February, 2004

MIDWEST HERP SYMPOSIUM ‘03

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS

THE MICHIGAN HERPETOLOGIST

CHECK THESE OUT:

• Frogwatch USA is looking for a few good volunteers. See page 2.

• The electronic (PDF) version of The Michigan Herpetologist is now delivered in color. To learn how to receive it, see page 10.

• 2004 MSH Board of Directors on page 11.

• Capital Area Reptile Show- February 15th at Roni’s Place, 5200 W. State Rd. Lansing. 10 AM ‘till 3 PM. For more info call 517.484.7712

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

COMING EVENTS 2

NEWS BRIEFS 4,5

JR. HERPERS 6

ODD LIZARDS 7

TREASURY REPORT 9

CLASSIFIED ADS 10

“ANOTHER GREAT STAR HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE GALAXY IN HEAVEN”

DEDICATED TO EDUCATION ABOUT AND CONSERVATION OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

By Matt Lindstrom

Saturday was another great day. We began the day with a great breakfast with some fellow herpers and then headed back to the hotel for the symposi-ums. The first presenta-tion of the day was one of

the best. Dan Fogell spoke about Nebraska’s Pit Vipers. He spoke of the current status of each of the three species and went on to tell us about the conservation work being done to make sure that these species will have a place in Nebraska’s future.

(See Symposium on page 8)

From an e-mail dated Sun-day, December 21, 2003: A friend informed me that Dr. Roger Conant passed away last eve-ning. Just a few weeks earlier another friend said Roger was mostly bedridden with cancer (I think he was 94). So the last Victorian gentleman in herpetology and the zoo world is now gone. Last time I talked to him was on 22 August when I needed to check with him on a few things for a manu-script I was doing. He sounded weak, but said he wanted to help. He will be missed. All best, Ken Kawata, Curator, Staten Island Zoo

“He [Conant] has done more than anyone else to enhance the knowledge of reptiles and amphibians in the United States” Roger Tory Peterson

“Roger Conant is one of

the most famous herpe-tologists in the world today, and his impact on herpetology is fundamen-tal.”

Dr. Goran Nilson, Associate Professor, Zoologi-cal Institute Goteborg Uni-versity, Sweden

“Throughout his career, Roger Conant has been an inspiration for young her-

petologists. His evident love of the animals strikes a deep, resonant chord in others.”

Dr. George Rabb, Director, Brookfield Zoo

Here’s an interesting story, told by Dr. Conant

(See Star on page 3)

Roger Conant with a prize winning Black Pine Snake, Pituophis melanolucus lodingi.

Photo by Isabelle Hunt Conant.

Theresa Moran and Dan Fogell

February, 2004

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS . . .

Casey and Darla Hulse (Nature’s Spirit Reptiles) The Mellen Family

Emily Mead (Herp Pond Grand Prize Winner) Stanley Cowton, Jr.

Sierra Witteveen

AND RENEWING MEMBERS . . .

Rebecca Christoffel Eric Tobin (Sponsorship Member)

The Rezny Family

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THINGS TO DO, THINGS TO SEE MSH general membership meetings are open to the public, and members are encouraged to bring guests. Junior member meetings begin at 4 PM, the board meets at 5:30 PM, members are welcome at 7 PM, and the program begins at 7:30 PM.. Members are welcome to observe MSH board meetings.

THE MICHIGAN HERPETOLOGIST

Feb. 7 HANOVER-HORTON WINTER CARNI-VAL-We need volunteers to exhibit animals, sell MSH merchandise, and generally interact with the public. Contact Dave Scott to vol-u n t e e r a t 2 3 1 . 8 3 9 . 7 6 5 6 o r reptidave@msn.com

Feb. 21 MSH MEMBERSHIP MEETING-Bring your favorite herp and a friend night. Scott Cen-ter, Lansing.

Mar. 20 MSH MEMBERSHIP MEETING-John Ball Zoo.

Apr. 3 VET-A-VISIT. This annual event takes place at the College of Veterinary Medicine on the Michigan State University campus. 8:30 AM ’till 4:00 PM. For more information or to volunteer, contact Barbara Wheeler at 517.3216105 or at wheelerba@aol.com.

