tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81232763966152236162024-03-09T18:45:51.330-08:00OphidiophiliaSnakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-14434765583519358802020-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:002020-07-07T07:18:02.812-07:00To the Hiker Who Bludgeoned a Rattlesnake at the Pismo Preserve This Weekend<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial hebrew";">On Friday, you stabbed a rattlesnake eight times on a nature preserve. You used the stake holding a sign asking you to avoid disturbing the rattlesnakes to kill her. You ignored pleas from other hikers to leave her alone. You cut the rattle off the still-living snake to take as a prize.<br /><br />The adult female rattlesnake was at least ten years old. She lived peacefully in what is now the preserve for all those years. You left her severely injured, where she suffered for two days until I rescued her. Emergency surgery failed to save her life or those of her twelve babies.<br /><br />There is no good reason to take the life of a rattlesnake. They only bite when they feel threatened. Rattlesnakes eat many rodents, thereby protecting plants and helping limit the spread of Lyme and other diseases. Rattlesnakes experience fear and pain, they learn and remember, and they can live for over 60 years, forming complex social networks with family and friends. In August the snake you killed would be giving live birth to her pups, complete with little umbilical cords and placentas, and she would protect them until they went out on their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial hebrew";">Please treat wildlife with respect and compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial hebrew";">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial hebrew";">Emily Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial hebrew";">Owner, Central Coast Snake Services<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial hebrew";">Professor of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Coronado Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus caliginis) photographed by Jeff Lemm</td></tr>
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Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-32855182906271325182020-06-23T17:09:00.002-07:002020-06-23T17:29:34.258-07:00What Good are Rattlesnakes? A #RattlesnakePR Primer<br />
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I have two jobs, and both of them involve rattlesnakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes I chuckle at how odd my career choice is. I didn’t grow up chasing snakes around the countryside like many of my fellow herpetologists. I fell in love with rattlesnakes in college, dropped my other career plans, and never looked back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While I’m lucky to be paid to work with animals I love, I do recognize that I’m weird to love rattlesnakes. My views on these predators do not match those of most members of the public. While I have always known this, it’s one thing to know and another to experience. My “main” job, that of a <a href="https://perl.calpoly.edu/people/dr-emily-taylor" target="_blank">college professor</a> studying rattlesnakes and mentoring students on how to do science, kept me in a bubble for fifteen years. Inside that cozy academic bubble, students who also liked rattlesnakes sought me out for research opportunities. I enjoyed adult beverages with colleagues at conferences, all of whom also liked rattlesnakes. I retweeted photos from other snake-lovers and liked Instagram posts of gorgeous rattlesnakes doing snakey things.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fast forward to 2019 when I began my other job by founding <a href="https://www.centralcoastsnakeservices.com/" target="_blank">Central Coast Snake Services</a> (CCSS). This company aims to reduce negative interactions between people and rattlesnakes by identifying snakes people see in their yards or on trails, by removing and relocating rattlesnakes in people’s yards, by installing rattlesnake-proof fencing, and by providing snake safety training to companies whose employees regularly come into contact with rattlesnakes. Founding CCSS has burst my rattlesnake bubble and forced me to face the fear and hatred that most people feel toward rattlesnakes. One distraught client tearfully told me how her toddler had nearly stepped on a rattlesnake in their barn. Another was so fearful of an alligator lizard because it “looks snakey” that she insisted I come relocate it even though I assured her it was harmless. The truth is that fear of snakes is extremely common and can be debilitating.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Rattlesnakes have a public relations problem, and I need to be a better #RattlesnakePR rep.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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My hypothesis is that if people experience snakes, get to <i>know</i> snakes, and some of this misinformation is dispelled, then at least some of these people will have a change in attitude about snakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Holding safely shows a Pacific rattlesnake to a young girl as her mother looks on. Positive experiences like this, along with encouragement from parents rather than expression of their revulsion or fear of rattlesnakes, contribute to the appreciation of rattlesnakes in nature. More <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2013/12/converting-ophidiophobes-to.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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This is important. Hundreds of thousands of rattlesnakes die annually at the hands of people who fear them, via axe, shovel, gun, vehicle tires, and more. <a href="https://www.rattlesnakeroundups.com/" target="_blank">Rattlesnake roundups</a> alone claim thousands of lives needlessly and perpetuate the notion that rattlesnakes are better off dead, and the methods used (gassing underground burrows!) <a href="https://www.popsci.com/rattlesnake-roundup-ecology-gassing/" target="_blank">are a huge ecological problem</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The question is: how do we best convince people that rattlesnakes are valuable and that they deserve to exist?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s consider a recent interaction I had with a client while removing a rattlesnake from her property. As I eased the placid snake into a bucket, she asked what I was going to do with it. I explained that I would relocate it on public land a short distance down the road. Her eyes got wide and she asked, </div>
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<b>“Why? Rattlesnakes are bad.”</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is far from the first time that I’ve gotten this reaction. I have a lot of experience answering that question, but each time I do it, I always feel later like I could have done a better job.<o:p></o:p></div>
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How do I best tailor my response to the individual who is asking the question?<o:p></o:p></div>
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How do I avoid coming across as preachy or know-it-all?<o:p></o:p></div>
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How do I sneakily manipulate this person’s mind to open, just a little, so I can plant a seed of appreciation for rattlesnakes inside?<o:p></o:p></div>
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How can I be the best possible #RattlesnakePR rep?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this post, I have created a brief list of the arsenal of strategies that I have curated over the years to combat snake misinformation. While there are certainly others, these are the five strategies that I have used (or seen others use) most often. </div>
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Importantly, I did not come up with most of these, but rather have soaked up ideas from others and amended them according to my own experience. My experience has drawn heavily from several groups, including <a href="https://www.snakes.ngo/" target="_blank">Advocates for Snake Preservation</a>, which is my absolute favorite #RattlesnakePR rep because they have come up with some of the most effective ways to change people’s minds about snakes (more on that soon); <a href="https://savethesnakes.org/" target="_blank">Save the Snakes</a>, which is one of the few groups working internationally to promote the interests of snakes; and the <a href="https://www.oriannesociety.org/" target="_blank">Orianne Society</a>, which recently began a campaign entitled <a href="https://www.oriannesociety.org/uncategorized/rattlesnakes-protect-educate-conserve/" target="_blank">Rattlesnakes: Protect-Educate-Conserve</a> (I’m pretty sure I was the first person to buy one of the T-shirts!). <o:p></o:p></div>
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If I’ve learned one thing as a teacher that helps me as a #RattlesnakePR rep, it is that I must never assume that I have learned everything or that I have finally gotten to be the best I can be at anything. There is always room to learn and improve. So, I am eager to hear responses to these ideas so I can keep improving my approach to helping rattlesnakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>#RattlesnakePR Strategies</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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1. The Ecosystem Services Approach<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pacific rattlesnake eats a California ground squirrel. Photo by Matt Holding.</td></tr>
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This is by far the most commonly leveraged response to the question “what good are rattlesnakes?” I’ve used it many times, and I’ve seen it used many times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The details: Rattlesnakes are important members of the ecosystem. They provide ecosystem services in three main ways: (1) They eat many, many small mammals and thus help maintain integrity of the food web. As mesopredators, or sometimes even top predators, rattlesnakes help to keep populations of herbivores like squirrels, mice, and rabbits at healthy levels. Removal of rattlesnakes from an ecosystem could lead to a spike in herbivores, causing them to denude vegetation and disrupting ecosystem balance. (2) Many of the small mammals eaten by rattlesnakes are hosts for ectoparasites that carry diseases. Rattlesnakes may therefore <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130806091815.htm" target="_blank">help control the spread of Lyme disease</a> by eating so many of the rodents that act as reservoirs for the disease-causing bacteria. (3) Rattlesnakes may <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2017.2755" target="_blank">disperse seeds and help plants spread</a>. When a rodent eats a seed, its digestive system usually digests the seed to access nutrients. However, when a rattlesnake eats a rodent that has eaten a seed, it may “rescue” that seed from digestion by the rodent because the snake’s digestive tract will not digest the seed. In fact, the snake will move around and eventually poop out the intact seed along with the remains of the rodent’s body, thereby effectively rescuing the seed from predation, dispersing the seed away from its parent plant, and fertilizing it in the process!</div>
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There are several potential problems with this approach. Some biologists suggest that we should not rely on ecosystem services to defend biodiversity because it only promotes “useful” organisms. More important to me is the question of whether this approach works. Do people really care if snakes control mice around their house? I’d say, not really. Most people would buy some rodent poison and not give it another thought. Do people care about snakes pooping out baby plants? They might think it’s neat, but it’s not going to effect a frameshift in the way they think about rattlesnakes. More on this later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. The Biomedical Breakthrough Approach<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The drug Integrilin is used to prevent blood clots during certain surgeries, and is made using a compound isolated from Pygmy rattlesnake venom. Photo of the stunning rattlesnake by James Adam.</span></td></tr>
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From the first mass-produced antibiotic, a mold called penicillin, which was (allegedly) discovered on accident by a messy biologist, to the extraction of a compound from the bark of Pacific Yew trees that has been developed into paclitaxel (Taxol®), the most widely used breast cancer drug, the natural world has provided a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901206/" target="_blank">huge array of drugs</a>. Venoms in particular have supplied or inspired numerous drugs, and rattlesnakes refuse to be left out of that party. Eptifibatide (Integrilin®) is a drug isolated from pygmy rattlesnake venom, and is used to prevent clots and heart attacks in people who are at risk for these conditions, especially when they are undergoing an angioplasty to remove blockages in coronary arteries. Given that rattlesnake venom is a cocktail of so many compounds, there are likely <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6832721" target="_blank">many additional drugs waiting to be discovered</a> in their venoms. Also, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41573-019-0024-5" target="_blank">recent developments in machine learning</a> promise to facilitate much faster rates of drug discovery than previous methods. What drugs are waiting to be coaxed from a snake’s venom gland into the arsenal of medical professionals? Aside from venom, are future medical discoveries hiding inside rattlesnakes? If rattlesnakes and other organisms <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/" target="_blank">continue to be needlessly persecuted</a>, we may never know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. The Threat Approach<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striking Timber rattlesnake. Photo by E. Degginger.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scientists and snake-wranglers often tell people to leave rattlesnakes alone because they are more likely to be bitten if they try to kill the rattlesnake than if they just ignore it and let it go about its business. I have mixed feelings on this approach. Certainly it’s true that a large number of bites are illegitimate, meaning that the person was purposefully handling the snake when the bite occurred. However, we do not have data on how many bite victims were trying to kill the snake as opposed to messing with it for another reason. I like this approach when trying to discourage people from handling snakes they see out in nature. However, if a rattlesnake is in someone’s yard, most people will say that they want the snake to be removed to protect their children, their pets, and themselves. (The writer of this </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/opinion/rattlesnakes.html?smid=tw-share" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">lovely recent article in the New York Times</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> enjoyed seeing a coiled timber rattlesnake on the porch of her vacation home, but might have felt differently if it had been at her regular home with kids and pets around.) Ideally, calling a professional snake rescuer is ideal, but if that is not an option then the person will need to handle the situation themselves. This involves either relocating the snake by carefully moving it into a bucket or trashcan and releasing it in nearby habitat, or killing the snake. Both likely pose similar risks. So, I tend to feel it is a bit disingenuous to tell people that killing snakes is dangerous, so they should relocate it instead. I prefer to focus on other reasons why relocation is superior.</span></div>
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4. The Ethical Approach<o:p></o:p></div>
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This approach revolves around the notion that rattlesnakes have a right to live, just like every other organism. There is a huge amount of literature on biodiversity ethics, but I will spare you the details and tell you that this approach does not seem to work for rattlesnakes when used on its own. Stepping out of my academic bubble has shown me that most people cannot understand how a rattlesnake, an animal that society has taught them to fear, and is likely the only potentially deadly wildlife they are likely to encounter, could have the right to live unless it has some sort of value. I think this is why so many of us adopt the ecosystem services approach. We are desperately trying to get people to attach a value to a rattlesnake. However, as explained above, most people would feel like buying a $10 box of rodent poison is a much safer investment than promoting the wellbeing of rodent-predating rattlesnakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, how to make people care about rattlesnakes? This leads to my final (and favorite!) approach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. The Friends & Family Approach<o:p></o:p></div>
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This approach never occurred to me until I heard it from my colleague Melissa Amarello, founder of Advocates for Snake Preservation. Melissa spends a huge amount of time and effort thinking about #RattlesnakePR, and she came up with a very interesting, and in my opinion very effective, idea. It embodies the idea that the ecosystem services approach doesn’t work, and instead we should appeal to people in a way that actually works. She described it in a <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2020/06/08/snakes-social-friends-asu-researcher/3144377001" target="_blank">recent article in the Arizona Sun</a>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WpGaDIhG3TqZ1v-aO4kiv3siSxfV3rgzBXxHLhadXRs-Pik3L_wtX35GZXZjPy6kFN2kVIO-bT0MSjBwAE0_kd1wBylEYHWKcllp4t3J6KLqTzbRkWFHvjHbAHXf0TRHX_a74eMt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-06-23+at+3.12.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="1380" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WpGaDIhG3TqZ1v-aO4kiv3siSxfV3rgzBXxHLhadXRs-Pik3L_wtX35GZXZjPy6kFN2kVIO-bT0MSjBwAE0_kd1wBylEYHWKcllp4t3J6KLqTzbRkWFHvjHbAHXf0TRHX_a74eMt/s640/Screen+Shot+2020-06-23+at+3.12.40+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-Melissa Amarello, Advocates for Snake Preservation, from Arizona Sun article published June 8, 2020</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In other words, why not tell people about the neat social lives of rattlesnakes to appeal to their emotions?</span></div>
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After I heard this idea, I started telling people that female rattlesnakes have live birth, and that the babies are born with little umbilical cords just like human babies. Then the moms take care of the babies for a couple of weeks, defending them from predators while they are most vulnerable before their first shed. I tell them how we have recently learned that rattlesnakes appear to hang out with their friends and their family members, and that we are just learning about their complex social lives. I tell them how rattlesnakes can live to be 60 years old, and killing an adult might mean that you have killed an animal that has been peacefully eating rodents and hanging around with their friends and family for decades.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYxSBehjO2i_74irnwIHyk6-gz1YuZdyD79eC9KTW_W3lyJ98oK7tovL85B0HUFTHGoZLgaUDGRlYJA3g6en__sZfb5ywAn154yt4ZrmFtkjxI1omGwiHGUajLhw1vNcsPpRd6lFT/s1600/f2efd6c0-fd55-4e10-b707-686e00f9aad5-ArizonaBlackRattlesnakeMotherBabies_JeffSmith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYxSBehjO2i_74irnwIHyk6-gz1YuZdyD79eC9KTW_W3lyJ98oK7tovL85B0HUFTHGoZLgaUDGRlYJA3g6en__sZfb5ywAn154yt4ZrmFtkjxI1omGwiHGUajLhw1vNcsPpRd6lFT/s400/f2efd6c0-fd55-4e10-b707-686e00f9aad5-ArizonaBlackRattlesnakeMotherBabies_JeffSmith.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Arizona Black rattlesnake with her babies. Photo by Jeff Smith.</td></tr>
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While this approach has not been tested empirically (this would make an excellent graduate student project!!), I can affirm that it <i>seems</i> to work. Sometimes people say things like, “Maybe I’ll call you to relocate a snake next time I see one instead of killing it.” Sometimes people send me photos months after a presentation, excitedly showing me a rattlesnake they encountered on a hike (and did <i>not</i> kill). Melissa recounts how a Boy Scout leader told her she had changed his mind about rattlesnakes:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">-Melissa Amarello, Advocates for Snake Preservation, from Arizona Sun article published June 8, 2020</span></td></tr>
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Back to the client who earnestly asked me why I was going to relocate the “bad” rattlesnake instead of killing it. What did I say to her? I gave her a response something like this, which combines all the most effective bits of what I’ve written above with the hope that at least one part of it would appeal to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>“Rattlesnakes are not bad! They don’t want to bite you- look at this snake, she's not coming after us, she is scared of us and she only wants to defend herself. Rattlesnakes are important members of the community- they eat thousands of rodents that would otherwise eat our crops and spread diseases like Lyme Disease. Their venom has been used to make a drug that prevents heart attacks, and many more potential drugs based on rattlesnake venom are being investigated. This rattlesnake is probably at least 10 years old and can live as long as 60 years, and this summer she will get pregnant, have live babies (complete with umbilical cords!), and care for them for a couple of weeks before they head out on their own. Rattlesnakes hang out with friends and family members their whole lives, and of course it would be terrible if someone killed off <i>our</i> friends or family members! Plus, it’s dangerous to try to kill rattlesnakes, as most bites happen when people are intentionally messing with the snakes. It's best to stay away from rattlesnakes and let them go about their lives."</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large male Pacific rattlesnake sits quietly as I take his photograph. </td></tr>
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Fellow #RattlesnakePR reps, please feel free to adopt these ideas, tweak them, test them out, give feedback, and share with others. I hope people will share their experiences in the comments, and I will edit this post with good suggestions so we all have a resource on how to improve our <o:p></o:p>#RattlesnakePR.</div>
Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-14823892416912490162019-12-04T07:28:00.000-08:002020-02-26T08:53:53.827-08:00Women in Herpetology<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/49/53/27/49532776f3180d62c02fc8687494275c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for What Are Little Boys Made Of?" border="0" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/49/53/27/49532776f3180d62c02fc8687494275c.jpg" width="236" /></a>The nursery rhyme <i>What Are Little Boys Made Of?</i> from the 19th century, by an unknown author, is probably pretty familiar to most of us.<br />
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To me, this rhyme embodies the concept that men and women are often interested in very different things, and have been since childhood. Of course, this is often summarily untrue for any given person, but on average, are men more drawn to things that are considered dangerous, edgy, or “icky?”<br />
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More interesting to me, what are the repercussions for career choice of a sex difference in people’s attitudes? Studies have shown that from <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/sce.21066" target="_blank">early childhood </a>through <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2009-19763-004" target="_blank">adulthood</a>, men tend to be more strongly drawn to careers in science than women, but how does sex influence specific interests within science? Within biology—the study of life—do men and women find different forms of life more appealing or interesting than others? Does the nursery rhyme play out in scientists’ choice of study organism—are those animals perceived as dangerous, edgy, or “icky” more attractive to male scientists than to females?<br />
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It certainly seems so. I am a female herpetologist who studies venomous snakes, and I have always been one of the few women in the room. I'm definitely not the first herpetologist to ponder this. In fact, the 2019 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists featured a <a href="https://conferences.k-state.edu/jmih/symposia/" target="_blank">symposium</a> entitled "Professional Women in Herpetology: Lessons and Insights." This symposium was extremely well-attended, and the speakers tackled issues facing female herpetologists, from the past, today, and looking into the future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Maureen Donnelly speaks to a big crowd in the 2019 JMIH Women in Herpetology Symposium.</td></tr>
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At this symposium, I heard many stories from my fellow "Ladies Who Lizard" about discrimination, exclusion, sexual harassment, fighting back, joining forces, and more. I looked around me and thought "Ten years ago this symposium would not be as well attended or impactful." There were so many women conference attendees in 2019! Who are they all? Are they students or faculty? Are they doing herpetology research? Are they fulfilling the time-honored measurement of productivity in all scientific fields: publication of results?<br />
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I got to wondering whether we could actually quantify female participation in science by quantifying sex ratios in authorship according to study animal, to see if critters like snakes and crocodiles do in fact have more men working with them, and if so, to try to see whether this has been changing over the years.<br />
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I assembled an all-female team of HERpers (thanks eternally to Kirsten Hecht of University of Florida for coining this lovely term on Twitter in 2017) to tackle this project.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some members of the Cal Poly Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab studying women in herpetology. <br />
Katie Rock (center), junior Biology major and Women's and Gender Studies minor, is the project lead.</td></tr>
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We presented these data in a poster at the <a href="http://www.wchnz.com/wch2020" target="_blank">9th World Congress of Herpetology</a> in Dunedin, New Zealand in January 2020. As usual, we had way too much data to put onto a poster, so we are reporting more of it here.<br />
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All the data presented here are preliminary, to be followed up by official analysis and publication later in 2020. Once the paper is out, we will update this blog post with a link to it so you can read about our official findings.<br />
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Below we present preliminary data, reflections, and ruminations about two main issues:<br />
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<b>1. Sex ratios of authors on articles about amphibians and reptiles.</b> Authoring papers is one of the ways that scientific beans are counted when we apply for jobs or go up for tenure or pay raises. So, quantifying authorship is essential to looking at the sex gap facing herpetology in the past and today.<br />
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<b>2. Sex ratios of conference attendees. </b>We might expect that the sex ratio of conference attendees to be roughly on par with the sex ratios of authors. But what about student attendees? Does their sex ratio hint at the authorship ratios of the future?<br />
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OK, let’s dig in.<br />
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<u>Author Sex Ratios in Herpetology</u><br />
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We are going to be coy about our exact methods for now, but the basic idea is that we amassed data sets of all authors publishing on herps and coded each author's name by sex* using an enormous database of first names that allows us to assign a certainty value for coded sex to each author's name in our databases. Importantly, this allowed us to (1) amass a huge data set of hundreds of thousands of authors and (2) exclude authors whose names had a low certainty of being a particular sex. Because our data set is so large, any excluded or miscoded authors will not have an impact on the trends observed.<br />
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<i>*An important disclaimer is that the reference names dataset uses binary sex and we therefore assigned sex as male or female, even though sex is a spectrum ranging from male to female. Furthermore, our dataset does not attempt to assign gender to any individuals. These are limitations of our methodology that reflect the historic and current binary assignment of sex. </i><br />
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First, we quantified the total number of papers on each taxon published in the current decade (2000-19). Note that for many of our analyses, we break the order Squamata into the (not necessarily monophyletic) suborders Serpentes (snakes), Lacertilia (lizards), and Amphisbaenia (amphisbaenians), because as scientists studying squamates we are particularly interested in these groups of animals.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP0YjuUOZ2jW_eIibwE3JQNLoUWqQFGtIR3kOCtnLDD5HnlJ9ocd7Z9VhKat9lCqakK0A0i3iyzHy9EA-mN88t9AiNhw3gCJKDfY_Kw8pJzLpcEK7uqOvQf3uNn5rrNovg8rMPb7Z/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-12-11+at+3.08.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP0YjuUOZ2jW_eIibwE3JQNLoUWqQFGtIR3kOCtnLDD5HnlJ9ocd7Z9VhKat9lCqakK0A0i3iyzHy9EA-mN88t9AiNhw3gCJKDfY_Kw8pJzLpcEK7uqOvQf3uNn5rrNovg8rMPb7Z/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-12-11+at+3.08.09+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Among articles on amphibians and reptiles published 2010-19 (N = 201,237), the most popular study organisms are Anura (frogs, toads, and their relatives) and Squamates (lizards, snakes, and their relatives).</span></td></tr>
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Next, we looked at the sex ratio of authors on these groups from 2010-19. Here, we quantify authorship as the total authorship events.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiM0kfZuVxkpYg9i0e_bt3OfaYxD-FD_D6-1KX81IS_OJWh7fSaeZg0RFtWiWvovRHYGDFtRSyr7F-c5tUtRKJCEVYbHYlhojuy66WrjBEfIZNEcNHXj3JAw21DkCzpGf9ONjTBa4V/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-12-12+at+5.44.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1600" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiM0kfZuVxkpYg9i0e_bt3OfaYxD-FD_D6-1KX81IS_OJWh7fSaeZg0RFtWiWvovRHYGDFtRSyr7F-c5tUtRKJCEVYbHYlhojuy66WrjBEfIZNEcNHXj3JAw21DkCzpGf9ONjTBa4V/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-12-12+at+5.44.45+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Male authors dominate total authorship events on amphibians and reptiles from 2010-19. Sample sizes of male and female authors are listed at the ends of bars, and percentages in the center. Among amphibians, the order with the highest percentage of male authors is Gymnophiona; among reptiles, it is Crocodylia.</span></td></tr>
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Next, we wondered whether authorship by women is currently higher than is has been historically. It turns out that these data are not nearly as easy to get as those for the current decade. This is because of a quirk of indexing that has us shaking our fists mightily at the library/editorial/indexing conventions of the past, where until recently, only the initial of the first name is included in the citations of the paper. This obviously makes it difficult to assign author sex! Here are some data on authorship over the past 30 years on studies of lizards and snakes.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89xELfkuPTjUXJi5h10cwDuLK0SEb2pasd5RuelBa8vr6ase1gmhYCVgHLH7nr9QZG0Lzq_enu6rAsdb8ZQ_1wCyaqUEGh8lrqFnSC6hdSPeRPu3ZAUWC2T3kdiT3e6P46vDBgKkB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-12-12+at+5.45.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89xELfkuPTjUXJi5h10cwDuLK0SEb2pasd5RuelBa8vr6ase1gmhYCVgHLH7nr9QZG0Lzq_enu6rAsdb8ZQ_1wCyaqUEGh8lrqFnSC6hdSPeRPu3ZAUWC2T3kdiT3e6P46vDBgKkB/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-12-12+at+5.45.06+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Female authorship events on studies of lizards and snakes have risen dramatically over the past 30 years. In the 90’s, there were 4 male authors for every female author, in the 00’s this dropped to 3, and currently there are 2 males per female author. </span></td></tr>
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Our data set has a lot more to work with. For example, we can analyze whether there is a sex difference in first authors, last authors, in the times papers are cited, whether women authors are more likely to publish papers with other women authors, and so much more. Stay tuned for that later in 2020.<br />
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<u>Attendee Sex Ratios at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists</u><br />
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I started attending the annual meeting of our societies in 1997 as an undergraduate. Looking back, the sex ratio of the professionals back then was clearly male-skewed, as was the sex ratio of my science professors at UC Berkeley, and eventually Arizona State, where I got my PhD. But it seemed like the sex ratio of the students was much more balanced. Nowadays, that trend seems to hold, except that there seems to be at least a slightly higher proportion of women professionals than 20 years ago. I thought about it… could I get ahold of conference attendee data to actually quantify this?<br />
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Frankly, we were a bit shocked by our results above showing that the sex ratios in authorship on amphibians and reptiles are still so male-skewed. Could the sex ratio of students attending our annual conference tell us something about the future of herpetology?<br />
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So far I have only been able to get ahold of registration records for a few recent meetings. I am actively trying to get more data, but for now I can show you some data from one recent meeting.<br />
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The conference registration data sets proved even more challenging than the author data sets. That’s because registrants had the option of entering their position (many did not), and it was open-ended, so the answers were all over the place. For those who entered their position, we coded them as students or professionals, and then we also further divided the professionals into academic professors and “other professionals.” Also, these data include both herpetologists and ichthyologists because both attend this conference, and because registration records do not allow their delineation. Here's a link to my Tweet on what we found (while you're at it, follow me on Twitter!).<br />
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Breaking news on Women in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Herpetology?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Herpetology</a>:<br />
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At 2017 JMIH meeting, attendees were:<br />
45% male, 55% female (students)<br />
71% male, 29% female (professors)<br />
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Stay tuned for more data.<a href="https://twitter.com/ASIHCopeia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASIHCopeia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ssarherps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ssarherps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HerpLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HerpLeague</a></div>
— Emily Taylor (@snakeymama) <a href="https://twitter.com/snakeymama/status/1199367789657542656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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These data are eerily similar to the national trends we see in all areas of biology: <a href="https://nsf.gov/statistics/" target="_blank">Most biology undergraduate and graduate degrees are awarded to women</a>, but <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.3102/0013189X17726535" target="_blank">as of 2017 women represented only 31% of Biology faculty</a>, with even fewer in senior faculty positions.<br />
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I know that there have been a lot of studies on persistence of women in science that attempt to understand why we have more degrees awarded to female scientists but few of them end up in academic positions. I’m not going to go into those here, but suffice it to say that herpetology and ichthyology appear to be no different. We are itching to get our hands on data from earlier conferences so we can see if the sex ratios of students and professionals have changed! Fingers crossed.<br />
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I wanted to add in a quick, related note from a paper by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4965090/" target="_blank">Sardelis and Drew</a> in PLoSOne in 2016 specifically regarding symposia at our annual herpetology conference. They found that (1) the number of female presenters in symposia has remained stagnant from 2005-2015, with male presenters outnumbering females about 4 to 1, and that (2) symposia with female organizers are more likely to include symposia with female presenters.<br />
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Sometimes it takes a unique point of view, or even just knowing that there is a problem, to do something about it.<br />
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We have been tweeting many of our preliminary results as we obtained them. The responses from the Twitterverse have been really interesting. Many people have been bemoaning the low representation of women in herpetology (“glass half empty”), while others have been applauding that the data show how rapidly things are changing (“glass half full”). While we think both responses are entirely appropriate, we’ll leave you with an anecdote that falls into the latter category.<br />
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At the <a href="https://www.biologyofsnakes.com/home" target="_blank">2017 Biology of the Snakes conference</a>, we noticed that none of the invited speakers were women, and that a tiny fraction of the contributed oral presentations were by women. On the one hand, this reflects the demographics of studies on snakes: most of them are by men, and so naturally most speakers are men. On the other hand, as we have shown with our data above, women are not THAT poorly represented. Currently, about 30% of authors on snakes are women, so we would expect that about 30% of presenters would be women, too.<br />
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Fast forward to the <a href="https://www.biologyofthepitvipers.com/home" target="_blank">2019 Biology of the Pitvipers conference</a>, where the meeting organizers made darn sure that a full half of the invited speakers were women (including yours truly). Curiously, the contributed oral presentations shot up to ~ 30% women! Furthermore, there were dozens of women in attendance who were not presenting, and looking around the crowded venue it seemed that a good 30-40% of all attendees were women. Bravo to the organizers for facilitating a conference with speaker demographics that are representative of our field.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr-z_xm7nMQWXrKcZ2wilKD9PJ2jOOzjAtXiw6irAnxu8o41NTScxoZs-owE6QXxn5WAgtm2wqWu2JmKPn3D2cnFUEUBwRpgs-yVyk7UuMo4axI5iDOB9kxbwECXYybzRy0pqDIAZ/s1600/Amarello+BOPV3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr-z_xm7nMQWXrKcZ2wilKD9PJ2jOOzjAtXiw6irAnxu8o41NTScxoZs-owE6QXxn5WAgtm2wqWu2JmKPn3D2cnFUEUBwRpgs-yVyk7UuMo4axI5iDOB9kxbwECXYybzRy0pqDIAZ/s400/Amarello+BOPV3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The female attendees of the 2019 Biology of the Pitvipers conference put on by the <a href="https://www.chiricahuadesertmuseum.com/?lightbox=dataItem-j34k224p" target="_blank">Chiricahua Desert Museum</a>. Photo by Melissa Amarello.</span></td></tr>
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So, the times they are indeed a'changing.<br />
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Thank you for reading, and please leave your comments and suggestions below!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQcDYwDq25bdPGNyB_sRis2XVE2S6yUZIZ3SvHQpS6lRLmG0hfZHU-AX8TTmksixZSEfoxUW-smHxiYKseuRkTz-a5rsRH8kgIjyTC4uNJPDCBEkm7lAsOrHGmsG-wDsrw8B5gs5I/s1600/1947-three-page-cartoon-story-GRACE-OLIVE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="1600" height="595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQcDYwDq25bdPGNyB_sRis2XVE2S6yUZIZ3SvHQpS6lRLmG0hfZHU-AX8TTmksixZSEfoxUW-smHxiYKseuRkTz-a5rsRH8kgIjyTC4uNJPDCBEkm7lAsOrHGmsG-wDsrw8B5gs5I/s640/1947-three-page-cartoon-story-GRACE-OLIVE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Strange Career," a 1947 comic about American herpetologist Grace Olive Wiley.<br />
It is no longer quite so strange for women to be herpetologists.</td></tr>
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<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-76381975146819371582019-09-06T08:37:00.000-07:002019-09-06T08:37:08.362-07:00Zombie Lizard and "Hearty" Snakes!Yesterday my colleague Dr. Charley Knight posted a photo of a "zombie" lizard to Twitter, which I retweeted, then posted to Facebook, where it quickly went viral. The photo shows a short-horned lizard (<i>Phrynosoma hernandesi</i>) on Mt. Lemmon in Arizona that is missing the skin and muscles along one side of its back, such that its ribs and internal organs are exposed.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #8899a6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #8899a6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;">Found this lizard, ribs and organs exposed, scampering about at 8000 ft on Mt. Lemon, AZ. Herp tweeters how did this happen? Species? <a href="https://twitter.com/snakeymama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@snakeymama</a> <a href="https://t.co/WHuo6pzJBG">pic.twitter.com/WHuo6pzJBG</a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #8899a6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;">— Charley Knight (@cknight102) <a href="https://twitter.com/cknight102/status/1169688864069259264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></span></blockquote>
I initially assumed it was dead, but on further inspection of its posture (as well as Charley's post saying it was "scampering about") I realized it was actually alive. It had likely been captured by a predator, perhaps a bird, that ripped off its tissue but dropped it.<br />
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What is the prognosis for this lizard? Well, as many have conjectured online, it may have been alive when observed, but would likely be dead soon.<br />
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This got me thinking. Why do we assume that this lizard won't make it? The answer is that we inevitably think about what we happen if WE were subject to a predatory blow that removed our skin and muscle, exposing our organs. We would certainly die rapidly, if not from infection then from dehydration.<br />
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But a reptile? In my opinion, if it could survive the loss of water through the wound, it actually could potentially heal and survive such a gnarly injury. Why? Because reptiles have crazy immune systems that we are just beginning to understand.<br />
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The evidence I have for this comes from the many reptiles I have seen in the field who are alive despite having incredible scars or wounds that should have killed. Many people reported similar observations on the zombie lizard post on social media. Here are just a few examples of healed herps that I have seen.<br />
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This is Tripod, an adult male chuckwalla (<i>Sauromalus ater</i>) that my Herpetology class has recaptured at least three different years in the Mojave National Preserve.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAcegDC1suVpkeqqn9hTOvioFsmGYoU7yxi_ZZl-lvJok3gVC5rnIJLaIOs2M4XmUWIoB5JKTKLBGeDsUxyA8x0oKZh-Zt_8OEgOinUk_Ul9-QrhkNE4TqhyphenhyphenZo-UjtmVD5JGqK2js/s1600/Tripod+Jason+Wallace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAcegDC1suVpkeqqn9hTOvioFsmGYoU7yxi_ZZl-lvJok3gVC5rnIJLaIOs2M4XmUWIoB5JKTKLBGeDsUxyA8x0oKZh-Zt_8OEgOinUk_Ul9-QrhkNE4TqhyphenhyphenZo-UjtmVD5JGqK2js/s320/Tripod+Jason+Wallace.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three-legged chuckwalla captured and released by permit from National Parks. Photo by Jason Wallace.</td></tr>
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Tripod likely lost his leg when he was young, healed up nicely, and appears to be a healthy, dominant male.<br />
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Now check out Ecto, a subadult Desert Kingsnake (<i>Lampropeltis splendida</i>) that my Herpetology class found hit by a car on Foothills Rd. near the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona. The car had apparently clipped him such that his chest and pericardium opened, with his heart beating away on the outside of his body (the technical term for this is a cardiocoel). Now you see why the students named him Ecto (and yes, they gave him a Twitter account).<br />
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When I was first found, my heart was outside of my body. I had been hit by a car and needed immediate surgery. <a href="https://t.co/at7eBoCXH8">pic.twitter.com/at7eBoCXH8</a></div>
— Ecto (@EctoTheSnake) <a href="https://twitter.com/EctoTheSnake/status/765749783826866176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I planned to humanely euthanize Ecto, but the students begged me to try to save his life. We gave him water and after he lasted through the night, we slipped his heart back inside his body, gave him antibiotics, sewed him up, and we took him back to California.<br />
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Here's another video of my heart beating. Glad I'm feeling better now! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EctoTheSnake?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EctoTheSnake</a> <a href="https://t.co/cqUMD5x45j">pic.twitter.com/cqUMD5x45j</a></div>
— Ecto (@EctoTheSnake) <a href="https://twitter.com/EctoTheSnake/status/765754953210048512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Ecto lived with a student in the class for almost three years, eating well and growing into a nice adult, before eventually dying. His owner took him to a vet for a necropsy and the cause of death was hyper-calcification of his pericardium, with the area completely surrounded by scar tissue from the injury years before. What a tough little noodle. (By the way, his owner took him back to Arizona to bury him where he was collected. Awwww!)<br />
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Speaking of tough noodles, this one might be my favorite. Years ago, my lab was conducting a radio-telemetry study on local Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus oreganus helleri</i>). We found one of our large males with a huge wound across his underside, again possible from a bird like a raptor. When we anesthetized him, we discovered that the skin and muscle were completely ripped open, with the wound occurring just over the heart.<br />
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We gave him antibiotics, sewed him up, and let him go. We also removed his radio-transmitter, so unfortunately I don't know how he fared, but he was a big healthy snake and very likely survived.<br />
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I hope I've convinced you that these animals are absolutely incredible!<br />
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<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-60604153529548425962017-06-12T21:18:00.000-07:002017-06-12T21:18:52.983-07:00Tinder (for Herps)The creative projects that mark the end of my herpetology class each spring bring me a lot of joy. They are creative, informative, artistic, and everyone, me included, learns new things. Some of them make me laugh, too. This year's laugh award, which literally made my face hurt, goes to Paula, who created Tinder profiles for herps.<br />
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Of course, these contain lots of interesting info from class, especially of the- ahem- reproductive nature. They are all hilariously creative, too. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!<br />
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By Paula Eberle</div>
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Nice move, Paula. Nice move.</div>
<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-38151001359792332102017-06-10T10:04:00.002-07:002017-06-10T10:04:45.317-07:00How the Plethodont Got His Tongue<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCz4zfAGosWMl-4UYMwAtkz4WLV-sIS3M84KJyE4IjaZIBgKFzvBe6gLsR73_GNZGKf7OqmB7tSDZOEDcXBHUq9FSshuQGgNurUkBap4uGE-D-sw2LPrTJhETSiuXJYgDq2a9x2B3/s1600/salamander-animal-cartoon-illustration-funny-amphibian-38888657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="479" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCz4zfAGosWMl-4UYMwAtkz4WLV-sIS3M84KJyE4IjaZIBgKFzvBe6gLsR73_GNZGKf7OqmB7tSDZOEDcXBHUq9FSshuQGgNurUkBap4uGE-D-sw2LPrTJhETSiuXJYgDq2a9x2B3/s400/salamander-animal-cartoon-illustration-funny-amphibian-38888657.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's the end of spring quarter here at Cal Poly, which means that my herpetology students have turned in their projects. Instead of term papers that no one wants to write or read, my students do creative projects that they share with the rest of the class.<br />
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This quarter, as always, I taught the students how plethodontid salamanders lost their lungs over evolutionary time, and the how space in the chest is filled with an elaborate musculo-skeletal structure allowing them to project their tongues to capture prey, sometimes great distances. (read more about this <a href="https://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-salamanders-ballistic-tongue/" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhd1oDxUMX5K1CIW9tOhrZzA-_zawyaArL6GnetHyitiAKr5fSJbZzelZGFEHfT-fJfG45GCV8EuuiCk7oNjy7aIzBqPuNTiGeFrzU95Q99Zc5uFs1Vps8pvjLgtnX54IpVX9gCPs/s1600/salamander-catches-prey-with-long-sticky-tongue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="594" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhd1oDxUMX5K1CIW9tOhrZzA-_zawyaArL6GnetHyitiAKr5fSJbZzelZGFEHfT-fJfG45GCV8EuuiCk7oNjy7aIzBqPuNTiGeFrzU95Q99Zc5uFs1Vps8pvjLgtnX54IpVX9gCPs/s320/salamander-catches-prey-with-long-sticky-tongue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plethodontid salamander projects its tongue to capture prey. <a href="http://www.newtonsapple.org.uk/convergent-evolution-what-is-it/" target="_blank">Image</a></td></tr>
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Wren's project blew me away. She wrote a Just-So story in the style of Rudyard Kipling on how the plethodontid salamander got its tongue. It is witty and lovely, and I am pleased to share Wren's work here as a guest blog. Enjoy!<br />
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<b>How the Plethodont Got His Tongue</b></div>
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<b>By Wren Thompson</b></div>
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Not long after the High and Far-Off times when the world began, O’ Best Beloved, the Plethodont did not have a Long Tongue. He had only a small little pad, a ‘scule little tongue that would wag to and would wag fro but never—never, Best Beloved—both to and fro.<br />
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It was not long after the world began that a new Plethodont made friends: the Chameleon and the Tree Frog, both Agile and Formidable Predators. The three friends could oft be found hunting on the shores of some-such grey-green pond or some-another chuckling brook, hunting for Agile Prey. The friends would blend with their speckle-spotted hides and quiet toes among the mosses and branches and ferns, hunting the Fly, the Moth; the Cricket, the Grasshopper, all from their most various perches and hides.<br />
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To carry this tale any further, however, I must first describe to you just how the Chameleon and Frog were such Wondrous Hunters with Long Tongues of Agile Prey:<br />
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Chameleon had been given—back in the High and Far-Off times when the world began, but that is a tale for another time—a tongue to be envied, a great muscly contraption with twists and turns and folds and flaps, all with her sticky tongue pad at the tip, poised to snatch Agile Prey from branch, stone, air, and leaf.<br />
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Tree Frog in his turn had a far less impressive arsenal, yet when tempted with the fattest and tastiest Cricket could flip-flap-flop forward his tongue in his jump, catching the most rollicking Cricket with both tongue and tooth. The insects hardly knew where to jump, for wherever they turned was the threat of Unenviable Digestion.<br />
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While they hunted on the springy moss and winding branches, Chameleon and Tree Frog often tried to help the new Plethodont to become yet another Formidable Predator. Every which way an ant would gallop, the Plethodont’s ‘scule little tongue could never reach, leaving him Hungry and Grumbly. His friends looked on, hinting and hoping for the little Plethodont to learn Formidable Predator skills.<br />
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“Perhaps if you were to jump a little further, or a little faster?” Tree Frog would say, as his lean legs launched him towards his next prey.<br />
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“Or perhaps if you blended with branches, and kept an eye out for slower prey?” Chameleon would follow, her odd eyes darting to watch a wayward wasp.<br />
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The new Plethodont was not encouraged, and his thin skin—remember that skin, Best Beloved! — itched and scratched and rankled and wriggled with their suggestions. It simply wasn’t fair that he had such ‘scule little tongue, that his legs were too short and his eyes pointed only one way. With every hint and hope his friends handed to him, the Plethodont fumed more; for he was not a Calm and Tranquil animal, nor was he one of Infinite Wisdom and Veracity. The Plethodont steamed and grumbled all the way home, his stomach full only of hunger and resentment.<br />
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The new Plethodont then had an idea: He could not hear their stinging hints and hopes if the only words he could hear were his own! He would fill the air around him with Meaningless Chatter that would stop the hints and the hopes, and his friends would have to realize that he simply would never be a Formidable Predator.<br />
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The next day as the friends went a’hunting beside some-another chuckling creek, the new Plethodont brought along his Shining Idea. All afternoon, the Shining Idea bobbed behind his long tail like a wayward balloon, forever glimmering and tempting the new Plethodont. After failing to catch yet another acrimonious ant, Chameleon and Tree Frog stepped and hopped over to help their friend find a meal.<br />
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“Perhaps this time you could—”, started Chameleon.<br />
