Vol. 8 (1988), No. 7

VOLUME VIII NUMBER 7

LO

s JULY NEWSLETTER AUGUST MEEI'ING

Friday, AUGUST 5, 1988 7:00 PM

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335, BORIAOO HALL

St. Paul Canpus , University of Minnesota The monthly MoH.S. meeting is back to the first Friday of the month, and, back to the old rreet.ing room in Borla.ug Hall until further notice. The August meeting will be on "Terryls t.alk on t.a.lks"o Terry Odegaa.rd will present. a program on the use of reptiles and amphibians in public present.ations. This talk will cover the types of animals, general informat.ion for the public, and other tricks of the trade Terry has been traveling allover the country present.ing talks t.O schools and civic groups for a number of years. He wi 11 bring along some examples of animals he uses for his programs Terry would like the talk to be an open discussion so that. a. good exchange of ideas can take place.

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The crit.ter of the rronth for August will be your LEAST favorite herp. This is that "friendly" critter th.at. likes to say "HI" by scratching or bit.ing the hand that feeds it.. This could be the herp with the rapid cage dirtying tec'hniques, or rrassi ve AND expensive food consumption, or any other unsavory or unmentionable habits. ~ING

M.R.S. PROGRAMS

The following is a list of planned speakers for future M.H.S. rneet.ings: SEPT. 2 - Dave Wiener ~ Husba.ndry of frogs and toads Oct. 7 - Aaron Hanpton; Husbandry and breeding of snakes Nov. 4 - Bill AlIeni The Sea Turtles of Tort.uguero Please rrark your calendar for these meetings. Any changes to the date wil be announced at tlle rronth.ly rreeting or in future newsletters.

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SNAKEBITE EMERGENCY

Minnesot.a Poison Control System 221-2113 (outst.ate-) 1-800-222-1222 Hennepin Regional Poison Cent.er (612) 347-3141

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

speaker

JULy SPEAKERS OF THE MONTH

M.R.S. members Dean BowrrBn, Bruce Del1es, Delvin Jones, John Moriarty, and Ann Porwoll gave the 87 merribers who attended the July meeting a brief run-down of what they saw and learned at the International Herpetological Symposium and the SSAR meetings they attended. Dean, Bruce, and Ann spoke first on the I.R. S. papers they were able to si t. in on, and some of the interest.ing things seen at_ the zoos and pri vat.e collections. Delvin and John spoke on the SSAR meeting they att.ended and explained tb.at this meeting differs from the I.R.S. in that it is nore into ecology and taxonomy.

REFRESHMENTS

The Cords and Therese Kelly supplied the August refreshments.

The Cords brought home made M & M coconut bars, and Therese Irede chocolate c:ookies with vani.l1a chips. Both were very good. I can It wait to see an M.R.S. goodies cocikbook from these families. Thanks for taking tbe time to bake tnese goodies up for M.B.S. in these hot SUImler days.

A note to other M.B.S. merribers, if you would like to help contribute refreshment.s, please sign-up on the refreshment list at each rronthly meeting. There is still plenty of rreetings where we c'Ould use your help. Or you can cont.act. Huth Meltzer (Refreshment. Comni ttee Chairperson) at 780-8561 to see what months are open.

M. B. S. PHaro CONTEsr

Due to the response from M.R.S. members wishing to keep the M.R.S. Photo Contest., the 1988 Photo Contest is again coming up. This is a reminder for everyone to get out and take some photos. The photos can be slides, prints, color or black and white. With the nice sumner we have been having, we hope to see several menibers entering this years contest. More det_ails on rules and guidelines will be in up coming newslettE路rs. GEl' OUT AND TAKE SOME PIcruRES!!

HELP A HAPLESS HERP

The Adoption Corrmi ttee was able to find good homes for a pair of Eastern Box t.urt_les, a fenBle Ornat.e Box turt.le, a connon green iguana, and an 11 ft. rrale Pytbon at the July meeting. Thanks to the Conmittee for your help in placing these anirrals every rronth!

M.B.S. OFFICERS PRES I DENr VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER NEWSLETTER EDITOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-lARGE MEMBER-AT-lARGE MEMBER-AT-lARGE

Ann Porwoll John Moriarty Kate Anderson Del Jones Torr. Schrni tz Bruce Delles Bruce Raig Aaron Ranpton John Mel t.zer

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

489-7853 647-1334 222-3500 938-8555 488-7619 374-5422 789-4637 425-7565 780-8561

CFJ.'l"l'ER OF THE

M:)NT.H

We had a great showing for the July "critter of ,the month" - your largest herp ..

