T HE M ICHIGAN H ERPETOLOGIST
NEWSLET TER OF THE
M ICHIGAN S OCIETY
OF
H ERPETOLOGISTS
D EDICATED TO EDUCATION ABOUT AND CONSERVATION OF R EPTILES AND A MPHIBIANS
A T THE MOLECULAR LEVEL , THE PREDATOR IS THE PREY
An evolutionary arms race
between predatory garter
snakes and their newt quarry
is turning out to be something
of an illusion. At the molecular level, another battle rages.
And in this second, miniature
realm, it’s the newt who’s the
aggressor.
Biologists at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB),
Utah State University and the
University of Utah present
evidence in this week’s Nature
that a toxin produced by the
rough skinned newt, Taricha
granulosa, has forced several
evolutionary changes in the
garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis
or, more specifically, in the
M ORE
snake nerve-cell protein that garter snake nerve cells is
endures the newt toxin’s at- tsNa(V)1.4, a tube-shaped
tacks.
protein that allows sodium
“Few systems allow us to ions to flow into the cell.
follow evolutionary change as When nerve cells’ ability to
it happens,” said Sam move sodium in and out is
Scheiner, program director in hampered, paralysis and death
the National Science Founda- can result. Tetrodotoxin
tion (NSF)’s division of envi- (TTX), a powerful paralytic
ronmental biology, which poison concentrated in the
funded the research. “Because newts’ skin, can bind to garter
of the very strong evolution- snake nerve-cell channels and
ary pressure in the relation- prevent sodium ions from
ship between these newts and flowing freely.
garter snakes, we can observe “These channels are absothis process close up. It’s a lutely fundamental to every
unique opportunity to see co- aspect of nerve and muscle
evolution in action.”
function and are highly speEmbedded in the surface of
(See TTX on page 3)
C HECK
THESE OUT :
•
Kelly Bradley, senior research
technician for the Dallas Zoo
reptile department is looking for a
few good field assistants. From
July 13th to 20th, 5-7 participants will help radio track , live
trap, measure, and weigh the
highly endangered Anegada Island
rock iguana. Anegada is the third
largest of the British Virgin Islands
and boasts 16 miles of sandy
beaches, 18 miles of coral reef, and
the best shallow water fishing for
tarpon and bonefish in the Caribbean. For more details about this
working vacation opportunity,
contact Kelly at 214.671.0451
•
Please! If you’ve changed any of
your personal information, especially your e-mail address recently,
please send a short note and let
Barbara Wheeler know
(contact info on page 11). Thank
you!
REPTILIAN PETS MAY MEAN MORE
THREAT FROM TICKS
I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :
B Y S ARAH C AREY
Exotic reptiles are being
imported into the country in
massive numbers as lizard
lovers and other pet aficionados clamor for the creatures,
but an unwanted companion - ticks -- often hitch a ride, a
University of Florida professor warns.
health of domestic animals,
native wildlife, and in some
cases, people, said veterinarian Mike Burridge, Ph.D., an
expert on tick-borne diseases.
“Recently, the pet trade has
become a significant importer
of live reptiles, and in 2000 it
was estimated that 8.6 million
That’s a problem because reptiles and amphibians were
ticks can carry and spread kept as pets in the United
diseases that threaten the States,” Burridge said. “In
addition to the legal trade, the
worldwide illegal trade in live
reptiles is substantial and profitable.”
Since 1997, when they discovered more than 100 African tortoise ticks on a Leopard tortoise admitted to UF’s
Veterinary Medical Teaching
Hospital, Burridge and his
May, 2005
(See ticks on page 3)
C OMING E VENTS
2
T REASURE ’ S REPORT
2
N EWS BRIEFS
4,5
MSH FIELD EVENTS
6
P YTHON ’ S BIG MEAL
7
C LASSIFIED ADS
10
2005 MSH B OARD
11
C ALENDAR
T HINGS
OF
E VENTS
TO DO ,
T HE M ICHIGAN H ERPETOLOGIST
T HINGS
TO SEE
MSH general membership meetings are open to the public, and members
are encouraged to bring guests. Junior member meetings begin at 4 PM,
the board meets at 5:30 PM, members are welcome at 7 PM, and the
program begins at 7:30 PM.. Members are welcome to observe MSH
board meetings.
