kingsnake.com
Mark O'Shea
March 5, 2005

PHFaust: Good evening and on behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, thank you for joining us for our Sixth Annual Chat Week!

Tonight we are pleased to welcome Mark O'Shea, who really need no intro. :)

Back by popular demand! One of our most requested guests, Mark O'Shea has travelled to some of the world's most exotic locations, encountering some of the planet's deadliest and most fascinating reptiles and amphibians. From Arkansas to Argentina, India to Indonesia, and New Guinea to New Caledonia, Mark has come face to fang with king cobras, beaked seasnakes and silent rattlesnakes. He's got up close and personal with snapping turtles, snappy gators and cryptic crocs.

Thanks a lot Mark for spending some time with us this evening.

krn: ?

markoshea_nr: Big hello to everyone, especially Brian Potter the loudest marine I have ever met and my old friend Adam Britton

PHFaust: Geckogal you are first

herper4ever: ?

geckogal: Mark have you ever seen a leopard gecko in the wild and if so what was its natural habitat like

geckogal: and ps i love your show ehhe

markoshea_nr: No I haven't - they are found in pakistan, afghanistan, and iran and I haven't been to that part of the world yet

Heterodon62: ?

roxydementia: ?

markoshea_nr: ga

geckogal: o ok thnx

PHFaust: Krn your turn

krn: hey mark what inspired you to love reptiles so much and what was your first herp, have you ever caught a tegu in the wild

markoshea_nr: The thing that inspired me was their diversity and their success in a world of towering mammals...

krn: awsome

markoshea_nr: my first herp was a british grass snake, and I have caught a number of tegus in brazil and argentina. ga

krn: ok thanks mark your the best

markoshea_nr: your welcome

Herp-Keeper: ?

rockyballboa: ?

Slither66Wales: ?

PHFaust: ASton your turn

AstonPowders: have you ever thought of taking and aspiring herpetologists on any of your expeditions for a price, almost like a field trip? and if so, when would you be doing that?

HHFrog: ?

Adam Britton: ?

krn: ?

markoshea_nr: I suggested the idea to the film production company, the problem was one of insurance, but I am considering moving into the guided eco-tour area and have spoken to Bill Love about this

markoshea_nr: ga

PHFaust: Taylor

Taylor: soo mark when did you decide to become a herpetologist? ps: your show is the bomb!

yasmin_nr: ?

Wulf: ?

markoshea_nr: Thanks! I was interested in herps from an early age and kept them since I was 9. I have been a herpetologist ever since in some format. It wasn't a concious decison, it just happed. Thanks for the explosive compliment. ga

Taylor: awsome!

PHFaust: Svayking your turn

Taylor: your the man!

savannah_king: what was your favorite show uv done,whats ur favorite herp,wuts your favorite place, and do you keep any herps wut species of monitors have you cought and have you ever caught a savannah monitor

Wulf: Hi Mark is there something new on the findings of Antaresia at New Guinea?

snakemaster_nr: mark what is your favorite snake youve seen in the wild?

Slither66Wales: ?

markoshea_nr: Favorite show - I have different favorites for different reasons but the most important was Venom on the sri lankan snakeite situation...

markoshea_nr: Favorite snake - king cobra....

markoshea_nr: Favorite places Papua NG and Brazil...

markoshea_nr: All my herps live at the sfari park..

PHFaust: Amazing your turn

amazinglyricist: Hi, I was wondering what herps you keep yourself. Also how did you manage to get the job of hosting your own show working with animals like you do? Who are your biggest influences in working with herps?

markoshea_nr: I've caught many monitors including white throats but not savannah....

savannah_king: ok thanx ur show rox

markoshea_nr: GA

PHFaust: Mark in case you didnt see, the next question is.....

amazinglyricist: Hi, I was wondering what herps you keep yourself. Also how did you manage to get the job of hosting your own show working with animals like you do? Who are your biggest influences in working with herps?

markoshea_nr: I used to keep many herps. I have not kept herps at home for 10 years.....
alabamaherps_nr: have u ever been bitten by a venomous snake mark?

markoshea_nr: I had been involved with Natural History television since since 1986 and was asked to make the film about anacondas in 1996, the rest is history....

Slither66Wales: ?

markoshea_nr: Sir David Attenborough from the BBC and Prof. David

markoshea_nr: Warrell from Oxford University Dept of Medicein ( and Brian Potter!) GA

amazinglyricist: Thanks, keep up the good work. You're inspiring a new generation of herper.

yasmin_nr: ?

