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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.
also... Lizardkeepers.com | AprilFirstBioEngineering.com
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