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Amphibians, Reptiles, & Natural History

Evidence for a Triassic origin for Lepidosauria

JCM

posted on

September 29, 2013

Top: Vellberg jaw. Bottom: restoration image. Illustration Credit: Marc Jones. Two new fossil jaws discovered in Vellberg, Germany provide the first direct evidence that the ancestors of lizards, snakes and tuatara (known collectively as lepidosaurs) were alive during the Middle Triassic period — around 240 million years ago. The new fossil finds predate all other…
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The Second Trinidad Buioblitz

JCM

posted on

September 29, 2013

The second annual Trinidad Bioblitz has come and gone. This year it was held in the very biodiverese Arima Valley, with the base camp at the Asa Wright Nature Center. The preliminary tally of species was – Vertebrates 139, Invertebrates 247, Fungus 30, Diatoms 7, Plants 317 for a grand total of 740 species! Teams…
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Yosemite National Park

JCM

posted on

September 18, 2013

This is some example content. WordPress is an extremely user friendly content management system for websites and blogs. Users can easily add and update text, images, video, audio and more using the WordPress platform.
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Undercity — A Trip Through New York City’s Forgotten Subway Tunnels

JCM

posted on

September 18, 2013

This is some example content. WordPress is an extremely user friendly content management system for websites and blogs. Users can easily add and update text, images, video, audio and more using the WordPress platform. Curabitur lacinia porta purus. Mauris laoreet dignissim imperdiet. Proin tempor pellentesque neque tempor feugiat. Vivamus odio tortor, pulvinar vitae placerat sed,…
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Finding Peace In Your Backyard

JCM

posted on

September 18, 2013

This is some example content. WordPress is an extremely user friendly content management system for websites and blogs. Users can easily add and update text, images, video, audio and more using the WordPress platform. Curabitur lacinia porta purus. Mauris laoreet dignissim imperdiet. Proin tempor pellentesque neque tempor feugiat. Vivamus odio tortor, pulvinar vitae placerat sed,…
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The Finest Maui Coffee

JCM

posted on

September 18, 2013

This is some example content. WordPress is an extremely user friendly content management system for websites and blogs. Users can easily add and update text, images, video, audio and more using the WordPress platform. Curabitur lacinia porta purus. Mauris laoreet dignissim imperdiet. Proin tempor pellentesque neque tempor feugiat. Vivamus odio tortor, pulvinar vitae placerat sed,…
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Suzio Report, Summer Fun

JCM

posted on

September 13, 2013

Howdy Herpers, 9/12/13 Well friends, it has been too long since Typing Boy here has addressed you. I trust that the lack of reports lately has not caused too much angst in your lives? So much has happened since Marty found that little tortoise in the black widow spider web that I hardly know where…
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Rhacophorid frog phylogeny on Borneo

JCM

posted on

September 12, 2013

Kurixalus appendiculatus Rhacophoridae is a major clade of Afro-Asian tree frogs, that has radiated into many different niches. Rhacophorids contribute significantly to the high species richness and reproductive diversity of Sundaland vertebrates. Nonetheless, rhacophorid evolution, especially on Borneo, has not been studied within a phylogenetic context. In a new study Hertwig et al. examine the…
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The record-sized alligator

JCM

posted on

September 3, 2013

The major news outlets are carrying the story of Dustin Brockman of Vicksburg, Mississippi who, with his brother and friend, killed a 727-pound record breaking alligator that was 13 feet, 4.5 inches long. The previous weight record was 697.5 pounds, according to a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, program coordinator.Brockman is quoted as saying, “We…
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World Snake Day is July 16. The day is important to the conservation of snakes. Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica and can vary from the longest species, the reticulated python, to the smallest Barbados Threadsnake. Snakes try to avoid human contact. They consider humans predators. Venomous snakes (and many) use their venom to obtain food and only use it for defense when forced to. World Snake Day can help remove people's fears and illusions about snakes, and help them gain recognition as a marvelous adaptable apex species. World Snake Day can be used to educate and inform people about how to deal with snakes. Let's not mis this opportunity.

August 14th is World Lizard Day. It's the perfect time to show some love for these remarkable creatures that have been sharing our planet since the time of the dinosaurs. With over 6,000 known species, lizards come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, and you can find them on every continent except Antarctica. But why should we celebrate lizards, you ask? Well, they're not just cool to observe in their natural habitats but also essential players in many ecosystems. Lizards help keep insect populations in check, which is vital to our ecosystems. So, let's give these amazing creatures the recognition they deserve on this special day! tems worldwide.

These extraordinary beings don’t merely excavate burrows that become abodes for various other species; they also provide a valuable service by assisting in maintaining the cleanliness of our beaches. Their diet includes the remains of deceased fish that wash ashore, making a substantial contribution to ecological equilibrium. This underscores the profound significance of safeguarding these gentle creatures.

World Turtle Day stands as an occasion specially designated to celebrate and protect both of these remarkable creatures. Its origins can be traced back to 2002 when American Tortoise Rescue introduced this meaningful event. It casts a spotlight on the myriad challenges that turtles and tortoises confront due to human intervention and environmental hazards. On this special day, educational institutions, rescue centers, and nature enthusiasts unite to deepen their understanding of these creatures and pledge unwavering commitments to their preservation.

Here are some impactful ways in which you can actively participate in the endeavor to safeguard these exceptional animals: Adopt a Turtle or Tortoise: Contemplate adopting a turtle or tortoise from a rescue shelter. These low-maintenance creatures make ideal companions, especially for families with young children.

Post List #4

California Kingsnake from se Arizona

Invasive Snakes refugia

Microhabitat use by the California Kingsnake in the Canary Islands

JCM Jan 14, 2026 3 min read

In this study, Maestresalas et al. (2026) characterize the shelter-use regime and the biotic and abiotic factors driving microhabitat selection by California kingsnake shelters on Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. The intent is to help inform management. They expected that…

The Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla), also known as the Pacific chorus frog, has a range spanning the Pacific Northwest, from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington to British Columbia in Canada and extreme southern Alaska. They live from sea level to more than 10,000 feet in many types of habitats, reproducing in aquatic settings. They occur in shades of greens or browns and can change colors over periods of hours and weeks.

Pacific Treefrogs, one, two, or three species?

JCM Oct 16, 2025 2 min read

Evolutionary divergence in sexual signals may lead to and maintain reproductive isolation between populations. Both selective forces—such as ecological and sexual selection—and random processes like genetic drift may influence the…

A female Burmese python with eggs.

Burmese Python Nest in Great Cypress Swamp

JCM Oct 16, 2025 3 min read

Lisa McBride, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biologist, led a study to document a record-setting Burmese python nest found in Big Cypress National Preserve in 2022. McBride’s work details the…

Jurassic reptile fossil discovery blurs the line between snake and lizard

Jurassic reptile fossil discovery blurs the line between snake and lizard

JCM Oct 7, 2025 3 min read

by American Museum of Natural History edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan New research has uncovered a species of hook-toothed lizard that lived about 167 million years ago and has a…

Riama, a light bulb lizard from Ecuador

Discovering the lightbulb lizards of Ecuador

JCM Oct 7, 2025 2 min read

Alejandro Arteaga, a herpetologist in Ecuador sent out out the following email. If you have the resources for helping Alejandro I encourage you to do so. Today, I want to…