Volume 25
January 2012 August 2012
this month’s speaker
Carl Koch Five Seasons of Nesting Eastern Hognosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) Observations 7:15 PM Tuesday, 21 August University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street
Number 18
Carl Koch is a band teacher and worship leader in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He
has two grown daughters, and an amazing wife who encourages his passion for nature in general and herps in particular. Carl is a member of the Chicago Herpetological Society, and was honored to have an article published in their esteemed journal and to be the featured speaker at one of their meetings. Carl also had an article on the Eastern Hognosed Snake nesting behavior published in the February 2011 issue (Vol. 2, No. 1) of Herp Nation magazine.
F e at u r e a r t i c l e 74
“Reproduction of the Many-lined Skink, Plestiodon multivirgatus (Squamata: Scincidae) from New Mexico” by Stephen R. Goldberg
short article 76
“Conservation and Awareness of Amphibians in Third World Countries: Animal Rights Versus Animal Welfare” by Suman Pratihar
N at u r a l h i s to ry note 78
“Rattlesnake Mimicry in the Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer)” by Howard Clark
next month’s Speaker
Carl J. Franklin BIPES: The most interesting and enigmatic of all Mexican reptiles! Tuesday, 18 September
Carl Koch holding a lovely Heterodon platirhinos. Photo by Phil Fritsch.
Tucson Herpetological Society meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:15 PM
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (8) 2012
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Reproduction of the Many-lined Skink, Plestiodon multivirgatus (Squamata: Scincidae) from New Mexico Stephen R. Goldberg, Whittier College, Department of Biology, Whittier, California 90608; sgoldberg@whittier.edu
T
he Many-lined Skink, Plestiodon multivirgatus Hallowell, 1857 ranges from southern South Dakota to west Texas and Chihuahua, west through New Mexico to southeast Utah and central Arizona where it occupies a variety of habitats from 910 to around 2620 m (Stebbins 2003; Lemos Espinal and Smith 2007). There are accounts of its reproduction indicating a spring-early summer breeding season, 3-9 eggs deposited May to August, with female parental care exhibited (Hammerson 1999; Stebbins 2003; Livo 2009). Other anecdotal information on P. multivirgatus reproduction is in: Smith (1946); Gelbach (1956, 1965); Maslin (1957); Gelbach and Collette (1959); Everett (1971); Williamson et al. (1994); Degenhardt et al. (1996); Brennan and Holycross (2006); Ballinger et al. (2010); Fogel (2010); Lewis (2011). The biology of P. multivirgatus is summarized in Mecham (1980). The purpose of this paper is to provide the first histological information on the reproductive cycle of P. multivirgatus from an examination of museum specimens from New Mexico. A new maximum clutch size is reported for P. multivirgatus. Because of the difficulty in obtaining permits for collections of monthly lizard samples, utilization of museum collections for obtaining reproductive data has become increasingly important. Comparisons are made between the timing of the P. multivirgatus reproductive cycle and that of other North American scincid lizards. Skink taxonomy is according to Brandley et al. (2012). A sample consisting of 17 males (mean SVL = 58.5 mm ± 2.9 SD, range = 54-58 mm), 31 females (mean SVL = 62.4 mm ± 3.5 SD, range = 57-70 mm), 4 subadults (mean SVL = 53 mm ± 2.16 SD, range = 50-55 mm) and 2 neonates (mean SVL = 30.0 mm ± 2.8 SD, range = 28-32 mm) was examined from the herpetology collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM), Los Angeles, California and the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB), Albuquerque, New Mexico (Appendix 1). Plestiodon multivirgatus were collected 1947 to 2006. The snout-vent length (SVL) of each specimen was measured from the tip of the snout to the posterior Table 1. Monthly stages in the testicular cycle of 17 Plestiodon multivirgatus from New Mexico. Month