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As soon as the words were off her impressive tongue, the new Plethodont unleashed a torrent of words. His Shining Idea was released, and from his ‘scule little mouth spilled forth Meaningless Chatter. He chattered and chittered; babbled and burbled; proselytized and preached; ranted and raved; and he shouted words of origins both High and Low, in the Old Tongue and in spite for his friends’ Long Tongues.<br />
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As he pronounced and denounced so loudly and incessantly, all the flies and crickets and worms and ants went away, hoping to escape the lambasted litany. As he prattled and rattled on, Chameleon’s odd eyes met those of Tree Frog’s wet head, and they exchanged The Look—Best Beloved, you know the kind—that said all things while no things were said on their parts. And in the moments after The Look, Chameleon and Frog parted ways from the Plethodont, heading up, up into the trees where the breeze whispered away the Plethodont’s words.<br />
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Through all this the new Plethodont followed his Shining Idea, vocalizing and verbalizing, his ‘scule little tongue wagging now both to and fro. His ‘scule little tongue grew and grew the more he used it, swelling out of his mouth so that it was no longer ‘scule or even miniscule, and pressing back down his throat so it was no longer little, past his heart that so boiled with envy for Chameleon’s tongue, down to his little legs that Tree Frog had so wished he would use well.<br />
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With triumph, the new Plethodont pressed on with his oration to show his friends—now long gone, little to his knowledge—just how fine his new tongue could be. He pressed and pressed until finally— with a small pop and an even smaller wheeze—he could press no more.<br />
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Despite his now eloquent, elegant tongue that attached down to his pelvis, he had no lungs to murmur, let alone shout. His great tongue—so long hoped-for by the Plethodont—had destroyed his lungs, taking forever his power of speech.<br />
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Over and over the new Plethodont tried to call to his friends up in the trees for help, help that he had long shunned and rankled over, but they could not hear his breathless cries up, up in the trees with the whispering breeze that drowned out his tirade so well.<br />
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He squeezed and pushed his Long Tongue that so quickly felt cursed, and it shot from his body to the one ant left beside the chuckling creek. The new Plethodont pulled the ant closer to hear his whispered calls, but his Long Tongue shot back into his body so quick that the little ant was gone before it knew. After such long resistance and repugnance, the Plethodont had become a Formidable Predator…<br />
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But his friends were nowhere near to see.<br />
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The new Plethodont sat beside the babbling, rollicking, chuckling creek, and breeze tickled his Thin Skin—did you remember that skin, O’ Best Beloved? — that had taken his friends from him. The tiniest breath of air filled the new Plethodont’s body through that Thin Skin, and in that moment the Plethodont was filled with another flood of eloquence of love for his friends. The Plethodont pushed, wishing this time to unleash a soaking monsoon of apology…but could only manage a single quiet word that the chuckling creek erased from the World’s Memory.<br />
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And this, Best Beloved, is why the Plethodont has such a very long tongue and must live beside chuckling creeks for company, breathing through the Thin Skin that doomed him to be without Chameleon and Tree Frog and words. He is most certainly a Formidable Predator, and his Long Tongue will keep him alive for eons to come.<br />
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Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-54078241924205502162016-08-29T09:02:00.001-07:002016-08-29T09:12:37.923-07:00Herp Haikus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjU-LGqpPfnbosvsyhKL9qrzPB0b4ATumOZr8pCaT_JYWAbc5Uxva1uvbrMivrXtP17aNwrfQaebELYAFLWgB0a1JBBFzXLFyWU4UY9onqqXWF7EF5phC4YblXQuFhP2301ZmYbRG/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-08-29+at+8.49.35+AM.png" style="color: #0000ee; text-align: center;" width="400" /></div>
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Every time I teach Herpetology, I ask the students to make a <b>haiku</b> on their final exam that encompasses something they've learned. It needs to include both reptiles and amphibians, and follow haiku rules (3 lines only, with first and last having 5 syllables and second having 7). I thought it was time to start immortalizing these gems. Here, in no particular order, are the haikus of the fabulous and talented herpers of the Cal Poly class of summer 2016!<br />
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Frog’s feet greatly webbed<br />
<i>Draco</i>’s skin flap opens wide<br />
They glide in the sky<br />
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Snake is a noodle<br />
Salamander is slimy<br />
Slimy noodle fun!<br />
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Garter in water<br />
The bullfrog fails its escape<br />
Vengeance of locals<br />
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Treefrogs have toe pads<br />
Snakes’ ventral scales overlap<br />
They have better grip<br />
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Vipers have venom<br />
Newts can carry a toxin<br />
Let’s leave them alone<br />
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Some Caudata swim<br />
Some cool snakes can also swim<br />
Lat. undulation<br />
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Order Squamata<br />
Order Gymnophiona<br />
Know taxonomy<br />
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Snakes do a tongue flick<br />
But salamanders shoot it<br />
Plethodontidae<br />
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Aves soar high up<br />
Caecilians burrow deep<br />
Herps rule the world<br />
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Treefrogs are so small<br />
Crocodilians are huge<br />
What a crazy range<br />
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Rattlesnakes rattle<br />
Amphibians have short ribs<br />
Herping is so fun<br />
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<i>Ensatina</i> swim<br />
<i>Aspidoscelis</i> are fast<br />
They are hard to catch<br />
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Snake’s prehensile tail<br />
Anura’s permeable skin<br />
Pollution in bad<br />
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Bullfrogs are spreading<br />
And so are red-eared sliders<br />
Causing extinctions<br />
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Golden toads are dead<br />
Tuataras are alive<br />
Humans are evil<br />
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Snake strikes naïve mouse<br />
Mama python warms her babies<br />
Golden frog waves bye<br />
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And last but not least, my favorite!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenW6axmBV0ysWkt43IwtNLvLn1oQy0VMbvZoFPrRRBRlQQY1mnkN-0jev7F7paDVKKbi0stCYjBEn-Lm2shqOBNMIuXqWZmYRDQDf6AlxJXLJ2VgD_QKpctkvGn7kI2IHBrcQz38i/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-08-29+at+8.57.43+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenW6axmBV0ysWkt43IwtNLvLn1oQy0VMbvZoFPrRRBRlQQY1mnkN-0jev7F7paDVKKbi0stCYjBEn-Lm2shqOBNMIuXqWZmYRDQDf6AlxJXLJ2VgD_QKpctkvGn7kI2IHBrcQz38i/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-08-29+at+8.57.43+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Images from Squishable.com</td></tr>
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<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-28672356520587154542016-06-07T10:22:00.002-07:002020-07-27T07:11:39.161-07:00Snakebite in Dogs<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Snakebite happens. </b><span style="font-size: large;">About 30,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes annually in the United States. Our inquisitive companions love to run through thick grass and stick their noses down holes in search of squirrels and other delights. Sometimes they frighten a rattlesnake, which may defend itself with its potent venom. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLrccAwBUTbu6bL0XsgMOBPeQlOmTVO_WSivhmW1T3y1bGYC3Vym7GfiLwbwge2LLHjuSRl2mu8EdKvsqFeeXh12KcmRKUuIuVqQGWja1y55WW6NywcOTWnuyfnFC7udDD9a4MKcy/s1600/Ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLrccAwBUTbu6bL0XsgMOBPeQlOmTVO_WSivhmW1T3y1bGYC3Vym7GfiLwbwge2LLHjuSRl2mu8EdKvsqFeeXh12KcmRKUuIuVqQGWja1y55WW6NywcOTWnuyfnFC7udDD9a4MKcy/s320/Ghost.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">Ghost got a painful and potentially life-threatening bite to the snout from a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. He was treated with two vials of antivenom and made a full recovery. Photo courtesy Ashley Ventimiglia.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This photo is scary for us dog-lovers, am I right? We want the best for our canine companions, and will do everything in our power to protect them. There are important aspects to consider if you live in rattlesnake country, and that is the subject of this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In this post, we cover what to do if your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake, but we focus mainly on things to do (and things not to do!) to prevent snakebite in the first place.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But first, a few disclaimers. I am not a veterinarian. I am a PhD scientist and snake expert. Always check with your veterinarian when making medical decisions for your pooch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">OK, let's talk about snakebite in dogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TL/DR: The best way to protect your dog from snakebite is to keep him on a leash, and if he is bitten, take him to the emergency veterinarian right away for treatment with antivenom. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously, leash your dog! It keeps him with you on the trail and away from danger. Not only will your dog be more likely to avoid snakebite (and ticks, and poison oak, and foxtails up the nose... I could go on), but wildlife will also avoid being disturbed by your dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now let's get into the details.</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Treatment of Canine Snakebite</span></b></u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Dog Rattlesnake Vaccine – Is It Effective? - PetGuide" height="267" src="https://www.petguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/dog-rattlesnake-vaccine-668x446.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dogs unlucky enough to be envenomated by a rattlesnake or other viper in the United States can be treated with antivenom, the only effective treatment for snakebite in dogs. <b>Most dogs survive bites when treated rapidly with antivenom. </b>A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010115300581?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">retrospective study</a> on 272 rattlesnake envenomations in the Phoenix, Arizona area found that 97% of envenomated dogs survived the bite. Younger dogs were more likely to survive, and few dogs had allergic reactions to antivenom. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2011.00643.x" target="_blank">Another study</a> found that antivenom stabilized or terminated the effects of the venom. If your dog is bitten, get him to the emergency veterinarian right away. Don't use a tourniquet or ice, don't try to cut and suck the wound, don't do anything but take him to the vet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">OK, that's treatment. But what about prevention? Is there anything (other than the underrated, ever so valuable leash) that can help prevent snakebite?</span><br />
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<u><b>The Rattlesnake "Vaccine"</b></u></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Daleville veterinarian offers rattlesnake vaccines for dogs" height="225" src="https://gray-wdbj-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/XodZm6u6hXyxkUg4yk5Cc5Kaq3w=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HO5PWYYUVFJH7JGPIP6OEBCZP4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">Your veterinarian might tell you there is a vaccine that could help your dog if he is later bitten by a rattlesnake. This vaccine is not supposed to eliminate the need for antivenom treatment, but is marketed as a means of helping your dog survive until you can get to the veterinarian. It might even mean the dog needs less antivenom when he gets to the vet. Photo courtesy WDBJ Virginia.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The vaccine is an injection made using the venom of Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, which are common in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and the vaccine might provide protection against other viper species, too. The vaccine doesn't break the bank, either (prices vary, but injections are typically about $25, with most dogs needing 2-3 injections). <b>Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the rattlesnake vaccine works.</b> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010115300581?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">One study</a> found no difference in outcome in snakebitten dogs who had the vaccine and those that did not, a result that was later echoed in <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1017.6737&rep=rep1&type=pdf" target="_blank">another study</a>. <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/ajvr.76.3.272" target="_blank">A third study</a> showed that mice vaccinated with the drug had some protection against venom from Western Diamond-backs, but little protection against venoms from Northern and Southern Pacific rattlesnakes (the ones that most commonly bite dogs in California). Of course, dogs are not mice, but this is the closest thing to an experimental study that can be done because injecting dogs with the vaccine or placebo, and later injecting them with snake venom to see which survives, would be considered unethical.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The rattlesnake vaccine might actually be dangerous for your pooch. </b>First off, if your vaccinated dog gets bitten, take him to the veterinarian! The vaccine is not a substitute for antivenom treatment, and I worry about complacent owners thinking the dog will be fine. The vaccine could be dangerous in another way, too. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011730404X" target="_blank">A recent study</a> reported that two dogs who had received the vaccine exhibited anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) when they were later bitten by rattlesnakes. Anaphylaxis occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to the allergen (proteins in the venom in this case). Anaphylaxis almost never occurs at first exposure, but rather at subsequent exposures when all the immune cells initially activated during the first exposure explode in activity. The researchers suspected that the vaccine was the "first exposure" that sensitized the dogs to venom proteins, later resulting in anaphylaxis when the dogs were bitten. In other words, it is highly likely that the dogs went into anaphylaxis <i>because of the vaccine</i>.</span><br />
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<b><u>Rattlesnake Aversion Training</u></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Snake-aversion training for dogs can be done humanely and ..." height="315" src="https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lmtribune.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3223e0-d748-5fbf-a5a3-65a00ba94abd/53a36487bd18a.image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">Dogs safely learn to avoid rattlesnakes at aversion training. Photo courtesy Eric Briggs, in Lewiston Tribune. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You might have heard of <a href="https://socalrattlesnakeavoidancetraining.com/" target="_blank">rattlesnake aversion training</a>, where dogs learn to avoid rattlesnakes. <b>I have never seen data showing that aversion trained dogs are less likely to be bitten by rattlesnakes, but there is little harm in doing the training. </b>Given how efficacious dog training can be, it seems that rattlesnake avoidance training could work very well in some cases. We know pooches belonging to biologists who know to stay away from snakes when joining their masters for field work. However, aversion-trained dogs could still be bitten accidentally (e.g., when running through tall grass), even if they have been trained to avoid the scent and/or warning defensive behavior of a rattlesnake. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2011.00677.x" target="_blank">One paper</a> mentions that this training is “overall unreliable and may provide a false security for snakebite prevention but may be efficacious in a well-trained dog. The only preventative measures are leash walking and avoiding possible snake habitats that have poor visibility." Take home? The training will likely help for many dogs, but you should still take care to avoid accidents when out on the trail.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Rattlesnake-Proof Yard Fencing</span></u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://www.centralcoastsnakeservices.com/uploads/1/2/7/0/127087854/img-20200520-155928_orig.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">This <a href="https://www.centralcoastsnakeservices.com/rattlesnake-proof-fencing.html" target="_blank">rattlesnake-proof fence</a> keeps rattlesnakes out. Yard-lizard approved!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've been mainly talking about keeping your doggo safe if you go out hiking. But what about if a rattlesnake enters your yard? While the aversion training might help in that scenario, the bottom line is that your dog is at an increased risk of being bitten if a rattlesnake hangs out in your yard. Solutions that seem easy, like snake repellant sold at home improvement stores, do not work at all. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Simply getting rid of a snake (whether by relocating it or killing it) doesn't solve the problem because other snakes will likely also visit at some point. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">However, there are many </span><a href="https://www.livingwithsnakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SurvivalGuide.pdf" target="_blank">things you can do to make your yard less attractive to rattlesnakes</a><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span><b>For people who frequently get rattler visitors and are very concerned about pets' and kids' safety in the yard, rattlesnake-proof fencing is available in <a href="https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/keep-snakes-away/snake-fence.php" target="_blank">Arizona</a> and <a href="https://www.centralcoastsnakeservices.com/rattlesnake-proof-fencing.html" target="_blank">Central California</a> </b><span style="font-size: medium;">and is an excellent option for keeping your loved beasties safe in the yard.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand take home? <b>Keep your dog on a leash</b>, and go forth and enjoy the beautiful outdoors! </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pet Series: 10 Dog-Friendly Hikes in San Diego | ScrippsAMG" height="265" src="https://scrippsamg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dog_Friendly_Hikes_in_San_Diego_-_National_Love_Your_Pet_Day_Feb_20_Pet_Series_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">Leashing your dog when out and about is the best way to protect him from snakebite.</span></td></tr>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-size: large;">Note: This blog was originally published in 2016, but was updated in 2020 based on additional published studies.</span></div>
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Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-62402407913863909772016-05-20T07:25:00.000-07:002016-05-20T07:25:04.490-07:00Keep Your Students Engaged in a Large LectureGood morning, educators. Who among you has worked for hours to create a stimulating and informative lecture, and halfway through delivering said lecture has looked up to see this?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8t0vHxxLFtwHwRgdklKSoANwG-Md6vhNPSAuk613a8xHCWGeFyZAFmgTcsHXE_6diiozYNGHJivHIJigCbR2YggC7Ux4ZdRucwOeqd7lacsA1WU7rUw0m4MUuQdQpxmPIlP0TUoF/s1600/Bored_college_students_sleeping_in_lecture_hall_pe0068725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8t0vHxxLFtwHwRgdklKSoANwG-Md6vhNPSAuk613a8xHCWGeFyZAFmgTcsHXE_6diiozYNGHJivHIJigCbR2YggC7Ux4ZdRucwOeqd7lacsA1WU7rUw0m4MUuQdQpxmPIlP0TUoF/s320/Bored_college_students_sleeping_in_lecture_hall_pe0068725.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students get easily bored in a one-way lecture, when nothing is asked of them.</td></tr>
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Wouldn't you rather see something more like this?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg_FpttOAyv-XIaImO7V2Zly6NqBv6Q6d9I2h_zOC9gBtn3Z_9bYm_Hf43Mioo8_5kQasAnvyK_j2VjcbuAXZEDAWztFKQlgNicaKtLw9MAkILYHTzGGjeJJYP6cUZZuDIlpc8eRd/s1600/small_group_discussion_456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg_FpttOAyv-XIaImO7V2Zly6NqBv6Q6d9I2h_zOC9gBtn3Z_9bYm_Hf43Mioo8_5kQasAnvyK_j2VjcbuAXZEDAWztFKQlgNicaKtLw9MAkILYHTzGGjeJJYP6cUZZuDIlpc8eRd/s320/small_group_discussion_456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students working together to solve problems stay engaged and enjoy better learning outcomes. <br />Image from http://serc.carleton.edu/.</td></tr>
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Me, too. As my class sizes get larger and larger, it gets more and more challenging to engage students in their own learning. However, the days of one-way flow of information from a "sage-on-stage" to students are over. Active learning <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/111/23/8410.abstract" target="_blank">increases student performance</a>, and plain and simple, as educators we should be promoting pedagogy that allows students to thrive. Harvard Physics Professor Eric Mazur founded Learning Catalytics due to his belief that research into the effects of teaching styles on student learning shows that it is "unethical to lecture exclusively."<br />
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Lest you get your hackles up, Mazur does not have a problem with lecturing. He has a problem with <i>only </i>lecturing<i>. </i><br />
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Enter <a href="https://learningcatalytics.com/" target="_blank">Learning Catalytics</a>, an in-class response system that will keep your students' attention and help them achieve their learning outcomes.<br />
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I had used clickers since their inception. But when Pearson bought Learning Catalytics in 2014, I got on board. As a Pearson textbook author, I attend an annual conference where I was able to see Learning Catalytics in action, and I was blown away.<br />
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So what is this Learning Catalytics I speak of? The quick answer is that it is a sophisticated program that allows students to use their own web-enabled devices to answer questions during your lecture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9teoguQwITEFv0C9DKwhyB87xbDNbDHzjiEydHVv6pXr_jzbgGRWZmFmOqTh0RxX1LPvFy4Kb4M3pwZK5Mlo-1AzUJf-iL9fm_DWAyMyFmUanZKkNEYR3kyzGYnb2lofpQ2CiJTK/s1600/145-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9teoguQwITEFv0C9DKwhyB87xbDNbDHzjiEydHVv6pXr_jzbgGRWZmFmOqTh0RxX1LPvFy4Kb4M3pwZK5Mlo-1AzUJf-iL9fm_DWAyMyFmUanZKkNEYR3kyzGYnb2lofpQ2CiJTK/s640/145-1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning Catalytics has many question types, not just multiple choice. Image from pearsoned.co.uk.</td></tr>
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Here is a quick summary of <b>why Learning Catalytics is my choice for engaging my students</b> in the large lecture.<br />
1. <u>Because they use their own phones or laptops, students always come to class prepared</u>. (When I used to use clickers, students would constantly forget them, or they would break or run out of batteries.)<br />
2. <u>Learning Catalytics has many question types, not just multiple choice</u>. I can do everything from asking anatomy students to identify a specific bone by clicking it on an image, to collecting data from hundreds of students conducting an in-class experiment. You can choose from thousands of pre-loaded questions from Pearson products, or you can create your own.<br />
3. <u>Learning Catalytics is very economical</u>. It is free with Pearson book packages, or costs $12 per semester or $20 per year.<br />
4. <u>Learning Catalytics makes my life easier by its flexibility</u>. I use a simple toggle bar to choose the point values of modules (e.g., a class meeting) based on participation and performance. Scores can be uploaded directly into a course management system (Moodle, Blackboard, etc.). I can easily review all aspects of performance, by the entire class or by individual student.<br />
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<b>Basically, Learning Catalytics allows me to customize how I use active learning in my course, makes it high-tech, and reduces my workload substantially.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7lVwIH58ApnEEU-1FG6wDDKQkUcihSHVmqItHnjY-VY9AQwNM45NrBZ6ie1IUvwMFErDfff7k6HwKkg_9_vmJc1oa-zDo0U00oSmzrMA7iHGFAyBWWDXER3tJ2hXqM54rYalnLBa/s1600/learning-catalytics-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7lVwIH58ApnEEU-1FG6wDDKQkUcihSHVmqItHnjY-VY9AQwNM45NrBZ6ie1IUvwMFErDfff7k6HwKkg_9_vmJc1oa-zDo0U00oSmzrMA7iHGFAyBWWDXER3tJ2hXqM54rYalnLBa/s640/learning-catalytics-large.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning Catalytics has a high-tech yet user friendly interface that students enjoy and faculty can easily employ. <br />Image from https://www.pearsonhighered.com</td></tr>
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When I discuss Learning Catalytics with other educators, they express reluctance to try it based on three main issues:<br />
1. <u>Concern about wireless capacity</u>. Students need to be online to use Learning Catalytics, and if your campus's wireless capacity is insufficient, then you will have a problem. Talk to your IT Department before adopting the technology. (Hint: I advise students to use their smartphones instead of computers so that they log in using their data in the event the wireless is overloaded. Learning Catalytics uses very little data).<br />
2. <u>Concern that not all students have a web-enabled device</u>. I have taught thousands of students using Learning Catalytics and I have not had a single student who did not own a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. This will vary by student population. If a large proportion of your students do not have devices, then Learning Catalytics is not for you. (Hint: If you are concerned that some of your students lack devices, talk to your university's media center about a tablet rental or borrow program).<br />
3. <u>Concern about allowing (in fact <i>requiring</i>) computer and phone use in the classroom</u>. Many educators are worried that this will cause distraction and negatively impact student learning. This is valid considering <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/can-handwriting-make-you-smarter-1459784659" target="_blank">study</a> after <a href="http://pss.sagepub.com/content/25/6/1159.full?keytype=ref&siteid=sppss&ijkey=CjRAwmrlURGNw" target="_blank">study</a> showing that note-taking with electronic devices reduces learning and performance compared to handwriting notes. However, I find that a short and frank discussion at the beginning of the class solves this. I tell students that handwritten notes are best, and obviously using social media during lecture will impact their learning and performance. Many students take this to heart and use their devices solely to answer questions. Also, many students successfully take high-tech, high quality notes on their devices. The fact is that we are in the electronic age, and students are using devices more and more, and in my personal opinion, banning electronic note-taking is out-of-date and out-of-touch. Finally, if students are on social media during a significant portion of lecture, then I would take responsibility for this as an instructor. If you keep them engaged, they will not have time to snapchat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGQ3ZcW96Hk13c98kN7vzwzvLAmI4VUMMSY2IpMFhjXOeaufCQvRM5RpBQaR0roIImmDwU1llEvPnYbYJ8_-3m_7XwuAMLK5SNhZEr-LjrJS8dIX77UJ5LsxcmI-WKZb6X3fIf2zH/s1600/Computers_and_Lecture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGQ3ZcW96Hk13c98kN7vzwzvLAmI4VUMMSY2IpMFhjXOeaufCQvRM5RpBQaR0roIImmDwU1llEvPnYbYJ8_-3m_7XwuAMLK5SNhZEr-LjrJS8dIX77UJ5LsxcmI-WKZb6X3fIf2zH/s400/Computers_and_Lecture.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With proper pedagogy, students can stay engaged in lecture even when they use computers. Image: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/</td></tr>
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<b>Here are some best practices for using Learning Catalytics based on my experience.</b> All classes are different, so your style will be, too.<br />
1. <u>Give some points for performance, not just participation</u>. Students try harder and take the exercises more seriously when their points depend on getting the answer correct. On the other hand, scores based entirely on performance can discourage students who get many answers wrong. I use 50-50 participation and performance.<br />
2. <u>Make the point values significant enough that they can affect students' grades</u>. This encourages attendance and effort, and rewards students for trying very hard (which will hopefully improve their learning and exam performance, too). Points in my classes are worth 5-10% of the final course grade.<br />
3. <u>Deploy many questions during a lecture</u>. If you only ask a couple of questions, you might as well be giving a one-way, traditional lecture. This also helps maintain students' attention span. I try to ask at least 10 questions in a 80-minute lecture.<br />
4. <u>Deploy meaningful questions that ask students to apply their knowledge</u>. I once attended a lecture where the instructor taught a concept then asked students to vomit that concept right back using clickers. I sat in the back and watched as comatose students barely roused their index fingers to answer these questions. This is not effective pedagogy. Instead, ask students questions that involve applying their knowledge to new situations. Tell them to think about it, talk to their neighbor, and then answer. In my opinion, this is the key to helping students learn the material and develop as critical thinkers.<br />
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One more thing- Learning Catalytics has an awesome Team-Based Learning mode that I use for certain classes. Click <a href="http://www.teambasedlearning.org/" target="_blank">here</a> to learn more about this 100% active learning mode of instruction.<br />
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<b>How do you get started?</b> Go to the Learning Catalytics <a href="https://learningcatalytics.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and register for an account. For more information and technical assistance, <a href="https://www.pearsonhighered.com/contact-us/find-your-rep.html" target="_blank">contact your Pearson representative</a>.<br />
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This blog post was stimulated by my participation in a Reinventing the Large Lecture learning community organized by the Cal Poly <a href="http://ctlt.calpoly.edu/" target="_blank">Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology</a>.<br />
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<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-32147643126712958792013-12-09T13:00:00.000-08:002013-12-09T13:29:59.709-08:00Converting Ophidiophobes to Ophidiophiles, One Kid at a Time"You study <i>snakes</i>? On purpose?? Why???"<br />
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I am a scientist. I lead a team of developing scientists (graduate students). One of the most important lessons to teach your graduate students is how to justify your research to the people who ask questions like this.<br />
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So we often find ourselves asking of the snakes: What's in it for us?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU4WpydqTEQ1mmwXyh_vE3VGDAPxGdI-oIKIv-qJWGE2GavZrdkNqoiuNsUCjJWMwwDcUtO5CTMUaR5CGXus4Ylz6qLP8imHpka6xjlvuUB4QdXyDD4i2-hb-Cuw38hFAeWw4UtGF/s1600/snake+charmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU4WpydqTEQ1mmwXyh_vE3VGDAPxGdI-oIKIv-qJWGE2GavZrdkNqoiuNsUCjJWMwwDcUtO5CTMUaR5CGXus4Ylz6qLP8imHpka6xjlvuUB4QdXyDD4i2-hb-Cuw38hFAeWw4UtGF/s320/snake+charmer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We can scream, "Biodiversity is important!" We can pontificate about the moral responsibility to respect all life. But the public wants to hear <i>practical</i> reasons why snakes are important.<br />
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Enter ecosystem services.<br />
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Ecosystem services is the idea that humans benefit from ecosystems and their myriad components. Obvious examples of ecosystem services of wildlife include honeybees that pollinate 100% of California's almond crop. Everybody loves almonds, so everybody (whether they know it or not) loves honeybees!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjAJ33xltmQxbJZBwTxPxsrWPtazv0f3X9QNiET32lkYPNZbjTIo4RGK83oItA4AlQFTFxrDiV2aUIUBchDYe0ti1eZyRvxrrDb3gM9KnfHLmFJsBKFi113VoadkLch10nLpi26t5/s1600/honeybee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjAJ33xltmQxbJZBwTxPxsrWPtazv0f3X9QNiET32lkYPNZbjTIo4RGK83oItA4AlQFTFxrDiV2aUIUBchDYe0ti1eZyRvxrrDb3gM9KnfHLmFJsBKFi113VoadkLch10nLpi26t5/s320/honeybee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honeybees pollinate many crops, including almonds. From <a href="http://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad">http://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad</a>.</td></tr>
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With snakes it is sometimes be a little harder. The classic go-to is this: Snakes eat mice, and keep their numbers under control. Without snakes, we could be overrun with mice.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEkz46nSVUKVO5Tk37Lgs_aFY3g3BE3tLxOqtPjPL0D05-v8atneMxwacjeFBCBcE6gg1icXnR2a7_wbQCw0XVOWkdZTw8ZGH_MO9CuiaoM-h34JL4KmCbKT9NdOvhvVJtU1yiiTZ/s1600/nosfer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEkz46nSVUKVO5Tk37Lgs_aFY3g3BE3tLxOqtPjPL0D05-v8atneMxwacjeFBCBcE6gg1icXnR2a7_wbQCw0XVOWkdZTw8ZGH_MO9CuiaoM-h34JL4KmCbKT9NdOvhvVJtU1yiiTZ/s320/nosfer5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A world without snakes might look something like this image from the 1979 film <i>Nosferatu</i>.</td></tr>
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But there are a lot more ecosystem services provided by snakes. All you have to do is think outside the box a bit.<br />
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My hypothesis involves snakes and kids. When kids learn to love and appreciate snakes, it can have a dramatic and long-lasting positive impact on their attitudes toward nature and wildlife in general, promoting environmental stewardship.<br />
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<b>I hypothesize that snake lovers grow up to be nature lovers, and <i>all of nature benefits</i>.</b><br />
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First, most people don't like snakes. Maybe even hate them. Definitely fear them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpDsfKZrshTmcTj3vEWyIU6UDJ-qGHRdQp67vIQURX2l6qFo9cbhj1JtQmEXvHioYC0yhHcu9NJqaBt1qFJK5GwTmuH0ta5QYwz3Iwza2XhmS1rnEhPMvJsbhstbp3VL91iCQ1fxY/s1600/indysnake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpDsfKZrshTmcTj3vEWyIU6UDJ-qGHRdQp67vIQURX2l6qFo9cbhj1JtQmEXvHioYC0yhHcu9NJqaBt1qFJK5GwTmuH0ta5QYwz3Iwza2XhmS1rnEhPMvJsbhstbp3VL91iCQ1fxY/s320/indysnake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indiana Jones is a classic ophidiophobe. From <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark </i>(1981)</td></tr>
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In fact, ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) is one of the most common animal phobias.<br />
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So how does this repulsion and fear develop? Is it innate, or is it learned? I have had lots of healthy arguments with people on this one.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTJVX8K-khyq3zr07SM_MH5gfUX_aozJzWS__169xCoAl71hpGPOW_vEJiVzyvob3ySWicmaVxSLtAZ0aqJnjHfvjLlgss9zXiKCAdTVMFw5eO7lkKH_5uu-hQhxJm7RCVdWg50Gl/s1600/CC+EXpress+fri+13+nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTJVX8K-khyq3zr07SM_MH5gfUX_aozJzWS__169xCoAl71hpGPOW_vEJiVzyvob3ySWicmaVxSLtAZ0aqJnjHfvjLlgss9zXiKCAdTVMFw5eO7lkKH_5uu-hQhxJm7RCVdWg50Gl/s320/CC+EXpress+fri+13+nov.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://transformyourlifetoday.webs.com/">http://transformyourlifetoday.webs.com</a></td></tr>
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Some argue that our sensitivity to snakes is innate. Lynne Isbell, an anthropologist at UC Davis, has <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047248406000182" target="_blank">proposed</a> that certain neural and visual abilities of primates are the results of coevolution with venomous snakes. Basically, the idea is that the strong selective pressure to recognize a potentially deadly snake helped mold the neural connections between areas of the brain responsible for vision and for fear, learning, and memory. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxzJAycEltRMJmuX-YrlES62A1yzBHeVbKayVUi0emOU3DjO5EfhSYEUl76wU11NZoK2CQxqQKRIQSL-00UX_BdVgQD66uFYqP7ghyphenhyphenxn5b4yPCsEYpWjjIs8J8eq38CJHqv_-FI0e/s1600/snake_monkey_final_wide-206c2e9d07358b99663ef12e037686f11ffe4f4e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxzJAycEltRMJmuX-YrlES62A1yzBHeVbKayVUi0emOU3DjO5EfhSYEUl76wU11NZoK2CQxqQKRIQSL-00UX_BdVgQD66uFYqP7ghyphenhyphenxn5b4yPCsEYpWjjIs8J8eq38CJHqv_-FI0e/s320/snake_monkey_final_wide-206c2e9d07358b99663ef12e037686f11ffe4f4e.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://npr.org/">npr.org</a></td></tr>
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Fascinatingly, some cognitive psychology <a href="http://pss.sagepub.com/content/19/3/284.short" target="_blank">research</a> appears to support this idea. When presented with a collage of images and asked to find a target image (either snake, frog, caterpillar, or flower), people honed in on the snake way faster than any of the other three "non-threatening" stimuli. Even very young children located the snake more quickly. This suggests that visual and neural sensitivity to snakes may be innate.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZnoaXPJPQyIbjKlvezaIXoRCx4-kvGJaXWQ3VO5h-mHPG8Fi3w4XCXOTahn8QILk5F0jTVZIZ_6HyrJO08V6K4QlMmLNderNS8I6K8LohA5v4Yu5_SgrkQ6HUNaLvduL8cVHvJaF/s1600/kid+computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZnoaXPJPQyIbjKlvezaIXoRCx4-kvGJaXWQ3VO5h-mHPG8Fi3w4XCXOTahn8QILk5F0jTVZIZ_6HyrJO08V6K4QlMmLNderNS8I6K8LohA5v4Yu5_SgrkQ6HUNaLvduL8cVHvJaF/s320/kid+computer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobue and DeLouche. 2008. Psychological Science 19:284-89. doi: <a href="http://10.0.4.87/j.1467-9280.2008.02081.x">10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02081.x</a></td></tr>
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Side-note: A very enterprising advertising technique has emerged based on this study. One day last summer while checking the forecast on weather.com, my eyes were rapidly drawn to an advertisement at the bottom of the screen for lowermybills.com. The culprit for distracting me from my daydream of sunshine and a cool breeze? Snakes! The ad featured two sinewy serpents undulating across the banner.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pvSaps21PMLNQ4Lc6uHGzuPMoqEhSiidOC5N0p1w20DQrH7AXwfE6NexEOvt49uHxAVEGyE4kxdYPjoapZVXUvML6Xhdy0J6XCC8f18VeYJ3v7quOBUc0OJZF5pzI-Ypc_fd8Qbp/s1600/snake+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pvSaps21PMLNQ4Lc6uHGzuPMoqEhSiidOC5N0p1w20DQrH7AXwfE6NexEOvt49uHxAVEGyE4kxdYPjoapZVXUvML6Xhdy0J6XCC8f18VeYJ3v7quOBUc0OJZF5pzI-Ypc_fd8Qbp/s320/snake+ad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kudos to this ad agency for using cognitive psychology research to inform what is most likely to immediately draw people's eye. Now, as for whether most people would appreciate snakes crawling across their computer screen? That's another debate.<br />
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So maybe we have an innate ability to pick snakes out of a crowd. But is <i>fear</i> of snakes innate, or is it learned?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgUzPgBPlRQLvmP4LTLky9Ut5K2UeJnCmNXFKu8JAUZpq3z8AqBx1cQ4HCjGs8P8qbTDIdvJKjJV1UOMNDzLCftcpBMm5Me7CAN2_ba8n4zGeHcaI7yAxhR-WnlOB8XdJVeHDn0mi/s1600/Ophidiophobia-Front-Face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgUzPgBPlRQLvmP4LTLky9Ut5K2UeJnCmNXFKu8JAUZpq3z8AqBx1cQ4HCjGs8P8qbTDIdvJKjJV1UOMNDzLCftcpBMm5Me7CAN2_ba8n4zGeHcaI7yAxhR-WnlOB8XdJVeHDn0mi/s320/Ophidiophobia-Front-Face.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://fortressat.com/">http://fortressat.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This is a question that has not been tested well. One <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0005796779900652" target="_blank">study</a> on ophidiophobes suggested that their fear was learned, but this was survey-based and can hardly distinguish between innate and learned.<br />
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In the absence of much scientific data, then, let's look at some qualitative evidence.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oWCw1sw9x3ZENtFeTF9M0Gn57j7Fabrq8rWCNP1XkQGQqDk1U2m_qhg9BL_l5yJVJjImdRcUDeiJPrKZPYD7AHpsxvLN8UGPn2UXB76Wqdf-Cceu2mNRlJQOgExwkdObI3NLG13P/s1600/big+snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oWCw1sw9x3ZENtFeTF9M0Gn57j7Fabrq8rWCNP1XkQGQqDk1U2m_qhg9BL_l5yJVJjImdRcUDeiJPrKZPYD7AHpsxvLN8UGPn2UXB76Wqdf-Cceu2mNRlJQOgExwkdObI3NLG13P/s320/big+snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samantha Brown, host of Cash Attack, meets a large python at Reptile Gardens in South Dakota. Photo retrieved from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RealSamanthaBrown" target="_blank">Samantha Brown's Facebook page</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The expression on her face reveals some of the emotions she is likely experiencing: fear and disgust chief among them.<br />
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But what about the kids? Look at those smiles!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I can tell you that the kid+snake=smile is practically universal. One of the pleasures of being a herpetologist is taking snakes and other reptiles to schools or hosting field trips where children get to meet snakes. With few exceptions, children are not afraid of snakes. Rather, they love snakes.<br />
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They are ophidiophiles.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaHUr4CI-pwSG55zW2dxcj7zf6trRHR8qIyAodkVnoTpkk8bJRGO4LcESIUIx2iP9KRZH9c9_5bLdse8gB9tizr6Wt_FpQV4Vg8HF_M7J76GRetHbmb050ONL4IGbCbjKSpvpnXSu/s1600/kids+and+snakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaHUr4CI-pwSG55zW2dxcj7zf6trRHR8qIyAodkVnoTpkk8bJRGO4LcESIUIx2iP9KRZH9c9_5bLdse8gB9tizr6Wt_FpQV4Vg8HF_M7J76GRetHbmb050ONL4IGbCbjKSpvpnXSu/s320/kids+and+snakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So let's just assume for a while that fear of snakes is a learned phenomenon. Then love of snakes can be learned instead, if kids are exposed to snakes in the right setting. Where they learn about snakes in a positive light, rather than the sensationalist fear-mongering that goes on in so many Animal Planet shows and Hollywood movies.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUO1ualtHAVvfK9We7PEdqzK0D6mhqlTqZYSwba8aTLpTUYsEL7zE2eT7JcDy10VOcTIv7pgBCXd7NpYyVi8i0JeUMu9F3czt0FIvhhIIA-kg_aoXdYpr0nG6c0JBobNH9SB4TBl4f/s1600/kids+and+snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUO1ualtHAVvfK9We7PEdqzK0D6mhqlTqZYSwba8aTLpTUYsEL7zE2eT7JcDy10VOcTIv7pgBCXd7NpYyVi8i0JeUMu9F3czt0FIvhhIIA-kg_aoXdYpr0nG6c0JBobNH9SB4TBl4f/s320/kids+and+snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me showing off a rosy boa at a local school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I propose that kids who have positive, educational, hands-on experience with snakes become ophidiophiles, and that these ophidiophiles are more likely to make future life choices that benefit nature.<br />
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Snakes are a gateway drug for naturalists.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwEeOeXhpRHK-AA5SBgtgG_-XvQc8Ut2ulgl2H08oUI8hWkmY7obWjnFTqByAYupu9SIUYj5Ryqxp4JJQ2Qm-iYUoQk7e167SUcfkWraD0KL5uKglRjnlUS7DCzJzSawQFGBugMEt/s1600/Matt+and+kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwEeOeXhpRHK-AA5SBgtgG_-XvQc8Ut2ulgl2H08oUI8hWkmY7obWjnFTqByAYupu9SIUYj5Ryqxp4JJQ2Qm-iYUoQk7e167SUcfkWraD0KL5uKglRjnlUS7DCzJzSawQFGBugMEt/s320/Matt+and+kid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohio State graduate student Matt Holding introduces a young girl to a rattlesnake. This positive, safe experience with a snake could stimulate an appreciation of nature and wildlife in this child.</td></tr>
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Holding a snake is not something easy to forget. I remember all the details of the first snake I held. That smooth black and white banded body, that tickly tongue. Birds? Mostly glimpses of tail feathers escaping into a bush. Mammals? The closest I could get was coyote poop on the trail in the morning.<br />
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But snakes? I got to hold them. That sunk deep.<br />
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Show a kid a picture of a beautiful animal, they'll say "Neat." Let them watch one through binoculars, they'll say "Wow." But let them hold one, and they might not say anything at all. They will be spellbound, smiles cracking their faces open. It changes their lives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcN9wmuWfCqsJmaJOTxA29y02Ixx2wzTQAM0_uoXoSqc02C3JzDpFZ6fDO6fKv6jvc7Hm60COGko9AMJD5rcowUBkweaNkOcCB-lyjtvr9mex6SbQMHoV5QbRGiYUDD4BJf38cnO1/s1600/kids+and+snakes+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcN9wmuWfCqsJmaJOTxA29y02Ixx2wzTQAM0_uoXoSqc02C3JzDpFZ6fDO6fKv6jvc7Hm60COGko9AMJD5rcowUBkweaNkOcCB-lyjtvr9mex6SbQMHoV5QbRGiYUDD4BJf38cnO1/s320/kids+and+snakes+(7).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ophidiophile in the making</td></tr>
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They might go home and ask their parents for a pet snake. They might start catching garter snakes in the creek. They might pay lots of attention in high school biology so they can learn more about snakes.<br />
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They might become biologists and inspire countless future kids to love nature.<br />
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They might not. They might become accountants. But those accountants will be nature lovers. Because they took the snake-drug as a kid. Snakes made them fall in love with nature.<br />
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They'll be more likely to make environmentally friendly choices. They'll keep the environment in mind when they vote. Their kids will be snake lovers, too, having grown up in a family that does not sensationalize snakes and contribute to learned phobias.<br />
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Maybe coevolving with venomous snakes made our vision more keen. Maybe communing with a snake as a child makes our mind more keen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-DUDYmnscdezecLSCtZeCO5MQWuyHDx6OHpbUbrtWxWQLevUBmXW3_BIuUXBbzPvGUZzLM-OI77hJRTBR1FaxdP6BVaF5C5LUNzwWhYIMOLfU-_OTk890a2t2FGYEz45lAam2Xr-/s1600/U9+and+Ka.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-DUDYmnscdezecLSCtZeCO5MQWuyHDx6OHpbUbrtWxWQLevUBmXW3_BIuUXBbzPvGUZzLM-OI77hJRTBR1FaxdP6BVaF5C5LUNzwWhYIMOLfU-_OTk890a2t2FGYEz45lAam2Xr-/s320/U9+and+Ka.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.p0ach.com/">http://www.p0ach.com</a></td></tr>
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Now <i>that</i> is an ecosystem service.<br />
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This post is part of a blog carnival in honor of the 2013 Year of the Snake. A blog carnival is the concept of a whole bunch of bloggers blogging on the same prompt on the same day. Our prompt is <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SnakesatyourService" target="_blank">#SnakesatYourService</a>, and focuses on the ecosystem services of snakes. Here are links to the other blogs:<br />
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<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/good-neighbors-greater-impact/" target="_blank">Good Neighbors Make a Greater Impact</a> by Melissa Amarello (Social Snakes, @SocialSnakes)<br />
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<a href="http://snakebytes.tumblr.com/post/69514987068/the-brown-tree-snake-of-guam" target="_blank">Brown Tree Snakes of Guam</a> by Brian Barczyk (@SnakeBytesTV)<br />
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<a href="http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-carnival-ecology-of-snake-sheds.html" target="_blank">Ecology of Snake Sheds</a> by Andrew Durso (Life is Short but Snakes are Long, @am_durso)<br />
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<a href="http://natureafield.com/pythons-as-model-organisms/" target="_blank">Pythons as Model Organisms</a> by Heidi Smith Parker (www.natureafield.com; @heidikaydeidi )<br />
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<a href="http://strikerattleroll.blogspot.com/2013/12/snakes-and-ecology-of-fear.html" target="_blank">Snakes and the Ecology of Fear</a> by Bree Putman (Strike, Rattle, & Roll, @breeput) <br />
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<a href="http://australianmuseum.net.au/blogpost/Science/When-the-Frogs-Go" target="_blank">When the Frogs Go, the Snakes Follow</a> by Jodi Rowley (Australian Museum blogs, @jodirowley)<br />
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<a href="http://markscherz.tumblr.com/post/69515046243/madagascarsnakeecology" target="_blank">Madagascar Snake Ecology</a> by Mark Scherz (The Travelling Taxonomist - @MarkScherz & markscherz.tumblr.com)<br />