There was some very interesting herps brought and some good imagination used in selecting the "largest" critter.. Thanks to the following ~.1Tlbers who brought their herps: Bruce Delles Steve Eckelaert Jim Gerholdt Aaron Hampton Becky Helgesen JoAnn James Dan Keyler Greg Kvanbek

Jeff LeClere Cliff Lindberg Ann Porwoll Jeff Ronne Jack Smit.hwick Zachary Strand Toni Vangen Jeannette & Maggy Zinggeler

The following is a list of herps shown: Tiger Salamanders Anbystcma tigrinus: Hellbenders C!yptobranchus alleganiensis: White's Treefrog Litoria caerulea; Alligator Snapping Turtle Macroclernys tennicki: W. Painted Turtle ChryseIl1Ys p. belli: Elongated Tortoise Geochelone elongatai Greek Tortoise Testudo graecai European Glass Lizard Ophisaurus A;podus: No.. Blue Tongue Skink Tiliqua Sill inte:rmedia: Water Monitor Varanus salvator: Ccmron Boa Boa constrictor: Anaconda Eunectes rnurinus ssp .. : Bunnese Python Python me bivitt.atus (ALBINO): Reticulated Python Python reticulatus i Carpet Python Python s.. variegata i Honduran Milksnake Lanpropeltis to hondurensisi So. Pine snake Pi tuophis m. mugitusi Bull snake Pituophis me sayi.

Thanks to everyone \lVho brought an anirral. I almost forgot the great presentation Toni gave us of her King Corba. Canus beeri ..

Was it enpty or full, and \lVhat terrperature do you keep it at?

FASIMAN NATURE CENTER REQUEST

Eastman Nature Center is an educational facility that offers herp classes to sChool children and the general public" Recently they gave their large Boa Constictor to the Minnesota ZtOOlab.. They are nON in need of tame and handleable snakes to use in their classes. They would prefer one or two native fox or black rat snakes..

If you have such an aninal you would be willing to donate to the Eastmm Nature Center, please call Lee Ann Landstran at (612) 420-4300, or write to Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Road, Osseo, MN 55369, Attn: Lee Ann Landstrom (Acting Outdoor Education Supervisor) ..

HCM DEEP IS DEEP

The following article is taken from the Tropical Fish Hobbyist, July, and sul::mitted by Dennis Daly ..

1988,

pe81,

How deep down can. a Sea Turtle dive When it decides to dive down deep? About 4,000 feet, according to researCher Scott Eckert of the University of Georgia (Bioscience, Nov . 1987).. Eckert recorded an individual Leatherback Dennochelys ooriacea turtle's way-down dive using a pressure sensitive device that was attached to the animal before it rrade the trip; one that exceeded the record dive reported years ago for the Sperm Whale by rrore than 200 feet. The big toothed Whale has long been considered to be the deepest-di ving air-breathing animal on earth.

HANDS-Q'f AT

COiv[}

ZOO

The July hands-on at Como Zoo was another successful one. We had lots of viewers and lots of displa.yers.

We noved the display outside this rronth between the primate house and the Sparky auditorium, due to the heat in the rrain building.

Thanks to the following who helped answer questi.ons and brought herps: Sue Blackburn Dean Bowrran Fred Bozvay Scott Cords Steve Eckelaert Jim Ellis JoAnn James The Jimerson Family Mark Kelly

Greg & Steve Lawrence Cliff Lindberg Naomi Miller John Sinon Jack Smithwick Teresa Spitzeriberger Lisa Van Dyke Mary Ann Waldorff David Wiener RAFFLE

THANKS to everyone who participated in the July raffle. We brought in $59.00! The following is a list of winners and their prizes: Jim Adams - L:Jr fish net; Fred Bosman - DNR Poster; Chase Delles - Cera~c turtle; Jim Ellis - Turtle ornament; Ji.m Gerholdt - Dinosaur; Nancy Haig - Microscope; JoAnn Jarres - Reptile Press-on Nails; Vence Jimerson - Alligator toy; Terese Kelly - Floating alligat_or drink holder; Jeff Ronne - 1 turtle & 1 lizard button; ~aggie Zinggeler - wood cage.

