Vol. 7 (1987), No. 8

VOLUME VII

NUMBER 8

CI AUGUST NEWSLETTER SEPrEMBER MEErING Friday, SEPrEMBER 4, 1987 7:00 PM ROOM 335, BORLAUG HALL ST. PAUL CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNEsarA

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NarE DATE AND PLACE ABOVE

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NarE DATE AND PLACE ABOVE

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The September meeting will be held during the Labor Day weekend at our old classroom in Borlaug Hall.

We will be meeting in this classroom from now until December. Because the State Fair will be in full swing during our September meeting, you will have to gain access to the Universi ty of Minnesota canpus by taking Como or Larpenteur Avenue to Cleveland. Follow Cleveland to Comrronwealth and turn east. Ccmronwealth will connect with Gortner, and North on Gortner will connect with Buford Ave. If you need more help getting to the meeting place, please call Tam SChmitz at 488-7619.

** SEPrEMBER MEETING ** BASIC HUSBANDRY AND CARE OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES will be the topic of the September speakers. Aa.ron Hanpton will cover the care and keeping of snakes and lizards.

Be will explain some proper housing, feeding, and breeding techniques.

John Moriarty will speak on the proper care of turtles and tortoises. The use of outdoor enclosures and hibernating native species will also be covered. The keeping of frogs, toads, and salamanders will be covered by Aaron and John.

This program will provide useful infonnation for the beginner and advanced herp keeper.

Be prepared with some questions to talk over with the speakers.

An interesting discussion is sure to follow.

The September 'critter of the month' will be JUNIOR MEMBERS FAVORITE HERP. This special critter of the month is designed to encourage the junior M.B.S. merribers to learn more about the animals that they are currently keeping, and share the infontla.tion with others.

Suggested guidelines have been written up on the following page to help the presenters.

SNAKEBI'IE EMERGENCY

Minnesota Poison Control System 221-2113 (outstate) 1-800-222-1222 Hennepin Regional Poison Center (612) 347-3141

BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.E. • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104

JUNIOR MEMBER FAVORITE HEPP

PRESENTP~TION

The Junior Member (16 years or younger) Favorite Herp will be our critter of the nonth for September. Several quidelines are suggested to help the presenters wi th their talk. A short write-up of the talk will go in the M. H. S. newsletter to help infonn menibers, who do not attend the meeting, of the infonnation presented.

All Junior Members showing animals will receive an MeH.S. decal.

GUIDELI1.1ES: 1. Present animal (s) to the society using proper comron and scientific names. animal should be clean and healthy.

The

2. Present informa.tion on the animals natural history, including habitat, food, and distribution. and/or Present infonnation on the captive needs of the animal, includ,tng cage type, diet, or environment.

3 路 Present additional infonnation on the animal that would be of interest. may be on any aspect of the animal's behavior, biology, or husbandry.

This

4.

The use appropriate.

when

5

e

of

photos,

drawings,

or

small

displays

are

encouraged

The presentation should take no nore than 5 roinutes.

6. A short write up about the talk should be turned in from the Jr. Member for the newsletter.

LAS!' l'1C>1.1TH' S SPEAKER

by Jo Arme Vletherell-Moriarty

The featured speaker at the August meeting was Dr. Phil Cochran, a fisheries biologist wi th St. Norbert's College near路 Green Bay, Wi. He recently corrpleted a general herp survey of Weaver Dunes, Wabasha County.

Dr. Cochran is currently studying the overall distribution of the rnudpuppy (Necturus rnaculosis) in Minnesota and the effect of the glaciers on the distribution of that species.

Dr. Cochran began with a brief descrlption of the mudpuppy. It has no lungs, but rather retains its .. gills and goes through its entire life in water. The rnudpuppy can be found in mid to large size rivers and lakes. It is active throughout the winter and can be studied and captured in the same way as fishes. The rnudpuppy occurs in the lovver Mississippi Drainage, Minnesota River, St. Croix River Drainage, Red River Drainage, and Lake Superior.

Dr. Cochran discussed theories of the current distribution of the mudpuppy and their absence from the upper Mississippi Drainage.

He also corrpared characteristics of the rnudpuppy with several other species wi th which it cohabitates - the stonecat, the lamprey, and the burbot (eelpout).

Suggested reading from the M.H.S. library: REPI'ILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF MINNEsarA by Walter J. Breckenridge NATURAL HISTORY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPI'ILES OF WISCONSIN by Richard Carl Vogt

REFRESHMENTS Thank.s to Chris Thorson, David Wiener and Marge at MR.. DONUT for August meeting. vve ate glazed and sugared "snakes" and jelly The seven dozen douglmuts went a long way and only 8 "snakes" home when the break ended. The coffee and punch went over well If you I re interested in helping with refreshments, contact Helen meeting.

the goodies at the filled "turtles". were looking for a this nonth also.