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<a href="http://www.livingalongsidewildlife.com/2013/12/kingsnakes-keep-copperheads-in-check.html" target="_blank">Kingsnakes Keep Copperheads in Check</a> by David Steen (www.LivingAlongsideWildlife.com; @Alongsidewild)Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-42755717942357904232013-07-03T02:33:00.000-07:002013-07-03T02:40:06.939-07:00Legendary Reptiles<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(Guest post by Ashley Ventimiglia, a student in my spring 2013 herpetology class)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There has always been something magical and mysterious about reptiles. They occur </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">throughout cultures in ancient stories and tales about creationism. The dueling images of good </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and evil always have some sort of connection to reptiles, especially when it comes to scary or </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">evil depictions. However, in the lore of Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, reptiles are symbols </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of prosperity, wealth and power. Some are even considered good luck and even seen as gods of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the elements. Through research of mythology, history and folklore I was able to compile </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">anecdotes that reveal how various reptiles enlightened different cultures throughout </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the world. Their presence in legends inspires ceremony and indulges the engrained perspective in </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">many of these cultures; and you can see why.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Egypt: Apep the Serpent-Devil</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshNaZVtTHMr-0Kf8IlpyZKJe_cnqUqpfqQBkkobQGSZtpI_6Yj-LMY2oGitqfvSu9xYwXjjqDGkdqAUeUa53WH5hG2f_O3sUI86mOwTvVkFJ5sZrwTMg3vHaX94CAfmuLJCSFyW07/s267/egypt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshNaZVtTHMr-0Kf8IlpyZKJe_cnqUqpfqQBkkobQGSZtpI_6Yj-LMY2oGitqfvSu9xYwXjjqDGkdqAUeUa53WH5hG2f_O3sUI86mOwTvVkFJ5sZrwTMg3vHaX94CAfmuLJCSFyW07/s200/egypt1.jpg" width="195" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: left;">Sir Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge’s 1969 book surrounding gods and mythological theories <span style="color: black;">in </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">Egypt ca. 3000BC </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">describes accounts of the spiritual </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">role of reptiles: “The spirits which were always hostile or unfriendly </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">towards man and were </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">regarded by the Egyptians as evil spirits were identified with certain animals and reptiles…”</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"> He goes on to describe a great serpent-devil who was the arch nemesis of the sun </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">god RA, whose name was Apep. This record of the enormous serpent was </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">preserved and recently found to be more than just a theory. Found in Fayyum, the remains of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">such a serpent were discovered: “The vertebrae are said to indicate that the creature to which </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">they belonged was longer than the largest python known." In the footnote, the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">longest known at the time the book was written was 30 feet. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It seems that the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">serpents and reptiles of evil only held positions of evil power. Apep was said to be the conjurer </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of darkness, storm, and mist of the night, leading to the fear of all reptiles (but especially snakes) </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in early and modern day Egypt (Budge, 1969). </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is also reference to “serpents of the underworld,” where heroes’ souls were ripped </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">out by angels and carried down to hell on the backs of black horses. After this, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the souls were thrown into 200 foot pits of snakes – “in this place were several other terrible </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">serpents, and to one of these, which had teeth like iron stakes, the poor soul was given to be </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">devoured; this monster crushed the soul for five days of each week, but on Saturday and Sunday </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">it had respite." This to many historians hinted that the evil </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">respected the Sabbath of the Jews and the Christian Sunday. These allusions to </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the great serpent of the Egyptian underworld are seen many times throughout historical </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">documentation of the time, and are known by many names; always being the terror of those </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">worshippers of the sun-god. And, being the well-known demons of hell and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">associated with evil spirits and bad omens, snakes were feared, killed, even repelled from the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dead by Egyptians then and today.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Native American Lore and the Origins of Reptiles and Amphibians</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqxH-2YqKxV3j71JJ7XoL7eg77hzgQE2fuyOHpmrly5Oq370v-nnAwyy5GKz3-NwB0JN84Jpj0cGmf_x8wuNa8ZQ8QVTcKST5RHk8JeB4xpx15oKXd_YwVM3CQK_B99qKHxh8aa-o/s276/snake+pet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqxH-2YqKxV3j71JJ7XoL7eg77hzgQE2fuyOHpmrly5Oq370v-nnAwyy5GKz3-NwB0JN84Jpj0cGmf_x8wuNa8ZQ8QVTcKST5RHk8JeB4xpx15oKXd_YwVM3CQK_B99qKHxh8aa-o/s276/snake+pet.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Egyptians may have seen reptiles as a source of fear and evil, but in Native </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">American culture legends of the origins of reptiles gave a sense of inquiry and fascination about </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">them. In 1852 a Christian chief named David Cusick of the North American tribe Tuscarora recorded</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> a legend; he called it the legend of his people (Tylor, 1871). In this legend, there were two </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">worlds – the lower world that was shroud in darkness and occupied by monsters and the upper </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">world that resembled Earth and was occupied by mankind. The legend begins with </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">a woman, later called the celestial mother, descending from the upper world to the lower world </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">on the back of a tortoise who took with him some earth on his back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Once in the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">lower world, the tortoise becomes an island on which the woman gives birth to twin boys before </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">dying. The boys were called Enigorio meaning “Good Mind,” and Enigonhahetgea </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">meaning “Bad Mind,” and are the depiction of good and evil among Tuscarora religion</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. As the boys grew along with the tortoise island, Enigorio also grew wary of being in </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">darkness and used his mother’s head to create the sun, her body to create the moon, and with her </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">also created small balls of light, which became the stars. Enigonhahetgea, wishing </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">to keep the dark world as it were, saw that the monsters of the dark disliked the light and hid in </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">crevices so that the mankind of the upper world would not find them. Being </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">spiteful of his brother’s creation of light, and later his creation of “real people” and mammal like </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">creatures, Enigonhahetgea created obstacles for the beings of high mountains and waterfalls.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> Then Enigonhahetgae also created reptiles, which were injurious to mankind</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. Of course these legends were before the time it was actually written down, and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">were in fact the belief of the Tuscarora before the coming of Christian Europeans in the colonial </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">era of North America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the Journal of American Folklore, Speck (1923) wrote an article entitled "Reptile Lore </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of the Northern Indians" where he speaks often of the Wabanaki and Penobscot Indian tribes and </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">their herpetological myths. Speck describes numerous legends involving the origin of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rattlesnakes, frogs, toads and turtles. The legends are short, but filled with lessons and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">characteristics akin to our reptilian counterparts. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In one such Penobscot legend, a transformer by the name of Gluskabe came across a </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">village full of Indians who danced so vigorously and so often that he turned them all to snakes</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. In a similar Wabanaki legend, the leader of such dance carried a rattle, which he </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">used to accompany the songs of the dance. Because of the rattles’ presence, the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">dancers were transformed to rattlesnakes and thus were the origin of the species.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxOzEpjcLV24DR006aobIfXVWLh7amBrlLuHn8inHe5XnomlSjSYSC367jsTHvxofRpGxwXt05JZsGaXfmF_0xy9IJp7TEJPf1FXG_cuAu_uJzL83gRRqHu7tYE2YVfB58v1QazQO/s240/frog+monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxOzEpjcLV24DR006aobIfXVWLh7amBrlLuHn8inHe5XnomlSjSYSC367jsTHvxofRpGxwXt05JZsGaXfmF_0xy9IJp7TEJPf1FXG_cuAu_uJzL83gRRqHu7tYE2YVfB58v1QazQO/s240/frog+monster.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Another transformative legend of the Penobscot and Gluskabe is the “conquest of the monster </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">frog,” in which Gluskabe becomes a hero and replenishes the world of its water supply after </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">defeating a giant monster frog who held the water of all the world in its stomach (Speck, 1923). </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After returning the water to the thirsty human inhabitants of earth, some humans were so eager to </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">get the water that they plunged in and turned to fish. Modern day frogs are said to </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">be descendants of this monster frog and thus are treated with respect by the North American </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">natives, and are a</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">lso said to cause floods and drought when upset with their human servants</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gluskabe returns in the legend of the origin of toads (Speck, 1923). Two beautiful girls </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">apparently ridiculed Gluskabe while dancing at a ritual; this turned out to be a big mistake</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">! The transformer turned the two girls to the most repulsive creates he could </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">imagine, and thus emerged the toad. It seems as though we owe Gluskabe a lot </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">when it comes to all of our herp species in North America, but man does the guy have issues! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speck describes his last and final folk tail in reference to the origin of turtles and tortoises, when </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Penobscot legend tells of a handsome suitor of the Auk (meaning bird) Chief’s daughter</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The handsome suitor who lacked speed and sense of humor tried to win the daughter's </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hand by jumping over and clearing the top of the chief’s wigwam pole. The </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">suitor fell short and impaled himself on the wigwam, where beneath was a roaring fire</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The chief allowed the suitor to be scorched until he was encysted and cracked because of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the heat – which is how the tortoise got his shell. Because the suitor was slow </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and lacked a humorous demeanor, the tortoise who is said to have the same characteristics </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">according to the Penobscot tribe, originated from that suitor specifically.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Ambivalent Bible</b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course, there is the classic evil represented by the serpents in the Bible; however, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">surprising as it seems, not all serpents in the Bible represent evil. In the Book of Numbers, Moses </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is inculcated by God to erect a statue in the shape of a snake and put it on a pole (Murison, 1905; </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stanley, 2008). According to the book, anyone who was bitten by a venomous snake and then </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">traveled to look upon the pole would be saved. It was realized by </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and the comparison made by Jesus himself, that this was an allusion and an instance of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">foreshadowing - representing how Jesus was crucified on a pole for the sake of saving people </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Murison, 1905; Stanley, 2008; Tenney, 1997). Several other references to the snake can be </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">found in the Bible, with the snake representing wisdom, evil, and an agent of the vengeance for </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God (Stanley, 2008; Murison, 1905; Jeffrey, 1955). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the most well known is that of the </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">serpent who tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden to eat of the forbidden fruit she was told by God </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">never to consume. The serpent, who represented the devil and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was under his influence, convinced Eve to eat the fruit, and she and Adam gained the knowledge </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of God. He then punished them by bestowing the pain of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">childbirth to Eve and the burden of working the land for resources no longer handed to him, to </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adam. Although the serpent in most lore around the world is a </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">representation of evil and death, it is refreshing to see also the representation of snakes as good </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">omens as in the Book of Numbers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Hinduism: In Celebration of Snakes</b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In Hindu culture, snakes are revered and celebrated as being divine, representing gods, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and are central symbols of Hindu holidays and ceremonies. In B.A. Gupte’s (1994) book </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hindu </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Holidays and Ceremonials: With Dissertations on Origin, Folklore and Symbols, he explains the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">origin of the holidays and ceremonies through legends and anecdotes. From what I could gather, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nagas are cobra rattlesnakes, and in the Hindu religion they represent 9 powerful gods, one of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">which is the chief the Nagas (hooded cobras) named Ananat. Another is the deity of Bengal and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">presides over all the Nagas. There are several stories that Gupte describes </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">surrounding how Nagas came to be celebrated and worshiped. The first tells the story of a </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">daughter in law ordered to cook veal for her father in law - in order to make sure it was cooked </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and palatable, she asked a servant to taste it. The servant, being lowly, ate all of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the veil; the girl then asked for the servant to replace it, who replaced it with flesh of a dead calf</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The girl, unable to cook the flesh in time for dinner, asked to the servant to pour </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">water on the floor, making the girl slip and drop the curry so that it could not be served</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. This fiasco caused the snake brooding under the house to give birth, and the reptilian litter </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">emerged and undulated all about the house. Being frightened, the girl who had </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">been holding a brass lamp dropped it and caused several of the baby snakes to lose their tales</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Time passed until there came the month of Shravan, which is July-August</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. On the 5</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of the month the girl drew snakes in a stool and began worshipping them, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">having felt bad for harming the snakes of the house. She prayed to the god of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nagas to protect her reptilian brothers, as she called them. On the same day, the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">young snakes asked their mother how they came to be deformed; their mother explained to them </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that the girl of the house had accidently dropped a lamp on them, causing them to lose their tales</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Angry, the infant snakes found the girl and went inside of a body (I assume this </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">means they embodied the form of a single snake collectively) in order to avenge their shame </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">through biting her. Coming upon the girl, the snakes realized that she was praying </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to a stool of serpents and asking for protection over them. Now feeling guilty, the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">snakes waited until she had left before returning to their individual snake forms, and eating of the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">parched grain and milk set under the stool as offering. After receiving the offering, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">they left a jeweled necklace as a token of thanks and made the girl prosperous and happy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A second Hindu story specifically surrounding the deity Manasa from Gupte’s book on </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hindu holidays and ceremonies explains another reason why snakes are revered. In this story, a </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rich man or Bania had seven married sons whose wives all brought gifts to his wife- all except </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the youngest of the daughters-in-law; the young girl was therefore disliked by the mother-in-law</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. One night while collecting water, the girl thought she saw fish in the pond and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">stowed some away in her pot. In the morning she was surprised to find her pot full </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of snakes that had escaped into her pot as a safe retreat from a forest fire the night before</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The girl fed the snakes plantain meal and milk, after which the cobras felt much indebted </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to her. They asked the Goddess Manasa if the girl could be transcended to </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Manasa’s celestial palace and treated like a princess who would care for them. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Manasa agreed and, after taking the form of a mortal and acting as the girls' maternal aunt, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">delivered the girl to the celestial palace where she was adorned in jewels and riches as long as </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">she boiled milk for the cobras each morning and as long as she never looked South. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tempted one day, the mortal girl looked to the south and witnessed Manasa dancing, an </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">uncommon practice for women of the time. Entranced by the movements, the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">girl forgot about the milk on the stove. When it was given to the hungry snakes for </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">breakfast, they were scalded. Angry, the snakes threatened to swallow the girl </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">whole until Manasa appeased them, promising to deliver her back to Earth since she always knew </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">having a mortal in the celestial palace would be cause for error. However, since the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Naga were known to be a vindictive species, she told the girl to praise the Naga to her people in </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">order to appease them from harming mankind. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The girl, still doused in the gifts of the Naga and their deity, was retuned to the Bania and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">told her mother-in-law of the generosity of the Naga. The Naga, who had secretly </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">followed her, heard her praise them - the cobras adorned the mother-in-law and fellow daughters-in-</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">laws with riches and jewels and they were happy. Manasa then told the family </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that rice, soaked overnight and made into Khichadi (which happened to be the youngest </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">daughter-in-law’s favorite dish) would protect them from snakebites. After the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">goddess had gone, and the daughter relayed her stories of the Naga further, she became a </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">favorite of the household. The neighbors adopted this worship of the Naga, and there is </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">still a ceremony celebrated today in India with hopes of gaining good luck and avoiding harm </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">from the Naga.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because of legends like these, snakes are both feared and loved in India; “…thousands </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">die every year of a snake bite, and there are millions in India who have sometime or other just </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">escaped from being bitten. [But] A chat about snakes is as absorbing and as interesting and thrillgiving, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as a tale about spirits, ghosts and thieves" (Lall, 2004). Many farmers avoid plowing </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">their fields to keep from harming snakes, and during festivals people pay professional snake </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">catchers, who have (allegedly) become immune to the venom, to catch cobras for rituals and worship</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The festival of the Nagas called Nag Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of July each summer, at </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the time of Shravan. At these festivals, cobras are offered milk and crystalized sugar in worship </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and hope not to get bitten in the year to come, as the legends convey (Sanford, 1988). Many stories </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">surround these festivals, and the mystique of snakes collected for the ceremonies is embellished.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">An eighty-year-old Hindu man told Lall (2004), the author of Among Hindus – A Study of Hindi </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Festivals, that the older snakes who remain undisturbed in the thick jungles of India have a </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">manka, which is a precious stone stored in their heads. Late at night, the snake will eject the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">stone from the head via its mouth onto a clear patch of ground. The snake will dance around the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">stone, adoring its beauty in the night as it glows in the dark. Lall then goes on to describe how, after the snake is satisfied, it will pull the stone back into its head through its mouth where it is </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">then encrusted like a jewel. The Hindu people often conjure up stories on how to capture these </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">jewels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Here There Be Dragons</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Of course, no compilation of reptile lore can go without mention of dragons. Dragons </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">have been the objects of fantasy and center of curiosity for many people throughout </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">history and culture. According to Ingersol (1999), the avid writer of Dragons and Dragon Lore, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">dragon myth is mainly concentrated in China and probably originated there. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Many who were interviewed by Ingersol believe that old bones and teeth of reptilian descent </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">hold strong medicinal powers, as if they came from dragons. Much of the dragon lore </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">surrounding Asian culture and other cultures embody a sense of evil and malice: large, flying </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">reptiles breathing fire and terrorizing villages, stealing virgins and fighting brave knights with </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">swords. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtTsnYo16udzrLe2OpmaaY1dknjuADXoif2y-HL4uH3C7DekE6nhIxPW4nlOWuYjZRySUrds-B-7CZ0M-61NHMKHg-Uk8qxIFtredox8BCCq_BPQ9O9COZbF6QLhnMjb7CD1tlUPm/s407/dragon+shen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtTsnYo16udzrLe2OpmaaY1dknjuADXoif2y-HL4uH3C7DekE6nhIxPW4nlOWuYjZRySUrds-B-7CZ0M-61NHMKHg-Uk8qxIFtredox8BCCq_BPQ9O9COZbF6QLhnMjb7CD1tlUPm/s320/dragon+shen3.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, one of the more prominent images and famous dragons in Chinese culture is a </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">shen or god, and in this instance a rain-god. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Chinese people pray and worship an image of a long, serpent like dragon that covers </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">himself with the water of five different colors (rainbow) and sprinkles the earth with water and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">fertility. According to an interviewed philosopher Kwang Chung who quotes </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the classic Kwan Tse, the five colors the dragon covers himself with means he is </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">embellished with “cardinal virtues,” meaning that the dragon has the ability to shift his shape to </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">go anywhere below, within, and above Earth (Ingersoll, 1999). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSU4jNoaS1mMWKFzJID-vSpX7TBlzGnJsDDUJ4crD5IGpC9eRHkaX8HymPVzlT_DXspcE5TGw__zWPwpcN6qPY-9MNKUQTOhRTPmmExq098KSEUpZBrTsSEs3howv9TSlZvqxMiJW/s240/dragon+shen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSU4jNoaS1mMWKFzJID-vSpX7TBlzGnJsDDUJ4crD5IGpC9eRHkaX8HymPVzlT_DXspcE5TGw__zWPwpcN6qPY-9MNKUQTOhRTPmmExq098KSEUpZBrTsSEs3howv9TSlZvqxMiJW/s240/dragon+shen.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The dragon then, is not limited by </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the space of time, and therefore can only be a shen (meaning god) by every definition of the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Chinese word. The same dragon, in other ancient descriptions, is considered of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the highest rank and therefore “imperial.” Being the embodiment of fertilization </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and controller of the waters of the earth, the dragon has the power to invoke and revoke the rain. Because of his powers, the Chinese in ancient times and today worship the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">reptilian rain-god, hoping for fertile land and no drought. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Other depictions of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">dragons can be seen as controlling different forces of nature and the elements in Chinese art, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">conveying them to be different deities of those elements. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Across the globe reptiles are among some of the most feared creatures in cultural lore. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many represent evil and malice. They are feared and avoided and sometimes killed because of </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">these ancient legends. But, in many cultures reptiles (especially snakes) are celebrated and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">worshipped. Legends have a unique way of telling tales that reveal truth and give moral insight </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to how people should treat animals. In this case, legends are the stuff that drives respect for </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">reptiles in every culture, be it through fear or superstition. But, I think we can all agree that there </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is something fantastical about reptiles that can only be conveyed through finding where they </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">came from in stories, and that is what makes them legendary.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sources:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Budge, E. A. W. 1969. The Gods of the Egyptians: Studies in Egyptian Mythology. Vol. 1. Courier Dover Publications.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gupte, B. A. 1994. Hindu Holidays and Ceremonials: With Dissertations on Origin, Folklore</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and Symbols. Asian Educational Services.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingersoll, E. 1999. Dragons and Dragon Lore. Book Tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lall, R. 2004. Among the Hindus: A Study of Hindu Festivals. Asian </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Educational Services.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sanford, A. W. 1988. Hinduism and Development. In: Handbook of Research on Development </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and Religion. Edward Elgar Publishing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Murison, R. G. 1905. The serpent in the Old Testament. The American Journal of Semitic </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Languages and Literatures 21:115-130.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Speck, F. G. 1923. Reptile lore of the Northern Indians. The Journal Of American </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Folklore 36: 273-80.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stanley, J. W. 2008. Snakes: Objects of Religion, Fear, and Myth. Self-published <a href="http://myweb.astate.edu/strauth/Herpetology/Stanley_snake_myth_paper.pdf" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tenney, M. C. 1997. John: the Gospel of Belief: an Analytic Study of the Text. Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tylor, E. B. 1871. Anamism. In: Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art, and Custom. Vol. 2. John Murray.</span>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-34233344843805884282012-12-02T10:30:00.000-08:002014-02-12T06:35:41.977-08:00The 250 lb. Hamburger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kcFXIJIXGwkp_qrNqzaeKl0Oq5SB2eoQ2Pad1yTNS5Gu89ZQUwrzGMnApGNXmpEhzds8jEleu7tRHjgDdFHEJ4XrHzB5AloGJD_wUbW05D7XoJ20AVpW6bN-G6CGtBy7DAn_Uhjn/s1600/burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kcFXIJIXGwkp_qrNqzaeKl0Oq5SB2eoQ2Pad1yTNS5Gu89ZQUwrzGMnApGNXmpEhzds8jEleu7tRHjgDdFHEJ4XrHzB5AloGJD_wUbW05D7XoJ20AVpW6bN-G6CGtBy7DAn_Uhjn/s320/burger.jpg" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“…so when a snake eats its prey, it’s like if you were to eat
a 250 lb. hamburger, all in one bite, without using your arms!”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s 1997, I’m an English major at UC Berkeley, and I’m
sitting in a classroom in the palatial Valley Life Sciences Building. This is a
building that English majors do not frequent. The shiny white pillars hurt our bookish
eyes.
Yet I keep coming back, week after week, to a classroom filled with big cat
skulls, stuffed egrets, and pickled frogs. By some fluke I have enrolled in a
class called Natural History of the Vertebrates, which has nothing to do with
my major. It is here that I first witness the hamburger magic trick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fifteen years later, the magic trick is still fresh in my mind. And magic it is. Not the
rabbit-in-the-top-hat, saw-your-assistant-in-half kind of magic, but real-life
magic. Teaching magic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Making an analogy that allows students to see something from their point of view</i>.</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQm3GHqa79xzbiRnGKd6EVshA4_Ql4P5NvBfUGBzdiUD8gKnNbPmGd-vUDs46GACL-U45DiZ_OP2BtD-00dAvhMmFDaVmAi49foeLGkibZCE0wco0XC6LtNhdcFap1oXr7mGwW0f7/s1600/magical_teaching-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQm3GHqa79xzbiRnGKd6EVshA4_Ql4P5NvBfUGBzdiUD8gKnNbPmGd-vUDs46GACL-U45DiZ_OP2BtD-00dAvhMmFDaVmAi49foeLGkibZCE0wco0XC6LtNhdcFap1oXr7mGwW0f7/s320/magical_teaching-1.jpg" height="320" width="291" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Magic, like most things in life, works best when greasy food is involved.</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In that classroom at UC Berkeley, and in countless classrooms
before and since, Dr. Harry Greene used the hamburger trick to help students
understand one of the most mind-boggling processes in nature: how a snake with
a mouth the diameter of a walnut can ingest a rabbit the size of a football… all
with no hands.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCBAKDQA0snwgkXX8F3d9A678cYQ0s7aQir11RDVKdcybuwTekrpZB_NIfFMyV0kSC9WKJqXfNUBUiL-2dOwug7lKvh5B7oXFxCknZacPJRz8vCVfVf3vBO7hHDPNgSJy6edZP41B/s1600/atrox+eating+bunny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCBAKDQA0snwgkXX8F3d9A678cYQ0s7aQir11RDVKdcybuwTekrpZB_NIfFMyV0kSC9WKJqXfNUBUiL-2dOwug7lKvh5B7oXFxCknZacPJRz8vCVfVf3vBO7hHDPNgSJy6edZP41B/s1600/atrox+eating+bunny.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>A Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake eats a large rabbit. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;"><b>J. Schofer</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hamburger trick, friends, is the subject of this post.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrkfE1nIJCZcgeh7ZmN0hskrMJTjlt7ijKbsaP4l6bNs3nyke8ixgG_HBuAmzwgavt8qasSFRMhR9DhVWWeJbxFBS3cWIW4Z5FqP_y7srkvQO7jvXX2NsXs2OC4OH_Gjq5NnVhBuB/s1600/Rahm-Fama-with-Giant-Burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrkfE1nIJCZcgeh7ZmN0hskrMJTjlt7ijKbsaP4l6bNs3nyke8ixgG_HBuAmzwgavt8qasSFRMhR9DhVWWeJbxFBS3cWIW4Z5FqP_y7srkvQO7jvXX2NsXs2OC4OH_Gjq5NnVhBuB/s400/Rahm-Fama-with-Giant-Burger.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So how in the heck does a snake pull off this feat? Let’s
start with the meat of it all—or rather, the bones and ligaments.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First things first: it is important to come to terms with the fact that our human skulls are boring. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd3i1370W8rIZF5QaizCpSr7u9EeXD8kmpqqHcNDdVzjJym_oHjzzobr33ipAmR8SrmaIqHo8BxKAhMsvAFZDqpF8nNpYJt3oUi9iwbKUax8WJasAShhmX4boHyt-NJOuCw2gUC-N/s1600/yawning+skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd3i1370W8rIZF5QaizCpSr7u9EeXD8kmpqqHcNDdVzjJym_oHjzzobr33ipAmR8SrmaIqHo8BxKAhMsvAFZDqpF8nNpYJt3oUi9iwbKUax8WJasAShhmX4boHyt-NJOuCw2gUC-N/s320/yawning+skull.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In contrast, a snake’s skull is a thing of beauty and
complexity—by all accounts, an exemplary marriage of structure and function, a marvel
of evolution.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YhAxcDHlZyD6_UMcPEWhHjWAVf-mGZIa_VFZsRHBzTnvMUpU891uBdjX0v0V437FAxjL9VEX8GnYZ73EBbuJq9Ms6eqc9nDc6gGl1OowjfQE0JGMmOO6Zf0ETzeP5JRbb-vvm9BA/s1600/ptg01705280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YhAxcDHlZyD6_UMcPEWhHjWAVf-mGZIa_VFZsRHBzTnvMUpU891uBdjX0v0V437FAxjL9VEX8GnYZ73EBbuJq9Ms6eqc9nDc6gGl1OowjfQE0JGMmOO6Zf0ETzeP5JRbb-vvm9BA/s1600/ptg01705280.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The skull of a Gaboon viper boasts impressive two inch-long fangs.</b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">m.inmagine.com</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This post is an appetizer version of how-the-snake-skull-works. Keep in mind that I am greatly simplifying
the following descriptions—another magicky thing us teachers try to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hkDK9TpSHKMPWvS6PgIR1vEJXU-88wC32cTEnbQm0u-9NGx6rLedkbkAE1IOcC_9WZHm87QuTHFDlvjLbAzvZDsQm41jjpJ-ynKbIeXbAK2uraVkmtBYweGwXu5e6Bq6WivGkKXU/s1600/simple-is-beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hkDK9TpSHKMPWvS6PgIR1vEJXU-88wC32cTEnbQm0u-9NGx6rLedkbkAE1IOcC_9WZHm87QuTHFDlvjLbAzvZDsQm41jjpJ-ynKbIeXbAK2uraVkmtBYweGwXu5e6Bq6WivGkKXU/s200/simple-is-beautiful.jpg" height="178" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here's how it works. Your jawbone (or mandible) is functionally a single bone. It articulates
with your cranium in joints on either side, in front of your ears, that allow
limited rotational movement of the jaw, allowing you to bite, chew, talk, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXNmndkKy16tkzLCzFUmasTXWw2AFPmlk-uhzLhYwqCWmhqHvbdt9YDgJf6RlRPypdH8Vxxh66Y2e_bdW51C4EtEI-_H4wKkgfq2J2D6hVmVX8U8tv9zAgSaH-bhWzT4GxsIezQbL/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXNmndkKy16tkzLCzFUmasTXWw2AFPmlk-uhzLhYwqCWmhqHvbdt9YDgJf6RlRPypdH8Vxxh66Y2e_bdW51C4EtEI-_H4wKkgfq2J2D6hVmVX8U8tv9zAgSaH-bhWzT4GxsIezQbL/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"The last thing I remember, I was looking at a human skull in anatomy class. I must have died of boredom."</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The setup is far more interesting in snakes. The jaw does not
attach directly to the rest of the skull, but rather suspends from the skull
via the quadrate bone. (You kinda have a quadrate bone, too, but it has
migrated, over millions of generations, into your ear—a "hear bone.") </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingn_d7YSX2Bxu3N3I8JRbK9Oz_jgM8Do4UT7I8un35nK8k0mvbRGsUIPf_aBQSIpu-QJ-JSbRJqsccRrjq2e8jdo1vjVR0ilsa1bOZ8oNg58bGoOLKlh4M8AHMGTdEnp9R_UKIYos/s1600/Untitled-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingn_d7YSX2Bxu3N3I8JRbK9Oz_jgM8Do4UT7I8un35nK8k0mvbRGsUIPf_aBQSIpu-QJ-JSbRJqsccRrjq2e8jdo1vjVR0ilsa1bOZ8oNg58bGoOLKlh4M8AHMGTdEnp9R_UKIYos/s1600/Untitled-5.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The large quadrate bone in a reptile skull is shown at left. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wikipedia</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, think of it as snakes having their jaws suspended from the rest of the skull via a mobile quadrate bone. The snake's quadrate bones can basically whirl around on each side. This
funky attachment makes the snake’s mouth far more flexible than yours, and also
makes the opening larger.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QCJCq1SMiqifnU7-R2cY0pwJ2kOGS0628RWjK1QmVLvOdUbrUqA8sQ-BW2tb2lm8itGtPalqg_b9BfeDUaCzLobQo8IC69Nywf6ukA-XdUcE94hFY9LL46LFhhCguybZMLZCcUgZ/s1600/2148027594_3b47dc6cb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QCJCq1SMiqifnU7-R2cY0pwJ2kOGS0628RWjK1QmVLvOdUbrUqA8sQ-BW2tb2lm8itGtPalqg_b9BfeDUaCzLobQo8IC69Nywf6ukA-XdUcE94hFY9LL46LFhhCguybZMLZCcUgZ/s1600/2148027594_3b47dc6cb6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>An egg-eating snake routinely eats eggs several time the diameter of its own head. Notice how the skin stretches between the scale rows. Read <a href="http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2012/06/egg-eating-snakes.html" target="_blank">this blog</a> for more on egg-eating snakes.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">B. Bouton</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Still not a big enough hole for Peter Rabbit, though. The
trick is in the joint at the front of the jaw bone. Your jaw actually consists
of two bones (dentary bones) that fuse together at this joint when you’re a fetus. In a snake
chin, the dentary bones are connected with a stretchy ligament that allows the two
sides of the jaw to stretch away from each other, allowing the mouth to open
even larger.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgqhfd8vX5jkllb3J-fLEWTUD7s-ScZmvgRUh02KuTGHouC-iTBk335OV2LQfyS9tWzVs3IjPE38w7jmAjCGdq0WbWMg70YvXqkf_iQq1TG4O2A5EnA0sB4aKYkgTK3FTHo4mrQ77/s1600/anteriorview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgqhfd8vX5jkllb3J-fLEWTUD7s-ScZmvgRUh02KuTGHouC-iTBk335OV2LQfyS9tWzVs3IjPE38w7jmAjCGdq0WbWMg70YvXqkf_iQq1TG4O2A5EnA0sB4aKYkgTK3FTHo4mrQ77/s1600/anteriorview.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This image from <a href="http://www.digimorph.org/" target="_blank">Digimorph </a>shows nicely how the two dentary bones of the lower jaw are not connected with bone.</span></b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75X8K03x-2TOj37q21Fr_dd0MlbKEDVqVd2uHagsK3wzKi5uiQRxBdsXYwbNlSipgqTW3pnsRTs2NENsYN-zwbFR2r4u-4YG-vyHptGx49I0f_pb8M1BYs1ajoyeb1Gb656pZfHdi/s1600/060915-python-ewe_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75X8K03x-2TOj37q21Fr_dd0MlbKEDVqVd2uHagsK3wzKi5uiQRxBdsXYwbNlSipgqTW3pnsRTs2NENsYN-zwbFR2r4u-4YG-vyHptGx49I0f_pb8M1BYs1ajoyeb1Gb656pZfHdi/s320/060915-python-ewe_big.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You can see the two sides of the jaw stretched far apart in this image
of a python gorging on a sheep.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcEXREOG9n1g97LeXlQxghql9db47LDZebkp2wOX0jOkONMsvcnnep7QOkfA2JxwnXmstIedQ1-1mYeqh_h0skjOF3E32I_D54ZlyMVK6cgIwcAfPMU0lb2CtJS_ihV2rug4hLiMf/s1600/070105_snake_jaws_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcEXREOG9n1g97LeXlQxghql9db47LDZebkp2wOX0jOkONMsvcnnep7QOkfA2JxwnXmstIedQ1-1mYeqh_h0skjOF3E32I_D54ZlyMVK6cgIwcAfPMU0lb2CtJS_ihV2rug4hLiMf/s400/070105_snake_jaws_02.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The articulation of the quadrate bone plus the elastic ligament at the chin allow the python's mouth to open large enough to eat huge prey— like deer, crocs... even <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2012/11/man-eating-snakes.html" target="_blank">humans</a>? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">lifeslittlemysteries.com</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s much more to it than that—other moveable skull bones, super-stretchy
skin, even a snorkel to help breathe while the maw is stuffed (yes, really!)—but
I am hungry for a hamburger. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(Note that snakes' jaws do not "unhinge" or "dislocate." Those are entrenched myths that arose from people trying to compare their jaws with our jaws. Let's keep it real, people.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The upshot of the structural adaptations I have described
above is that snakes can stretch open their mouths <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> wide—wide enough to ingest prey many times the diameter of
their own head. Now we are ready for the main course: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“…so when a snake eats its prey, it’s like if you were to eat a 250 lb. hamburger, all in one bite, without using your arms!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0C29bkPYZm-rovW-mFJnSKJbDfCw3HQKDl2_lSdZQI70q7nbDsU3ZY20tphIlEQKpj-1-zLpEBuZOY3DYASvbeWdk5SNLQDWjKTi4X74eeMmbrpe2k8b044-D_HUBLCwmh4-s9Se/s1600/Harry+burger+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0C29bkPYZm-rovW-mFJnSKJbDfCw3HQKDl2_lSdZQI70q7nbDsU3ZY20tphIlEQKpj-1-zLpEBuZOY3DYASvbeWdk5SNLQDWjKTi4X74eeMmbrpe2k8b044-D_HUBLCwmh4-s9Se/s320/Harry+burger+4.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjzKsrFfaA9yXmAxCGOdoErsYsOTsSXKZ8uTweUdCii0lc_heyaAG2MhC9LrkGi81pzJhtFYVhQ7Nym5OrNPwNa0xjWfri_XEX9L3DGj4YGNyriGaGqq0CRtkz2tyvjEB4nMh1S-S/s1600/Harry+burger+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjzKsrFfaA9yXmAxCGOdoErsYsOTsSXKZ8uTweUdCii0lc_heyaAG2MhC9LrkGi81pzJhtFYVhQ7Nym5OrNPwNa0xjWfri_XEX9L3DGj4YGNyriGaGqq0CRtkz2tyvjEB4nMh1S-S/s320/Harry+burger+5.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sadie helps show us what a Macrostomatan Harry
would look like sucking down a beast-sized burger. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>J. </b></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Furman</b></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s a big burger. (A mere fraction of the world record
burger, weighing in at a ton, but a big burger nonetheless.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6zS1U3Dsafapk4OvFzz0UyF-L8mYscKegU5FdHbthXsXDihzXCgZkJJJgtrJaPTTgQQf_Pi6lCMgPgN5UPHhTYoeLE0GXYJP7Y47gQXLFsa77ZZK8ZIQNgHk25odEOMuUfM9DpoU/s1600/burger+neatorama.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6zS1U3Dsafapk4OvFzz0UyF-L8mYscKegU5FdHbthXsXDihzXCgZkJJJgtrJaPTTgQQf_Pi6lCMgPgN5UPHhTYoeLE0GXYJP7Y47gQXLFsa77ZZK8ZIQNgHk25odEOMuUfM9DpoU/s320/burger+neatorama.com.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The record largest burger was made at a Minnesota casino in 2012. It had to be flipped with a crane. But I digress...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;"><b>nydailynews.com</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now you can put it all together and watch Harry doing his magic here:</span></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Mm9h6KE-ZOk" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">Abracadabra! </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">That</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"> is
how the magic is done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting hungry? Eat like a snake.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zAwcj6d8XTQ" width="420"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Note:</b> Harry Greene's book <i><a href="http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520232754" target="_blank">Tracks and Shadows: Natural History as Art</a></i> came out in 2013. If you're still hungry, pick up this book (or his 1997 classic <i><a href="http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520224872" target="_blank">Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature</a></i>)<i> </i>to read about some more amazing things snakes do!</span>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-44881811329548151672012-11-27T10:50:00.000-08:002012-11-30T14:21:41.617-08:00Man-Eating Snakes<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snake architecture is superfically quite simple. Snakes are basically a long tube of muscle and gut, with a
toothy mouth on one end and a pooper on the other.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhru4fjQoR9mUM6r0F56rqvVY7d1L2uV522MCp8Rz0Q4jYApk9ilzvBPnWN6OfZ7YvdD1eHQP6HZ8i8migCTsh2JKm7bCsfae0iWyeDL9sTlYYrWDsCWMaO65u9fYVxmAkhD8w71Cx/s1600/Get+in+my+belly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhru4fjQoR9mUM6r0F56rqvVY7d1L2uV522MCp8Rz0Q4jYApk9ilzvBPnWN6OfZ7YvdD1eHQP6HZ8i8migCTsh2JKm7bCsfae0iWyeDL9sTlYYrWDsCWMaO65u9fYVxmAkhD8w71Cx/s400/Get+in+my+belly.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">This image can get <span style="font-size: large;">pretty </span>creepy when the snake is longer than a grown man and as <span style="font-size: large;">big around as Mike Tyson's thighs</span>. It turns out that the prospect of
being eaten by something can drive a pretty strong evolutionary phobia. Some
scientists even say that the reason our binocular vision is so acute is because
of growing up with—evolutionarily speaking—big snakes that could eat you.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzwTLai8Z-QfqV5MhR4PKSKUgFZnFBnjrSt7_NLaIAidso_IMFp9snk7KgFRwY3zo5_tBtiti9gpKFytuHiAJYh_FAbhrDKfPRVUlkreg1Ox2BVDHBtIvlQUsbVG4vCDZIn5t3xdf/s1600/movietrivia_Anaconda-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzwTLai8Z-QfqV5MhR4PKSKUgFZnFBnjrSt7_NLaIAidso_IMFp9snk7KgFRwY3zo5_tBtiti9gpKFytuHiAJYh_FAbhrDKfPRVUlkreg1Ox2BVDHBtIvlQUsbVG4vCDZIn5t3xdf/s320/movietrivia_Anaconda-5.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">John Voight’s binoc<span style="font-size: large;">ular vision</span> couldn't save him from being
eaten—then regurgitated and re-eaten—by a mammoth snakein the 1997 movie
<i>Anaconda</i>.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Of course, anacondas don’t actually get that big. But they
get plenty big. The anaconda—a denizen of swamps and rivers of Central and South
America—is the world’s most massive snake, meaning it’s the heaviest but not
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-6QCFPrv_s9gQet_7n3xWNRHb4qxT1miOeK6DFaafI-pdm6DhpixdFc7XzASEVvgLbCxStJ7TjeK09IWWDLayBwR2CYTQZwiYPX3jxn4yQS_u_zVibZxFjdofa_ZKEboZLGwsO4E/s1600/anaconda_zsl@large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-6QCFPrv_s9gQet_7n3xWNRHb4qxT1miOeK6DFaafI-pdm6DhpixdFc7XzASEVvgLbCxStJ7TjeK09IWWDLayBwR2CYTQZwiYPX3jxn4yQS_u_zVibZxFjdofa_ZKEboZLGwsO4E/s320/anaconda_zsl@large.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv8PArtxUGhNq3FEQq-it4956esEPGAWFeah4MHnp8HivZxIVuIq9pPIpCDPSSI2GIh1kHBUBiPaq3PC3X6Iz2rQjXzfqxwFUies9XB12hgPoZrqJl8tF_eX_b_tes9S0Vo0uM3r1/s1600/Anaconda-5-havy-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv8PArtxUGhNq3FEQq-it4956esEPGAWFeah4MHnp8HivZxIVuIq9pPIpCDPSSI2GIh1kHBUBiPaq3PC3X6Iz2rQjXzfqxwFUies9XB12hgPoZrqJl8tF_eX_b_tes9S0Vo0uM3r1/s320/Anaconda-5-havy-.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What can I say? Men in groups like to carry huge anacondas
around. </span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scientists debate the particulars, but the anaconda that
takes the record was about 28 feet long, with a 44-inch circumference. What
weight does that translate to? Probably about 500 pounds. Sheesh, that’d gobble
up some serious human.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, the majority of anacondas—even the
biggest—content themselves on a diet of fish and wetland mammals, because these snacks are much more abundant than humans, and maybe also because anacondas prefer
eau d’poisson over body odor. But could an anaconda occasionally eat a
human?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who better to ask this question to than Dr. Jesus Rivas, who has been studying anacondas in the wild for 20 years?<cite><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></cite></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh-2tyrU7F-lwAZEagvC7idyM6Zu0U7fhEASVFn5g2656MWXPAgtqld2JV4JOeEkmsW4nYfDfQL3xiBhGJPGLC__AnVLtQmluHFj-wq1OqDfAg_DAOMvkA3QivtWJRH6RX_DNnT10/s1600/anacon5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh-2tyrU7F-lwAZEagvC7idyM6Zu0U7fhEASVFn5g2656MWXPAgtqld2JV4JOeEkmsW4nYfDfQL3xiBhGJPGLC__AnVLtQmluHFj-wq1OqDfAg_DAOMvkA3QivtWJRH6RX_DNnT10/s1600/anacon5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jesus Rivas examines a large female anaconda.</b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><cite><span style="font-size: large;"></span></cite></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rivas says that there are no documented cases of anacondas eating humans, but that might be partly because anacondas, especially the big ones, tend to live in remote areas with few humans. H<span style="font-size: large;">owever, <a href="http://www.anacondas.org/strike.htm" target="_blank">he describe</a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.anacondas.org/strike.htm" target="_blank">s two cases</a> in which his field assistan<span style="font-size: large;">ts have been stalked</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">—</span></span></span>unsuccessfully, phew!</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">—</span></span></span>by their study animals. It <span style="font-size: large;">was even caught on camera<span style="font-size: large;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkNI8JFXr-ST4mpO-wC9eCMYCbsGeyYxpFfIsEwJ8bYpj-9nHOkLj_Ynq55PzV0C3pPXaRVr5CgKbff9Or0V66dZH_06ktZ9TMWj6IM92TpOXUvaABKRo6PpDYzDX_TC5r1EkEvaB/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkNI8JFXr-ST4mpO-wC9eCMYCbsGeyYxpFfIsEwJ8bYpj-9nHOkLj_Ynq55PzV0C3pPXaRVr5CgKbff9Or0V66dZH_06ktZ9TMWj6IM92TpOXUvaABKRo6PpDYzDX_TC5r1EkEvaB/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" height="195" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">An anaconda stalks a sci<span style="font-size: large;">entist in the Venezuelan Llanos. www.anacondas.org</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">One thing is for cert<span style="font-size: large;">ain<span style="font-size: large;">: anacond<span style="font-size: large;">as eat big stuff. </span></span></span>Rivas has <span style="font-size: large;">witnes<span style="font-size: large;">sed them eating white-tailed deer and<span style="font-size: large;"> crocodilians. </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-__H06MTihF-Kr4lXOsmM9ipAWuz49FH33gsPrZj4YRE0ccKeWtn3t1z8ByIH1hasw17OmObX8aKlBh5LekxEgEOJLpRywHKz_h5wNe6JhrKmQgeRcD8OYESW8Sv5-HKO2FW-6lAb/s1600/Green-anaconda-swallowing-common-caiman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-__H06MTihF-Kr4lXOsmM9ipAWuz49FH33gsPrZj4YRE0ccKeWtn3t1z8ByIH1hasw17OmObX8aKlBh5LekxEgEOJLpRywHKz_h5wNe6JhrKmQgeRcD8OYESW8Sv5-HKO2FW-6lAb/s1600/Green-anaconda-swallowing-common-caiman.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">An anaconda swallows a ca<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">iman.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If your interest in anacondas is pique<span style="font-size: large;">d<span style="font-size: large;">,</span> Rivas has written a book on them, coming out in 2013. In this book, he <span style="font-size: large;">shares a<span style="font-size: large;">n account in which he hims<span style="font-size: large;">elf was stalked by a 15-foot <span style="font-size: large;">anaconda affectionately named Lina. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rivas, J. A. 2013. Natural history of the green anaconda: Two decades
disentangling the secrets of the world’s largest snake. Oxford
University Press.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, c</span>heck out this<span style="font-size: large;"> video </span>of a large female anaconda puking up a cow<span style="font-size: large;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">If anacondas are the heaviest snakes, what are the longest?
Reticulated pythons from Southeast Asia take that trophy, uncontested. The
longest recorded “retic” is about 33 feet—yes, that’s five or six people laid
end to end. Burmese pythons and African rock pythons can exceed lengths of 20
feet and are also quite formidable predators. These python species along with a few others star in the
smorgasbord of online images of snakes eating large prey items.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYXmYMS2ES17s3tU-rZJa1bpgBXntA-GnA8XRafUxZwg4jC2X_p-VCe-L6HALszuqAPCVFGHgYQyLS2LHtogzdPaNxeDhY05tDMJrGZcHTNWtkj6tFIjmJQCFHEok1W7MJHO12VE5/s320/python-eating-7181.jpg" height="273" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>A python has eaten a sheep.</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31q02r9S6JhRugXyCNFo8iHVYcrw9JFWmTbVwMM4-KDUJV62b39kIAFpSV1EZhgOpHUrciH_lsgOhXISanttxjPjZ3sckYD0J1xw-vvf2pLrBGLrnSY8x3X_fCbgUBK49kj1QIznV/s320/python.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A non-native Burmese python in
the Florida Everglades ate an
American alligator. The likely story is that the meal was too large and
killed the snake, then scavengers noshed open the snake's belly.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fIRa9NzkyLyAuLm3l1Qa_pnQD7l5JlU_WJhyphenhyphenMvLwYx5Vl7F-NYkEattVeZo9LoB575Qy0leyBvS-UstkmAmHarGXrKN7xg6Zvt-pQfHq-jwk8FvlVvNb9NkoqboUZXR3kOBnNbef/s1600/python-300x228.jpg" height="304" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A python kills a cow.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKOX5kiUU8Jw4ivJdOUYEzn2MBD3ZdUob1XnvXgNdDpkzKB8fasCzrE96fwDRZU_cA7Ah6jZ2sY9KpUdPrwSW5thbe69jn-1sI64olwiDwe1JQG-Aj_DaXxfaOkB7aq50HUEJoVBK/s320/med_gallery_109781_29_17591.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="376" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">An olive python fixes to eat a wallaby.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, do p<span style="font-size: large;">ythons </span>eat humans? Let’s start with rock pythons, which—despite
their penchant for eating lots of birds and non-human mammals—definitely have
been known to occasionally include a human in the picnic basket.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Wikipedia cites a number of fatal attacks, in which a rock
python killed a person but didn’t end up eating them. In at least two cases,
the pre-teen prey was too large to get down the hatch; in another case a farmer
was dragged up a tree by a python and rescued when he managed to call for help
on his cell phone. In a few cases, however, the python managed to gulp down
the prize: a 10 year-old was swallowed in 2002 in South Africa, and in the
1970’s a Portugese soldier was found inside the stomach of a snake. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqfGdyvlAN84DmTnuUV-5O7Gi3gR5TZO3S_REbsZItSUMF0wEL1k0CtbHt5YOgFQaCA-994oji_o5irVVqBmlAGbUe8ssZ2JyR-D17v7t4wh6J1tsHlRswqYPc0dkcS7JhfpfLXnu/s320/rock_python1.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b>A rock python has eaten a very large meal (not a human, however) and become stuck in a fence.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfEXNN68oSe_QTrghZ0CS5RMCjX_HLlgeGH2DsB8o1axAOqvxkB4Kfc9tlUXEO_5rNUfTfhyZmILZYjGVHyL66OGLbmZf4N34ayQgxg-nZcwzI1JnFFFwRaj1UQ4dRFq4u-3F_GBY/s400/imagesCAXLXF6B.jpg" height="299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b>A close-up of the fenced snake, just for the awesomeness of it.</b></span></td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked Dr. Graham Alexander of The University of the
Witwatersrand in South Africa to tell me about any close encounters he’s had
with rock pythons during about eight years of studying them in the wild. Dr.