Apr. 3 CHICAGO HERPETOLOGICAL SOCI-ETY’S ANNUAL REPTI-FEST. MSH will have a table at CHS’ biggest event of the year. For more information on how to par-ticipate, contact Eric Tobin at 269.729.4623 or orionet@aol.com.

Apr. 17 MSH MEMBERSHIP MEETING-Scott Cen-ter, Lansing.

Apr. 16,17 2004 NATURAL BRIDGE HERPETOLOGY WEEKEND-Slade, Ky. Editor’s note: This event includes speakers on Friday and Saturday nights, multiple field trips into the Red River Gorge Na-tional Geologic area, and a field trip to the Ken-tucky Reptile Zoo. Costs are $5 per adult and $10 per family and include all trips and talks. There will also be a new herp quiz with prizes. Average daily high temperatures are generally in the 70s. Contact me about an MSH road trip. More details as they become available.

May 1 ANNUAL MSH SPRING EXPO-Godwin Elementary School, Wyoming. For vendor information or to volunteer, contact Dave Scott using the contact information found above.

FROGWATCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED In a letter dated November 6, 2003:

Hello! I wanted to tell you about a great amphibian monitoring program in the hopes that some of your members might be interested in participating. Frogwatch USA is a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Geological Survey that relies on citi-zen volunteers to gather information about frog and toad populations throughout the United States. Frogwatch USA is an exciting hands-on program for learning about amphibians and wetlands conservation that also helps scientists with their studies on amphibian population trends. Anyone can volunteer! You do not have to be a frog or toad expert to make an important contribution : all you need is an interest in frogs and toads. Just visit the Frogwatch USA website (www.frogwatch.org) and click on “New to Frogwatch” to create your very own user profile. Then follow the steps to register a wetland site that you would like to observe; indi-viduals and groups can register alike. You can monitor any wetland or pond in your area, as we are interested in collecting data from across the country. For more information and to sign up, visit the Frogwatch USA website. Participants submit the results of monitoring efforts to USGS scien-tists, who use them to further understand frog and toad populations in this country. Using this vital information, scientists and others will develop improve strategies for conserving threatened amphibian popu-lations. Sincerely, Amy Goodstine Frogwatch USA Coordinator Editors note: For those of you without internet access, I have more informa-tion about how to get involved with Frogwatch USA including sheets on: How to Frogwatch and Frogwatch USA Monitoring protocol, Wetlands-information on the different types of wetlands that you might monitor, Sign Up Form , How To Get A Map-instructions on how to find a map to send to Frogwatch, When to Frogwatch, and a Data Collection Sheet

If you’re seriously interested, contact me using the information on page10.

RW

February, 2004

PAGE 3 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS

himself:

“A male ball python, Python regius, died of liver disease at the Philadelphia Zoo-logical Garden, after setting the longevity record for a snake of any kind. It was a serpent I knew well. In fact, I purchased it myself from Warren E. Buck, an ani-mal dealer of Camden , New Jersey.

The snake began it's long residence at the Philadelphia Zoo on April 26, 1945. It was on exhibit in the old reptile house until that building was demolished in 1969 to make way for the erection of a much larger, state-of-the-art structure on the same site. Thereafter, it was held behind the scenes in the new reptile house as an old-age pensioner until it's death on October 7, 1992, after almost 47 and one-half years at the zoo. It was of young adult size when we received it, and it grew relatively little in length or weigh after it was in our possession.

One Saturday in the late 1940s, the ball python disappeared from it's cage. When the keepers reported it's absence, we made a thorough search of the build-ing, especially the passageways, which were sealed off from the public. On rare occasions other harmless snakes had es-caped, and once, during the late 1930s, a rainbow boa, Epicrates cencria, was found after it had been loose in the old reptile house for more than a year. It was in ex-cellent condition and evidently had thrived on the house mice that we tried unsuccessfully to eradicate. So we didn't worry about the ball python. Eventually it would turn up.