PHABULOUS PHENOLOGICAL PHINDS

Dennis Daly & RiCk Olson 7/4/88 - Big Wood Lake, Grantsburg WI 43 Western Painted Turtles, ChrySfl.lT!yS picta belli - Many rrore seen in lake.

5 Green Frogs, Rana clamitans 1 Camnon Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina - size 13" Above seen about 2:00pm, 92 degrees, clear skies

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SOMErHING TO CHEER ABOUT! pop 'mE CHAMPAGNE OORKS AND CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESS!!

Below is the Minnesota Herpetological Society grawtl1 chart.

Seven years and two nontl1s from its first rreeting date, we are now two hundred and one ( 201) menibers strong!

We have seen rrembers corne and go through the seven years, but of the origincl 26 members, (16 of these developed the l\l.H.S. Const.itution), 17 of those original are still with the society today.

Want. to talk t.o one of these "old-timers" who rrade this success happen? Stop Delvin Jones - our "Founding Father" - or Liz & Fred Bosman, Phillip Cochran, Connie & Bruce Delles, Pam & Jim Gerholdt, Van D. Gooch, Karl Herrrann, Ann Porwoll, Siah St. Clair, and Terry Odegaard. 11m sure they have a lot. of stories of M. H. S. good times and bad t.imes, a.s well as fut.ure ideas for this Society tbey woulc1 be willing to share with you. M. H • s. is ALIVE and GROWING! It rrakes one feel proud to be part of it!

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PICNIC, COMMITTEE NEWS M.. H.S. 1988 ANNUAL PICNIC - SUNDl\.Y, AUGU8r 21, 1988

AT PLYK>UIH LICNS PARK TIME IS 11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM

FJ1:1E :EVENT DlTURrLE & TORI'ISE RACES"

ALSO, VOILEY BALL - PLAYGROUND WJIPMmT - HIKING & BIKING TRAILS A CITY BEAm: IS WITHIN

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BLOCKS

GRILlS WILL BE SET UP; BRING YOUR CWN BBQ BRING A DESSERT OR SALAD TO SHARE WITH OTHERS M. H. S. WILL SUPPLY CORN ON THE COB AND MUNCHIES

CHAMPAGNE BREAKFASI' COME AND JOINl

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M)RNING 'ill 'lHOSE \VHO COME HELP HOLD OUR PICNIC

TAKE HWY 55 WEsr TO CO. RD 6, TO JUNEAU (2ND LEFT AFTER GOING pa.rk is on the intersection of Juneau and 14th.

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If you take 494, turn west on Hwy 55, go South on Fernbrocik (the first road after 494) Turn west on Co. Rd. 6 - SAME AS ABOVE. SEE MAP:

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MINNEAPOLIS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. 825 So. 8th St., Suite 504 . . . Minneapolis, MN 55404 • 612-347-8595 Pigmy Rattlesnake Envenomation Daniel E. Keyler Division of Toxicology, Department of Medicine Hennepin County Medical Center and Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation

On May 27, 1988, at Ridges Hospital Emergency Room in Burnsville, Minnesota, a 23-year-old male was seen for treatment of a bite from a southeastern pigmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbourO. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 P.M. while the victim was pushing the snake along the floor with a coat hanger. The 20-inch snake finally turned to bite and caught a single fang in the flesh at the base of the left thumb. Within 15 minutes of being bitten, the victim was seen in the Emergency Room. He began to tell of how he and a friend had been having some beers and getting ready to go to a party when the incident happened. He also said that it was his friend's rattlesnake. The hand had rapidly swollen up into the wrist area by the time of initial evaluation, and swelling appeared to be progressing up the forearm. The Emergency Room physician had put a tourniquet on the hand and packed it in ice, and the reco~endation to re move both tourniquet and ice, and begin antivenin therapy (Wyeth , Crotalidae polyvalent) was made. The patient was tested for sensitivity to horse serum and shortly following a negative skin test, an intravenous infusion of 5 vials of diluted antivenin was started. This dose was completely infused over 1 hour. Initial laboratory tests revealed no abnormalities. Over the next 30 minutes, swelling of the forearm was still progressing and pain was becoming severe. The' patient was transferred to the ICU and 5 more vials of diluted antivenin were started. An intramuscular injection of Demoral R was given for pain, but did not help so dilaudid was given with moderate effect. There were no adverse reactions to antivenin treatment. By 7:00 A.M. on the following morning, swelling appeared to have stopped, and other than a small drop in the platelet count, labora tory coagulation results were normal. The patient was transferred out of the ICU. The pain was still very intense and at approximately 18 hours after the bite, considerable swelling began creeping up into the biceps and shoulder area. The patient was then transferred back to the ICU and given 5 more vials of diluted antivenin. His pain was worsening and did not respond to any drugs thus far so intravenous morphine was given. Finally both swelling and pain responded to treatment. The following 24 hours were uneventful as swelling and pain subsided. The slight drop in platelets (244,000 to 193,000) was the only sign of systemic involvement. During the following two days the patient recovered with sloughing of skin at the bite site, some loss of touch .sensation, and reduced range of motion. On the fourth day of hospitalization, the patient was discharged.

