The Monitor

November, 2007

From the Editor's Desk

Newsletter Material

This is YOUR club. The more you give into it, the more you will get out of it. Your opinions, suggesions and submissions are welcome. You may submit articles by email before the 10th of the month to luvcatz5@aol.com

Byron Kindig is in charge of the e-mail list. If you are not on it and want to be, contact byron@paraisoenterprises.com

President: Logan Randolph
Vice-President: Michele Patton
Secretary: Carrie Gardner Treasurer: Doreen E. Saccardo
Chairman of the Board: John Soto
Editor: Carrie Gardner
Co-Editor: Doreen Saccardo
Field Trip Chair: Doreen Saccardo
Webmaster: Carrie Gardner
Administrative Assistant Alexander Peters

NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
John and Laura Paner from Croc Encounters
7:00 p.m. Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Clearwater, FL 727-462-6024
~~~~~~~~DON'T MISS IT~~~~~~~~

Alton of Smelt Feed and Pet Supply is donating a #15.00 gift certificate every month for our raffle. His store is located at 4116 East 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, 813-248-2359

If you would like to receive the League of Florida Herpetological Societies newsletter, it is now online. You can contact Victor at . Make sure he has your correct email address and don't forget to mention that you are affiliated with the Suncoast Herp Society.

Web Page info: Calendar page is updated all the time as is Adoptions and Advertisements.

If you would like to receive updates on the website via email, please scroll down to the bottom of the home page and join Yahoo! Groups. Choose to receive email or daily digest. I send out an email to the list every time a change is made.

If you have photos you would like added to the "Club Photos" page, please email Carrie to have them added.

Carrie's Notes

IMPORTANT INFO ALERT!! If you go to the Adoptions/Advertisements page on our website, you will find info on a place that takes in unwanted large reptiles (iguanas, tortoises, etc.). They are located in Nebraska, but assured us that they have the proper facilities and permits. They will even help with shipping costs. If you know of anyone who needs to find a home for a big reptile, please give them our website information.

Hidey Ho fellow herpers! I have a correction from last month's newsletter...the paragraph starting with "Also be aware of what species you mix...."was not very clear. I meant to say that sulcatas and Greek tortoises are very territorial and should not be kept together.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for living in this country!

REPTILES OF SPECIAL CONCERN: I called FWC about the reptiles of special concern...there are 6 animals: reticulated python, Burmese python, African rock python, amethystine python, green (not yellow) anaconda, and the Nile monitor. As of January 1, 2008, you must have a permit to own the above mentioned animals. The permits are combined with the Venomous animal application on FWC. The cost is $100.00, and this is whether you have one or 100. Dealers MUST see the permit before selling an animal to a person, and the Dealer is responsible for keeping records of who they sold what too (in other words, you should have documentation of the name, address, permit #, etc. and what animal you sold too). Also in effect Jan 1. is microchipping reptile of special concern that is over two and a half inches in diameter. That will be enforced on July 1, 2009 more strictly.

RED-EARED SLIDERS: As of right now, there is no rescue for red-eared sliders. However, I spoke to Jenny Novak from FWC and they are working on an adoption network for hopefully the beginning of next year. As of right now, they only option available for unwanted turtles is euthanizing.

The Reptile Shack - I discovered a wonderful reptile store on Hwy. 92 East in Lakeland. They have everything you can imagine...water monitors, gila monsters, and they even had a western diamondback and an eastern diamondback! If you're interested in checking the place out, it's The Reptile Shack, 3632 US Hwy. 92 E, Lakeland, FL 33801. Their phone number is 863-606-0223, and their hours are Tues-Sat: 11-6; Sunday 12-5. They also take in unwanted reptiles.

Doreen's Column

Hi there~~~

*****Last month the guest speaker was Dustin Smith from Busch Gardens. I know Carrie had a laborious time writing the speaker recap cause the tape recorder accidentally got turned off, but with the collaborated help of Michele, Dustin and the website, I think she got it all together. Look for her recap in the newsletter.

*****Thank you for continuing to pray for my sister.

*****Thanks to Donnetta Hester who agreed to make the monthly calls. So you will be hearing from her this month. This really helps me a lot. Thanks again.

*****Xan is doing an excellent job in being a greeter and handing out the forms to the new people. He also helped with the raffle. All these things seem little, but they really do help me a lot and I appreciate the enthusiasm.