Two or three weeks later, again on a Saturday, a green tree boa, Corallus can-inus, disappeared, and I became suspi-cious. I telephoned the newspapers and told them I suspected a “snakenapper” was on the loose. The Sunday papers published front page stories about the missing reptiles, describing each in detail from information I gave them.

When I arrived at work the next day, Monday morning, the two missing snakes, an assortment of native species, a chastened boy, and his stern father were all waiting on the zoo's doorstep, so to speak. I escorted them to the reptile house, turned the livestock over to the keepers, and then took boy and father to my office.

The latter was a Baptist minister, and the boy, who was under 16 years of age, had lied to him, stating that a friend had given him the two fancy snakes. The fa-ther, of course, was very upset and the boy contrite.

The lad, of course, was the “snakenapper”. He had taken the two constrictors home by public transporta-tion, secreted under his windbreaker jacket. Like a professional, he had “cased the joint” in advance and discovered that, right after lunch, the keeper on duty went to the basement to stoke the coal fire with which the ancient structure was heated. So he had at least 15 minutes when zoo employees were not around. He also discovered that the door separat-ing the public space from the keepers' room and passageways was unlocked, and he could get behind the scenes with ease. Thus, the keepers in part, were also at fault.

I explained to the preacher and his son that the story about the missing snakes had become public knowledge, and I was obligated to let the papers know that the reptiles had been returned. In the hope of avoiding embarrassment to them, espe-cially the father, I asked them to accom-pany me to the various newspapers, of which there were four or five at the time. I drove them downtown in my car, hunted up the city editor at each paper, and explained the circumstances. They all agreed that, since the boy was under 16, they would not used his name, nor would it be necessary to mention the name of the minister. The latter was greatly re-lieved. All the papers published the story and gave it an amusing twist. The car-

toonist at one of them portrayed a small boy sitting in an elevated train with a rather large snake under his jacket.

So, all was well. We had our snakes back, including the ball python that was to live for so many additional years. Fa-ther and son remained anonymous. But there was a punch line yet to come.

The preacher, a few years late, was the person who united my son, Skip, and my daughter-in-law, Virginia, in holy matrimony.”

Editor’s note: I met Dr. Conant only briefly, in April of 2003, when Theresa Moran and I traveled to Albuquerque, NM and visited him at his home. I was very im-pressed by his sincerity and concentration while talking to someone else interested in herpetology.

And at age 94, he was still making plans as to what he was going to write about next. I hope there’s a “herpers heaven” and that I get to meet him again.

To find out more about Dr. Conant’s life, I suggest finding a copy of “A Field Guide to the Life and Times of Roger Conant”, spon-sored by the Toledo Zoo. And if you’re web connected, check out the Chicago Herp Soci-ety’s review of the book at:

www.chicagoherp.org/books/conant1.html

RW

(Star from page 1)

Theresa Moran and Dr. Conant at his home in Albuquerque, NM, April 2003

February, 2004

PAGE 4 THE MICHIGAN HERPETOLOGIST

MICHHERP NEWS BRIEFS . . .

MOVE OVER T-REX, THERE’S A NEW KID IN TOWN

Mumbai, India-- U.S. and Indian scientists said Wednesday they have discovered a new carnivorous dinosaur species in India after finding bones in the western part of the country. The new dinosaur species was named Rajasaurus narmadensis, or "Regal reptile from the Narmada," after the Narmada River region where the bones were found.

The dinosaurs were between 8-10 meters (25-30 feet) long, had a horn above their skulls, were relatively heavy and walked on two legs, scientists said. They preyed on long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs on the Indian subcontinent during the Cretaceous Period at the end of the dinosaur age, 65 million years ago.

“It's fabulous to be able to see this dinosaur which lived as the age of dinosaurs came to a close,” said Paul Sereno, a paleontologist at the University of Chicago. “It was a significant predator that was related to species on continental Africa, Madagascar and South America.”

Working with Indian scientists, Sereno and paleontologist Jeff Wilson of the University of Michigan reconstructed the dinosaur skull in a project funded partly by the National Geographic Society. A model of the assembled skull was presented Wednesday by the American scientists to their counterparts from Punjab University in northern India and the Geological Survey of India during a news conference in Mumbai, formerly Bombay.