n
Regressed
Recrudescence
Spermiogenesis
Mar
3
0
0
3
Apr
6
0
0
6
May
1
0
0
1
June
3
3
0
0
Aug
4
0
4
0
margin of the vent to the nearest mm. The left gonad was removed and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections were cut at 5 µm and stained by hematoxylin followed by eosin counterstain (Presnell and Schreibman 1997). Enlarged follicles > 3 mm length and oviductal eggs were counted. No histology was performed on them. Histology slides were deposited at LACM and MSB. An unpaired t-test was used to compare P. multivirgatus male and female body sizes (SVL) and the relationship between female body size (mm) and clutch size was examined by linear regression analysis using Instat (vers. 3.0b, Graphpad Software, San Diego, CA). Three stages were noted in the testicular cycle of P. multivirgatus (Table 1): (1) regression, germinal epithelium in the seminiferous tubules is reduced to a few layers of spermatogonia with interspersed Sertoli cells; (2) recrudescence, a proliferation of cells for the next period of sperm formation (spermiogenesis) is underway, primary spermatocytes predominate and occasional secondary spermatocytes are seen; (3) spermiogenesis, lumina of the seminiferous tubules are lined by clusters of sperm or metamorphosing spermatids. Spermiogenesis was underway in March and continued through April and May. Spermiogenesis ended in June as indicated by three males with regressed testes (Table 1). Recrudescence (renewal) for next years sperm production was underway in August. The smallest reproductively active male (spermiogenesis in progress) measured 54 mm SVL (MSB 36424) and was collected in April. One male (50 mm SVL) collected in September (MSB 73468) exhibited testicular recrudescence and was considered a subadult. The mean of the female sample was significantly larger than that of the male sample (unpaired t-test, t = 3.9, df = 46, P = 0.0004). Four stages were noted in the ovarian cycle of P. multivirgatus (Table 2): (1) quiescent, no yolk deposition observed; (2) early yolk deposition, basophilic yolk granules in ooplasm; (3) enlarged oocytes > 3 mm length; (4) oviductal eggs. Mean clutch size for 13 females was 5.3 ± 2.1 SD, range = 3-11. Eleven represents a new maximum clutch size for P. multivirgatus (LACM 133634), which was collected in March. A linear regression analysis indicated the relationship between clutch number (n = 13) and female size (SVL) was not significant (r = 0.49, P = 0.09). This may reflect my samples being collected in different years and coming from different areas. The smallest reproductively active female measured 57 mm SVL (MSB 63053), contained 6 oviductal eggs and was collected in May. Three smaller females (all
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (8) 2012
The purpose of this paper is to provide the first histological information on the reproductive cycle of P. multivirgatus from an examination of museum specimens from New Mexico.
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Table 2. Monthly stages in the ovarian cycle of 31 Plestiodon multivirgatus from New Mexico. Month
n
Quiescent
Early yolk deposition
Enlarged follicles > 3 mm
Oviductal eggs
March
2
1
0
1
0
April
5
0
2
3
0
May
7
0
2
2
3
June
5
2
0
0
3
July
5
4
0
0
1
August
5
5
0
0
0
September
2
2
0
0
0