PHFaust: Rockyballboa your turn

rockyballboa: hey mark.On the show where you searched for the large anaconda,was it true that you never wanted too find it because the villagers would kill it or was that a excuse because you could not find it,i really like youre show,the best one was the one where you and friends where letting the spitting cobras spit at the glass.What is youre favorite non venomous snake,thanks

ilikesnakes7792: ?

snakeguy_nr: ?

boxturtle_nr: ?

snakemaster_nr: ?

markoshea_nr: The story we were told about that anaconda turned ou to be more myth than reality but had it existed there I think they would have killed it. I havent decided which is my favorite non-venomous snake. I will have to think abou that. GA

rockyballboa: thanks alot mark,keep up the great work.

markoshea_nr: your welcome

PHFaust: Treemonitor

treemonitors_com: Greetings Mark, during your stays in NG, have you ever encountered any members of the Varanus prasinus complex in the wild, and if so, in what situation did you encounter it in? As far as altitude, habitat and time of day..

JonnyAlbino: ?

markoshea_nr: yes I have - I have caught v. prasinus in madang in the monsoon forest and I saw a young specimen inwestern province in savannah woodland/monsoon forest on the edge. I have also caught v.doriae (the rblue tail) in western province

markoshea_nr: All lowland, all daytime

markoshea_nr: ga

treemonitors_com: ah, ok.. thanks a bunch

treemonitors_com: best of luck to you and your future endeavours

markoshea_nr: thank you

PHFaust: Taylor your question

Taylor: soo whats your most favorite reptile?

intothevoid_nr: ?

Mystical-Dragons: ?

markoshea_nr: favorite state king cobra - favorite croc - american alligator- lizard - monkeytail & crocodile skink, turtles mata matas and alligator snappers

markoshea_nr: GA

Taylor: sweet

rockyballboa: ?

PHFaust: Maly

Maliyum: How did you get intrested in reptiles? And have you seen a bearded dragon in the wild, how did it act? They are my favorite reptile right now! Thanks for you time& keep up the great work!

markoshea_nr: I have been to Australia 8-9 times but I remember seeing them in S. Australia . I saw a frilled lizard in New Guinea. You'd best ask Adam that later. GA

PHFaust: Krn your turn

markoshea_nr: I have always been interested in reptiles since I was 9. GA

Slither66Wales: ?

herper4ever: ?

Snakeking_nr: ?

yingyang_nr: ?

PHFaust: Krn Sold.... Kus your turn

kus: Hi Mark, thanks for your time. You've seen plenty of Tokay geckos in the wild, judging from the number you came across while filming, do you think that in the wild they are more aggressive than in captivity, or do they seem to generally keep their full natural aggressiveness? If they are worse they must be pretty nasty wild lol.

markoshea_nr: I was creeping up on a tokay on the side of a building in thailand and as I approached it I noticesced a I wasnt the only one, there was a big dog-toothed cat snake, a boiga, approaching from above, but the gecko saw me and neither of us caught it. They are agressive all the way around. GA

cwjgaboon: ?

kus: lol thnx a lot :)

kus: ?

PHFaust: OK Then Slither66

Slither66Wales: Mark,what is your opinion on some species of colubrid i.e. Thamnophis,Nerodia and Natrix having toxic salvia and do you believe more research is needed.also i believe you are allergic to equine anti venom so do you have to source sheep anti venom before a trip?

markoshea_nr: Many colubrids have these three finger toxins but not the means to deliver them to us or the toxins do not appear to effect us but more research is reqd. becaus ethe number of colubrids causing unpleasant bites has increased since schmidt was kllled by the boomslang in 57 and mertens by the twig snake in 75

markoshea_nr: I do have a problem with some equine anti-venom but for most locations that is the only choice available and for some species there is no anti-venom. GA

toxicman_nr: ?

Slither66Wales: thanks for your time and i love your shows keep them coming :)

PHFaust: Herper4ever

herper4ever: hey mark how are you and buna doing i hung out with you at the 2003 narbc i sat at your table with my dad now my question is has an albino dumeril boa ever been produced and where has your show been ? PS i still have the roasted ants you gave me they are quite the conversation peice

shogunatereptile: ?