May 21
MSH FIELD HERPING EVENTS. Eric Tobin
and Randy Worden will be leading separate
field trips in the Barry State Game Area and
the Rose Lake State Game Area, respectively.
See page 6 for more details and meeting location maps. The board of directors will meet
at 7 PM at the Scott Center in Lansing.
W ELCOME
NEW MEMBERS . . .
Katherene Range
Shaneca Embry and family
Paula and Roger Martin
Cathy Lallemand, Mark Chin and family
Jessica Green
A ND RENEWING MEMBERS . . .
June 10-12
MSH ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP. In Eric
Tobin’s own words: “I have site #82 At Fort
Melanie Bender
Custer Recreation Area in Augusta Michigan
reserved. From here I will be taking people
on to the military base to look for some of
their rare herps. During this weekend the
Cricket frogs should still be calling at this
location and I will also be taking people to
see spotted turtles and Massasauga rattlesnakes. I can guarantee that we will find a
box turtle. This location has a championship
Mountain bike course, tons of fishing and
herping locations. This weekend is also
T REASURER ’ S R EPORT M AR 1-31, 2005
Michigan’s Free Fishing weekend where the
public and fish without having a fishing li- S TARTING B ALANCE
$3,433.36
cense. There are beaches, three lakes, several
rivers and streams, and loads of fun for the
Income:
whole family. I will have activities for the
Memberships
$433.42
kids including a scavenger hunt. Log onto
merchandise sales
281.68
www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/
return for microphone
125.09
ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=448 to reserve a
site.”
Expenses:
June 18
MSH REPTILE DAY at JOHN BALL ZOO.
This event will be in lieu of our regular
monthly meeting and will be similar to Reptile Weekend at Binder Park. Contact Eric
Tobin at 269.729.4623 or [email protected]
for more information or volunteer for this
first-ever event.
August 19-21
MSH “SUNRISE SIDE” CAMPING TRIP.
Eric has reserved site 188 at Tawas Point State
Park. Here we will be in search of the Eastern E NDING B ALANCE
Newsletter printing
501C3 paperwork
T-shirts from ECO
hotel for reptilefest
newsletter postage
internet shipping
refreshments
president’s copies
parking fees
Fox snake and herps that we find in northeastern
Michigan. Here they have great fishing, and tons
of northern wetlands that we do not see in south- P AUL S UPLINSKAS , T REASURER
ern Michigan such as cedar swamps. Contact Eric
for more information.
May, 2005
$152.57
125.00
914.00
227.70
40.70
9.68
23.54
17.81
39.00
$2,723.55
T HE
NEWSLETTER OF THE
M ICHIGAN S OCIETY
OF
H ERPETOLOGISTS
P AGE 3
level, the evolution of TTX in some
organisms is viewed by ecologists as a
defense mechanism. In the case of T.
granulosa newts and T. sirtalis garter
snakes, the interaction has evolved into
a lethal contest of toxification/
detoxification one-upsmanship.
(TTX from page 1)
cific gateways for sodium ions,” said
IUB biologist Edmund Brodie III, one
of the paper’s coauthors. “If the channels change too much or in the wrong
way, they can’t perform their basic,
everyday functions. Sodium channel
genes in different vertebrates are virtually identical to each other, but not in
these snakes. We’re finding a molecular arms race is driving rapid and repeated changes in the gene within this
group of beasts.”
The evolution of new traits often
happens one of two ways, either by
altering existing genes or by changing
patterns and amounts of their activities,
or expression. The Nature report
shows that snakes’ ability to detoxify
Some garter snakes have evolved the ability to eat toxic TTX involves changes in the sodium
newts. Photo by Edmund Brodie III.
channel gene. “Ecological arms races
For TTX to bind successfully to the
that go on between predator and prey
sodium channel, the toxin needs someOne-thirtieth of the TTX normally are really driven at the molecular level,”
thing to bind to. At this moment in the
garter snake's evolutionary history, TTX found in a T. granulosa newt is enough to Brodie said.
infiltrates a hole on tsNa(V)1.4’s surface, kill the average human being. The only
Edmund Brodie Jr. and Peter Ruben
binding to an aromatic amino acid and organisms on Earth that can eat T. granu- of Utah State University and Esther Fujicausing enough of a change in the sodium losa newts and survive are some T. sirtalis moto of the University of Utah School of
channel’s shape to impair its function. garter snakes. TTX is a defensive com- Medicine also contributed to the report.
