Vol. 21 (2001), No. 10

Newsletter of

The Minnesota SOC October 2001

Upcoming Meeting The Vice-president's Report

By Tony Gamble

•

1 Volume 21Number 10 Upcoming Meetings: December 7, 2001 - Dr. Robert Sprackland December 8, 2001 - Holiday Banquet featuring Dr. Robert Sprackland January 4, 2002 - Dr. Ann Paterson February 1, 2002 - Bert Langerwerf March 1, 2002 - White Snake Sale May 3, 2002 - John Weins

November General Meeting Friday, November 2, 2001 7:00 PM Program: The Minnesota County Biological Survey: Reptiles and Amphibians It is time once again to start thinking Guest Speaker: Carol Hall about the elections coming up in

MHS Board of Directors 2002 Ballot.

President Jodi L Aherns Vice President

Elections

I think I speak for all of us when I say that THE ideal job would be searching for herps in the field. Could you imagine actually getting paid to wade into a marsh and find frogs or search the northern forests for salamanders? November's speaker, believe it or not, has this dream job. (Note: Carol will argue that her job is far from perfect involving politics, labor strikes, funding concerns, and mudsoaked field assistants ( even so, it's really cooll) Carol has worked as the herpetologist with the DNR's Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS) for 11 field seasons searching swamps, rivers, fields, and forests in 38 of our 87 counties. While MCBS herp surveys focus on MN's rare species, information is also collected on common herpetofauna. She will discuss the field techniques used and highlight some of the herp surveys in different parts of the state. Carol will also bring up some ideas involving the MHS in future MCBS activities.

Don't miss this meeting!

Tony Gamble Recording Secretary Heather Ingbretson Membership Secretary Nancy Haig November. As always volunteers Treasurer are needed to become a part of the Marilyn Blasus MHS Board of Directors. This is a Newsletter Editor great opportunity for members to Heather Matson become involved and help shape @ Large (voting for four) Members the future of the MHS. Some of the Nancy Hakomaki things that we do as the Board is to Brian Ingbretson decide on the operational budget for Becky Girard the MHS, decide on policy, plan Jody Holmstrom special events, run the White Past present: Snake Sale and decide on funding Bill Moss for grant requests that we receive. I always liked reviewing the grant requests because it is great to know If you are interested in running that the Society helps to fund impor- please contact Julie @612.321.0958 tant research and conservation efforts.

Please take some time and consider 1i"""'='''''''':''''''''''''''''''''''''''':''''::''''''''''''''''''''''i1 running for a Board position and let me know if you are interested. If you Heather Ingbretson are not quite sure about joining the Board then please join us at the October board meeting and see us in action. Again if you are interested in Vacation! running for a Board position let me Holiday know. Thanks.

Critter Julie Beauvais-Recording Secretary

Critter Sitter

Caretaker

Board of Directors PresIdent eill Moss

651.488.1383 mngatorguy@qwest.net

Vice President Tony Gamble

763.424.2803 tgamble@mediaone.net

Recording Secretary Julie Beauvais beaVOO1@tc.umn,edu

612.321.0958

Membership Secretary Nancy Haig nanchiag@citillnk.com

763.434.8684

Treasurer Marilyn Bleau!

952.925.4237 marifynbb@qwest.net

Newsletter Editor Heather Matson geekoloco@qwest.net

612.554.8446

Members at Large Jodi L. Ahems 812.588.9329 Nancy HakomakI 651.631.1380 mngatorgaJ@qwest.net Brlan & Heather Ingbretson 763.512.0487 KeHh Tucker 612.321.0958 Tucke022@to.umn.edu

Committees Adoption Sarah Richard

612.781.9544 RealSarah@aol.com

Education Jan Larson

Bell Museum ofNaturalHistOl}"IO Church Street South

Eas~ Minneapolis Minnesota 55455-0104

The Minnesota Herpetological • S t y e o c 1 Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

http://www.onrampinc.net/mhs/

MHS egroup email: http://groups.yahoo.com!group!Mnherpsoc

October 2001

Volume 21 Number 10

The Purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to: • Further the education of the membership and the general Public in care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians; • Educate the members and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; • Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization.

Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in amphibians and reptiles. The Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter is published monthly to provide its members with information concerning the society's activities and a media for exchanging information, opinions and resources.

General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the SI. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota, on the first Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday conflict). The meeting starts at 7:00pm and lasts about three hours. Please check the MHS Voice mail for changes in schedules or cancellations.

507.263.4391

jan.skunkhollow@juno.com Northern Minnesota Jeff Korbel

218.586.2588

Ubrary Beth Girard

763.691.1650

Submissions to the Newsletter Ads or Notices must be submitted no later than the night of the General Meeting to be included in the next issue. Longer articles will be printed as time and space allows. All business cards are run for $5/month.