*****The Florida League of Herp. Societies newsletter will be electronically generated and on the website from now on. I miss the newsletter in print. I still have not seen the newsletter on the computer. Every time I search, the site says, "still under construction." Vic is requesting articles, and photos to be submitted. His email address is victorb@viperfx.com. Make sure he has your correct email address and don't forget to mention that you are affiliated with the Suncoast Herp. Society.

*****November 21, 2007 our guest speakers will be John and Laura Paner from Croc Encounters. They usually bring a HUGE animal. Don't miss this one. We might even talk them into letting us visit their facility soon. That should be awesome.

*****I hope everyone has a blessed holiday on Thursday. Don't forget to be thankful for everything that is good. Some people will go hungry, some people don't have a roof over their head, some people don't even have a reptile club to attend!!!

*****For the first time in about 100 years, I missed a reptile meeting. If you have seen me lately, you would have noticed I was walking with quite a pronounced limp. On October 15, 2007 I underwent surgery for a total right hip replacement. I must have been hitting the pain pills early, cause I put the wrong date for the meeting in last month's newsletter and in the newspaper blurb, but I understand things went extremely well in my absence. Thanks everyone for doing a terrific job. (See, you guys don't really need me there)

*****Kirk Burness is a new member and he wants to know if there is a list of members with what they have so other members could get info on specific problems or situations for different reptiles or to trade data with them. We don't have a specific list, but if you would like to send Carrie your name and your area of expertise, we can make a section in the newsletter to include that. Right now we have a section called "members willing to help" but I know that it is antiquated and has not been updated in a while. So submit your stuff everyone, time to make yourself known!!!!

*****December 19, 2007 will be a Christmas/Holiday party. We will have a few big ticket items and do a small auction, but our main focus will be on FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP and CHOCOLATE.

*****I know this is far in advance, but the 31st annual All Florida Herpetological Event will be held in Gainesville on March 29 & 30, 2008. I will post more information as we get closer to that date.

November 15 ~~ Mike Henry
November 22 ~~ Mike Palandro
December 14 ~~ Iguana Doreen
December 15 ~~ Sandy Agee
December 15 ~~ Michael Spears
December 17 ~~ Byron Kindig
December 19 ~~ Linda Tromley
December 27 ~~ Chester Tromley
December 27 ~~ Jeanie Cyphers

Happy Birthday to you!

*****If you would like to be on the birthday list, let me know when your birthday is.

*****Thank you to all who do their part for this club. That is what makes our society the GREATEST in the league.

*****Have a herpy day!!! Doreen~~

Speaker Recap By Carrie

Special thanks to Dustin Smith, Michele Patton and the Project Golden Frog website for making this article possible. The recording device was accidentally turned off after 12 seconds!

Dustin Smith went to Panama to assist Project Golden Frog (www.projectgoldenfrog.org) in working with the Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki) in January 2005. The goal was to conduct field surveys to determine some population demographics, range studies, and eventually to assist with institutional support in Panama. The group found well over 100 frogs and were able to extend the range of the species by a few kilometers in the North and the West. Unfortunately, there were a lot of lost habitats, from both pollution and deforestation for development of farmland and housing. After the field research, they went to various institutions (hotels and zoos) that keep this species to assist with their husbandry. They managed to teach them simple techniques to assist with their husbandry and also managed to find an institution that was willing to develop a program and support a facility designed to conserve the amphibians of central Panama. After one of their many meetings with these facilities, a plan was in place to construct an amphibian conservation facility. This facility, El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC), is an extraordinary facility that is important to amphibian conservation. The Houston Zoo and their amphibian keeper, Paul Crump, are the most important people in the development/implementation of the EVACC program.

Golden frogs are found in the mid-montane rainforests of El Valle de Anton in the Cocle` Province of Panama. Not much is known about golden frogs. They carry the tetrodotoxins zetekitoxin AB and zetekitoxin C. One fascinating behavior being studied is with semaphores, or hand waving, as a form of communication besides vocalization. Only recently has courtship behavior been observed, or for that matter, tadpoles, metamorphic juveniles, and subadults.