Although pigmy rattlesnake bites are not likely to result in fatality, they are noted for their ability to cause severe tissue da mage and pain. This case does confirm those findings. Also, the use of a tourniquet and ice by the Emergency Room physician prior to consultation could have worsened the tissue damage at the site of the bite. It is important to note that antivenin administration is of potential value in reducing both tissue and nerve damage. Without the use of antivenin in this patient, more scarring, sloughing of tissue, and permanent dehabilition of the hand may have resulted. Thus, the use of antivenin therapy may be of benefit even in cases that are not life threatening.

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NEW MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEMBERS

Tom Anderson RR 4, Box 62 North Branch, MN (612) 462-3408

Michael Messersmith 5710 North Ruby Tacoma, WA 98407 (206) 752-0252

55056

Deborah and James Carlson 401 E. Burnsville Pkwy, Apt. 140 Burnsville, tiN 55337 (612) 895-9525

Naomi Miller 1296 Ford Parkway St. Paul, MN 55116 (612) 698-5400

Jane Eskelson 7515 Lyndale Ave. s. #12 Richfield, MN 55423 No Phone Given

Greg Munson 701 Silver Creek Road N.E. Rochester, MN 55904 (507) 281-6114

Marilyn, Eskelson 146 Noo Benton Avenue MN 55391 No Phone Gi ven

Lonnie Paulson 3131 Park Ave. So. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 823-7124

Colby I' Craig I' and Richard Griggs Route 3, Box 88 Cannon Falls, MN 55009 (507) 263-2462

Raymond Rainbolt 2338 Stinson Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55418 (612) 789-1032

Rich Heringlake P.O. Box 17013 St. Paul, MN 55117 (612) 488-7009

Teresa Spitzenberger 6427 84th Court Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 (612) 424-7767

Robert Kenyon 1757 Pepper Villa Drive El Cajon, CA 92021 (619) 448-6547

Karl Studenroth 5800 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 (904) 932-2229 Elinor Torat vei t Concordia College-Biology Dept Moorhead, MN 56560 (218) 299-3085

Greg Lawrence 440 County Road 10 Cambridge, MN 55008 (612) 689-4444 Steven Lawrence Route 1, Box 838 Cambridge, MN 55008 (612) 689-5394

Allan M. White 1432 12th Avenue N.E. Rochester, MN 55904 (507) 289-6821

Ray Link 2910 Rose Drive S.E. Rochester, MN 55904 (507) 288-9373

James J .. Williams 3326 Martha Lane Minnetonka, MN 55345 (612) 938-7020

Owen Maercks 2857 Cypress Street Oakland, CA 94608 (415) 465-5400

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EDITOR I S NOm: PLEASE SEND ALL NEVvSLE'Ir.f'ER ARTICLES AND CLASSIFIED ADS TO: Tan Schmitz, 850 W.. Minnehaha, St. Paul, MNe 55104, Attn: MRS Editor..

00 Nar send articles or ads to the MRS address.. The deadline for all Newsletter items is the 15th of the rronth! All Classified ads are run in th.e NBS Newsletter as a free service to the membership. No paid ads are accepted fraro non-members. No ads will be run for venorrous species" While MHS will not run ads for known sic..k or illegal animals, we accept no responsibility for the health or legality of any aninal advertised here. Please LI~rrT SIZE of ad to approx. four (4) lines.

Business cards make acceptable ads.