Scientists said they hope the discovery will help explain the extinction of the dinosaurs and the shifting of the continents -- how India separated from Africa, Madagascar, Australia and Antarctica and collided with Asia.--NationalGeographic.com

MI OPERATION SLITHER

Lansing, MI -- Misdemeanor charges are being filed against 14 men accused of illegally trading in reptiles and amphibians, state Attorney General Mike Cox said Thursday. The charges of violating the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act arise from an investigation by the attorney general's office and the state Department of Natural Resources.

Dubbed "Operation Slither," the investigation targeted reptile dealers suspected of dealing animals illegally captured in the wilds of Michigan, and exotic species illegal to possess or sell. Michigan is home to more than a dozen protected reptile species.

“Those who profit from putting Michigan's rare and protected species at risk will pay the price,” Cox said. Authorities tried for more than a decade to infiltrate a tightly knit community of reptile dealers suspected of trafficking in protected species, and a DNR undercover officer finally succeeded in June 2001, Cox said. The agency investigated with agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The maximum penalty for each count is 90 days in jail, a $500 fine or both. Each turtle or snake illegally traded represents an individual count.--Mlive.com, Jan. 22, 2004

3 STATES TARGETING ILLEGAL REPTILES

Salt Lake City, UT--A three-state crackdown on the illegal sale and possession of reptiles, called "Operation Slither," was initiated early Friday. Three separate search warrants, involving four individuals, were issued early Friday in Utah. One involved a home in West Valley City, the second a home in West Jordan and the third involved a residence in Clearfield. Warrants also were issued in Arizona and California.

Law enforcement officers from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovered Utah

Paul Sereno, paleontology professor at the University of Chicago poses with a model of the assembled skull of Rajasaurus narmaden-sis. AP photo

February, 2004

PAGE 5 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS

milk snakes, Utah mountain king snakes, rubber boas, gila monsters and several species of rattlesnakes, including the diamondback, midget faded and Great Basin.

The Utah milk snake and Utah mountain king snake are on Utah's sensitive species list. Animals on the list cannot be collected, possessed or sold. It is also illegal to possess venomous snakes and lizards without a certificate of registration. The rubber boa is found throughout Utah and, as the names implies, looks and feels like the rubber snakes purchased in novelty stores. The issue with the rubber boa, said Richard Ashcroft, who headed the investigation for DWR law enforcement, was not that the individual arrested had the snake but the number of snakes possessed. “I'm not sure on the total number,” he added, “but it was more than 40.”

Cases in Arizona and California are primarily centered on the possession and sale of tri-colored snakes, which would include the Utah milk snake and mountain king snake. "

“What we seized at the one location I was involved with (in West Valley City),” said Mike Fowlks, a captain in DWR law enforcement, “was a number of rattlesnakes, including the Western diamondback and midget faded, one Gila monster and Utah milk and mountain king snakes.”

“This is a pretty tight-knit group that's involved in this. In some cases they were keeping the reptiles as pets. Sometimes they traded among themselves, sometimes they bartered for the snakes, sometimes there was money exchanged and sometimes they were given free.” Along with the legal issues, Ashcroft said another concern was the effect these activities have had on the reptile populations.

Charges are expected to be filed for unlawful possession and collection of reptiles and Lacey Act violations for interstate commerce of protected wildlife and illegal collection and importation of reptiles from Mexico.--Deseretnews.com, Jan. 10, 2004

AS BULLFROGS SPREAD, VENEZUELA JUMPS TO A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS

State of Merida, Venezuela-- People here have traditionally hunted armadillos and large rodents. Recently, they have set their sights on a new target--bullfrogs.

Thousands of North American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) have invaded streams, puddles, and cattle ponds in this bucolic hill country near the northern tip of the Andes mountains. The creatures gaze happily out of ponds, startle schoolchildren by plopping into roadside gullies, and fill the once-quiet evenings with loud croaking. They’ve made the biggest splash with environmental officials.