Threats to golden frogs include cattle ranches, deforestation, loss of habitat, pesticides, and new developments. Native plants & trees are being replaced by pine trees in order to sell expensive homes to the "white people" (GRINGOS). There has been wide spread extinction among many amphibians due to chytrid fungus that continues to spread. The chytrid fungus grows the best in damp cool mountain type environments. It is extremely invasive and once it's in the right environment, it will grab hold and spread like wildfire. Amphibians breathe air and absorb water through their skin. Chytrid grows in or on the skins surface. The frogs shed their skin in order to rid themselves of the fungus, but the fungus gets thicker causing the poor little guys to suffocate. Aquatic amphibians seem to be the most affected. There are current studies being done to find a solution for this problem. There is a drug that is used in captive situations, but will not help the wild population. All reptiles and amphibians brought into zoos are tested and if needed are treated for the fungus. If properly caught & treated, the amphibians can be saved. There is a zoo in that has been selectively breeding golden frogs in captivity and have created a gene that is resistant to the chytrid fungus. However these frogs cannot be released into the wild because of the selective breeding process, they have changed the genetics in the frog. You can't be certain if this genetically altered frog would have a positive or negative effect on the native Golden Frog population. There is no way to keep chytrid fungus out of the national parks and it is estimated that in 4-5 years, it will spread to middle to high elevation creeks and decimate amphibian populations.

Another significant threat is over collection. Natives believe the myth that golden frogs are good luck, if seen or kept captive, and will turn to gold upon their death. Pre-Columbians revered the golden frog and made talismans called "huacas." Legend says that the Chieftains of the Guaymi tribe would ascend the Pacific coast to the mountains of Gailal, Pajuta, and Caracoral (located in El Valle de Anton) annually as a sacred rite.

In recent times, thousands of golden frogs were sold at the Sunday market in El Valle de Anton, in keeping with tradition with the myth of the frog. Unfortunately, no frogs have been sold in the markets for the past 40-50 years because the golden frog is locally extinct in that area.

Humans also have other behaviors that have threatened this -and other amphibians (why don't we just say most animals?) very survival. Besides the usual over population and destroying habitats, we also use chemicals and pesticides that eventually drain into water sources such as the creeks where golden frogs are found. Sevin (or carbaryl), commonly used in Central America, is lethal with as low as four ppm concentrations.

Though already touched on earlier, Project Golden Frog is a conservation consortium among scientific, educational, and zoological institutions in the Republic of Panama. This is meant to be a basic proactive approach where the simple goal is to ensure not only the survival of the golden frog, but also all amphibians everywhere. Using the best known and culturally symbolic golden frog, it is hoped that this will kick start the rallying cry to publically support conservation throughout the Neotropics.

With efforts in four categories of education, field studies, captive propagation, and financial support, there are several expected outcomes. Hopefully a greater understanding of the biology of golden frogs can be achieved, direct cooperation between government and non-government will raise the awareness of global amphibians whose populations are declining. With this cooperation, education should lead to a greater respect from not only Panamanians, but everywhere regarding the wildlife and land preservation for threatened and endangered animals throughout the world.

Thanks Dustin, for the very informative talk!

Michele's Musings

This months reptile topic request comes from Richard Cottrell. Learn why the Tuatara is not classified as a lizard species. It also shows the impact that native species face when their environment changes either due to natural or man made climate changes or other animals that are introduced into the area that are not native.

History:

Tuatara's relatives were the beak headed reptiles (Rhinocephalia). These spread all around the world 200 million years ago, but died out 100 million years ago. At the same time New Zealand was separated from the rest of the world. Only the tuatara survived to become a "living fossil". The tuatara has survived all this time because they had no predators that had invaded New Zealand. The tuatara is often used by zoologists as an example of about as basic of a reptile as they can find. The evolution of both reptiles and birds can be described starting from tuatara anatomy. This does not mean tuatara is the common precursor, just that comparative anatomical diagrams of reptiles and birds start conveniently with this animal.

This means that the tuatara have remained mostly unchanged throughout their entire history. However, taxonomic work on Sphenodontia has shown that this group has undergone a variety of changes throughout the Mesozoic Era. Many of the niches associated with lizards today were then held by sphenodontians. There was even a successful group of aquatic sphenodontians known as pleurosaurs, which markedly from the living tuatara. Tuatara show cold weather adaptations that allow them to thrive on the islands of New Zealand; these adaptations may be unique to tuatara since their sphenodontian ancestors lived in the much warmer climates of the Mesozoic Era.