Alexander said that the largest thing he ever witnessed a python eat was an
impala, but that spending time in the wild with these huge snakes could be unnerving:<o:p></o:p></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“After tracking pythons for many years and not experiencing
anything like a predatory attack, I felt pretty confident that they just didn’t
do it (and I told many people that pythons don’t attack people). However, that
all changed towards the end of 2010 when I was tracking both pythons and Puff
Adders. I had about 30 telemetered snakes going at one time and tracking took
all the day light hours – and I was often pretty rushed trying to get to all
the snakes in a day. On three separate occasions in that season I was bitten on
the leg by large female pythons that were lying in ambush. In these cases I had
been pretty sloppy – moving in on the signal way too fast under time stress and
probably with less caution than I should have – and accidently walked past the
snake. My interpretation was that the pythons had struck and bitten me because
they thought I was a meal. In only one of these cases did the python start
trying to constrict, but even this one released me as soon as it realized that
I was not an impala – or that’s how it seemed. In the other two cases, the
python bit and released immediately without initiating constriction. In all three
instances I was on my own and got the fright of my life. The bite comes out of
nowhere and really does take you by surprise. I can really imagine what it is
like for a real prey item. And that probably gives the snake a very large
advantage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am afraid that those are the only experiences that could
possibly be predatory attacks. I still think that we are not really on the menu
of Southern African Pythons, though they do get pretty large and do consume
meals of up to about 50 kg.”</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaY_gv9_qAusV8ARgP9Qd02djpQSa3CsPUZ_MOaiSOsvaon5ftHj7uAQK0HcyvVAB53McpE-edPr6y3LWqrTHkZsLGyHSdTdb-YkXHjPAk1js8z-ak16IljadHvF0wTjLHmjzv2yd/s320/AfricanPython.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b>A rock python has swallowed a prey item much larger than the
width of its head.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last but not least—let’s look into the maw of the star of
the show, the retic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reticulated pythons, the longest species of snake alive, have
munched on theirshare of people. Wikipedia lists a few instances of people being
eaten by retics, some confirmed, some not: several people walking through the
Malaysian bush got nabbed by 20+ foot pythons, including a Burmese jeweler in
the early 1900’s who was eaten feet-first; plus a number of captive retics
along with Burmese pythons have decided to eat their owners or their
owners’ children<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fact that it is the longest species alive today isn’t
the only reason the reticulated python has notoriety among man-eating snakes.
It holds the distinction of having had its man-eating tendencies studied
thoroughly by an interdisciplinary team of scientists. A herpetologist (Harry Greene) got together with an anthropologist (Thomas Headland) and they found
stuff out about man-eating snakes, stuff that neither would have been able to
totally figure out on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awesome.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="cit-auth cit-auth-type-author"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="cit-auth cit-auth-type-author">Thomas N. Headland</span><span class="cit-sep cit-sep-two-item-separator"> and </span><span class="cit-auth cit-auth-type-author">Harry W. Greene. 2011. </span><span class="cit-title">Hunter–gatherers
and other primates as prey, predators, and competitors of snakes.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>108:E1470-E1474<cite><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></cite></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">They studied the Agta Negritas, a tribe that was still
pre-literate in the Philippines as of the 1970’s. The Agta hunted reticulated
pythons for their meat, netting 25kg+ of meat per snake.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCVOoAB2M3fnwK5XxcHYZDAq8m7kkFCyish20ij6yD1YnmTpgaX4w8KoYL1bsaak11GfEsQta9Dga7YPACApY_N0vF_ZPdxdEKMFJqeWpW2gR1M4HKOJlYEQtCIHDDuc3dQXjE03x/s320/retic1.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="268" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Agta Negrita hunters in the Philippines pose with a 20+
foot-long reticulated python in 1970.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the hunter often became the hunted. From in-depth
interviews with the Agta, the<span style="font-size: large;"> scient<span style="font-size: large;">ists</span></span> discovered that large pythons had indeed tried<span style="font-size: large;"> (</span>and sometimes succeeded) to
eat tribe members. Over a period of time extending from the 1920’s through the
1970’s, the Agta reported 18 men that were unsuccessfully attac<span style="font-size: large;">k</span>ed by pythons,
and six people that were killed by pythons. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it. Those are the records that we have of
man-eating snakes in modern and ancient times. The numbers are small and the
photos are few. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the point where I should hear some of you calling
bullshit. What’s that you say? You’ve seen photos online of giant snakes eating
people? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWD5-9Otey2jeNkgYGJOPJLkxoWZbwttxK_lzN0xUXRe9Kqqdf79IbuItKvU9xtczWlmPGpILv648U6AZYz4SQzC8huge-8U9IgKjSM_-oxF0g5Z_cFHU6nN5DqnSBHJidHwCYpAC/s320/snake2.jpg" height="267" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Take this photo of a large retic with a human-sized bulge captured in southeast Asia.</b> <b>Is this real?</b> </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drumroll… Yes it is! But… that’s no human in the belly. This photo is o<span style="font-size: large;">ften accompanied by t</span>he image below, allegedly showing the unlucky teenage boy cut from the snake’s guts.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAYU9uZy9TFVjnktoXHrgRVNyHPtT2Sw4tHHXZ2u-YCa_EgChUGcxl6J0M8aD0a052Ur5JmIpV2zUktIngocOeoGdymtq6DWc54w3wcsmp9p2nkgh6G1yDbytcqKSynVv1ianSmf8/s320/snake3.jpg" height="248" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b>A reticulated python has noshed a teenage boy… or has it really?</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Except that the <span style="font-size: large;">two snakes are clearly different animals. Whoops</span></span>. I mean, who’s gonna notice a paltry detail like
that when faced with a human body being cut from a snake’s stomach? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Anyway, the question comes down to this: is th<span style="font-size: large;">is </span>pho<span style="font-size: large;">to real? </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Fy7m8xnMYVzLfucrrGsrOhoWeStRdXU0hZgweZx-zQ7lXfl5zIuw7FSKK9380lh9Q2Lm4AEQRtZGHbwxV0noKpzRARVVfzDK5KOToYScec2M6uk68WSjdQPflbiLrkn5Bxt-JM72/s320/close+up.jpg" height="290" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b>Killer photo opp. You can tell the photo is faked because <span style="font-size: large;">the boy's body<span style="font-size: large;"> is not covered in digestive goo, but also becau<span style="font-size: large;">se<span style="font-size: large;"> of the presence of the large bag or piece of fabric between the boy's head and the snake's guts. </span></span></span></span></b></span></b></span></span><b><b> </b></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure which is more awesome, <span style="font-size: large;">though</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">—</span></span>a <span style="font-size: large;">freshly ingested human body being cut from<span style="font-size: large;"> the belly of a retic, or a <span style="font-size: large;">kid with enough cajones to stick his head and torso inside a dead snake's belly<span style="font-size: large;">.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I’ve saved the best for last. Here is a photo of one of the
few allegedly real instances documented by photo in which a snake killed a
human.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLi836G3PNIIueHvLRaAqZ9ms_RhnvRFIweANOGFjgB7N3LWvfBeLL9c-7pgC5_UZHm_TG8hHCB6mEAt5uULrHdizlvzjNDjWvhwpOPO3l5nNYkMQDkLdgw6pUBwFEfsWqp_1kHab/s320/snake_eating_man.gif" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="297" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This unfortunate soul was killed by a reticulated python,
but then the story goes that the meal was too big for the snake to take
down—gobs of goo covered the man’s head but the snake couldn’t make it past his
broad shoulders.</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, could it happen to you? I've always thought it would be an interesting way to die. But our chances of being eaten by a giant snake, even when wading
through a flooded plain in Venezuela or spelunking in the Philippines, are
lower than the chances of being struck by lightning at the exact same
time as winning Mega Millions.<o:p></o:p> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your chances might be a little higher if you encountered one
of the beasts below coiled in the crook of an ancient swamp tree. At over 40 feet in
length and weighing in at over a ton, <i>Titanoboa</i>—recreated by the awesome people at
the Smithsonian—would definitely have noshed a few humans.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-whPxCZIv9dYgVgyPrbqWUWsu4M3jDgpPYMJceIIq4vGy_yWDl1Tae7WaVhmAUJqtwH58MPAqTRHeFoqZxwN_GBsfMfts35F9q4PSgd3XhmG5a5AfDlH5tIpbDB1bWkGhNd795Aqx/s320/91040654-titanoboa-snake.jpg" height="315" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Smithsonian visitors view a scale model of Titanoboa.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Good thing for us that we didn’t evolve for another 55
million years.</span></div>
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Author's note: If you can identify the photographer of any of these photos, have information about them, or have a good story or photos of a man-eating snake, please let me know (<a href="mailto:snakeymama@hotmail.com">snakeymama@hotmail.com</a>). I will update the blog post with new information.</div>
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Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-59431897170755649102012-04-02T20:55:00.005-07:002012-04-02T21:22:27.532-07:00Cover modelsThe snakes of Chimineas Ranch have made it onto the surface of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Evolution. Behold! It's just so beautiful.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvvVnrMA3yz1CdHf32JsAR2D4542DRut2sI5qmnn678HZw7xvCqcQBWfNIDIcDXLKThQHrcqar8Bi5RaV4eZqsaYSI364OdaGhAWV1Lh_SGL5Shi5Ob1-OVFCKhVS7Hi7WZJ1n-GF/s1600/BBE+cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727019737968104642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvvVnrMA3yz1CdHf32JsAR2D4542DRut2sI5qmnn678HZw7xvCqcQBWfNIDIcDXLKThQHrcqar8Bi5RaV4eZqsaYSI364OdaGhAWV1Lh_SGL5Shi5Ob1-OVFCKhVS7Hi7WZJ1n-GF/s400/BBE+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Back cover text reads:<br />A male Northern Pacific rattlesnake (<em>Crotalus o. oreganus</em>, larger snake) is seen courting a female one day following experimental translocation away from this same female. The snake navigated back to this female in less than 24 hours from 225 meters away. Inset: Cresyl violet-stained cross-section through the telencephalon of an adult male that received experimental translocations in the field. The medial and dorsal cortices are clearly visible. Photo courtesy Matthew Holding.<br /><br />The paper was <a href="http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?doi=335034">published online </a>a while back, but there's something about seeing the creatures and tissue on the cover that gives me a big shiver. This study was Chapter 1 of my former graduate student Matt's thesis. It's one of the best studies I have been a part of.<br /><br />The paper can be downloaded <a href="http://works.bepress.com/etaylor/">here</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi-S_YdPuKdmQDh_mimRC5-d5Hxsuaq-EMGKU1Y63_9Qctz4aMgeu4DnjjLT5pOOn5eVpnTTjiibu-hTwsgR7IPK0rQHSB6xcqKwYCWpgn09sUgLLHShnjDFex0IzUKCcJc-1p6HA/s1600/snakes+courting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727021429808021730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi-S_YdPuKdmQDh_mimRC5-d5Hxsuaq-EMGKU1Y63_9Qctz4aMgeu4DnjjLT5pOOn5eVpnTTjiibu-hTwsgR7IPK0rQHSB6xcqKwYCWpgn09sUgLLHShnjDFex0IzUKCcJc-1p6HA/s400/snakes+courting.jpg" /></a>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-43228371765868507962012-03-10T15:14:00.018-08:002012-03-10T15:57:13.546-08:00Gators gators everywhere but not a snake in sightI am in the South, people. Do you have any idea how long I have wanted to come here? For <em>years</em>. I want to see alligators. I want to see Eastern Diamondbacked rattlesnakes. I want to see cottonmouths.<br /><br />I'm here! But I'm here in March! It's not herping season. I came not to herp, but to rub elbows with the best biology educators in the country. The people who learn how students learn. The people who work tirelessly to improve the experience of students in the biology classroom, and of those of us lucky enough to teach them. I am in great company.<br /><br />And let me tell you, learning how to learn (and teach) is tough work. We have had talks, demos, sharathons, posters, and ridiculously amazing meals constantly since we've been here. Every so often I'll just start twitching, thinking about all those beautiful southern herps waiting outside the window of the <a href="http://www.kiawahresort.com/accommodations/the-sanctuary/">Swanctuary </a>(my fond name for our royalty-worthy hotel). Today, I twitched myself out of my seat and zoomed out during a short break, on a serious mission. Must. Find. Gators.<br /><br />I immediately got lost in the labyrinth of chic bungalows, windy lanes, and golf courses in which the Swanctuary is situated. Then I saw him. A huge gator sitting along the fairway next to a pond.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZcdJSGpT5c2kDlW24434l0u4bwaE1Qu39YGfRcgn2Sp6RMnPgqnCjSPrezrWyNe8ufLl02eefBJ97BjVFqWobx3P4dt3a9wLh3s360KtJIEiUkBSoLKX3kx_C3g6w7DZvVXOrEvz/s1600/huge+golf+gator.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718417271387921954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZcdJSGpT5c2kDlW24434l0u4bwaE1Qu39YGfRcgn2Sp6RMnPgqnCjSPrezrWyNe8ufLl02eefBJ97BjVFqWobx3P4dt3a9wLh3s360KtJIEiUkBSoLKX3kx_C3g6w7DZvVXOrEvz/s320/huge+golf+gator.jpg" /></a><br />As I stealthily sidled up to him for a better photo, I heard someone yelling to me that there were FOUR gators to see! As I looked around frantically, a golf ball whizzed through the air by my head, and realizing the error of my ways I slunk off the green before I was mauled by men with coiffed hair.<br /><br />Having made my escape, I realized it was all about the ponds. I jogged over to the next pond, and lo! A beautiful wee gator was basking in the setting sun, complete with a testudinean entourage. Look people- this gator is <em>smiling</em>. Wide as can be. I agreed with him at that moment- life is damn good in the South.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT4giDnNneRmCgmF9XRNXepHqAVXCWHJMQWRgGHkieon1YffRtNAodgnvfEermTgyg5jDRB1TLoD6Fc_fvCYIlgocZOC-vZQIHJSs1RSCCbaVp_mgPCm1Zh0YZw3-rR9VSlwE75tp/s1600/gator+and+turtles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 218px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718417254329232418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT4giDnNneRmCgmF9XRNXepHqAVXCWHJMQWRgGHkieon1YffRtNAodgnvfEermTgyg5jDRB1TLoD6Fc_fvCYIlgocZOC-vZQIHJSs1RSCCbaVp_mgPCm1Zh0YZw3-rR9VSlwE75tp/s320/gator+and+turtles.jpg" /></a><br />And around the next bend, I find this fine fellow sitting in the shade. <em>Come on over, I dare you.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqH_QfqvrpjQDI2qC0uWMeutcQAppHd7pGzFYJ0rwgULa8puUiUD4l0UCJ92Nz0N8lWbf22DhOhQoyKIQGl2J_kZpjDlcxL_MVVD-3IN2ddHg-eQNQuJXOxrjX91cdKhyphenhyphenJf595H_r/s1600/Gator+on+shore.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718417266800957810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqH_QfqvrpjQDI2qC0uWMeutcQAppHd7pGzFYJ0rwgULa8puUiUD4l0UCJ92Nz0N8lWbf22DhOhQoyKIQGl2J_kZpjDlcxL_MVVD-3IN2ddHg-eQNQuJXOxrjX91cdKhyphenhyphenJf595H_r/s320/Gator+on+shore.jpg" /></a><br />As I was trying to take an artsy photo of him with the water in the background, another creature swam into view. Gatorland, USA!</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE2-EkQG5kXDw8fVcXjzsHvJjN8QzDQWvJf_8R_-uwhmX980CZAufpXeAzVqDAsR239B4xBOk5h88HO6aiXDtp7xjJVdPBpm0nOYZ-DZbECHRxRRkVC4LX00f6zh89xsNya28CQe-/s1600/two+gators.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 239px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718418780834342930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE2-EkQG5kXDw8fVcXjzsHvJjN8QzDQWvJf_8R_-uwhmX980CZAufpXeAzVqDAsR239B4xBOk5h88HO6aiXDtp7xjJVdPBpm0nOYZ-DZbECHRxRRkVC4LX00f6zh89xsNya28CQe-/s320/two+gators.jpg" /></a><br />Our interloper up close:</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuzJ8-0Ayxhrt092RiXhoCxpBzPMUjm4O1iwAO9mNOfx1u2sSftS9bWXy1KfLI_nn6DGWS82tepE5AuZCbU1buKPS9D5k0domyM6t8d0LJvRpF4mZHBLyOaZ3xoSfMxVncab0AdDH/s1600/gator+in+water.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 227px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718417260944937874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuzJ8-0Ayxhrt092RiXhoCxpBzPMUjm4O1iwAO9mNOfx1u2sSftS9bWXy1KfLI_nn6DGWS82tepE5AuZCbU1buKPS9D5k0domyM6t8d0LJvRpF4mZHBLyOaZ3xoSfMxVncab0AdDH/s320/gator+in+water.jpg" /></a><br />It may not be snake season. But it's gator season every day. Thank you, gators of beautiful South Carolina, for welcoming me to your beautiful state.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9IuLzT7kT3xSX08ZtPmkodVpA25tXFLCcXkS5RNF_DqiSJu3Xewe9sXy11pJaDOeURIQYxGBkbrVdSsGgib-q3vncSLMheGYTspL487G50cVq5Mf67rs5JOIdtIr2jCXZXyjKdvK/s1600/sunset+Kiawah+Island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718417273311074658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9IuLzT7kT3xSX08ZtPmkodVpA25tXFLCcXkS5RNF_DqiSJu3Xewe9sXy11pJaDOeURIQYxGBkbrVdSsGgib-q3vncSLMheGYTspL487G50cVq5Mf67rs5JOIdtIr2jCXZXyjKdvK/s320/sunset+Kiawah+Island.jpg" /></a></p>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-39567604635811402002011-11-09T06:36:00.000-08:002011-11-28T11:03:12.877-08:00Antigua: Land of the Lost (Snake)<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsNGenbD_H6DjA0MMR5fLu61EoW0jkhhPZewEFIahDJW0ecFU5ZZQX5R33occvSPGwQ_yRdcuVD-P37rseNNy0QQyoaiu35SS81xHVqcsDDENC-IIedt9UoIUwS1pZAFWLxgykr7F/s1600/antigua_001p.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 253px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673010545674639826" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsNGenbD_H6DjA0MMR5fLu61EoW0jkhhPZewEFIahDJW0ecFU5ZZQX5R33occvSPGwQ_yRdcuVD-P37rseNNy0QQyoaiu35SS81xHVqcsDDENC-IIedt9UoIUwS1pZAFWLxgykr7F/s320/antigua_001p.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This past week I found myself on the Caribbean island of Antigua, scratching my head at my strange fortune. On the one hand, I was in a stunning area of the world, staying at an amazing resort, hanging around with a motley crew of fascinating folks—and it was a <span style="font-style: italic;">work </span>trip (BASK! GLOAT! BRAG!). On the other hand, I was as close as I will ever get to the world’s most critically endangered snake species, with absolutely no chance of playing my hand at finding one.<br /><br />The Antiguan racer (<em>Alsophis antiguae</em>) was historically found on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda as well as many small offshore island (photo from webecoist.com):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7cQBeDvTHxiXzPC9oevPUfGpAjfkJttQzJxOOmqp6LP8zSrUAw_4aj_T-vX5VjkrwYFnepMa3aP7FcLMtjTJAKgkOi29FarUMPow61syNVQLAI0bC3YXBnfcp3D0cRj27P6IoZ7c/s1600/antiguan-racer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 211px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006169391800594" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7cQBeDvTHxiXzPC9oevPUfGpAjfkJttQzJxOOmqp6LP8zSrUAw_4aj_T-vX5VjkrwYFnepMa3aP7FcLMtjTJAKgkOi29FarUMPow61syNVQLAI0bC3YXBnfcp3D0cRj27P6IoZ7c/s320/antiguan-racer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />But it is now extirpated from the main islands and hangs on only on a few tiny keys. While on the island, we were told that the snake-fearing Britons who colonized the island imported mongooses to control the “snake problem.” This notion immediately caused me to smell a “rat.” Even the most ophidiophobic limey would not go to so much trouble to kill a harmless beast like the racer! As it turns out, the mongooses were imported to kill rats that had invaded the island from ship cargo holds. Unfortunately, the diurnal mongooses never encountered the nocturnal rats, so Rikki Tikki Tavi fed heartily on racers and their eggs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWKqJC73OXNMC53NRjDv7yuGZuL4fNlR7E2nE7WzCr2U-XUhY_2vXWzyAKDjDHpYSFouS5qimu5l5o6kwrk5Iuc27ncGFdUahv50MgWmwtL3HMh6ATeOIQy3xl1g0yG9_y2L77rle/s1600/rikki_tikki_tavi__snake_fight_by_monicamcclain-d3fztwx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 196px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006171833678738" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWKqJC73OXNMC53NRjDv7yuGZuL4fNlR7E2nE7WzCr2U-XUhY_2vXWzyAKDjDHpYSFouS5qimu5l5o6kwrk5Iuc27ncGFdUahv50MgWmwtL3HMh6ATeOIQy3xl1g0yG9_y2L77rle/s320/rikki_tikki_tavi__snake_fight_by_monicamcclain-d3fztwx.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />To make matters worse, the mongooses chomped up the island’s lizards, which were the snakes’ main prey items. Ground dwelling lizards are now few and far between. Here’s an Antiguan ameiva lizard (<em>Ameiva griswoldi</em>), which I was lucky to see a single specimen of:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD_fq77evVex1HWTbrDUbJRMnImrCzQQ6kMjf3IvlfvCXs6R67mUsIfgas2R7IAFgvtnTwnfgYvDIyef3ToTO5VjOoKqiRZHCdkzyPmGhoqodX6TI3awlhdY-p_CuqI7BjD-ZUMiZ/s1600/Ameiva+griswaldi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 210px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006177402530818" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD_fq77evVex1HWTbrDUbJRMnImrCzQQ6kMjf3IvlfvCXs6R67mUsIfgas2R7IAFgvtnTwnfgYvDIyef3ToTO5VjOoKqiRZHCdkzyPmGhoqodX6TI3awlhdY-p_CuqI7BjD-ZUMiZ/s320/Ameiva+griswaldi.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />At one time, scientists estimated that there were only about 50 Antiguan racers left in the wild. Conservation efforts have since increased those numbers by an order of magnitude at least. A success story of sorts! Ah, it would have been so nice to see… but alas! I was here for work, and not my usual snakey sort.<br /><br />What sort of non-snakey work would bring me to a Caribbean island? One of the other octopus-arms of my job—pre-med advising at Cal Poly. A medical school on the island—<a href="http://www.auamed.org/">American University of Antigua</a>—hosted pre-med advisors from California to visit their campus. They have recently received accreditation in California, meaning that their graduates will be able to get residencies and practice medicine in the golden state.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jrN7WNIk0kfaFX4lJaCEoXHd6EUMQ6-AsWZOCIDuRgFwqU-G-JMf0MeOuPrl-VX8QJehih5t3WnLVCrqJl9kXM4MnpzLOO4iqezZsJPNbG3KNh4nbVA4Z-pdfIkyRLHmzj-sttiG/s1600/AUA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 165px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673011128232660466" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jrN7WNIk0kfaFX4lJaCEoXHd6EUMQ6-AsWZOCIDuRgFwqU-G-JMf0MeOuPrl-VX8QJehih5t3WnLVCrqJl9kXM4MnpzLOO4iqezZsJPNbG3KNh4nbVA4Z-pdfIkyRLHmzj-sttiG/s320/AUA.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is a very good Caribbean program. The students and faculty are extremely diverse, and they learn using a combo of large lectures and small hands-on experiences. Here are some students learning how to do a breast examination:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom0IdTFun3BZcVdSIoOeWoDTvzjubwP7Y1Gz0oMUhRGrSkFLJ2NqH3yB6nelONMoIyM6RmB0djZz9vuBnJJiDG7ayi8BENSCkAq7AJHv9Bj6jb-BBwHAc9xTjWO7oha2Z-JemTSLE/s1600/students+working+with+model.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 266px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673007164156918258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom0IdTFun3BZcVdSIoOeWoDTvzjubwP7Y1Gz0oMUhRGrSkFLJ2NqH3yB6nelONMoIyM6RmB0djZz9vuBnJJiDG7ayi8BENSCkAq7AJHv9Bj6jb-BBwHAc9xTjWO7oha2Z-JemTSLE/s320/students+working+with+model.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Cool brain model:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K0qQr1CwrtGk4JrwMfXiIPZZo41Hcv3xiiGdk-UkYVLz7iwyW8jd8RFK2GQuuHg0M-bZbCmGYDp8XZbTzL6O_u-UwEFzrxSs707nRyAGGJZDchgKLCtwoxwDQq0Y7LqlcwZC2r_e/s1600/brain+slice+guy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006478552273106" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K0qQr1CwrtGk4JrwMfXiIPZZo41Hcv3xiiGdk-UkYVLz7iwyW8jd8RFK2GQuuHg0M-bZbCmGYDp8XZbTzL6O_u-UwEFzrxSs707nRyAGGJZDchgKLCtwoxwDQq0Y7LqlcwZC2r_e/s320/brain+slice+guy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The school has state of the art technology, including Bertha—yep, that's a birthing robot. Right now she is set to deliver breach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTRh-wJ-2TR55yHuMgsnr9rmBgOhEh6HXfKdEOKogVclRFLheMs-9Y4DwNsTVT-DmqQuzN6WbzoBHtIO93zNOGAFVy3iVbEnO0BKV005TyBWhPMlfMmzIp1ecSIhfWTxBYPKuSxmJ/s1600/Bertha%2527s+baby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 219px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006471463937970" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTRh-wJ-2TR55yHuMgsnr9rmBgOhEh6HXfKdEOKogVclRFLheMs-9Y4DwNsTVT-DmqQuzN6WbzoBHtIO93zNOGAFVy3iVbEnO0BKV005TyBWhPMlfMmzIp1ecSIhfWTxBYPKuSxmJ/s320/Bertha%2527s+baby.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Even more exciting was Sim-man, a robot that can be programmed with all kinds of symptoms. The students have to diagnose him and give him proper treatment, and he will react accordingly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenKsjk9A3o7vNko0nKSecN2ZozfWOQKkb0mL77_zjEZoaBrUMKVvoptk7B4ON7vqbHvQZiR6XRwALT4U9SF7keef0UlSZxAe-bqR5b6XdTvupCHbAXsUlFSBHcPgMIStlpy4wAYlm/s1600/Sim+man.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673007158568914418" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenKsjk9A3o7vNko0nKSecN2ZozfWOQKkb0mL77_zjEZoaBrUMKVvoptk7B4ON7vqbHvQZiR6XRwALT4U9SF7keef0UlSZxAe-bqR5b6XdTvupCHbAXsUlFSBHcPgMIStlpy4wAYlm/s320/Sim+man.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />After introducing us to the campus, the trip organizers took us around the beautiful island for some sight-seeing. Antigua has a rich history, ripe with pirate tales and skirmishes between the English inhabitants and attacking French. This is a building at Nelson’s Dockyard, a historic area in English Harbour where Admiral Horatio Nelson lived in the 1700’s. The harbor is now a famous yachting and sailing area. Here's one of the historic buildings, complete with badly dressed tourist out front:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S7urU2casNOdcX1vjdQ-0OWxi-AKLTVm2gpjNWpq6fvfmnWr-JtmqY9KpFdgjZrEhzwyilUCII73t0yEFf48462FXiOm3_x87Zp7UXkzBWyLxcurWkbVhV4OfxLJxpF99DQG8QgU/s1600/Nelsons+dockyard+with+funny+tourist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006764185831506" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S7urU2casNOdcX1vjdQ-0OWxi-AKLTVm2gpjNWpq6fvfmnWr-JtmqY9KpFdgjZrEhzwyilUCII73t0yEFf48462FXiOm3_x87Zp7UXkzBWyLxcurWkbVhV4OfxLJxpF99DQG8QgU/s320/Nelsons+dockyard+with+funny+tourist.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Then we went up to Shirley Heights for a view of the dockyard from high up. Beautiful!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSNtz6iP8WBheGkXoCZUM0I5hWi9NEXy5hugnIL-qWfjavAG-EPGc02prRjdCfdQEV9HfxZM-vP2WtSAN1spW4XDHL_hfx181GZSHWWrDgvnNMr_CGmWPdun9Ms4UNVI3m_XFW99l/s1600/view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 234px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673007171712235154" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSNtz6iP8WBheGkXoCZUM0I5hWi9NEXy5hugnIL-qWfjavAG-EPGc02prRjdCfdQEV9HfxZM-vP2WtSAN1spW4XDHL_hfx181GZSHWWrDgvnNMr_CGmWPdun9Ms4UNVI3m_XFW99l/s320/view.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Nearby you could also get a peek of Eric Clapton’s house (which is currently for rent!):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1A73S1flK1TXE06_75RB9h8v5ii7tJ-KLI4bGaRmjgFkMx5QTn49XVoeYNnZLuXWAFUw0aauamOLp8BcourXzpoAiQkhIozp24sa7qMIUxYM7FBSsZGVz49sCJQpzr74qF2VqEBt/s1600/Claptons+house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 189px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006475151361698" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1A73S1flK1TXE06_75RB9h8v5ii7tJ-KLI4bGaRmjgFkMx5QTn49XVoeYNnZLuXWAFUw0aauamOLp8BcourXzpoAiQkhIozp24sa7qMIUxYM7FBSsZGVz49sCJQpzr74qF2VqEBt/s320/Claptons+house.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The island is home to hundreds of churches, from grand to tiny. Here is a particularly gorgeous one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNppUVI3tWAPnw8w2KDkxoLDa0G76a79yR1oqpP4nbvI7rIVUzqAlrRo0GsfalNbAFGSFy4FKxTfM2tQ60EG9K9h7l6a1NJnpHhaWYXXvI1EAvKj-XOqG1D-y3BK6oj8KpPNbg7Wri/s1600/old+church.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006767936591234" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNppUVI3tWAPnw8w2KDkxoLDa0G76a79yR1oqpP4nbvI7rIVUzqAlrRo0GsfalNbAFGSFy4FKxTfM2tQ60EG9K9h7l6a1NJnpHhaWYXXvI1EAvKj-XOqG1D-y3BK6oj8KpPNbg7Wri/s320/old+church.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We enjoyed some excellent Caribbean beer and food:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDbFWN9tuGLsDHQv_7k6dI3LjTsUpjMAt_lAEoNkEjdo6YNEipmqVBBg-ynLGldzFUdm_u6R-vsBDBNP2ePIzJ8BMeaU_kvxSlq-vVfNjrKAhHl36JSwLLFZB0YYmdKJQVyg5QP5S/s1600/Wadadli+beer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673007176563872130" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDbFWN9tuGLsDHQv_7k6dI3LjTsUpjMAt_lAEoNkEjdo6YNEipmqVBBg-ynLGldzFUdm_u6R-vsBDBNP2ePIzJ8BMeaU_kvxSlq-vVfNjrKAhHl36JSwLLFZB0YYmdKJQVyg5QP5S/s320/Wadadli+beer.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqMiBd-jk-vNcnIAL3BAZzRUeaowEDvLMSW4T4V0gT04peAB1Kh_C6_ViziLzxtkhpPYPPYBWlZAukuLxE5OxssPvoyz6_eoj-8u29oqw815MjH-qlLj1R_gb1r7RKlw8jT0B_hMA/s1600/Em+with+cannelloni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006752794540994" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqMiBd-jk-vNcnIAL3BAZzRUeaowEDvLMSW4T4V0gT04peAB1Kh_C6_ViziLzxtkhpPYPPYBWlZAukuLxE5OxssPvoyz6_eoj-8u29oqw815MjH-qlLj1R_gb1r7RKlw8jT0B_hMA/s320/Em+with+cannelloni.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Meghan, my cohort from Cal Poly, REALLY enjoyed this Baked Alaska!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgYMI8Kto-WU9TcyBm2xzhzfgnMNAQANpitJFa54grdtrjZWMYn5rwXiK8dzYWHnA6rirybJMst2rAdW18wEPTPLuhL4rrf74qJnIXZ487sJ8WCfizMySG8iOPYjAkWhZErhQxa6c/s1600/Meghan+and+baked+alaska.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 206px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006761964367938" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgYMI8Kto-WU9TcyBm2xzhzfgnMNAQANpitJFa54grdtrjZWMYn5rwXiK8dzYWHnA6rirybJMst2rAdW18wEPTPLuhL4rrf74qJnIXZ487sJ8WCfizMySG8iOPYjAkWhZErhQxa6c/s320/Meghan+and+baked+alaska.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We stayed at the Carlisle Bay resort at the south end of the island. Absolutely gorgeous! It was nestled right into the tropical vegetation:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9eEHjicfSGwKS6ZdKmUQUCFBx3KzU6fV_e_J7w063MNuogwRD3hJGisdb6hqIM8SIpwkwYkngPbrrTroBC4n_cYWhnzjcOah0_vSYGq1h2Y-wTRzFiBvnOWfxluj1WgnXeI8ieQv/s1600/flower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 224px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006749916924290" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9eEHjicfSGwKS6ZdKmUQUCFBx3KzU6fV_e_J7w063MNuogwRD3hJGisdb6hqIM8SIpwkwYkngPbrrTroBC4n_cYWhnzjcOah0_vSYGq1h2Y-wTRzFiBvnOWfxluj1WgnXeI8ieQv/s320/flower.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWl6x74NBy_H4nQW-ZhOj2leVfIygeYH-lNhiWPLVdF8oK415FXSr25GoCm4Pn-wGyexmCoznnrTSqU_2vKuSaJw2XZL5T21qQsTYXL7dR4L79yPEWpY_uIya1tC8lQ-9bnde2oCr/s1600/plant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673007160083284962" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWl6x74NBy_H4nQW-ZhOj2leVfIygeYH-lNhiWPLVdF8oK415FXSr25GoCm4Pn-wGyexmCoznnrTSqU_2vKuSaJw2XZL5T21qQsTYXL7dR4L79yPEWpY_uIya1tC8lQ-9bnde2oCr/s320/plant.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And of course, right on the beach! Here’s a little Watt’s anole (<em>Anolis wattsi</em>) that I found in front of my room within about 30 seconds of arrival:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEdIcRQzRpNyF4Ff1XWj5OK1BlBJhWlfAVu2A48D8H5lDgvFh8SoK4vtASd1e3rB0FTA6mRvHV9mI_sg5ZMCiYukf-56kB3IgC8aFADODsKzFf7AlSUkr3Kc4JgB5XdVG4vbhEdT-/s1600/Anolis+wattsi+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 245px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006183557187618" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEdIcRQzRpNyF4Ff1XWj5OK1BlBJhWlfAVu2A48D8H5lDgvFh8SoK4vtASd1e3rB0FTA6mRvHV9mI_sg5ZMCiYukf-56kB3IgC8aFADODsKzFf7AlSUkr3Kc4JgB5XdVG4vbhEdT-/s320/Anolis+wattsi+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A better look at a Watt’s anole:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUn1VxMox1E8ClrKP2fV-N21taOJDJuI5bsfHye0pFrPrPP4de96njGLs4y5nQBiHqJAVQKJfya3skCs2Np6MKjY3LPm-uIRYi-lUx4iDuNReZUXuY9OXyTyIzyeBnQl6cWFYbbLf/s1600/Anolis+wattsi+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 230px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006463865604594" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUn1VxMox1E8ClrKP2fV-N21taOJDJuI5bsfHye0pFrPrPP4de96njGLs4y5nQBiHqJAVQKJfya3skCs2Np6MKjY3LPm-uIRYi-lUx4iDuNReZUXuY9OXyTyIzyeBnQl6cWFYbbLf/s320/Anolis+wattsi+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />By far the most common lizard was the Leach’s anole (<em>Anolis leachii</em>), whose arboreal habits apparently keep it out of reach of mongoosedem (this is allegedly the Caribbean slang plural for mongoose).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kEYc7oXn5a2SoVreu49N6HBpQ3b6MFCPPzZ8PqyVpp-GFr0LOamWl8XHgZj3N3pqAN7w2xruXIXwoTrNzVxZ-vb3jVGdnbgToY97wOCMRUYNA1TGWxY_mejYcMb6e1Bk-mixZSWL/s1600/Anolis+leachii+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 202px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006178667254370" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kEYc7oXn5a2SoVreu49N6HBpQ3b6MFCPPzZ8PqyVpp-GFr0LOamWl8XHgZj3N3pqAN7w2xruXIXwoTrNzVxZ-vb3jVGdnbgToY97wOCMRUYNA1TGWxY_mejYcMb6e1Bk-mixZSWL/s320/Anolis+leachii+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The beach at night:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi0YhoKk2ZBmK7i9FsQuPZ5YOTr7HR1cSUcPfqkDDiufa9SZm1IXo-YDcNGzqOUga80O3hAZ9WcqceChtaOydlmDoGqgjbodqJG_9zdcdQcCzKlupwEORJ2_fFqnlXbvyXmFJldTr/s1600/beach+at+night.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673006463954322194" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi0YhoKk2ZBmK7i9FsQuPZ5YOTr7HR1cSUcPfqkDDiufa9SZm1IXo-YDcNGzqOUga80O3hAZ9WcqceChtaOydlmDoGqgjbodqJG_9zdcdQcCzKlupwEORJ2_fFqnlXbvyXmFJldTr/s320/beach+at+night.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Goodnight Caribbean! See you next time!</div>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-77419528882244910152011-10-25T20:33:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:59:58.957-07:00Vandenberg Rattlesnakes<div><a href="http://www.calpoly.edu/~bio/PERL/">PERL</a> has now begun conducting research on rattlesnakes at Vandenberg Air Force Base! This gorgeous area occupies a gigantic swath of land in northern Santa Barbara County. Most of it is pristine, inhabited not by humans but by a motley crew of flora and fauna, including lots of threatened and endangered species. And it is FULL of rattlesnakes-- most definitely neither threatened nor endangered.<br /><br />Near the beach there are beautiful dunes:<br /></div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgdqXRXwr4aLeyqtmxrUYMc1UAltDsvY0vtJDdQGEqNEem3z9nqqOfcsCmAcQkE-apbLQbfj3xkxesf-JZCBABsTit1uQJvDIiAwE43jup36k1fzGy3kprawr3ilbRXNJCPkkQ0Q5/s1600/Vandenberg+dunes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667646474305874274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgdqXRXwr4aLeyqtmxrUYMc1UAltDsvY0vtJDdQGEqNEem3z9nqqOfcsCmAcQkE-apbLQbfj3xkxesf-JZCBABsTit1uQJvDIiAwE43jup36k1fzGy3kprawr3ilbRXNJCPkkQ0Q5/s320/Vandenberg+dunes.jpg" /></a><br />And inland there are rocky hillsides (that's the city of Santa Maria in the background):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEJedDThFGBb9Ul8LorRDzn8FR_fOeKqrVanrBbhexmSGWxxKlj57DlFfzHtBi1ll58ijCLP5YzZqrrigK4GrFGpy8RoWn9fNjpbgyxvXzqSpJaIQ9NLKACRwsKML9Y24FvZ5FUra/s1600/hillside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645296956296354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEJedDThFGBb9Ul8LorRDzn8FR_fOeKqrVanrBbhexmSGWxxKlj57DlFfzHtBi1ll58ijCLP5YzZqrrigK4GrFGpy8RoWn9fNjpbgyxvXzqSpJaIQ9NLKACRwsKML9Y24FvZ5FUra/s320/hillside.jpg" /></a><br />We saw about 15 rattlesnakes just in the rocks visible in this photo:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYZRETzLREMPO8u-Dj9Rj9galPRwI3UFFjO7FDp_QbnrNUZaiSrb8hGxu7nZO0WJ6O91XTTvglOvUb-MwQ6-Hh8xqVA908BTD9qKb5d4CM8XQPxE6HAPZvUt9riWtfHCbx72TXRRh/s1600/rocky+hillside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 187px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645716578692274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYZRETzLREMPO8u-Dj9Rj9galPRwI3UFFjO7FDp_QbnrNUZaiSrb8hGxu7nZO0WJ6O91XTTvglOvUb-MwQ6-Hh8xqVA908BTD9qKb5d4CM8XQPxE6HAPZvUt9riWtfHCbx72TXRRh/s320/rocky+hillside.jpg" /></a><br />These are Southern Pacific rattlesnakes (<span style="font-style:italic;">Crotalus oreganus helleri</span>), whereas <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2011/08/rattlesnake-research-at-cal-poly.html">for the past six years </a>we have been studying Northern Pacifics (<span style="font-style:italic;">C. o. oreganus</span>) about 50 miles to the northeast. It's probably a big intergrade zone, really.<br /><br />Since it's fall, and the air is cool but the sun is warm, most of the snakes are hiding under the rocks, sticking body parts out into the sun:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmewI_6vYgMCK3e3-Sf32CsYITjYHgUZ4n_h6Ol2UcYBOLtxq705Vi4DM2oGFdUP60rbCGJMumY5NShVNokEmlh8uU-qp3yXYPG9KdHniVYA-eDHU8D9cZuIVCUiRkrnTZIFQ9V5u-/s1600/snake+in+rocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 242px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667646461401143154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmewI_6vYgMCK3e3-Sf32CsYITjYHgUZ4n_h6Ol2UcYBOLtxq705Vi4DM2oGFdUP60rbCGJMumY5NShVNokEmlh8uU-qp3yXYPG9KdHniVYA-eDHU8D9cZuIVCUiRkrnTZIFQ9V5u-/s320/snake+in+rocks.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL6xUX-9EVHlaO-mt3GloDurQp9b97SK-R2hXp_uY-v72D6g06VCo3_IgAevcdsCqJsNyF7pR0xkcTYqjBG8f40T4LvYcKWSVuTGZMy5OAJzc_zgSMnsh4m-7uwO_sOiQD8fuIZ1G/s1600/snake+under+rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 211px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667646461269079378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL6xUX-9EVHlaO-mt3GloDurQp9b97SK-R2hXp_uY-v72D6g06VCo3_IgAevcdsCqJsNyF7pR0xkcTYqjBG8f40T4LvYcKWSVuTGZMy5OAJzc_zgSMnsh4m-7uwO_sOiQD8fuIZ1G/s320/snake+under+rock.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXrvkxjxzu_NRpPPQSOsCfDSF9ZmXAnv2mc9_IOquRDmohuOA51NUQx8n1hQbYX7JJ-HymjF7S9rp0VOIiJBlcLohNXKQAYzYgLfcB4n2q75h27ezY6l676o41aSTwBcMJTfgzkjK/s1600/snake+under+rock2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 257px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667646466774861074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXrvkxjxzu_NRpPPQSOsCfDSF9ZmXAnv2mc9_IOquRDmohuOA51NUQx8n1hQbYX7JJ-HymjF7S9rp0VOIiJBlcLohNXKQAYzYgLfcB4n2q75h27ezY6l676o41aSTwBcMJTfgzkjK/s320/snake+under+rock2.jpg" /></a><br />In the words of Roger Repp, "Where's Waldo?" (Hint: There are two rattlesnakes in this photo.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfK6MHE3lKiZKQysO-ocfRyZhSFQKabn9ZcYU1MmLZIV10ovbKU1BfVbkeeJzEXPK-vmzkrzy5BRiuwJjGIqUzYbCEAcNqaYuD6AZp5dwo727D99AF-cKC9oBf4kT6Fy_b9Yxjwyc/s1600/wheres+waldo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 296px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667646479181151410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfK6MHE3lKiZKQysO-ocfRyZhSFQKabn9ZcYU1MmLZIV10ovbKU1BfVbkeeJzEXPK-vmzkrzy5BRiuwJjGIqUzYbCEAcNqaYuD6AZp5dwo727D99AF-cKC9oBf4kT6Fy_b9Yxjwyc/s320/wheres+waldo.jpg" /></a></p><p>Rodent burrows are also favorite spots for snakes to hang out:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCImm8JMmnL-Qq5yv08YUboJY7RTYAedjKrdKn3TiqteMBVKEwH5QuNqyJiC7vn78RwKihyYL_QFE5kXqgXKaCMJ_andAML3WuvoSB1HSf5gfEPCfaEIGf4gjV80y11Tk9RlhM9mqh/s1600/snake+in+burrow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 255px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645734512261282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCImm8JMmnL-Qq5yv08YUboJY7RTYAedjKrdKn3TiqteMBVKEwH5QuNqyJiC7vn78RwKihyYL_QFE5kXqgXKaCMJ_andAML3WuvoSB1HSf5gfEPCfaEIGf4gjV80y11Tk9RlhM9mqh/s320/snake+in+burrow.jpg" /></a><br />In two days out hunting, we saw about 10 male-female pairs! The Northern Pacifics would have been done with mating season by now (because inland it's cold at night?), but the coastal snakes are apparently going strong. If you look closely you'll see a little girl under this boy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK35-J93wL2f82auWAnPPK02mBNx8crr7A2-7nm7aXIAM5AHsVxDSaEgwB19tTnuKju0edhhvWITRRF4jFc9_60-If8FVhrycpQb04SYnIulDvWPU4vdOiqu_lYPQc4R1VIe4IFpB/s1600/male+on+top+of+female.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645299893078530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK35-J93wL2f82auWAnPPK02mBNx8crr7A2-7nm7aXIAM5AHsVxDSaEgwB19tTnuKju0edhhvWITRRF4jFc9_60-If8FVhrycpQb04SYnIulDvWPU4vdOiqu_lYPQc4R1VIe4IFpB/s320/male+on+top+of+female.jpg" /></a><br />The big question is: Why are there so many snakes here? Could be the weather, could be the isolation from humans, definitely is the massive number and variety of rodents. Everywhere you look you see mouse burrows:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv96oH-_4uYUQdMV3iylW0Dqd7y5kPvepbEcHGzbPUFaRIjNDSqdRjOT2_aPCbRKdMaw2JaT7D27azqDsx9I4MmSBnqHR7pAYC_br_iWfW7ivoSkIwiKBdolYzIvQscw89IBGhGbU/s1600/rodent+holes1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645717597816482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv96oH-_4uYUQdMV3iylW0Dqd7y5kPvepbEcHGzbPUFaRIjNDSqdRjOT2_aPCbRKdMaw2JaT7D27azqDsx9I4MmSBnqHR7pAYC_br_iWfW7ivoSkIwiKBdolYzIvQscw89IBGhGbU/s320/rodent+holes1.jpg" /></a><br />Ground squirrel burrows:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9fFdpwoJ2onE3EnDo4bAUVQXmXpmuV0zlsmYWLoLBSTtXxfNgHiW_5ZCeMWsi9ZhwAlHfdVGWI7RbcvoWv6H45xWSpgq91ZBDAmCCkzr8YPF-apPMOgF6oOlPyiRGcheAefAv14L/s1600/rodent+holes2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645724393075218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9fFdpwoJ2onE3EnDo4bAUVQXmXpmuV0zlsmYWLoLBSTtXxfNgHiW_5ZCeMWsi9ZhwAlHfdVGWI7RbcvoWv6H45xWSpgq91ZBDAmCCkzr8YPF-apPMOgF6oOlPyiRGcheAefAv14L/s320/rodent+holes2.jpg" /></a><br />And gopher mounds:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYhyphenhypheneUYJHo4R5SwELYADJlv-idsS42V_Alr_eEl8GM6i0GYcwITo1b_EDm1iJ7xR4hDR-jeIb1z_yctJycpwK81w23uJMCZCM_UIK5lhd_uLkSSf7iX1NgQI-ODzo-JGGRH6qYDZw/s1600/rodent+holes3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645731516294866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYhyphenhypheneUYJHo4R5SwELYADJlv-idsS42V_Alr_eEl8GM6i0GYcwITo1b_EDm1iJ7xR4hDR-jeIb1z_yctJycpwK81w23uJMCZCM_UIK5lhd_uLkSSf7iX1NgQI-ODzo-JGGRH6qYDZw/s320/rodent+holes3.jpg" /></a><br />The result is heaps of rattlesnakes that grow FAST. See this medium-sized male that Scott is holding?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5-rHi7G6dz28yFQKfbg272haHuN_Eiq4jvM5WRUxxe5e2Ky_4OPc0LCsQ7D91GzndPqhIdKufukOw9IJMxWdCgbn6Km1a6WWmlQoIYLHGR5EAIOcoQrz33zK0gF9jjDJZQgThCfl/s1600/big+little+rattler.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645288930556066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5-rHi7G6dz28yFQKfbg272haHuN_Eiq4jvM5WRUxxe5e2Ky_4OPc0LCsQ7D91GzndPqhIdKufukOw9IJMxWdCgbn6Km1a6WWmlQoIYLHGR5EAIOcoQrz33zK0gF9jjDJZQgThCfl/s320/big+little+rattler.jpg" /></a><br />Look at his rattle! This snake is no older than three years. He's huge for that age! Nothing like a steady supply of tasty voles to fuel rattlesnake biomass.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ-uMxCWvsYW8i2onwQbiUGhFpJBaqrkAMMPAwqS1sVbOSfqUpPiP5lljdMB7VfEhJPyhcIp3CemZlxzjvY5R94Te9ZFE3K3FmNICdvsTQHXISyoBdABLf-5_0JaZuHUb8fFWW874/s1600/rattle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645324026448882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ-uMxCWvsYW8i2onwQbiUGhFpJBaqrkAMMPAwqS1sVbOSfqUpPiP5lljdMB7VfEhJPyhcIp3CemZlxzjvY5R94Te9ZFE3K3FmNICdvsTQHXISyoBdABLf-5_0JaZuHUb8fFWW874/s320/rattle.jpg" /></a><br />And one more cool thing: BABIES! (These are Northern Pacifics from inland though)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGuEuAtgZJO7v99klLVj3ZP-k0Bl6GIcF7jfKsRTBXgMpqHzwAk7RIORLUBwjnnI0f-8SKm5bvcQAUroa7MYt5YQpdm-aqrJyWALmfWQbVDl4TWlE5yIo74sCGv0ktgu5vI9F2T7F/s1600/babies1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 222px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667645286730116034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGuEuAtgZJO7v99klLVj3ZP-k0Bl6GIcF7jfKsRTBXgMpqHzwAk7RIORLUBwjnnI0f-8SKm5bvcQAUroa7MYt5YQpdm-aqrJyWALmfWQbVDl4TWlE5yIo74sCGv0ktgu5vI9F2T7F/s320/babies1.jpg" /></a></p><div>Stay tuned for a lot more snakey updates from VAFB!</div>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-13608082109675222752011-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:002011-08-16T06:55:29.824-07:00Rattlesnake Research at Cal Poly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v-Vd4oXsMGAJzmQHObBikTB8Ex7wDIy6Y7_UBSh1m7Oa2YOh5uNE8asls4kgBX1UK7-27pcqzbpwYRXNXgv2dhBvetYjzpcb6X_wcuwedTrIx29BwAE_6whYvvUt92lBJNQWvl6v/s1600/rattlesnake+in+the+grass.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640456711727493522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v-Vd4oXsMGAJzmQHObBikTB8Ex7wDIy6Y7_UBSh1m7Oa2YOh5uNE8asls4kgBX1UK7-27pcqzbpwYRXNXgv2dhBvetYjzpcb6X_wcuwedTrIx29BwAE_6whYvvUt92lBJNQWvl6v/s320/rattlesnake+in+the+grass.JPG" /></a> Celebrating 5 fun-filled years of rattlesnake research in the Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Laboratory at Cal Poly! In this post, I want to introduce you to some of the cool things we have seen rattlesnakes doing, and to the students who have made it all happen.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj9d7MgnVmkWB-e4iaiNDzu025-K2I7mJUlasynUtEXtPKIDrOHEDeV2VCO5XY8tRdp6kj7mT2IvBR5XE2Vp9IMJbVNDafB1Qch3kjvkkgJb0ntf7UFeDrqmm4OsmY25W_Od6OGqQ/s1600/the+snake+crew.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640445159896853586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj9d7MgnVmkWB-e4iaiNDzu025-K2I7mJUlasynUtEXtPKIDrOHEDeV2VCO5XY8tRdp6kj7mT2IvBR5XE2Vp9IMJbVNDafB1Qch3kjvkkgJb0ntf7UFeDrqmm4OsmY25W_Od6OGqQ/s320/the+snake+crew.jpg" /></a>We do not keep a colony of rattlesnakes at Cal Poly. We only keep rattlesnakes in captivity for short periods of time while they are outfitted with radiotransmitters for our research on their physiology and behavior. The students spend most of their quality time with the snakes not in the lab, but in the field.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO2WMXR4960f1MCm3KfgCq3erpMAs7tO_IkuZ4Sit0fE7G7KS7_iuHwu4F7IUawj2e7ITSzGh-8t8vlHx9QdRn4DsaOGIHOq_0IEXHm9m9xnYAPG12wxWZJD9LkYnoq65QG4ZCnFQ/s1600/rattlesnake+coiled.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640456701574207874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO2WMXR4960f1MCm3KfgCq3erpMAs7tO_IkuZ4Sit0fE7G7KS7_iuHwu4F7IUawj2e7ITSzGh-8t8vlHx9QdRn4DsaOGIHOq_0IEXHm9m9xnYAPG12wxWZJD9LkYnoq65QG4ZCnFQ/s320/rattlesnake+coiled.jpg" /></a>
<br />One of the great things about studying rattlesnakes is that they are large enough that we can insert a Holohil Systems 13-gram radiotransmitter (about half the width and length of a tube of lipstick) into the snake's body cavity. The battery last for two years, allowing us to track the same snake for extended periods without multiple surgeries.
