THE MONITOR

Volume 29 Number 4 April 2018

www.hoosierherpsoc.org

NEWSLETTER OF THE HOOSIER

HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

A non-profit organization dedicated to the education of its membership

and the conservation of all amphibians and reptiles.

H.H.S. Monthly Meeting

April 18th

7:00 p.m.

Holliday Park Nature Center Auditorium

Speaker: Jim Horton (HHS)

Topic: Lizards and Lectures, Herping Arizona and the

International Herpetological Symposium

Recently Jim Horton and a few other HHS members went to Arizona for a herping field trip and

attended the International Herpetological Symposium. Arizona is a wonderful state for searching

for reptiles and amphibians. (It is also known as the "rattlesnake capitol of the world!) Be sure

find what they discovered in the field and learned from the International Herpetological

Symposium. See you there!

17th Annual Hoosier Herpout Saturday, May 12 - 9:00 A.M.

Hardin Ridge Recreation Area (Hoosier National Forest), Monroe Reservoir, Bloomington, IN

Hiking, herping, camping, cookout!

Meet at the shelter house #2 near the boat launch ramp parking lot. Rain or shine (herping is always good, even in rain)

Schedule: We will leave to herp the area shortly after 9:00 a.m. and return before 12:00 p.m. for the cookout. We will herp again after lunch. Saturday evening the HHS usually presents a PowerPoint presentation of The Herps of the Hardin Ridge Area (still pending as of this printing ).

For more information, call or email Jim Horton (317) 443.4845 email - president@hoosierherpsoc.org

President’s message

Jim Horton

Our next club outing is the Hoosier Herpout down along Monroe Lake. This is our largest outdoor gathering

and best chance to see some of Indiana’s coolest herps in the wild. All current members are invited to come

along for a full day of herping, and, (or) camping!

I’d like to thank Mr. Robert Williams for his informative talk on poison dart frogs. His talk inspired some of us

to look into keeping a terrarium of those tiny beautiful anurans.

Our survey of Holliday Park has begun. Cover boards are out and we have more work to do. Surveys will begin

soon. I welcome you to become involved in this ongoing event. Contact me if interested at president@hoosierherpsoc.org

We’re gearing up for the Midwest Herp Symposium in September. Auction items are needed. If you have any

unique herp-related items you’d like to donate, please contact any board member.

If you are interested in being featured in the monthly HHS Members in the Spotlight, please contact me and I’d

be glad to place your herp profile in our newsletter.

Welcome new members and welcome back renewed members! See you at the next meeting!

Welcome new and returning members!

RETURNING MEMBERS

Garry Bryan

Mike Wood

Dale Schoentrup

Laurie Mitchell

NEW MEMBERS

Stuart Orr

Shane Medeiros

Theresa Wilson

HHS/Holliday Park Survey

The HHS has partnered with Holliday Park to survey the area for amphibians and reptiles. We

need help conducting these surveys. HHS members are encouraged to take part in this field

survey. If you are interested in being a part of one or more of these surveys, please contact me

at president@hoosierherpsoc.org

The March Meeting

By Jim Horton

Last month we were treated to a talk on chelonians of the world and the status of wild populations. Mr. Andrew Ahl is a keeper at the Indianapolis Zoo. His talk “Chelonians: Past, Present, and Future” focused

on just that. He began with ancestral lineages on how turtles came to be.

Before turtles were turtles, odd creatures were Odontochelys semitestacea was a turtle-like lizard from 240 million years ago. It looked more like a broad -bodied lizard than a turtle. This species was apparently the

missing link between lizards and the more turtle-like formed shell that we’re familiar with today. Proganochelys (210million years) had almost a fully formed shell with a more turtle-like appearance.

A total of 478 species have been known to exist during modern man. 11 of those are extinct. The species numbers range to about 348 species and 119 subspecies. Of those, 460 are fresh water and land dwellers

while 7 are marine species. Andrew noted that 186 species are presently threatened with extinction.

On a more positive note, Captive studies of red foot tortoises found that they are somewhat smart. An 8 armed radial maze was created with food at the end of different arms. They found that the species exhibited social

learning.

