from each nest, but at the same depth as the actual nest.  This was done to find the temperatures of other possible nest sites in which the snakes could have laid their eggs.  This research led the scientists to determine that the average temperature of actual nest sites was 24.6 degrees Celsius, while the average temperature of the possible nest sites was 22.2 degrees Celsius.

During the second year of the study, the researchers collected eggs from 8 nests.  Half of the eggs were then incubated at 24.6 degrees Celsius and the other half at 22.2 degrees Celsius.  Just after hatching, the snakes were taken from the nests and their responses at being handled were recorded and scored.  No response by the snakes was given a score of 0, hissing was scored a 1, body flattening was scored a 2, an attempt to flee was given a 3, striking at the handler was given a 4, and the trick of playing dead was given a 5.  If the baby hognose snake did more than one of these responses, it was given the cumulative score of both.  Therefore, each snake could score up to 15 points.  At 3 days after hatching, snout-vent length, weight and swimming speed was also recorded to determine the physical fitness of each hatchling. 



From this research, the scientists determined that both the over-all average temperature and the hourly average temperatures were higher for actual nest sites than for the other possible nests sites, showing that the females hognose snakes probably do attempt to lay their eggs in warmer locations.  The second part of this research showed that the two different incubation temperatures did not affect hatching success rates or cause differences in the number of responses due to handling.  However, the eggs that were incubated at the lower temperature did hatch an average of 13 days later than the eggs in the higher temperature.  Also, the snakes from the higher temperature incubator swam faster and were on average longer than the snakes from the lower temperatures.



This research is significant because it shows that female hognose snakes can choose warmer locations to lay their eggs.  This can lead to larger-hatching and faster snakes, which have a better chance of survival from predators.  They also hatch earlier, which will give them more time to eat and store energy in preparation for hibernation, which occurs pretty soon after hatching for this species. 



Title:  Female Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) choose nest sites that produce offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness
Authors:  C. A. Peet-Pare and G. Blouin-Demers
Journal:  Canadian Journal of Zoology

http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z2012-091#.UYHiO-rD_mJ

Hanging out with the Green Anole


 
The Green Anole
Camera Phone Quality Picture...

 I see this awesome animal very often. Right outside my house I see anoles climbing on the building and through the bushes. I love to sit outside and watch them perform their curious and entertaining activities. My cat is also a very big fan of watching the anoles but I assume she does so for a different reason. The anoles that are displaying the brilliant green coloration and the vibrant pink dewlaps are such a good looking lizard. While brown or green they both blend in so well to the bushes outside my house. It really is amazing how hard it could be to see one in the bushes. That is, until they move around. Once they move I spot them and I enjoy watching them crawl effortlessly through the bushes. Often times I see their territorial displays. Sometimes there are so many that it is hard to keep track of which one is  located where. I'm sure if I grew up down south I might not find them as interesting and entertaining as I do, but I didn't have the luxury of abundant lizards crawling around my house as a child. If I were to nominate a 'class mascot' I would chose the Green Anole. Mostly because of the fact that I like them so much but also because they are very interesting and very common in our area.

The Green Anole, the only anole species in South Carolina, is identified by its green and/or brown coloration and the throat fan. The scientific name of the species is Anolis carolinensis. Both males and females have a throat fan called a dewlap. The dewlap can vary in colors which include pink and white. This anole had just climbed down the building and was signaling another anole which was of the brown coloration at the time. It was using head bobs and displayed its' pink dewlap to another anole nearby. This would tell me that it was a male because they often use these mechanisms to display their dominance and to protect their territory. The anole can most often be seen climbing in trees, bushes, buildings, and fences. The anole is seldom is found on the ground. They have toe pads which allow them to be an efficient arboreal lizard. I'm glad for the abundance of anoles at my house due to the fact that they eat lots of insects and spiders.  The Green Anole ranges in size from 5-8 inches long. The one in particular, pictured earlier, I would guess to be a younger anole because it seemed to be around 5 inches long. Hatchlings are reported to be about 2 inches long, so this would tell me it was not a very young anole.

Reference - Patterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, by Conant and Collins.




Natural history: Herping in South Florida

 
My family and I just returned from a visit with the in-laws in Delray Beach, FL.  Amidst the suburban sprawl that is south Florida lies tucked an amazing gem, Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands.  Part of the Palm Beach County parks system, this 100 acre preserve features a mile and half of elevated boardwalk over wetlands with a stunning density and diversity of wildlife.  We took the kids, slathered on sunscreen, and set out to see what we could see.

And see we did!

