Vol. 26 (2006), No. 9

t he n e w sl e t t e r o f t he

minnesota herpetological society

WEB VERSION

Information edited/removed to respect privacy concerns.

September’s Speaker: George Richard “Foreign Herping”

U of M Students! See page 4 SEP TEMBER 20 0 6

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Board of Directors

President Bruce Haig

BELL MUSEUM

Vice President

Recording S ecretary Ellen Heck

Membership Secretary George Richard

The Minnesota H er pet ol og i ca l S o c i e t y

September 2006

Newsletter Editor Asra Halvorson Members at Large Fred Bosman

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The Purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to:

Sarah Richard David Dewitt

Carmelita Knudson

Committees

Education Jan Larson

Library Tim Banovitz

Webmaster Anke Reinders

NATURAL HISTORY, 10 CHURCH STREET SOUTHEAST, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104

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Further the education of the membership and the general public in care and captive propagation 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 St. 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.

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 and should be in electronic file format if possible. See inside back cover for ad rates.

Submissions may be sent to: The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church St. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104

Copyright 2006, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noted, contents may be reproduced for non-profit, noncommercial use only. All material must be reproduced without change. Proper credit will be given including the author/photographer and the MHS Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

August Speaker Review

by Ellen Heck, Recording Secretary

Last month’s speaker was John Moriarty, talking about the Master Naturalist program. This is fairly new program, started in Texas about 10 years ago and modeled on the Master Gardener program. Currently 25 states have a Master Naturalist program. The basic goal is to provide general knowledge of the natural history of the state, including geological, botanical, zoological and cultural resources and influences to citizens, who will then use the knowledge to help in a specific area. For example, someone might help at a nature center, in park restoration or conservation, as a docent at a historical site or even conduct a field survey.

In Minnesota, the program is being put together jointly by the Bell Museum, the DNR and the U of M Extension Services. Although still in its infancy, the program currently offers 2 courses, with a third to be added next year.

To become a Master Naturalist, you must first take the basic course. In Minnesota, there will be three courses, corresponding to the three major eco-systems in the state. The first course was is the Big Woods, Big Rivers, which was initiated in 2005 and covers the zone that runs roughly diagonally across the state between the southeastern and northwestern corners. The second is the Northwoods, Great Lakes course, which covers the northeastern quadrant and will be added the course list next year. Then there is the Prairies and Potholes, added this year, covering the western part of the state.

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would count, as would frog call counting for the DNR or hands-on.

The first first pilot course had 20 participants, split evenly with 10 men and 10 women. The ages were skewed a bit older, ranging from 34-71 with 50% over age 50. 90% had at least a bachelor’s degree and 30% with advanced degrees.

Advanced training requires extra classes, some of which are aimed more at teachers. Cultural events are scheduled at such landmarks as Fort Snelling.

There is also a in-the-works but informative website www.MinnesotaMasterNaturalist.Org. It lists projects in need of volunteers, class information and a resources and links page.

John did recommend that people interested in the program wait until spring to take the course, to allow a little more time to “work the kinks out”.

Contact can be done through the website or at the following address: Minnesota Master Naturalist 200 Hodson Hall 1980 Folwell Avenue University of Minnesota St Paul, MN 55108

The courses run 10 weeks and cost $200. They meet for 2 ? hours once a week, with 2 field trips rounding out the required 40 hours. Students in the course learn about the eco-systems, both terrestrial and aquatic, of the area, as well as its history and culture. There is also a group project, which is presented at the end of the course. John equated it to about a 9th grade level, rather then master’s thesis.

The field trips vary, depending on who is teaching the course and which course it is. And, of course, on the time of year. The courses usually are held in spring and fall, to avoid winter and the very busy summer season.

