Vol. 9 (1989), No. 5

VOWME IX

NUMBER 5

PE OLOGICAL SOCIETY MAY NEWSLETTER

JUNE MEETING

DATE: Friday, June 2, 1989 TIME: 7:00 PM

PlACE:

335 :2Drlaug Hall St. Paul Campus

University of Minnesota

PROGRAM: Getting Ready for the 1989 Field Season SPEAKER: John Moriarty John Moriarty of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Non-game Wildlife Program will talk about the DNR herp proj ects planned for this year.

Some of the projects include Cricket frogs, Massasaugas, skinks, Snapping turtles, and Blanding's turtles. Methods for locating and studying these species will be explained.

John will also discuss the state laws effecting the collecting of herps and places where herps can be found. MHS members are wanted to help collect information for the Minnesota DNR and the Wisconsin Herp Atlas. Details on how to help will be covered in John's talk.

CRI'ITER OF THE MJNTH: Minnesota herps or herps you collected yourself, or better yet, a Minnesota herp you collected yourself.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS: The following programs are being planned. More information will be available in future newsletters.

John Meltzer - Maintaining Large Herp Collections Jim Gerholdt - Aruba Island Herpetofauna - Herp Medicine / Mini Wet lab Rich Funk

BELL MUSEUM OF,NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.E.

f/I

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS The program at the May meeting was entitled "Old Velvet Tail" and was presented by MP~ members Dan Keyler and Barney Oldfield. In 1988, Dan and Barney received a grant from the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences to stuqy the Timber Rattlesnakes of Western Wisconsin. rerney began by reminicing about how he first became interested in snakes.

If you weren't at the meeting ask him about it sometime. The title "Old Velvet Tail" comes from a name for Timber Rattlesnakes commonly used by old timers.

The snakes usually have a black, velvety-looking tail. In the first part of the program Barney gave a comprehensive discussion of the natural history of the Timber Rattlesnake. He covered everything from the taxonomic origin of the Latin name Crotalus Horridus to current theories on the development of the rattle. In between he talked about important anatomical features of the rattlesnake, the geographic distribution of the species, commonly eaten foods, the method by which it catches its prey and reproductive aspects of the Timber Rattlesnake.

In the second part of the program Dan discussed the stuqy they conducted. The purpose was to update the data on the distribution and size of the population of Timber Rattlesnakes in Western Wisconsin. There had been no documentation on this since the 1960's and there was speculation that both the distribution and size of the population had decreased due to increasing development in areas the snakes had been known to occupy. The counties surveyed were st. Croix, Dunn, Pierce, Pepin, Buffalo, Trempealeau, and La Crosse. They were out the equivalent of 20 field days or 136 field hours, drove 4000 miles, took 42 surveys, visited 16 sites, and found 25 snakes. Surveys were conducted between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM. The most snakes found on one day was 5 snakes within a 6 foot area on one rock. Old historical and museum records show that in the past as many as 99 snakes were killed in a single site in one day, indicating previously large populations. In this stuqy snakes were found on only 3&% of the field days.

Biological data was collected on 18 specimens. The mean boqy temperature was 30 C, average substrate temperature was 29.6 C, and average air temperature was 26 C. The average weight of snakes collected was about 1 kg. (about 2.5 Ibs.) and the largest snake collected was 132 cm. (about 4 feet) long. Dan then described and showed (with the use of slides) some of the sites on which snakes were found as well as a number of the snakes found.

Conclusions from this study were the following. Around the turn of the century Timber Rattlesnakes were found farther inland from the Mississippi River and farther north into St. Croix County than the present. Many inland sites have undergone extensive agricultural development. In this study the farthest inland a snake was found was about 17 km. from the MissiSSippi River. As compared to the 1960's the snakes are still located over about the same distribution north and south. The population is now considerably smaller. Most of the land with bluffs that have den sites is being sold for people to build houses on. The protection of habitat is becoming increasingly important to ensure the survival of the Timber Rattlesnake.

This presentation was accompanied by many excellent slides. In addtion, the speakers had arranged for Jim Gerholdt to bring along 3 Timber Rattlesnakes in safe display cages.

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REFERENCES: Brown, 'Wm. S. "Hidden Life of the Timber Rattler." National Geographic, July 1987, pp. 128-138.

Klauber, L.M. 1972. Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. 2nd ed. Univ. of California Press.

