Vol. 29 (2009), No. 12

MI ESOTA HERP TOLOGICAL SOCIETY EWSL TTER

ZooMed goodies ... page 4

Speaker Review.lI.page 7

Venom Week DVD available, find out how to get yours ... page 9

R.I.P. Claire ... Memorial page 5

December 2009

Volume 29

Number 12

MHS Board of Directors

Minnesota Herpetological Society

President Jennifer Hensley Starbrst72@mns.com

763.862.8966

December 2009

Vice President David Dewitt Ddewitt777@comcast.net

651.983.8272

MHS Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

Group Email: HTTP://WWW.GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/ MNHERPSOC

The purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to: 763.593.5414 CD

Treasurer Nancy Haig nanchaig@citilink.com

763.434.8684

Newsletter Editor Kathy Claugherty iwannaiguana@gmail.com

651.771.2267

.. ..

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.

Members at Large Heather Clayton heethuh@netzero.com Jeff LeClere Reptilia74@aol.com

Number 12

MHS Web Page: HTTP://WWW.MNHERPSOC .ORG

Recording Sectretary Jenna Rypka-Hauer Justna_na@yahoo.com Membership Secretary Ellen Heck Inheck@msn.com

Volume 29

651.488.6388

Chris Smith Chris.smith.mhs@gmail.c9m Jared Rypka-Hauer jared@web-relevant.com

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 7:09pm and lasts about three hours. Please check the website for changes in schedules路'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.

Committees Adoption Chair Sarah Richard realsarah@aol.com

612.781.9544

Education Chair Jan Larson Jan .skunkhollow@juno.com

507.263.4391

Web Master Anke Reinders theMHSwebmaster@yahoo.com Library Carmelita Pfar

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 Please send email toiwannaiguana@gmail.com

漏 Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 2009. Contents may be reproduced for non-profit use provided that all material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given authors and the MHS Newsletter citing; volume, number, and date.

Cover Photo: Claire, by Anke Reinders

Snake Bite Emergency Hennepin Regional Poison Center 800.222.1222

Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society December 2009 Volume 29 Number 12

alander of vents December Meeting Speaker Kate Jackson Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Whitman College Author, Teacher, Consultant, Researcher Friday night she will be reading from her book, "Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo"

Then ...

Join your fellow members for an evening of good food and ,HoligaySpirits at th.eannual MHS Holiday Potluck Dinner Saturday December 5th 2009 6:00 PM .. 10:00 PM at the Fridley VFW 1040 Osborne Rd NE Fridley, MN 55432 Our guest speaker will be Kate Jackson and her topic will be "How Snakes Eat and Why" .

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January's speaker will be Marc Bailey

It's not too soon to be thinking about the White Snake Sale and what your will donate. Check out the next page for more of what ZooMed has donated to MHS. 3

Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

December 2009 Volume 29 Number 12

I have compiled a list of the items ZooMed has so generously donated to MHS. We are saving them for our annual White Snake Sale in April. Drool now, bid later. Thank you Ellen Heck for storing these items and making the inventory.

The Editor ReptiSun Bulb .. 24", 5.0 UVB, 28 watt ReptiSun Bulb .. 18",10.0 UVB, 15 wat~ TurtleTuff splash-proof halogen lamp/~ 75 watt Halogen lamp .. 75 watt 501 30 gal external filter 501 filter holder 2 bottles WipeOut cleaner floating turtle log .. large mini floating dock heat cable - 11.5 ft, 15 watt 2 Bug Buddies insect traps ReptiBreeze Open Air black aluminum screen cage .. small 16"x16"x20" Shirts .. XL Purple (1) 2XL Black (3) Brown (1) ,,-

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Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society December 2009 Volume 29 Number 12

In

emory of Claire, by Anke Reinders

Claire was adopted from the MHS in January 2002. She was the second iguana we adopted and the third one to join our household. We didn't really want another iguana but when nobody stepped forward we decided that we would just have to find a place for another cage. When we adopted her Claire was already a mature animal and while we did not know her exact age we estimated her to be at least 5 years old but possibly older. She was the nicest, most gentle iguana one could imagine, very easy to handle, never aggressive.

In the summer she enjoyed being outside in our iguana enclosure, which she shared most of the time with another female iguana, named Tex. Tex was the opposite in temperament to Claire, but the two got along just fine. Every evening they would have a quiet competition for the most popular sleeping branch, sometimes Claire won, sometimes Tex. Claire laid eggs every year, in the spring. This year she never laid eggs but she also never recovered from the egg-induced anorexia. She had successful surgery to remove her ovaries but never regained her appetite. We are grateful to Dr. Amy Kizer for her excellent medical care and for letting us decide when to let go. We are grateful for having had Claire with us for close to 8 years. Our guess is that she was between 13 and 18 years old when she died this September. Even throughout her medical treatments she remained as friendly as ever. She is survived by her two iguana buddies Spock (approx. 13) and Ed (approx. 5), both also MHS alumni.