“This frog eats anything which fits in it’s mouth,” said Yolanda Herrera, head of the bullfrog eradication effort for Merida’s Environment Ministry. “It is going to finish off our [biodiversity].” In ponds inhabited by the bullfrogs, “there’s nothing else alive,” said National Assembly Deputy Julio Garcia, who visited frog territory recently. “These frogs have an incredible reproductive capacity.”

Since they were first reported here in October 2001, the frogs have colonized about 30 ponds and small lakes. In the warm climate and with few predators, they are spreading steadily, doubling their territory over the past year. Venezuelan officials worry that they will unleash a large-scale environmental calamity if they reach Lake Maracaibo, South America’s largest lake, 40 miles north, which is connected by three streams to bullfrog territory and which abuts fragile wetlands.

Frog eradicators are guardedly optimistic about the prospects for halting the spread of the bullfrogs. But local residents have doubts. “How can they eliminate them?” asked ranch hand Victor Fonseca. “Kill one, and a hundred more are born.”--HerpDigest, December 29, 2003

A cage holds five Western diamondback rattle-snakes that were taken into evidence in Utah as part of “Operation Slither” crackdown. Photo by Scott G. Winterton

February, 2004

JUNIOR HERPETOLOGIST’S YEAR END REPORTS TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DUDLEY “SMITTY” SMITH

PAGE 6 THE MICHIGAN HERPETOLOGIST

Before the potluck and auction of the December MSH meeting, our Junior Members had their end-of-year meeting. Each gave a report to the group, and some awards were given. The meeting was almost completely run by the junior members, with Eric Tobin providing some minor facilitating. The assignment was to write a report on something of interest that had been covered in a meeting during the past year.

Allison Vander Ark gave a report on king snakes, and her brother Nicholas reported on anacondas. Jeanette Vander Ark reported on bearded dragons and brought one of hers in to show off. Completing the Vander Ark family presence, Samuel made a board game about snakes, which everyone had a lot of fun playing later. Charlie Bushman reported on Uromastyx (Uromastii?), brought one in to show, and also made a board game. Zack Smith reported on leopard geckos and brought along three of his to show off. All the reports were well done and informative, and presented admirably by the members with no help. Many family members also attended the meeting.

During the year, junior members earned points for completing various activities like the above mentioned reports, for participating in MSH outreach events like Reptile Weekend, and for attending meetings. The top 2003 point earner in the under 10 category is Charlie Bushman, and in the 10 and over category is Zack Smith. They will both get to be "Zookeeper for a Day" in the reptile area at the John Ball Zoo in January. Some of us are hoping that parents get to go also!

Finally, the Juniors made several good suggestions for what they wanted to do next year. Based on these, it should be a fun filled and excitement packed year for MSH's Junior Member group.

Allison Vander Ark discusses king snakes.

Nicholas Vander Ark and his anaconda poster Zack Smith reports on leopard geckos.

Jeanette Vander Ark with information about her pet bearded dragon.

February, 2004

PAGE 7 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS

Ventura, CA--On the hottest day of the year, a chilly wind whips across the boat speeding south from Ventura. Cathy Schwemm, a veteran of such voyages, keeps her balance on the tilting deck as other spray-dampened passengers grab at railings and poles.

She has come dressed for lizard hunting: brown hair pushed under a sun hat, water bottle strapped to her waist. With bare feet shoved into Tevas instead of hiking boots, she is clearly unfazed by the specter of rampaging lizards.

Only one kind of lizard lives on Santa Barbara Island, and that’s plenty. As many as 1,300 occupy a single acre on the rocky outpost, the highest known density of any ground-dwelling lizard on Earth.

Imagine lizards waiting nose to nose to snap up the next available fly. Jammed claw to claw under prickly-pear cac-tuses. Skittering over sleeping bags in the dark. But Schwemm, a Channel Islands National Park wildlife biologist, repeats the warning of experts: This is not an easy reptile to hunt.

For decades, scientists have traveled 38 miles out to sea to study Xantusia riversiana, or the island night lizard, and each discovery is more peculiar than the last. Like a Lewis Carroll creation, this species is at once familiar and strange.