Schave at the next

HELP A HAPLESS HERP

Good homes were found for the female Ornate Box Turtle and adult Salamanders up for adoption at the August meeting. The five foot male Corn Snake was not adopted, and will be looking for a home at the September meeting. We also will have a . breeding pair of Eastern Box Turtles with their cage looking for a home. At this writing, there is路 word of a. four year old Boa who rna.y be needing a home, also.

If you have an animal in need of adoption, please contact Fred Bosman ( 476-0306) prior to or on the Monday before the nonthly meeting, no later then 9:00 pm.

Please do not bring adoption animals to the meeting without calling Fred.

NAME OUR DONATION FROO

BE CREATIVE!! Give our frog an identity - he/she has "earned" one.

Be/she has already collected a lot of noney for our society. This is a contest for: 1 . M. B. S. merribers 12 years old and younger.

2. You. may enter as many names as you like.

3. Names must be turned in or received from mail by the September 4th meeting.

4.

Contestant must put his/her name and address on each frog name entered. The Board members will vote on the top 5 names at the Sept. 5th Board meeting.

The society members who attend the October meeting will select the winning name from these 5 names. The winner will receive an M. B. S. sew-on patch.

Put on . those think.ing caps and start writing down those names!

DISPLAY COMfYlITTEE UPDA'IE Aaron Banpton is the new Chairperson for the Display Camtittee. This educational and informative hands-on group in July raised $100.00+ at the Como Park M.R.S. display.

Carro Park is pleased to have us come shaw and talk about our animals to the public. Corro has invested in engraved signs with posted dates showing when they would like us to appear. The next posted date is Septeniber 19 and 20. If you haven I t already signed up, and have a couple of free hours you could offer on these dates, please sign-up at the September meeting. Aaron has pointed out that you need not bring animals if you just want to come and help answer questions and sell our M.B.S. t-shirts, st.ickers, and patches. Come and get involved.

More displays are being looked into, so watch for updates aoout this corrmittee. If you know of nature centers or路 parks that would be interested in having us, please see Aaron at the meeting and talk it over with him.

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A ~1EW M "B" S" SECREI'A."RY

Liz Bosman (Election Corrmittee) showed us the new format we will be using at our next March 1988 elections, at this August meeting. Kate Anderson and Ruth Mel tzer ran for the open Board p:::>si tion of Secretary, and Kate was elected. No big speaches were made from either candidate, but Kate was seen passing out M & M candy coated peanuts wi th a sticker on each bag that read "Vote for Kate! " • Congratulation Kate, and the M & M' s were good too.

MICE NCW ON M.B.S. DELI LISI'!

M.B.S. is again selling ADULT MICE ONLY to members. A supply of adult mice has been found, but due to limited supply, we must limit orders to a three ( 3) dozen limit per membership.

Toni Vangen and John Jesmer have offered to work on the Rodent Comnittee with the storing, packing, order taking, and bringing of the mice to each M.B.S. meeting. To order adult mice, you must call no later than 7:00 P.M. the Thursday before the nonthly meeting. The nurriber to call for Toni or John is 537-0161.

We've kept the cost for the adult mice low again, at $4.00 per dozen.

At this time we * IX) Nor * have pinkies or fuzzies.

Your orders can be picked up at the rronthly meeting from the same person that is selling the rat pups and adult rats. Please remember to bring a container so your food animals don't thaw out. See the Classified Section of this newsletter for M.B.S. Deli ad.

ORIGINAL TURTLE PRINT RAFFLE The original turtle print, which each 1985-1986 Sustaining and Contributing membership received a copy of, will be shown at the Septerriber and october meetings.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $1.00 each at these meetings, and a drawing will be held at the November meeting to award the original print to the winner.

Ann Porwoll will announce who is selling tickets at the Sept. and oct. meetings, so listen closely and be sure you buy the winning ticket.

M.B.S. OFFICERS PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER NEvvSLEITER EDIWR MEMBER-AT-IARGE MEMBER-AT-IARGE MEMBER-AT-IARGE MEMBER-AT-IARGE

Ann Porwoll John Moriarty Kate Anderson Bruce Baig Tan Schmitz Fred Bosma.n Bruce Delles Aaron Banpton John Meltzer

(612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (715) (612)

489-7853 647-1334 222-3500 789-4637 488-7619 476-0306 374-5422 425-7565 780-8561

erican Federation Of e etoculturists The American Federation of Herpetoculturists (AFH) is a non-profit national organization whose purpose is to represent the interests of herpetoculturists.