There are two species & two sub-species of tuatara: Sphenodon punctatus and the much rarer Sphenodon guntheri, or Brothers Island tuatara, which is confined to North Brother Island in Cook Strait. The species name punctatus is Latin for "spotted" and guntheri refers to Albert Gunther. S. punctatus was named when only one species was known, and its name is misleading, since both species can have spots. The Brother's Island tuatara (S. guntheri) has olive brown skin with yellowish patches, while the color of the other species, (S. punctatus), ranges from olive green through grey to dark pink or brick red, often mottled and always with white spots. In addition, S. guntheri is considerably smaller. Sphenodon punctatus is further divided into two sub-species: the Cook Strait tuatara (unnamed subspecies), which lives on other islands on and near Cook Strait, and the northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus punctatus), which lives on the Bay of Plenty and some islands further north. A third, extinct species of Sphenodon was identified in November of 1885 by Willian Colenso, who was sent an incomplete sub-fossil specimen from a local coal mine. Colenso named the new species S. diversum.

The tuatara is an amniote of the family Sphenodontidae, endemic to New Zealand. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of the Sphenodontian's who flourished around 200 million years ago and are in the genus Sphenodon. Tuatara resemble lizards, but are equally related to lizards and snakes, both of which are classified as Squamata, the closest living relatives of tuatara. For this reason, tuatara are of great interest in the study of the evolution of lizards and snakes, and for the reconstruction of the appearance and habits of the earliest diapids (the group that additionally includes birds and crocodiles). The name "tuatara" derives from the Maori language, and means "peaks on back". The tuatara has been classified as an endangered species since 1895 (the second species, S. guntheri, was not known until 1989). Tuatara like many of New Zealand's native animals, are threatened by habitat loss and the introduced Polynesian Rat. Tuatara have been extinct for New Zealand's mainland, with the remaining populations confined to 32 offshore islands, until the first mainland release into the heavily fenced and monitored Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005.

Description:

The tuatara is considered the most unspecialized living amniote; the brain and mode of locomotion resemble that of amphibians and the heart is more primitive than any other reptile. Both species are sexually dimorphic, males being larger. Adult S. punctatus males measure 24 inches in length and females 18 inches. Males weigh up to 2.2 lb. and females up to 1.1 lb. Brother's Island tuatara are slightly smaller. The tuatara is a greenish brown color that matches its environment and can change over its lifetime. Adults shed their skin at least once per year, juveniles shed 3 or 4 times a year. The spiny crest on tuatara's back is bigger in males than females and can be stiffened for display. The male abdomen is narrower than the female's.

Lizards have legs splayed sideways and can't get off the ground. They move by wriggling, with just a little help from the limbs. Some lizards have no legs and slither around like snakes. This is closely related to the swimming motion used before the early reptiles emerged from life in water. The tuatara skeleton shows how the pelvic and shoulder girdle positions allow the animal to elevate its tummy off the ground. Not that the tuatara does this often, its too tiring. Much of their life is spent sprawling. The difference in the pelvis and shoulder girdles is the reason the tuatara is not a lizard.

Skull & Teeth:

In the course of evolution, the skull has been modified in most diapsids from the original version evident in the fossil record. However, in the tuatara, all the original features are preserved. Their skull has two openings on each side of the skull, with complete arches. In addition, in the tuatara, the upper jaw is firmly attached to the skull. This makes for a very rigid, inflexible construction. The tip of the upper jaw is beak like and separated from the remainder of the jaw by a notch. There is a single row of teeth in the lower jaw and a double row in the upper jaw, with the bottom row fitting perfectly between the two upper rows when the mouth is closed. This is a tooth arrangement not seen in any other reptiles. The tuatara's teeth are not replaced, since they are not like real teeth, but are actually made of bone and fastened to the outer surface of the jaw. This arrangement is called acrodont; snakes have teeth that are like this too. As the tuatara's teeth wear down, older adults have to switch to softer prey such as earthworms, larvae and slugs and eventually have to chew their food between smooth jaw bones. Lizards have plurodont teeth, supported by a shelf of bone. This is one of the reasons tuataras are not lizards. Crocodiles have thecodont teeth, which are set in bone. Humans also have thecodont teeth sitting in sockets.

Modern reptiles, apart from turtles, are diapsids. They have two temporal holes behind the eye holes, giving even more bone for attaching the big jaw muscles. Tuataras show this complex arrangement very well and gives them a very strong bite. Dinosaurs were very successful reptiles that developed light, hollow bones and needed a light weight, diapsids head. That is where tuataras get the reputation of being related to dinosaurs.