Slither66Wales: ?

boxturtle_nr: ?

palex134: ?

markoshea_nr: I am fine and so is Bina. I don';t know on the dumerils, I have very little to do with the cultivars. My show is running in europe, and rest of the world at the moment , but not currently in the US I am afraid. Did you enjoy the ants?GA
punkherper: wow alot of people in here

herper4ever: ya tell her i sayed hi and thanx

herper4ever: my dad says hi too

PHGinger: THE QUEUE IS CLOSED TO QUESTIONS - WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT HOUR

PHFaust: Hetero your turn

Heterodon62: Have you ever been to Madagascar..if so what species of Uroplatus did you find.....Your show is awesome and i respect your work. Power to the herps!

CVReptiles: ?

markoshea_nr: Not yet but I am planning to go. Thanks!. GA

yasmin_nr: ?

PHFaust: Roxy

roxydementia: i have 9 years of breeding and rehab with all kinds of herps (30ish in my home now), i will graduate as a regestered vet tech this spring, what would a good next step to get to go out into the field for research as a career...and i was a drama geek in high school so i have to say your job is my dream job and you are great! PS if your ever in the charlotte NC and you want to have a pint with a (married) herper girl, ill buy all night just to hear your stories!

markoshea_nr: How can I turn an offer like that down...

markoshea_nr: I would look for a graduate program that is seeking volunteers for field studies. GA

PHFaust: Herpkeeper your turn

Herp-Keeper: Mark have you ever seen a group or even one Uromastyx Mali in the wild? and if so, whats its little "home" like? (ps: you keep saying GA after answering someone, what does it mean?)

markoshea_nr: Not Mali but I caught Uros in the Crocodile Canyon film in flat stony desert in mauritania ( the species was geyri). GA

Herp-Keeper: awsome

Herp-Keeper: thanks soooooooo much

PHFaust: GA Means go ahead

PHFaust: HHFrog your tyurn

HHFrog: Do you have an update on the green-blooded lizards episode? I know its old but it interested me.

CVReptiles: ?

markoshea_nr: I don't have an update but it is one of my favorite films for an update you to ask Dr. Chris Austin at the University of N.Dakota. He is the man when it comes to Prasinohaema. GA

HHFrog: ok thanks

PHFaust: One our our guests later this evening, Dr. Adam Britton your turn

Adam Britton: Good to see you Mark! Now, have you seen many (or any!) wild Tomistoma / False Gharials in your travels, and if so can you recall where exactly? (ie. river system, National Park). And if the answer is "no" or "I can't remember that!" then my other question is "have you seen any mound or hole nesting crocodilian species using the opposite nesting strategy in the wild or in captivity?" (acutus is known to do this within its range depending on various factors, for example)

PHFaust: Adam will be discussing crocodillians later this eveing....

markoshea_nr: I have seen true gharials in Nepal and Indian but no false Gharials in the wild. I have rarely been around during the breeding season. I have seen caiman and gator nest mounds and acutus but they had been scavenged by racoons. I will come out to NT and you can show me some good croc nests. GA

Adam Britton: Many thanks Mark - come out anytime mate!

PHFaust: KRN your turn

markoshea_nr: KRN

PHFaust: OK... still not there so we will skip to Yasmin

krn: what school of herpetolgy did you go to did you ever have a beardie

yasmin_nr: Hey Mark, have you ever thought about putting your shows together as a dvd boxset, i think theyl do well!

markoshea_nr: We don't have schools of herpetology in the UK and I have had a beardie ever since I could grow one.

krn: lol a bearded dragon

markoshea_nr: I thought about the DVD's many tiome and I have been told there is no market and I do not own the copyright on the films so I can't do anything with them myself. GA

yasmin_nr: thats a pity. and ill deffinitly look into that gradute program as well cheeers.
Leo_nr: lots of ppl

markoshea_nr: We have had them in the past but there are none in the safario park collection right now that I am aware of.

PHFaust: Wulf you r turn

Wulf: Hi Mark, are there any news on your finding of Antaresia at the Western Province in PNG? Any further information than the short note in the journals?

yasmin_nr: ?

markoshea_nr: A girl called tricia murphey was at the University of Cork and she did her thesis on Phelsuma and made to a trip to the Seychelles

CVReptiles: ?

PHGinger: THE QUEUE IS CLOSED

markoshea_nr: We published in Herpetological Review vol. 35 #3 Sept 2004. The specimen is in the national museum of Papua NG. It was a very important find. NG's 9th python but I haven't been able to get back out there since we were filming due to other commitments. GA

PHGinger: Digby you are next

Digby_Rigby_nr: Hello have you noticed any difference in the appearances of crocodile monitors and green tree monitors then trhe same species in other areas?