CRITTER OF THE MONTH The May critter was hot herps. This brought out a small but interesting group of animals. Of course, there were the Timber Rattlesnakes brought for the program. 'rhere was also a Water Mocassin, an Eyelash Viper, and an African Bush Viper. Then there were the "educational" critters. These are the ones not commonly thought of as venomous but brought to teach us a thing or two. This included 2 Western Hognose Snakes and a Ringneck Snake. Both of these have a sub-lethal toxin and are rear-fanged. It was surprising that no one brought a Fire Bellied Newt or a toad. The animals were brought by Kris Anton, Toni Jesmer, John Moriarty, Dale Sayler, and Brint Spencer.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RAFFLE Lately, it seems like t&1S members have been outdoing themselves with the large number of items for the monthly raffle. May's raffle was another good one. Items donated included a 29 gal. aquarium with cover, a 10 gal. aquarium, a large ceramic bowl, a small plastic bowl, 2 rodent cages, a rodent water bottle, a container of meal worms, 20 lbs. of rat chow, 2 sets of Aruba Island Rattlesnake stamps, 4 tickets to the Midwest Pet Fair, and a book entitled "The Lizards and Turtles of Iowa". These fabulous prizes were won by Ray Rainbolt, Kris Anton, Jim Adams, Nina Katayama, Nathan Earl, Bruce Haig, Arm Porwoll, Jack Walsh, Marty Bjerke, Nancy Haig, Jeff Hering, and Karl Hermann.

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RATTIESNAKE IDUNTY BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR The bill to remove the bounty on rattlesnakes in Minnesota was signed by Governor Perpich on Tuesday, May 9th. The bill will go into effect on August 1.

The bill had earlier passed the house with a 125 to 4 vote and the senate 47 to 19. These are ve~ positive votes for any bill. The legislators who voted against the bill are: Representives: Steve Dille - Meeker (21A)* Sidney Pauley - S. Hennepin (42A)** Senators: Betty: Adkins - Carver (22) Tracy Beckman - Martin/Faribault (29) Charlie Berg - Stevens/Big Stone (11) Ronald Dicklich - St. Louis (5 ) Doug Johnson - Cook/Lake (6) Donald Moe - St. Paul (65) ** Gen Olson - W. Hennepin (43) ** Ember Reichgott - Hennepin (46)** Robert Schmitz - Scott (36)** Jim Vickerman - Nobles/Jackson (28)

He~

Kalis - Martin (29A) Loren Solberg - Itasca (3B)

Don Anderson - Wadena/Todd (12) Duane Benson - OlmstedA~ower (32) John Brandl - Minneapolis (62)** Mel Frederick - Steele (30) Cal Larson - Ottertail (10) Steve Novak - Ramsey/Anoka (52) ** James Pehler - Stearns (17) Earl Renneke - Sibley/ McLeod (35) Donald Storm - Minneapolis (42)** * district and county ** within the metro area

Of the 23 legislators who voted against the bill, only 1 is within the range of the rattlesnake. If any of these legislators are in your district maybe you should let them know of your disappointment with their. Most really do listen to constituents who take time to contact them.

MHS IDARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER

NEWSIEITER EDITOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE

John Moriarty Aaron Hampton Kate Anderson Gloria Anton Jo Anne Wetherell-Moriarty Fred Bosman Scott Cords Bruce Haig Cliff Undberg

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

647-1334 425-7565 222-3500 420-2603 647-1334 476-0306 757-9759 789-4637 572-883Lt

COMMI'ITEE REFORTS Becky Helgeson volunteered to be the inventory control person. The main ' responsibility will be to keep an inventory of all patches, buttons, Tshirts and other sale items. She will also draw up a list of all MHS possessions and where thet are stored. Tr~s is a big big job and Becky's taking it on is greatly appreciated. liz Bosman has agreed to co-chair the Picnic Corrnni ttee but she requests some help. Anyone interested should contact Liz. A Photography Contest chairperson is still needed. This involves selecting the categories for the contest, lining up the judges, collecting entries, and coordinating the judging. John Moriarty has chaired this committee in the past. See him for more information.

A Society Historian'is also needed. This person would organize the society's scrapbook and gather information on past and present MHS activities. The Midwest Herpetological Symposium in 1990 will be held in Minnesota and coincides with the tenth anniversary of the founding of MHS. It would be nice to have an organized history of the society at that time.

The Adoption Committee has developed a new set of guidelines for adoptions.

These guidelines appear in this newsletter. Alternates are needed for the Adoption Committee.' Alternates would fill in when members are absent or wish to put in for adoption of an animal. In the latter case the member will withdraw from all adoption decisions made at that meeting. Please see Fred Bosman if you want to know more about these positions.

PHANTASTIC PHENOIDGICAL PHINDS John Moriarty May 3-4, 1989 - M[nn., Pipestone Co. S Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) lincoln Co. 1 shell of dead Blanding's turtle John Meltzer Approx. April 30; 1989 - Minn., Sherburne Co., Orrock lake 1 Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) completely melanistic

REFRESHMENTS

Liz Bosman provided a variety of ice cream treats as refreshments at the May meeting. What will we do when you don't work for the big G anymore?

Thank you for your generosity Liz.

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MHS ADOPTION COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES The purpose of the Adoption Committee is to provide adequate housing for an animal which would otherwise be given away, sold, or destroyed. It is not the intention of the committee to increase breeding collections, or to favor any individual.

Animals are placed by the committee using their knowledge of the individual and the type of animal up for adoption. (It will always help to give the committee as much information as possie on the adoption application).