A primary goal oftheAFH is to form effective legislative action committees to assure that herpetoculturists can uphold their rights to pursue and enjoy herpetoculture.

Another goal oftheAFH is the dissemination of information related to herpetoculture among private herpetoculturists, herpetological societies, zoos, veterinarians, research institutions, and the general public.

This will be accomplished through The Vivarium the official publication of the AFH, the first high quality national herpetocultural journal to document the accomplishments of herpetoculturists and to promote a general philosophy of herpetoculture whereby captive propagation can contribute to the conservation of biological diversity.

The Vivarium is a 56-64 page, 8\12" x II" journal with both black and white and full-color photographs. This professional publication is published quarterly. ' Yearly Membership Rates Individual Membership ________________ . ____,___ ._____ ...._. ______ .. _______________.______ $20.00* Foreign Country Membership ____________._______. _ .. __ _ _.. . . ___________._.. _____________ 26.00* Institutional Membership ____. __.______________ .__..._____ : .__.____.._________________ 40.00* Sustaining Membership ___ ._. _____.____.__.______________ 50.00* Patron Membership ______________ . _______ 100.00* *A1l membership dues must be paid in U.S. dollars.

(Make all checks out to the 'American Federation of Herpetoculturists')

Membership in the AFH will entitle you to the following: 1) One year membership in the American Federation of Herpetoculturists. Theonly national society that represents the herpetoculturist.

2) One year subscription the The Vivarium, a high quality 56-64 page color journal that is published four times a year.

Each issue contains information on captive care, propagation, legisl~ture, books, medical, na~ural history, products, techniques, etc.

3) Legislative action updates. The AFH's legislative action network assures you that you will be kept up-to-date on all current happenings. .

4) Special discounts on all AFH sponsored programs and events.

Membership Application (Please type or print legibly)

Name _______________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________________ City _____________ State _ _ _ _ _ _ Zip Code ________ Country __________ Phone Number(s)

_---' _ _ _~, (

)_ _-

yes Would you be interested in becoming a representative for the AFH? Do you consent to having your name published in the AFH directory?

Send this application along with membership dues to: American Federation of Herpetoculturists P.O. Box 1131 Lakeside, CA 92040

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M. H. S. COMMI'ITEE AND CHAIRPERSON"

Ann Porwoll has been receiving questions front new members as to what committees we have and who to contact if they want to help. Here is a snaIl listing of some regular committees and their chairperson taken from the AprilM.H.S. Newsletter: AOOPrION COMMI'ITEE - Fred Bosnanj REFRESHMENT COMMITrEE - Helen Schavej SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION" COMMI'ITEE - John Moriarty; DISPlAY COMMI'ITEE - Aaron Hanpton; PHOTO CONTEST COMMI'ITEE - John Moriarty; IILUSTRATION CONTEST COt-1MITTEE Sally Brewer; RODENT COMMI'ITEE - Bruce Delles/John Jesmer Jr.; LIBRARY COMMITTEE -Nancy Haig; ClffiISTMAS BANQUEI' COMMITTEE - Sally Brewer.

I have left off some committees that have either completed their function for this year, or are into the future and can be printed at a later date. If you wish to knaN what these committees do, or haN you can help, contact the chairperson listed with their committee.

You may also find a copy of the M.H.S. April Newsletter Vol. VII, Number 4 - in our library.

M.H. S. CHRISTMAS BANQUET IS COMING It sounds like Saturday night, Deceniber 5, we are planning to hold our second annual Christmas banquet. The Christmas Banquet Committee tells me it is going to be held at the same place as last year - the Terrace Cafe, Student Union, St. Paul Campus, U of M. This is alxmt one block. away from Bor laug Hall.

Bob Bader - you remerriber the person who put a "little" add-on to his house just to breed tree frogs - is slotted to be our Decerriber speaker for both our monthly meeting and the banquet. He is planning to do a slide travelog of Indonesia.

More information will be cowing in future newsletters on this, but we want everyone to put this on their schedule today. Last year we had some 75 M.H.S. rrenibers and guests attend our first annual banquet. This year we would like to see all you readers attend. It was really a great time, just ask anyone who was there.

M.H.S. HERP PHaro CONTEST '87 Have you taken your camera out of hiding yet? August is alrrost gone, but you still have September and October to take those herp photos. Blake Sheldon presented an excellent program at our April meeting on photography techniques and haw to apply them to herps. Do you remeniber the "Rule of Thirds "? That was haN to place your nain subject in the upper or laNer third of your picture so Nor to have it dead center in the picture.