Items may be sent to:

bglrard@worldnet.aH.net

Herp Assistance AmphIbians Greg Kvanbek John Meltzer John MOriarty

651.388.0305 763.263.7880 651.482.8109

Chameleons Vern & Laurie Grassel

612.428.8109

Crocodilians Jeff Lang Bill Moss

701.772.0227 651.488.1383

Lizards Nancy Haig Heather Matson

763.434.8684 612.554.8446

Large Boas, Pythons lina CIsewski

612.856.2865

Other Snakes Jeff Leclere John Meltzer

651.488.6388 763.263.7880

Aquatic Turtles Gary Ash John Levell

763.753.0218 507.467.3076

Terrestial Turtles Fred Bosman John Levell

763.476.0308 507.467.3076

The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell museum of Natural History 10 Church SI. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104

Snake Bite Emergency Hennepin Regional Poison Center

800.764.7661

Copyright MInnesota Herpetological Society 2001. Contents may be reproduced for non-profit use provided that aU material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given author and the MHS Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

Mhmesota Herpetological Society Newsletter

October 2001

Volume 21 Number 10

News, Notes & Announcements

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Jahn Levell Twa-Headed Snapper Chelydra serpentina Julie Beauvais Pythan Curtus breitensteini Jadi Aherns UPhH" E. macularuis

Necropsy Donatl'ons Did yeu have an animal die recently and yeu dan't knaw what to. do. with it? Help veterinary students learn abaut reptiles! The ZEAW Club will be having a necrepsy lab Nev 17th and will need denated animals. We started the lab last year and students r~ally fel! mare camfertable warking With reptiles (Thank yau to. last years danersl) If yau'd like to. danate an animal, please place it in the freezer and write a brief histary ef what happened and what species it is. We have very limited space at the scheal, but if yeur animal will nat fit in yeur freezer I'll see what I can find.

The final step Is to. email ar call me so. I can cantact yau abaut picking up yaur danatian. Thank yaul Kirsten Lave lave0133@tc.umn.edu 651-695-3159

Board Meeting Review by Julie Secretary

The August 4th, 2001 MHS Baard meeting was held at the St. Paul Student Center. A quarum was present. The minutes from the July meeting were read amended and appreved as amended. The treasurer's repart was maved and accepted.

The membership repart has membership as steadily increasing and a decisian was made to. print mare newsletters. We increased fram printing 325 to. printing 350 newsletters. Our membership has 466 listings and 242 paying memberships.

The membership repart was meved and accepted.

In Octeber ar Navember Carel Hall will be speaking and in December we will have Kevin Hanley talk. The Bell Museum will be hesting aur website. We wauld previde ideas and tepics and they wauld pragramming aleng with web design and layaut. We will be halding a bumpersticker cantest to. help increase awareness ef turtles.

Electiens will be held in Nevember.

The White Snake Sale has been maved to. March.

G I M t' enera ee In9 Review

by Julie Secretary

Change to the MHS Board of Directors . ..

Melissa Narda~ IS stepping dawn fram her ~asltlan as ~ember-atLarg~. F~lIlng the remainder af the term IS ~r~an Ing~retsan. .

Please Jain me In welcamlng Brian as a new member af the baard.

Bill Mess

Beauvais-Recarding

Beauvais,Recording

June's speaker was Jim Gerhaldt.

Jim's talk was an what he called "The Geckas af Minnesata." Jim went and taak phatas af gecko. collectians around the state. The first gecko. was the Leapard gecko.. They came in many calars and patterns.

Leapard geckas have a recard life span ef almast 20 years. They are Jim shy and friendly animals. shawed slides af African fat-tailed,

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Critter of the Month

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Takay and Central American banded geckas. The Central American banded geckas laak similar to. leapard geckas. Next was the Desert band~d gecko. which is camman an roads In the southwest at night. The Spider gecko. likes lats af raam and the Helmet headed gecko. lives in Camel dung. Jim shawed slides ef Panther geckes, a beautiful gecko. fram Ma?agascar. H~ also. shewed us a FlYing gecko., which will launch itself and glide to. safety. Also. he shawed us the Gargayle gecko. which is arbareal. There were slides ef the Crested gecko. fram New Caledenia.

Next was the werlds largest gecko., the Giant gecko., which can be almast 11/2 feet in length with a lang bady and shart tail. Jim shawed us the Crocadile gecko., the Viper gecko. and the Frag eyed geckas which laoked like they were cross-eyed.

Jim ended with the Australian thick tailed gecko., the Leaf-tailed geckes ef ~adag.ascar and Egyptian geckes.

While thiS talk wasn't laaded with infarmatian abaut each type af gecko. shawn it was very interesting to. see seme ef the different species af geckes being successfully kept in captivity, especially here in Minnesata. Jim is also. a wanderful phatagrapher and it is always a treat to. see his phatas. Thank yau Jim.