with quiescent ovaries), SVL = 50 mm, MSB 36414; SVL = 53 mm, MSB 36419; SVL = 55 mm, MSB 73304, were considered to be subadults. There was no evidence (oviductal eggs and concurrent vitellogenesis) in the same female to suggest P. multivirgatus produces consecutive clutches in the same year. Two presumed neonates, SVL = 28 mm (LACM 74532) and SVL = 32 mm (LACM 14909) were collected in August and September, respectively. These are close to the value for hatchlings (20-30 mm) in Degenhardt et al. (1996). It is apparent the timing of the P. multivirgatus reproductive cycle is similar to that of many other North American oviparous skinks: Pleistodon septentrionalis (Breckenridge 1943); P. obsoletus (Hall 1971); P. laticeps (Vitt and Cooper 1985); P. inexpectatus (Vitt and Cooper 1986); P. anthracinus and P. fasciatus (Trauth 1994); P. skiltonianus (Goldberg 2005); P. gilberti (Goldberg 2009). They greatly differ from that of Plestiodon egregius which reproduces during autumn in Florida (Mount 1963). The timing of reproduction of the above (except for P. egregius) differs markedly from that of the Mexican viviparous skinks, Plestiodon copei, P. lynxe and P. brevirostris in which mating occurs in summer, followed by ovulation in autumn, and parturition in spring (Ramirez-Bautista et al. 1996, 1998; Goldberg 2002). I thank Howard L. Snell (MSB) and Christine Thacker (LACM) for permission to examine P. multivirgatus and J. Tom Giermakowski (MSB) for facilitating the loan. Literature Cited Ballinger, R.E., J.D. Lynch, and G.R. Smith. 2010. Amphibians and Reptiles of Nebraska, Rusty Lizard Press, Oro Valley, Arizona. Brandley, M.C., H. Ota Fls, T. Hikida, A.N. Montes de Oca, M. Fería-Ortíz, X. Guo, and Y. Wang. 2012. The phylogenetic systematics of blue-tailed skinks (Plestiodon) and the family Scincidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165:163-189. Breckenridge, W.J. 1943. The life history of the blackbanded skink Eumeces septentrionalis septentrionalis (Baird). American Midland Naturalist 29:591-606. Brennan, T.C., and A.T. Holycross. 2006. A Field
Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix. Degenhardt, W.G., C.W. Painter, and A.H. Price. 1996. Amphibians & Reptiles of New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. Everett, C.T. 1971. Courtship and mating of Eumeces multivirgatus (Scincidae). Journal of Herpetology 5:189-190. Fogel, D.D. 2010. A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Nebraska. University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Gelbach, F.B. 1956. Annotated records of southwestern amphibians and reptiles. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 59:364-372. Gelbach, F.B. 1965. Herpetology of the Zuni Mountains region, northwestern New Mexico. Proceedings of the United States National Museum No. 3505:243-332. Gelbach, F. B., and B.B. Collette. 1959. Distributional and biological notes on the Nebraska herpetofauna. Herpetologica 15:141-143. Goldberg, S.R. 2002. Eumeces brevirostris (Short-nosed Skink). Reproduction. Herpetological Review 33:134. Goldberg, S R. 2005. Reproductive cycle of the western skink, Eumeces skiltonianus (Sauria: Scincidae), in southern California. Texas Journal of Science 57:295-301. Goldberg, S.R. 2009. Reproductive cycle of Gilbert’s skink, Plestiodon gilberti (Squamata: Scincidae), from California. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 45:28-32. Hall, R.J. 1971. Ecology of a population of the Great Plains skink (Eumeces obsoletus). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 49:357-388. Hammerson, G. A. 1999. Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado, 2nd edit. University Press of Colorado, Niwot, Colorado. Lemos Espinal, J.A., and H.M. Smith. 2007. Amphibians and Reptiles of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Los Reyes Izracala Tlalnepantla, edo. de México, México, Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, México, D.F. Lewis, D. 2011. A Field Guide to the Amphibians and
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (8) 2012
The timing of reproduction of the above (except for P. egregius) differs markedly from that of the Mexican viviparous skinks, Plestiodon copei, P. lynxe and P. brevirostris in which mating occurs in summer, followed by ovulation in autumn, and parturition in spring.
