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Amphibians, Reptiles, & Natural History

Digestive system’s adaptations to island life in Lacerta trilineata

JCM

posted on

August 31, 2015

Balkan Green Lizard. Lacerta trilineata.Photo Credit: Kostas Sagonas Life on an island isn’t always easy. To make the most of the little there is to eat on many Greek islands, the digestive system of s has evolved considerably compared to family members on the mainland. Surprisingly, many of these insect-eating lizards even have special valves…
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A model for managing the Giant Garter Snake, Thamnophis gigas

JCM

posted on

August 29, 2015

Thamnophis gigas. Photo by Dave Feliz The Giant Gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is a highly aquatic species that uses marshes and sloughs, low-gradient streams, ponds, and small lakes, with cattails, bulrushes, willows, or other emergent or water-edge vegetation. Because of the direct loss of natural habitat, this snake now relies heavily on rice fields in the…
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A reassessment of the conservation status of the Central American herpetofauna

JCM

posted on

August 28, 2015

Salamanders like this Costa Rican Bolitoglossa striata are more susceptible to environmental disturbances than other amphibians. JCM A recently published article by Johnson et al. (2015) takes a second look at the herpetofauna of Central America and its conservation needs. The authors found Mesoamerica (the area composed of Mexico and Central America) is the third…
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Gueragama sulamericana a Late Cretaceous stem iguanid from southern Brazil

JCM

posted on

August 26, 2015

Gueragama sulamerica. Credit: Julius Csotonyi University of Alberta paleontologists have discovered a new species of lizard, named Gueragama sulamericana, in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Oeste in Southern Brazil in the rock outcrops of a Late Cretaceous desert, dated approximately 80 million years ago. “The roughly 1700 species of iguanas are almost without exception restricted…
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Embryonic lizards may not survive global warming

JCM

posted on

August 19, 2015

Currently, three percent of land in the US is inhospitable to lizards (orange areas). In the next century, the scientists say the areas where lizards may not thrive could grow to 48 percent (purple area). Map Credit: Ofir Levy; Lizard Photo – The Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus. JCM The expected impact of climate change on North American lizards is much worse…
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New book: Atlas Serpientes de Venezuela – Price Reduced

JCM

posted on

August 13, 2015

Atlas Serpientes de Venezuela by Marco Natera Mumaw, Luis Felipe Esqueda, González and Manuel. The book’s size is 32×25, full color, dust jacket, it contains 456 pages,>400 photos, >60 maps on geographic distribution and assembled in four chapters and four thematic appendices. For requests send an email to Luis Felipe Esqueda, Co-author and Editor or directly to…
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Venomous frogs

JCM

posted on

August 7, 2015

Corythomantis greeningi greening was found to have spines extending from its skull that can poke through the skin to deliver poison into potential predators (left). Corythomantis greeningi greening, or Greening’s frog (middle). Aparasphenodon brunoi, or Bruno’s Casque-headed Frog (right.). Photo Credit: Carlos Jared. Venomous animals have toxins associated with delivery mechanisms that can introduce the toxins into another animal.…
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Snakes & Palm Oil Plantations in Colombia

JCM

posted on

August 5, 2015

The most commonly encountered snake in oil palm plantations was Ninia atrata. Rainforest in the tropics is frequent cut to make way for the African oil palms, Elaeis guineensis. The plant is most often grown for cooking oil but has recently attracted the attention of the alternative energy industry as a source of biofuel. While…
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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…