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<br />To anesthetize the snake, it is gassed with isoflurane in a plastic tube (all surgery photos by M. Feldner):
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyaI3fjmpnEFazET0eWWsVSesNKIlM91ca1rBN1XZmNM3Gp60WEB6GITuxhorBpW3GhMA72Xs4tyPxwprxatu-nB_s0ma0LcteJFShR6FH6WX9dUzdbaQlSQDfrjApKmfhIF_7Lxx/s1600/administering+isoflorane.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428544872487074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyaI3fjmpnEFazET0eWWsVSesNKIlM91ca1rBN1XZmNM3Gp60WEB6GITuxhorBpW3GhMA72Xs4tyPxwprxatu-nB_s0ma0LcteJFShR6FH6WX9dUzdbaQlSQDfrjApKmfhIF_7Lxx/s320/administering+isoflorane.jpg" /></a>Then a small incision into the body cavity is made, and the sterilized radiotransmitter is inserted:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9bTvXb4ObHb2w8Kr9Z8soe3nX5rQTHrUgf-YhbJ2edvBErsIJmgDr-b_xCZk2neCq0Kkkf_0-1uybIOz52yTo48k4N8LbTqF1qtAJiTm2jEanxOFqFISDc1HLGGWdY6z-dnSoi81/s1600/Inserting+transmitter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428149303880050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9bTvXb4ObHb2w8Kr9Z8soe3nX5rQTHrUgf-YhbJ2edvBErsIJmgDr-b_xCZk2neCq0Kkkf_0-1uybIOz52yTo48k4N8LbTqF1qtAJiTm2jEanxOFqFISDc1HLGGWdY6z-dnSoi81/s320/Inserting+transmitter.jpg" /></a>We also insert a Thermochron iButton datalogger, which collects data on the snake's internal body temperature at whatever intervals you like (usually every 1-2 hours in our studies):
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq6b_s0nXy7QaioIQoyn2li2jxxWCStWsOmg8F2r_W0G6xbKVF5SuQkWNAViRk2g7FjuIHBCe5pCao5eDkwEKVe_9fmYwANc4EDQxBXFNBmRWmRVIiCOxGkUBmJ-WdfaoT6pI6IiX/s1600/Inserting+datalogger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428147991716786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq6b_s0nXy7QaioIQoyn2li2jxxWCStWsOmg8F2r_W0G6xbKVF5SuQkWNAViRk2g7FjuIHBCe5pCao5eDkwEKVe_9fmYwANc4EDQxBXFNBmRWmRVIiCOxGkUBmJ-WdfaoT6pI6IiX/s320/Inserting+datalogger.jpg" /></a> All sutured up:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyApyCN-OSqbWSAMvC87b4NC956pDkx208FdDBv_EtxMst1F4DOF4NPjwo6RZR34oHBFqQs_uRHgYAaKGTW_P8NYr38xKAElpFUBmp7Cx8uKjINnZMMqLyRIm5mJMOid7kkpwogycu/s1600/sutures.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428159111453874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyApyCN-OSqbWSAMvC87b4NC956pDkx208FdDBv_EtxMst1F4DOF4NPjwo6RZR34oHBFqQs_uRHgYAaKGTW_P8NYr38xKAElpFUBmp7Cx8uKjINnZMMqLyRIm5mJMOid7kkpwogycu/s320/sutures.jpg" /></a> To wake the snake up, a tracheal tube is inserted into its glottis:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVIm1FL_XEPLOHrYvgEm1ZruvyZ2nlxuenqMM7T6FiIySKVf9dePeIoXNAp1ZJrspvEpX5yHuCGqvE5ICAjTM7lnzZxVaJ9gY9wOQvne6qt1BNnerNQ9nXiOEo3BUN1q_W57pjGEH/s1600/intubation.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428542933804898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVIm1FL_XEPLOHrYvgEm1ZruvyZ2nlxuenqMM7T6FiIySKVf9dePeIoXNAp1ZJrspvEpX5yHuCGqvE5ICAjTM7lnzZxVaJ9gY9wOQvne6qt1BNnerNQ9nXiOEo3BUN1q_W57pjGEH/s320/intubation.jpg" /></a>Then I blow into the tube to inflate the snake's lung with air, so when the air comes out, so does the isoflurane, and snake wakes up.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhlxPdhvXbc-zXadyeZR2zTAdYhapeGHZOsP_arHF473HRGViORvaGi8tMQvGxy1b9_C-yOzMSA9JWnhPl0TT4T210rpSHUUbSO2f_QAcppelUSIDYTu2CT02wt2g5WyU4-66I5lS/s1600/wake+the+snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428151757940434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhlxPdhvXbc-zXadyeZR2zTAdYhapeGHZOsP_arHF473HRGViORvaGi8tMQvGxy1b9_C-yOzMSA9JWnhPl0TT4T210rpSHUUbSO2f_QAcppelUSIDYTu2CT02wt2g5WyU4-66I5lS/s320/wake+the+snake.jpg" /></a>Then the snakes are returned to the field site and can be radiotracked to locate them as often as you want, to get data on behaviors, movement, etc., or to collect the snakes for blood sampling. Here is Kyle, one of the first students to work on snakes with me at Cal poly (2007). (Incidentally, Kyle couldn't stay away and is beginning his graduate work with me next month... on lizards!)
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_TU-mY7KMRpt15aFRR6xziWGyy9NcT74Xjq7WwtM8VdnHFXELLJo26p5QG2QrvU2WjJJi549Wz0PEdWFKTF3BYd0eY3uQ7fSBelKLDInZ9GlCEvYWtQwLkRXqifjOhc3LNtNIc05/s1600/Kyle+radiotracking+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428551409492738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_TU-mY7KMRpt15aFRR6xziWGyy9NcT74Xjq7WwtM8VdnHFXELLJo26p5QG2QrvU2WjJJi549Wz0PEdWFKTF3BYd0eY3uQ7fSBelKLDInZ9GlCEvYWtQwLkRXqifjOhc3LNtNIc05/s320/Kyle+radiotracking+1.jpg" /></a>Snakes are recognizable in the field not just by radiotracking, but by their unique, colored rattle paint code:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZp5XGa8E4dFeu8ay2YvQhASrmDuq6Ucn3WzrH9k5cA9K3uicwd93ChhGRskfdJTFymdpm9Hbbsh-FHF6HAFgvGEBzAoyXPo8Ok_9xoT2-CcoUdR8cFVfEP8q4u6CDYIC_ibafVoo/s1600/painted+rattles+in+hole+5.3.08.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428156318758834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZp5XGa8E4dFeu8ay2YvQhASrmDuq6Ucn3WzrH9k5cA9K3uicwd93ChhGRskfdJTFymdpm9Hbbsh-FHF6HAFgvGEBzAoyXPo8Ok_9xoT2-CcoUdR8cFVfEP8q4u6CDYIC_ibafVoo/s320/painted+rattles+in+hole+5.3.08.jpg" /></a> Our field site is the <a href="http://www.chimineasranchfoundation.org/">Chimineas Ranch </a>unit of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve. This is a ~30,000 acre ranch that is managed for cattle, game, and wildlife. Its northern edge is studded with water impoundments and rocky outcrops that comprise perfect rattlesnake habitat:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwlQqE9kR7P4pc5K_0GacbALJLZy51PtAgTRVIP2EvUoQkEyaCwoLKRVeV_xALHn6ShRQHC__BQPq7ujycBfgLZK6UEpLc0vHxQ3O7nnA6VVzCwzXsJcI51ovhloA_0hGG-QZxZU2/s1600/Chimineas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640442528461750050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwlQqE9kR7P4pc5K_0GacbALJLZy51PtAgTRVIP2EvUoQkEyaCwoLKRVeV_xALHn6ShRQHC__BQPq7ujycBfgLZK6UEpLc0vHxQ3O7nnA6VVzCwzXsJcI51ovhloA_0hGG-QZxZU2/s320/Chimineas.jpg" /></a>The ranch also has a beautiful house with pool and hot tub that you can rent while you do research.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvlQcw3RyPaCDUfcmON5W-6n5Y-JYqHD6p5oTsQCmmF1uFv-LN7inSE9qbqxSPGkgEOTQKjPA_5RPp7_Rmo2VkqkZogLwXwlMWhJZI4R1aSzFUPRcLycXglySVSrEv49Ovguxbmif/s1600/Chimineas+pool.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640442521734323986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvlQcw3RyPaCDUfcmON5W-6n5Y-JYqHD6p5oTsQCmmF1uFv-LN7inSE9qbqxSPGkgEOTQKjPA_5RPp7_Rmo2VkqkZogLwXwlMWhJZI4R1aSzFUPRcLycXglySVSrEv49Ovguxbmif/s320/Chimineas+pool.JPG" /></a>Current graduate student Tony in the poolside cookhouse:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dEBtayUZCbchjYtR3D0JflQUxoChyphenhyphenWaTgphlFMmZ5npIIzK_NSoSmligg3TF_mmdCbl6Q_jwh6dn53lwYFwqNlJoXqL1Gkrt5_TA1UnEn8f6gQnzxB3RQ6EesGNy8CJ1maR5k5L5/s1600/welcome+to+Chimineas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640422303433617346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dEBtayUZCbchjYtR3D0JflQUxoChyphenhyphenWaTgphlFMmZ5npIIzK_NSoSmligg3TF_mmdCbl6Q_jwh6dn53lwYFwqNlJoXqL1Gkrt5_TA1UnEn8f6gQnzxB3RQ6EesGNy8CJ1maR5k5L5/s320/welcome+to+Chimineas.jpg" /></a>The past five years of research on this species, the northern Pacific rattlesnake, have yielded all sorts of interesting natural history data. A very common sight in the spring (also in the fall, but less so) is courting rattlesnakes. Males coil next to or on top of a female, and run their chins all over the female's back in the hopes that she will become receptive to his advances. Males often stay with females for prolonged periods of time.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o-EdpAo9ipcdHfAOkJRQ3ei-Jw_sLFoz5YB5jk-hucu_Oyams8TdVWszq3T7s2zoXbdWrEAH9Xq-cg6RA-hvmv0AGX_h50YYyHUNfyubZoiyYgg8wgqRWLdU-oEDPQEwoo7KZn4z/s1600/rattlesnake+pairing+4-2-11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420105567285394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o-EdpAo9ipcdHfAOkJRQ3ei-Jw_sLFoz5YB5jk-hucu_Oyams8TdVWszq3T7s2zoXbdWrEAH9Xq-cg6RA-hvmv0AGX_h50YYyHUNfyubZoiyYgg8wgqRWLdU-oEDPQEwoo7KZn4z/s320/rattlesnake+pairing+4-2-11.jpg" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIPGJWYBmwW4IrDJPwj8ZTh8Bp1bu2VKPDrSgxUyfnHvmKiIP6Kez20TrZYS_ZH-Vb6F9AIjMKn8NaJMmO-WH0KBNsdqVBIfPGd3-vQ0UqJ-0T3yqm2NuWeQH2-2l3Pl7_YRzIDI5/s1600/snakes+courting.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420867469815138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIPGJWYBmwW4IrDJPwj8ZTh8Bp1bu2VKPDrSgxUyfnHvmKiIP6Kez20TrZYS_ZH-Vb6F9AIjMKn8NaJMmO-WH0KBNsdqVBIfPGd3-vQ0UqJ-0T3yqm2NuWeQH2-2l3Pl7_YRzIDI5/s320/snakes+courting.jpg" /></a>In the late spring the rattlesnakes are commonly found with food bulges that are suspiciously similar in size to a juvenile ground squirrel:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3nTbIwE-OKwL-szzIL4vWWFa9G1RM9pXrSNwL8KIBysAEl6k98foYFSFxhwEOTCtdh3shPPRNwA2k9lJL-RMhlBFVi6Tc7far52bLnXROIjNls6zNsOngf1nvqx4_lFf3R661QcW/s1600/rattlesnake+food+bulge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420107387295074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3nTbIwE-OKwL-szzIL4vWWFa9G1RM9pXrSNwL8KIBysAEl6k98foYFSFxhwEOTCtdh3shPPRNwA2k9lJL-RMhlBFVi6Tc7far52bLnXROIjNls6zNsOngf1nvqx4_lFf3R661QcW/s320/rattlesnake+food+bulge.jpg" /></a>Sometimes we are lucky enough to witness the feeding events itself. Recently graduated grad student Matt (now off to start his PhD studying venom ecology at Ohio State) took this photo of a snake mowing a kangaroo rat.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4mjaF8zVYDNJzi-fsqI3nO7Uvz5dW2ghYYZiC9GnoA9rFl9F9DPmWhjQz2muTOuEeMt4eUT10R-rcStqA_nTcg3XEAX5_VjwQyiQHDCc-mHJuWP7KY0S9D7B1A-Wb4Dus8StPYiy/s1600/snake+eating+k-rat+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420869839330418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4mjaF8zVYDNJzi-fsqI3nO7Uvz5dW2ghYYZiC9GnoA9rFl9F9DPmWhjQz2muTOuEeMt4eUT10R-rcStqA_nTcg3XEAX5_VjwQyiQHDCc-mHJuWP7KY0S9D7B1A-Wb4Dus8StPYiy/s320/snake+eating+k-rat+1.jpg" /></a>Another snake eating a kangaroo rat, this time on the ranch house grounds (photo by J. Ahle):
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC5U6EjjhUdtHbu4woYM8AZ1fTboVo2Sjw7dVMYlnv-j3n6oHmC55w0dN_5h7oYzeizTV2VnK8uu_7SbOy-IEAluwK8exg3qLI_wpQaSo9RXIDhyfIB2Gfoj1gLEcmwf_v63wdTjG/s1600/small+snake+eating+Krat+June+2008.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428546901663906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC5U6EjjhUdtHbu4woYM8AZ1fTboVo2Sjw7dVMYlnv-j3n6oHmC55w0dN_5h7oYzeizTV2VnK8uu_7SbOy-IEAluwK8exg3qLI_wpQaSo9RXIDhyfIB2Gfoj1gLEcmwf_v63wdTjG/s320/small+snake+eating+Krat+June+2008.jpg" /></a>Here is one of our radiotagged snakes eating a bird. We didn't get close enough for a positive ID on the bird for fear of disturbing the snake, but it might be a cowbird or blackbird:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-dleLX54gjSeQQEwruxG5aX-a21wDyHnanXZAqHA_D9olXEGXn_rqUksox3u0YjcdsjIeTMGothkb46ALcpWWUpn7IN9RiGjXCGfa2G6Vld7G7z0apL3Fv9n8HPz5XseuTIAQRzY/s1600/rattlesnake+eating+bird.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428659697515826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-dleLX54gjSeQQEwruxG5aX-a21wDyHnanXZAqHA_D9olXEGXn_rqUksox3u0YjcdsjIeTMGothkb46ALcpWWUpn7IN9RiGjXCGfa2G6Vld7G7z0apL3Fv9n8HPz5XseuTIAQRzY/s320/rattlesnake+eating+bird.jpg" /></a>Rarely, we found the predator becoming prey. Here, an adult California kingsnake is constricting an adult female rattlesnake (photo by M. Feldner):
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsbAszdmmsfLgDE5pO_QWTzGumvYBfeMlz1gew5sHuP1z8Huf4RkdoQ0ZFMQse6XvBU1S2OC-LLmHdMvumZYLoxKFETMQenlmY_bBcFnJNLk-EKlUUKULCVUQewZy9ef5Ds8Zim2T/s1600/kingsnake+eating+rattlesnake3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640428548616017234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsbAszdmmsfLgDE5pO_QWTzGumvYBfeMlz1gew5sHuP1z8Huf4RkdoQ0ZFMQse6XvBU1S2OC-LLmHdMvumZYLoxKFETMQenlmY_bBcFnJNLk-EKlUUKULCVUQewZy9ef5Ds8Zim2T/s320/kingsnake+eating+rattlesnake3.jpg" /></a>We strive to make our activities accessible to as many people as possible, to demystify rattlesnakes and show the public how docile and beautiful rattlesnakes are in their natural habitats. We bring groups of students from Cal Poly's Wildlife Club, Herpetology class, etc. to the ranch to see the herps. Here Tony is allowing students to touch a safely restrained rattlesnake.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6TTTLjUV3S6O9AjjW6WCH6F8uoN7jBs2QkCaVJ1xjAmsgx1HCW9_ie9LzZqU6S5KHeIPv3v92HpFFcja0r3wyNlyqF0Kv80dmgW4SucamfI21dOILwVmKm9qVcPuvAm-BGLp09Er/s1600/Tony+and+herpetology+students.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420866324865090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6TTTLjUV3S6O9AjjW6WCH6F8uoN7jBs2QkCaVJ1xjAmsgx1HCW9_ie9LzZqU6S5KHeIPv3v92HpFFcja0r3wyNlyqF0Kv80dmgW4SucamfI21dOILwVmKm9qVcPuvAm-BGLp09Er/s320/Tony+and+herpetology+students.jpg" /></a>Jordan was an undergraduate studying thermal biology of the rattlesnakes (2009):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDUi4608mvLxLQt-QlIJznoq2atQxIBYpbVJnmIFauaCJy-VtDz1OqBBCzw50p9HX_eIaux3jS4iK2_o_GBrYtbJHs60pVjwypHWQsDAtl0iQCfql3IyIv_UtXaL929Zkw-GIafBU/s1600/Jordan_tubing_a_snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640442527061493042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDUi4608mvLxLQt-QlIJznoq2atQxIBYpbVJnmIFauaCJy-VtDz1OqBBCzw50p9HX_eIaux3jS4iK2_o_GBrYtbJHs60pVjwypHWQsDAtl0iQCfql3IyIv_UtXaL929Zkw-GIafBU/s320/Jordan_tubing_a_snake.jpg" /></a>Bree did her undergraduate research project with me in 2009 on rattlesnake spatial ecology, and is now getting her PhD studying rattlesnake-rodent behavioral interactions (You can read her blog <a href="http://strikerattleroll.blogspot.com/">here</a>).
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkIFHz8pqo4YqNNnnU90XEPaf11V-92zZ3H-f0A5iHFZrxcEn7d5hogCNow_0wykKTudeXuKtyclxGi24yiva2D1dZYkLLRsMAgK2DaEPeltNPxXVbDOu_6lhlSWwzx-9OPf0l72K/s1600/Bree+and+rattlesnake.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420102288638706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkIFHz8pqo4YqNNnnU90XEPaf11V-92zZ3H-f0A5iHFZrxcEn7d5hogCNow_0wykKTudeXuKtyclxGi24yiva2D1dZYkLLRsMAgK2DaEPeltNPxXVbDOu_6lhlSWwzx-9OPf0l72K/s320/Bree+and+rattlesnake.JPG" /></a>Peter (left) and Craig were respectively undergraduate and graduate students doing some of the earliest work on rattlesnakes in my lab (2007-2008). Craig is now pursuing his PhD studying physiology of timber rattlesnakes at the University of Arkansas.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uITbjMte7q6jE4b_V8WNkoMuyWTUOEpE8OCSc9pFeJHM4XU4kQyBxkPEV1gBrqlKiV97ZybBHlA22fkwZoPUx29ZH_cD-dutlc1JoVw_0jnRCAezdeVXpnq-gXGmn2ICdxMeJbPr/s1600/Peter+Craig+and+snake.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420097335366594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uITbjMte7q6jE4b_V8WNkoMuyWTUOEpE8OCSc9pFeJHM4XU4kQyBxkPEV1gBrqlKiV97ZybBHlA22fkwZoPUx29ZH_cD-dutlc1JoVw_0jnRCAezdeVXpnq-gXGmn2ICdxMeJbPr/s320/Peter+Craig+and+snake.JPG" /></a> Vince, a community college student doing research on snake brains in my colleague Christy Strand's lab, came out for a chance to hold one of his study animals (2010):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tYie2tqNpszB-ifL8YigV_vhFXlYrl5NMgn4J-nQXP0xi1fCi2YX1REKjdJK76ZHqMgJCq6cEJaVr0HNtYabO1jpxMs-TAxn6v-VPJd9lslTuWvgDcUtdy-CHKqjXneh0SCDCAs7/s1600/Vince+and+rattlesnake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640422290576952626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tYie2tqNpszB-ifL8YigV_vhFXlYrl5NMgn4J-nQXP0xi1fCi2YX1REKjdJK76ZHqMgJCq6cEJaVr0HNtYabO1jpxMs-TAxn6v-VPJd9lslTuWvgDcUtdy-CHKqjXneh0SCDCAs7/s320/Vince+and+rattlesnake.jpg" /></a> Those pair-bonded to the PI also get a chance, especially when he finds 75% of the snakes in a given day. Here's Steve holding his first rattlesnake (2010):
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt-NyDowgztZgbvc2TButxHchuLDUznkVReuQQTl-i9jSGUqbdI-H8U6rsR3WcgwFH_pyrnTY9Sqh7lg3GJGSViLWbBPhS96QKkAZqsbtH0CrgbOWmPxXyBvno_zYhXcSljrbYAep/s1600/Steve+and+snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640422296617867778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt-NyDowgztZgbvc2TButxHchuLDUznkVReuQQTl-i9jSGUqbdI-H8U6rsR3WcgwFH_pyrnTY9Sqh7lg3GJGSViLWbBPhS96QKkAZqsbtH0CrgbOWmPxXyBvno_zYhXcSljrbYAep/s320/Steve+and+snake.jpg" /></a>Other than outreach, why are we actually holding rattlesnakes? Because our research questions often require us to collect blood samples to measure hormone concentrations, lending us the dubious titles of Snake Vampires. Here, current undergraduate Scott (left) and Tony take a blood sample from the caudal vein of a snake:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G-NfP-yndwaZXwjE_Pg_5M8bwvgVgMXC1quWH87DS9oGoz6GPSC3DAkVIqM4vzB2f08bkZz37SbicWXlJPhAmgHrSOF3O_dc4GFBKUNSnpAfxKrOOpVaCvp3Q0ATv4V6BhTKxVJ5/s1600/Tony+and+Scott.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640422298736204914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G-NfP-yndwaZXwjE_Pg_5M8bwvgVgMXC1quWH87DS9oGoz6GPSC3DAkVIqM4vzB2f08bkZz37SbicWXlJPhAmgHrSOF3O_dc4GFBKUNSnpAfxKrOOpVaCvp3Q0ATv4V6BhTKxVJ5/s320/Tony+and+Scott.jpg" /></a>On another day, Tony and Matt take a sample:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwSwoWQ1OVpO73iK4LYZ9lcDyYN0OkhjBxDLJEBZaAWhs4n7r6oxHxH8NcwvpM8K7Aoqr3AImMQuTz_AcEtu1Qh2Oe-_uxwvKTQoNZGjl68TFQy9bfg4hkxPeFGHUS5lUtLLOIW7D/s1600/bleeders.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420095591584962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwSwoWQ1OVpO73iK4LYZ9lcDyYN0OkhjBxDLJEBZaAWhs4n7r6oxHxH8NcwvpM8K7Aoqr3AImMQuTz_AcEtu1Qh2Oe-_uxwvKTQoNZGjl68TFQy9bfg4hkxPeFGHUS5lUtLLOIW7D/s320/bleeders.jpg" /></a> You can read more about PERL's rattlesnake research at our <a href="http://www.calpoly.edu/~bio/PERL/">website</a> and <a href="http://works.bepress.com/etaylor/">publication site</a>. Look for more coming soon as all the boys (and Bree gal) publish their stuff!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2tg6RXZdBBz4dlITJtUCI-wishptQ9LDeyg_4ZnW8Uk4cCBHmX6ufXBzlm7T7Tm3aQnuKnsN91muYj1-sp-cswx7qRlyWc7VjrJwjw_PmLpTHpMAWzwPWVYCecWXPD5BaZqhJGUr/s1600/thesis+posters.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640420862612736482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2tg6RXZdBBz4dlITJtUCI-wishptQ9LDeyg_4ZnW8Uk4cCBHmX6ufXBzlm7T7Tm3aQnuKnsN91muYj1-sp-cswx7qRlyWc7VjrJwjw_PmLpTHpMAWzwPWVYCecWXPD5BaZqhJGUr/s320/thesis+posters.jpg" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FVjy22BZBZ2YOKkiK-ys26CdhGMCLzqCws5FdBQSs6xqo2HLAbdGFR1BkjliTbL2DrgtHscl-YZ-KZ20UQCBArvdlaQtjKsESI_PSz5MFK7DcsZn7_2vgkgJiAenUaFvqcRMi-hN/s1600/em+and+the+boys+at+pond+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640456706418000674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FVjy22BZBZ2YOKkiK-ys26CdhGMCLzqCws5FdBQSs6xqo2HLAbdGFR1BkjliTbL2DrgtHscl-YZ-KZ20UQCBArvdlaQtjKsESI_PSz5MFK7DcsZn7_2vgkgJiAenUaFvqcRMi-hN/s320/em+and+the+boys+at+pond+3.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>
<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-76736315964435165692011-08-04T17:49:00.000-07:002011-08-16T07:04:33.438-07:00Horseshoe 2 Fire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbCGyvZSqjPQsXS2-AFwLhKBgk0pblcdP1pNtloRFBEp621OgFnw2A0RHVekrgX6kdYsfch9i84ZrbHXS3XdAQpWaUaKoVE91BVR59cG0y4w0B1RFIWKo-Y9KLSKxh8lgWn2tajaT/s1600/horseshoe+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168622298876690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbCGyvZSqjPQsXS2-AFwLhKBgk0pblcdP1pNtloRFBEp621OgFnw2A0RHVekrgX6kdYsfch9i84ZrbHXS3XdAQpWaUaKoVE91BVR59cG0y4w0B1RFIWKo-Y9KLSKxh8lgWn2tajaT/s320/horseshoe+2.jpg" /></a> (photo by Sheri Ashley)
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<br />On Mother’s Day, 2011, the Horseshoe 2 fire broke out in the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona. The exact cause has yet to be identified, but it is said to be human-set, perhaps from an untended campfire. The result was devastating: almost the entire mountain range, a full 230,000+ acres, was burned. Parts are okay, other parts are bad, many are worse.
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<br />Here is a NASA map showing the area burned by the fire (basically the whole mountain range):
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KHScvUyR7inLp17aE1hSkqsjJToNbJhiqn_RozgUpNGQii42d03pLQe4rCIZ6frppx6aSL7qpYw7Q5-v990DqTRmiBhMivW_zDhwPW0_nQXiNy1nUJK1bpc7dSCox3Bu5bGeevTa/s1600/Chricahua+burn+scar.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168627321535442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KHScvUyR7inLp17aE1hSkqsjJToNbJhiqn_RozgUpNGQii42d03pLQe4rCIZ6frppx6aSL7qpYw7Q5-v990DqTRmiBhMivW_zDhwPW0_nQXiNy1nUJK1bpc7dSCox3Bu5bGeevTa/s320/Chricahua+burn+scar.jpg" /></a>I was very unnerved when I heard about this fire back in May. The Chiricahuas are one of my favorite places on the planet. I have been herping here for 13 years. Its biodiversity rivals any other place in the US. I was all set to teach the first herpetology course offered by the Southwestern Research Station, a chance to spend 10 days in the mountains and surrounding desert. All this and more was at risk with this massive fire.
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<br />Luckily, the firefighters were able to set backburns around the research station to save it, and lower Cave Creek Canyon is reasonably untouched by the fire. Here is a backburned area near the Herb Martyr campground. The brush burned, but the trees should live:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdX-7_iYVBhaFz54ggMjwdcH4DLr6Rb8pFvubGzLJwRogal-vT_4EMStmc-7kK5k1gIZb53FjmYyJLvL8hl0nnVGDADm5cI2lBElr39BDbajJ5buBXkrJZQjVkBD_NkKSrks1k1-m/s1600/Herb+Martyr+burn+area.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637196569274323474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdX-7_iYVBhaFz54ggMjwdcH4DLr6Rb8pFvubGzLJwRogal-vT_4EMStmc-7kK5k1gIZb53FjmYyJLvL8hl0nnVGDADm5cI2lBElr39BDbajJ5buBXkrJZQjVkBD_NkKSrks1k1-m/s320/Herb+Martyr+burn+area.jpg" /></a> But just up the hill from Herb Martyr, this is what you see. It's just awful.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgD1UU-ztfaSfg_bTHYoVZSGs9QX0k_tkje7aY_Hm7SKm3S5zA-ltZQgOMAvOGj17nxWE0Vq09BnrS3uZcuHG2xbyBR3mUfwm3iQ4GUmmhMW-QiQlqkD_K9TlPTCtTdBaM7f22s8Y/s1600/Herb+Martyr+bad+burn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637199560569798290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgD1UU-ztfaSfg_bTHYoVZSGs9QX0k_tkje7aY_Hm7SKm3S5zA-ltZQgOMAvOGj17nxWE0Vq09BnrS3uZcuHG2xbyBR3mUfwm3iQ4GUmmhMW-QiQlqkD_K9TlPTCtTdBaM7f22s8Y/s320/Herb+Martyr+bad+burn.jpg" /></a> The conditions that led to the extreme magnitude of this fire have been described as a “perfect storm.” First the area was in a major drought this spring, having had virtually no winter rains. Second, in February there was a major freeze that caused many oak tree limbs to fall to the ground, providing tinder. Third, the fire started in May, over a month before the onset of the summer monsoon rains- normally, fires here are caused by lightning during the monsoons and are quickly put out. Finally, and devastating and inexplicable, unusually high winds rose up right when the fire started, throwing embers across the range and causing a virtual explosion.
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<br />But the course went on, and we had an amazingly successful herping session, as described <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2011/07/arizona-epic-part-2.html">here</a>, <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2011/07/arizona-epic-part-3.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2011/08/arizona-epic-part-4.html">here</a>. But everywhere we went in the mountains, we were reminded of the devastation wrought by this fire. All the campgrounds were closed for fear of floods and landslides. Even access to hiking and driving through most of the mountain range was closed. From Portal, the highest up you can get is Turkey Creek, then you hit this:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUS1xg4Jnt7yOqNpRt8gEAkHTxY74RrteLQ-3cz0_A7jlDRBHOXtmjfSBFZlE4GX2ZAsxpMyLf_9yz0MCGQPOdtioZYal5qMpAhPhQE0B1-7bJxEHDbL7dX6cLpnSF0uXYdaehnHM/s1600/road+closed.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637196566445448082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUS1xg4Jnt7yOqNpRt8gEAkHTxY74RrteLQ-3cz0_A7jlDRBHOXtmjfSBFZlE4GX2ZAsxpMyLf_9yz0MCGQPOdtioZYal5qMpAhPhQE0B1-7bJxEHDbL7dX6cLpnSF0uXYdaehnHM/s320/road+closed.jpg" /></a> Above Turkey Creek, sights like this are common:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVNpwr5rOHPcip1ZJTvJumyWxhLLiWLlINmukS4tT4zedwsJGzdFtF4-zWZxTRRkDvLeeThNNHYg_wyhWSS4JDTkN6uqS2_6S9LdIL5q_6p2Jea29x4041TC63x8hodmNGgcyn-2D/s1600/burn+above+turkey+creek.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637196569863970386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVNpwr5rOHPcip1ZJTvJumyWxhLLiWLlINmukS4tT4zedwsJGzdFtF4-zWZxTRRkDvLeeThNNHYg_wyhWSS4JDTkN6uqS2_6S9LdIL5q_6p2Jea29x4041TC63x8hodmNGgcyn-2D/s320/burn+above+turkey+creek.jpg" /></a>Word has it that areas higher up the mountains, including Onion Saddle and Rustler Park, are burned to a crisp. This is so hard for me to imagine. I was terribly disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to view this in person. By staying down at the research station, where the habitat is relatively untouched, I felt like I was being kept from seeing the reality of the situation. As we did our class, I felt <em>guilty</em>, guilty that I went about my herping business as though everything was fine, when my mecca was horrifically wounded. It was a terrible, powerless feeling.
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<br />I found myself taking a much deeper look at the non-herp things around me than I normally would. I looked at <em>plants</em>! And they were amazing! All around me, sprouts were bursting forth from the charred bodies of their parents.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9qqbxiKyP8h05Hc97GOGtsJa5iJml-F6YnKJypmCM9_D6YGWdmtSChfQPT4mkEwMvdgo3WaWlA2N9WB0lFoGdDMnKQ-J0XUvT9s0ABREAUmO0HaTYsfqRkYDzG9wgiypdRqGsBkJ/s1600/sycamore+sprouting.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168632423093378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9qqbxiKyP8h05Hc97GOGtsJa5iJml-F6YnKJypmCM9_D6YGWdmtSChfQPT4mkEwMvdgo3WaWlA2N9WB0lFoGdDMnKQ-J0XUvT9s0ABREAUmO0HaTYsfqRkYDzG9wgiypdRqGsBkJ/s320/sycamore+sprouting.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFLAr3YnPfQ68w6awShjhtTXwhuI32qsVojh6icpsjxXbeWgBJ3p11sWVcaDbsJfl9rL_yzIDeEMGaRyw5O82ZaOV6LPndwvaThskDXg-aSK-JW5E-RQJK8sYjpo9Eh5UhiIOiX61/s1600/shrub+sprouting.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168629597693650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFLAr3YnPfQ68w6awShjhtTXwhuI32qsVojh6icpsjxXbeWgBJ3p11sWVcaDbsJfl9rL_yzIDeEMGaRyw5O82ZaOV6LPndwvaThskDXg-aSK-JW5E-RQJK8sYjpo9Eh5UhiIOiX61/s320/shrub+sprouting.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2WmdoI_h1phAxcKbQDCpMO2OAQ3KZoISpUwFRuBTWd-F-cEWes0WLNYSwuhSm4TTtcw9FcPIekxSV5qNgu-pFeOKZMOmXEYPB7IMlPpJYj2e_oYgZ-b68qNWS9jttgMUlCw2y0e6/s1600/agave.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637201501356292050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2WmdoI_h1phAxcKbQDCpMO2OAQ3KZoISpUwFRuBTWd-F-cEWes0WLNYSwuhSm4TTtcw9FcPIekxSV5qNgu-pFeOKZMOmXEYPB7IMlPpJYj2e_oYgZ-b68qNWS9jttgMUlCw2y0e6/s320/agave.jpg" /></a> I am not a plant biologist. I am not a fire ecologist. But I am an optimist. Maybe it’s because I cannot bear the idea of my beautiful mountains dying. That’s right, fire! Those are <em>MY</em> mountains! And you cannot take them from me. They’ll be back. And so will I.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRERTjdAAJ1HnSTaspTsNqQCmFcRhJRwwYWmOJLjxbVFLUD-sFXGFFVwhYJcOc-xMkEdSjb5K6YNSe0qp5TPCYngkntjUvYkkO7U1YCyymXbUSeXMzpzclII7Y0j2UoLM0mLQa7cr/s1600/South+and+Main+Forks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637175261143139442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRERTjdAAJ1HnSTaspTsNqQCmFcRhJRwwYWmOJLjxbVFLUD-sFXGFFVwhYJcOc-xMkEdSjb5K6YNSe0qp5TPCYngkntjUvYkkO7U1YCyymXbUSeXMzpzclII7Y0j2UoLM0mLQa7cr/s320/South+and+Main+Forks.jpg" /></a>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-24506688107000827722011-08-01T17:21:00.000-07:002011-08-09T13:49:04.972-07:00Arizona Epic Part 4The past few days have been so herp-ful that I have not had to time to blog! Here are the cool critters we have unearthed so far on our Arizona Epic (one day left).