Guidelines for the adoption of animals are: 1. To have and provide adequate food and shelter for the animal.

2. To have experience with the species up for adoption or related species.

3. To have the same species of the opposite sex.

4. To have previously bred this species, or a related species.

All animal adoptions are up to the discretion of the committee.

All adopted animals are to remain the property of MHS for no less than 5 years, at which time the animal becomes the property of the adopter.

Only current members of MRS are eligible to adopt animals.

If a person caring for an animal does not renew their membership, or drops out of the society, the animal must be returned to MHS for readoption unless the person has had the.animal for more than 5 years.

If a person lets their membership laps for 3 months then a member of the adoption corrmittee will contact them for the return of the animal. If they wish to keep the animal they must renew their membership and reapply for the adoption of the animal, with the rest of the membership.

If an animal dies while under the 5 year care period then the Adoption Committee must be notified. The committee can request the return of the animal or the performance of a necropsy_ AIOPrIONS: HELP A HAPLESS HERP Adopted out at the May meeting were a 2" Spiny Soft shell Turtle by Jason Voiovich, a Spectacled Caimen by the North Dakota State University Biology Department, a Red tail Boa by Fred and Liz Bosman, and a Common Boa by John Meltzer.

At the June meeting there are.tentatively up for adoption a 3 ft. Common Green Iguana and 2 Diamondback Terrapins.

MRS DONATION POLICY The MHS board discussed and approved a new policy for the contributions to herp related conservation and research projects. t~ may donate up to $500.00 per year (depending on finances) towards worthwhile projects. The contributions will be limited to $50.00 per project, unless voted on by the ful~ membership.

Projects within Minnesota will recieve 70% of the money, while projects outside of Minnesota will recieve 30% of the money. Anyone with a project of interest should send a letter of information to MRS.

MAY BOARD MEETING The meeting was called to order at 7=30 pm at the home of John Moriarty.

Members present were Kate Anderson, Gloria Anton, Fred and Liz Bosman, Scott Cords, Bruce and Nancy Haig, Aaron Hampton, Cliff Lindberg, John Moriarty, and Jo Anne Wetherell-Moriarty. Attendance at the meeting the night before was 104.

John called for the minutes of the last board meeting from the secretary and her response was "Huh?" In the future, this will be part of the meeting. The treasurer was better prepared and her report was approved. It was decided to change to a bank where we might avoid monthly service charges and enjoy the convenience of having more branch offices. The mileage charge was changed from 15¢ to 20¢ per mile.

Because we often receive requests for donations and have never had a written spending policy to guide us, Kate presented a policy statement which was discussed, amended and approved and will appear elsewhere in this issue.

The Mirmesota Zoo is once again inviting organizations to display themselves at Conservation Days, June 24-25. We have been invited and it was decided to participate. More brochures are needed and an order for 1500 was approved.

Plans for the 1990 Midwest Herp Symposium are well underway, and meetings are scheduled with the zoo, Bell Museum, and hot~ilis. We will be needing people to help with several committees: hospitality, programming, and publicity. other committee chairs or co-chairs are needed for Photo contest and Picnic.

Summer programs were discussed; possible speakers being John Meltzer, Richard The policy of paying $50.00 per program and $50.00 maximum for travelling expenses was reaffirmed. Several comments were then made about MHS women. Eat your hearts out!

Funk, and Jim Gerholdt.

The adoptions Committee has recieved more complaints. After much discussion, it was decided to write a formal policy statement covering these procedures.

Hopefully, this will clarify the intent of the committee and the the society on this matter.

Nancy presented a letter to be sent to the local Humane Societies which was approved.

We wich to work with them as well as we can.

A money-making project was presented by Kate. The upcoming symposium will bring expenses that cannot be met within our general operating budget. Sarina Brewer's winning illustration will be printed on note cards for sale by the members and the Display Committee. These cards will also be taken to the International Symposium in Phoenix and the Midwest in St. Louis. They should be ready by the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 pm for snacks and the arrival of Bruce Delles.

Good timing, Bruce!

May I add in closing that this group of people, your board members, are remarkable.

They are willing to share their ideas and opinions freely, and also listen to those of others. This short synopsis of a three hour meeting necessitated leaving out so much conservation, some serious and some not. You are all well-represented.

7

rooK REVIEW

Rattlers and Rattler Hunters by Stan Hess. 1980. Published privately by the author, 112pp. paperbound. price unknown This privately published book covers many topics about rattlesnakes and the snake hunting fraternity. The book is arranged in 10 chapters. They are: Chapter One: "The Deadly Ones" This is an introductory chapter which covers distribution, natural history and biology of rattlesnakes as a whole; Chapter Two: "Hunters and Their Collecting Methods" is interviews with snake hunters from Permsylvania and Iowa to Texas and Florida. The are many stories of hunts and snakebites. This chapter is well illustrated with various snake hunters and their quarry. Chapter Three: "Rattler Roundups" lists the major roundups in the U. S. Chapter Four: "First Aid and Snakebite" gives information (and some misinformation) on treatments and precautions.