Wanted: Loaking for a drawing, painting, print ar photo for the up coming Holiday party. If you are willing to donate please call Gordan Merck @ 952.471.3582

Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter

October 200 I

Volume 21 Number 10

hunt. They also lap up dew and rain Please call 763.489.2220 for more off of the leaves, so put a paper cup information and to make

by Julie Beauvais-Recording with a small hole on top of the cage reservations.

Secretary so that it drips down and the chameleons will recognize it as water.

This was an informative talk April's speaker was Lyle Puente, and Lyle had many fun stories to The MHS will be sending $200 to President of the Global Gecko the New York Police Canine Unit Association which publishes a full share with us. Thank you. c/o American Red Cross and $1000 color journal. Mr. Puente's talk was to the general disaster relief fund. about chameleons. A lot of the "Emergency Treatment chameleons in the pet trade come f A 路 I H 5 The full addresses, in case others from countries such as Madagascar or mma s; ow ave want to donate to these funds are: and Cameroon. There was a report Your Pet's Life" of a captive bred chameleon that Presented by the Animal Humane NYPD Canine Unit measured 33 inches in length.

Society of MPLS Community C/O The American Red Cross When Lyle lived in New York he Education.

Disaster Relief Fund would keep the chameleons outside Monday, December 10th 7pm-9pm PO Box 3756 and since they would gradually accli- $2/ person Reservations are Church Street Station mate he would leave them out until requested.

New York, NY 10008 December.

Thankfully many of us will never When the babies come out of the experience a life or death situation American Red Cross Disaster Relief egg you can tell the sex of the animal with our pets. But what if you do? Fund right away because the males have a Wouldn't it be great to have the P.O. Box 37243 spur on the back foot. Chameleons knowledge to help your pet, maybe Washington, D.C. 20013 do not normally become egg bound even save it's life? Plan to attend this like many people think. The big important program, and make an problem is that people overfeed investment in your pet's future. them. When they are overfed they produce more eggs than normal.

Also to reduce the possibility of them becoming egg bound keep them well hydrated.

Next Lyle talked about panther FABULOUS chameleons and how it is difficult to HOLIDAY GIFTS acclimate wild ones, and they are also often sold when they are too $13 ea young. Lyle talked about different or species of chameleons and how 2 for $24 some species are easy to breed but the eggs can be very difficult to Many Designs left hatch. Some species bear live DON'T MISS YOUR LAST CHANCE! young.

Some species are very NOVE~mER'S THE LAST MEETING WE'LL BE SELLINGI aggressive and some do not do well in captivity. Next he talked about r------------:-~:__---::::__-_::__-_:_--, some feeding problems such as if you keep putting the food in the same spot they will know We need your help designing a new MHS bumpersticker that will help where to find it and will get lazy and make drivers 路more aware of turtles on roadways. MHS members will stop shooting their tongue out. So vote for their favorites at the March, 2002 meeting (aka White Snake you should hide the food in different Sale). Remember to keep things simple (these things are read at high spots so that they have to actively L.._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s,;.p_ee_d_s,.;!)_._G_O_O_d_lu_c_k_1_________.....

General Meeting Review

MHS Donation ...

Bumpersticker Contest

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ICoid Blooded Connections r-I F'l112001

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Sponsme<l

Issue 2

by the Minnesot'l Herpetologiql Society .--'--~~~

INTERNET RESOURCES ____ One of my favorite Internet resources when it comes to reptiles and amphibians is the Scholastic Books A_,;;p website designed for educators. They have Lesson Plans & Reproducibles which incorporate on·line web quests, as well as items from their professional journals and teacher's guides.

One of the web quests, "Saving the Sea Turtles", is found at http://teacher.scholastic.com/tur· tles/index.asp and is designed to be used with elementary and middle school students. The Teacher's Guide, http:// teacher.scholastic.com/turtlesl tguide.htm, is full of information and activities from a research project being done in Costa Rica by an EarthWatch Team.

Life Cycle Activities (Grades K· 2): The "Who's Hiding Mini·Book" includes a worksheet with the eggs of a caterpillar, chick, penguin, ostrich, FROG and SEA TURTLE. This reproducible activity guide can be found at: http://teacher.scholastic.com/ lessonrepro/resultsl view.asp?SubjectID=4&Subheadl D=9&TopiclD=107&GradeID=&Pa geURL=%2Flessonrepro%2Fk%5 F2theme%2Fanimals%2Ehtm Tadpole Transformation (Gr. 1· 2): This activity allows students to make a tadpole puppet that turns into a frog. What a cool tool to