I was excited to spot this Florida softshell just off the boardwalk. Check out the characteristic dark blotches on the carapace. Apalone ferox is larger than our other softshells, so at 10" or so this individual could be a small female or a large male.
Florida softshell turtle, Apalone ferox


Pig frog, Lithobates grylio


Pig frogs were abundant in the area, calling everywhere but seldom seen.  We did finally manage to find one.


 

While looking for pig frogs in a patch of water lilies, I noticed an alligator right under the boardwalk beneath my feet.  This good sized gator was at least 6' long.  We watched it cruise through the water and over to the lily pads where we'd heard the pig frogs.  Look out frogs!
American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis



Kids checking out said gator under the boardwalk 






















The invasive brown anole, Anolis sagrei, is now the most common anole in south Florida. We spotted a female first and then, just a few inches away, a male. The dewlap is orange rather than the pink we see in our native green anole. 
Brown anole, Anolis sagrei, male
Anolis sagrei, female

 
Several turtles were out, swimming and sunning. Although some were difficult to identify, being mostly underwater or covered with algae, a few were distinguishable as Florida redbelly turtles, Pseudemys nelsoni, based on the thick red bars on the carapace and relatively few lines on the head.  
Florida redbelly turtles, Pseudemys nelsoni

The highlight of our visit was watching a great egret, Ardea alba, capture and consume a skink.  Scads of egrets and herons were around, and we'd spent plenty of time watching them already.  In a small upland area, we came across a great egret so still that the kids thought that maybe, just maybe, it was a statue.  Then the statue moved.  Just a bit.  Then statue again.  Then, pounce!
Great egret, Ardea alba, with southeastern five-lined skink, Plestiodon inexpectatus


When the egret raised its head again, we could see something writhing in its beak.  A lizard!


We watched in awe, and I snapped some photos hoping to identify the lizard later.   My non-herpetologist spouse confirmed that it was shiny with a long, but not blue, tail.   An adult skink of some sort.



Fortunately, a couple of photos showed the underside of the tail well enough that, when zoomed in, I could see that the scales were of uniform size.  This feature, along with the lined pattern on the dorsum, convinced me that the unfortunate victim was a southeastern five-lined skink, Plestiodon inexpectatus.
Southeastern five-lined skink, Plestiodon inexpectatus, in the beak of a great egret.  The scales down the middle of the tail's underside are similar in width to those on either side.

The skink put up a good fight -- thrashing, writhing and biting at the giant bird's beak.  Eventually we noticed that the tail seemed to have detached.
Great egret (Ardea alba) and southeastern five-lined skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus)      


But tail autotomy was futile.  Rather than allowing the ill-fated squamate to escape, the egret deftly held both tail and body in its beak, then rapidly dropped the tail and downed the body in a gulp.  The skink's tail thrashed on the ground at the great bird's feet, until the egret leisurely plucked it up and manipulated it into its maw.  Then the egret strode slowly away as our attention turned to a racoon a few feet away.


We continued along the boardwalk, observing more egrets, herons, cormorants, anhingas, stilts, gallinules, and even a roseate spoonbill.  But those are birds, so you won't hear about them here.


Am I a juvenile Florida redbelly turtle (Pseudemys nelsoni)?  Probably, but this algae on my carapace makes it hard to tell.

When we finally left, the kids were tired of walking and ready for their overdue lunch.  But we were filled with great memories and stories of our fabulous finds.



http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/parks/locations/greencay.htm

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/brown-anole/

http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/psenel.htm

ARITCLE REVIEW: Crocodilian Behavior: a window to dinasour behavior?



Parental Care



An International Journal of Paleobiology

Crocodilian Behavior: a window to dinasour behavior

Authors

Peter Brazaitis and Myma E. Watanabe

A phylogenetic tree is ordered traits that are considered to be ancestrial and traits that are considered to be derived. Understanding what traits are derived and what traits are considered to be ancestrial is valuable when infering relationships among organisms past and present. Dinasours as we all know are extinct because of this behavioral and structural traits can not be directly or physically observed. One has to look at phylogenetic relationships in order to understand some of these behavior and structural traits. This article compares similarities between Aves and Crocodylia along with phylogenetic relationships between Aves Crocodylia and Dinasours. the comparison the article infers behavioral and structural similarites found in dinsaours  Crocodylia origins can be traced back to the early Triasic period.






Crocodylia and Aves are the only current living representatives of the Archosauria. Understanding similarities in structures and behavior among these two groups can give more in depth information on what traits are considered to be ancestral traits and what traits are considered to be derived.

Crocodylia and Dinosaurs common ancestor is closely related to Euparkeria. The common ancestor split into two different lineages one being Crurotarsi which lead to Crocodylia and Ornithodira which lead to Aves and Dinosaurs. This phylogenetic relationship among Aves, Crocodylia and Dinosaurs allows the article to argue that the behavioral similarities between Aves and Crocodylia would be an ancestral trait that would be present in Dinasours as well.