Chapter Five: "Keeping 'Them in Captivity" deals with the keeping of rattlesnakes.

'There are many quotes from the rattler hunters about keeping large quantities of snakes. Chapter Six: "Rattlesnake Recipes" is pretty self-explanitory. Most of the recipes include corn meal and deep frying. Chapter Seven: "Rattlers" includes species accounts and photos for 25 species or subspecies of rattlers.

Chapter 8: "Copperheads, Cottonmouths and Corals" provides short species accounts on the other venomous snakes found in the U.S. Chapter 9: "Facts and Fictions" explains or disclaims many misbeliefs about rattlesnakes. Chapter Ten: "In Balance with Nature" discusses the conservation and protection of rattlesnakes plus other species.

This book has a lot of interesting information on rattlesnakes and the people who hunt. At first I thouhgt the book would be very one-sided with "good old boy" misinformation. I was wrong. 'There are many statements from the good old boys, but much of their information is very accurate and shows a true respect and concern for rattlesnakes.

I would reccommend this book for anyone interested in rattlesnakes. 'The one problem is that I have only seen one copy and have not been able to locate a source for any other copies.

John Moriarty Editor's Note: When John brought this book home I'm sure he never expected me to be interested in it. Although I agree that rattlesnakes are very interesting animals, snakes are just not my thing. However, the book lp,id on the coffee table for a while and the picture on the cover just caught my attention. . I picked it up and spent the next two nights reading it. 'The stories told by the hunters were the part I found most interesting. Needless to say, I got John interested in reading the book and convinced him to write a review of it. He found it interesting enough to add it to his personal collection.

PERMI'S$ION \S HEl<E(:5y GRANTED TO REPRODUCE.

WHER.e,IER AND

WHaJev~ NEEDED,

.A"lD/OR PUBLISH 7J.IIS C4R1'OON IN nlE INTER,.EST OF REPTILE

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CONsER.VAnON

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NEW AND FDRTHCOMING rooKS 1989 is starting out to be another good year for important herp books. The first 4 books on the list have been awaited for several years â&#x20AC;˘. The one problem with new books is the new book prices. The average price for these books is about $50.00. Most of these books will probably be in the MHS library by the end of the year.

Snakes of Eastern North America by Carl Ernst and Roger Barbour 1989 Publisher: George Mason University Press Price : 62.50 4720 - A Boston Way lanham, MD 20706 Turtles of the World by Carl Ernst and Roger Barbour 1989 Publisher: Smithsonian Institute Press (See notice elsewhere in this newsletter) Venomous Reptiles of Latin America by Jonathon Campbell and William Lamar 1989 Publisher: Cornell University Press Price: 59.50 Ithaca, NY Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex by Howard Gloyd and Roger Conant Sept. 1989 Publisher: SSAR (See notice elsewhere in this newsletter) Contributions to the History of Herpetology by Kraig Adler, John Applegrarth, and Ronald Altig Sept. 1989 Publisher: SSAR (See notice elsewhere in this newsletter) Salamanders of Ohio by Ralph Pfingsten and Floyd Downs 1989 Publisher: Ohio Biological Survey Price: 30.00 484 W. 12th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210

The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Announces Two New Books To Be Published in Fall 1989 to COmlnemorate the First World Congress of Herpetology

SNAKES OF THE AGKISTRODON COMPLEX by the late Howard K. Gloyd and Roger Conant THIS LONG-A WAITED WORK is the first monographic treatment of the poisonous snakes originally included in the genus Agkistrodon but now placed in four genera: Agkistrodon of Asia and America, Calloselasma of Southeast Asia and Java, Deinagkistrodon of China, and Hypnale of India and Sri Lanka. In all, 33 taxa are covered. For each taxon there is a chresonymy, followed by sections entitled Type Locality, Vernacular Names, Definition and Diagnosis, Scutellation, Hemipenis, Coloration and Pattern, Form and Size, Distribution, Specimens Examined, Natural History and 'Ecology.

The book is extensively illustrated, with a color frontispiece (from a watercolor by David M. Dennis), 32 color plates (247 separate photographs of animals and their habitats), 20 black and white plates (of skin patterns, heads, and entire animals), 60 text figures, and 28 maps showing distribution. There are also 14 tables and 6 charts.

The authors of the main text have been two of America's most respected authorities on snakes for over half a century. The late Dr. Gloyd, former Director of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, was the author of liThe Rattlesnakes, Genera Sistrurus and Crotalus ," one of the landmark books in American herpetology. Dr. Conant, former Director of the Philadelphia Zoo, is the author of. the best-selling "Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America," in the Peterson series.

The authors began their project to monograph the genus Agkistrodon in 1929 and since that time have published numerous papers on these snakes.

This book represents the culmination of decades of detailed study of more than 6200 specimens, field work by the authors in many parts of the range of these snakes, and the synthesis of everything that is known about their systematics and natural history.