It’s dramatically bigger than its mainland cousins - up to 8 inches long, compared with puny 1-inchers in the California desert. It flaunts unusually flamboyant spots or stripes. And while many lizards die after a few years, this one can live to 25 or more. Most curious of all, it bears live young as mam-mals do.

Despite it’s name, the island night lizard roams by day and

sleeps at night, spending it’s life within a few square yards. It lives only on three small islands off Southern California. Two are military installations, closed to the public. The third is Santa Barbara Island, visited by public boats only six times a year. Planes and helicopters are banned. The giant tortoises of the Galapagos are easier to visit.

Fortunately for lizard scholars, Cannel Islands National Park runs a boat here to deliver supplies and to relieve the island’s only human inhabitant, a ranger who spends seven day on the island and seven days off

This is not a simple lizard, as two scientists determined dur-ing eight years here studying it’s habits. Biologists Gary Fell-ers and Charles Drost dipped lizards in plastic bags brimming with fluorescent powders and tracked their trails with ultra-violet light. They equipped them with radioactive tags and tailed them with a Geiger counter. They became caught up in the oddities of this lizard, it’s riddles, or what another island scholar, biologist Edward O. Wilson, has called the lure of nature’s mysteries. “Without mystery, life shrinks,” Wilson wrote. “Even a laboratory rat seeks the adventure of the maze.”

The two men found that the lizards’ metabolism is low, and that predators are few. They spend most of their days under leaves and thickets and in rocky crevices. “These lizards don’t really roam. They mostly just sit," said Fellers. This may help explain why so many lizards can live invisibly in so little space. They inhabit a kind of parallel universe, under bushes and underground. Even the island ranger rarely sees one. Their larger size may be an example of what some call “gigantism,” a feature found in other island-dwelling species such as jays and foxes.--Reprinted from HerpDigest, January 4,2004

ODD LIZARDS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, CALIFORNIA BY DEBORAH SCHOCH

Santa Barbara Island. Photo by G. Nafis

Xantusia riversiana. Photo by G. Nafis

February, 2004

PAGE 8 THE MICHIGAN HERPETOLOGIST

Dean Alessandrini’s presentation was also very good especially for those of us who really love Eastern Indigo Snakes. I was traveling with one such person.

After a great lunch (also with fellow herpers), we enjoyed some wonderful Symposiums in the afternoon. Two of the afternoon’s highlights included Dr. Robert Sprackland and Robyn Markland. Dr. Sprackland talked about how Moni-tors have recently become quite popular reptile pets, the evolution of monitor care in captivity and his struggle to get a pub-lisher interested in making a book about varanids.

Robyn Markland’s presentation was my favorite. He is responsible for the breed-ing facility, customer service, and animal sales of Pro Exotics in Denver, Colorado. He has been working at Pro Exotics since it was opened ten years ago. At present Robyn and Pro Exotics are working with monitors, Gila monsters, pythons, boas,

and colubrids. Some of the other Sympo-siums included presentations on Giant Salamanders, Mountain Horned Dragons, Preparing for Reptile Envenomations, Veterinary Care of a Large Zoo Collec-tion, and Uroplatus Geckos.

After the symposiums we enjoyed a presentation by Keynote Speaker, James D. Fawcett, Ph.D. He spoke about New Zealand’s vast array of herps. Immedi-ately following Dr. Fawcett’s presenta-tion, the auction began. The auction was a great finish to a great day.

(Symposium from page 1)

February, 2004

Geckos Galore

Amphibians, Reptiles, Feeders, and more

www.geckosgalore.com

geckosgalore@comcast.net

Jamie (517) 663-4587

Buy Sell Trade

HerpArts.com

Your one-stop online shop for gifts for herpers

Enjoy the best and widest selection of antique and contemporary herp photos and illustra-tions, greeting cards, magnets, and jewelry from artists around the world. Frogs, lizard,

snakes, and turtles-HerpArts.com has ‘em all!