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Reptiles of Wyoming. The Wyoming Naturalist, Douglas, Wyoming. Livo, L.J. 2009. Many-lined skink Plestiodon multivirgatus (Hallowell, 1857). Pages 452-455 in: L. L. C. Jones and R. E. Lovich (editors), Lizards of the American Southwest, A Photographic Field Guide, Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, Arizona. Maslin, T.P. 1957. Notes on the lizard Eumeces multivirgatus gaigae from Colorado and Utah. Herpetologica 13:87-90. Mecham, J.S. 1980. Eumeces multivirgatus (Hallowell) Many-lined skink. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, 241.1-241.2. Mount, R.H. 1963. The natural history of the redtailed skink, Eumeces egregius Baird. American Midland Naturalist 70:356-385. Presnell, J.K., and M.P. Schreibman. 1997. Humason’s Animal Tissue Techniques, 5th Edit. The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore. Ramirez-Bautista, A., L.J. Guillette, Jr., G. GutierrezMayen, and Z. Uribe-Peña. 1996. Reproductive cycle of the lizard Eumeces copei (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from the Eje Neovolcánico, México. Southwestern Naturalist 41:103-110. Ramirez-Bautista, A., J. Barba-Torres and L.J. Vitt. 1998. Reproductive cycle and brood size of Eumeces lynxe from Pinal de Amoles, Queretero, México. Journal of Herpetology 32:18-24. Smith, H.M. 1946. Handbook of Lizards. Lizards of the United States and of Canada. Comstock Publishing Associates. A Division of Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
Trauth, S.E. 1994. Reproductive cycles in two Arkansas skinks in the genus Eumeces (Sauria: Scincidae). Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:210-218. Vitt, L.J., and W.E. Cooper, Jr. 1985. The relationship between reproduction and lipid cycling in the skink Eumeces laticeps with comments on brooding ecology. Herpetologica 41:419-432. Vitt, L.J., and W.E. Cooper, Jr. 1986. Skink reproduction and sexual dimorphism: Eumeces fasciatus in the southeastern United States, with notes on Eumeces inexpectatus. Journal of Herpetology 20:65-76. Williamson, M.A., P.W. Hyder, and J.S. Applegarth. 1994. Snakes, Lizards, Turtles, Frogs, Toads & Salamanders of New Mexico. Sunstone Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Appendix 1. Plestiodon multivirgatus from New Mexico, examined by county from the herpetology collections of the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB), and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM). Bernallilo: LACM 74532, MSB 5903, 10276, 11609, 14912, 6448, 23108, 51681, 53916; Catron: LACM 14909, MSB 32289, 33736, 38899, 73468; Chaves: MSB 63052; Colfax: MSB 63112; De Baca: MSB 63053; Eddy: LACM 5972, 14910, 39055, 39062, 52823, 52824, 74219, 133634, MSB 17891, 9020, 41757, 56178, 56188, 63171, 72322; Lincoln: LACM 5973, MSB 16789, 60777; Los Alamos: MSB 36414, 36419, 36420, 36423, 84784, 84785; Otero: LACM 14911, 74220; Rio Arriba: MSB 51914; Roosevelt: MSB 56260; San Miguel: MSB 14908, 74222; Sandoval: MSB 6904, 36411, 36424; Socorro: MSB 54241, 73304; Torrance: MSB 10276, 60924, 66689; Trinidad: MSB 66648.
short article
Conservation and Awareness of Amphibians in Third World Countries: Animal Rights Versus Animal Welfare Suman Pratihar, Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India
A nimal welfare is the philosophy which maintains that it is morally acceptable to use nonhuman ani-
mals for human purposes as long as they are treated humanely and unnecessary suffering is not imposed on them. Is dissecting toads and lizards for teaching purposes ethical or unethical? Are we diminishing our biodiversity in the name of education, teaching, and research? Is this approach morally acceptable? There are many scientific explanations behind not doing dissection by the undergraduate and even postgraduate students of zoology. The most convincing of all is that the students who do dissection as part of the
curriculum to gain a degree only acquire the skill of dissecting at the end of the course, which has no or very little use in their future vocations. The majority of zoology students choose to work in professions where this skill has no practical utility. Unarguably, as zoologists, we understand animals much better than the public, who may be driven only by emotion rather than by judgment and reason. No zoologist would like to see an animal suffer. However, some may argue that dissections serve an important purpose; that of gaining knowledge and acquiring hands-on experience as far as anatomy is concerned. Only through dissections
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (8) 2012
Animal welfare is the theory which maintains that it is morally acceptable to use nonhuman animals for human purposes as long as they are treated humanely and unnecessary suffering is not imposed on them.
