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Amphibians, Reptiles, & Natural History

A new systematic arrangement for skinks

JCM

posted on

February 25, 2014

One-quarter of all lizards are skinks, and they have been traditionally placed in the single family Scincidae. 1,579 species of skinks are known and they compose the largest group of saurians. Other large lizard families, such as Gekkonidae and Iguanidae have been partitioned into multiple families , based mainly on evidence from molecular phylogenies. Subfamilies…
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The amphibians and reptiles of Mindo, an Ecuadorian cloud forest ecosystem

JCM

posted on

February 24, 2014

If you have not yet found the Tropical Herping web site, I would encourage you to visit it. Alejandro Arteaga and colleagues have done an outstanding job building this elegant and information filled website. What follows is a short article from the site and some photography. By Alejandro Arteaga, Lucas Bustamante and Juan Guayasamin After four…
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Tree climbing crocs

JCM

posted on

February 22, 2014

An American alligator perches in a tree in the Pearl River Delta, Mississippi. Photo credit: Kristine Gingras, courtesy of University of Tennessee Two species of paleo crocodilians (Mekosuchus inexpectatus and Trilophosuchus rackhami) have been hypothesized to have been arboreal, they share a small body size and have a lighter build than most other crocs and…
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Global sea turtle harvest exceeds 42,000 per year

JCM

posted on

February 21, 2014

A new study has found that 42 countries or territories around the world permit the harvest of marine turtles — and estimates that more than 42,000 turtles are caught each year by these fisheries. The research, carried out by Blue Ventures Conservation and staff at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation, is…
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Dusky sea snake (Aipysurus fuscus) may disappear into a hybridization swarm

JCM

posted on

February 18, 2014

A University of Adelaide-led project has found that the endangered dusky sea snake (Aipysurus fuscus) is even more at risk of extinction than thought because of surprising cross-species hybridization. This follows a pattern of unexplained drastically declining populations of sea snakes in the reefs of the Timor Sea in north-west Australia over the past 15…
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Suizo Report–CM12 “Jerry” and CM17

JCM

posted on

February 17, 2014

02/17/13 Howdy Suizo List, It has been so long since I’ve done a Suizo Report that I’ve forgotten how it’s done. But we’ll give it our best shot. Probably less than half of this list will ever remember the days before digital photography. And if you DO remember, when was the last time you had…
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The Odontobatrachidae, a new family of West African Frogs

JCM

posted on

February 11, 2014

Berlin scientists discover new frog family in West AfricaDr. Gesine Steiner Pressestelle, Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung To the left. Top. Odontobatrachus natator: one species of the new frog family. Photo: Mark-Oliver Rödel. Bottom. Scan of the skull: the unusual teeth are one unique anatomic character of the new frog family Scan: Michael…
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Two fossorial snakes and the prairie chicken vs developers in Kansas

JCM

posted on

February 10, 2014

Snakes and prairie chickens pit development against species preservation in KansasFebruary 9BY BRAD COOPERThe Kansas City Star The red-bellied snake, Storeria occipitomaculata TOPEKA — Barely a half-foot long without a drop of venom, the redbelly snake hardly seems a threat. Unless you’re a developer or public official in Johnson County. Listed by Kansas as a threatened…
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A new record size for south Florida Pythons

JCM

posted on

February 5, 2014

News outlets are reporting a large Burmese python discovered in the Florida Everglades is the largest found to date in southern Florida. The past record, for the longest python found in the area 17 ft, 7 inches. It was found in May 2012 and was a gravid female containing 87 eggs, and weighed about 164…
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The Skink and the Crab – life in a Western Australian Salt Marsh

JCM

posted on

February 4, 2014

Photo credit R. Lloyd. The striped slinks of the genus Ctenotus are the most diverse lizard clade of Australia with more than 100 known species. The Airlie Island Ctenotus is a dark olive-grey to light brown skink with a 64–69 mm body. Until recently it was known from the island and two mainland location. The…
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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…