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DELI

Remenber: order frozen rats and rat pups no later than 7:00pn the M)NDAY before the meeting. Call Bruce or Connie at 593-0298 to place your order.

FRESH FROZEN RATS - JUNBO SIZE - $2.00 FACE FRESH FROZEN RA'r PUPS - $5.00 PER OOZEN 3 OOZEN PUPS or 6 ADULT RATS LIMIT! Largest Selection of Reptiles & Amphibians in Minnesota High Quality - Reasonable Prices - Personal Service Cages, Books, Feed & Supplies .

Ron HuHal<er

Owen Maercks

CITIES~~

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Mary Huffaker

East Bay Vivarium

'.:~.r.c~ ~~

(415) 465-5400 Largest selection of reptiles in the West

540 Winnetka Ave. No.

Golden Valley, Mn 55427 "Lower Level"

Owners: Bruce & Connie Dalles

(612) 593-0298

2857 Cypress St. M-F 11-7 S & Su 11-6 Oakland, CA 94608 " snakes • lizards .. turtles .. frogs .. tarantulas .. .. information It reptile supplies It

Open 7 Days a Week

FOR SALE/TRADE: 2 Red Ear Sliders Chrysemys S. elegans hatchlings; 1 hatchling Missouri Slider C. f. hoyi; hatchling Ouachita Map turtle G. p. ouachit.ensise $4 ea. or trade for fenBle Barking Treefrog BYla gratiosa o r ?

Call Dennis (612) 633-8370 6pm-10pm weeknights.

FOR SALE: Adult mice $5/doz.; Adult rat.s $2/e.a.; Moo. size short. hair guinea pigs $1. 50/ea. Call Vence or Nanette (612) 825-8035 evenings.

FOR SALE/TRADE: 1.0 ALBINO Cal. King, 0.1 Betro Cal. Ring - gcx:rl breeders, $160; Hatchling Desert Ring $35. Call Aaron Hampton (715) 425-7565; 1175 So. Fork Dr., River Falls, "'71 54022.

FOR SALE: 2ft_ Savannah Monit_or with cage $45; 2.2 Turquoise Toads 4"-5" $12 .. 50/eae; 1.0 Gold Marine Toad 6", $20; Central American Treefrog $8; 4" Chinese Treefrog $25; Central Arrerican Chubby Walking Treefrog $20; 7" Marine Toad $20; 3ea Chilian painted toads Red/White/Black colorat.ion $5/ea; Call David (612) 444-9775 AM Brs. CAPTIVE BREEDERS - IMPORTS - WHOLESALE & RETAIL

4056 Central Avenue N. £ Columbia Hetghts.. MN 55421

PETS & SUPPLIES 3221 93RD DR. BLAINE, MN 55434

OWNERS: JOHN & RUTH MELTZER

(612) 780-8561

PHil PALAN

(612) 781-0805

SOCIETY

BUt MUSEUM OF NAlURAt HISTORY JO CHURCH STREET 5.£ • MJNNEAPOUS, MINNESOTA 55455-1014

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,J i ITJ t·'1e.:s. d 211 (:1 ar'~~ 8tr'ee t Mankato, MN 56001

APPLICATION A

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T-SHIRT ORDER F

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.E • MINNEAPOUS, MINNESOTA 55455·0104

NAME(S) __________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS~

_______________________________________________

CITY_ _ _ _ _ _-.--_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _----,...,.--_ STATL-____ ZIP_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ PHONE

INTERESTS~

______________________________

DO YOU WISH THE ABOVE INl'ORMATION LISTED IN THE MHS DIRECTORY TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP 0 RENEW o NEW o SUSTAINING ............... , ...... , ....... $50.00 o CONTRIBUTING ........................... $25.00 o FAMILY... ...... ..... . ................ $12.50 Admits all members of a family to monthly meetings o INDIVIDUAL .......... ;I.: .. ............... $10.(10

7/86

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OFFICIAL MHS T-SHIRT SO MO LD XLD $7.00 each includes postage A,"-,,~.PLEASE

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ENCLOSE PAYMENT WITH APPLICATION. MAKE CHECK ....

- -PAYABLE TO MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY. MEMBERSH IS FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF JOINING. YOU WILL RECED YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD BY RETURN MAIL. A '~CEIPT WILL BE S] ONLY UPON R E Q U E S T . : : ,.