Vol. 32 (2012), No. 11

the newsletter of the

Minnesota Herpetological Society

Board Elections are Here!

Contents Speaker: Glenn “Jake� Jacobson on his trip to the Galapagos October Speaker Recap: Amphibians and Reptiles Native to Minnesota

November 2012

Volume 32

Number 11

B OA R D OF DI R E C TOR S President Christopher E Smith president@mnherpsoc.com

C/O Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455-0104

651.315.7760

Vice President Dāv Kaufman 612.669.4567 vicepresident@mnherpsoc.com Recording Secretary Ellen Heck recsecretary@mnherpsoc.com

763.593.5414

Membership Secretary Heather Clayton 612.886.7175 memsecretary@mnherpsoc.com Treasurer Nancy Haig treasurer@mnherpsoc.com

Stay informed! Join us on our forums!

And, you can still leave us a Voice Mail: 612.326.6516

November 2012

Newsletter Editor Christopher Rueber 952.594.0101 newslettereditor@mnherpsoc.com Members at Large Jeff LeClere 651.488.6388 memberatlarge4@mnherpsoc.com

Number 11

THE PURPOSE OF THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS TO • • •

763.434.8684

Volume 32

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 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.

Jacob Mee memberatlarge1@mnherpsoc.com

SUBMISSIONS TO THE NEWSLETTER

Beth Girard 612.616.8431 memberatlarge2@mnherpsoc.com

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 elec- tronic file format if possible.

See inside back cover for ad rates. Submissions may be sent to:

Peter Tornquist memberatlarge3@mnherpsoc.com

COMMITTEES Adoption Sarah Richard RealSarah@aol.com

612.781.9544

Education Jan Larson jan.skunkhollow@juno.com

507.263.4391

The Minnesota Herpetological Society -or- newslettereditor@mnherpsoc.com Attn: Newsletter Editor C/O Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104

SNAKE BITE EMERGENCY

Library Nancy Haig 763.434.8684 nanchaig@citilink.com Cover Photo Credit: Christopher E. Smith Upper Left is a Mink Frog (Lithobates septentrionalis) Upper Right is an Eastern Grey Treefrog (Hyla Veriscolor) Bottom is a Copperhead (Agkistrodon Contortrix)

HENNEPIN REGIONAL POISON CENTER 800-222-1222 © Copyright 2012, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noted, contents may be reproduced for non-profit, non-commercial use only. All material must be reproduced without change.

Proper credit will be given including the author/photographer and the Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

November 2012

Volume 32

Number 11

General Meeting Presentation - Friday, November 2nd - Starting at 7 P.M. University of MN - St. Paul Campus, Borlaug Hall, Room 335 John Moriarty will be presenting on...

A Trip ot the Galapagos And, in case you missed the September general meeting, here is a recap just for you!

Amphibians and Reptiles Native to Minnesota

By Ellen Heck The speaker for October was John Moriarty, a long-time MHS member. In 1994, along with Barney Oldfield (a former MHS member) John published the book Amphibians and Reptiles Native to Minnesota. It was, as the title implies, devoted to the reptiles and amphibians found in Minnesota.

However, since it was published, data has been updated and new species discovered. For the last several years John has been working with Carol Hall of the Department of Natural Resources on an updated version. This book, to be called Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota, is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2014.

Since the publication of the original book, several new species have been discovered. These include the four-toed salamander, which was discovered in Itasca County the same month the book was published. The spotted salamander was discovered a few years later. The common musk turtle has also been added as well as the pond slider (aka redeared slider) although neither of these is considered native. They are pet releases, but the slider at least has established populations in Minnesota, although it remains to be seen if they can breed effectively this far north.

Another reason for updating the book is that so many species have been renamed and/or re-classified. The re-classification is due in large part to DNA testing, re-establishing links between species genetically instead of empirically. There is also a trend towards abolishing sub-species. Animals are

either considered one species, if they are similar enough, or broken out as their own species if they are not. It has also been determined that the species and sub-species cannot have the same name; hence a lot of name changes.