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<br />We spent a day setting traps for Sonoran mud turles (<em>Kinosternon sonoriense</em>) in Tex Canyon with Justin Congdon.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI6QEMhyLmRD4W7fHggnncKr3Ytvkk8w60qhcwr_RBqdexVFWImeMcbEb7VGDlhd1numTY4rtq596iwS3oO3meF6qD-v9Hp68DUKrJO4jqYIJHhB2x9Py-kO1xQID_MdpGQYNlT9M/s1600/setting+turtle+traps.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636065605600853330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI6QEMhyLmRD4W7fHggnncKr3Ytvkk8w60qhcwr_RBqdexVFWImeMcbEb7VGDlhd1numTY4rtq596iwS3oO3meF6qD-v9Hp68DUKrJO4jqYIJHhB2x9Py-kO1xQID_MdpGQYNlT9M/s320/setting+turtle+traps.jpg" /></a>
<br />Caught one! In total, we trapped 10 or so.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV7gpKCqbLZvU2C51Tfogz3EPE5jRg0IBp6jL3ANvodratfLdMYSXXH0NLzOOFQbsXuF_qCEFnmwJBDAAGcAE6g_ptOmmh9-8Ydr-5KSIDNfNnAt-mYw2zeoz9B0E_rTBTjslcX77/s1600/turtle+in+a+trap.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636065590225021618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV7gpKCqbLZvU2C51Tfogz3EPE5jRg0IBp6jL3ANvodratfLdMYSXXH0NLzOOFQbsXuF_qCEFnmwJBDAAGcAE6g_ptOmmh9-8Ydr-5KSIDNfNnAt-mYw2zeoz9B0E_rTBTjslcX77/s320/turtle+in+a+trap.jpg" /></a>
<br />Here's a nice one up close:
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsa3sODcbcHim09n96Q9YdL2u9K0w0hgzb2HQhuUWOy679EZWyp72LqHFtwTpYGjphSKsjyCLq0GnHGXBI3iyscVtqkG4CziXsximH3sAeNdcACvVxC0TIYDEAMqg4FI9_ZG2EkSN/s1600/adult+mud+turtle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636056179578425346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsa3sODcbcHim09n96Q9YdL2u9K0w0hgzb2HQhuUWOy679EZWyp72LqHFtwTpYGjphSKsjyCLq0GnHGXBI3iyscVtqkG4CziXsximH3sAeNdcACvVxC0TIYDEAMqg4FI9_ZG2EkSN/s320/adult+mud+turtle.jpg" /></a>
<br />A wee hatchling:
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-Vh1JdsuKcgqE5FNg8tpf5jFqkXYAA8qgk54pvPUU09xLhZy98aXFeWwg0Oz5t29NjaSrcusav02k6IRNMVCTPg20rLDhjdDUJJoba81Z6uKGPHaBPdrpygs9m5XfQLikhsdTLpz/s1600/baby+sonoriense.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636056182405451778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-Vh1JdsuKcgqE5FNg8tpf5jFqkXYAA8qgk54pvPUU09xLhZy98aXFeWwg0Oz5t29NjaSrcusav02k6IRNMVCTPg20rLDhjdDUJJoba81Z6uKGPHaBPdrpygs9m5XfQLikhsdTLpz/s320/baby+sonoriense.jpg" /></a>
<br />Here's Justin using a portable X-ray to image the adult females for eggs:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZan0A9ZNhtSpf6gfmt2XeTPTvKi-_XmTLff8xVwhrrJREpGSXh5LRKIGyR1v06VT-gy1Y3IoPraHCrgO4CuxA2aA4irbvBO5u1WulfB4RE2ajoWLa2qkQrdaw4A2Hu9Zuf6kfLKF/s1600/Justin+Xraying+turtles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636073599415183394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZan0A9ZNhtSpf6gfmt2XeTPTvKi-_XmTLff8xVwhrrJREpGSXh5LRKIGyR1v06VT-gy1Y3IoPraHCrgO4CuxA2aA4irbvBO5u1WulfB4RE2ajoWLa2qkQrdaw4A2Hu9Zuf6kfLKF/s320/Justin+Xraying+turtles.jpg" /></a>
<br />We have been steadily chipping away at the rest of the snakes left on our list. Here's a gorgeous mountain patch-nosed snake (<em>Salvadora grahamiae</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5X6h4lxpWlytjEDUP6Z5RP0_vOnrXnr6qZ8LWyK7Cp8czcjjW_zznKmQi0aY9-4PECfcNXUPnYLBmhshSniqacV8iFSv9vScfOc4OwOepf6N17qRUWe_TJoFIs3_SiLl1XlN2ILrj/s1600/Salvadora+grahamae.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636066197802118962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5X6h4lxpWlytjEDUP6Z5RP0_vOnrXnr6qZ8LWyK7Cp8czcjjW_zznKmQi0aY9-4PECfcNXUPnYLBmhshSniqacV8iFSv9vScfOc4OwOepf6N17qRUWe_TJoFIs3_SiLl1XlN2ILrj/s320/Salvadora+grahamae.jpg" /></a>
<br />We saw lots of stinky checkered garter snakes (<em>Thamnophis marcianus</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkOP0XGc2z6p7cb8-NR56Uyu-0Dbwzsium-oVRL7d81FwID5U1c5R9HV-kXe-azbZSuK69LmY-NlQNsXkQwv9kOBltnppg7tIixIcOJPvYUmQehJMgxG2q-1xQ3rBACC2INH9Hvf/s1600/checkered+garter+snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636056185201361810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkOP0XGc2z6p7cb8-NR56Uyu-0Dbwzsium-oVRL7d81FwID5U1c5R9HV-kXe-azbZSuK69LmY-NlQNsXkQwv9kOBltnppg7tIixIcOJPvYUmQehJMgxG2q-1xQ3rBACC2INH9Hvf/s320/checkered+garter+snake.jpg" /></a>
<br />Ringneck snake (<em>Diadophis punctatus</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAXVzBcsueHNr7l3X-Tx0nyyLGyKOW4iY_Gb4yqugbc_vlzcBJX3TD7NoR8YVCNkp8fov9_4RTGLTRXslVBvrCWOUXi8FUvK6gqPZsQidh-QKDdAeppfJAlIwBttLamPmtSRDVtx3/s1600/ringneck+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636066196925440978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAXVzBcsueHNr7l3X-Tx0nyyLGyKOW4iY_Gb4yqugbc_vlzcBJX3TD7NoR8YVCNkp8fov9_4RTGLTRXslVBvrCWOUXi8FUvK6gqPZsQidh-QKDdAeppfJAlIwBttLamPmtSRDVtx3/s320/ringneck+1.jpg" /></a>
<br />Sonoran Desert kingsnake (<em>Lampropeltis getula splendida</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLibZ-5rQdDkMEt4hCkum2RJWLnnS8DTKZvG9nUhMVkx_90tA_hyeaXwD4TqQ6RsBoB8BwJg3KANHq-SQ3P_BsU5muli3mbWDtPkUrdUFPS04137DKAb3pJZwjNUVuRDqE-XH_mWxM/s1600/splendida.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636065593341188210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLibZ-5rQdDkMEt4hCkum2RJWLnnS8DTKZvG9nUhMVkx_90tA_hyeaXwD4TqQ6RsBoB8BwJg3KANHq-SQ3P_BsU5muli3mbWDtPkUrdUFPS04137DKAb3pJZwjNUVuRDqE-XH_mWxM/s320/splendida.jpg" /></a>
<br />Sonoran mountain kingsnake (<em>Lampropeltis pyromelana</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2jHqUXZCe81IRSHMCpqNRhg_iHpFgHe78dyb0KuH12WT-50FBMulwZmKbxD30Gy8xmga6nIVxN3l3xS91Z-vxOK9xwacXS7XatQCAU_wwVHDFZlm1hyphenhyphenz7iPvmP8mn8MdJHowjAKk/s1600/pyromelana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636066194592244786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2jHqUXZCe81IRSHMCpqNRhg_iHpFgHe78dyb0KuH12WT-50FBMulwZmKbxD30Gy8xmga6nIVxN3l3xS91Z-vxOK9xwacXS7XatQCAU_wwVHDFZlm1hyphenhyphenz7iPvmP8mn8MdJHowjAKk/s320/pyromelana.jpg" /></a>
<br />Best snakey find of the trip, Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake (<em>Gyalopion canum</em>). These are super rare!!
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoAwpJv6RGO6vtedwcB1MQMntjEVm3vsxcmETgPs8MFMIof6x0R547Q7a_m2-y1-8XjTiAD92FY9_sWE45SjBkZBuQwvJ78xaBrKz9LbFg2ooENd7_Q9WJXu6_eEoYulW_Rn5mhsn/s1600/Gyalopion+canum.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636057723849984066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoAwpJv6RGO6vtedwcB1MQMntjEVm3vsxcmETgPs8MFMIof6x0R547Q7a_m2-y1-8XjTiAD92FY9_sWE45SjBkZBuQwvJ78xaBrKz9LbFg2ooENd7_Q9WJXu6_eEoYulW_Rn5mhsn/s320/Gyalopion+canum.jpg" /></a>
<br />The hook-nosed snake is not to be confused with this glossy snake (<em>Arizona elegans</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVCKerVcJKugTC93yi0O1FT8LgyqZBJ_RCSMNxwMBQRFI15ZErCIk0pOEWOa_kkyuijwt2hJc_G4UnrVxZLalTgrIzN5fERCFpcM56Jlaz7orCnxCeIs5zGVu0_MCRhucs79sbBWw/s1600/glossy+snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636056185885429362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVCKerVcJKugTC93yi0O1FT8LgyqZBJ_RCSMNxwMBQRFI15ZErCIk0pOEWOa_kkyuijwt2hJc_G4UnrVxZLalTgrIzN5fERCFpcM56Jlaz7orCnxCeIs5zGVu0_MCRhucs79sbBWw/s320/glossy+snake.jpg" /></a>
<br />A very wary looking female crevice spiny lizard (<em>Sceloporus poinsetti</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbJ196_BwzjyH7vowf07AmmaRtChqrDd_gdGJG0z_W85yy3gLJlyDAlrkdluIztDw-bwA_LhmQqsIbhdPdzMUs1QFpYcdFeyEefLLK8AFLLkyVwc-YIPDr8EQHHoRjb7fqnEMmNQC/s1600/Sceloporus+poinsetti.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636065600024659762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbJ196_BwzjyH7vowf07AmmaRtChqrDd_gdGJG0z_W85yy3gLJlyDAlrkdluIztDw-bwA_LhmQqsIbhdPdzMUs1QFpYcdFeyEefLLK8AFLLkyVwc-YIPDr8EQHHoRjb7fqnEMmNQC/s320/Sceloporus+poinsetti.jpg" /></a>
<br />Great Plains skink (<em>Plestiodon obsoletus</em>) out of a junkpile:
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4e4tgrT0YHJmzNzNFyAsQOOF5nHpdyoX2tBj5PH3h2-oAqRDJfAHBodLdCR6PoBROiC45yd2v82G0CAzBlek-W3Vl8Qrx_pHwvC_HhmCb0glRlvESmGutU-qgxF837Z0b5Z_Q98P/s1600/skink.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636065596140913906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4e4tgrT0YHJmzNzNFyAsQOOF5nHpdyoX2tBj5PH3h2-oAqRDJfAHBodLdCR6PoBROiC45yd2v82G0CAzBlek-W3Vl8Qrx_pHwvC_HhmCb0glRlvESmGutU-qgxF837Z0b5Z_Q98P/s320/skink.jpg" /></a>
<br />Elegant earless lizard (<em>Holbrookia elegans</em>):
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7QoTEiADCxV_gRGds-TL7iAcx2wHvvrumcHg7B5ZQZXYKdGulEH775RIgQ-CDAlxK27kgHijWHLnqYtmtdpZqrxuxPy_ZIDIPxV-5qhz-Ki2035GIxLkZDLcf7NiR8SxvC1KeCoM/s1600/Holbrookia+elegans.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636057727471904002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7QoTEiADCxV_gRGds-TL7iAcx2wHvvrumcHg7B5ZQZXYKdGulEH775RIgQ-CDAlxK27kgHijWHLnqYtmtdpZqrxuxPy_ZIDIPxV-5qhz-Ki2035GIxLkZDLcf7NiR8SxvC1KeCoM/s320/Holbrookia+elegans.jpg" /></a>
<br />A closer look:
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCUIt7BsxrXZeNsvOlHsO9cC12DSj538cUYCHlaC79Yd7N_r4SV5fY_8PSWbTujxU4H9hpier_QCoRS3Fd9OxaeZ1j_3xCBxDJ8HO1xR5vjI9quCjEXX9l_hDNkXK9wJgIdVBAprT/s1600/Holbrookia+in+hand.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636057727394524594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCUIt7BsxrXZeNsvOlHsO9cC12DSj538cUYCHlaC79Yd7N_r4SV5fY_8PSWbTujxU4H9hpier_QCoRS3Fd9OxaeZ1j_3xCBxDJ8HO1xR5vjI9quCjEXX9l_hDNkXK9wJgIdVBAprT/s320/Holbrookia+in+hand.jpg" /></a>
<br />Canyon treefrog (<em>Hyla arenicolor</em>) calling next to the SWRS pool:
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqFwefK72UTSkLEpJNHg8oyYEdFagaopDrYfdrm-aGK_XQppW0UL8m7F_aDWuTLG4wqP9tuUp-x6lsnEdcz3PhfYfvF8OCofE6KlnRHMrogFrMuwW97StbuiyxvUH5QGPRItMXeK4/s1600/Hyla+arenicolor.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636057733972837138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqFwefK72UTSkLEpJNHg8oyYEdFagaopDrYfdrm-aGK_XQppW0UL8m7F_aDWuTLG4wqP9tuUp-x6lsnEdcz3PhfYfvF8OCofE6KlnRHMrogFrMuwW97StbuiyxvUH5QGPRItMXeK4/s320/Hyla+arenicolor.jpg" /></a>
<br />And finally, for those of you still with me, the best find of the whole trip so far, an amelanistic male Plains spadefoot (<em>Spea bombifrons</em>)!
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwUzKxQSS_ga0Mep1Ts0xA67PH_5VJaUFWBUT1hkj8iq_EMt0Y1N5U1VxQxyUMALBU_PC3NvOG4VD1a5zGyJb5NGcfcDUHGQdJmRDc285RkHBT8Jq3pmayoe_eKCEgIZGSYqFz0or/s1600/amelanistic+bombifrons.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636056179530927362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwUzKxQSS_ga0Mep1Ts0xA67PH_5VJaUFWBUT1hkj8iq_EMt0Y1N5U1VxQxyUMALBU_PC3NvOG4VD1a5zGyJb5NGcfcDUHGQdJmRDc285RkHBT8Jq3pmayoe_eKCEgIZGSYqFz0or/s320/amelanistic+bombifrons.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br />Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-68497772603374552382011-07-27T18:37:00.001-07:002011-07-27T19:08:36.828-07:00Arizona Epic Part 3We made a serious haul today on trips to Antelope Pass, NM and North Fork, Chiricahhus Mtns, AZ. Check out all the critters.<br /><br />Find of the trip so far: a big, beautiful, yellowish green rat snake (<em>Senticolis triaspis</em>) found by our wonderful Chef Chip:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrlqC8X87R49NaAQEc-NFn1tvil4P0xi8QR7n1oRn0dTSxjpL6kctL0u_uqcUqQKhNs7kWZ2TttGbrdkU9AcyrHyHqqobfQQo3kUlyV8QYUFznknxQQEt09EeapylUZk4hSHtic6-/s1600/Senticolis.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212921470319138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrlqC8X87R49NaAQEc-NFn1tvil4P0xi8QR7n1oRn0dTSxjpL6kctL0u_uqcUqQKhNs7kWZ2TttGbrdkU9AcyrHyHqqobfQQo3kUlyV8QYUFznknxQQEt09EeapylUZk4hSHtic6-/s320/Senticolis.jpg" /></a><br />Matt showing a mean western hognose snake (<em>Heterodon nasicus</em>) to the class:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMPhyphenhyphennqA6alm95ZHMlBeCVZkVhiNESsLDVJfWiNL4_64aDjIZLCVeW8orbHok0ViQdxIXch9bczcyE2XDi2szgeX4MHfr6QHuK5kMYaI-a-isIn60jSLOUWvwVaj-2c1CTo2UI3D3/s1600/Matt+showing+off+Heterodon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212910610245826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMPhyphenhyphennqA6alm95ZHMlBeCVZkVhiNESsLDVJfWiNL4_64aDjIZLCVeW8orbHok0ViQdxIXch9bczcyE2XDi2szgeX4MHfr6QHuK5kMYaI-a-isIn60jSLOUWvwVaj-2c1CTo2UI3D3/s320/Matt+showing+off+Heterodon.jpg" /></a><br />We found a teeny little night snake (<em>Hypsiglena torquata</em>) on Portal Rd.:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuUXJ20H5-fM4SAbMWsP-yJbhaUdQL3drQjNehwKlH3aFVT3y71podZHaPWJVrNQPupepn9uAE6LNERvyVx6bHaVyZt7xZKP7J7zREUHnfbiP0fg4SDHu7Afa2OQLDEtwAGxcGESC/s1600/Hypsiglena.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212386473574610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuUXJ20H5-fM4SAbMWsP-yJbhaUdQL3drQjNehwKlH3aFVT3y71podZHaPWJVrNQPupepn9uAE6LNERvyVx6bHaVyZt7xZKP7J7zREUHnfbiP0fg4SDHu7Afa2OQLDEtwAGxcGESC/s320/Hypsiglena.jpg" /></a><br />Alicia checking out a big male Yarrow's spiny lizard (<em>Sceloporus jarrovi</em>):<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0juJRVCGz4sniCj_xSio5kYtb5pZhx2WF9WB2x2ZweE9EvQ69HB6wHfpuN9pHvWN_vWEFWuCQDfcPxtJ3Nm26QAupInsJ2MIqOZ38wqnjOScgiqWRI9bM9ktoLEpmx6FE1Ez7Xcv9/s1600/Alicia+and+Sceloporus+jarrovi.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634211829230531154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0juJRVCGz4sniCj_xSio5kYtb5pZhx2WF9WB2x2ZweE9EvQ69HB6wHfpuN9pHvWN_vWEFWuCQDfcPxtJ3Nm26QAupInsJ2MIqOZ38wqnjOScgiqWRI9bM9ktoLEpmx6FE1Ez7Xcv9/s320/Alicia+and+Sceloporus+jarrovi.jpg" /></a><br />Check out this incredibly cute neonate short-horned lizard (<em>Phrynosoma hernandesi</em>):<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcENBeZa13ukrpnPrD8mhURpUQL_Xy0pdy6WXqZ2zOKKk86RhRrUvXs20Xhz-5aK10kNA_-d7vWmcyN_nF3VWEBSK8AHw_g446To3AapI70gz-7Oytmipt109K7YOA_ak63dYkdIZW/s1600/baby+Phrynosoma+hernandesi.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634211831476604738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcENBeZa13ukrpnPrD8mhURpUQL_Xy0pdy6WXqZ2zOKKk86RhRrUvXs20Xhz-5aK10kNA_-d7vWmcyN_nF3VWEBSK8AHw_g446To3AapI70gz-7Oytmipt109K7YOA_ak63dYkdIZW/s320/baby+Phrynosoma+hernandesi.jpg" /></a><br />We found lots of these round-tailed horned lizards (<em>P. modestum</em>) in Antelope Pass:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mwZcPHjFNbcGJ7uG1GNiMOdVDdi38D5peRQjZII85atfR2hubAdruJg-TKj5Asq3cw4KaRmvXcR2DvOL5zG0gGTjq_yGwxT37q64lRiC4tGHfSLODbq9kwiVauR4hockohrEyvXl/s1600/Phrynosoma+modestum.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212914418057554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mwZcPHjFNbcGJ7uG1GNiMOdVDdi38D5peRQjZII85atfR2hubAdruJg-TKj5Asq3cw4KaRmvXcR2DvOL5zG0gGTjq_yGwxT37q64lRiC4tGHfSLODbq9kwiVauR4hockohrEyvXl/s320/Phrynosoma+modestum.jpg" /></a><br />Look at this gorgeous female collared lizard (<em>Crotaphytus collaris</em>), about to pop out eggs any second:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-sXE6U2r425-L9viioblbLeqijvFc0bbtcIoXlVw0EYa-_nJULUMHr6I8QGQtVb29fxXLVkU9TpGoQcB67oZlrgWdyukYgsBLPdmZVTXayfMd8e6Vq3jn8XW5P9Fm01pTuzQns0S/s1600/female+Crotaphytus+gravid.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634211838234497538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-sXE6U2r425-L9viioblbLeqijvFc0bbtcIoXlVw0EYa-_nJULUMHr6I8QGQtVb29fxXLVkU9TpGoQcB67oZlrgWdyukYgsBLPdmZVTXayfMd8e6Vq3jn8XW5P9Fm01pTuzQns0S/s320/female+Crotaphytus+gravid.jpg" /></a> The students caught a big male:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzpKjsxNCqifSqFNgPomySL0B1IwWI8-hjZOUm4AroiSQfvwCYvHJUeSMoyU8oNbfHxJFyT2vh25HsUqMZpW06oAzrZ5LE6eMDLmuyo7e0jvbMbddgeQMQuTFX2EL70LqFFGB48eT/s1600/male+Crotaphytus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212389964641986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzpKjsxNCqifSqFNgPomySL0B1IwWI8-hjZOUm4AroiSQfvwCYvHJUeSMoyU8oNbfHxJFyT2vh25HsUqMZpW06oAzrZ5LE6eMDLmuyo7e0jvbMbddgeQMQuTFX2EL70LqFFGB48eT/s320/male+Crotaphytus.jpg" /></a> Steve showing the students a big two-striped whipsnake (<em>Masticophis bilineatus</em>):<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48hQ8SZKPlst7C6zjVk1eMEsHE9TE1izcytUWheQKen2lWIccMgtFf1iffqhGq4AesW1YWMNP980a_XOXXaX4TD1rjFR46MrfscqbpBF3zErlmVqEUO05UJG0vJog61ETUM5EI3nL/s1600/Steve+showing+Masticophis+bilineatus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634213405868687202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48hQ8SZKPlst7C6zjVk1eMEsHE9TE1izcytUWheQKen2lWIccMgtFf1iffqhGq4AesW1YWMNP980a_XOXXaX4TD1rjFR46MrfscqbpBF3zErlmVqEUO05UJG0vJog61ETUM5EI3nL/s320/Steve+showing+Masticophis+bilineatus.jpg" /></a><br />Steve noosing a gray-checkered whiptail lizard (<em>Aspidoscelis dixoni</em>):<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPErWB52xmKuIS4BSqMBlSzEU40KefZnqGg6qMQq5_xTkDCwlcmCBRB9PFXj8-O_4XvkvBzhIF4JKZyBKN_Is2LxPMNnLHu_ugECY1kjPKLrU1yVMMKSqst5Jh8dFMyWWTlc4BJcd/s1600/Steve+noosing+Aspidoscelis.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634213395924937362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPErWB52xmKuIS4BSqMBlSzEU40KefZnqGg6qMQq5_xTkDCwlcmCBRB9PFXj8-O_4XvkvBzhIF4JKZyBKN_Is2LxPMNnLHu_ugECY1kjPKLrU1yVMMKSqst5Jh8dFMyWWTlc4BJcd/s320/Steve+noosing+Aspidoscelis.jpg" /></a><br />Jay Cole then introduced us to this all-female species, which is highly endangered (populations only in Antelope Pass, NM and Big Bend, TX):<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGt8zDPXZzVhstqaWHMS5phQoG26ktcDKhuVog2HBaUarNePbOhljaMwN6qhmSnzwlYyX2IF86ck_ixi4h05OEhRi9n9jvovfpKigVJQbkaBgQ5iwye2BEcuYDNfV2MWIteyO7_WU/s1600/Aspidoscelis+dixoni.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634211827170966290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGt8zDPXZzVhstqaWHMS5phQoG26ktcDKhuVog2HBaUarNePbOhljaMwN6qhmSnzwlYyX2IF86ck_ixi4h05OEhRi9n9jvovfpKigVJQbkaBgQ5iwye2BEcuYDNfV2MWIteyO7_WU/s320/Aspidoscelis+dixoni.jpg" /></a><br />I stumbled upon this pretty little female banded rock rattlesnake (<em>Crotalus lepidus</em>) in North Fork:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf4RRIs9Ofh0F8RnDzpKW25tlSjMTEzC_stYGMLtulUn0Yj26Q9vldrB6uSp5zTxoEVnoqqOtrKDFzjrVZFSNX28YT_B2o0n6kkYOKJRQIeMwfoWyhgyyt01gDlV9Z-Mx9M6-pKxI/s1600/female+lepidus+in+situ.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212381000863858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf4RRIs9Ofh0F8RnDzpKW25tlSjMTEzC_stYGMLtulUn0Yj26Q9vldrB6uSp5zTxoEVnoqqOtrKDFzjrVZFSNX28YT_B2o0n6kkYOKJRQIeMwfoWyhgyyt01gDlV9Z-Mx9M6-pKxI/s320/female+lepidus+in+situ.jpg" /></a><br />Here she is out on a rock:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVOMfqCQPKaTYqhlkv2hUAyswnw99GrmqtRACa1rASw_dgOFdxxxu6dNBqq2QMZu0HcgPyCCAi9OJh4IWfpkidpIZvsYYGCxXL4lxqMujIuPNBjdcMiW1yZPo3q7g6d_ZP1dbndCO/s1600/female+lepidus+on+rock.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212381780802114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVOMfqCQPKaTYqhlkv2hUAyswnw99GrmqtRACa1rASw_dgOFdxxxu6dNBqq2QMZu0HcgPyCCAi9OJh4IWfpkidpIZvsYYGCxXL4lxqMujIuPNBjdcMiW1yZPo3q7g6d_ZP1dbndCO/s320/female+lepidus+on+rock.jpg" /></a><br />Then a student found this big male:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mDos9sSoEI-xFAaq0RTmB33z__T-RAHw8TBE01eI7lavxd5J5PvWq0rHyYO7r-5d1pCyAosk1Z6Gh-gpFp6xaz5tGICNLBnYG3EGJjiVH2CMibB5S6IGPtiwuDQAFBBZmJ0tvc_g/s1600/male+lepidus+in+situ.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212389197272002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mDos9sSoEI-xFAaq0RTmB33z__T-RAHw8TBE01eI7lavxd5J5PvWq0rHyYO7r-5d1pCyAosk1Z6Gh-gpFp6xaz5tGICNLBnYG3EGJjiVH2CMibB5S6IGPtiwuDQAFBBZmJ0tvc_g/s320/male+lepidus+in+situ.jpg" /></a><br />And here he is in a tube:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi4NhCt4IQaBK08L6jsjbdZnD6pZ5Kwxg2dJO2OFWNiJ1Uia7X7c7eWb766bVvtYq95knmEkPc-RLhw5TRW3Gr4fGfPNpwUVLWflNozGOWjd8LhPbHeWLV_9UpqKfItSaIrotTfNP/s1600/male+lepidus+in+tube.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212909732663938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi4NhCt4IQaBK08L6jsjbdZnD6pZ5Kwxg2dJO2OFWNiJ1Uia7X7c7eWb766bVvtYq95knmEkPc-RLhw5TRW3Gr4fGfPNpwUVLWflNozGOWjd8LhPbHeWLV_9UpqKfItSaIrotTfNP/s320/male+lepidus+in+tube.jpg" /></a><br />A group of students later found another female out cruising:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0MCVuPbTeCrILkXc1qqEh7yl_kmnasPpKkcEXNZ10viiipL50Nj40My6IQ7i6pXDyLVnSvVqUnGOLKWGHbR6lVa_IffqpMqmHx3UdFSqkcEIyW4o74MHGXankQTvu65Sj5NqUCNJ/s1600/female+lepidus+%25232.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634211835531253970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0MCVuPbTeCrILkXc1qqEh7yl_kmnasPpKkcEXNZ10viiipL50Nj40My6IQ7i6pXDyLVnSvVqUnGOLKWGHbR6lVa_IffqpMqmHx3UdFSqkcEIyW4o74MHGXankQTvu65Sj5NqUCNJ/s320/female+lepidus+%25232.jpg" /></a><br />Yearling (or two?) black-tailed rattlesnake (<em>C. molossus</em>) with a large food bulge:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3ySflbO6gV8Cz3MmRfDYo8oIrKFPjZ2eIbrGDpxwM-yok7NOh-NGj4arAd-X1j1WBwRJPaOJjeEqBv3l7UQeJJLtRQsapKnC3IkJnet9sDZxxxvwj3YIgDt0tLO_VBo2E9Yh2hve/s1600/young+molossus+with+food+bulge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634213409122893634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3ySflbO6gV8Cz3MmRfDYo8oIrKFPjZ2eIbrGDpxwM-yok7NOh-NGj4arAd-X1j1WBwRJPaOJjeEqBv3l7UQeJJLtRQsapKnC3IkJnet9sDZxxxvwj3YIgDt0tLO_VBo2E9Yh2hve/s320/young+molossus+with+food+bulge.jpg" /></a><br />The inverts didn't disappoint either. Huge vinegaroon:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicTP6jBSK2qtTY4v4Dv17o8hz6OLA7EiIqv3GhRR06lGrJYcOROzP_lqUbcvLiztYiSBJaNpcJBqPxsw3ahflpPWFYsCFXZq3tJpaMA06utGk_7mUua_kaCWFcUSsYHxOInjwl5Wu/s1600/vinegaroon+in+situ.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634213404658982370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicTP6jBSK2qtTY4v4Dv17o8hz6OLA7EiIqv3GhRR06lGrJYcOROzP_lqUbcvLiztYiSBJaNpcJBqPxsw3ahflpPWFYsCFXZq3tJpaMA06utGk_7mUua_kaCWFcUSsYHxOInjwl5Wu/s320/vinegaroon+in+situ.jpg" /></a><br />Scorpions are good mamas:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo8N3Eg3ty07ozu6faC6mgKLFUsA1WilUPaQ57PEHEesYDKRbvwAw3CiNFRjOn7Y-AEyV-w6sRv83hJVmxO-rAEO2Y1dyaKVVfiQWPxP_AEsSu3bAyFti1Q4h6FX-Dxc8W70rCmCA/s1600/scorpion+with+babies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212916341440226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo8N3Eg3ty07ozu6faC6mgKLFUsA1WilUPaQ57PEHEesYDKRbvwAw3CiNFRjOn7Y-AEyV-w6sRv83hJVmxO-rAEO2Y1dyaKVVfiQWPxP_AEsSu3bAyFti1Q4h6FX-Dxc8W70rCmCA/s320/scorpion+with+babies.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-77457340694247548162011-07-26T14:54:00.000-07:002011-07-26T15:45:41.551-07:00Arizona Epic Part 2I am one of the instructors for a herpetology course at the <a href="http://research.amnh.org/swrs/">Southwest Research Station </a>in the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. I have been coming to these mountains for the past 13 years to go herping, so it is a real pleasure to share the amazing herpetofauna with others. We are keeping really busy, which means little time for blogging, so I will be brief and let the photos speak for themselves. Here are some critters and sights we have seen on our first three days.<br /><br />The monsoons have been hitting hard. This is excellent news, because as you can see from the photo below, the southwest is in the midst of a drought, and the land is drinking thirstily from the sky these days. This is a view from NM of the Chiricahuas shrowded in clouds:<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIakjSIC69eB9W_yX0vSKpWhh-v6MOdMdfoMiTxVuyfYAWhTcrBvbj3N4vG7qMjzyM2qQT_UOzpw6YIhlwonQ5CuxX5BkFgRkSGTFiG1FHssX9jCAuD_XiK4kebratlr4E_6KH_rt/s1600/Chiris+in+monsoon+cloud.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790162565466082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIakjSIC69eB9W_yX0vSKpWhh-v6MOdMdfoMiTxVuyfYAWhTcrBvbj3N4vG7qMjzyM2qQT_UOzpw6YIhlwonQ5CuxX5BkFgRkSGTFiG1FHssX9jCAuD_XiK4kebratlr4E_6KH_rt/s320/Chiris+in+monsoon+cloud.jpg" /></a><br />So, the anuran beasties are out in droves. We have spent the past two nights driving around the roads in southeast AZ and southwest NM checking out the critters. Here is a Mexican spadefoot (<em>Spea multiplicata</em>) sitting in the road:</p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-RT9qANR26LQtauo4Tk-uvXgbHQhRZHgcJdoQE-0akgkI8KoM-i57NovU6nZPT2IzLihQWZJpAXL_1Ol_4MZvT48yGA4Tdlagvp56Ed1l4m-Ir6l87SZQFWUSHDYDmhNWSXOyFcB/s1600/Spea+multiplicata.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633791076944232354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-RT9qANR26LQtauo4Tk-uvXgbHQhRZHgcJdoQE-0akgkI8KoM-i57NovU6nZPT2IzLihQWZJpAXL_1Ol_4MZvT48yGA4Tdlagvp56Ed1l4m-Ir6l87SZQFWUSHDYDmhNWSXOyFcB/s320/Spea+multiplicata.jpg" /></a> There is a spot on the road to Animas, NM that flood every year during big storms. In addition to <em>Spea</em> and its cousin the Couch's spadefoot, we found lots of Great Plains toads (<em>Anaxyrus cognatus</em>) out calling. Check out the throat on this one- you can see the blood vessels in it. And look at those concentric rings going out into the water, enticing the ladies: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDigy8_-Uot7TmTra71joeODLm-jqrLrniJI3FZcWmJAgwVFLJHCg4dHREn6PDpHoArpDoQo6cjAROmlWlEQY94KwTyOpejl6zXKa6DtUSzJXJAauQNduipVsSMezdgcA1ESjjSfM6/s1600/cognatus+calling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790166675099746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDigy8_-Uot7TmTra71joeODLm-jqrLrniJI3FZcWmJAgwVFLJHCg4dHREn6PDpHoArpDoQo6cjAROmlWlEQY94KwTyOpejl6zXKa6DtUSzJXJAauQNduipVsSMezdgcA1ESjjSfM6/s320/cognatus+calling.jpg" /></a> The fourth species in this pond was the green toad (<em>A. debilis</em>), also calling away:<br /></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaKyxDlmBL9R291k7q3HRFfzqkcPgUaB6tfs8F3_LMsn_1cXcslvyjsaPgDLqeZLB5IJLXFBNi4nEy6kEheF6VIrLuaaHLT1_hINY7Xnsav1Byn1M-2-1TeuZwIWcFdhPST8o3llm/s1600/debilis+calling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790169708566450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaKyxDlmBL9R291k7q3HRFfzqkcPgUaB6tfs8F3_LMsn_1cXcslvyjsaPgDLqeZLB5IJLXFBNi4nEy6kEheF6VIrLuaaHLT1_hINY7Xnsav1Byn1M-2-1TeuZwIWcFdhPST8o3llm/s320/debilis+calling.jpg" /></a> We've seen some pretty cool reptiles on the road too, but I'll save most of those for a later post. Here's one quick example of a common denizen of the road, a neonate western diamond-backed rattlesnake (<em>Crotalus atrox</em>): </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c3-5RpwqC4TVs9PJ5vmTZUA1q3wmuOJ1hcGTIMjxErK8DiEQf7TWzqnD8SbvCU2m5bh768Xy3RrKCbjMVsG8ArwL1-3o00zTvhsQwQLR1HXojAdTeUJ-6ZPBpfNfP9oT0_M77clX/s1600/neonate+atrox+on+the+road.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633791069411927362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c3-5RpwqC4TVs9PJ5vmTZUA1q3wmuOJ1hcGTIMjxErK8DiEQf7TWzqnD8SbvCU2m5bh768Xy3RrKCbjMVsG8ArwL1-3o00zTvhsQwQLR1HXojAdTeUJ-6ZPBpfNfP9oT0_M77clX/s320/neonate+atrox+on+the+road.jpg" /></a>In the daytime we take the students on hikes around the mountains and the flats. So far, we've been focusing on the desert floor because it's a bit cool up in the mountains, and the habitat seems pretty devastated by a recent fire (more on this next time).<br /><br />In a morning hike on the desert floor, Matt immediately found this black-tailed rattlesnake (<em>C. molossus</em>) coiled in the rocks: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgEXNZ6NwXEv6iBr5dZ-xqR507hNvG9so86hvbItzBYHaOWkWsU2ZWB4phFkrehuFCC_SmkClQSHFbIl49bbaYhhAZ3ZX5G5ayj6JJ5uWAAe7KXHrzXVOSOCDc6R_yTFe_dK9AOmk/s1600/Granite+Gap+blacktail+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790616638415954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgEXNZ6NwXEv6iBr5dZ-xqR507hNvG9so86hvbItzBYHaOWkWsU2ZWB4phFkrehuFCC_SmkClQSHFbIl49bbaYhhAZ3ZX5G5ayj6JJ5uWAAe7KXHrzXVOSOCDc6R_yTFe_dK9AOmk/s320/Granite+Gap+blacktail+1.jpg" /></a> Meryl, one of the students, got buzzed by this guy a little while later: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHjYcRfyW4NKzEyuazt3utNCYN0ikUuQBLI0sgb-NarK1-a2TmH9JK8-AnUGSFaG-sgCyucEyvhrzx5Dh7kUnIF22KZlmwNAX7H0EP1-OBZWrDI6iX3hIWmEZmw2Me88up4rtYA3l/s1600/Granite+Gap+blacktail+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790627357646082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHjYcRfyW4NKzEyuazt3utNCYN0ikUuQBLI0sgb-NarK1-a2TmH9JK8-AnUGSFaG-sgCyucEyvhrzx5Dh7kUnIF22KZlmwNAX7H0EP1-OBZWrDI6iX3hIWmEZmw2Me88up4rtYA3l/s320/Granite+Gap+blacktail+2.jpg" /></a>We saw some cool lizards, like this greater earless lizard (<em>Cophosaurus texanus</em>): </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Wsw2jh400V5qWJNKabtH8h99GQn2NIM86rwKS5v-eE65v6WoGKIoDD1nB6Q-kxngiLkiWGG77nX_e8sIeArDZInVZ_VaY1krODaJwElW8JO7PB8EqpgkIAEbAEiFKfgPyposNsS/s1600/Matt+and+Cophosaurus+texanus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633791059077055698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Wsw2jh400V5qWJNKabtH8h99GQn2NIM86rwKS5v-eE65v6WoGKIoDD1nB6Q-kxngiLkiWGG77nX_e8sIeArDZInVZ_VaY1krODaJwElW8JO7PB8EqpgkIAEbAEiFKfgPyposNsS/s320/Matt+and+Cophosaurus+texanus.jpg" /></a> And this Chihuahuan spotted whiptail lizard (<em>Aspidoscelis exsanguis</em>):</p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QXvu1d_K1aG5IE2GrahWg994YP5rcyz28CfsmszxtWNeG4mvAVj-JOou2Nj4CMnouZVkSxYU0B-kYGk3k1hdRoJtIvsKUQao73yPXNTkyJ8MvWiTjD4bEftr0DaJnAceJ4B5fsj5/s1600/Aspidoscelis+exsanguis.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790160211396146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QXvu1d_K1aG5IE2GrahWg994YP5rcyz28CfsmszxtWNeG4mvAVj-JOou2Nj4CMnouZVkSxYU0B-kYGk3k1hdRoJtIvsKUQao73yPXNTkyJ8MvWiTjD4bEftr0DaJnAceJ4B5fsj5/s320/Aspidoscelis+exsanguis.jpg" /></a>The whiptail is definitely a female. That's because this is an all-female, triploid, parthenogenic species. We are lucky to have Jay Cole, one of the world's experts on this topic, here as an instructor, and he'll give a seminar on it later in the week so we can all learn more about it.<br /><br />Check out this cool red velvet mite (Family Tromidiidae). There were thousands of them littering the desert floor. I looked them up and found out that their larval stages parasitize arthropods but their adults stages, pictured here, actively prey upon arthropods: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCv8sEOG6WX4F_sG0MwGsZ0OJe8Qw1Xd7f94h_FFYNHBNYpZmGS44F1fzGPv_q6A9YaBnXcP5TbyE2w9NaeDSOG8EctrcQIaRpvGU7Jyujs8nGA3PDwMQ-70VLq5fd26G9s0l4ghE/s1600/red+mite.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633791071164720754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCv8sEOG6WX4F_sG0MwGsZ0OJe8Qw1Xd7f94h_FFYNHBNYpZmGS44F1fzGPv_q6A9YaBnXcP5TbyE2w9NaeDSOG8EctrcQIaRpvGU7Jyujs8nGA3PDwMQ-70VLq5fd26G9s0l4ghE/s320/red+mite.jpg" /></a>And then, we hit gold. Steve (one of the other instructors) found a juvenile Gila monster (<em>Heloderma suspectum</em>) out cruising around, but it ran under a rock before he could corner it. Here's one of the students Gillian checking it out: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73Z6pmLVTV7nyuN7AFkrcUNUJ3YnDPYIhW6kzFc9FS5J5R9_4FgOET7-v-wFXY70dRfsO33u3XuZ5yFpfvTCZZyvHfZJHY5ToTE0Pr7zUSnt7nJH4aPO2TI6SHZKR5bGsgK6PFcWE/s1600/Gillian+checking+out+the+Gila.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790614801028642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73Z6pmLVTV7nyuN7AFkrcUNUJ3YnDPYIhW6kzFc9FS5J5R9_4FgOET7-v-wFXY70dRfsO33u3XuZ5yFpfvTCZZyvHfZJHY5ToTE0Pr7zUSnt7nJH4aPO2TI6SHZKR5bGsgK6PFcWE/s320/Gillian+checking+out+the+Gila.jpg" /></a>There was some heaving, there was a little ho-ing, and there was much hefting, and I got my meaty hands on the beastie: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeEmOSAOC0Y-uQFR0dnYnNEooC0rLiKNVnQm6G10IIcBoBx1guV_-KTkHjWKTskb2GulsNLMzxDu4yz3ukA6zPFWsPdEar3t811QxtUA_yXT72LuWfMaWCRDAg-4eceyIpQVxY4iV/s1600/little+Gila.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790622154450674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeEmOSAOC0Y-uQFR0dnYnNEooC0rLiKNVnQm6G10IIcBoBx1guV_-KTkHjWKTskb2GulsNLMzxDu4yz3ukA6zPFWsPdEar3t811QxtUA_yXT72LuWfMaWCRDAg-4eceyIpQVxY4iV/s320/little+Gila.jpg" /></a> Here he is crawling around after we let him go: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUhEie78bt6epEj-dlAHOp1YkC4NwZGDUsXo_MJB3JiY2QJ45BuisDcCuxrODi7U3GcET9Kn4q8uhIKPNQrku5bQxLxmgDFli-FtL1Yjs_fz0N4F1Yib14eoEWewxPhGsYVJV6onp/s1600/Gila.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633790612491253378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUhEie78bt6epEj-dlAHOp1YkC4NwZGDUsXo_MJB3JiY2QJ45BuisDcCuxrODi7U3GcET9Kn4q8uhIKPNQrku5bQxLxmgDFli-FtL1Yjs_fz0N4F1Yib14eoEWewxPhGsYVJV6onp/s320/Gila.jpg" /></a><br />We've been having lots of fun of other kinds, too. To spice things up, last night Matt and I taught the students a very important skill: how to make rock snakes to mess with the other vans: </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8Qs_S86UXaOT6ws2dH0BbVwprNl0jPaznV1kFtrpCwitWoikuZi20c0sjBbEEtEwfvFnN9P8ijzaqS7kOivLKahzjIFVh6FejgDm5gOm6hbFIk02f_I3BDy_9v385zByFRtbwjch/s1600/Matt+showing+Alicia+how+to+make+a+rock+snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633791062232627154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8Qs_S86UXaOT6ws2dH0BbVwprNl0jPaznV1kFtrpCwitWoikuZi20c0sjBbEEtEwfvFnN9P8ijzaqS7kOivLKahzjIFVh6FejgDm5gOm6hbFIk02f_I3BDy_9v385zByFRtbwjch/s320/Matt+showing+Alicia+how+to+make+a+rock+snake.jpg" /></a> Let's just say it was a success. I think the tire marks are still on Portal Rd.<br /><br />More information coming soon, including an account of the damage from the Horshoe 2 fire. Until then, happy herping! </p>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-80912415825647786842011-07-23T11:35:00.000-07:002011-07-23T12:15:10.736-07:00Arizona Epic Part 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrQzPVM-bPN-HgFQnxRLSkS21Ay3jdagkdyWI1vdO5P-waf1LoBLHcwT3gtH38cV7tmrJywErZF7vxfuzbD333mrfBYllMNoeuzyO_-lNQ7lsV2ejcjhl-PoDv0t2D-nFnHb3t8Cm/s1600/photos-of-Saguaros-Sonoran-Desert-Arizona-pictures.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632624027399600690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrQzPVM-bPN-HgFQnxRLSkS21Ay3jdagkdyWI1vdO5P-waf1LoBLHcwT3gtH38cV7tmrJywErZF7vxfuzbD333mrfBYllMNoeuzyO_-lNQ7lsV2ejcjhl-PoDv0t2D-nFnHb3t8Cm/s320/photos-of-Saguaros-Sonoran-Desert-Arizona-pictures.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Most people flee from Arizona in the summer, when temperatures commonly exceed 105 and even 110 degrees F. Not herpers. This week, hundreds of rattlesnake biologists flocked to Tucson, AZ for the <a href="http://www.williamkhayes.com/rattlesnakes/">Biology of the Rattlesnake II conference</a>, which was cunningly planned by the organizers to occur smack at the beginning of the monsoon season. During monsoons, it might be hot but it’s also wet, bringing scaly critters (and their distant batrachian cousins) out in droves.<br /><br />The first thing we did was ditch the opening night social to go herping. We met up with Karla M., a graduate student at Arizona State University studying Gila monsters. Although the rains have begun, Arizona has been hit hard by a drought over the past few years. But this didn’t deter us, because we were able to go to <a href="http://www.stonecanyon.com/">Stone Canyon</a>, a gated upscale community and golf course that is heavily irrigated and therefore a heaven for herps. Karla is studying Gilas there, and a larger group of researchers mainly from the University of Arizona are conducting a long-term study of the snakes in the community.<br /><br />Within 10 minutes of getting out of the car, we found two western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (<em>Crotalus atrox</em>) coiled up in the beautiful, lush Arizona Upland Sonoran Desert habitat. Here's a nice big male:</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPaxAbKT4CTMUxFIO7jH3pLUsaZ4l9ArHYPf5GsshHGrpGHtQX2yY_3PogSLyy-_OPbcM-ED96ki9ADUISy_vQugAMrUqJBlfLJKITcZ65eDUMxa_oVE-t9MIaUOi8GAnkbmzES2j/s1600/atrox+Stone+Canyon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619096226933122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPaxAbKT4CTMUxFIO7jH3pLUsaZ4l9ArHYPf5GsshHGrpGHtQX2yY_3PogSLyy-_OPbcM-ED96ki9ADUISy_vQugAMrUqJBlfLJKITcZ65eDUMxa_oVE-t9MIaUOi8GAnkbmzES2j/s320/atrox+Stone+Canyon.jpg" /></a><br />Next we began cruising around the road in Karla’s vehicle, looking for herps crossing the road. We immediately lucked out with this lyre snake (<em>Trimorphodon biscutatus</em>):<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3puE-Vb3mHu6vQ5wNq13BAfraLQaVunYKmiN2BytReJIAPAf6o3sw4cCwBus_Evbq91b-0lOTgarwW3OOi5ismWqBsw8fOBtmv4KPPJSX-5GKsgCAj9ell7Jv5jMNBm8LKoecOERR/s1600/lyre+snake+Stone+Cyn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 203px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619581418338098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3puE-Vb3mHu6vQ5wNq13BAfraLQaVunYKmiN2BytReJIAPAf6o3sw4cCwBus_Evbq91b-0lOTgarwW3OOi5ismWqBsw8fOBtmv4KPPJSX-5GKsgCAj9ell7Jv5jMNBm8LKoecOERR/s320/lyre+snake+Stone+Cyn.jpg" /></a><br />Lots of anurans were hopping around the roads, and several experienced the pleasure of meeting the grubby hands of my students. Here’s Scott admiring his first Sonoran Desert toad (<em>Incilius</em> [<em>Bufo</em>] <em>alvarius</em>), which he reluctantly refrained from licking:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrkI1mB-7qtyBItuN_-s-4RUopWfttz6Iw6LVo_651XpGBMtK4AuD0aQ1u0091iaDAJiEQKY14R9XtHqXtV1W40A4t3eVjynBTRnHLpBB75VV09KYRbC4ROaAJvHIkhnglajZzeKc/s1600/Scott+and+alvarius.