1. Claire (right) and Tex (left) in their outside enclosure. Tex has taken the prize spot.

5

Newsletter of the Minnestoa Herpetological Society

December 2009 Volume 29

Number 12

Claire graced the cover of the May 2003 MHS Newsletter, the same photo that is on this edition. That photo was the 2003 Peoples Choice Winner.

In this photo she is enjoying a quiet Sunday morning with Anke, her human companion.

Claire will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.

August 8,,2009 Meeting MHS Board of Directors Board PresentJennifer Hensley,. KaJhyClaugh.e~y,Jared Rypka-Hquer, Jeff LeClere l Nancy Haig, Ellen Heck, Heather Clayton, Jenna Rypka-Hauer',' .;. " ",' :,. .. . " .

Absent: Chris Smith, Dave Dewitt Non-Board Present: Jamie Pastika The meeting was called to order at 6:23pm.

Opening remarks - August membership meeting had 99 counted in attendance.

Secretary's Report The minutes were read. Motion to accept the minutes as read: Jeff, 2nd :Heather. Motion passed.

Treasurer's Report Report was reviewed.

Vice President's Report Report was reviewed; Membership Report Report was reviewed.

Old Business Volunteer awards - Nancy moves to order 80 beer glasses with a blue logo for the volunteer awards. Ellen 2nd . Motion passed.

Symposium - Next year the committees will be reporting every month.

New Business White Pages Missing Phone Numbers - Discussed options of fixing the problem. We will print up a list of those people who wanted their phone numbers and emails out and have them available for pick up at the general meetings. There will be a notice printed in the September newsletter.

Motion to adjourn: Heather, 2nd:Jared.

Meeting adjourned at 9:37pm.

6

Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

December 2009

Volume 29

Number 12

Paternal Care Behaviors in the Green and Black Dart-poison Frog (Dendrobates auratus) with notes on Captive Care Speaker Review by Jenna Rypka-Hauer Dr. Benjamin K Chan spoke for us at the November membership meeting. He is a graduate of the University of Utah, receiving his PhD in

2008. He has been an amphibian hobbyist and did his graduate work on Dedrobates auratus, the green and black dart-poison frog.

Parental care behaviors are behaviors that the parents do to make an investment in their offspring. These behaviors also have costs. Some of the costs to the parents include energy spent, increased vulnerability to predation and a decrease in their ability to produce offspring in large numbers.

Parental care behaviors benefit the offspring in ways including decreased developmental time and increased safety from predators.

Parental care behaviors are very wide spread throughout the animal kingdom and have evolved numerous times, independently. There are three types of behaviors, those performed by the male, those performed by the female and those that both sexes are involved with.

All 41 species of Dendrobatidae have all three types of parental care. The courtship begins with a hidden male making vocalizations. When the female finds the male, an extensive courtship including more vocalizations and touching can last for 10 hours. If it is successful, an average of six eggs are laid in leaf litter. The male then tends them for 10-14 days. After hatching, he finds small bodies of water in bromeliads and broken bamboo, for instance, for the tadpoles to mature in and brings them there. The female then lays an unfertilized egg in the water for the tadpoles to eat.

There are many traits that make the green and black dart-poison frogs desirable for captive care. They are brightly colored, active during the day and simple to care for. They are bold little animals that reproduce readily and their extensive courtship rituals and activities while caring for their young make them fun to watch.

To create your own vivarium, you need to first select the enclosure. A 10 gallon tank is suitable for a pair. When choosing decorations, be sure that they fit before trying to establish the plants. Dendrobates like epiphytic plants so they can have little pools of water to deposit their tadpoles in.

As you're finishing the enclosure, a screen top will prevent humidity build up and condensation on the glass so you will be able to enjoy watching your frogs.

Dendrobates auratus are native to an area from southern Nicaragua to northern Columbia. They were also imported into Hawaii in 1932 for mosquito control because the tadpoles eat mosquito larvae. Dr. Chan worked with the Hawaiian frogs to determine proper microhabitat for designing a vivarium. There are different amounts of water in the bromeliads and they are also at different temperatures. He did a number of experiments to determine what the frogs prefer in choosing a place for the tadpoles to mature.

In the experiments, Dr. Chan used small cups for the little pools of water for the tadpoles, which he was able to vary the conditions of. It was found that the volume of water in a pool did not matter and the males did not prefer a particular volume over another. They also didn't show a preference the amount of food in the water. He did discover that the frogs chose a specific temperature water pool to move the tadpoles to, and they also preferred empty pools over ones that had tadpoles in them already.