PAGE 9 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS

David Critchlow

10450 Gorsline Rd.

Battle Creek, MI 49014 www.tbns.net/reptile

phone (616) 962-0532 gatordad0812@yahoo.com

CRITCHLOW’S

Reptile Farm

&

Exotic Plants

TREASURER’S REPORT DECEMBER 1-31, 2003

STARTING BALANCE $3998.26 Income: Memberships $220.00 Merchandise Sales 10.00 I-5 Herp Pond 139.00 I-5 donations 52.76 Paid advertising 24.00 School presentation 41.00 December 50/50 auction 520.00 Expenses: T-shirts $343.00 Fall Expo advertising 195.28 Table covers 13.66 Newsletter postage 56.18 Membership copies 3.26 refreshments 7.83 Newsletter printing 126.14 Ballot copying 29.76

ENDING BALANCE $4230.41 PAUL SUPLINSKAS, TREASURER

February, 2004

PAGE 10 THE MICHIGAN HERPETOLOGIST

Classified Ads Classified advertisements are free to MSH members. Contact the editor for rates for quarter, half, and full page ads.

For Sale: Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches-great lizard food, educational exhibit, or just fun to raise. Beginner breeding colony (1.1.4) with instructions, $10.

Laboratory-style rodent breeding cages. 11x6.5x5 (1.2 adult mice +babies), $5-10 ea. 18x9.5x8 (1.2 rats or 1.5 mice), $8-20ea. Quantity discounts available. Contact Theresa Moran at 517.372.5730. Can be delivered to any MSH event.

For Sale: Bearded Dragons, well started, $45 each. Boa Con-strictors, feeding well on small thawed mice $65 each. Breed-ing pair of Green Basilisks, have produced 2 clutches of eggs per year for the last 3 years, $130 for the pair, $170 with 2’ X 2’ X 4’ cage. Call Paul Susplinskas at 231.834.7803. Ani-mals can be delivered to Scott House meetings.

For Sale: Northern Blue Tongue Skinks (c.b.) 1 year old $75 ea, $125 pr. 1.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skinks (c.b. adults) proven pair $125. 1.1 Pink-tongued Skinks (c.b. adults) $150 for the pair. Contact John Zmiejko at 810.385.7078 or jzmiejkomd@advnet.net

For Sale: Newly hatched normal, hypomelanistic, and albino corn snakes. “Potosi” king snakes. Contact Rob Cook at 517.795.5142 or greenfire2000@hotmail.com.

Wanted: Large reptile cages. Good condition, easy to clean. I would prefer cages that are 6 feet plus. Must be suitable for large snakes/lizards. Neodeshas and Visions are also great. Let Matt Lindstrom know what you have at reptil-ian64@hotmail.com or 517.337.0946.

About The Michigan Herpetologist The Michigan Herpetologist is published monthly by the Michigan Society of Herpetologists, a non-profit organization “dedicated to member and public education about reptiles and amphibians.”

“The mission of The Michigan Herpetolo-gist is to inform the membership of Society events, to report on those events whenever possible, to provide interesting information about the herpetological community, and to provide members a platform to express their interests and views.”

Editorial Team

Stephanie Beiser, Shelley DeFouw, Matt Lindstrom, Dudley Smith, Barbara Wheeler.

Editor Randy Worden

1828 E. Irvington Ave. Lansing MI 48910 Phone: 517.202.4800 E-mail: dogfish@acd.net

Classified ads are free to MSH members. Others may contact the editor for rates. Articles by mem-bers and interested individuals are always welcome in almost any format. Please contact the editor.

If you’d like to receive this newsletter electroni-cally as a PDF (adobe acrobat) file, e-mail the edi-tor.

© 2003 by Michigan Society of Herpetologists. All rights reserved. You may reprint any original article from The Michigan Herpetologist provided you credit “The Michigan Herpetologist, the newsletter of the Michigan Society of Herpetologists.”

February, 2004

PAGE 11 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS

DIRECTIONS TO MSH MEETING PLACES

SCOTT CENTER - LANSING

The Scott Center is located at 125 W. Main Street where Capitol Avenue dead-ends at Main. Main Street is the freeway access road that runs immediately south of I-496 in downtown Lansing.

Eastbound I-496: Take Pine-Walnut Street exit. The third traffic light will be at the driveway to the Scott Center. Turn right into driveway.