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620194592804578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrkI1mB-7qtyBItuN_-s-4RUopWfttz6Iw6LVo_651XpGBMtK4AuD0aQ1u0091iaDAJiEQKY14R9XtHqXtV1W40A4t3eVjynBTRnHLpBB75VV09KYRbC4ROaAJvHIkhnglajZzeKc/s320/Scott+and+alvarius.jpg" /></a><br />Kory is holding a red-spotted toad (<em>Anaxyrus</em> [<em>Bufo</em>]<em> punctatus</em>): </p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RG2AOAQTX3pvVo01mE3fN5rY23ofhCY7gt_PNdJQENm4sq-voqgUjSQysZAS2flJFldiBX-mWPJc799qIofKohHyXUPKjZZk8l9vStDIEWxH5WbBN-P9AKuvy8PhA62eOB3Ccvjy/s1600/Kory+and+toad.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619490127170722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RG2AOAQTX3pvVo01mE3fN5rY23ofhCY7gt_PNdJQENm4sq-voqgUjSQysZAS2flJFldiBX-mWPJc799qIofKohHyXUPKjZZk8l9vStDIEWxH5WbBN-P9AKuvy8PhA62eOB3Ccvjy/s320/Kory+and+toad.jpg" /></a><br />Out wandering around the golf course, we found this big mellow blacktail rattlesnake (<em>C. molossus</em>), initially coiled under a plant right next to the green:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw3DVXf1BWC4YWQIqLxnwcFi4R7C-vFmJ5eX4sPmTXblZojjVHktFJAicWYsRZ3m-JhW4Qe80TTF8xb-FTgPOCsT6i9LjoY6IPVpswFzSYAX4Hgiap1IPzofQJUYlqwtLbIgyMz1b/s1600/blacktail+in+golf+course+grass.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619160174441522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw3DVXf1BWC4YWQIqLxnwcFi4R7C-vFmJ5eX4sPmTXblZojjVHktFJAicWYsRZ3m-JhW4Qe80TTF8xb-FTgPOCsT6i9LjoY6IPVpswFzSYAX4Hgiap1IPzofQJUYlqwtLbIgyMz1b/s320/blacktail+in+golf+course+grass.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sdn36U4TmWPbCmZoP1NleZgO2g3YTrtLkSqIRQSpPvaPHy3au2zAmYIHwKlJVDPHOPhLmgRrR80CyJc7SZIZ2ZI-t-Dks2qaGWPJHkzhWp0OXH3Ufa1gJfZsYI9Hc2RKaTnSamJb/s1600/photographing+molossus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620115824188146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sdn36U4TmWPbCmZoP1NleZgO2g3YTrtLkSqIRQSpPvaPHy3au2zAmYIHwKlJVDPHOPhLmgRrR80CyJc7SZIZ2ZI-t-Dks2qaGWPJHkzhWp0OXH3Ufa1gJfZsYI9Hc2RKaTnSamJb/s320/photographing+molossus.jpg" /></a><br />Back to the roads, we hoped to see one of the most common denizens of Stone Canyon, the tiger rattlesnake (<em>C. tigris</em>). This species is strongly associated with rocks, ranges widely in Mexico but has a relatively narrow distribution on the southwest US. We found this young of the year tiger on the road and he curled up nicely for a photo: </p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8STCWThdNAUn3Q0kGpIF59tAC6aoqQLcGGFt5FpnJTZAFt9s0BThG9x1yPuDIf36R8MMHEVrrZciDQuAKO3W0jddvF9Ey4ztdIl7KH5oYExjWXIfnLTCtEl3oTeb-FozKl4M4ZIT/s1600/neonate+tigris+Stone+Canyon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619817544430530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8STCWThdNAUn3Q0kGpIF59tAC6aoqQLcGGFt5FpnJTZAFt9s0BThG9x1yPuDIf36R8MMHEVrrZciDQuAKO3W0jddvF9Ey4ztdIl7KH5oYExjWXIfnLTCtEl3oTeb-FozKl4M4ZIT/s320/neonate+tigris+Stone+Canyon.jpg" /></a><br />A few minutes later we found this adult out on the road:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2vDSdkvCXXkHDP4fN_28csH9nQiToLYmbYLN-5zIpTIXove9Wm5IIMBak7AiuMforDprI9iMcLPbvFGnrUeK49tbrb3IYtntdICCe7anH3CRLfNtnrzax-P2tPmKnPV15ApLUdQM/s1600/tigris+crawling+Stone+Canyon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620631489358210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2vDSdkvCXXkHDP4fN_28csH9nQiToLYmbYLN-5zIpTIXove9Wm5IIMBak7AiuMforDprI9iMcLPbvFGnrUeK49tbrb3IYtntdICCe7anH3CRLfNtnrzax-P2tPmKnPV15ApLUdQM/s320/tigris+crawling+Stone+Canyon.jpg" /></a><br />Another photo of this guy:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wUsdHKbxTdGDfGMYvTM8lFteXjC-XHGkNyCSGqWnYpGoTIz3BnJeW43EpmOUhm1PRr__RYIYA7TihC69G6WjY4RAoKAr8GCPcT4LBcqlMBysAQzT6wBFw01M2e6PXCZAtg93JONf/s1600/Stone+Cyn+tiger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620558450954946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wUsdHKbxTdGDfGMYvTM8lFteXjC-XHGkNyCSGqWnYpGoTIz3BnJeW43EpmOUhm1PRr__RYIYA7TihC69G6WjY4RAoKAr8GCPcT4LBcqlMBysAQzT6wBFw01M2e6PXCZAtg93JONf/s320/Stone+Cyn+tiger.jpg" /></a><br />We felt lucky to see some of the typical species, like <em>C. atrox, C. molossus</em>, and <em>C. tigris</em>, along with the amphibians, in this bad drought year. The lyre snake was a bonus. But we really lucked out when we learned that Karla needed to release a particularly prized and rarely seen snake that was caught earlier in the week. Check out this beautiful coral snake (<em>Micruroides euryxanthus</em>):</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-6oRBipaQ4oMU2EirEqEbYGKD8WcQOrUFAr-XygFEmvqRSYHwANokABXdLvLRs40BrFdlmSP_SIlusFsOLMgQYpvYnuyis6cnc6n9N0JDnFD9_C-FvUoD9Ht9GKS6QMdZQu8IC4m/s1600/coral+snake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619284171745906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-6oRBipaQ4oMU2EirEqEbYGKD8WcQOrUFAr-XygFEmvqRSYHwANokABXdLvLRs40BrFdlmSP_SIlusFsOLMgQYpvYnuyis6cnc6n9N0JDnFD9_C-FvUoD9Ht9GKS6QMdZQu8IC4m/s320/coral+snake.jpg" /></a><br />This guy got a lot of attention from the cameras:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nINqQz9Kc8hbv_6vSl4qAqfIdSecvBKwfaS5EhRGBpwJ75ZJcIYUbiWtjOYFSxc52cPCp_9KFjVFzZxB1ulpf48iTZhiDnxuPcsR5A9UkV7cTRAzrN71_ajq511cxb6G8x-UkIr1/s1600/photographing+coral.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620029819594898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nINqQz9Kc8hbv_6vSl4qAqfIdSecvBKwfaS5EhRGBpwJ75ZJcIYUbiWtjOYFSxc52cPCp_9KFjVFzZxB1ulpf48iTZhiDnxuPcsR5A9UkV7cTRAzrN71_ajq511cxb6G8x-UkIr1/s320/photographing+coral.jpg" /></a><br />To finish up the night, we jumped in Karla’s vehicle and drove out to her other field site, which incidentally was my field site during my graduate work, and is decidedly NOT benefiting from golf course irrigation. It was bone dry. Karla radiotracked four Gila monsters (<em>Heloderma suspectum</em>) she needed to check on, and along the way she showed us a contraption she built to monitor the temperatures within the nest of a Gila monster:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUywZW1iuYADqR488pfoMZzxaCx9CBhy4A-Of303LWvUp_P83zejSWhDxkaqHYduqhEeXRuviGtlxS4bl4sqdYSOS_TTvYcXKxDaUrZA9x9zCYsIuETHUAI67TmeQDBdCtW3KEUl6l/s1600/Gila+nest+data+logger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619422426088706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUywZW1iuYADqR488pfoMZzxaCx9CBhy4A-Of303LWvUp_P83zejSWhDxkaqHYduqhEeXRuviGtlxS4bl4sqdYSOS_TTvYcXKxDaUrZA9x9zCYsIuETHUAI67TmeQDBdCtW3KEUl6l/s320/Gila+nest+data+logger.jpg" /></a><br />Despite the crummy, dry conditions, one of the Gila monsters was out walking around. This is a post-parturient female (check out the skinny tail):</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvmv6BJk5xM3A3qZAvc3ybTzqjj2aT2dYIFx0kvDthiuxKsW1qA_E-I4jYPkH_hcax00TYgv9qfHPaOzrR5Gs5pySm6syGL12w3OQkNaj7DZ_LSoLAyTI0BsGTJArKzTh7eisiQg8/s1600/skinny+female+postpart+Gila.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620271884304610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvmv6BJk5xM3A3qZAvc3ybTzqjj2aT2dYIFx0kvDthiuxKsW1qA_E-I4jYPkH_hcax00TYgv9qfHPaOzrR5Gs5pySm6syGL12w3OQkNaj7DZ_LSoLAyTI0BsGTJArKzTh7eisiQg8/s320/skinny+female+postpart+Gila.jpg" /></a><br />Karla grabbed the Gila and took a blood sample because she is using doubly labeled water to examine water turnover and field metabolic rate in the animals: </p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtOb7aFWy0wjjOYV1Ld3fWDxZh-3HhKi36QlGSk4wEcLOCP6oMsymNC999TGRYik5f4enC2paRpw18j58XJiBGs8fE-fSlV3ycMFJ6BmjapfyC3-yl4KW9rc19DhZtcGKlitLDHn-/s1600/bleeding+the+Gila.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619218012402434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtOb7aFWy0wjjOYV1Ld3fWDxZh-3HhKi36QlGSk4wEcLOCP6oMsymNC999TGRYik5f4enC2paRpw18j58XJiBGs8fE-fSlV3ycMFJ6BmjapfyC3-yl4KW9rc19DhZtcGKlitLDHn-/s320/bleeding+the+Gila.jpg" /></a><br />Matt was very pleased to hold his first Gila monster: </p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicB8GKGlViB8wVDR3Ft38xQxUgXAsTQSN4Nu7iAjcMro-z8Ro1-I67m0pp3MkgIaT8UhzJMWBXg8V0gWYGNEt_VRqAN8MFTm8yTXaqYxZi2ULC7cgODJLM8Ktf62mEdYAswjCtbGQK/s1600/Matt+and+Gila.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619651931355890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicB8GKGlViB8wVDR3Ft38xQxUgXAsTQSN4Nu7iAjcMro-z8Ro1-I67m0pp3MkgIaT8UhzJMWBXg8V0gWYGNEt_VRqAN8MFTm8yTXaqYxZi2ULC7cgODJLM8Ktf62mEdYAswjCtbGQK/s320/Matt+and+Gila.jpg" /></a><br />The next night we went out for just a quick drive because we spent most of the evening snarfing fajitas and beer with the wonderful J-Ho and Keri. We went up the Catalina Highway and found two tiger rattlesnakes on the road. A young of the year:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgors_xCYQ4GFFuvuc0QvewWzJff2ZZgMFnWDc-FcYBBbhakw1hRt0EOhkEgUQBOm8j_b09n4biVf_N3uYDqvMP5EsAuZFSFwvKIfK6MEUL-yOmw77_rdWHp3gkOmVYQQ4jqt0BhKWK/s1600/yoy+tiger+Catalina+Hwy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620701059622210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgors_xCYQ4GFFuvuc0QvewWzJff2ZZgMFnWDc-FcYBBbhakw1hRt0EOhkEgUQBOm8j_b09n4biVf_N3uYDqvMP5EsAuZFSFwvKIfK6MEUL-yOmw77_rdWHp3gkOmVYQQ4jqt0BhKWK/s320/yoy+tiger+Catalina+Hwy.jpg" /></a><br />And a good-looking subadult, 2 or 3 years old based on the rattle string:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD695uzI5RZ4rFf0ZUmeptQKVsmGNos0aB0jUcpoSUHGJjiayeudL06t4iKrEEZp7U8sxqHfnyR5PNndgUK7vlFKwXjqXvBMClgMEZGLYOvlvo3D6sZziy521hhANDfqtvH3ZlDPOE/s1600/adult+tiger+Catalina+hwy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632619027378858098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD695uzI5RZ4rFf0ZUmeptQKVsmGNos0aB0jUcpoSUHGJjiayeudL06t4iKrEEZp7U8sxqHfnyR5PNndgUK7vlFKwXjqXvBMClgMEZGLYOvlvo3D6sZziy521hhANDfqtvH3ZlDPOE/s320/adult+tiger+Catalina+hwy.jpg" /></a><br />Closer to Tucson there were a lot of anurans out and about, including spadefoot toads (<em>Scaphiopus couchii</em>):</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghan8do_L4Yb6IdaToQin5v81OWAKkLLlyF3jQp2UHwhYz0XJAXZuyfcqaXyRp542XHC2jBCqv9NijdfrVX8PwIrc3gRVXJA4DmcMOD7NkN8qx5vBK31DmNOZpAeeEE8ZQKypHqo_q/s1600/spadefoot.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620417336310210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghan8do_L4Yb6IdaToQin5v81OWAKkLLlyF3jQp2UHwhYz0XJAXZuyfcqaXyRp542XHC2jBCqv9NijdfrVX8PwIrc3gRVXJA4DmcMOD7NkN8qx5vBK31DmNOZpAeeEE8ZQKypHqo_q/s320/spadefoot.jpg" /></a><br />By this time we had gotten about 8 hours of sleep total over the past three nights, and some of us couldn’t handle it:</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba80gENK9nXE9Wqxh4ktVKGEUnzjLp2UR86ekdx2SmfIG0o3WjAK3XOBQgqs1o5UwX08WTqcFWLEkO2wHH0Ks3GSiZ8RVhpU82QVOhKITaowtuxshe46XayI_p58ixtY8aL8nS26m/s1600/sleepy+Matt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620351860368066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba80gENK9nXE9Wqxh4ktVKGEUnzjLp2UR86ekdx2SmfIG0o3WjAK3XOBQgqs1o5UwX08WTqcFWLEkO2wHH0Ks3GSiZ8RVhpU82QVOhKITaowtuxshe46XayI_p58ixtY8aL8nS26m/s320/sleepy+Matt.jpg" /></a><br />Stay tuned for the next installment of AZ Herporama 2011!</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tVaWBN_1RwQSIItW9_uJgTupZb5M7vOR5OntT3cNTBP4zJL1LhXfi_V6PSN05zSDF4HG4xaU-sfhfOsge_lCa5mFrOL2TSYVhc9r16eprqCiGiU5xbTJVpd7WE6B_HyEdsexql1e/s1600/Stone+Canyon+sunset.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632620490315365666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tVaWBN_1RwQSIItW9_uJgTupZb5M7vOR5OntT3cNTBP4zJL1LhXfi_V6PSN05zSDF4HG4xaU-sfhfOsge_lCa5mFrOL2TSYVhc9r16eprqCiGiU5xbTJVpd7WE6B_HyEdsexql1e/s320/Stone+Canyon+sunset.jpg" /></a></p>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-42737538284930224762011-07-11T09:44:00.000-07:002011-08-15T15:22:31.001-07:00Cal Poly Herpetology!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2RkGQENZMtZ2OSWRX4DlVU_3bEUolGopsYw2im7JakVfFIdZirMe6-QaqFH7U_8K1VOH_msicSYRM5IvDRTdfseEmZpg8TpShLBmaC3HBZU0Xd6JYigC3z1b072Q8K1RPw5dN0VI/s1600/srpsnake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 301px; float: left; height: 260px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628155622129146818" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2RkGQENZMtZ2OSWRX4DlVU_3bEUolGopsYw2im7JakVfFIdZirMe6-QaqFH7U_8K1VOH_msicSYRM5IvDRTdfseEmZpg8TpShLBmaC3HBZU0Xd6JYigC3z1b072Q8K1RPw5dN0VI/s320/srpsnake.jpg" border="0" /></a>Well well well, I have been a delinquent herper-blogger. What happened to me? My job happened. I have just recently been able to uncoil myself from my massive load of book-writing, research, and teaching. BUT- this spring has been herp heaven and I have lots to show you all. Plus I am about to embark upon a summer like no other, so the blogs will be flowing freely... until school starts again!
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<br />I taught my fourth annual herpetology class this spring, and since it was the biggest and best ever (43 students!!!), I thought I'd start with that. Every year we add a new field trip, and the class is in glorious peril of becoming a field-only herpetology experience. Below you will see photos from the 2008-11 Cal Poly ZOO 341 Herpetology classes' field trips.
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<br />Most of the photos are not just the herps, but rather, of the REAL subject of my class: students holding herps!
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<br />The students first learn about the amphibians and reptiles in lab using preserved and (whenever possible) live specimens. Learning about desert tortoises as they wander around the table:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pf2-FR7pWYqRwTaapnl3PINlW4M5yVNiF4rbq6SJimwC8INc-3ppV6l2YBwxLEAnf6nTRkrx4cv4B3fi72Ih9TT4zBuKBIQMT3GqhU1GGvkvjPB5sp3s4fKr1oWz0gMA4ypCf_eP/s1600/Brandy+and+turtles+in+lab.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139814052485874" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pf2-FR7pWYqRwTaapnl3PINlW4M5yVNiF4rbq6SJimwC8INc-3ppV6l2YBwxLEAnf6nTRkrx4cv4B3fi72Ih9TT4zBuKBIQMT3GqhU1GGvkvjPB5sp3s4fKr1oWz0gMA4ypCf_eP/s320/Brandy+and+turtles+in+lab.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Then, it's off to the field, where we hunt critters and the students get schooled in the use of their field guides and how to write Grinnellian field notes.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUmmIreyjn64o4j09h_LHZM97vm5eWUN8nO6Ls_oNfRvIiGfeuMG9x-B5rkh3dTfzgXucJq9O57_0vgqck-nxMyFl0DTJnwsZwl2K5cWyk46GO7YA27j7BB0ewk2PLRztEIXwsC2P/s1600/DSCN0527.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140402415360402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUmmIreyjn64o4j09h_LHZM97vm5eWUN8nO6Ls_oNfRvIiGfeuMG9x-B5rkh3dTfzgXucJq9O57_0vgqck-nxMyFl0DTJnwsZwl2K5cWyk46GO7YA27j7BB0ewk2PLRztEIXwsC2P/s320/DSCN0527.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />San Luis Obispo Co is NOT a hotbed of amphibian diversity. But we nonetheless have a great time catching our local anurans and salamanders in wetlands near campus.
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<br />There is a series of old constructed trout ponds on a property near campus that the owner has converted into amphibian habitat. Each year our class goes to the property and seigns and dipnets for amphibians. Our job is to remove the invasive bullfrogs so that the healthy populationf of California red-legged frogs is protected. The students jump right in and pull a big net through the water, capturing all the critters:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m5N_oLBnILtUbu2ZxnETiwlCOJPvvkDG9hQdbQlTBPxGcwPrIB2IV3IcOYPLaJ54SxfciC80rufrppH-g4kJwSwDlzlqWrFdu7gDLlInZ6mRYg8onDU4P5LpiA3-8JwrI7M9QbGB/s1600/seigning+1.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140820423540066" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m5N_oLBnILtUbu2ZxnETiwlCOJPvvkDG9hQdbQlTBPxGcwPrIB2IV3IcOYPLaJ54SxfciC80rufrppH-g4kJwSwDlzlqWrFdu7gDLlInZ6mRYg8onDU4P5LpiA3-8JwrI7M9QbGB/s320/seigning+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxQ0mNcucOTh8DpS10LQJO39nqDKAZcl5Bc4Wa968gSRE2ODk-dsYoPJyA2eCx-Q1-daahNScP1WK1uUBB_zLlfy_guUsPwcZPbZuERcWFRU2L9xHv2QNbcKEM8E_HNWUkv_qv-d4/s1600/seigning+pond+2.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628138715696963394" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxQ0mNcucOTh8DpS10LQJO39nqDKAZcl5Bc4Wa968gSRE2ODk-dsYoPJyA2eCx-Q1-daahNScP1WK1uUBB_zLlfy_guUsPwcZPbZuERcWFRU2L9xHv2QNbcKEM8E_HNWUkv_qv-d4/s320/seigning+pond+2.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />We then go through the contents of the net:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xWcu5Zb0KcGaRDvnP5oBILR0pPkGB_j6pOYwuEJCJw9o4el7E8V8pgZd79UPxlhkU9NbAAFaI1q4kyLKhpdUhuyZ6Gx5FTP7rnx_sOhqiv1cRFXocNU_eMcdqEgVbNLJkZPWB2y2/s1600/dipnetting.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628138971304455426" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xWcu5Zb0KcGaRDvnP5oBILR0pPkGB_j6pOYwuEJCJw9o4el7E8V8pgZd79UPxlhkU9NbAAFaI1q4kyLKhpdUhuyZ6Gx5FTP7rnx_sOhqiv1cRFXocNU_eMcdqEgVbNLJkZPWB2y2/s320/dipnetting.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here is my TA Matt showing students a bullfrog larva:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQBprTvYjlNFnIqm8b31a0KBuIxAJBTWDI5W7jW7MsL3FeBnREsHCJ3ZDAOdyKhnvb2baZlZMCgegsOcJXT6wy80s15EhDu-Ybw-TpX6LoY325kSk92wvbyVLw-UxqkHvaz-eNUiO/s1600/Matt+showing+bullfrog+tadpole.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140918515395970" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQBprTvYjlNFnIqm8b31a0KBuIxAJBTWDI5W7jW7MsL3FeBnREsHCJ3ZDAOdyKhnvb2baZlZMCgegsOcJXT6wy80s15EhDu-Ybw-TpX6LoY325kSk92wvbyVLw-UxqkHvaz-eNUiO/s320/Matt+showing+bullfrog+tadpole.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />And a student showing off an adult bullfrog he grabbed:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuu6Aom03GNL3HQ-sLHQeadYLn6dmYiWZ7v6e_I0LXnoapRBUwAV70EFs7qqgAYa1D0aVtKuD55y_-kChCT6wpAOJncGsQofxjXruV5ygYL1XQkXfbrrhPaPfVFTG8kX_l7dAXHO4/s1600/Matt+and+bullfrog+2.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628138475407634978" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuu6Aom03GNL3HQ-sLHQeadYLn6dmYiWZ7v6e_I0LXnoapRBUwAV70EFs7qqgAYa1D0aVtKuD55y_-kChCT6wpAOJncGsQofxjXruV5ygYL1XQkXfbrrhPaPfVFTG8kX_l7dAXHO4/s320/Matt+and+bullfrog+2.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />California newts are very common in these ponds:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rwf93E_yxpnZsN1dsiQRlzX_PnJXMYvZXDPzCfcqctZuGPOyEYuRyJLMO0T2pfOyIf4VV_4Nq8Kef-qONWMsP10wP9a79IFsbg7kw1CotW5sE2Ba8jDs5vUsJxK1a0iUiEJCf-Ny/s1600/olivia+and+sarah+with+newt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 240px; float: left; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628156241546058226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rwf93E_yxpnZsN1dsiQRlzX_PnJXMYvZXDPzCfcqctZuGPOyEYuRyJLMO0T2pfOyIf4VV_4Nq8Kef-qONWMsP10wP9a79IFsbg7kw1CotW5sE2Ba8jDs5vUsJxK1a0iUiEJCf-Ny/s320/olivia+and+sarah+with+newt.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Newt eggs:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMXvGmvZQBE-nMsYwBpaz8SAWMrzuMQQoVEcEqKqoFzD9LhricOASsQsG4lrtwXelf4Yi7Xqg3FY6fQ-Pv7rYWGmN3vIr8bvlnb9lNNK9M9yAB3ttoWtl_jw-MSaTW7XEm5MCH_AD/s1600/newt+eggs+1.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 304px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140729239511810" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMXvGmvZQBE-nMsYwBpaz8SAWMrzuMQQoVEcEqKqoFzD9LhricOASsQsG4lrtwXelf4Yi7Xqg3FY6fQ-Pv7rYWGmN3vIr8bvlnb9lNNK9M9yAB3ttoWtl_jw-MSaTW7XEm5MCH_AD/s320/newt+eggs+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Reptiles, in contrast to amphibians, are abundant and diverse in SLO Co.! We take students on trips all over the county. One popular trip is to Chimineas Ranch in the Carrizo Plain, where my lab does field work. There are some juicy junk piles there that are full of herps. Here is my TA Tony showing the students a northern Pacific rattlesnake found under some junk:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U5DYvjfe9-KvqeEgSkfNFoHBcJv67ZDIJh-CNvyosopCAsNh4ILSRk0qqvn7ncv-GYhLEYzGEnX45xnmf7oFLMb5BYV7orPNhyphenhyphensPttRgjlz9TWBv0ZFol3taUBIE_Fau2OVs8iNI/s1600/Tony+and+herpetology+students.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139911823732930" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U5DYvjfe9-KvqeEgSkfNFoHBcJv67ZDIJh-CNvyosopCAsNh4ILSRk0qqvn7ncv-GYhLEYzGEnX45xnmf7oFLMb5BYV7orPNhyphenhyphensPttRgjlz9TWBv0ZFol3taUBIE_Fau2OVs8iNI/s320/Tony+and+herpetology+students.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />My grad student Nick with a striped racer:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWLpIHc0FQn1VSSxnbuVpfLaYmh1rZD-1n7A_YZnUMNnuvOSQmJOnejaLTftabC0zuLI3noCqGX4bTQe0lXAUa1XHw3cSTuz5dED8A-dTANX50YJ42lMndrLlxfILQ7mO_nQM3nfy/s1600/Nick+and+lateralis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 192px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628156531513767778" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWLpIHc0FQn1VSSxnbuVpfLaYmh1rZD-1n7A_YZnUMNnuvOSQmJOnejaLTftabC0zuLI3noCqGX4bTQe0lXAUa1XHw3cSTuz5dED8A-dTANX50YJ42lMndrLlxfILQ7mO_nQM3nfy/s320/Nick+and+lateralis.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />A teeny pond turtle:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3fo3LIkDgFx505KzW6GDgUTXdyY1XgyZ8jgoVId9ZhVLoHTN2JGZNKUz-9E_Am5SDzOFUNp6WgShFoxuah6t3B7t9pecEonjHRMfu7kO39uBQow3gt-61FIbNKUhZ4f_LoKXXcNA/s1600/tiny+pond+turtle.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139390053210498" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3fo3LIkDgFx505KzW6GDgUTXdyY1XgyZ8jgoVId9ZhVLoHTN2JGZNKUz-9E_Am5SDzOFUNp6WgShFoxuah6t3B7t9pecEonjHRMfu7kO39uBQow3gt-61FIbNKUhZ4f_LoKXXcNA/s320/tiny+pond+turtle.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Admiring a small California kingsnake:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurUwyHwlmKKB2Qr9yRTZoDDZb1-dxMxaucLfT1Rah8luiDWo3snKHF4xb9Sxw4_xMB3f3-H5H8ucE6x8C-47Yu48vWnjO9toXK7nzzsAPH43myLgSvuLAewncWUFoQ7bWSnRZZSvr/s1600/checking+out+king+snake+1.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 256px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140577322000930" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurUwyHwlmKKB2Qr9yRTZoDDZb1-dxMxaucLfT1Rah8luiDWo3snKHF4xb9Sxw4_xMB3f3-H5H8ucE6x8C-47Yu48vWnjO9toXK7nzzsAPH43myLgSvuLAewncWUFoQ7bWSnRZZSvr/s320/checking+out+king+snake+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Western fence lizards are by the far the most common herp we see. This one is missing a leg and getting around just fine!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt9jSX-VgZhBywKhvOy4ZYZ4jqEkePmFvOtN3XfDQNODJVl9arZ7GoFaaYtKdJDH0yzfxc5LcNkt3AbgLUr8zxdT_cHeuzefLRA0LIW7DbUDRkRQKXM1MMDqI-xA6qJM9XSHS326F/s1600/legless+scelop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 202px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628155895692322562" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt9jSX-VgZhBywKhvOy4ZYZ4jqEkePmFvOtN3XfDQNODJVl9arZ7GoFaaYtKdJDH0yzfxc5LcNkt3AbgLUr8zxdT_cHeuzefLRA0LIW7DbUDRkRQKXM1MMDqI-xA6qJM9XSHS326F/s320/legless+scelop.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Thumbs up for coast horned lizards!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4puQ3Gl2XbkDSyzHzKKYHq5y70hwzKl6HQCUkweXq8GjZyT8fpB9Jds5e8G5FNBQjNSDQTxGKRfjg3u90zs-rlMxRqVfUE2oFoSQCgr86OC8ZDaumPTV-4lxHYqNE4-4o-d6hZjI/s1600/horny+toad+thumbs+up.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139271615812242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4puQ3Gl2XbkDSyzHzKKYHq5y70hwzKl6HQCUkweXq8GjZyT8fpB9Jds5e8G5FNBQjNSDQTxGKRfjg3u90zs-rlMxRqVfUE2oFoSQCgr86OC8ZDaumPTV-4lxHYqNE4-4o-d6hZjI/s320/horny+toad+thumbs+up.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Alligator lizard earrings:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYI0qy834ujiygfe4iKlF8gw42NmfsDnPfRwAD-GnJ-IJ0XqcCGsJakXqpb3h0O0jNVfbB5L-SXNuDIwLxXsLi6k6cqq5jR1QjOhANS2v3DSndVLSydPnS8vD9kH0pmM2gQuHUhGO/s1600/Max+gator+earring.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139071867728226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYI0qy834ujiygfe4iKlF8gw42NmfsDnPfRwAD-GnJ-IJ0XqcCGsJakXqpb3h0O0jNVfbB5L-SXNuDIwLxXsLi6k6cqq5jR1QjOhANS2v3DSndVLSydPnS8vD9kH0pmM2gQuHUhGO/s320/Max+gator+earring.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />A good-looking Western yellow-bellied racer:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUofMG73ay5DoLB87cIQnnsAFbR24n_ENpp2MrDgnUDZgucgFIRSEdiF1cnBoHLhyQl9onklmVn7gOrHaVx-IMVUY6jBG8PQOWTe8NAubeuUnR6ZATb__jeJb9-QItVV5mF_S9-tu/s1600/Coluber+constrictor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 233px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628155995363661826" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUofMG73ay5DoLB87cIQnnsAFbR24n_ENpp2MrDgnUDZgucgFIRSEdiF1cnBoHLhyQl9onklmVn7gOrHaVx-IMVUY6jBG8PQOWTe8NAubeuUnR6ZATb__jeJb9-QItVV5mF_S9-tu/s320/Coluber+constrictor.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Northern Pacific rattlesnakes are thick as thieves at Chimineas. This year we found 16 rattlesnakes in a 3-hour hike! Photographing a snake from a respectful distance:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZrhGuWIyHf-8RiONI5uDlgQiDTXkI5tGg1YU5nyd6wTBHfTeLVd8dSQZzDh9VunSoZY1p2s2FXVAfO_YBdP2loj4Eqy5d5W8ieAyQ4KrnBHjr57SYAunl4vU2pf_fiPwbbZL8qW-/s1600/Bob+photographing+a+rattlesnake.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628141574697531794" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZrhGuWIyHf-8RiONI5uDlgQiDTXkI5tGg1YU5nyd6wTBHfTeLVd8dSQZzDh9VunSoZY1p2s2FXVAfO_YBdP2loj4Eqy5d5W8ieAyQ4KrnBHjr57SYAunl4vU2pf_fiPwbbZL8qW-/s320/Bob+photographing+a+rattlesnake.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />Courting rattlesnakes. That's the very attentive male on the right.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSGLKCmqXo5UjCF3lAl5ReACncko4l_xQfH3SnvI_zNTcg4p5rpEAkb8JXLzQPoX3mUv_-1dTjiWf3aovG6tvbX6pa8OjLKdnK3-os39BwoyFlkzK4eCq1cuOcy1uVvLVOKX0uG35/s1600/snakes+courting.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628141154111679778" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSGLKCmqXo5UjCF3lAl5ReACncko4l_xQfH3SnvI_zNTcg4p5rpEAkb8JXLzQPoX3mUv_-1dTjiWf3aovG6tvbX6pa8OjLKdnK3-os39BwoyFlkzK4eCq1cuOcy1uVvLVOKX0uG35/s320/snakes+courting.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br />The Mojave Desert field trip is the capstone experience for the class. We stay at the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx California in the Mojave Desert and spend two days hiking and night driving for herps. Best field trip ever!
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<br />The PERL crew preparing to drive the vans over to the East Mojave:
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzOFTyVYL4CuHnm0VmjbwpQYjuGQeYfSxFufEuJSGgpDzm8bWixEime74fyq-ezqjDBC5ntjqRPqfzgUI0G8CzBmgyYQixs4LY0c5MopPOyEz6zPfM9GhZ7kc7NhNaS93sHzQdAlj/s1600/IMAG0132.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 192px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628143718146216514" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzOFTyVYL4CuHnm0VmjbwpQYjuGQeYfSxFufEuJSGgpDzm8bWixEime74fyq-ezqjDBC5ntjqRPqfzgUI0G8CzBmgyYQixs4LY0c5MopPOyEz6zPfM9GhZ7kc7NhNaS93sHzQdAlj/s320/IMAG0132.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />We spend some time every year herping at the Kelso Dunes, where you can find loads of lizards. It is important to protect oneself from the sun:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRNorgJc63ENqpZGvjX3_lHsHZWVcTUgFfvjC8AgVN-c1e_ktDIIRz3v9pAb4C933WoL5o_pXgn_nBCL2fJei7Ep-rK4cU3R2EM6wbbw6it9A0CNRW_Lr3RlxFem_U4K12IneXNz5/s1600/students+at+Kelso+Dunes+Mojave+Desert+ZOO+341.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628143511988882658" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRNorgJc63ENqpZGvjX3_lHsHZWVcTUgFfvjC8AgVN-c1e_ktDIIRz3v9pAb4C933WoL5o_pXgn_nBCL2fJei7Ep-rK4cU3R2EM6wbbw6it9A0CNRW_Lr3RlxFem_U4K12IneXNz5/s320/students+at+Kelso+Dunes+Mojave+Desert+ZOO+341.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />A western whiptail lizard:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb6ZI9YjTnd42L2GoabjYI5cN8cOTqn_ppQekgDfm2tUNDhpRk03qmCQlLFhCFiMdfLV3vJhAOSuzjxbJOFId5CvRDCAfWNABwZmeDskps2xt3c8nIUtofbQzvslBqB5IEXkt9DwS/s1600/DSCF1358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628145651920443298" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb6ZI9YjTnd42L2GoabjYI5cN8cOTqn_ppQekgDfm2tUNDhpRk03qmCQlLFhCFiMdfLV3vJhAOSuzjxbJOFId5CvRDCAfWNABwZmeDskps2xt3c8nIUtofbQzvslBqB5IEXkt9DwS/s320/DSCF1358.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />A huge long-nosed leopard lizard:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEpxN3ootCdpUifZ9TMjBh_n7CGVsZAp-BJGiw451HphLrwxF62z9jrdS_wJswMh_aI97Zfc6cDwMiu4Eg-zPT2LCkLkuv-FauMF36NSn0AFvrpXqte8iwT-DuFVep9ajjJBJP2oY/s1600/DSCF1352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628145207220684290" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEpxN3ootCdpUifZ9TMjBh_n7CGVsZAp-BJGiw451HphLrwxF62z9jrdS_wJswMh_aI97Zfc6cDwMiu4Eg-zPT2LCkLkuv-FauMF36NSn0AFvrpXqte8iwT-DuFVep9ajjJBJP2oY/s320/DSCF1352.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />And one of the most special lizards around, a Mojave fringe-toed lizard:
<br /><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628144656036062434" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcSpWcDUgey9lKLLir_3oiB2wlAV55VRKiORIzePq2_6kHP0tqUeD2OomxGMC64QTJgi9kizByOEjxMO15_qWg-rmHEQXA7PaQUz-cNDgHvtSH3ipVTJBAcpQs7LiyyrL2qSikGfR/s320/DSCF1350.JPG" border="0" />Mojave rattlesnakes, among the most "stimulating" of all rattlesnake species:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSdD0UrkQOpc49cDXWTWmPvJ1ZWMPNN_E97-hkfJFyJXfsFSimb0OfnC3SWeYh0tOMw28-_-1Jw2WvBOmdqNKF5DuU-y41Ue5q2B7ajilqfHsQtlITtwiFg_8tiOgHx3n9eblAdkY/s1600/DSCN0699.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628163072317097874" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSdD0UrkQOpc49cDXWTWmPvJ1ZWMPNN_E97-hkfJFyJXfsFSimb0OfnC3SWeYh0tOMw28-_-1Jw2WvBOmdqNKF5DuU-y41Ue5q2B7ajilqfHsQtlITtwiFg_8tiOgHx3n9eblAdkY/s320/DSCN0699.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />We do lots of night driving because this is the best way to find snakes. Students checking out a sidewinder on Kelbaker Rd.:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ogI9Wds5mwx6G-ZiuQNUm-iFs1RV4nXTYBoE8ggAgrDsHkS8jytqO7DvxCJzCkjtsrdPdXaB3hBJEI4gjFQk7oekUfzRgoBmOXuwwMwGZd4gCC2FLX92SbUZ4DXDeKA3byqa4E4x/s1600/DSCF1383.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628144150002751474" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ogI9Wds5mwx6G-ZiuQNUm-iFs1RV4nXTYBoE8ggAgrDsHkS8jytqO7DvxCJzCkjtsrdPdXaB3hBJEI4gjFQk7oekUfzRgoBmOXuwwMwGZd4gCC2FLX92SbUZ4DXDeKA3byqa4E4x/s320/DSCF1383.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />And a shovel-nosed snake:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjfue69P9Kvxx89vdiUwwDHoPjfUod-_LKYw7OHZDnXYlJOiUQesX4thq93zpHgEsdAvZNYOUK4yS21AjN-khEKcN03-Vp29Nk5CDcwRY8o1GRhyphenhyphenkke-wOqwfC8-KqHkHXO1dZ8YM/s1600/students+checking+out+snake%252C+Mojave+Desert+ZOO+341.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628143409576360562" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjfue69P9Kvxx89vdiUwwDHoPjfUod-_LKYw7OHZDnXYlJOiUQesX4thq93zpHgEsdAvZNYOUK4yS21AjN-khEKcN03-Vp29Nk5CDcwRY8o1GRhyphenhyphenkke-wOqwfC8-KqHkHXO1dZ8YM/s320/students+checking+out+snake%252C+Mojave+Desert+ZOO+341.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Posing with a glossy snake:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZza1l3RVtMuFCTRGs1PCwDKJqIBA_plH_EAuVV2Y9mKMYht2wSLIOFEbsCx1rRVOlRBjLrmBYrvN8rg9Ve6ocOeZQAFXIdHeXqp-9yVyI_Iy-sHjSlBV6U02haXi_Tdl38DSlKOWF/s1600/herp+field+trip+nighttime+2.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 267px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139704310745842" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZza1l3RVtMuFCTRGs1PCwDKJqIBA_plH_EAuVV2Y9mKMYht2wSLIOFEbsCx1rRVOlRBjLrmBYrvN8rg9Ve6ocOeZQAFXIdHeXqp-9yVyI_Iy-sHjSlBV6U02haXi_Tdl38DSlKOWF/s320/herp+field+trip+nighttime+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sometimes we see herps on the road during the day, too. In 2009 we found over 20 desert tortoises along Kelbaker Rd. in a single hour! That includes the big mama below. This was likely because the severe draught forced tortoises to the road edges where runoff increases vegetative growth.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEWyznsnib1AlQ5wK5rR8n0mQAX5opDMWBKmx1IX2bhyphenhyphendxn8XoxYUOfGXxOtnE5GI1PWJJdLEHnLha9lCLGSfSQXNqOzLSju9R1KThk3a6qLY_WoWT4UEmXB8BF5nyIiVQfnv_rHo/s1600/giant+tortoise+Bree+Tony.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628139614866641074" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEWyznsnib1AlQ5wK5rR8n0mQAX5opDMWBKmx1IX2bhyphenhyphendxn8XoxYUOfGXxOtnE5GI1PWJJdLEHnLha9lCLGSfSQXNqOzLSju9R1KThk3a6qLY_WoWT4UEmXB8BF5nyIiVQfnv_rHo/s320/giant+tortoise+Bree+Tony.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Pisgah Lava Flow is a gorgeous place that I was introduced to in my Herpetology class at UC Berkeley:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicha6guBfIYIPZkwIVfYhqoAUzkHXQ5f2M1w62ys6vjrQ21PvKkNDd8os_gjhu4bH5nmLW39xvlO3ca-UPFKoUuaS98lx5qJlBF-8LC-9NZo0se_Xdq1qt3dY9rhatn7H9kKgwh_6v/s1600/Pisgah+flowers.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140015108726578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicha6guBfIYIPZkwIVfYhqoAUzkHXQ5f2M1w62ys6vjrQ21PvKkNDd8os_gjhu4bH5nmLW39xvlO3ca-UPFKoUuaS98lx5qJlBF-8LC-9NZo0se_Xdq1qt3dY9rhatn7H9kKgwh_6v/s320/Pisgah+flowers.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here's a collared lizard from Pisgah:
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5aR2aTAHuJbWJRvlwG21tC1nBPfQeS3lsbED-7Xpro92OvAZu95E9aCxsc5I5o_kyi7otrPcy5uEGJ-vvZmGxud4acT6-Pe_iZzR6NPk8uZV5AlIgLMOVv1yhJukCuSnB16WZ7KV/s1600/DSCN0746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; float: left; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628163736165063602" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5aR2aTAHuJbWJRvlwG21tC1nBPfQeS3lsbED-7Xpro92OvAZu95E9aCxsc5I5o_kyi7otrPcy5uEGJ-vvZmGxud4acT6-Pe_iZzR6NPk8uZV5AlIgLMOVv1yhJukCuSnB16WZ7KV/s320/DSCN0746.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br />And its speckled rattlesnakes are incredible:
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYspQn4RkwTefg_8E0Wxvcxwysmwt7oKFXqCqTwT004OEH5S2QsVjb9_Q2IK0_JjQC95FiBj9-iQ9TqHrtdYpQpUcSCTpj930VMBiqJI-S91gApNgaVK3JgWBFGC_AYG771kWoIANA/s1600/blackface+speck.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628143294954828946" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYspQn4RkwTefg_8E0Wxvcxwysmwt7oKFXqCqTwT004OEH5S2QsVjb9_Q2IK0_JjQC95FiBj9-iQ9TqHrtdYpQpUcSCTpj930VMBiqJI-S91gApNgaVK3JgWBFGC_AYG771kWoIANA/s320/blackface+speck.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0TCIXAzyAwIjWc4dI_jVDeZtjPZOetPj_5eNmBqwoFydpq0NSxTna7y_hO6355EKSZUGw69VOczruoNIyMfpD-NbCQfNM7z7QiRo28Sd6se6HplbI3NU7m-mRnCcQqFAdhJWCxcz/s1600/Crotalus+stephensi.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 258px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628140102892336802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0TCIXAzyAwIjWc4dI_jVDeZtjPZOetPj_5eNmBqwoFydpq0NSxTna7y_hO6355EKSZUGw69VOczruoNIyMfpD-NbCQfNM7z7QiRo28Sd6se6HplbI3NU7m-mRnCcQqFAdhJWCxcz/s320/Crotalus+stephensi.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />I am so lucky at Cal Poly to have great students, awesome colleagues, and an administration supportive of our herpetological endeavors. So supportive in fact, that Dean Phil Bailey of Cal Poly's College of Science and Math joined us on a field trip!