When given the choice between cups that were of temperatures of 22, 26 and 30 degrees Celsius, the frogs chose the 26 degree one most of the time. This preference/was more important than having an empty pool and if tpere was already a tadp91e in the 26 degree cup, he would put another one there instead of an empty cup of a different temperature. "It was found that temperature affects the speed of matoration and the tadpoies reached maturity fastest when they were at 26 degrees. Also, it was found that the survival rate of the tadpoles was the best at 26 degrees.

It was also found that when the male frogs were allowed to deposit all of the tadpoles in a clutch, he always chose the empty cup, regardless of its location, or if it had tadpoles from the same clutch or unrelated tadpoles in it already. When there were two tadpoles in the same container with unlimited food, there was high rates of cannibalism and aggression, both with siblings and unrelated animals.

Dr. Chan also discovered that when two tadpoles matured in the same cup, they looked different than animals raised alone. He took pictures of the frogs and drew a line down the center of their back, and created a mirror image of their right side. When he compared that to the actual left side he found that singly housed tadpoles had the most symmetric markings and those raised with others had more asymmetrical patterns. This difference in bilateral symmetry might be attributed to developmental stress, which can be demonstrated in humans. Comparing frogs native to Panama to those of Hawaii, it was seen that the Panamanian frogs had symmetry similar to the singly raised tadpoles in Dr. Chan's experiments. The Hawaiian frogs were more asymmetrical, like those raised with other tadpoles. Many questions are raised by these observations, such as population density being higher in Hawaii. Differences in symmetry may also be used to measure habitat quality.

Dr. Chan also talked about Chytridiomycosis, a disease that has been wrecking havoc in the amphibian world. Amphibians are declining at an alarming rate with 32% of the species are threatened and another 43% are in decline. There are many reasons for this, including disease, habitat destruction, alteration and fragmentation, and introduced species such as the American bullfrog. Amphibians are also overexploited for medicinal purposes, and in the food and pet trade. Changes in climate, UV-B radiation and chemical contaminants all work together with the other causes for a devastating synergistic effect.

Batrachochytrium dentrobatidis (Bd) was recognized in 1998 as a source of population decline. Bd attacks the keratin layer of the skin resulting in a fatal ion imbalance that leads to cardiac arrest. They also have difficulties shedding, and become unable to right themselves if they get tipped over.

There are a few species that are resistant to Bd, such as the American bullfrog. There are also symbiotic bacteria that protect some species of salamanders. Dr. Chan wanted to engineer the cutaneous bacteria of susceptible amphibians into something that is resistant to Bd. He isolated Bd resistant bacteria from the American bullfrog and isolated a plasmid responsible for the resistance, which he inserted into Bd susceptible bacteria. Bd susceptible frogs were recolonized with the changed bacteria and then infected with Bd. The survival rate was 90%.

In the future Dr. Chan will be surveying the cutaneous microbes of amphibians from three different areas in the world with help from National Geographic, so that he can continue with his work in battling the devastating effects of Bd on the amphibian population.

7

Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

December 2009

Volume 29

Number 12

Light and Heat in Reptile Enclosures It is well known that reptilian species require special heating and lighting considerations in captivity. The requirements vary species to species and it can be confusing to understand what your particular reptile needs. The following is a brief list of the different types of heat and light sources that are available and why they are important.

Most reptile enthusiasts know that a range in temperature in the animal's enclosure is better than a constant temperature. This range is called the preferred optimal temperature zone or POTZ. The POTZ will vary based on which species you are interested in, but in general the POTZ ranges in temperature from room temperature (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit) to a basking site with a temperature of 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit. There are a number of products available for creating a basking temperature. Most reptile experts recommend providing the heat source as an overhead radiant source. There are both light emitting and non-light emitting heat sources available for reptiles. Be sure that your light fixture is rated for whichever wattage bulb you choose. Incandescent reptile bulbs are probably the most popular source of light emitting heat. It is important that light emitting bulbs are not on 24 hours a day as a constant light source is stressful to reptiles. A light/dark cycle is important for optimal husbandry (nocturnal reptiles have different requirements of course!). Non-light emitting heat sources can be used to maintain the POTZ at night. These include infra-red bulbs, ceramic bulbs (require a specific fixture), and under the tank heaters. Never use heat rocks in a reptile enclosure as they can cause serious burns.