Three of the four Pacific Northwest pound found in some puffer fish, octo- Fujimoto was at Utah State while the
snake populations the scientists exam- puses and primitive chordates. It is used research took place. The research was
ined have evolved some degree of resis- in low concentrations to treat people also funded by grants from the National
tance to TTX by making this aromatic addicted to heroin or morphine. It’s also Institutes of Health. -- Reprinted from press
amino acid harder for TTX to grasp--or the “zombie” drug used by Haitian voo- release 05-052 of the National Science Foundoo ritualists.
by removing it altogether.
dation, dated April 6, 2005
Despite its action at the molecular
the ticks at the Central Florida reptile
facility through a series of chemical treatcolleagues have found at least 121 exotic ments, the experience was a wake-up call,
tick species have been imported into Flor- he said.
ida on reptiles. At least seven of those
Burridge’s longtime research program,
species have spread beyond importation
which has components in several African
facilities, and at least five spread within
countries, has focused on the prevention
the state to other captive reptiles.
and treatment of tick-borne diseases, speTwo species were known carriers of cifically heartwater. But with the Centers
heartwater, an often-fatal circulatory in- fro Disease Control and Prevention refection that affects livestock in Africa and porting that the number of US residents
the eastern Caribbean, and another two traveling to Africa increased by 70 perwere later confirmed as capable of trans- cent between 1986 and 1996, and the
mitting the organism that causes it. In international reptile trade growing by
one shipment of leopard tortoises im- leaps and bounds, Burridge’s focus has
ported from Africa to a reptile facility in broadened in recent years to include a
Central Florida, Burridge and his col- problem he feels poses a much more imleagues found 15 of 38 ticks on the tor- mediate threat to US agriculture, and
toises to be infected with the organism possibly to humans as well.
that causes heartwater. Although Bur“In general, the problem of exotic ticks
ridge’s team managed to safely eradicate
(ticks from page 1)
May, 2005
entering Florida is not just that they are
coming here, but that they are reproducing,” said Petey Simmons, BS, UF wildlife
biologist working with Burridge. “We
managed to eradicate the ticks at the Central Florida facility through a protocol of
chemical treatments we developed, but
for the most apart these methods are not
being used.”
A notable exception is the Miami Metro
zoo, where exotic ticks that had plagued
the zoo’s Komodo dragons were eradicated this year with help from Burridge
and Simmons.
“We knew they were a reptile tick specific to Komodo dragons,” said the zoo’s
veterinarian, Christine Miller, D.V.M.
“We have plenty of reptiles here, however, and I didn’t want to be introducing
(Continued on page 9)
T HE M ICHIGAN H ERPETOLOGIST
P AGE 4
M ICH - HERP
NEWS BRIEFS
. . .
R OUNDUP RAVAGES RIPARIAN RESIDENTS
PITTSBURGH -- The herbicide Roundup is widely used to eradicate weeds. But a study published today by a University
of Pittsburgh researcher finds that the chemical may be eradicating much more than that. University of Pittsburgh assistant
professor of biology Rick Relyea found that Roundup, the second most commonly applied herbicide in the United States, is
“extremely lethal” to amphibians. This field experiment is one of the most extensive studies on the effects of pesticides on
nontarget organisms in a natural setting, and the results may provide a key link to global amphibian declines.
In a paper titled “The Impact of Insecticides and Herbicides on the Biodiversity and Productivity of Aquatic
Communities,” published in the journal Ecological Applications, Relyea examined how a pond’s entire community -- 25
species, including crustaceans, insects, snails, and tadpoles -- responded to the addition of the manufacturers recommended
doses of two insecticides -- Sevin (carbaryl) and malathion -- and two herbicides -- Roundup (glyphosate) and 2,4-D.