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ8NWgFzsHEezqxM9F-59g4V84zMAvQrBWNnvGyB2jeML6MLTnjeMfYvMtrjUz_r-R0GtXgJr9aDUJuir4JO-_mbv698pbXazQDRMGdS9k9c4Ru6aG1heXrSl5OrLhD1UIHdUuVAk/s1600/Phil+and+gopher+snake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 243px; float: left; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628155787575688978" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ8NWgFzsHEezqxM9F-59g4V84zMAvQrBWNnvGyB2jeML6MLTnjeMfYvMtrjUz_r-R0GtXgJr9aDUJuir4JO-_mbv698pbXazQDRMGdS9k9c4Ru6aG1heXrSl5OrLhD1UIHdUuVAk/s320/Phil+and+gopher+snake.jpg" border="0" /></a> Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123276396615223616.post-20938681298059171692010-11-27T10:17:00.000-08:002010-11-29T12:18:33.777-08:00"Those must be some really mellow snakes."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9LqpcJ76dNs-c_qUFvQGUSsb83iAWh6dyqGbiegVqSf5sDjJeBMqA-BCD0FSTEE1-JxapzEo_Ri9zaLM0oLzHckC0Uir8SRdewl8hA0G1L_YiS4p3eF8OiKNlrm1F1q7spRxXvro/s1600/boa+head.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545045841983096098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9LqpcJ76dNs-c_qUFvQGUSsb83iAWh6dyqGbiegVqSf5sDjJeBMqA-BCD0FSTEE1-JxapzEo_Ri9zaLM0oLzHckC0Uir8SRdewl8hA0G1L_YiS4p3eF8OiKNlrm1F1q7spRxXvro/s320/boa+head.jpg" /></a><br />That is a quote from my collaborator Ignacio when he measured the levels of stress hormone in the blood samples we brought back from Hog Island boa constrictors last year. They had such low levels that many were virtually non-detectable. If you have ever spent much time on a Caribbean island, you might have low stress hormone levels, too. My lab group ventured to Honduras last week to further study this phenomenon in island boas.<br /><br />Arriving in La Ceiba, bodies and luggage intact (rather a feat in itself, considering my previous experiences traveling to this particular place, which you can read about <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2008/01/boas-beaches-and-banditos-oh-my.html">here</a> and <a href="http://snakeymama.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html">here</a>):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56IUMk_qChGSFNLLKmDAP4kQ8fXh_JsDEpN4Db48py1iIHbgUmZtvkbyIQZCETHM6Z2DaebZcxNRl_5Q3xvnEvm2VFWSWr-QPXUYcQiZ18o-if8oJzI3YFYMy9GIp-s6PSJEectzh/s1600/arrival%2521.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544310779316174578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56IUMk_qChGSFNLLKmDAP4kQ8fXh_JsDEpN4Db48py1iIHbgUmZtvkbyIQZCETHM6Z2DaebZcxNRl_5Q3xvnEvm2VFWSWr-QPXUYcQiZ18o-if8oJzI3YFYMy9GIp-s6PSJEectzh/s320/arrival%2521.jpg" /></a><br />And then it was off to Cayo Cochino Menor via boat:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVnp1GC4i0y1RTO6fXI_rZO58gKA75Hgclx2G-deVKgEnx-WhBhHfdmB0c39eP2Nb1OIJY3qLy_m3aFaUsGy6_TwHIk7DP-45oEobjRRLm3NYMGXSJwOMmD8p65zs3hyXqSYjZitC/s1600/boat+ride+out.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545047486792542194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVnp1GC4i0y1RTO6fXI_rZO58gKA75Hgclx2G-deVKgEnx-WhBhHfdmB0c39eP2Nb1OIJY3qLy_m3aFaUsGy6_TwHIk7DP-45oEobjRRLm3NYMGXSJwOMmD8p65zs3hyXqSYjZitC/s320/boat+ride+out.jpg" /></a><br />As my senior colleagues told me recently while I was preparing my tenure packet, "We really just want to see what you did, don't give us too much commentary." In other words, I talk too much. I'll take that advice here, too.<br /><br />I will present photos in the following order: a tour of Cayo Menor, its herps, our boa work, then invertebrates, then the three S's: snorkeling, scenery, and screwing around.<br /><br /><strong>A TOUR OF CAYO COCHINO MENOR:</strong></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>It is a tiny island, inaccessible to the public and therefore a haven for boas, iguanas, cool invertebrates, and the biologists that love them. Here is a view of the beach right in front of our cabins:</div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVTnKGsDG7MeBrK5NYICJqvAy_msP51wKCflzXD8Dk5JXc0VumdQgFJ6YcpK8w97bKQc4ckK46UCHPTtCsTI1DHYewX4qcKZViOQ-5fFoMSHE0nxrpQOK81XplbhFakzc1_qpWWvA/s1600/beach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545042768835194546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVTnKGsDG7MeBrK5NYICJqvAy_msP51wKCflzXD8Dk5JXc0VumdQgFJ6YcpK8w97bKQc4ckK46UCHPTtCsTI1DHYewX4qcKZViOQ-5fFoMSHE0nxrpQOK81XplbhFakzc1_qpWWvA/s320/beach.jpg" /></a><br />A view of Cayo Cochino Mayor (the other Hog Island) from our island (Menor), with some amazing reef in between:<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxBf8T15fsOfKdiRf8BlbhWvQRWFIgglqcYJJOzoMkhOtp-yK9GHqZLwvkcSMurSIMVOp_rwHIiGaHTUR6pdf5PY13u8BYrtqxsosR4KET6KGmTfg9nivqo7hgbSBaNu-uLmy2B_p/s1600/big+island+from+small+island.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048434047649266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxBf8T15fsOfKdiRf8BlbhWvQRWFIgglqcYJJOzoMkhOtp-yK9GHqZLwvkcSMurSIMVOp_rwHIiGaHTUR6pdf5PY13u8BYrtqxsosR4KET6KGmTfg9nivqo7hgbSBaNu-uLmy2B_p/s320/big+island+from+small+island.jpg" /></a><br />Our island to the left, Cayo Culebra off the coast of Menor to the right, with the mainland mountains in the background:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PwcFBMd0svFtRtcJjkkD_yVV96xhz5QimTZ8ry2xhgbzHeFzOeENvBqoD2qf_zz6Ia3nfNYOKHh7-yUp9xqxJsiPOJ3hwGqjjhltfTA8X2v7Y5TTsGMwxQvWbHQL4g_YDdfF4WSh/s1600/cayo+culebra.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545058278019204498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PwcFBMd0svFtRtcJjkkD_yVV96xhz5QimTZ8ry2xhgbzHeFzOeENvBqoD2qf_zz6Ia3nfNYOKHh7-yUp9xqxJsiPOJ3hwGqjjhltfTA8X2v7Y5TTsGMwxQvWbHQL4g_YDdfF4WSh/s320/cayo+culebra.jpg" /></a><br />The "lagoon," a wet area teeming with boas and invertebrates:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzrUHiix1iB3hIOY8YwTwwKCvDzGMGQx0vgutPZePvY3gpHdcyyPtGbMsYhJ2lIFfaIcsnLKNSiMVj4tIK15zx7_MZ7tULpW8pDGb8RUtgMv-BdEEiTyMEOz2smNsVkkaigTsKOaT/s1600/lagoon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049014620502930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzrUHiix1iB3hIOY8YwTwwKCvDzGMGQx0vgutPZePvY3gpHdcyyPtGbMsYhJ2lIFfaIcsnLKNSiMVj4tIK15zx7_MZ7tULpW8pDGb8RUtgMv-BdEEiTyMEOz2smNsVkkaigTsKOaT/s320/lagoon.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p>The "lion's head," a small projection at the north end of the island:<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlC28BtJXpYIiMwytMRH1tEi1wk_LObiR0iaq1vQnfNfrpfLZUZBHqLlcJQy6Jy6MvdoY-DPpNH7SO9En68V6hGV4-pblmDW3I1eytiRYX-HCIxOOVtK64-h5YKONvXWvPidbHzU-/s1600/lion%2527s+head.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049724075310194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlC28BtJXpYIiMwytMRH1tEi1wk_LObiR0iaq1vQnfNfrpfLZUZBHqLlcJQy6Jy6MvdoY-DPpNH7SO9En68V6hGV4-pblmDW3I1eytiRYX-HCIxOOVtK64-h5YKONvXWvPidbHzU-/s320/lion%2527s+head.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>HERPS:</strong><br /><p>Even though we spent most of our time searching for boas as part of our study, the other herps on the island were constantly throwing themselves at us, requiring investigation. Here are the common ones:</p><p>Mexican Treefrog (<em>Smilisca baudinii</em>):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fQYZxNsJ206tGtNIBrcoC8S-yCQu0_4be6r_rZkvtpgOJv2FpD2l4LFk8_bwW92ppNPjUJRPy28EOJFetf5xv7iRqfnaRyZVGQRHIT9tXRYsMF-RVrOGGArf3bIg4VU_nF5EozSs/s1600/Smilisca.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544315612451579106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fQYZxNsJ206tGtNIBrcoC8S-yCQu0_4be6r_rZkvtpgOJv2FpD2l4LFk8_bwW92ppNPjUJRPy28EOJFetf5xv7iRqfnaRyZVGQRHIT9tXRYsMF-RVrOGGArf3bIg4VU_nF5EozSs/s320/Smilisca.jpg" /></a><br />Honduran Spiny-tailed iguana (<em>Ctenosaura melanosterna</em>):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6ARKSTsUgu5OumF-G0BefEXfXMHFvTUSeOsm22zY84h0mWXu5cktl9G96GPBBJSQiXYHoENMLchu3qx8ngkuncyvbfEpnMzcNPewioomhphyphenhyphenJyHDUO5M4wcnJ_82W50EdkIZD2Uh/s1600/ctenosaura.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545038260808352466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6ARKSTsUgu5OumF-G0BefEXfXMHFvTUSeOsm22zY84h0mWXu5cktl9G96GPBBJSQiXYHoENMLchu3qx8ngkuncyvbfEpnMzcNPewioomhphyphenhyphenJyHDUO5M4wcnJ_82W50EdkIZD2Uh/s320/ctenosaura.jpg" /></a><br />They sleep inside stumps and logs at night:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67_ii5EJoACjohmcSkLDXHqSHLFUmmcDa-tQvxGw0dyr_235n9xp5nfptbZZBfS6PxOBLflLc7VHCcJXukbwndzYj-mv21e4lf5ahZMgEl2iGDmr2pR8E3RcJozB7GPpQXjcGoA0I/s1600/ctenosaura+hiding+in+tree.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545038326736853682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67_ii5EJoACjohmcSkLDXHqSHLFUmmcDa-tQvxGw0dyr_235n9xp5nfptbZZBfS6PxOBLflLc7VHCcJXukbwndzYj-mv21e4lf5ahZMgEl2iGDmr2pR8E3RcJozB7GPpQXjcGoA0I/s320/ctenosaura+hiding+in+tree.jpg" /></a><br />Green iguanas (<em>Iguana iguana</em>), on the other hand, sleep in trees at night, making them accessible to curious students :</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhQ_75iG2P2TaMUOc5PNsriIW7YZfTv_x025xrK_QEHTnYrFG5kKKjQZcT-0y3LplPBZXeAoU4gazpYiyCGccae0rq7OlVxxIbblwwo-3alZ0wKYMOmSC9IMwURLy2pvBBJd-jFAD/s1600/green+iguana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545038108946913874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhQ_75iG2P2TaMUOc5PNsriIW7YZfTv_x025xrK_QEHTnYrFG5kKKjQZcT-0y3LplPBZXeAoU4gazpYiyCGccae0rq7OlVxxIbblwwo-3alZ0wKYMOmSC9IMwURLy2pvBBJd-jFAD/s320/green+iguana.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyVeov6NJmffbotXRTgyIAVrvPzJbN2A1GpWs-4aAW1i7QkD8b4SrAJKN8Yu5DymleCXQyNevyFrgG4Pf3uchTweITfkC-TuaFomwElY41SWLNuuoST6VUEeHE3jBq__wn2CrTOf9/s1600/amber+and+green+iguana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545046811057801938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyVeov6NJmffbotXRTgyIAVrvPzJbN2A1GpWs-4aAW1i7QkD8b4SrAJKN8Yu5DymleCXQyNevyFrgG4Pf3uchTweITfkC-TuaFomwElY41SWLNuuoST6VUEeHE3jBq__wn2CrTOf9/s320/amber+and+green+iguana.jpg" /></a><br />A lemur anole (<em>Norops lemurinus</em>) sleeping on a leaf at night:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WtanOG_YjJ8y7189gEUNhRAL91bVJFHB1VcFeuG1bJGeSwG4YWPzzdz5ek6YJxxgrkGRKc6ZdIdHFiVafwmqTRf9PgzXqg0d0gWyGCAOSekrf_fU5DZUovV-ZzN-HLeGM5WMw6un/s1600/norops+sleeping.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043516893371362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WtanOG_YjJ8y7189gEUNhRAL91bVJFHB1VcFeuG1bJGeSwG4YWPzzdz5ek6YJxxgrkGRKc6ZdIdHFiVafwmqTRf9PgzXqg0d0gWyGCAOSekrf_fU5DZUovV-ZzN-HLeGM5WMw6un/s320/norops+sleeping.jpg" /></a><br />An Allison's anole (<em>Anolis allisoni</em>) at the restaurant (don't worry, that's not lizard meat in the soup. I'm not sure what it was, but it was mammalian):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf9Y0KBhbj3w7unMw1b9p0syMH2K7Rjr8wjS4PCA4cCgrPKpYt7ImPjfhG7GpevpJ5rulKbYaEX-daItACGD09al4FXD3JhcNjY_rwcFNVboI6IcRPCgvACakmim676hvfpukX9hr/s1600/anolis+allisoni+over+soup.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 204px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545042689408006466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf9Y0KBhbj3w7unMw1b9p0syMH2K7Rjr8wjS4PCA4cCgrPKpYt7ImPjfhG7GpevpJ5rulKbYaEX-daItACGD09al4FXD3JhcNjY_rwcFNVboI6IcRPCgvACakmim676hvfpukX9hr/s320/anolis+allisoni+over+soup.jpg" /></a><br />Geckos fighting over territories at the restaurant:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8Q5fMeRbXouEebORFwOVkskpZnxtqigN7fAsjKVgP2VelzC6iNyfxfY_d0bWglD-Xdb53ceQ2aAFBFae_NEefv5QrN0nJ8XvqUxJ5sVzvcln0ocpgrkurJ8pudxa2zThoE5hJ9r8/s1600/geckos+in+the+restaurant.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043167024861794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8Q5fMeRbXouEebORFwOVkskpZnxtqigN7fAsjKVgP2VelzC6iNyfxfY_d0bWglD-Xdb53ceQ2aAFBFae_NEefv5QrN0nJ8XvqUxJ5sVzvcln0ocpgrkurJ8pudxa2zThoE5hJ9r8/s320/geckos+in+the+restaurant.jpg" /></a><br />A heretofore undiscovered species of gecko on the island (<em>Gonatodes</em>? sp.):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4D6QKKh-_8gBiYGaibrfhwU6nfLtVGslHtAkF_H1lD7BPiJHl7JUWVEN5PIisB-JqIw24WYNZseNxqpISjlTh66h8M1heEmlPy-82i8rO0F3qc9Sbu8qDU5pa9agguBiBEIVSWyG/s1600/new+gecko.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049511249022562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4D6QKKh-_8gBiYGaibrfhwU6nfLtVGslHtAkF_H1lD7BPiJHl7JUWVEN5PIisB-JqIw24WYNZseNxqpISjlTh66h8M1heEmlPy-82i8rO0F3qc9Sbu8qDU5pa9agguBiBEIVSWyG/s320/new+gecko.jpg" /></a><br />A rather cute little forest racer (<em>Dryadophis melanolomus</em>):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_ZyJYA_JdfxlmuEf_eepbYZDOk-BahiCjJh9vAPjNvEALEsTJO83KaWNARG-B1dMuxlQ1kGRxLv1_gLo3-ircgAWc68O0IhIsD43uwokz5lPCBpydj_n_sRV1lb6pLwW8cTf3628/s1600/Em+and+racer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545046924438135698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_ZyJYA_JdfxlmuEf_eepbYZDOk-BahiCjJh9vAPjNvEALEsTJO83KaWNARG-B1dMuxlQ1kGRxLv1_gLo3-ircgAWc68O0IhIsD43uwokz5lPCBpydj_n_sRV1lb6pLwW8cTf3628/s320/Em+and+racer.jpg" /></a><br />An adult black-striped snake (<em>Coniophanes imperialis</em>):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzCdqzI1_Q_CwOVEmf4KQNHqxG5Lt5owgIr05_WmmRUFjtxwmZR1HnERxynu6nT403Om5BWcEVfNMcYtE2979saN5wQfE9M2IS03eiXA1btP3-oZMFpHQhBj2IZV8v5J-grbCxNQU/s1600/coniophanes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048528255814514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzCdqzI1_Q_CwOVEmf4KQNHqxG5Lt5owgIr05_WmmRUFjtxwmZR1HnERxynu6nT403Om5BWcEVfNMcYtE2979saN5wQfE9M2IS03eiXA1btP3-oZMFpHQhBj2IZV8v5J-grbCxNQU/s320/coniophanes.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>OUR BOA WORK:</strong><br /></p><p>We captured and processed almost 150 boas in five days. Not too shabby. Results are forthcoming, of course, but for now here are some photos of us hard at work (honestly felt like hardly working). </p><p>Here is some typical boa habitat in the forest:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMytC8jANo1K6hP8a7J77td_rJcAHoNz8aZvg2wVfiL37fa0H0-mDg5XDDcDteGZi4-AidortG9kSrA6FTX8StMG0LWKv-ensXxMObJNJipcu9QqiBBCFJYxNvm5cHoCukNu60zBd/s1600/boa+habitat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545042825556994098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMytC8jANo1K6hP8a7J77td_rJcAHoNz8aZvg2wVfiL37fa0H0-mDg5XDDcDteGZi4-AidortG9kSrA6FTX8StMG0LWKv-ensXxMObJNJipcu9QqiBBCFJYxNvm5cHoCukNu60zBd/s320/boa+habitat.jpg" /></a><br />A boa in foraging posture. They blend right in with the branches, and when a bird or iguana is unlucky enough to choose the same branch, pow! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mqh3ycZpINZ8Y7LrpRczx5erjR_HS1KJSfXaGH3tLltMCaE14vYP4GaGuhxB5hC0QK8cdVIk62jeGGY45kbtcYAwN9w4kmpvA9fLnw7TDruxv-i1fDLVcY5g5Y8XYRobI_3pfoAD/s1600/vertical+boa.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 227px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544316413700891586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mqh3ycZpINZ8Y7LrpRczx5erjR_HS1KJSfXaGH3tLltMCaE14vYP4GaGuhxB5hC0QK8cdVIk62jeGGY45kbtcYAwN9w4kmpvA9fLnw7TDruxv-i1fDLVcY5g5Y8XYRobI_3pfoAD/s320/vertical+boa.jpg" /></a><br />This apparently goes for bats, too, as this boa showed its appreciation for being captured by puking up a leaf-nosed bat:</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoDFkWVb0MECIxBwHGlAwco7e0XeIJ1Ypuk7be6fF3FMko3pJwdA3S7CbybzvwKZGEGBqraGXMHYBFxSC24sI8CmKCBxU-3VJrkG1aY8jAopE613025dhJywJa3G5pQRiaz8mCSis/s1600/boa+puking+bat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544308951441825026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoDFkWVb0MECIxBwHGlAwco7e0XeIJ1Ypuk7be6fF3FMko3pJwdA3S7CbybzvwKZGEGBqraGXMHYBFxSC24sI8CmKCBxU-3VJrkG1aY8jAopE613025dhJywJa3G5pQRiaz8mCSis/s320/boa+puking+bat.jpg" /></a><br />When we captured a snake, we got a blood sample right away:<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjERN-AdISxfYEX3cyedTuikOI6-AZDjQTIiZRwuETKPExQvsZB_QR51knM_GluQXPMU-D9m_GBlD7fA9dLf6WlkNbpgBoJHCq5bVif043rPY5cmuDO7pNgabUt9I-oiKuo3jDNIyN/s1600/heart+stick.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043408656559346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjERN-AdISxfYEX3cyedTuikOI6-AZDjQTIiZRwuETKPExQvsZB_QR51knM_GluQXPMU-D9m_GBlD7fA9dLf6WlkNbpgBoJHCq5bVif043rPY5cmuDO7pNgabUt9I-oiKuo3jDNIyN/s320/heart+stick.jpg" /></a><br />Then we took other data, like weighing the snake (there is a balance under this plate):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Mwkw7u1SknrA7NtFgaRslBd5g9X0sr3mxzxA9Hjay37atdR62YcpNDALCSRZTUskq4hkr3EQZwWz3nbECwC-exes-qfhqKgdupgVrWOt3nFk3gAmYhkylRPyTl68lmANANbQyWN/s1600/boa+on+a+plate.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544311281204777266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Mwkw7u1SknrA7NtFgaRslBd5g9X0sr3mxzxA9Hjay37atdR62YcpNDALCSRZTUskq4hkr3EQZwWz3nbECwC-exes-qfhqKgdupgVrWOt3nFk3gAmYhkylRPyTl68lmANANbQyWN/s320/boa+on+a+plate.jpg" /></a><br />Lots of boas had ticks on them, especially on scars. These ticks are <em>Amblyomma dissimile</em> adults:</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_9lnM_zhS1PT2CKTgrktavlsp80HpXgEugIv8XYoCCXUIEE09B3FTv0iDtNclPFTfDewCQIMA691hUweDBl9uNqzBogI-OCKrm8mNGB05ajI_kPzELC1Ap_sf-XLkTIiqpfUXCD_/s1600/ticks+on+boa+scar.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049287882391122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_9lnM_zhS1PT2CKTgrktavlsp80HpXgEugIv8XYoCCXUIEE09B3FTv0iDtNclPFTfDewCQIMA691hUweDBl9uNqzBogI-OCKrm8mNGB05ajI_kPzELC1Ap_sf-XLkTIiqpfUXCD_/s320/ticks+on+boa+scar.jpg" /></a></p><p>Then the boas were returned to their place of capture, and we went searching for more! Along the way, we encountered many cool invertebrates.<br /><br /><strong>INVERTEBRATES:</strong><br /><br />The invertebrates on the island are absolutely amazing. During the day, you mainly see hermit crabs:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqJ1REOuUEjbm4NPTFCPXg_Of301GK9AQnskZdmZIV_5C0SuIAeaLzrOwAzoNfKMfj-bJWL1EgzFZ0xrUFE8_BcpdSXxTe2aq7hLoKCAo483EzeYoY0tNe_5CXnH4YWSG4fXVvfQf/s1600/hermit+crab.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545058439568659906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqJ1REOuUEjbm4NPTFCPXg_Of301GK9AQnskZdmZIV_5C0SuIAeaLzrOwAzoNfKMfj-bJWL1EgzFZ0xrUFE8_BcpdSXxTe2aq7hLoKCAo483EzeYoY0tNe_5CXnH4YWSG4fXVvfQf/s320/hermit+crab.jpg" /></a><br />Some take advantage of the sea garbage to find new homes:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1okKvA9KNQVdAaKFd2ET1ph7y2DyDQVvW0Q75mnKTNi2_7sYsVFzp1uCte6NLAISjqDVRwYXnaCv3-ZTuLC7kxC0pwkg3UsKeY6o_t2ILOlE7VAJPHFIMEeC_loVyfUEEwLYnNv25/s1600/hermit+crab+bottle+cap.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048731974291954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1okKvA9KNQVdAaKFd2ET1ph7y2DyDQVvW0Q75mnKTNi2_7sYsVFzp1uCte6NLAISjqDVRwYXnaCv3-ZTuLC7kxC0pwkg3UsKeY6o_t2ILOlE7VAJPHFIMEeC_loVyfUEEwLYnNv25/s320/hermit+crab+bottle+cap.jpg" /></a><br />There are also gigantic tarantulas out day and night. Here's one eating a cockroach (that Matt fed to it):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPVBj6l4kc0uDN-CDYBBMnJDguBW9hABmuMZ_STXw7SlWMSYAvrEYw8ly8KYG130WApCFbNzFVPnivrpL6SE0NHBJW2j0jQBW9JhfiRtjqQxX6TvGQR0uV-04h-IQcGJBNJQubNka/s1600/tarantula+eating+cockroach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043678362152386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPVBj6l4kc0uDN-CDYBBMnJDguBW9hABmuMZ_STXw7SlWMSYAvrEYw8ly8KYG130WApCFbNzFVPnivrpL6SE0NHBJW2j0jQBW9JhfiRtjqQxX6TvGQR0uV-04h-IQcGJBNJQubNka/s320/tarantula+eating+cockroach.jpg" /></a><br />Here's one that found its hairy way onto my hat.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qHaSSDqY08a9_RJ7Zomx4ChOXs_ps0CjjH7Hw5SlrMKxhQvnKADwJdnqeuMsqbkd32r9n99cM3D55GU7tW-eyA1oIODqZDOy0RHLPttvvy-XAIwgkfovWmLLLxpkheJ_EkDFrrqY/s1600/tarantula+on+my+head.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545038759918095730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qHaSSDqY08a9_RJ7Zomx4ChOXs_ps0CjjH7Hw5SlrMKxhQvnKADwJdnqeuMsqbkd32r9n99cM3D55GU7tW-eyA1oIODqZDOy0RHLPttvvy-XAIwgkfovWmLLLxpkheJ_EkDFrrqY/s320/tarantula+on+my+head.jpg" /></a><br />A giant scorpion eating a cockroach:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwt-vyp1rkjzYjdoW4ketl-dLGEVCofdoYNt0EGoMP2jWEzipfxja869nSYRkBceyo8G5SGHtmn2EdInW4y-0BPLtcbsnKOmfx71LMFhzZFAIXh_zQUbo-0lD5GWdBW_Ud_qEomeo/s1600/scorpion+eating+cockroach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043606850060642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwt-vyp1rkjzYjdoW4ketl-dLGEVCofdoYNt0EGoMP2jWEzipfxja869nSYRkBceyo8G5SGHtmn2EdInW4y-0BPLtcbsnKOmfx71LMFhzZFAIXh_zQUbo-0lD5GWdBW_Ud_qEomeo/s320/scorpion+eating+cockroach.jpg" /></a><br />This is another species of cockroach that is just huge:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbyh4RbsqBGzxjvArbnpd2asJmwkzhYb_Q2piMIHdp8kx5NqG-q29IyGCMwMoicxTtQsMIVwnOhZIIn_9j_SQdx4ZUmX79zxRuAP2cdeke7OAd4TXi1GzY9VbqLyVIL-pCt34MkqK/s1600/giant+roach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043336005603202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbyh4RbsqBGzxjvArbnpd2asJmwkzhYb_Q2piMIHdp8kx5NqG-q29IyGCMwMoicxTtQsMIVwnOhZIIn_9j_SQdx4ZUmX79zxRuAP2cdeke7OAd4TXi1GzY9VbqLyVIL-pCt34MkqK/s320/giant+roach.jpg" /></a><br />A tailless whip scorpion (also giant, are you seeing a theme emerge here?):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjzRKk53exOJbVCP63DdXKAHw6Lgw9hPjObq5QWtV2aqr9xxKrU92WUSVqFws0kaVumG7y7n9Qma-pXa8j6_-QueBbitFT4NKS7DpvJTgyRicbMMzkLSyZgLG-4W6bpLAqjI7ldVk/s1600/amblypygid.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545042510002083106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjzRKk53exOJbVCP63DdXKAHw6Lgw9hPjObq5QWtV2aqr9xxKrU92WUSVqFws0kaVumG7y7n9Qma-pXa8j6_-QueBbitFT4NKS7DpvJTgyRicbMMzkLSyZgLG-4W6bpLAqjI7ldVk/s320/amblypygid.jpg" /></a><br />A rather large centipede:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC_95YfQfKWhtJ_3GqfOwDMJKOumR2I36ZAReOFVeCOJBgri_Ojj2jJ2EnvTOd8F-JZZ3Q9vt6htjP2VbfHrZtCEo4bK8yPACmkJ94CKIf3Hhgioobc_gsT2mTzhj6PVg6Uta1OHn/s1600/centipede.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545042958044779874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC_95YfQfKWhtJ_3GqfOwDMJKOumR2I36ZAReOFVeCOJBgri_Ojj2jJ2EnvTOd8F-JZZ3Q9vt6htjP2VbfHrZtCEo4bK8yPACmkJ94CKIf3Hhgioobc_gsT2mTzhj6PVg6Uta1OHn/s320/centipede.jpg" /></a><br />And crabs are perhaps the most populous denizens of the forest at night, clicking around and scavenging like Garthim from the Dark Crystal:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsVTUoSVXjwzzb4T31G1ZAcTkR8KtmBwbQA4D5kVBPFcV3_fn_OGTqru1h-amXrKwhkPFUV5UlMBmivid_LQBuw8VzXEdcmetlx2cT2sqS5z5UpBZ6n4CN6vRXlxMRmAuRitBNTs2/s1600/crab+at+night.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043028757093970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsVTUoSVXjwzzb4T31G1ZAcTkR8KtmBwbQA4D5kVBPFcV3_fn_OGTqru1h-amXrKwhkPFUV5UlMBmivid_LQBuw8VzXEdcmetlx2cT2sqS5z5UpBZ6n4CN6vRXlxMRmAuRitBNTs2/s320/crab+at+night.jpg" /></a><br />The island is covered in HUGE termite mounds: </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-SP6PQmt4NTw0k1DJx5DaqrtbJyv7uXQWr0692s5jeCdpf2c07w2LMJg2urBvpEgxnuL2D1WSk1ngkuyb3h9Jl-uOBmtZjoThD9Tpxfvtcyd6x3O3SaETMoDkQ9vE-oYpm_s1Nxm/s1600/amber+and+termite+mound.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048357494848130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-SP6PQmt4NTw0k1DJx5DaqrtbJyv7uXQWr0692s5jeCdpf2c07w2LMJg2urBvpEgxnuL2D1WSk1ngkuyb3h9Jl-uOBmtZjoThD9Tpxfvtcyd6x3O3SaETMoDkQ9vE-oYpm_s1Nxm/s320/amber+and+termite+mound.jpg" /></a><br />A very cool yellow fungus (Yes, fungi aren't inverts, but this didn't fit anywhere else):</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01bR2ADGneAjnDRU0eVGicDgGqPl8uKHaeK-g0c6SoRQBX-a95b7IP-CS2SjO9aFvXsYTWKy6x_29aIVIu6jOGHr1EbZZ0oWKlbbshTnDdIl2MLxNCgA3MCjaiq2Wq8JHYdo_Qzbf/s1600/fungus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043094890394242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01bR2ADGneAjnDRU0eVGicDgGqPl8uKHaeK-g0c6SoRQBX-a95b7IP-CS2SjO9aFvXsYTWKy6x_29aIVIu6jOGHr1EbZZ0oWKlbbshTnDdIl2MLxNCgA3MCjaiq2Wq8JHYdo_Qzbf/s320/fungus.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>SNORKELING, ETC.</strong><br /><br />When all the research was done and there was a day to spare, we hit the water. Okay, so some of the students did this every day on breaks. Wouldn't you? </p><p>Here's Amber and I next to the pier (which was guarded underneath by a barracuda):<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq74u4Y-AR2TmrHxxg2dqvBsQOapftKH_NXcGegpee4aLh7p0Kb4UdoRwNuJEeJw0BLjTU57Jaf0hdyNwLcFVT3pSG7MIiLbMopuof3AE8_4W-ChGCOwLNDkWoFRUwg49TdaoyVNTW/s1600/amber+and+em+snorkeling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544310198699535762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq74u4Y-AR2TmrHxxg2dqvBsQOapftKH_NXcGegpee4aLh7p0Kb4UdoRwNuJEeJw0BLjTU57Jaf0hdyNwLcFVT3pSG7MIiLbMopuof3AE8_4W-ChGCOwLNDkWoFRUwg49TdaoyVNTW/s320/amber+and+em+snorkeling.jpg" /></a><br />Nick and I chilling in some crystal clear water: </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFJFgm4kNLO6yZt1HDu_vCmw9eb74msuYT7Xjz0exQf5nPS3-Ur8br_-WNU2NvRO9llmyBMqS_-urL6pS_79MXspSUlGvkakWl2X1GgcqP4LFvnDz6Bnti0o1gtm_D3VRd2Nfxba3/s1600/nick+and+em+in+the+water.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049642273660258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFJFgm4kNLO6yZt1HDu_vCmw9eb74msuYT7Xjz0exQf5nPS3-Ur8br_-WNU2NvRO9llmyBMqS_-urL6pS_79MXspSUlGvkakWl2X1GgcqP4LFvnDz6Bnti0o1gtm_D3VRd2Nfxba3/s320/nick+and+em+in+the+water.jpg" /></a><br />The boys sneaking in a quick snorkel before dinner:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YApWB49sUyg0uZ2QRWlZ4WSzxc0JDSqohZY29amXeJIeE9O1HLz0MQpP40wI_H7TSQm43XRm4vtos6CNKyVt40DW4bjj4UyX2Wc3vlpZv0Su1lJdIIs4Z0VpA3U5_3YhW6_9ab62/s1600/snorkeling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544316055147462658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YApWB49sUyg0uZ2QRWlZ4WSzxc0JDSqohZY29amXeJIeE9O1HLz0MQpP40wI_H7TSQm43XRm4vtos6CNKyVt40DW4bjj4UyX2Wc3vlpZv0Su1lJdIIs4Z0VpA3U5_3YhW6_9ab62/s320/snorkeling.jpg" /></a><br />Spotted eagle ray:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY5I7x6basbGfwv9G2u4WvotMGu8LguXYWdiUaspDJmRg4pmFeoTwooj4at8dz_N2eZEPHIej31EFOm0w8hSWbgefx04fPvC-TQOEbdfxza5_odQzBaWUQn0XrXK8u6FH3Hq24JU-/s1600/eagle+ray.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544309157149457330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY5I7x6basbGfwv9G2u4WvotMGu8LguXYWdiUaspDJmRg4pmFeoTwooj4at8dz_N2eZEPHIej31EFOm0w8hSWbgefx04fPvC-TQOEbdfxza5_odQzBaWUQn0XrXK8u6FH3Hq24JU-/s320/eagle+ray.jpg" /></a><br />An incredibly cute little octopus hiding in a coral:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEiGNLjPKSSVIXO7OytwlUfc6VIZAM5TG16rCjHqnX-o923uR4XkSQKoIFAWblC_WOto83WKGd0yz0TCGeOFxmAFTRLj9s1AWVQfT-NUieGojm2xrh_Fx0sKfd_nluGb6UaPr4xhZ/s1600/octopus+in+coral.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049098688108114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEiGNLjPKSSVIXO7OytwlUfc6VIZAM5TG16rCjHqnX-o923uR4XkSQKoIFAWblC_WOto83WKGd0yz0TCGeOFxmAFTRLj9s1AWVQfT-NUieGojm2xrh_Fx0sKfd_nluGb6UaPr4xhZ/s320/octopus+in+coral.jpg" /></a><br />And then out he came! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSM1DNeS7hNcNQnxnC3b12j4JslVbbbRP7rjUsmREQSyX4OuWxrJxpmSMBwrV73ipSJ1v7VKUMbr-Owanb_ex0_tl0URglOqL4yDNDW-NrpP4Q7b0SWmSt4ZBQkdpKMYVfuizD7Ls/s1600/octopus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544315271570741746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSM1DNeS7hNcNQnxnC3b12j4JslVbbbRP7rjUsmREQSyX4OuWxrJxpmSMBwrV73ipSJ1v7VKUMbr-Owanb_ex0_tl0URglOqL4yDNDW-NrpP4Q7b0SWmSt4ZBQkdpKMYVfuizD7Ls/s320/octopus.jpg" /></a><br />Lion fish are invasive predators here. Scott took a late night swim to spear a bigun':</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0BGInZlFt8q0A6Rekly19hjI9utTcVxk3iy4a85ncHRlWfv3BM3WPtXqhEtD1btE-hwk4_eWGSgHUj3QpRlyIk0Nzm9xyVHmv-3Jr7sYGIrfIwaZy5r19Vpcf3Pi-Z1FLMCCFtd3/s1600/scott+and+lion+fish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544309691905685122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0BGInZlFt8q0A6Rekly19hjI9utTcVxk3iy4a85ncHRlWfv3BM3WPtXqhEtD1btE-hwk4_eWGSgHUj3QpRlyIk0Nzm9xyVHmv-3Jr7sYGIrfIwaZy5r19Vpcf3Pi-Z1FLMCCFtd3/s320/scott+and+lion+fish.jpg" /></a><br />Jess is a visiting scientist from Australia in charge of removing as many lion fish as possible. Here she is cutting out the stomach of Scott's fish to see if it had recently been sampling tasty native fishys: </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQvDYQZhEPbD4mGWQSkL42mIIws9djBlCLq_jzMIMbn8qci5vV2RDEMzmD9d7drkXnUNsPApQtI2r6tfBHzHappClHvZr6mZ6fCO9EKohtKQTd1tRXdONiAj9oYdsG7YJU6kGEyP/s1600/jess+cutting+lion+fish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048907497951842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQvDYQZhEPbD4mGWQSkL42mIIws9djBlCLq_jzMIMbn8qci5vV2RDEMzmD9d7drkXnUNsPApQtI2r6tfBHzHappClHvZr6mZ6fCO9EKohtKQTd1tRXdONiAj9oYdsG7YJU6kGEyP/s320/jess+cutting+lion+fish.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Our awesome cook Marina fried up one of Jess's spoils, all one square inch of it:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRR98d6yAgwF3qtCTOi5t4ZLzJ_btALORQcRR6Id_NTKOM2_cq1zs2_TmiOACnYnWLVSV8F8BBVxR2-3e50rGpmoe8YoF1saFeHrUib7zsWhpDQzObJyOvQzOa8zfiNs1r__Z4dP6/s1600/jess+and+lion+fish+fillet.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048829218485554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRR98d6yAgwF3qtCTOi5t4ZLzJ_btALORQcRR6Id_NTKOM2_cq1zs2_TmiOACnYnWLVSV8F8BBVxR2-3e50rGpmoe8YoF1saFeHrUib7zsWhpDQzObJyOvQzOa8zfiNs1r__Z4dP6/s320/jess+and+lion+fish+fillet.jpg" /></a><br />Some serious RnR was had by all. Chilling on the pier:</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVLneekn67APy-7POOaMeQPCmEOK8dPfZh8m8w42NKJyrYL7iCZfSQAQO-gwvOq3gnBEWFjiTzx_FjYiQ6NDTgCjbUkEcfWSP78eqXX9-dIQW1xNDSMI3gQ8dRb-Cq6YH05yKjKdH/s1600/em+n+the+boys.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544313166695934498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVLneekn67APy-7POOaMeQPCmEOK8dPfZh8m8w42NKJyrYL7iCZfSQAQO-gwvOq3gnBEWFjiTzx_FjYiQ6NDTgCjbUkEcfWSP78eqXX9-dIQW1xNDSMI3gQ8dRb-Cq6YH05yKjKdH/s320/em+n+the+boys.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p>Some late-night dominos:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zoIFURkqCGgTRPWRrfM7IyJHyNrDWB3N5wxuIcWBHbEA1F4bg4fDgQjDIIcS-d2aUnG8yr9gmpELNnWlDNvL09fa-bExg9KKXTU-dVcfozLxHQXVhGs5dMJkaiPbseYZaSe3LJZ4/s1600/tony+amber+nick+on+porch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049203727818322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zoIFURkqCGgTRPWRrfM7IyJHyNrDWB3N5wxuIcWBHbEA1F4bg4fDgQjDIIcS-d2aUnG8yr9gmpELNnWlDNvL09fa-bExg9KKXTU-dVcfozLxHQXVhGs5dMJkaiPbseYZaSe3LJZ4/s320/tony+amber+nick+on+porch.jpg" /></a><br />I tried to teach the group some yoga poses, with a Cayos flare, of course. Here are some of our asanas:<br /><br />Boasana:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMYn6o86Sotc1j1R_KyCnpzSvzdRfC9ouRMgRemzwSAL5Ig2RXkajv28qmHxIM3FxtIZlOioYl5GdDz6sjD7TFE0WDps7WUy5eRewLLo2mezClNR5iLYWtXpeTzpKWQha5MAJ0NDp/s1600/boasana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 195px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545042894332707042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMYn6o86Sotc1j1R_KyCnpzSvzdRfC9ouRMgRemzwSAL5Ig2RXkajv28qmHxIM3FxtIZlOioYl5GdDz6sjD7TFE0WDps7WUy5eRewLLo2mezClNR5iLYWtXpeTzpKWQha5MAJ0NDp/s320/boasana.jpg" /></a><br />Green Iguanasana:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_T94-Gm-6l2yb46BZpu0VwkznonDmTHo6w06yJVXrznUGijM_gCuBfB7byx3P_xzGPew1J-ESJKObyGBcXivwjd4aFWA6QsSxXe2WcNwdWxtly3Gt16fy30pyb2irUf2Sn2W8Jd6/s1600/Iguanasana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545047631304456258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_T94-Gm-6l2yb46BZpu0VwkznonDmTHo6w06yJVXrznUGijM_gCuBfB7byx3P_xzGPew1J-ESJKObyGBcXivwjd4aFWA6QsSxXe2WcNwdWxtly3Gt16fy30pyb2irUf2Sn2W8Jd6/s320/Iguanasana.jpg" /></a><br />Flor de Canasana:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XM829n78zr2zlOsji7vrUUKWsHBMgO9LnYITy8wge0IBG8ulGHBja0Ay3-qsTKOgkzHRudI0YBhfigjfqT4T4JSGDTrdgLgtiIWMKhiV2VTrUnyPQFu6-O5WFch3ZTbUJnTTEi1M/s1600/flor+de+canasana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544313409615124898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XM829n78zr2zlOsji7vrUUKWsHBMgO9LnYITy8wge0IBG8ulGHBja0Ay3-qsTKOgkzHRudI0YBhfigjfqT4T4JSGDTrdgLgtiIWMKhiV2VTrUnyPQFu6-O5WFch3ZTbUJnTTEi1M/s320/flor+de+canasana.jpg" /></a><br />Here's Tony practicing Cervezasana. I think that this was the most practiced pose of the trip.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_08Yoppwb1C8tkE2yxJ2UNqxfYN1tGcqCxFzZTwSdJz1DLzgOo9jPg7SiVe4WB5-j69ngV_Ops_eSn7RrntZ2Y-3qP-SfX7oLCewKfBtVemz4FqxPMDqR9f-l0qJ9n_S4EbjHANn/s1600/cervezasana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545057134993248754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_08Yoppwb1C8tkE2yxJ2UNqxfYN1tGcqCxFzZTwSdJz1DLzgOo9jPg7SiVe4WB5-j69ngV_Ops_eSn7RrntZ2Y-3qP-SfX7oLCewKfBtVemz4FqxPMDqR9f-l0qJ9n_S4EbjHANn/s320/cervezasana.jpg" /></a><br />Overall, it was an amazing trip. Good research, good weather, good company, great experience for all. With some wicked Central American sunsets.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC3HbhZa2BxVgg6VVrWtY6a-J4o-IKiFAlgrmQ5bhGNcCWuUOvsPmYNmu-BTXxfe_TtovyT_7xJBK7I2V1sMjDJM7s0QMCw8fwrD3hj2HgURE-hzNZLPfTHahW26AgWnvlTXTqYEY/s1600/sunset.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544316265388013282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC3HbhZa2BxVgg6VVrWtY6a-J4o-IKiFAlgrmQ5bhGNcCWuUOvsPmYNmu-BTXxfe_TtovyT_7xJBK7I2V1sMjDJM7s0QMCw8fwrD3hj2HgURE-hzNZLPfTHahW26AgWnvlTXTqYEY/s320/sunset.jpg" /></a></p>Snakeymamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03533224884982731443noreply@blogger.com2