Some species of reptiles also require a special spectrum of light called UVB in order to process vitamin D. Vitamin D is critical in the animal's ability to properly uptake calcium in the body. The most popular reptiles with this requirement are iguanas and chameleons. UVB is also recommended for most turtle and tortoise species. Snakes do not require UVB as they are carnivores that get vitamin D from their prey diet. The best source of UVB is natural sunlight so it is recommended to allow these species to bask in natural sunlight when safely possible. It is important to note that UVB cannot be produced by an incandescent bulb so a full spectrum incandescent bulb is a misnomer.

UVA light is also important in reptiles in it affects how color is visualized. Not providing UVA can cause stress and is especially important when trying to breed certain species. Most ultraviolet lights produce both UVA and UVB. Be sure to choose a bulb that is made specifically for reptiles. Avoid aquarium bulbs or other household bulbs. It should also be noted that UV bulbs will loose their effectiveness over time so it is recommended to change bulbs at least every 6 months.

The distance the light is from the animal is also important. If the fixture is too far away from the reptile the amount of UVB reaching the animal will be too low to be effective. It is recommended that the light source be no further than 18 inches from the animal.

One final note is to always be aware of potential fire hazards when using multiple heat and light fixtures on your reptile's enclosure.

Dr. Amy Kizer is a veterinarian at Lexington Pet Clinic in Eagan. She has a special interest in reptiles and fish and is also the veterinarian for Underwater Adventures at Mall of America. She can be reached at 651-452-5450 or dr.kizer@ lexingtonpetclinic. com

November Adoptions 5 Red Eared Sliders 2 Painted Turtles 2 Ball Pythons 2 Bearded Dragons 4 ft Alligator Sarah Richard Adoption Chair

8

Remember, to adopt, you must be an MHS member in good standing. Other criteria include, but are not limited to: regular meeting and hands on attendance, familiarity with herp to be adopted, or herps in general, and use of quarantine protocols.

Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

December 2009

Volume 29

Number 12

CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT The Center for North American Herpetology Lawrence, Kansas http://www.cnah.org 27 October 2009 THE VENOM WEEK 2009 DVD IS NOW AVAILABLE Venom Week 2009 is over, but the DVD of Venom Week 2009 is now available and includes almost all of the presentations, posters, abstracts, sights, and sounds. If you have an interest in things venomous, this DVD will be an invaluable update of the cutting edge of toxicological knowledge, and a valuable learning tool for emergency physicians, toxicologists, fellows-in-training, basic scientists, animal workers, and herpetologists.

The DVD includes nearly 60 scientific presentations and all net revenue from DVD sales will be applied toward future Venom Week Symposia. If you attended, revisit the presentations that were most interesting to you. If you didn't attend, now's your chance to catch up.

The Venom Week 2009 DVD can be ordered from: http://hsc.unm.edu/conf/venomweek2009/ See you at Venom Week 2011. Check the website for updates.

Steven A. Seifert, MD Medical Director New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center MSC095080 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001 (505) 272-4261 sseifert@salud.unm.edu Submitted by Jim Soos

9

Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

Classifie

December 2009

Volume 29

Number 12

dvertising English Spot

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Wanted: Garage to rent. Prefer detatched, and must be secure. Location is open, but western suburbs would be great. Call Gordon at 612-860-0331.

10

Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New

Name _________________________________________________________________

Renewal

Others on membership _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Membership #

Address ______________________________________________________________

Type

City, State, Zip _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Check #

Phone# _______________ List in directory?

Yes

~E~m~a~il

________________________________________

No

Herp related interests _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/year) Contributing ($40/year) Basic ($20/year) Corresponding Memberships: Commercial ($25/year, 2 business card ads/year) Required check info. Drivers Lic#

State

DOB

Please enclose the proper payment with your application.

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 55405. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.

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 run (3) consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmitted.

Display Ad Rates: Ad Size per Month ~ page $10.00 % page $20.00 Full page $40.00 Business card advertisements may be purchased at $5.00 per ad, per month.

Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Editor, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Deadline is the night of the General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Make checks payable to: Minnesota Herpetological Society

Rats!

MHS Rodent Orders Mice Pinkies: Fuzzies: Hoppers: Adults:

Rats $7/dz $7/dz $8/dz $10/dz

Weaned: $ 17/dz Sm. Adults: $18/dz Med Adults:$24/dz Lg Adults: $30/dz Jumbo: $36/dz

For pick-up at monthly meetings only! Orders must be placed 10 days in advance of the meeting in order to guarantee availability-Orders may be placed at the meeting for the following months order, or by emailing your request to: rodentorders@yahoo.com

Minnesota Herpetological Society Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 2275

Address Service Requested Mem# 152 Exp: 11/1/2010 Sally Brewer-Lawrence 1990 Iglehart Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104

Next Meeting:

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Friday December 4, 2009 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U ofM St. Paul Campus

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MHS Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

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