teach metamorphosis! Find this at: http://teacher.scholastic.com/ lessonrepro/resultsl view.asp?SubjectlD=4&Subheadl D=9& TopiclD=1 07&GradeID=&Pa geURL=/lessonrepro/lessonplansl profbooks/tadpole.pdf From the editors of Instructor Magazine, you'll find a Cyber Hunt Crossword ... Here Come the Frogsl Your 3rd·8th grade students will learn lots of amazing facts about amphibians while they explore some great websites! It's located at: http:// teacher.scholastic.com/lessonre· pro/resultsl view.asp?SubjectlD"4&Subheadl D=9&TopicID=107&GradeID=&Pa geURL=%2Flessonrepro%2Frepro ducibles%2Finstructor%2Fcrossw ord%2F0004%2Findex%2Ehtm Want to give 7 Down a try? Did you know a group of frogs is cal/ed an army? A group of toads is cal/ed a . Give yourself a pat on the back if you knew the answer was a KNOT. Reptile Background Information (Grades K·5)) is straight from ~cholastic's new teacher's guide, Remarkable Reptiles". The two reproducible pages of Reptile Fact Cards are deSigned to allow students to use their research skills to create the cards, then sort them according to their taxonomic differences. The cards include 2 snakes, 4 turtles, a tuatara, 2 Crocodilia, and 3 lizards. Find it at: http://teacher.scholastic.com/ lessonrepro/resultsl view.asp?SubjectlD=4&Subheadl D=9&TopicID=107&GradeID=&Pa geURL=%2Flessonrepro%2Frepro ducibles%2Fprofbooks%2Freptile bkgrndinfo%2Epdf

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Cold Blooded Connections Continues This newsletter was designed to offer educators new and innovative ways to make herps a part of their students' everyday learning experience I If you have articles, resources, ideas or suggestions you would like to share, please submit them for inclusion in a future issue.

The address can be found in the vertical box on the last page.

The insert in this issue , "Tadpole Transformations" was designed for 1st & 2nd grade stUdents.

The activity is from

"Frogs" a Scholastic, Inc. teacher's guide.

The URL to locate this activity can be found on this page.

Ordering information for the book can be found on page 2.

The Spineless Corner

BOOKS

In Review

Invertebrate News DID YOU KNOW ... All scorpions fluoresce under UV light. Longwave ultraviolet light is reflected as visible light in the green range. Under a blacklight, the scorpions appear to glow. Under direct sunlight, the fluorescence may impart a greenish tint to the scorpions color. The fluorescence is caused by an unidentified substance in a very thin layer in the cuticle of the scorpion called the hyaline layer.

Newly molted scorpions do not fluoresce. As the new cuticle hardens, the fluorescent quality increases. This indicates that the fluorescent factor is either secreted by the scorpion shortly after molting or that the fluorescence is a by-product of the tanning process. The hyaline layer of the cuticle is very tough.

Scientists are unsure of the function of the hyaline cuticle or its strange fluorescence. Some have suggested that it serves as a UV sensor (all scorpions are basically nocturnal and seem to shun the light).

This unusual feature can make scorpions easier to collect and observe. When darkness falls, portable UV lights can be carried in to the field where scorpions live. This makes them much easier to locate.

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The front page offers some insights into the Scholastic, Inc. website, so it seems reasonable to look at some of their teacher's guides as well.

Susan Schneck and Mary Strohl wrote "The Big Book of Animal Manipulatives", which was published in 1993, and has more than 50 hands-on activities. Chapter Two, Amphibians, has 20 reproducible pages including a frog mask, a mud puppy hand puppet, and a frog grows up pop-up card. Chapter Three, Reptiles, has 23 reproducible pages including a sea turtle mini-book, a lizard cup puppet, and color-bynumber snake mobiles.

"The Amazing Animal Activity Book", written by Robin Bernard, was published in 1997. It has dozens of multi-disciplinary hands-on projects for use with early elementary school students. Chapter Two, "Living Fossils ... Reptiles" has background information and 11 reproducible pages with complete instructions.

Chapter 3, "Double Lives ...

Amphibians" has a 10 student pages including a Pop-up Salamander Book.

"Life Cycles: Butterflies, Chicks, Frogs, and More!", published in 1998, has ready-to-go activities, games, literature links and hands-on reproducibles.

In 2000, Scholastic published "Frogs"

by Rhonda Lucas Donald and Kathleen W. Kranking. The latest information, hands-on activities, and a big color poster make this a wonderful addition

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to any amphibian '\ learning experience.

The activities, designed for early elementary students, are cross-curricular, and have complete instructions and extensions. "Tadpole Transformations" comes from this terrific anuran resource.

The newest guide, "Remarkable Reptiles" was released this year. It is a complete theme unit for early elementary students with fascinating facts and awesome activities that teach about lizards, crocodiles, turtles, snakes and more!l It too includes a large, full-color poster.