Relyea found that Roundup caused a 70 percent decline in amphibian biodiversity and an 86 percent decline in the total
mass of tadpoles. Leopard Frog tadpoles and Gray Treefrog tadpoles were completely eliminated and Wood Frog tadpoles
and toad (Bufo) tadpoles were nearly eliminated. One species of frog, Spring Peepers, was unaffected.
“The most shocking insight coming out of this was that Roundup, something designed to kill plants, was extremely lethal
to amphibians,” said Relyea, who conducted the research at Pitt’s Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. “We added
Roundup, and the next day we looked in the tanks and there were dead tadpoles all over the bottom.”
Relyea initially conducted the experiment to see whether the Roundup would have an indirect effect on the frogs by
killing their food source, the algae. However, he found that Roundup, although an herbicide, actually increased the amount
of algae in the pond because it killed most of the frogs. “It's like killing all the cows in a field and seeing that the field has
more grass in it -- not because you made the grass grow better, but because you killed everything that eats grass,” he said.
Previous research had found that the lethal ingredient in Roundup was not the herbicide itself, glyphosate, but rather the
surfactant, or detergent, that allows the herbicide to penetrate the waxy surfaces of plants. In Roundup, that surfactant is a
chemical called polyehtoxylated tallowamine. Other herbicides have less dangerous surfactants: For example, Relyea’s
study found that 2,4-D had no effect on tadpoles. “We've repeated the experiment, so we're confident that this is, in fact, a
repeatable result that we see,” said Relyea. “It’s fair to say that nobody would have guessed Roundup was going to be so
lethal to amphibians.”
In response to Monsanto’s criticisms of the Relyea (2005) study of Roundup’s lethal effects on amphibians, there is now
a webpage that addresses Monsanto’s concerns: http://www.pitt.edu/~relyea/Roundup.html. -- News Release from the
Center for North American Herpetology, April 18, 2005
S EX SHELLS : T URTLE LOVERS GET RACY FOR EGG RESCUE
Mexico City - Conservationists are teaming up with a Playboy model for a racy new campaign aimed at stopping a Mexican
tradition: swallowing raw sea turtle eggs as a sexual aid. “My man doesn’t need to eat turtle eggs,” says one magazine ad, as
Argentine model Dorismar unbuttons her shirt for the camera. Behind her, two baby sea turtles scoot along a beach.
Other ads show her in a revealing swimsuit, leaning back while superimposed over a turtle nesting ground. “Sea turtle
eggs DO NOT increase sexual potency!” the ads exclaim. Smokey Bear it isn’t. Two U.S. wildlife groups have refused to
support the campaign because of its sexy content, organizers said.
“They don’t understand. We have to speak to people in their own language,” said Ivan Zuñiga, director of Mexico’s
Environmental Education Fund. The group is sponsoring the program along with San Diego-based Wildcoast. Starting in
June, the ads will appear on billboards in Mexico City and Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero and Mexico states. They’ll also be
on buses, in magazines and . . . um . . . pictorial publications with titles like Succulent Temptations, Zuñiga said.
May, 2005
T HE
NEWSLETTER OF THE
M ICHIGAN S OCIETY
OF
H ERPETOLOGISTS
P AGE 5
Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte has joined the campaign, and organizers plan to distribute posters and postcards at its
shows. That has prompted tongue-in-cheek headlines: “Dorismar to take care of Tigres del Norte’s eggs,” snickered the
Univision Web site, using a Spanish slang term for part of the male anatomy. Dorismar, who appeared on the March 2003
cover of Playboy, posed for the ads free, organizers said.
The campaign follows a spate of high-profile egg raids at turtle nesting grounds in western Mexico. At one six-mile stretch
of beach near Petatlán, 110 miles northwest of Acapulco, at least 100,000 eggs have disappeared since last summer,
conservationists say. Except in the state of Oaxaca, the eggs aren’t usually used as food, Zuñiga said. Instead, they’re
cracked open, mixed with lime juice and a little chili powder, and swallowed raw two or three at a time. Each egg costs about
$1. -- AZcentral.com, April 18,2005
D ANGER : EXPLODING TOADS !