The Biogeography of Crocodylia also supports the age of crocodylia's phylogeny. Crocodilya have a wide distribution across the globe. Crocodylia do not do well in salt water and would be unable to cross the vast oceans of current continental positions. The origin of the distributions can be traced back to Pangaea and Gondwanan. The source of origin of the species would be very hard to trace back past Pangaea considering the different Continental structures over history. One can conclude that the physical structure of Crocodylia would be a restraint when dealing with Quantum Dispersal. Because of this Diffusion as a dispersal method would be more appropriate in understanding Crocodylia's distribution.

Similarities between Aves and Crocodylia would be Amino acid Structures in B- Keratin. Crocodylia and  most Aves make vocal communications. Seasonal change in oviducts of the American Alligator coincides with similar homologous structures found in birds.

Alligator communication can be shown through the variation in types of calls


 

The similarities between Aves and Crocodylia vocalization gives evidence in support for Dinosaur vocalization. Similarities in female size and egg size of birds and crocodylia gives evidence for the article to hypothisize that some Dinosaurs like Oviraptor, Citipati, Troodontid, Oviraptor, and Troodon had male parental care. Calcium deposite found in fossil bones near or on nesting sites showed no reapsoption. Females would have reapsorption of calcium in the bone from laying eggs.

The article gives great evidence for relationships between Crocodilian behaviors and Dinosaur behaviors. The article also supports parental care in Dinosaurs. The one issue I found in the article is the ability to characterize whether or not male or female parental care. The fossils calcium level could be affected in the fossilization process or the years of weathering since then. Also what if male and female Dinosaurs shared nest attendance responsibilities. Showing the presences of male nest attendances does not rule out female parental care. The article is a great example on how phylogenetic trees can take a look into the past, and gives reasoning for conservation of all species not only the ones subjected in the comparisons. Behavioral studies cannot be present in an organism that is extinct. Understanding current living behavior characteristics could give look into the past, so conservation of all species is imperative for future advances in science.


By

Philip Melton

Slovakia Shows Love For Toads



Our last class lecture focused on conservation of reptile and amphibian habitat and in the town of Striebornica, located in Slovakia, our classroom information is being put to work, as local volunteers are doing their part to assist Europe toads. Since 1988 volunteers have banded together to help toads migrate across a busy road which separates the toads’ winter habitat from the reservoir.  Volunteers help collect these toads in bucks of water, count the toads, and then release the toads into the reservoir. The toad counts have become disheartening because population numbers have decreased from several thousand to 1000, since the volunteer project began. A 700 meter barrier was placed between the roadway and the wintering grounds to prevent the toads from cross on their own. Cross the busy road would almost certainly mean death for the toad.  The article is written as a civic engagement piece, designed to encourage participation for this event. The article tries to perhaps encourage conservation efforts, like this one, to take place in other areas. While the translation of this article to English is a bit shaky I believe this article is a wonderful example a community coming together to care for its local amphibian population.

Ophidiophobia: Cause and Cure

Snake.  The very sound of the word has a negative connotation in our culture.  If we think somebody borders on evil, we call them a snake.  If they are a liar, we say they have a forked tongue.  Most modern Christians associate snakes with the devil (even though early Christians saw snakes as representative of Christ and redemption.  See John 3:14-16 and Numbers 21:8.)  The fear and hatred of snakes among Western people at large is so strong and pervasive that most people will either run at the first sign of a snake, or turn and kill it.  Over all, the prejudice of the 21st century West against this animal reaches a fever on par with 14th century superstitions. What causes this ailment?  What is the cure?  That is what I would like to get us thinking about in this article.

Even non-venomous snakes, such as this indigo snake, strike fear into the hearts of the public.

To understand how to improve public perceptions of snakes, we have to understand what causes those perceptions.  First, let’s consider what is not the cause of this fear and hate.  Attempting to explain it by the fact that many snakes are in fact dangerously venomous is not sufficient.  For many people, their perception of snakes goes beyond honest fear of harm to actual hatred.  And it makes little difference to most people if the snake they are confronted with is confirmed as harmless.  The fear continues. 

Hollywood doesn't help....

Further, though we may be tempted to point the finger at Hollywood, that is not where the blame belongs.  Sensationalized use of snakes on the big screen certainly doesn’t help, but let’s not kid ourselves:  Hollywood can use snakes as a cheap tool for sensation because of the perceptions that the audience comes with beforehand.  Hollywood’s use of snakes doesn’t cause the perception, it exploits it (but certainly also intensifies it). 