Westbound I-496: Take the Downtown-Grand Ave. exit. Cross Grand Ave., cross first light at Washington Ave., turn left (south) at next light at Capitol Ave., and get in the right hand lane immediately. One block ahead is a light at Main. You must be in the right hand lane to drive straight across to the drive of the Scott Center.

The Scott Center phone number is 517.372.3232

JOHN BALL ZOO - GRAND RAPIDS

John Ball Zoo is located at the corner of Fulton and Valley (1300 W. Fulton), two miles west of downtown Grand Rapids, with easy access from I-196. Meetings are held in the lower level of the pavilion, located near the parking lot and outside of the perimeter fence.

From 196 East, exit at Lake Michigan Drive, and turn right to Fulton. Zoo entrance is to your right.

From 196 West, exit at Lane Street. Turn left on Lane. Turn right on Fulton. Proceed to corner of Fulton and Valley for Zoo entrance.

NO LIVE ANIMALS MAY BE BROUGHT TO MEETINGS HELD AT JOHN BALL ZOO.

MSH MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

To join MSH, please complete the following application and return it, ____ Individual ($15.00) ____ New Member

with your membership fee, to: ____ Family ($20.00) ____ Renewal ____ Junior ($12.00) ____ Name or Address Change

Membership Secretary, ____ Commercial ($30.00)

Michigan Society of Herpetologists, ____ Sponsorship ($100)

321 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48906

Name(s) (Please Print): Date:

Parent or Guardian (if member is a minor):

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Telephone: ( ) E-mail:

Herpetological Area of Interest:

Would you be willing to volunteer for any MSH events? Yes No

Would you like to be listed in the MSH Directory? Yes No TMH

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Michigan Society of Herpetologists (MSH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to member and non-member education about reptiles and amphibians.

MEETING INFORMATION:

MSH holds its general meetings alternately in the cities of Lansing and Grand Rapids (see directions below). Meetings generally are held on the third Saturday of the month (but check the Calendar of Events). Meetings are open to the public and the society encourages anyone with an interest in herpetology to attend.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Michigan Society of Herpetologists, 321 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48906

WEB SITE:

www.michherp.org

Officers:

President Eric Tobin 269.729.4623 orionet@aol.com

Vice-President David Scott 231.839.7656 reptidave@msn.com

Secretary Ann Miller 616.365.2429 jrmiller@iserv.net

Treasurer Paul Suplinskas 231.834.7803 MSUPLINS@MSN.COM

Members-at-Large:

Jane Billette 989.684.7938 jiffypop61@hotmail.com

Rob Cook 517.484.771 greenfire2000@hotmail.com

Randy Worden 517.202.4800 dogfish@acd.net

Membership and Circulation:

Barbara Wheeler 517.321.6105 wheelerba@aol.com

February, 2004

Kendal, Indonesia--It's still a big snake, just not a record-breaker.

When a recreation park in Indonesia put a huge reticu-lated python on show last week, keepers insisted to reporters it was 15 meters (49 feet) long. That made it the longest ever caught.

But amid growing skepti-cism of the claim, a photogra-pher working for Reuters returned to the Curugsewu park in the small central Java town of Kendal on Wednesday with a measuring tape. The snake's true length -- around 6.5 meters.

“I have no idea why the snake has

shrunk,” said one keeper when asked about the discrepancy, as the snake lounged on a tree branch inside its cage.

According to the Guinness World

Records, the longest discovered snake was also a reticulated python from Indonesia. It was 10 meters (33 feet) long when found in Sulawesi island in 1912.

In 2002, Samantha, a snake measuring eight meters and which was dubbed the largest in captivity, died in the Bronx Zoo in New York. Samantha came from Indonesia's side of Borneo island.

Record-breaking or not, word of the huge snake in

Kendal has spread, tripling the number of visitors to the state-run park, nor-mally known just for its scenery and waterfalls.--Yahoo!News, January 7, 2004

WORLD'S LONGEST SNAKE COMES UP SHORT

FIRST CLASS MAIL ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS 321 W. OAKLAND AVE. LANSING, MI 48906

Park visitors admire the big “retic” in Indonesia. Reuters Photo

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