Hamburg, Germany -- The residents of Hamburg have been told to avoid one of the city’s lakes after
a spate of mysterious explosions in the area. It seems the lake’s toads have been violently and
spontaneously combusting. Modern day soothsayers in Germany have been stumped by a strange
phenomenon afflicting the amphibian community of the northern city of Hamburg of late. While
toads falling from the sky is a well-documented, although widely contested, natural phenomena
which some believe preludes some kind of natural disaster, there seems to be no such explanation for
the spate of exploding toads the city is experiencing.
Another toad bites the
dust.
Hundreds of toads have met a bizarre and sinister end in recent days. According to reports from animal welfare workers
and veterinarians as many as a thousand of the amphibians have perished after their bodies swelled to bursting point and their
entrails were propelled for up to a meter. Eye-witnesses to the spontaneously combusting toads have described the traumatic
events as being like “something from a science fiction film.” Werner Smolnik, a spokesperson for a nature protection society
in the city is as flabbergasted as anyone. “You see the animals crawling on the ground, swelling and then
exploding,” he said. He also said the bodies of the toads expanded to three and a half times their normal
size.
“I have never seen such a thing,” echoed veterinarian Otto Horst. So bad has the death toll been that the
lake in Hamburg has been dubbed “the pond of death.” Access to it has been sealed off and every night a
Stand back, they’re biologist visits it between 2AM and 3AM, which appears to be peak time for batrachians to go bang.
gonna blow!
Explanations include an unknown virus, a fungus that has infected the water, or crows, which in an echo of
the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds, attack the toads, literally scaring them to death. -- Deutsche Welle,
April 25, 2005. Submitted by Dudley Smith. Editor’s note: While the uncredited photos are obviously tongue in cheek, this bizarre story is
apparently serious. It’s made all the major news services including Australia and Japan. More info as it becomes available.
S ALAMANDER S UIT C HALLENGES C ONSTRUCTION OF N EW S CHOOL
DETROIT (UPI) -- Seven salamanders are the basis for a Detroit lawsuit aimed at stopping construction of a new high
school. The amphibians, now living at the Detroit Zoo, are believed to be smallmouth salamanders, an endangered species in
Michigan.
The lawsuit, filed the same day as the groundbreaking ceremonies for a new high school, alleges that "the planned
dredging, filling and draining of the Frog Pond will destroy the breeding area and habitat of the smallmouth salamander
population," the Ann Arbor News said Thursday.
It also asks that the school district be barred from clearing or construction work related to the "natural resources at issue in
this case. "The seven salamanders were among more than 2,000 reptiles and amphibians recently collected by volunteers as
part of the district's $100,000 effort to move the species to a new pond that will be built elsewhere on the new school site. -UPI, April 29, 2005. Submitted by Dudley Smith.
May, 2005
T HE M ICHIGAN H ERPETOLOGIST
P AGE 6
MSH F IELD HERPING EVENTS :
S ATURDAY , M AY 21 ST
Your president and vice prez hope you’ll come out and join us at one of four field trips on this Saturday that would normally be
a monthly meeting day. Eric will be leading the junior members (with all interested adults welcome too) afield in the Barry State
Game Area, meeting at the headquarters building at 1805 S. Yankee Springs Road, Middleville, MI at 3 PM.
Randy will be leading 3 hour trips to different sections of the Rose Lake State Game Area beginning at 9AM, 12 noon, and 3
PM with all interested members meeting at the Area headquarters at 9562 E Stoll Rd. East Lansing, MI.
Below you’ll find maps to both Area headquarters. If you’re interested in joining us, be aware that you’ll need to bring appropriate clothing for the day’s weather, insect repellant, and sturdy, waterproof boots for the swampy conditions you’ll
encounter.
You’ll find contact information for both Eric and Randy on page 11 if you have any questions or just want more information.
Hope to see ya outside!
Rose Lake State Game Area headquarters
Barry State Game Area headquarters
May, 2005
T HE
NEWSLETTER OF THE
M ICHIGAN S OCIETY
OF
H ERPETOLOGISTS
T ALK ABOUT YOUR BIG MEAL . . .
No one seems to know for sure who exactly
in Australia took this amazing series of pictures,
but three people forwarded them along to your
editor from the web. That’s what appears to be
one hungry Amethystine python eating either a
kangaroo or wallaby. Makes me want to crawl
off and take a nap just looking at them. Thanks
to Jim Harding, Wes Sherman, and Susan
Owens for sharing them with us.