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can one be trained about the anatomical form and relate it to physiological function. An animal is like a tiny unit, where food-processing units, waste-disposal systems, water recycling plants, detoxification centers, food depots, cooling units, power plants and many others are all marvelously and efficiently wrapped up in a small space without infecting the other. There was an average drop of 3% a year in the total number of animals used from 1987 to 1999, after a rise of about 2% in 2000, followed by a 3% drop in 2001. In 2001, 2.62 million procedures were performed on 2.57 million living animals. Frogs are the most commonly dissected animals below the university level. Other species also include cats, mice, rats, worms, dogs, rabbits, fetal pigs, and fish. Each animal sliced open and discarded represents not only a life lost, but also just a small part of a trail of animal abuse and environmental chaos. Every year, 5.7 million animals are dissected in secondary and college science classes. Computer programs such as VisiFrog, accessible from Ventura Educational Systems (910 Ramona Ave., Suite E, Grover Beach, CA 93433; 1-800-473-7383), can be used as either a lesson or a test. Operation Frog, prepared by Scholastic, Inc. (2931 E. McCarty St., P.O. Box 7502, Jefferson City, MO 65102; 1-800-541-5513), costs $79.95 to $99.95, depending on the type of software. It simulates an actual dissection on the computer. University of Virginia professor Mabel B. Kinzie compared students who used the interactive “frog” videodisc she developed with those who cut up real frogs. She found that students using the computer program learned anatomy just as thoroughly—in an environment that didn’t smell of formaldehyde or require killing a living animal. Amphibians are the most rapidly disappearing group of vertebrates on the planet. All dissected toads are collected from the wild and unnecessary killing of these animals is unethical. Captiveraised frogs often carry infectious diseases that can spread to native frog populations. Dissecting toads and frog in undergraduate
and grade school levels is avoidable and unnecessary. The Animal Welfare Institute along with Digital Frog International is jointly offering a free full site license of the Digital Frog 2.5 software valued just $884 for schools who agree to stop toad dissection. We have to remember at least this issue is not a conflict between the academicians and the activists. The only thing standing to be achieved in this tussle is our humanity (see Orndorff 1994 and National Anti-Vivisection Society 1994 for more information). Literature Cited National Anti-Vivisection Society. 1994. Objecting to Dissection: A College Students’ Handbook. Animal Legal Defense Fund, Chicago, IL. Orndorff, B. 1994. Computer Program Is a Frog Saver. Richmond Times-Dispatch, April 5, 1994.
Amphibians are the most rapidly disappearing group of vertebrates on the planet. All dissected toads are collected from the wild and unnecessary killing of these animals is unethical. Captive-raised frogs often carry destructive infectious diseases that can spread to native frog populations.
Example of amphibians being used in university research. Photo by Suman Pratihar.