To order materials directly from Scholastic, Inc., call 1-800~724-6527

between the hours of 7AM and 6PM Central Time, Monday through Friday.

Did You Know??

Facts & figures to mystify your students!

According to "A Natural History of Amphibians" by Robert C. Stebbins & Nathan W. Cohen", the class Amphibia contains about 4550 described living species.

"Among living amphibians, some 390 are salamanders, order Caudata (Urodela); around 4000 are frogs and toads, order Anura (Salientia); and 163 are caecilians, order Gymnophiona (Apoda).

Name~

_____________________________

Date ~~~~~~~~~~_

Tadpole Transformation Color the pieces and cut them out.

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When a tadpole changes into a frog, the process is called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Tadpole Transformation

Attach the tail to the body as shown to 1make the tadpole.

(Art, Science)

Students make a paper tadpole puppet that turns into a frog and learn the meaning of the term metamorphosis.

Make a copy of page 23 for each student. Begin by discussing a frog's metamorphosis, the process of changing from a larva (tadpole) into an adult (frog). Meta means "change" and morph means "shape." Show students pictures of frog eggs, tadpoles in various stages, froglets, and full-grown frogs.

Explain that once the tadpoles hatch from the eggs, they have gills to breathe with and a long tail. Eventually, the tadpole transforms into a froglet, a small adult frog with four legs, no gills, and no tail.

After kids have colored the frog and tadpole body parts on page 23, help them fill in the blanks to spell metamorphosis. Then help them cut out the pieces along the solid lines.

(To make the pieces sturdier, glue them to thin cardboard before cutting them out.) The spots marked with an asterisk show where to punch holes for the paper fasteners. Guide students through the stages of assembling the tadpole and frog: Invite students to arrange puppets in various stages of frog development and line them up in the correct sequence.

Frogs {First Discovery Book} by Daniel Moignot (Scholastic, 1997) will come in handy when discussing metamorphosis. The see-through pages and detailed art make the progression from egg to tadpole to frog easy for children to follow.

2

Attach the two hind legs in the same place as the tail.

3 Attach the two front legs.

4 Remove the tail to make the froglet.

HERP SPOTLIGHT The Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigdnum

Such is the case with the tiger salamander. The adults are usually boldly marked with yellow or tan on a body that can be olive, brown or black. The markings may be nothing

Herp Humor I (HaHaT)

I ------------------- I Q: Why do they measure

Kingdom: Animalia

more than a light sprinkling of spots,

snakes in inches?

Phylum: Chordata

or they may merge together to form tiger-like stripes.

A: Because snakes do

Tiger salamanders can be found in moist places. Habitats such as

Q: Will a snake bite you if you are carrying a flashlight?

A: It depends upon how fast you are running with it!

Class: Amphibia . Order: Caudata or Urode/a '~"-~ Family: Ambystomatidae Tiger salamanders belong to a family . of amphibians which have broad heads; a tongue which moves freely only at the sides; palatal teeth; costal grooves down the body; short, strong limbs; and a laterally compressed tail.

They are found throughout Minnesota, and are the largest terrestrial, or landdwelling, salamander in our state. In fact, growing to a maximum body length of 14 inches they are the largest terrestrial salamander in the world.

This is relatively small, however, as the Giant Salamander (Andrias), a completely aquatic animal, may reach over five feet in lengthl Salamanders represent some of the

marshes, ponds, and wooded areas with moist soil are all good places to find them. The adults eat a diet of earthworms, insects, and snails.

not have feet!

Adult salamanders are sometimes mistaken for lizards. Although they both have four legs and long tails, the major difference is in the body covering. A lizard is a reptile and has scales. Salamanders are amphibians and have moist, smooth skin without scalesl Lizards also have ear openings, which salamanders lack.

The other salamanders found in Minnesota are the ...

Do you know that frogs wear open-toad shoes!

Q: Why do sea turtles swim across the ocean?

A: To get to the other tide!

Q: What steps should you take if you see a coral snake?

A: Big ones!

most abundant terrestrial, vertebrate

Blue-spotted Salamander,

species in the world, and yet we don't see them in Minnesota most of the

Eastern Redbacked Salamander,

Q: What do you call

Mudpuppy, Eastern Newt,

a rabbit that gets too close to a snake?

& the

A: Dinner!

year. They prefer to lead a life of secrecy, and stay hidden except when moving about during spring and fall migrations. Even at those times, most movement occurs at night or after rain.

Typically, salamanders go through four life stages. =:> =:> =:>

EGG LARVA JUVENILE

=:>

ADULT

Most North American salamanders have aquatic eggs and larvae, while the juvenile and adult stages are terrestrial.

Four-toed Salamander.

Q: What do you call

Herpetology ... n. the branch of zoology dealing with reptiles and amphibians (From Greek helpeton reptile, from helptiin to creep) From The American Heritage Dictionary of Science

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a very busy snake?