Sensory organs:

The tuatara can focus both eyes independently and are specialized with a "duplex retina" that contains two types of visual cells for vision by both night and day, and a tapetum lucidum which reflects on the retina to enhance vision at night. There is also a third eyelid on each eye, the nictitating membrane. The tuatara also has a third eye on the top of its head called the parietal eye. It has its own lens, cornea, retina with rod-like structures and degenerated nerve connection to the brain, suggesting it evolved from a real eye. The parietal eye is only visible in hatchlings, which have a translucent patch at the top center of the skull. After 4 to 6 months it becomes covered with opaque scales and pigment. Its purpose is unknown, but it may be useful in absorbing UV rays to manufacture vitamin D3, as well as to determine light/dark cycles and help with thermoregulation.

Together with turtles, the tuatara has the most primitive hearing organs among the amniotes. There is no eardrum and no ear hole, and the middle ear cavity is filled with loose tissue. Even though the hearing organs are poorly developed and primitive with no external ears, they still can show a frequency response from 100-800 Hz, with peak sensitivity of 40 dB at 200 Hz.

Behavior:

Adult tuatara are terrestrial and nocturnal reptiles, though they will often bask in the sun to warm their bodies. Hatchlings hide under logs and stones and are diurnal, likely because the adults are cannibalistic. Tuatara thrive in temperatures much lower then those tolerated by most reptiles and hibernate during the winter. They can maintain normal activities at temperatures as low as 44.6 F, while temperatures over 82.4 F are generally fatal. The optimal body temperature for the tuatara is from 60.8F to 69.8F, the lowest of any reptile. The low body temperature results in a slower metabolism.

Tuataras live separate from each other in well defended burrows. During the bird's nesting season, the tuatara will burrow along with seabirds such as petrels, prions and shearwaters. They use the bird's burrows for shelter when available or dig their own. The tuatara will take advantage & prey on the young chicks & eggs. (Not a very nice roommate.) The seabird's poop helps to maintain invertebrate populations that the tuatara prey on; including beetles, crickets & spiders. Tuataras emerge from burrows, often at night to eat any animal they can; mostly insects such as wetas, worms, slugs & millipedes. Tuataras will not chase down their prey. They sit and wait for anything small to pass by. They have a powerful bite and can hold on for long periods.

Reproduction:

Tuataras reproduce very slowly; taking 10 years to reach sexual maturity. Mating occurs in midsummer; males can mate every year, females taking 4 years. Males fight vigorously over receptive females and often show combat scars. During courtship, the winning male inflates his throat and raises his spines while slowly circling the female. The male makes his skin darker, raises his crest and parades toward the female in a comical fashion. The female will either submit and allow the male to mount her or retreat into her burrow. Males do not have a penis; they reproduce by the male lifting the tail of the female and placing his vent over hers. The sperm is them transferred into the female, much like the mating process in birds.

Pre-reptiles had to develop lungs from gills, to breathe air rather than water, before emerging onto land as amphibians. Later they had to develop eggs that could survive out of the water, by having an amnion. Only then could they live separate from water and stop being amphibians. Tuatara eggs have an amnion. The females will burry up to 19 soft shell eggs. It takes the female between 1 - 3 years to provide eggs with yolk, and up to 7 months to form the shell. It then takes between 12 - 15 months from copulation to hatchling. This means reproduction occurs at 2 to 5 year intervals, the slowest in any reptile. Tuatara females may dig up another female's eggs and eat them, then lay her own eggs. (As Steve Irwin would say, "Sneaky little Sheila".) No interest is taken in the eggs, which are left to hatch by themselves just over a year later. Adult tuataras are cannibalistic, which also hurt their reproduction numbers. (Poor little hatchings.)

The sex of the hatchlings depend on the temperature of the egg, with warmer 69.8F – 71.6 F eggs tending to produce male and cooler 64.4 – 68F eggs producing females. Tuataras probably have the slowest growth rate of any reptile, continuing to grow larger for the first 35 years of their lives. The juveniles mature slowly over 9 years (in captivity) to 20 years (in the wild). The average lifespan is about 60 years, but they can live to be over 100 years old.

Conservation:

Tuataras were long confined to 32 offshore islands free of mammals. The islands are difficult to get to and are colonized by few animal species, indicating that some animals absent from these islands may have caused the tuatara to disappear from the mainland. There are several tuatara breeding programs within New Zealand. Southland Museum and Art Gallery in Invercargill, was the first to breed Sphenodon punctatus. Hamilton Zoo and Wellington Zoo also breed tuatara for release into the wild. The Victoria University of Wellington maintains a research program into the captive breeding of tuatara and the National Wildlife Centre at Pukaha Mount Bruce keeps a pair and a juvenile. The WildNZ Trust has a tuatara breeding enclosure at Ruawai.

Carrie

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