Once the course is completed, Masters are required to put in 40 hours of volunteer time annually. Examples of volunteer projects could be helping students manage a school project, buckthorn removal, creating a brochure or monitoring monarch larvae. The annual field survey done by MHS

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

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News, Notes, & Announcements Calling All U of M Students

MHS needs know who is a part, full time or graduate students at the U of M immediately. This is to continue to rent the rooms for MHS meetings. If you are currently enrolled, please contact our Membership Secretary, George Richard, at geohard@aol.com. Please identify yourself as a student in the email and include your name, university email address and a phone number. Also, U of M Alumni should also notify MHS, but this isn’t as time sensitive. Alumni should make sure to clarify they are currently not enrolled.

Newletters Up for Grabs!

This next meeting will have back issues of the MHS Newsletter available on the front table up for grabs. Are you missing an issue here and there? Now’s the time to get them before they’re gone!

RE: Rodent Orders Thank you so much for getting your orders in early, and please continue to do so!

-Rodent Chair

September’s Critter of the Month theme is Foreign Herps!

Bring your non-USAnative herps to show and tell!

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Notice of Election

The membership of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is hereby notified that the Annual Meeting, including elections for the 2006 Board of Directors, will take place on November 4, 2005 General Membership meeting.

Date: November 3, 2006 Time: 7:00 p.m.

Where: Room 335 Borlaug Hall U of MN St. Paul campus Who: All current MHS members in good standing

Upcoming Speaker

September’s speaker is George Richard, a long time MHS member and the current membership secretary. Born here on Earth George of homo sapiens parents, he is a current member of out ecosystem and is particularly valued by plants as he exhales carbon dioxide.

His talk will be entitled “Foreign Herps” and will contain photos and video of herps from 4 of the 7 continents he has visited as well as a no doubt stupefying monologue delivered in a shrill and unsettling, yet somehow coma inducing monotone . This talk is recommended both as a temporary sleep aid for those suffering from the pain of insomnia (although no permanent cure is suggested) and as an opportunity for those needing a semi darkened room for other illicit activities.

Cover Photo: basilisk © 2006 c~

Asra Halvorson

______~)

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

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22nd Annual Midwest Herpetological Symposium November 3-5, 2006, Indianapolis, IN visit www.HoosierHerpSociety.org for details.

Featured Speakers

Whit Gibbons, University of Georgia & The Savannah River Ecology Lab - “Challenges in Herpetofauna Conservation and the Role of PARC” Dr. Brady Barr, host of National Geographic’s “Reptile Wild” and “Dangerous Encounters” TV Specials - “Behind the Scenes Field Experiences with National Geographic”

Bruce Kingsbury, Indiana/Purdue University- Fort Wayne - “Tale of Two Rattlers, the Timber Rattlesnake and Eastern Massassauga”

Greg Maxwell, owner of Fine Green Tree Pythons - “The Green Tree Python, Color Morphs and General Husbandry”

Ed Kowalski, Philadelphia Zoo - “The Captive Husbandry and General Natural History of Three Caecilian Species” Zach Walker, Indiana State Herpetologist - “Amphibian Studies of Indiana”

Will Bird & Phil Peak, Louisville Zoo & Kentucky Herpetological Society - “Snakes of Kentucky” James J. Harding, Michigan State University - “Can the Wood Turtle Survive and Prosper?”

Richard Reams, Deserts Biome Manager, Indianapolis Zoo - “The Hunt for Red Australia (Herping Australia)” Bob Ashley, ECO Publishing and Distributing - “Herping Arizona”

From the Editor

Due to lack of submissions, the newsletter will be 12 pages from now on instead of 16, unless there’s sufficient fodder for the additional pages. Just as a reminder, I’m always accepting articles, photos, and artwork. -Az

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

Fear of Snakes Drove Pre-Human Evolution

By Ker Than

An evolutionary arms race between early snakes and mammals triggered the development of improved vision and large brains in primates, a radical new theory suggests.

The idea, proposed by Lynne Isbell, an anthropologist at the University of California, Davis, suggests that snakes and primates share a long and intimate history, one that forced both groups to evolve new strategies as each attempted to gain the upper hand.