May, 2005
P AGE 7
T HE M ICHIGAN H ERPETOLOGIST
P AGE 8
Tobin Herpetological is proud to offer AVT Reptile
Enclosures at special prices to MSH members. For more
information contact Eric Tobin at 269.729.4623, via e-mail
at [email protected], or on the web at
www.tobinherpetological.com
420 Elmwood Rd. Lansing, MI 48917
517.323.2679
May, 2005
T HE
NEWSLETTER OF THE
M ICHIGAN S OCIETY
(ticks from page 3)
a new species of tick.” Miller added that
although none of the ticks afflicting the
Komodo dragons were ever identified on
other zoo reptiles, after several years zoo
personnel still hadn’t been able to eradicate the ticks.
“Dr. Burridge took a personal interest,
and made several visits on his own time
along with Simmons and the manufacturer
of the chemical,” Miller said. “They examined the ticks and the animal, took
samples, and confirmed that these ticks
had not spread to other animals. We
made the decision not to treat the animals
directly, but to treat the environment in
which they lived.”
OF
H ERPETOLOGISTS
bite fever, which affects humans. Fortunately, the tick tested negative for the
organisms that cause both infections, and
the woman never became ill. It was only
the second record of this tick species being introduced into the United States on a
human host, Burridge reported in the
Journal of Parasitology in 2002.
P AGE 9
ticks to be breeding in a number of different locations in Florida.”
Leroy Coffman, D.V. M., state veterinarian and director of Florida’s Division
of Animal Industry, said the biggest problem officials face is keeping up with new
reptile importers and new areas of the
globe from which the reptiles are originatMeanwhile, UF scientists are working ing.
with colleagues at the University of
“That, and finding the resources to do
Tampa to trap and eradicate thousands of
this in ways we can adequately measure,”
giant Nile monitors on the loose in Cape
he said. “Shipments can and have conCoral. Scientists don’t know how the
tained prohibited species. The method of
carnivorous lizards, which are native to
detection so far has been by our working
Africa and can grow up to 7 feet long,
relationship with the importing industry -were introduced, although in all likeliand by accident.” -- Reprinted from Cold
hood they were either escapees from the
Blooded News, the journal of the Colorado
pet trade or deliberately released when
Herpetological Society, Vol. 32, No. 2 Februthey became too large to handle. Burary 2005. Originally from the University of
ridge said he is concerned about the ticks
Florida Newsletter, February 2004.
these reptiles are known to carry.
In 2001, a Florida woman returned
from a short trip to Southern Africa to
discover a tick on the back of her knee.
She sent the tick to Burridge’s laboratory, “Giant lizards on the loose in an urban
where it was tested and found to be of a area?” he said. “Who would believe it?
species known to carry both heartwater This is just an example of how out of conand a disease known as the African tick trol the situation is. We have found exotic
I F YOU WANT TO HEAR THE
GODS LAUGH , TELL THEM YOUR
PLANS -- A NCIENT R OMAN SAYING
CRITCHLOW’S
Reptile Farm
&
Exotic Plants
David Critchlow
10450 Gorsline Rd.
Battle Creek, MI 49014
www.tbns.net/reptile
phone (616) 962-0532
[email protected]
May, 2005
T HE M ICHIGAN H ERPETOLOGIST
P AGE 10
Classified Ads
About The Michigan Herpetologist
For Sale: baby corn snakes, 21 color varieties altogether; just
a few examples: candy cane $35, albino motley $27, snow
stripe $45, snow hurricane $65, creamsicle $25. Also baby
albino Leopard geckos $25 ea. Contact Rob Cook at
517.819.2723 or [email protected] for more information.
AVT Enclosures at Wholesale Prices: Tobin Herpetological is now offering AVT Reptile Enclosures at Special prices to
MSH members. We have all different sizes available. For more
information contact Eric Tobin at 269.729.4623 or via his
website at www.tobinherpetological.com.