Their text includes a comprehensive bibliography of nearly 2000 titles.

This book is also packed with discussions of general interest, including the following: • The Cantil, Agkistrodon bilineatus, which survives through a severe annual season of drought by aestivating, and should not be called the Mexican "water" moccasin. On the opposite side of the world the Malayan Pit Viper, Calloselasma rhodostoma, endures a similar quiescent period, and occurs only in regions that have an annual dry season of a month or more. ' • Vipers, esteemed as "medicine" in the Orient, are believed to cure a variety of ailments ranging

from impotence to serious diseases. A favorite way to obtain the greatest benefit is to kill a snake, remove the gall bladder, and swallow it at once with a glass of rice wine.

• The Himalayan Pit Viper, Agkistrodon himalayanus, has been reported from 16,000 feet (4877 m), probably the highest elevation ever recorded for a snake.

• A full dozen taxa of pit vipers, including subspecies, was swept for decades into a taxonomic "wastebasket," labelled Agkistrodon halys. The Asian snakes of the genus Agkistrodon are much smaller, in both length and bulk, than the American copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix.

• Special essays included are "The Mamushi Industry in Japan" by Richard C. Goris and "American Copperhead in History, Folklore, and Religion" by Roger Conant.

Supplementing this main text are n i n e ancillary chapters, each written by the leading specialists on various topics of relevance: • Ritualized Behavior in Agkistrodon and Allied Genera, by Charles C. Carpenter and James C. Gillingham ~ Chromosomes of Agkistrodon and Other Viperid Snakes, by Charles J. Cole • The Fossil History of the Genus Agkistrodon in North America, by Roger Conant • The Pale arctic Species of Agkistrodon, by the late Howard K. Gloyd • An Updating of the Literature on Venoms and Envenomation in Agkistrodon and Its Allies, by David L. Hardy • General Skull, Bone, and Muscle Variation in Agkistrodon and Related Genera, by Kenneth V. Kardong • A Review and Comparison of Hemipenial Structure in the Genus Agkistrodon (sensu lato), by Edmond V. Malnate • Immunologic Relationships in Agkistrodon and Related Genera, by Sherman A. Minton • Pleistocene Forests and Copperheads in the Eastern United States, and the Historical Biogeography of New World Agkistrodon, by Thomas R. VanDevender and Roger Conant The book is about 550 pages (8.5 x 11 inches or 21.5 x 28 cm) and is bound in library-grade buckram cloth. A complete list of the book's contents and a specimen color plate are given in the March 1989 issue of Herpetological Review; copies of that ad are available on request from the Publications Secretary. There is an order blank on the next page.

SOCIETY· FOR • THE • STUDY " OF " AMPHIBIANS • AND " REPTILES

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CONrl~RIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF HERPETOLOGY ,

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by Kraig Adler, John S. Applegarth, and Ronald Altig The coverage is comprehensive, including: • Geographic areas such as the USA (Cochran, Garman, Girard, Harlan, Holbrook, James Peters, Pope, Rafinesque, Say, Edward Taylor), Australia (Glauert, Kinghorn, Krefft, Mitchell, Waite), and Africa (Anderson, Bocage, Vivian FitzSimons, Hewitt, Loveridge, Pitman, Andrew Smith, Villiers).

• Experts on taxonomic groups such as frogs (Liu, Miranda Ribeiro, Okada), salamanders (Bishop, Dunn, Sato), turtles (Carr, Deraniyagala, Medem, Schopf, Siebenrock), and snakes (do Amaral, Blanchard, Gloyd, Hoge, Jan, Maki, Oshima, Russell, Wall).

The second section, by John S. Applegarth, is an index of over 2400 authors in taxonomic herpetology, an unique reference for researchers, librarians, and historians. Included is everyone who has ever proposed a new taxon within the living families of amphibians and reptiles, as well as persons who were honored by such taxa and who authored at least one contribution to herpetology.

Authors are identified by their full names, exact dates of birth (and, if applicable, death), countries of residence, and the taxonomic orders in which they proposed new names.

The third section, by Ronald AUig, is a listing of herpetologists giving the names of their university and major professor, and the date of their " doctoral degree. The information is arranged in such a manner that the academic lineages of herpetologists can be followed from generation to generation. 1300 names are included and indexed.

The book is about 200 pages long (8.5 x 11 inches or 21.5 x 28 cm) and is bound in library-grade buckram cloth. There is a color frontispiece and 150 photographs. A sample account is printed in the March 1989 issue of Herpetological Review; copies are available on request from the Publications Secretary.

THIS BOOK consists of three separate sections, each of them worldwide in coverage and including herpetologists of both past and present. The first and longest section, by Kraig Adler, is a series of detailed biographies of the leading contributors to herpetology--each complete with a portrait, signature, and references to other biographical information-followed by an extensive bibliography of historical works in herpetology.