Audio sounds aren’t something that most of us think about with turtles. Snake-neck turtles are a species that have been found to make vocalizations through chirps, squawks, and chips while underwater. Podocnemis

expansa, the Arrau side neck turtles, have been known to communicate to one another while still in their eggs.

The section of his talk regarding present day poaching was devastating to hear. From 2002-2012 about 126,600 turtles were exported from the U.S. Of those, 53% were listed as commercial bred, 20% farmed, and 19% wild caught. Many are sought for medicinal purposes, fertility, and strength. In fact, most Asian species

are in trouble due to over harvesting. They are now looking to other countries for turtles.

Andrew showcased the fact that the United States has the most species of turtles on the planet with 62 species. Mexico has 49, Brazil 36, and China and Equator with 35 species.

Andrew stated that turtles being exported should be labeled as captive or wild and listing the state of origin. He would support a ban, or at least bag limits or seasons. Education is a large factor when the subject of saving

our turtles species from decline. Andrew ended his talk with high accolades to the TSA and the Turtle Conservancy, two conservation organizations that are making great strides in saving turtles world-wide.

Farewell to a friend Long time HHS member Dennis Brown has passed away at the age of 61. Dennis was one of the founding

members of the HHS. He had served as Vice-President, President, and was editor of the Monitor for many

years. Dennis had a particular interest in venomous snakes and this kept him busy traveling to conferences

across the country. He was also close friends with Dr. Sherman and Madge Minton.

Dennis will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him.

Amphibian Outing 2018 Jim Horton

The cooler than usual temps caused this

weekend event to be postponed once. Even the new date was questionable but we still had

a good time with plenty of warm sun.

The Friday night hike didn’t turn up much. Only a few redback salamanders were found.

Thanks to Angela Thomas for leading the evening hike.

After the kids herp triathlon Saturday, everyone

gathered in the program room at the nature center for the Amphibian Conservation talk by yours truly. The room was getting full, then a group of high school students poured in. Now we had capacity! Following the talk, attendees

took photos and asked plenty of questions about our live display of native frogs, toads,

and salamanders. Then it was off to the afternoon hikes.

Amphibian presentation

Dale Shoentrup led the hike to the creek and falls area. They found a few redback and

longtail salamanders but not much more. The rest of us helped Barbara Filtri with the

flatwoods vernal pool hike. Here we found four-toed salamanders with eggs. Lifting fallen logs,

would reveal both lead phase and normal redbacks and zigzag salamanders On our way

back to the trail we found an eastern garter snake. It was one of two in the same area.

Only the one was examined for photos. Garter snakes are one of the first snakes to emerge

for the spring season. This snake was basking in the sunshine at 38 degrees!

After a break, we watched attendees carefully assembling frog bead crafts and meticulously filling in black and white frog and salamander

pages with colored pencils. Then it was back to a hike to the vernal pool a second time for

another look. Most of the usual suspects were found but I unearthed a nice Jeffersons’

Salamander and we all took photos before placing it back to its original position under a

decaying log.

Several salamanders found under a log.

We followed a delicious dinner at the Inn with a trip to the campground vernal pool. The cool temps and lack of humidify kept all anurans

from calling. Many of the early spring breeders had already visited this pond. Tiny tadpoles of wood frogs were swimming in large numbers.

Redback salamanders were again found along the border beneath logs.

Thanks to Barbara Filtri, the Friends of

McCormick’s Creek State Park, and members of the HHS!

HAND HELD HERPS (ARIZONA) Article by Roger Carter

Photos by Pat Hammond

The Western Shovel-Nosed Snake, Chionactis occipitalis, is a small snake that measures ten to seventeen inches long.

The background color is either whitish or yellow with twenty-one or more black bands or saddles and orange-red saddles between the black saddles. This

is a nocturnal species that is found in washes and sandy flats where it can move easily through loose sand.

The “Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona” field guide shows this snake in the southwestern part of Arizona. It eats a variety of invertebrates including insects, scorpions, spiders and centipedes making this species generally unsuitable to be kept as a pet.