He also explained that Kodachrome 64 is clear and not grainy, but Barney said to make sure everyone knows Kodak will take 7=10 days to process that film. Ectachrome or Fujichrorne is usually quick.er to develop. Blake also felt a 35mn camera with interchangeable lens was best for herp photos, but any camera will take a good picture. The main thing is to have fun and take several photos. See your July Newsletter for the contest rules.

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'85 -

'86

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'87

Have you piCked a Minnesota Herp to draw for the 1987-1988 Illustration Contest?

Last year only two or three members sent in illustrations. We have tried to keep the contest rules simple, and only two Minnesota herps are excluded from your drawing list.

Take a look at the two winners above and picture your drawing in that blank box. There is still two nonths to practice before you have to turn in your illustration.

See your July newsletter for contest rules, or talk to Sally Brewer - Illustration Carnrrdttee Chairperson - about any question you may have on your drawing. villITE SNAKE SALE SHOPPING? There's still plenty of summer left for the serious bargain hunter. I was looking in the st. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch and noticed 6 full columns of garage sales going on over the weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for that special herp item, that cracked aquarium, that nice piece of drift wood, that ceramic frog, etc. that may bring a nice price at the February White Snake Sale.. Watch your own discardable herp i terns.. Remember, one mans "junk" is another mans treasure.

"CRITTER OF THE MONTH"

We had some really "slimy" herps shown for the August "critter" of the rronth. list went like this:

The

African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis ssp.)

Aquatic Caecilian Wonn (Typhlonectes sp.)

Barking Tree Frog (Hyla gratiosa) Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) Congo Eel (Anphiuma sp.)

Japanese Fire Belly Newts (Cynops p. pyrrhogaster) Mexican Spotted Tree Frog (Hyla sp - ?) vJhite's Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea) Thanks tD Chase Delles, Chuck Levine, Ruth & John l"leltzer, Phil Palan, Ann Porwoll, and Josh & Matt Yank for sharing these "slimy" herps with us.

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REPI'ILES OF MINNESOTA

by Jim Gerholdt PlAINS GARTER SNAKE (Thamnophis radix ssp) Description - The Plains Garter Snake is a medium sized snake.

The body is slender. The average adult size ranges frc:m 20" to 28", with the record size being 41" . The young are about 7 1/2" at birth. The ground color ranges from dark brown to olive to blaCk. There are middorsal and lateral stripes that are yellow to yellow-orange. These stripes are on the THIRD and FOURTH dorsal scale rows.

This is diagnostic!

The ventral surface is yellow to yellow-green. THERE ARE BIAO<: BARS ON THE LIP SCALES and a row of blaCk spots between the lateral stripes and the ventral surface. The scales are keeled and the anal plate is single.

Range There are 2 subspecies in Minnesota, the Eastern Plains Garter Snake (T. r. radix) and the Western Plains Garter Snake (T. r . haydeni ) .

The Western is found in rrost of the state, and the Eastern is known from the Southeastern corner.

The species has been recorded from most counties in Minnesota. The only ones it has not been recorded from are Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Dodge, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the vvoods, Lincoln, Murray, Olmsted, Pine, St. Louis, Sibley, SWift, Wabasha, and Waseca.

Habi tat - This is a snake of the prairie sloughs and pond edges. found in open meadows along rivers.

Habits have the captor. wave its

They:rm.y also

be

This snake is less prone to bite than the Ccmron Garter Snake, but it does typical garter snake habit of smearing a foul smelling discharge on its A specimen from Rice County was observed to hide its head in its coils and tail in a defensive behavior.

Food - The Plains Garter Snake feeds on frogs and toads, earthworms, salamander larvae, fish, insects, and small rrarmals.

This species is much more prone to accept mice in captivi ty than the comron Garter Snake.

Breeding - This is a live bearing (ovoviparous) species. It breeds in the . spring, and the young are born in July and August. Fall breeding has been noted in Mani toba. The number of young ranges from 5 to 92!

Status - NOOE - This is a very comrron snake and the gaps in its range will likely be filled in wi th time.

If you find this snake in one of the non-recorded counties, report it to ~/1HS or the DNR. References: Brechenridge, W. J. 1944. FEPTILES .MlD AMPHIBIANS OF MINNESOI'A. Conant., Roger 1975. A FIELD GUIDE TO REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL NORrrn AMERI Gi. Minnesota Herpetological Society - Records Carrnittee 1985. DIST. MAPS FOR REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF MINNESOTA. Vogt, pj_chard C. 1981. ~1ATURAL HISI'ORY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPI1ILES IN WISCONSIN.