These biographies feature 150 persons, but also include information about their colleagues and students, so that the effective coverage is more than 500 individuals. A wide range of persons is included, from gifted amateurs sometimes having no formal education at all to the most distinguished and influential people of their day. Biographies are arranged chronologically so that the development of the field of herpetology can be visualized. There is a comprehensive index.

The 150 biographies include these 100 persons: Leading herpetologists such as Boulenger, Cope, Daudin, the Dumerils, Fitzinger, Merrem, Mertens, Noble, Wilhelm Peters, Schlegel, Schmidt, Stejneger, Strauch, Wagler, and Werner.

• Great naturalists who dabbled in herpetology: Agassiz, Cuvier, Gessner, and Linnaeus.

• The explorers Espada, Maximilian zu Wied, Spix, and Tschudi.

• Collection builders Baird, Barbour, Boettger, Gray, Giinther, Logier, Seba, and Van Denburgh.

The popularizers Ditmars, Kauffeld, and Vogel, the terrarist Klingelhoffer, and serious amateurs Klauber and Malcolm Smith.

• Authors of herpetological textbooks (Goin, Terentjev), prominent teachers (Boring, Gaige, Myers, Ruthven, Wright), anatomists (Baur, Bojanus, Camp, Haas, Alfred S. Romer), and ecologists (Blair, Cowles, Tinkle).

• The artists Roesel von Rosenhof and Sordelli. €I

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PRICES & ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS. Books can be obtained from the Publications Secretary, Robert D. Aldridge, Department of Biology, St. Louis ,University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, USA. Make check payable to "SSAR"; receipt sent on request. Prices include shipping charges (book rate) within USA; overseas orders will be billed only for the additional costs in excess of domestic rates. Publications sent at customer's risk; however, packages can be insured at cost. Overseas customers must make payment in USA funds, by International Money Order, or by MasterCard or VISA (give account number and expiration date).

• GLOYD & CONANT: SNAKES OF THE AGKISTRODON COMPLEX

( ) Prepublication price to SSAR members if ordered before 1 July 1989~ .................................. $60 ( ) Price to Institutions, Non-members, and to all purchasers after 1 July 1989 ............................ $75 • ADLER ET AL.: HISTORY OF HERPETOLOGY

( ) Prepublication price to SSAR members if ordered before 1 July 1989 ................................... $15 ( ) Price to Institutions, Non-members, and to all purchasers after 1 July 1989 ............................ $20 Both books will be published in Fall, 1989. The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles publishes Journal of Herpetology, Herpetological Review, Facsimile Reprints in Herpetology, Herpetological Circulars, . Contributions to Herpetology (monographs), and Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Pricelist of publications and information on Society membership are available on request from Dr. Aldridge. ,

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Mother Doesn't Want a Dog Turtles of the World Carl H. Ernst and Roger W. Barbour This is the first modern reference book on turtles sum1 marizing the classification of all 257 turtle species. The authors provide clear descriptions and keys for turtle identification written in a form useful to both scientists and the interested general reader.

The data are presented in a logical and systematic order.

The introductory chapter includes a description and illustrations of turtle anatomy, a discussion of turtle origins, and keys to the various families of turtles. Following chapters treat each family separately with keys to genera and species.

These more specific sections include keys to the lower taxa, karotype descriptions, sections on recognition of the taxon and its distribution (where necessary, the information includes geographic variation). Sections on habitat discuss the available ecological information, and a chapter on natural history analyzes feeding habits and reproductive issues.

The decline of turtle populations throughout the world receives considerable attention in this book. Over-collecting (partially a consequence of the pet trade), killing for food, environmental poisoning through insecticides and herbicides, and habitat destruction all contribute to this decline. The authors pinpoint areas where further research is necessary and offer suggestions for immediate action. Turtles of the Wodd provides essential biological information for herpetologists and wildlife biologists concerned with turtle conservation.

Dr. Carl H. Ernst has been involved in research on the ecology and taxonomy of turtles for over 30 years. His previous book Turtles of the United States (also with Dr. Roger W. Barbour) won the Wildlife Society's prestigious "Wildlife Publication of the Year" award in 1973. Dr. Ernst is currently a professor of biology and director of the doctoral program in Environmental Biology/Public Policy at George Mason University. He received his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Roger W. Barbouris a professor emeritus at the University of Kentucky, where he retired in 1984. He has published several books, including Bats of America (University Press of Kentucky). Dr. Barbour received his Ph.D. from Cornell University.

50 color, 143 b&w illus., 5 tables, 21 line drawings 8V2 x 11 290 pp. LC 88-29727 Cloth: 0-87474-414-8H $45.00r June 1989

13

Mother doesn't want a dog, Mother says they smell, And never sit when you say sit, Or even when you yell.

And when you come home late at night, And there is ice and snow, You have to go back out because, The durnb dog has to go.

Mother doesn't want a dog, Mother says they shed, And always let the strangers in, And bark at friends instead, And do disgraceful things on rugs, And track mud on the floor, And crawl upon your bed at night, And snore their doggy snore.