A: A hyper-viper!

Q: Where can lizards get new tails?

A: Are-tail store I Q: When isa blue-tongued skink blue all over?

A: When it holds its breath!!!

Minnesota Herpetological Society NEWS • The Minnesota Herpetological Society meets the first Friday of each month. General meetings are held in Room 335 of Borlaug Hall at the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota.

Meetings begin at 7PM. For more information, visit the Society's website at www.onrampinc.netlmhs Future meetings include • Dec. 7, 2001 ... Dr. Robert Sprackland on the Care, Natural History, and Systematics of African Savannah Monitors • Dec. 8, 2001 ... The Holiday Banquet will feature Dr. Robert Sprackland on the Herpetological Research on the Offshore Islands of Australia

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• Jan. 4, 2002 ... Dr. Ann Patterson will discuss her research on Anolis distichus in the Caribbean • The MHS will be hosting four workshops for educators interested in learning "Tips and Tools for Teaching About Reptiles and Amphibians."

The workshops will be held to introduce educators to the wonderful world of herps and the materials already available. The first workshop will be held at Dodge Nature Center on October 13th. Dodge is located in west St. Paul. Wargo Nature Center, in Centerville, will be home to the second workshop on October 27th.

On November 10th, the third will be held at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington. Bell Museum of Natural History will host the final one on November 17th. All of the workshops will run from 9:30AM until 1:30PM. The cost to participants is $5. You may request a registration form and additional information to be sent to you by using the information for the newsletter editor found in the box to the right.

TRUNK TALK

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The Bell Museum of Natural History and the Science Museum of Minnesota both have learning trunks which can be utilized at your location!

Rent the Amphibian and Reptiles Learning Kit from the Bell Museum of Natural History. Take it into your classroom and give your students a hands-on museum experience. Are snakes really slimy?

How do they breathe? Do snakes have inner organs like ours? Are tadpoles, frogs, and toads the same critters? Answer these questions through dynamic, hands-on activities and written lessons. This kit will help students appreciate some of the most misunderstood creatures on the earth.

The Science Museum of Minnesota also has Museum Trunks which are packed with artifacts, specimens, replicas, background information, audiovisual materials, activities, resource materials, and an operator's manual, bringing a distinctive, interactive learning opportunity into the classroom. The "Frogs" trunk includes a frog calls cassette, frog and salamander models, a digital frog CD-ROM, a giant bullfrog puppet and other items suitable for teaching about amphibians.

Bell Museum Learning Kits are available to rent for a seven-consecutive-day week for only $50.

Plan ahead and reserve your kit early for the best selection and availability.

The Learning Kits may be picked up and dropped off in the museum lobby during regular Bell Museum hours, or UPS delivery and/or pick-up can be arranged at a cost of $9.50 one-way, or $18.00 both ways.

Call Jane Greenberg at (612) 626-2299 for additional information.

To reserve a Museum Trunk, call the School Outreach department at (651) 221-4748 or (800) 221-9444, ext. 4748, or E-mail sklumpp@smm.org.

A two week rental is $150 which includes all shipping and handling within Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and part of Nebraska. One week rentals are still available for $95. You can extend your two week rental period for an additional $50 per week. Trunks are rented on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter

October 2001

Volume 21 Number 10

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....---------------,Minnesota Herpetological Society Treasurer's Report

Prepared by Marilyn Brooks Blasus, Treasurer For the Month Ending: September 30, 2001 Income: Membership Sales (Net) Donations Raffie Mise Total Income:

English Spot

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Jim's Rabbit Shack "Where Spots Are Tops'

JIM DAlUGE (763) 295路2616

8700 Jaber Ave. NE Monticello. MN 55362

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Expenses: Newsletter Printing & Postage Other Printing & Postage Program Conservation/Donation Supplies & Refreshments Misc Total Expense: Net Gain/{Loss):

225.00 263.80 825.26 86.25 1400.31

285.2 205.00 710.13

1200.40 199.91

Reptile Events Nov. 11 Livonia MI Great Lakes Reptile Sale and Swap, Ever 7 Hall, 27531 Grand River.

517.339.7908 Nov. 19 White Plains NY New York Metro Reptile Expo, Westchester County Ctr., Exit 5 off I -287,845.526.4845 www.reptileexpo.com Dec. 9 St Peters MO Exotic Pet Expo and Consignment Sale, St Peters Knights of Columbus Hall, 117 Mcmenamy Rd. Ken 314.427.6341 or sukaras@aol.com Dec. 16 St Louis MO Reptiles the Right Way Captive Bred Show, Holiday Inn Airport, 4545 N. Lindbergh. 314.961.2634

Helpful Hints for Hands -on I'm glad to see so many people coming to our events. Here are a few things to remember: 1) Know the following about your animal. a) What kind it is. b) What it eats c) Where it lives in the wild d) Life expectancy 2) Never allow anyone other than yourself to hold your animal.