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HGv TO MAKE WHITE I S TREE FR(x;S (Litoria caerulea) Article by: Ann Porwoll INGREDIENTS: 1 Dashing two year old male frog (captive born) 1 Dazzling two year old female frog (captive born) 1 IS-gallon aquarium with newspaper substrate 1 hide box with branches surrounding the box 1 8 I x8"x2" water dish with branches and rocks 1 Vita-light rrounted on peg board cage top You start by setting up the dashing male and the dazzling fema.le in their homey cage.

In late sumner, start feeding them heavily on vitamin dusted crickets, pinkies, and rroths. In ocroBER, put a heat tape under the cage to keep the terrperature at 73 degrees. In DECEMBER, female will start showing bulges of egg masses. The male started calling occasionally at the end of December. An airstone was added to the water dish and run from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. A plastic shoe box was also added as an additional water container. Starting January 11, I covered the cage with a blanket to keep it dark during the day. The male called on and off all day long. I would turn the lights on in the cage at 1: 30 AM if he was still calling, so he would stop and I could get some sleep. I cleaned the cage on 1/16/87 and fed both frogs with dusted pinkies.

At 1:00 AM, the male started calling nonstopAt 1: 35 AM, I went to turn the cage lights on and found them deposi ting eggs in the water dishes. The cage temperature was 77 degrees.

The water level was 2" in each container. The male would sit in the upper part of the cage calling. The female would sit right at the waters edge. When she II growled .. or purred back at him, he would swing down and arnplexing would take place. The eggs were the size of a #2 pencil lead. They were chocolate brown with a clear gel surrounding each egg.

The eggs were found singularly on the branches, or in strands and masses in the water. The breeding continued until 3:15 AM. Once they were done, the male quit calling. Both adults were very hungry the next day.

A major problem was forgetting to de-chlorinate the water when I cleaned the cage on 1/16/87. It was the first time I forgot to do it. this problem, I feel.

Most of the eggs died do

to

1/19/87, wigglers started appearing.

They looked like rrosquito larva. in appearance and size. Half of the water was changed each day. On 1/20/87, tadpoles started appearing.

They were placed in a 10 gallon aquarium, kept at 80 degrees and had aquarium plants added to the set up.

On 1/21/87, the tadpoles (length 3/8") were showing no interest in the Tetra Min fish food. On 1/23/87, the tadpoles (length 1/2") started dying off. They looked like they were starving.

You could see right through them. On 1/24/87, green algae water was added to the aquarium and a filter. The tadpoles started growing irrmediately. On 1/31/87, the tadpoles (length 1") were eating the Tetra Min fish food flakes ravenously. On 2/6/87, hind legs started appearing.

On 2/11/87, all four legs were being accounted for.

The front legs developed underneath the skin surface. You could see the skeletal structure right through their skin.

They did not start as external nubs as the hind legs did. They just appear one day fully developed. On 2/14/87, the first frog crawled out of the water ready to start a new life and the cycle allover again.

On

This was qui te an experience for me. The above procedure worked for me and maybe it will help some of you other frog breeders. My true test will be to get them to breed again next year.

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FReG LEADS v.JAY 'TO 1JllJ FF.JI.aLY OF FIDIBIGrICS

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Washington Post

*

Washington, D. C. One day last sumne-r, Dr. Michael Zasloff was watching an African clawed frog swim in its tank in his la1x>ratory at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) when he suddenly noticed something that stunned him.

It was the wound on the frog's belly, a surgical cut made by Zasloff a few days earlier to renove the ovaries - a procedure he had done hundreds of times on frogs in the preceeding five years. The wound was clean, closed and healing perfectly, just as all the others had done.

But for the first time, Zasloff wondered.: Why should that water in the tank teemed with bacteria. that should infection.

be? have

The murky brown caused a serious

lilt struck me at that rroment that we were seeing a medical miracle, II said the 41year-old scientist, who is chief of the genetics branCh at the National Institute of Child Health and Hunan Development.

That miracle - the African clawed frog's astonishing ability to heal itself, even when surrounded by microscopic enelllies started Zasloff on a search for the explanation.

Within a few rronths., he found it: a previously unknown family of J?CMerful natural antibiotics, dubbed "magainins" (pronounced ma-GAY-nins) from the Hebrew word for "shield, II whose discovery holds the hope of new treatments for many human infections and a deeper understanding of animals' defenses against disease.