To avoid becoming snake food, early mammals had to develop ways to detect and avoid the reptiles before they could strike. Some animals evolved better snake sniffers, while others developed immunities to serpent venom when it evolved. Early primates developed a better eye for color, detail and movement and the ability to see in three dimensions—traits that are important for detecting threats at close range.

Humans are descended from those same primates.

Scientists had previously thought that these traits evolved together as primates used their hands and eyes to grab insects, or pick fruit or to swing through trees, but recent discoveries from neuroscience are casting doubt on these theories.

“Primates went a particular route,” Isbell told LiveScience.

“They focused on improving their vision to keep away from [snakes]. Other mammals couldn’t do that. Primates had the pre-adaptations to go that way.”

Harry Greene, an evolutionary biologist and snake expert at Cornell University in New York, says Isbell’s new idea is very exciting.

“It strikes me as a very special piece of scholarship and I think it’s going to provoke a lot of thought,” Greene said.

Isbell’s work is detailed in the July issue of the Journal of Human Evolution.

A new weapon

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Fossil and DNA evidence suggests that the snakes were already around when the first mammals evolved some 100 million years ago. The reptiles were thus among the first serious predators mammals faced. Today, the only other

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threats faced by primates are raptors, such as eagles and hawks, and large carnivores, such as bears, large cats and wolves, but these animals evolved long after snakes.

Furthermore, these other predators can be safely detected from a distance. For snakes, the opposite is true.

“If you see them close to you, you still have time to avoid them,” Isbell said. “Primate vision is particularly good at close range.”

Early snakes killed their prey using surprise attacks and by suffocating them to death—the method of boa constrictors.

But the improved vision of primates, combined with other snake-coping strategies developed by other animals, forced snakes to evolve a new weapon: venom. This important milestone in snake evolution occurred about 60 million years ago.

“The [snakes] had to do something to get better at finding their prey, so that’s where venom comes in,” Isbell said.

“The snakes upped the ante and then the primates had to respond by developing even better vision.”

Once primates developed specialized vision and enlarged brains, these traits became useful for other purposes, such as social interactions in groups.

Seeing in 3D

Isbell’s new theory could explain how a number of primatedefining traits evolved.

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

For example, primates are among the few animals whose eyes face forward (most animals have eyes located on the sides of their heads). This so-called “orbital convergence” improves depth perception and allows monkeys and apes, including humans, to see in three dimensions. Primates also have better color vision than most animals and are also unique in relying heavily on vision when reaching and grasping for objects.

One of the most popular ideas for explaining how these traits evolved is called the “visual predation hypothesis.” It proposes that our early ancestors were small, insect eating mammals and that the need to stalk and grab insects at close range was the driving force behind the evolution of improved vision.

Another popular idea, called the “leaping hypothesis,” argues that orbital convergence is not only important for 3D vision, but also for breaking through camouflage. Thus, it would have been useful not only for capturing insects and finding small fruits, but also for aiming at small, hard-to-see branches during mid-leaps through trees.

But there are problems with both hypotheses, Isbell says.

First, there is no solid evidence that early primates were committed insectivores. It’s possible that like many primates today, they were generalists, eating a variety of plant foods, such as leaves, fruit and nectar, as well as insects.

More importantly, recent neuroscience studies do not support the idea that vision evolved alongside the ability to reach and grasp. Rather, the data suggest that the reachingand-grasping abilities of primates actually evolved before they learned to leap and before they developed stereoscopic, or 3D, vision.

Agents of evolutionary change

Isbell thinks proto-primates—the early mammals that eventually evolved into primates—were in better position compared to other mammals to evolve specialized vision and enlarged brains because of the foods they ate.

“They were eating foods high in sugar, and glucose is required for metabolizing energy,” Isbell said. “Vision is a part of the brain, and messing with the brain takes a lot of energy so you’re going to need a diet that allows you to do that.”

Modern primates are among the most frugivorous, or “fruit-

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loving,” of all mammals, and this trend might have started with the proto-primates. “Today there are primates that focus on leaves and things like that, but the earliest primates may have had a generalized diet that included fruits, nectar, flowers and insects,” she said.