3) Try to be polite - even answering really dumb questionsl 4) Come often - Thanksl Jan Larsen jan.skunkhollow@juno.com

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MiImesota Herpetological Society Newsletter

October 2001

Volume 21 Number 10

Classified Advertisements Classified ads路 are free to the member ship.

Deadline Is the nIght of the general meeting to be included in ~he next newsletter.

1.0.0::: male, 0.1.0 female, 0.0.1 ::: unsexed, cb captive bred, obo ::: or best ofter, + ::: times run( ads are run only 3x unless requested to contlOue).

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For Sale TIger Geckos CB 2001 $30 each. 4 or more $20 each. email: Heather, geckoloco@qwest.net or call 612.554.8446+ LARGE ANIMAL DISPLAY CAGE - ONE OF A KIND 8' Lx 3.25 ' 0 x 4.5' H, BEAUTIFUL GLASS AND WOOD FINISH INCLUDES HEAT LAMP, FLORESCENT LIGHTING, LOGS AND SHELF $800 OR B/O, CONTACT ROB AT 763-531-1924+++ Leopard geckos-5 leo's (All incubated as female) Hatch dates- 7-5 (I), 7-22 (2), 8-3 (2) When leos are five weeks old and healthy they are sold. Pricing- Offspring from a high yellow male and a normal female are $45. Offspring from a High yellow male and a Leucistic female are $50.Call (763-754-8029) or email Uanheit@qwest.net). Ask for Aaron+++ For Sale: CB Ambanja Panther Chameleons (Furcifer Pardalis) babies 2 months old, both male and female, eating small crickets. $100.00 please call Linda at (612)729-2256 or e-mail at (Iwitte@usfamiIy.net)+++ Need Home: 1.1 adult common boa constrictors 7'.5" each. Accustomed to handling & people, used in live animal programs. Interested parties must be over 18, experienced in handling large snakes.

References.

Contact: Long Lake Conservation Center (Palisade MN), 800.450.5522, or IIcc@mlecmn.net++

Het. Albino Leopards, Tremper Blood.

Banned nice yellow $25 each. Jungle nice color $40+ each. Striped Super nice color $75+ each. Viper Geckos all sizes Baby subadult Breeders call for pricing. TIbeten Frog Eyed Gecko CB 2001 $40 each. Gaint Frog Eyed Gecko CB 2001 $50 each. Call Jodi L Aherns 612.588.9329+ For Sale: 1.1 Adult Ornate Uromastyx $950/pair 1.1 Egyptian Uromastyx $450/pair 0.0.3 Uromastyx Acanthanurus (Juveniles) $500/trio 0.1 Adult Mali Uromastyx $60 0.0.1 Ranbow Uromastyx (Juvenile) $120 1 Adult Bearded Dragon $70 Call Matt at (763) 781-5871 +

Wanted Wanted Adult Female Leucistic Leopard Gecko, ready or almost ready to be breed.

Contact Chris at (507)-359-9444 or at tex_2001@hotmail.com Eastman Nature Center is looking for a Milk snake, Fox snake, or a Black Rat snake.

Snake will be used for school group and family classes and must handle well.

Please call Kim at 763/420-4300.

All the shed snake skins in the world.

Needed for giveaways at educational programs. Contact Bob Duerr 612.541.0362 Male Sail Tail Dragon to entertain my female. Large Male Northern bluetongue skink of atleast 2 years of age.

Contact Domonie at 763-424-4243 or domonie@domunique.com Female Gulf Coast Box Turtle. Looking for a girl to keep my fella company. Or a pair for breeding. Contact Heather Matson 651.647.3444 or geckoloco@qwest.net

MHS Rodent Sales Mice

Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adults

$7/dz. $7/dz. $8/dz. $10/dz

Rats

Sm Pups Lg Pups Juvn Rats Adults

$12/dz. $18/dz. $24/dz.

6@$15 or $30/dz.

Frozen Rabbits - all sizes.

Prices very reasonable - pinkies to adults. Jim Daluge 763.295.2818 Flightless FrultFlies - Excellent food for dart frogs, mantellas, hatchling geckos, baby chameleons, spiderlings, and other small herps. Two species available Drosophila (small) and D. hyde; (large). $5/culture or $25/6 cultures. Each culture contains 30 to 50 adult flies and has the potentail to produce to several hundred young. Also, Mealworms - Two sizes available - regular and mini. $5/1000. Can be delivered to MHS meetings. Cal Tony Gamble 612.818.6861 or email tgamble@mediaone.net

For pick up at monthly meetings only. Orders Must be placed at least one week in advance of date of meeting at which the frozen rodents are to be delivered.