Digby_Rigby_nr: from Paupua I mean

yasmin_nr: ?

CVReptiles: !

Digby_Rigby_nr: Meaning crocodile monitors and green tree monitors from Papua as opposed to the ones from other areas

markoshea_nr: Both species are so little studied in the wild that it is hard to make much more than generalizations but talking to locals the croc monitors have a pref for buig hollow trees. Both are found in safvannah woodland but I think the GT monitor prefers monsoon and rain forest

markoshea_nr: of course they also differ in size color temperament and head shape'

Digby_Rigby_nr: how so?

markoshea_nr: GA
croc monitors v GT monitors

boxturtle_nr: ?

markoshea_nr: GA

PHFaust: Ilikesnakes

treemonitors_com: good question Digby

PHFaust: OK> snake guy your turn

PHFaust: ALrighty lets try box turtle

PHGinger: BOX TURTLE - YOUR TURN

boxturtle_nr: hi have u ever kept box turtles

boxturtle_nr: and if so what kind and what should i include on there diet?

markoshea_nr: No I am afraid I have not kept box turtles. I would recommend you ask this question in the box turtle forum on kingsnake.com or buy a good book. GA

yasmin_nr: i saw in one of your shows that you have the book, field guide to snakes & other reptiles of SA by Bill Branch, i have it too its great! is there any other book that you recommend as a good read?!?

boxturtle_nr: THANKS A LOT :)

PHFaust: into the void

intothevoid_nr: if you could solve any mystery in the herp world( uknown cause of disease, breeding habits etc.) what would you choose and why?

markoshea_nr: How to produce an inexpensive and readily available antivebnom that could be kept at room temp and had a long shelf life w/no unpleasant side effects and could treat a multitude of snake bites. At the moment maybe 40,000 people die a year worldwide and the number is likely to increase as the big dru comapnies pull out of producing antivenom for the 3rd world. GA
"
PHFaust: Mystical

intothevoid_nr: k ty

PHFaust: cv' your turn

CVReptiles: Mark,Do you have experience with Kimberly Rock Monitors or other goannas ?

CVReptiles: If so,what species and have you ever kept them as captives ?

markoshea_nr: I have caught alot of different monitors in w. australis(5 or 6 species, if not more) but I don't bring anything back, and I don't have a personal collection anymore.

CVReptiles: have you ever captured Kimberly Rock Monitors ?

markoshea_nr: I have caught kimberley's, ridgetails, and mertens water monitiros in the kimberly range but I couldn't catch the black palms, they were too fast. GA

PHFaust: Snakeking

Snakeking_nr: Hey Mark, thanks for your time :) What is your favorite country to go to? And I think the market for a DVD boxed set would be tremendous!! What kind of boas have you caught? BCI? BCC?

markoshea_nr: I have caught B.c.c. in several countries, peruvian red tails, 5 ssp. of Epicrates, also cooks and garden trees, and B.c.i., and anacondas, pacific boas, and 1 rosy boa. Quite a few. GA

PHFaust: And the last question of the evening goes to shogun

shogunatereptile: Hey Mark- I'm a huge fan. You're actually my hero in many ways. Anyway, I'm curious. I'm in 10th grade, and basically want to do what you do when I'm older. How would I got about doing what you do? What college courses should I take, and at which colleges? And, is there any way for me to do research with you for college when I get there?

markoshea_nr: I am not currently teaching at any colleges, and I am in the UK but for someone interested in academic herpetoly I would say the US is the best place to start because many universties have top fl;ight herpetoloigists on the their teaching staff and excellent herp courses. But of course their is also a lot of competition for places . You need biology and zoology courses, and maybe languages if you pland to work abroad

markoshea_nr: Thanks for having me, its now 1:45 am here and its time for me to go toi sleep. I will see you next at the NARBC in anaheim california

LadyLuvsReptiles: Goodnight Mark and thanks.

PHGinger: Thank you Mark!

shogunatereptile: Thanks Mark!

AstonPowders: thanks!

Slither66Wales: thanks mark

PHJoker: Thanks Mark

sam_nr: cheers mark

krn: your the bst mark your my hero

markoshea_nr: Good nite all

boxturtle_nr: THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snakeking_nr: thanks a ton Mark!!

krn: bravo bravo !!!!!

PHFaust: Mark, on behalf of all of us at Kingsnake.com, thank you so much for being our guest tonight! Thank you to all who joined us tonight as well.

Please be sure to join us next for The Boaphile himself Jeff Ronne and following Jeff, Adam Britton.