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Amphibians, Reptiles, & Natural History

Social Western Diamondbacks

JCM

posted on

August 28, 2023

Social behavior in snakes is under-studied and, as a result, poorly known. Using social network analysis, Tetzlaff et al. (2023) examined social behavior in the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, from 2001 to 2015. They used behavioral observations via radiotelemetry and genotypic data from a long-term (>10 years) study of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
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Time to first shed

JCM

posted on

August 9, 2023

An intriguing example is the puff adder (Bitis arietans), which sheds its skin shortly after birth. These viper species use chemical camouflage to evade detection by predators. Although their shed skin is easily detectable, these snakes move to new locations immediately after shedding to maintain camouflage.
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Terciopelo’s diet shift from juvenile to adult

JCM

posted on

February 11, 2023

The diet of Bothrops asper changes with age. Young individuals feed on amphibians, centipedes, reptiles, and mammals. Older individuals specialize in mammals.
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Palestine Viper Venom

JCM

posted on

November 24, 2022

Some of the most medically important snakes in the world belong to the in the genus Daboia. These vipers are responsible for some of highest numbers of human envenomations.
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Rattlesnake Venom Research in Ireland

JCM

posted on

November 23, 2022

Snake venom has long shown promise as a treatment for cancer in a wide range of animal trials dating back several years. Celtic Biotech isolated a protein in a type of rattlesnake venom that causes cancer cells to commit cell suicide.
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Snake Removal in Urban Arizona

JCM

posted on

September 7, 2022

A home-owner encountering a rattlesnake in their yard, garage, or house can be un-nerving. As people build more houses in the Sonoran Desert, this kind of encounter becomes more frequent. In a recent paper, Batemen et al. (2022) analyze snake removals in a social-ecological context and it underscores the conservation benefits of researchers partnering with…
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Proximity between Russell’s Viper and People in Rural India

JCM

posted on

June 7, 2021

Russells Viper, Bannerghatta, India. Saleem Hameed <saleemham at rediffmail.com>, CC BY 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons
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Chrysosporium Threatens Endangered Rattlesnake

JCM

posted on

February 22, 2012

The Chicago Tribune is carrying the following story: CHAMPAIGN, Ill.— A fungus rarely seen in the wild is killing certain southern Illinois rattlesnakes while cropping up in the northeastern U.S., wildlife specialists said. Matthew Allender, a wildlife veterinarian and University of Illinois visiting instructor of comparative biosciences, said that in 2008 biologists reported to him…
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A 1973 Death from a Sistrurus catenatus Bite Recounted

JCM

posted on

February 5, 2012

An article in TheDailyNews.com (New York) recounts the 1973 death of a man from the bite of an eastern massasauga. HIDDEN HISTORY: Snake bite kills man in Bergen swamp, 1973 By Mark Graczyk The Bergen Swamp Wildlife Area is a swamp and nature preserve located within the towns of Bergen and Byron. It’s a wonderful spot…
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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…