Used Enclosures: 10 G Neodesha; $25. Melamine Rack 12
unit (18x23x80), fits 12 28QT Rubbermaid; $75 comes with
two heat cables. 55 G Saltwater Tank; $25. 20 G high
(24x17x13); $15. Also have three tanks that were used to
house rodents One L30xW12xT18; $10 with screen top. One
L36xW12xT14; $10 with screen top. One L36xW12.5xT17
with top; $15. Contact Eric Tobin as above.
The Michigan Herpetologist is published monthly
by the Michigan Society of Herpetologists, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to member and
public education about reptiles and amphibians.”
“The mission of The Michigan Herpetologist
is to inform the membership of Society
events, to report on those events whenever
possible, to provide interesting information
about the herpetological community, and
to provide members a platform to express
their interests and views.”
Editorial Team
Stephanie Beiser, Shelley DeFouw
Jen Periat, Dudley Smith,
Barbara Wheeler .
To a good home: Banded California Kingsnake: Dark, dark
brown and white wide-banded. Female, 8 years old. Captive
born & raised. $50. Hasn’t been handled for a while, but it’s a
pretty snake and tames down quickly. Contact Buster Cowton
at [email protected].
Editor
Free to a qualified MSH member: I have a 5 foot female
Boa Constrictor, a very nice looking, healthy specimen that
feeds wonderfully. I will give her to an MSH member who
would be willing to use her in educational programs, outreaches etc. Contact Matt Lindstrom at [email protected] or 517.337.0946.
Classified ads are free to MSH members. Others
may contact the editor for rates. Articles by members and interested individuals are always welcome
in almost any format. Please contact the editor.
For Sale: Snake hooks, curved (cage style) or straight (field
style). $15 each or 2 for $25. Also, frozen mice; pinkies 4/
$1.00, fuzzies 3/$1.00, adults 50 cents each. Can bring to
MSH meetings. Contact Paul Suplinskas, 231.834.7803.
For Sale: 1 young adult pair of Red-footed tortoises, about 10
inches along the carapace, $200 for the pair; 3 furniture quality
snake racks, all with gray Formica fittings and oak trim. 1) uses
16 X 23 inch boxes 2) use 10 1/2 X 16 inch boxes and have
heat tape, helix thermostats, and light fixtures. All three sold
together come with extra boxes and tons of related equipment,
$1,000 OBO. Contact Bill Chandler, 517.374.8947 or
[email protected].
May, 2005
Randy Worden
1828 E. Irvington Ave.
Lansing MI 48910
Phone: 517.202.4800
E-mail: [email protected]
This newsletter is now delivered in full color electronically as a PDF (adobe acrobat) file; e-mail the
editor to start receiving it that way.
© 2004 by Michigan Society of Herpetologists. All rights reserved.
You may reprint any original article from The Michigan Herpetologist
provided you credit “The Michigan Herpetologist, the newsletter of
the Michigan Society of Herpetologists.”
T HE
NEWSLETTER OF THE
P AGE 11
M ICHIGAN SMSH
OCIETY
OF HAPPLICATION
ERPETOLOGISTS
MEMBERSHIP
To join MSH, please complete the following application and return it,
____ Individual ($15.00)
____ New Member
with your membership fee, to:
Membership Secretary,
____ Family ($20.00)
____ Junior ($12.00)
____ Renewal
____ Name or Address Change
Michigan Society of Herpetologists,
____ Commercial ($30.00)
321 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48906
____ Sponsorship ($100)
Name(s) (Please Print):
Date:
Parent or Guardian (if member is a minor):
Address:
State:
City:
Telephone: (
)
Zip:
E-mail:
Herpetological Area of Interest:
Would you be willing to volunteer for any MSH events?
Yes
No
Would you like to be listed in the MSH Directory?
Yes
No
G ENERAL I NFORMATION :
TMH
Members-at-Large:
W EB S ITE :
Jane Billette
989.684.7938
[email protected]
The Michigan Society of Herpetologists (MSH) is a www.michherp.org
non-profit organization dedicated to member and
non-member education about reptiles and
amphibians.
Officers:
M EETING I NFORMATION :
President
MSH holds its general meetings alternately in the
cities of Lansing and Grand Rapids (see directions
below). Meetings generally are held on the third Vice-President
Saturday of the month (but check the Calendar of
Events). Meetings are open to the public and the
society encourages anyone with an interest in Secretary
herpetology to attend.