Apparently acting in a way different from any known antibiotic, the magainins can kill a wide range of invaders - including bacteria of many kinds, fungi, and parasites such as those that cause malaria. And there is a possibility that they will also work against some viruses and cancers.

An announcement of Zasloff' s discovery has been made, and his paper describing it appeared in the Aug. 15 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Acadenw of Science.

Dr. DeWitt Stetten, a former deputy director for science at NIH, compared Zasloff's rroment of illumination to that of Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin because he noticed that bacteria did not grow on culture dishes contaminated with a certain rrold.

CALL FOR PAPERS

The 1987. Annual Meeting of the Gopher Tortoie Council will be held the .weekend of November 13-14 at Auburn Universi ty, Alabarra.

Council menibers and interested persons are invited to sumit titles and abstracts of papers to be presented.

For those persons unfamiliar with GTC meetings, they generally consist of a Friday evening social, presentations, state reports, and a panel discussion on Saturday, and an optional field trip on Sunday.

Please suhni t titles and abstracts to:.

Ed Wester, Co-Chairman GTC General Biology 101 cary Hall Auburn uni versity I AL 36849

DEADLlbi'E IS -

OCTOBER 1, 1987

10

BREEDING NOTES from Glenn Lewis Glenn sent me some breeding notes to share with the society, but I was unable to print them until nON. Since then, he has had nore success, so I will give you roth articles at once.

CORN SNAKES: 44" ferrale that was captive hatched in 1983, laid 16 eggs on June 4, 1987. I incubated the eggs on noist vermiculite at 78 to 86 degrees. On August 11 to 15, sixteen young emerged. The average size of the young was 12".

NORTHERN PINE SNAKES: A six foot ferrale that was captive hatched in 1983, laid 8 eggs on May 9. The eggs were incubated on noist vermiculite at an average temperature of 83 degrees.

All eight young emerged after an incubation period of 62-65 days. The hatchlings ranged in size from 18 1/2" to 19 3/8".

Last year in her first clutch, this ferrale produced six young (17 to 17 3/4") after an incubation of 68-72 days at 81 degrees. The eggs were the same size at 3" x

2".

I am interested in learning if she will continue to significantly increase the size and number of her offspring as she adds grONth and ma.turity. Genetic input from the different rna.les errployed in the two breedings and the difference in incubation temperatures could also be factors.

*************** Thanks for sharing your successful tips with us Glenn. get them in the nE!\Alsletter.

Sorry it took so long to

EXPEDITION with Jim Murphy, Curator of Herpetology AMAZCN HERP

THE DALLAS ZOO

The departure is set for November 14, 1987. The cost is $1337, all inclusive from Miami.

The trip will begin in I quitos and you will travel aboard the Margarita into pristine areas of diverse habitat which will produce an amazing diversity of reptiles and anphibians.

This will be a tremendous opportuni ty to see and photograph Amazon species which are rarely seen in this country. The leader, Jim Murphy, is well knavn for his pioneer work in the breeding and rraintenance of various reptiles and anphibians at the Dallas Zoo. He is a noted author and has been active in rna.ny herpetological societies.

For details, contact RAY E. ASHTCN, JR. at Holbrook Travel, Inc. 1-800-4517111. Or write to 3540 N.W. 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609.

M.H.S. STATE FAIR DISPLAY Have fun at the State Fair (Aug 27 - Sept 7) and don I t forget to stop at the DNR Building and see the M.H.S. Display. If you feel you have some time to help at our display, contact Jo~ Moriarty 647-1334 or Aaron Hanpton (715) 425-7565. They can still use some helpers. Also, don I t miss Bob Duerr I s Snake Hut at the State Fair.

He I s across from the Dairy Building.

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BIRDI1.1G IN COSI'A RICA! January 1988 Perhaps you have heard of the tropical beauty in Costa Rica - -it's wildlife, nountains, forests, national parks, friendly people, and denocratic government. If you have ever hoped to visit Costa Rica, this is your chance! From January: 14-27, 1988, : Carrol Henderson and his路wife Ethellewillbe leading a birding and natural history tour to Costa -Rica.

The tour' is arranged through coordination With Preferred Travel in St '!Paul an~ Costa-Rica Expeditions.

Carrol and Ethelle led a successful wildlife tour to Costa Rica in January of 1987.

Their group recorded 204 bird species as well as ltany beautiful tropical wildflowers and other wildlife.