Mother doesn't want a dog, She's making a mistake.

Because more than a dog, I think She will not want this snake.

HERPING HERE AND THERE TIlls is a new and, hopefully, semi-regular feature. The purpose is to keep :MRS members informed of herp happenings and to let them know about articles of interest in magazines and other newsletters. If there are any good television programs coming up this might be included as well. If you come across anything that you think might be of interest to your fellow members please send a brief summary or a photocopy to the Newsletter Editor.

Congratulations to :MRS member A.B. Sheldon for his recent article on Five Lined Skinks in the Michigan Conservation Magazine. We are trying to get a copy of this magazine. If anyone has one that they would be willing to share please bring it to a meeting.

Congratulations to the Arizona Herpetological Association on their 20th anniversary. Currently A.H.A. has about 300 active members. The Association of Reptile Keepers (ARK) out of Vancouver, B.C. recently began producing their newsletter on an Apple MacIntosh computer. It looks really nice. Maybe :MRS will be lucky enough to also do this in the near future. Tucson Herp Society recently had Sherman and Madge Minton as speakers at a meeting. The topic was Sea Snakes. A transcript of the talk was printed in their April newsletter.

Bay Area Amphibian and Reptile Society (BAARS) reprinted John Meltzer's article " Feeding Techniques for Finicky Snakes" in the April issue of "Behind BAARS". The newsletter of the Iowa Herp Society had an interesting article

by Allen Anderson on the Alligator Snapping Turtle. It went into general ecology and biology as well as the decline in population size. Greater Cincinnati Herp Society newsletter, "The Forked Tongue", had in its April issue a summary of a talk "Captive Care and Maintenance of Snakes and Lizards". It contained information on selection, acquisition, caging, feeding, equipment, and record keeping. The March issue of "Notes From Noah" had a summary of their January program on Captive Care and Propagation of Snakes and Geckos.

The newsletter of the New York Herp Society had an interesting article entitled "Our Next Domestic Animal". It was written by Romulus Whi ttacker , an Fao consultant on Crocodile farming. If you enjoyed Jeff Lang's talk on his crocodile project in India you'll find this article of interest. It provides more information on Project Crocodile - the Madras Crocodile Bank is part of this project - and he goes on to speculate about the future of the skin trade.

A new issue of the "Journal of Herpetology" recently arrived. This is an excellent periodical produced by the Society for the StuQy of Amphibians and Reptiles. The journal includes numerous articles on distribution, behavior, reproduction, and other aspects of biology and ecology of amphibians andreptlles.

If you think you have unusual eating habits, the Arizona Herp Society newsletter (April) had an account of a Diamondback Rattlesnake found on the road at night eating a huge road-killed toad. The "Bulletin of the Maryland Herp Society" had a note about Eastern Hognose Snakes eating Spotted Salamanders. This was reported once before in Arkansas. According to the newsletter of the North Texas Herp Society (April) there is a bill in the Texas legislature to regulate the keeping of wild animals including amphibians and reptiles. If the bill is passed some animals will not be allowed while others will require a permit costing $100. NTHS has activated to fight this bill. Also in the NTHS newsletter is an interesting article about two NTHS members who posed as rattlesnake hunters - and took part in the rattlesnake round-ups for the purpose of spying. Twice they reported to the Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife the violation of a law requiring a hunting license to collect snakes. These reports were ignored. NTHS is requesting that their members write their legislators to have the hunts stopped. All newsletters mentioned are available in the MRS library.

HERPETOLOGICAL EXPEDITION The Massachusetts Audubon Society is offering a Herpetological Expedition to Austrailia, Sept. 21 to Oct. 5, 1989. The program is designed to the follow the World Herpetological Congress, but anyone can participate.

This trip is designed for' herpetologists by herpetologists'. It will be led by the curator of the Queensland Museum and has an extensive itinerary. Complete details will be available at the June Meeting or Call: 1-800-289-9504.

HERPETOLOGY CIASS OFFERED Once again this summer the Universi ty of Mirmesota is offering a herpetology class. The class ti tIe is Ecology of Amphibians and Reptiles. It will be taught at the Itasca Biological Station by Dr. Jeff lang on July 22 - Aug. 2.. For ~ore information contact: Itasca Biology Program, 305 Zoology Bldg., UnlVerslty of Mirmesota, 318 Church St. S.E., Mirmeapolis, ~1lN 55455.

CLASSIFIED ADS MRS DELI: Order frozen rats and rat pups no later than 7:00 PM the Monday before the meeting. Call Bruce at 593-0298 to place an order.

Fresh frozen rats - $2.00 each Fresh frozen rat pups - $5.00 per dozen Limit - 3 dozen pups or 6 adult rats FOR SAlE: Newsletter collection. MRS is selling the pre-1987 newsletters from its library. The sale is for bid only for the entire collection.

A complete list is available from the secretary. Bids are due by the June meeting. This sale is open to members only.