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (8) 2012
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N at u r a l h i s to ry n ot e
Rattlesnake Mimicry in the Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) Howard O. Clark, Jr., Senior Widlife Ecologist, H. T. Harvey & Associates, Fresno, California 93711; hclark@harveyecology.com
M imicry of rattlesnakes by gopher snakes is well known
(Bezy 1993, Sweet 1985), however there are times where the mimicry is so well done that a double-take is necessary to tell the two species apart. On the evening of 25 May 2012, I was driving home from work on a highway that bisects habitat occupied by both the Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) and the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). Oftentimes I see both species stretched out on the pavement in the evenings absorbing the released heat. I pull over to examine these snakes and remove them from the road to prevent vehicle strikes. At approximately 1845 I observed a snake on State Route 33 in Kings County, CA (at mile marker 4.0), that at first glance appeared to be a gopher snake. I turned around to examine it closer. Using a wooden stick, I moved the snake off the highway onto the shoulder (Figure 1). I was a bit surprised to see something that looked remarkably like a rattlesnake. It had a triangle-shaped head and was striking at me like a viper would from a coiled position. I took some photos and continued home. Once I downloaded the photos I decided to send my best photo to the editor of Herpetological Review, Robert Hansen. He said it was definitely a gopher snake and my photo illustrated very well what they do best: behavioral mimicry of vipers. I was impressed with this particular snake in its ability to shape its head to resemble a rattlesnake. I’ve seen gopher snakes mimic rattlersnakes before but the head always appeared narrow. This particular snake did not rattle its tail but did vigorously strike at me from a coiled position. Rattlesnakes are very easy to recognize due to their thick body, large triangular-shaped head, and the rattle on the tail tip (Figure 2). When I see a rattlesnake in the field I recognize it immediately with little question. However, this was the first time I was fooled by a gopher snake in thinking it was a rattlesnake. The take home message: exercise caution when dealing with mimics and
Figure 1. Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) mimicking a rattlesnake. Photo by Howard Clark.
species commonly confused for one another. Although the details remain unclear, confusion of a krait with its mimic may have been the cause of the bite that led to the death of a noted herpetologist (James 2008). Literature Cited Bezy, R.L. 1993. Southland Diorama: The Gopher Snake. Terra 31:40-41. James, J. 2008. The Snake Charmer: A Life and Death in the Persuit of Knowledge. Hyperion. 272 pages. Sweet, S.S. 1985. Geographic Variation, Convergent Crypsis and Mimicry in Gopher Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) and Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis). Journal of Herpetology 19:55-67.
Mimicry of rattlesnakes by gopher snakes is well known (Bezy 1993, Sweet 1985), however there are times where the mimicry is so well done that a double-take is necessary to tell the two species apart.
Figure 2. Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) from the Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County, CA. Photo by Howard Clark.
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B o a r d m e e t i ng m i n u t e s
Tucson Herpetological Society Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 26 June 2012 — 7 p.m. U of A B105/Keating Building 1657 E. Helen Street
Directors: Robert Villa (President), Roger Repp (Vice President), Heidi Flugstad (Treasurer), René Clark (Secretary), Dennis Caldwell (Director), Krista Schmidt (Director), Jim Rorabaugh (Director), Rob Nixon (Director), Warren Savary (Director), Robin Llewellyn (Director), Trevor Hare (Past President) Directors Absent: Heidi Flugstad, Krista Schmidt, Robin Llewellyn, Trevor Hare Approval of May 2012 Minutes: Repp motioned to accept, Savary seconded. Approved. Treasurer’s Report (Flugstad): Nixon moved to accept, Caldwell seconded. Approved. (as of 13 June 2012) Beginning Balance Deposits Expenses Ending Balance
$31,420.99 $170.00 $251.98 $31,339.01
General Fund Speaker’s Bureau Jarchow Award FTHL Fund C.H. Lowe Award Fund Bolson Tortoise Research Fund Desert Tortoise Research Fund CRHSD V Bolson Tortoise Land Fund
$16,811.45 $0.00 $372.43 $1,069.00 $1,301.33 $20,370.00 $1,256.09 $4,158.71 $1,000.00
Checking Balance CRHSD CD
Young Cage Tribute Mileage Reimbursement
-$41.05 -$210.93
Total expenses -$251.98 Transfer from GF to SB
-$23.61
Committee Reports Speakers Bureau (Villa/Moll) Possible kids herp night hosted by AZGFD in July or August. Help would be appreciated. Website, Old (Repp for Tuegel) – Rorabaugh working with Marty on updating Hundred Mile Circle. Marty continues to update the website as needed. Website, New (Flugstad/Savary) – Discussion about new features. Outline sent to board for review and suggestions. Ready to be put out to bid.