This year's tour will include e~loration of virgin rain forests, volcanoes, cloud forests, tropical dry forests, Pacific and Caribbean beaches, coral reefs, and lowland marshes. Highlights should include a chance to view- . the resplendant quetzal and nesting leatherbgck sea turtles.路 Carrol, the nongame wildlife supervisor in the Department of Natural Resources, did his graduate studies on Costa Rican wildlife.

He met Ethelle, a native Costa Rican, while stUdying at the University of Costa Rica.

In addition to her bilingual skills and knowledge of the country's history and culture, Ethelle is particularly interested in Costa Rican wildflowers.

The cost of this tour, based on participation limited to 14 persons, is $1995 per person. A deposit of $200 is'due by November 10, 1987.

For furthex information, and a detailed trip brochure, call Karen Johnson at Preferred Travel Service in St. Paul at (612) 224-7655.

M.H. S. PICNIC AT 'mE ZOO This years M.H.S. picnic was attended by 30-40 menibers and guests. The Bar-B-Que started around 12: 30 and continUed until ab::>ut 3: 30 PM. Chips, salads, sauces, watermelon and cookies were shared by everyone. Only 3merribers participated in the scavenger hunt - the Delles family, Aaron Hampton, and the Moriarty IS. The person with the nost points was Connie Delles, followed by Moriarty's and Aaron. The Moriarty's showed some great imagination with their entries of a "snakehook II , an lIeye cap" and a II turtles shell".

Everyone participated in the junior menibers treasure hunt. It was well organized. Three groups were formed - liThe Gavials II , liThe Cobras'i, and "The Monitors II - and路 each group was given different clues to search for hidden clues in the picnic area." The final prize was an assortment of herp type things from the Zoo gift shop. Those people who went into the Zoo were given a "behind the zoo" tour by Brint if they wished.

A super II THANKS II to Brint and Sue' fo:t:' -organizing and pulling off another successful M.H.S. picnic. Their efforts were appreciated by all!

1路2

Jim Adams RR 1, Box 49A Spicer, MN 56288 (612) 796-2816

Michael Nayman & Family 2008 Iglehart Ave St. Paul, MN 55104 (612) 646-0668

Bruce Brecke 217 N. Cedar Lake Rd Mpls., MN 55405 (612) 377-3324

Richardson Nature Center 8737 E. Bush Lake Rd Bloomington, MN 55438 (612) 941-7993

Michele Burbridge 8032 87th Ave Justice, IL 60458 (312) 563-0287

Phillip W. Scott PO Box 501 Eagle, CO 81631 (303) 328-5490

Frank Alan Chuginpul Rt 2, Box 646 Etowah, TN 37331 (615) 263-9872

David Wagar 2139 Pinewood Dr Mounds View, MN 55112 (612) 784-0683

Dave Fryhling 1322 132 Ave, NE Blain, MN 55434 (612) 755-9534

Marvin Weidner 4321 Colorado Ave, N Crystal, MN 55422 (612) 535-5457

K.

Garrahan c/o Town of West Hartford 28 So. l\1ain Street West Hartford, CN 06107

J. Winberg & Family 18923 Carsonwood Ave Deephaven, MN 55391 (612) 475-1491

David Gorrill 70 Gladstone Street Squantum, MA 02171 (617) 328-40~2

Robert Zinggeler & Farrrrly 6709 E. Shadavv Lake Dr Lino Lakes, MN 55014 (612) 426-9582

Jeffery A Hering 441 Walnut Lane Apple Valley, MN 55124 (612) 432-8224

Mark Martell 1795 Long Lake Rd Nevv Brighton, MN 55112 (612) 631-1889

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CLASSIFIEDS Please send all newsletter articles and classified ads to: Tom EDITOR'S NOTE: Schmi tz, 850 W. Minnehaha, St. Paul, MN. 55104, Attn: MRS Edi tor.

Do not send articles or ads to the MHS address. The deadline for all Newsletter items is the 15th of the nonth! All Classified ads are run in the ]y1HS Newsletter as a free service to the rnerribership. No paid ads are accepted from non-merribers. No ads will be run for venorrous species. While MHS will not run ads for known sick or illegal animals, we accept no responsibili ty for the health or legali ty of any animal advertised here. Please LIMIT SIZE of ad to approx. four (4) lines.

Business cards rrake acceptable ads ..

Largest Selection of Reptiles & Amphibians in Minnesota High Quality - Reasonable Prices - Personal Service

Cages, Books, Feed & Supplies

CITIES J?~ .

..

~/~

Apache Plaza Dr. Mark J. Wiesman

~~ A.