C ONTACT I NFORMATION :
Michigan Society of Herpetologists,
321 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48906
Treasurer
Rob Cook
517.484.7712
[email protected]
Eric Tobin
269.729.4623
[email protected]
Jen Periat, DVM
810.564.1933
[email protected]
Randy Worden
517.202.4800
[email protected]
Stephanie Beiser
989.684.7938
stephanielynn1980
@hotmail.com
Membership and Circulation:
Paul Suplinskas
231.834.7803
[email protected]
Barbara Wheeler
517.321.6105
[email protected]
D IRECTIONS TO MSH MEETING PLACES
SCOTT CENTER - LANSING
JOHN BALL ZOO - GRAND RAPIDS
The Scott Center is located at 125 W. Main Street where Capitol
Avenue dead-ends at Main. Main Street is the freeway access road that runs
immediately south of I-496 in downtown Lansing.
Eastbound I-496: Take Pine-Walnut Street exit. The third traffic
light will be at the driveway to the Scott Center. Turn right into driveway.
Westbound I-496: Take the Downtown-Grand Ave. exit. Cross
Grand Ave., cross first light at Washington Ave., turn left (south) at next
light at Capitol Ave., and get in the right hand lane immediately. One block
ahead is a light at Main. You must be in the right hand lane to drive straight
across to the drive of the Scott Center.
The Scott Center phone number is 517.372.3232
John Ball Zoo is located at the corner of Fulton and Valley (1300 W.
Fulton), two miles west of downtown Grand Rapids, with easy access from
I-196. Meetings are held in the lower level of the pavilion, located near the
parking lot and outside of the perimeter fence.
From 196 East, exit at Lake Michigan Drive, and turn right to Fulton. Zoo
entrance is to your right.
From 196 West, exit at Lane Street. Turn left on Lane. Turn right on
Fulton. Proceed to corner of Fulton and Valley for Zoo entrance.
NO LIVE ANIMALS MAY BE BROUGHT TO MEETINGS HELD AT
JOHN BALL ZOO.
May, 2005
THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS
321 W. OAKLAND AVE.
LANSING, MI 48906
FIRST CLASS MAIL
If this box is checked, your
membership expires with
this issue. When renewing,
PLEASE fill out the membership form on the other
side of this page. This will
insure your newsletter
delivery continues uninterrupted.
NO
VOICE , NO EARS , AND NO YOUTH
Such is the life of all species of native
New Zealand frogs. They do not croak,
have no external eardrum and have round
eyes. They also bypass the tadpole stage,
with the embryo developing in an egg
then hatching as an almost fully formed
frog.
The other (and perhaps most important) recent revelation is that the endangered Hochstetter’s frogs (Leiopelma
hochstetteri) have been found in the Waikato for the first time in a decade. Eleven
of the tiny frogs -- which measure less
than 5 cm long -- were found at Maungatautari last November outside the two
pest-free enclosures.
. . .
tari, where they will eventually be protected, is just a dream come true,” he
said. Dr. Holzapfel believed the Maungatautari frogs to be a “distinct population” due to their long isolation from
other populations.
Genetic testing
would confirm that assumption by early
next year, he said.
Leiopelma hochstetteri. Photo by David M. Green.
tect the frogs. The frog was “on the list”
of species being considered for introduction to the pest-free sanctuary, “but it is
wonderful we have our own resident
population that has survived,” he said.
The Conservation Department frog reMaungatautari Ecological Island Trust covery program head Avi Holzapfel said
chief executive Jim Mylchreest said the to find any population of the frog was
race was now on to build the pest-proof exciting.
fence around the entire mountain to pro“To find Hochstetter’s at MaungatauMay, 2005
Initially, a lone male Hochstetter’s
was found by researchers recording invertebrate numbers. The immediate area
was surveyed and another 10 frogs -- including young -- were found. Similar
areas on the mountain are being checked
for further populations. -- Reprinted from
the Southwestern Herpetologists Society
Newsletter, January 2005. Originally from
the Waikato Times, New Zealand, December
1, 2004