Religion is not the cause of fear of snakes in our culture.
  
Lastly, attitudes about snakes are not caused by religion.  Yes, the famous snake from the Garden of Eden extends and deepens the fear for some people, but I would once again argue this is not the source.  In my experience, people of all beliefs tend to have similar views of snakes.  It could be held that, independent of an individual’s present belief system, Judeo-Christian attitudes pervade our Western culture, including attitudes on snakes.  But looking abroad quickly dispels this notion:  it is easy to find a similar picture of snakes in many cultures with no such heritage.  

The legless, serpentine body form is just very, very strange to us.

Venom, Hollywood, and religion impact our view of snakes, but the basic fear we hold for them is independent of all of these.  So where does this fear come from?  My experience observing countless people react to snakes points to the intrinsic characteristics of the snakes themselves as the culprit.  Snakes are the only limbless animal of any appreciable size commonly encountered by humans.  Think about that.  There is no other animal bigger than a worm that is part of our lives that does not have legs.  Other legless squamates and caecilians are indistinguishable from a snake to the average person, and are almost never encountered by the average person anyway.  Eels are marine, a world away.  To most people, snakes are simply the only living thing without legs (besides worms and snails). 

This has huge implications.  A long, flexible body form without definition is extremely alien to us.  But what really freaks us out is how such an animal moves.  I find that the slithering, inching belly crawl of heavy-bodied snakes and the effortless, sleek motion of slender snakes are both terrifying to people.  Add to that the already foreign characteristics of reptiles, including shiny scales (equals slimy in most people’s minds) covering the entire body, ectothermy, unblinking, spectacled eyes, and a flicking, chemosensory tongue, and you have a recipe adding up to the complete estrangement of an animal.  We fear what we don’t understand, and we have virtually no intuitive understanding of snakes.  As tetrapods, we have a certain intrinsic understanding of all other legged creatures.  This one creature that creeps into our lives devoid of legs is in a completely different category for us. 

Just gawking at snakes doesn't necessarily dispel fear.

This may all seem quite obvious and unprofound, but understanding this is essential to understanding the solution.  The solution to the fear and hatred caused by the estrangement between human and snake is anything that relates the two together positively.  It’s not enough that people be merely exposed to snakes, as in nature documentaries or zoos, though this helps.  It’s extremely important that people actually see a snake and human relating positively to one another.  Even more important, people need to relate directly with snakes themselves.  This is common knowledge among wildlife educators.  But just why it is important, and how paramount is that importance, is not always grasped.  Failure to understand why results in ineffectual attempts to change public attitudes.  For instance, many educators will expend great effort explaining the ecological importance of snakes, and the subsequent services to humans they provide.  Others will concentrate on how harmless the huge majority of snakes are, and that dangerous snakes don’t seek harm to humans purposefully.  This knowledge is important for establishing the value of snakes and dispelling overblown fear of venomous snakes.  But it doesn’t address the basic fear of snakes as creatures without legs.  In other words, appealing to people's intellect doesn't resolve the fear because the fear is not primarily intellectual.  It's emotional, and has to be appealed to at that level.

Nothing compares with a visceral connection to establish understanding.

The best way to do that is to bring people face to face with a snake, especially at a young, impressionable age.  Even a brief encounter can accustom someone to the unique body shape and movements of snakes, and they often leave with a new appreciation of snakes as living individuals.  For those bold enough, nothing compares to touching or holding these animals for establishing a connection with a creature otherwise entirely foreign to our sensibilities.  Zoos are more frequently bringing snakes beyond the glass to visitors, with excellent results.  Private keeping of snakes, though not without its drawbacks at times, has also had a great impact:  conscientious snake keepers expose many people within their sphere of influence to personal encounters with snakes.  I see the success of Steve Irwin, otherwise known as the Crocodile Hunter on Animal Planet, as stemming from this phenomenon as well.  Viewers vicariously experienced personal encounters with snakes through his unusually hands-on show, and I still meet people who don’t fear snakes because of his influence.

Personally interacting with snakes was perhaps the biggest influence Steve Irwin had over his audience's perception of the animal.

All this is part of the bigger picture of establishing humans in a place amongst nature, not set apart from it.  The chasm between snakes and humans epitomizes that dichotomy, and re-integrating the two is a small step toward an holistic view of all life.  Ultimately, people only save things that they love, and only love what they understand.  We need to recognize the importance of visceral understanding, not just intellectual understanding.  To regain a connection with nature in our culture, nature must spread from our heads to our hearts.  Real life experience with nature does that like nothing else.  Go start with one small step and introduce someone to a serpent.