Examples of this are what is now known as the Blanchard’s cricket frog, the plains hognose and the snapping turtle, no longer “common”. The “common map turtle” is now the northern map turtle, as further south the southern map turtle is more common. A major change is the re-classification of ratsnakes. As they are found all over the world, in North and Central American elaphe has been renamed pantherophis.

The distribution charts are also being updated, doing away with old records and incorporating newer ones. For charting records, the larger northern counties have been sub-divided to put their area on par with the smaller southern counties. Identification charts have been expanded and many new photos have been added, showing not just adult specimens but juveniles as well as their habitat.

More history has been included. In the first book John and Barry started in the in early 1930’s.

However, turtle and rattlesnake depictions are found in Minnesota petroglyphs and evidence of turtle shells found in graves dating back 8000 years or more. There is also more information related to the early explorers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

November 2012

Volume 32

Number 11

Webmaster Needed!

The MHS is seeking 1-2 people familiar with website maintenance. People should have some html experience.

Experience using Drupal is a plus! Please e-mail Chris with questions.

Library Help Needed!

We are also looking for help with the library during the monthly meeting.

President@mnherpsoc.com www.mnherpsoc.com

Meeting Minutes / Financials Notice

Banquet Help Needed!

No board meeting was held in October.

Financials were unavailable, but will be posted in an upcoming newsletter.

The MHS Holiday Banquet is upon us! Help is needed! Please contact Chris Smith for details and to volunteer!

MHS Committee Reports Due Committee Chairs should submit their year-end reports to the MHS President by February 1st.

Thanks!

Chris Smith president@mnherpsoc.com

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October Adoption Report

Posted by Beth Girard, Written by Chris Rueber 1 American Alligator, 1 Frog, 2 Bearded Dragons, 1 Fence Lizard, 1 Sulcata (large), 4 Red-eared Sliders, 1 California King snake, 1 Ball Python, 1 Corn Snake

Returning from foster care:

2 Common Boas (apx 6-7’), 2 Corn Snakes, 1 Ball Python, 2 Green Iguanas

Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New

Name

Renewal

Address

Membership #

City, State, Zip Phone Email List in MHS Directory? Yes No Contact information only? Yes No

Type

Herp related interests

Check #

Active Memberships: Sustainin ($60/year) Contributing ($40/year) Basic ($20/year) Printed Newsletter ($5/year plus membership) 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, C/O BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.

Rodents! Order online!

Did you know you can order online? By phone?

See below!

MICE

Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adults Jumbo Adult

WEIGHT 2-3 grams 5-7 grams 8-11 grams 25-30 grams 45+ grams

PRICE

$7 / dz $7 / dz $8 / dz $10 / dz $14 / dz

RATS

WEIGHT

PRICE

Weanlings Small Adults Med Adults Large Adults Jumbo

40-50 grams 50-60 grams 125-150 grams 200-240 grams 250-350 grams

$17/dz $18 / dz $24 / dz $30 / dz $36 / dz

For pick-up at monthly meetings only. Orders may be placed the following ways 1. At the meeting for the following Month 2. Online at http://mnherpsoc.com/content/rodent-orders 3. Calling the MHS voicemail: 612.326.6516 Orders MUST be placed 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE of the date of meeting in order to guarantee availability.

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

Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Membership Secretary at the general meeting or mailed to: Minnesota Herpetological Society, C/O 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.

Advertising Costs Size

Business Card Sized 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page

Cost

$5/month or $55/year* $10/month or $110/year* $20/month or $220/year* $40/month or $440/year*

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY C/O BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH ST SE MINNNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104

Next Meeting:

Friday - November 2nd - 7:00 pm Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

MHS Voice Mail: 612.326.6516 MHS Web Page: www.mnherpsoc.com

This newsletter is printed on recycled paper