3700 Silver Lake Rd. #-15F, St. Anthony, MN 55421 For Quality Veterinary Care ata Reasonable Price Call 540 Winnetka Ave. No. Valley, Mn 55427

~n

"lower Leve'"

Owners: Bruce & Connie Dellas (612) 593-0298 Open 7 Days a Week

lYlHS DELI

Remember to order your frozen rats and adult mice no later than 7:00pm the Thursday before the meeting. Call Bruce or Connie at 593-0298 to place your order for rats and rat pups, or call John or Toni at 537-0161 to place your order for adult mice, & bring containers also.

FRESH FROZEN ADULT MICE - $4.00 per dozen FRESH FROZEN RATS - JUMBO SIZE - $2.00 EACH FRESH FROZEN RAT PUPS - $4.00 PER DOZEN 5 roZEN PUPS or 6 ADULT RATS LIMIT! 3 DOZEN LIMIT ON ADULT MICE PER MEMBERSHIP DEAD HERPS ••. The Bell Museum would appreciate any dead animals that are currently taking up your valuable freezer space. These animals will be used for teaching and research. Contact John Moriarty at 624-0057 (days) or bring them to any M. H. S. month!y meeting.

vJANTED:

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CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: July 29 hatchling snakes: 8 Bull Snakes @ $12/ea. and 4 Fox Snakes @ $7/ ea. Also have 1 juvenile male Bull Snake (3yrs. old) at $12, and 2 male adult Bull Snakes - longtime captive - $5/ ea. To get yours at the Sept. meeting I please leave a recording for Toni Vangen at 537-0161.

FOR SALE: 10' Reticulated Python (0.0.1). Excellent condition, terrperament, and feeding habits. With or without a very nice large oak and glass cabinet including habitat. Moving - price negotiable. Contact Stuart Smith (507) 281-0269 PM. FOR SALE: A variety of Lizards, Snakes Arrphibians, plus rrore.

Reptiles at 922-6294.

Call

Don

at

ill's

FOR SALE or TRADE: California Kingsnake hatchlings - Albinos and Heterozygotes ~ striped, aberrant and banded phases. All have shed and are feeding.

Albinos$60~ Heteros $25 to $30. Contact Aaron Hampton at (715) 425-7565 or write to 1135 S. Fork Drive, River Falls, WI. 54022.

FOR SAlE: Forrest Hinged Tortoise, 1.1 adults, $15 ea. or $25 pair.

Both are eating and breeding. Will consider trades. Contact Craig Allman at (612) 780-3134 days.

FREE ADVERTISING in the nations leading herpetological classifieds.

Now FAUNA CLASSIFIEDS subscribers have free advertising with word ads up to 75+/- words.

Each ad is run one time, or send $2 for each additional rronth. FAUNA is nOVl loaded with rrore ads of all types of reptiles, amphibians, food items, and supplies.

Subscription rates: $12/year (12 rronthly issues). $22/2 years, and $30/3 years.

Publishing since April 1983 .

Write:: FAUNA, 1035 Middlefield Ave., Stockton, Calif. 95204. Far info call (209) 943-5212 Bill Gillingham.

FOR SALE:

MRS T-shirts are still only $7.00.

This has been the weather for one.

CAPTIVE BREEDERS路 IMPORTS路 WHOLESALE & RETAIL

3221 93RD DR. BLAINE, MN 55434

4637 Central A venue N. E. Columbia Heights, MN 55421

OWNERS: JOHN & RUTH MELTlER

(612) 780-8561

Phil Palan

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(612) 571-9031

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

BELL MUSEUM OF NAruRAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STRUT 5.£ .. MlNNEAPOUS, MINNESOTA 55455-1014

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND T-

ORDER FORM

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 C'-HJRCH STREET S.E. • MINNEAPOUS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104

NAME(S)_--'-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ADDRESS~

_______________________________________________________________________________

CITY______________________________________________ STATE________ ZIP_______________________ PHONE

INTERESTS~

___________________________________

DO YOU WISH THE ABOVE IN}<ORMATION LISTED IN THE MHS DIRECTORY TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP o NEW 0 RENEW SUSTAINING. ................ , ............ $50.00 CONTRIBUTING. .......................... $25.00 FAMILY ........... , ....................... $12.50

o o o o

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Admits all members of a family to monthly meetings INDIVIDUAL .............................. $10.00

DYES

DNO

OFFICIAL MHS T-SHIRT SO MO LO XLO $7.00 each includes postage PLEASE ENCLOSE PAYMENT WITH APPLICATION. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY. MEMBERSHIP IS FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF JOINING. YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR MEMBERSIDP CARD BY RETURN MAIL. A RECEIPT WILL BE SENT ONLY UPON REQUEST.