Members Present: Patti Mahaney
Total: (less) Savings
Expenses
$46,339.01 -$15,000.00 $31,339.01 $5,123.98
Summary Report (May 29-June 13, 2012) Income
Conservation (Caldwell) – No report. Sonoran Herpetologist (Clark/Repp) – Caldwell sent list to editorial committee of possible editorial candidates. Awaiting response. Membership (Llewellyn) – After serving as Membership Chairperson for two years, Robin Llewellyn has resigned. Her full time duties in California have grown overwhelming, and have made it difficult to stay on top of the job. The board expressed its approval and gratitude to Robin for her stoic effort to take on this task, and for keeping it alive for us the past 2 years. Her willingness to hand the reigns over to somebody closer to home is commendable. We hope that at some point Robin can return to life in Tucson someday, and be a part of the THS again. We can’t thank you enough Robin - hurry home! Heidi Flugstad has assumed the role of Membership Chairperson. For this we thank her, and promise to help her make a smooth transition.
Board of Directors meetings are always on the last Tuesday of each month (except December), at 7:00 PM; University of Arizona, BIO5/ Keating Building, 1657 East Helen Street.
Program (Repp for Villa): June: Katie Gray - Effects of Buffelgrass on Sonoran Desert Tortoises. July: Christian Wright - Examining the broad applicability of state-dependent forging using a low energy system, the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum). August: Dr. Phil Medica, Title TBD. Discussion about bringing in Carl Franklin to give a talk about Bipes (Two-legged Worm Lizard).
General Fund
Jarchow Conservation Award (Repp) – Repp and committee will meet in early August.
Membership +$70.00 Speaker’s Bureau +$100.00
National Herpetological Society (Rorabaugh) – No new activity.
Total income +$170.00
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (8) 2012
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Old Business Richard Zweifel (retired from the American Museum in New York and living in Portal, AZ) wants to dispose of his reprint library (which is rather extensive and valuable) to students and researchers and is looking at THS as a possible outlet. (Robert Villa/Rob Nixon). Villa, Nixon, Savary, and Rorabaugh, picked up twentyseven boxes of reprint. Peter Reinthal is looking for a student to go through the reprints and catalogue them. Discussion about reprint library. Tortoise Enclosure Advice for Pinacate Preserve for Victor E. Del Rio Delgadillo: Dennis sent info to Robert, Robert sent info to Victor. An email was M e m B ERSHIP u p d a t e
$20 $25 $14
Sustaining Contributing Life
Do we wish to continue the Sonoran Herp Conference Website? (~$10.00/year). Repp sent email and cancelled.
New Business No report. Meeting adjourned. Caldwell motioned, Nixon seconded. information has changed) to THS, P.O. Box 709, Tucson, AZ, 85702. If you are a new member, please include your email address with your payment to receive monthly newsletter online. A membership renewal form is below for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you at the monthly meetings.
As of August 2012 Membership Information Individual Family Student
received from Victor at Pinacate Reserve. Discussion about sending complementary Sonoran Herpetologist to reserve Biologists in Sonora Mexico. Rorabaugh will get the email for each Sonoran Biological reserve to Heidi, so they can receive the Sonoran Herpetologist.
$30 $50 $500
Thank you! Robin Llewellyn - Membership Director
The Tucson Herpetological Society would like to thank existing members and new members for renewing their membership. We appreciate your support and are always looking for members to actively participate in THS activities and volunteer opportunities. It is a great way to be involved with the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Sonoran Desert. Time to Renew Your THS membership? This is a friendly reminder for those of you whose membership is due. Please send your check and a membership form (especially if
Remember the THS in Your Will Including the THS in your will is an excellent way to support the value of this organization and the conservation of the herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert. We would like to recognize and thank anyone who has included the THS in their will. Please contact us so we can express our appreciation. For information about designating the THS in your will, please contact Heidi Flugstad, Treasurer, Tucson Herpetological Society, at heidi_ flugstad@hotmail.com.