Place orders with Tina Cisewski at 763.856.2865 All Proceeds go toward the operating costs of the society.

The MHS is a completely volunteer run, non-profit organization.

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You could Advertise Here for just $10 per Month or $120 per year.

Advertising Policies

MHS Ad Policy: The MHS assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY regarding the health or legality of any animal, or the quality or legality of any product or service advertised in the MHS Newsletter. Any ad may be rejected at the discretion of the Newsletter Editor. Due to space limitations, unpaid and complimentary advertisements are subject to occasional omission.

Classified Ads: All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space permits. Ads may be ran three consecutive months, after which tima they may be resubmit路 ted, Corresponding members are allowed a complimentary business card advertisement monthly as space permits. Due to federal restrictions on Non-profit mailing permits, we are not allowed to run ads for travel, credit or insurance agencies.

Business card advertisements may be purchased at $S/ad, per month. For other rates please inquire.

Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Editor. Bell Museum of

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!;i~> Natural History, 10 Church Sl SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Deadline is the night of the

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General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Make checks payabfe to: Minnesota Herpetological Society.

r-----------------------------------------------, Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New Renewal Membershlp# Type Check #

Name Addres.s City, State, Zip, Phone

Email

List in MHS Directory?

Yes

No

Herp related interests

Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/yr)

Contributing ($30/yr)

Bronze ($50/yr 2 1/4 pg ads) Gold ($1 OO/yr 2 Full pg Ads) Required check info. Drivers Lie # State DOB Please enclose the proper payment with your applicalion. Make Checks Payable To: Minnesota Herpetological Society.

Membership is for 12 months from the date of approval, a receipt will be sent only upon request. Mail to: Minnesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please allow 6-8 weeks L for _______________________________________________ ~ processing.

Corresponding Memberships:

Basic Commercial ($25/yr 2 Bus Cards) Silver ($75/yr 2 1/2 pg Ads)

Basic ($15/yr)

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA- ST. PAUL CAMPUS

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Next Meeting: November 2,2001 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St Paul Campus @7pm

MHS Voice mail: 612.624.7065 http://www.onrampinc.net/mhs/

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SE MINNEAPOUS, MN 55455-0104 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Miko Alte Ave So 3232 eapolis MN 55407

POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL

Non-Profi! Rate U.S. Postage PAID Mpls, MN Permit No. 2275

Newsletter of

The Minnesota. â&#x20AC;˘ o c S 1 November 2001

Upcoming Meeting

wettest rainforests as well as grassland, seashores, swamps, rivers and The Vice-president's woodlands. Adding to this diversity is the recently revised the taxonomy Report of the African savannah monitors.

By Tony Gamble December's speaker, Dr. Robert Sprackland, will discuss his work on the subject and update us with his November General Meeting Friday, December 7, 2001 current views on African monitor taxonomy.

7:00 PM

Program: The Status of Africa's Savannah and Cape Monitors: The Case Against Subspecies G uest S pea ker.¡ Dr. R 0 b ert Sprackland

On Saturday, December 8, Dr. Sprackland will also speak at the MHS Holiday Banquet. He will talk of his many travels to Papua New GUinea, one of which was featured on a recent episode of O'shea's Big Adventure. This will be a great talk so don't forget to sign up early for the Monitor lizards (Genus Varanus) banquet. have long fascinated biologists with their natural diversity. As a group, Dr. Robert Sprackland is a wellmonitors have existed for at least known herpetologist and authority on seventy million years and occur on monitor lizards. He is author of the three continents. They range in size popular books All About Lizards, from about nine inches long and a Aquaterrariums, Giant Lizards, and weight of less than one ounce the new AVS titie Savannah and (Varanus brevi cauda) to a length of Grassland Monitors. His articles are over ten feet (Varanus salvator) and regularly featured in Reptiles magaa weight of almost 120 pounds zine. He is currently the director of (Varanus komodoensis). Monitors the nonprofit Virtual Museum of live in the driest deserts and the

Natural History at www.curator.org.

Upcoming Meetings: December 8,2001 - Holiday Banquet featuring Dr. Robert Sprackland Afield in Papua New Guinea: Important Biodiversity in a Poorly Explored Land.

January 4, 2002 _ Dr. Ann Paterson February 1, 2002 _ Bert Langerwerf March 1, 2002 _ White ~nake Sale May 3, 2002 - John Weins

MHS Board of Directors President

2002 Jodi L Aherns

Vice President Tony Gamble Recording Secretary Heather Ingbretson Membership Secretary Nancy Haig Treasurer Marilyn Blasus Newsletter Editor Heather Matson Members @ Large Nancy Hakomaki Brian Ingbretson Becky Girard Jody Holmstrom Bill Moss Welcome the new board of directors of 2002 and say a special thanx to those who stayed on. Their duties will start in January 2002.