Thus, early primates not only had a good incentive for developing better vision, they might have already been eating the high-energy foods needed to do so.

Testing the theory

Isbell says her theory can be tested. For example, scientists could look at whether primates can visually detect snakes more quickly or more reliably than other mammals.

Scientists could also examine whether there are differences in the snake-detecting abilities of primates from around the world.

“You could see whether there is any difference between Malagasy lemurs, South American primates and the African and Asian primates,” Isbell said.

Anthropologists have tended to stress things like hunting to explain the special adaptations of primates, and particularly humans, said Greene, the Cornell snake expert, but scientists are starting to warm to the idea that predators likely played a large role in human evolution as well.

“Getting away from things is a big deal, too,” Greene said in a telephone interview.

If snake and primate history are as intimately connected as Isbell suggests, then it might account for other things as well, Greene added.

“Snakes and people have had a long history; it goes back to long before we were people in fact,” he said. “That might sort of explain why we have such extreme attitudes towards snakes, varying from deification to “ophidiphobia,” or fear of snakes.

Than, Ker. (21 July 2006) “Fear of Snakes Drove Human Evolution” Live Science Retrieved July 21, 2006 from http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060721_snake_primate.html

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

Sea turtle dives in again. . . thanks to snorkelers smelling trouble

By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer

WAILEA – It took a village, almost, but the turtle who couldn’t pass gas was restored to his (or her, only another turtle knows the difference) element Wednesday after six weeks in rehab.

He (or she) is fine. A snorkeler who went into the water at Ulua Beach with the unnamed green sea turtle “couldn’t keep up” as the 110-pound creature took off, said Skippy Hau of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Green sea turtles are not endangered, officially, but they are threatened, so great efforts are made to rescue them when they get in trouble.

The usual problems, though, are disease or collisions with boats, not flatulence.

However, it was all in a day’s work for veterinarian Robert Morris, who tends to sick and injured turtles on Oahu on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

This story began on May 22, when beachgoers noticed a turtle off the Wailea Marriott that couldn’t dive to feed, sleep or avoid swimmers. It would attempt to dive when a swimmer approached but would pop back up. Normal turtles dive for lunch or rest and stay down many minutes.

Several snorkelers observing the animal’s odd predicament called county, state and federal agencies seeking someone who could help it.

Catching a hundred-pound, thrashing and bloated turtle without getting hurt or injuring the animal is a challenge.

But within a couple of days, a crew of turtle volunteers, including Grand Wailea sports specialist Bo Blinski and other water enthusiasts, managed to haul the animal into a Zodiac. It was taken to shore, packed up and flown to Oahu, where Morris diagnosed intestinal blockage and gas buildup.

Antibiotics and pool rest were prescribed.

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There was no particular difficulty in restoring the turtle to the wild, said Emily Carlson, the Marine Turtle Stranding

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Network coordinator for Maui.

After being flown back to Maui and trucked to the beach at Wailea, it sat calmly, though dozens of tourists pressed close for a look, while Hau gave a short explanation of what was happening. Let loose, it then galumphed down the sand and into its element, where it made off to cheers and applause from the crowd of admiring observers.

Carlson says she often ships turtles by air, but usually it’s of corpses that wash up on the beach. They are sent to Oahu for examination to determine cause of death.

In fact, since the custom turtle crate was on hand Wednesday, Hau took the opportunity to ship back a dead, frozen turtle he’d had on hand since last week. There’s no mystery what killed that one. It had propeller marks on the shell.

The animal that was returned to the sea Wednesday can be identified by a mark on the shell, 5A.

Carlson says volunteers for the stranding network, who keep an eye out for distressed turtles, are always needed. Call her at the Kihei office of the Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 879-2818.

Eagar, Harry. “Sea Turtle Dives In Again... Thanks to Snorklers Smelling Trouble” Maui News. Retrieved July 6, 2006 from http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=21263

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

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