Tucson Herpetological Society P.O. Box 709, Tucson, Arizona 85702-0709 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM NAME: ________________________________________________ Date ______________ Address or Personal Information Changes_______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP DUES [ ] $20 Individual [ ] $25 Family [ ] $14 Student [ ] $30 Sustaining [ ] $50 Contributing [ ] $500 Life $ _______ Jarchow Conservation Award $ _______ Flat-tailed horned lizard Fund
$ _______ Speakers Bureau $ _______ C.H. Lowe Herp Research Fund
$ _______ Total (MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: TUCSON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY) The THS newsletter, the Sonoran Herpetologist, is delivered online only. Please indicate the email address you would like to receive the newsletter if you are not currently receiving the newsletter at your preferred address. If you are unable to receive the newsletter online, please contact Robin at robinia2@msn.com. If not already done, please add my email to the THS directory and/or email Monthly meeting announcement (circle one or both). Please return this form with your check to the address above. Email address ___________________________________________________________
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Sonoran Herpetologist is the newsletter-journal of the Tucson Herpetological Society, and is Copyright 2012. The contents of Sonoran Herpetologist may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies provided the material is reproduced without change and with appropriate credit, and a copy of the publication is sent to the Tucson Herpetological Society. Occasional exceptions to this policy will be noted. Contents are indexed in Zoological Record. A complete set of back issues are available in the Special Collections area of the University of Arizona library. They are accompanied by a copy of The Collected Papers of the Tucson Herpetological Society, 1988-1991. Editor-in-Chief Howard Clark, editor.sonoran.herp@gmail.com Associate Editors Roy Averill-Murray, averill-murray@sbcglobal.net Don Swann, donswann@dakotacom.net Robert Bezy, bezy@comcast.net Tim Allen, tallen@elmontgomery.com Suman Pratihar, pratihar_vu@rediffmail.com Art Editor Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Book Review Editor Philip Brown, philipandbarbara@earthlink.net
Information for Contributors Authors should submit original articles, notes, book reviews to the Editor, either via email using an attached word processed manuscript or by mail to the Society’s address. The manuscript style should follow that of Journal of Herpetology and other publications of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. For further information, please contact the editor, at editor.sonoran.herp@gmail.com.
Deadline for Sonoran Herpetologist: 15th of each month
Tu c s o n H e r p S o c i e t y. o r g
The Tucson Herpetological Society is dedicated to conservation, education, and research concerning the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona and Mexico. Tucson Herpetological Society is a registered non-profit organization.
Officers President Robert Villa, cascabel1985@gmail.com Vice President Roger Repp, repp@noao.edu Secretary RenĂŠ Clark, serpentprincess@comcast.net Treasurer Heidi Flugstad, heidi_flugstad@hotmail.com Directors: Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Robin Llewellyn, robinia2@msn.com Robert Nixon, sapo1047@msn.com Jim Rorabaugh, jrorabaugh@earthlink.net Warren Savary, wsavary@yahoo.com Krista Schmidt, turtlerad@hotmail.com Past President Trevor Hare, trevor@skyislandalliance.org
Society Activities
Monthly Members Meeting Robert Villa, Program Chair 3rd Tuesday, 7:15 PM Board of Directors Meeting Last Tuesday of each month (except December), 7:00 PM University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street Speakers Bureau (scheduled presentations) Robert Villa & Ed Moll Conservation Committee Dennis Caldwell Herpetological Information Hotline Bob Brandner, 760-0574 Jarchow Conservation Award Roger Repp Publications: Sonoran Herpetologist, Backyard Ponds brochure, Living with Venomous Reptiles brochure, THS Herp Coloring Book, THS Collected Papers, 1988-1991 THS Internet World Wide Webpage http://tucsonherpsociety.org Marty Tuegel, Webmaster, mtuegel@cox.net
For more information about the THS and the reptiles and amphibians of the Tucson area visit
tucsonherpsociety.org
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