FOR SALE: Lt. colored Savannah Monitor, 1.5 ft., cage, and 20 Ibs. mouse chow, $90. Call Larry Yank at 1-436-6774 nights or 1-439-4796 days.

FOR SALE: Special order reptiles and amphibians hand selected from Florida dealers. Late June delivery. Call Bruce - Twin Cities Reptiles at 593-0298.

FOR SALE: Boa Constrictors, c.b. 4/30/89, $130. ea., $230/pr.; frozen adult mice $6./doz.; adult rats $2. ea.; med. size short hair guinea pigs $1.50 ea. Call Vence or Nanette at 869-8547.

FOR SALE/TRADE: 1.0 Florida Pinesnake, good feeder/breeder,$60.; 1.0 Rankin's Bearded Dragon, c.h. 1987, $80.; 0.1 Sheltie, 3 yrs. old, housebroken, $100. Call Aaron Hampton at (715) 425-7565 or (612) 739-3550 (work).

FOR SALE: c.b. Boa Const., $120 ea., $200./pr.; Due in June - Burmese and Ball Pythons, $85. ea., $150./pr.; rabbits $1.50/1b.; rats - few left, 12 oz. avg. 50/$60., pinkies 50/$23.; mice - hoppers 50/$23., pinkies 50/$20.; quail 8 oz. ea. 10/$20. Call Jeff Ronne at (612) 431-6813.

, 16'

FDR SAlE: 1.0 Rhinoceros Iguana. About 12 yrs. old, slightly crooked jaw. $550. or neg. Call Fred or Liz at (612) 476-0306 after 4:00 PM. FDR SAlE: 2.0 lampropeltis m. alterna, dark-31" $125., It.-27" $150.; 1.0 lampropel tis ruthveni, c. h. 1988, 14", $80.; 1.0 lampropel tis p. pyromelena, c.h. 8/87, 13", $125.; 1.0 lampropeltis m. mexi c ana , c.h. 1987, 18" milk snake phase, $100. Call Kirk Leavesley at (507) 744-2496.

FDR SAlE: Private breeder expects excess of 20 varieties of c.b. colubrid hatchlings for 1989 season. For free price list contact Steven Fluty 6920 W. 72 Terr., Overland Park, KS 66204, (913) 384-3718.

WANTED: Herp lover to share large home in St. Paul with 2 kids. Own room. $275./mo. Call Sarah at 339-8592 days for details.

WANTED: Slide negatives showing exploitatiorl of herps. Slides will be used to produce a narrative presentation for use by herp societies, zoos, etc.

Must be able to copy with permission. Will not be returned. Also send any text describing the slide. G. Faglioli, Pacific Northwest Herp Society, P.O. Box 70231, Bellevue, WA 98007.

Professional Breeder of Exceptional King Snake and Milk Snakes Specializing in "Tricolors"

DON'T GET CAUGHT IN A HIDE BOX! Join the AFH.

President and Publisher of

FAUNA CLASSIFIEDS and other Herpetological Publications

Write for free info &1989 price list!

1035 Middlefield Ave., Stockton, CA 95204 USA, (209) 943-5212

If ~ 011 ~n' illtere~tl.'tI ill thl' eaptiH' ean' alltl hn'l'llillg of alllphihiall~ alld reptill'~: join tIll' Allleril'all F!'tll'ratioll of III'rpl'tOl'lIlturists alltl ren'in' ih eolur. g.los~y Illag.:llilll'. TIlE VIVARIU\1.

Write to: AFII. 1'.0. UO\ 113 I. Lakl'sitle. (',\ 1)2040 U.S.A.

INSTRUCTIONS: Ads are run as a free service to members. Paid ads from nonmembers are not accepted. Ads for venomous species, illegal species, or sick animals will not be run. MIill takes no responsibility for legality or health of animals advertised here. Size of ads is limited to 4 typed lines or 1 standard size business card. Deadline for all newsletter items is the 15th of the month. Send all newsletter items to: ATTN: Newsletter Editor, Minnesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104.

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

IIW. ~ 01 N.41"L11UL HB1'DIIIY Ii CH.IIIQII SDm'U • ~ . . .cueIA --'101.

Jim

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211 Clark Street Mankato, MN 56001

APPLICATI NT-SHIRT

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET 5.£ • MlNNEAPOus. MINNESOTA 55455-0104 N~(~,~

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00 YOU WISH THE ABOVE lNFORMA nON USTED IN THE MBS DIR.ECTORY TYPE O' MEMIIIOSHIP aNEW o RENEW SUSTAlNlNC.............................. 550.00

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OFFICIAL MUS T-SHIRT SO }dO LO no S7.00 acb iDcloda pomp PLEASE ENCLOSE PAYMENT WI11f APPUCA nON. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY. MEMBERSHIi IS FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF JOlNING. YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD BY RETURN MAIL. A RECEIPT WILL BE SEN: ONLY UPON REQUEST.