On our second day in Arizona, Holly and I went to visit her cousin in a suburb of Phoenix and, when we returned to where we were previously night cruising, Holly and I didn’t find any herps but, in the morning, we met up with the other guys who had a Western Shovel-Nosed Snake that they caught. After breakfast, we drove away from the city to where they caught this snake so we could all get photographs of it in a natural setting. It was a well-mannered animal that didn’t try to bite or make any fuss. We tried to minimize its exposure to the sun so it wouldn’t overheat and, when we finished taking pictures, we coaxed it to go hide under a large bush for shade. This was a nice animal with great color.

Age you found interest in herpetology? At 10 years old while playing in creeks looking for snakes and

turtles.

What got you interested in herpetology? It came naturally in part because I had a lot of streams, lakes, and

rivers to play around as a kid.

What amphibians/reptiles do you keep? A variety of kingsnakes,milksnakes, sand boas and small pythons.

How long have you been a member of the HHS? I was one of the first members soon after the club was

formed many years ago.

Do you exhibit your animals at HHS shows? Unfortunately not because I live in the north part of the state,

but do some educational programs for the cub scouts.

What do you like most about the HHS? No doubt for me its the friendships I have made over the years. Also

proud to see the club doing so much for education and conservation.

Do you field herp? If so, where have you been? I have done some in northern Indiana around the streams, &

marshes.

Where do you get your herps? I buy the majority of my herps from friends and reptile shows.

Have you ever bred any herp species? (if so, what kind?) Green tree pythons, pied ball pythons, graybanded

kingsnakes, California kingsnakes, sand boa, common boa, leopard geckos, corn snakes, when there were no

venomous laws the Gaboon and Rhino vipers. I no longer keep anything venomous.

Other Hobbies? Reptiles are my passion but I also keep and breed a variety of tarantulas, do Bonsai trees,

canoeing, kayaking, mountain bike, camp, read, and spending time with my family.

Anything else you would like to ad? Would like to start by thanking my wife for supporting my love of

these fascinating creatures for 43 yrs , Thanking the leadership of HHS for keeping the club active and going

for this many years while others have declined. I am a hard core believer in keeping your animals clean and

healthy, spend our money only with reputable breeders and cut the flow of money to the flesh peddlers.

I hope in the years to come that the young herpers coming up get to have as much fun with these fascinating

herps as I have had and still do.

Lastly but most important, thanking the creator for wiring me to have a passion for these wonderful creatures

we share the earth with.

HHS member

Mike Wood

Monthly Treasurers Report Roger Carter

Checking - $746.38

Savings - $7,069.52

2017 HERPETOLOGICAL EVENTS

April 20/21 – 2018 – Herpetology Weekend Slade, KY Two days of field trips and presentations in the Red

River Gorge area of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

May 12, 2018 – Hoosier Herpout, A day of herping, hiking, photography, cookout, and camping.

June 3, 2018 - Midwest Reptile Show, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Southwest Pavilion, Indiana State Fairgrounds,

Indianapolis. $5.00 admission, reptiles, amphibians, books, cages, feeder animals, and other supplies. Sell your

herps and dry goods free of charge at our H.H.S. information booth (HHS members only)

www.midwestreptile.com Other dates: August 6, Nov. 4

June 20-23, 2018 – 41st International Herpetological symposium, Crowne Plaza Brookhollow, Houston Texas.

www.internationalherpetologicalsymposium.com

September 28-30, 2018 – Midwest Herpetological Symposium, Indianapolis, IN, LaQuinta Inn, 5120 Victory

Drive, Indpls, IN. Please check the HHS facebook page and website for information and updates.

HHS Board of Directors - 2018

PRESIDENT Jim Horton (317) 443-4845 president@hoosierherpsoc.org

VICE-PRESIDENT Heather White (765-404-2860 vice-president@hoosierherpsoc.org

SECRETARY Holly Carter (317) 873-6561 drymarchonzz@hotmail.com

TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP Roger Carter (317) 873-6561 treasurer@hoosierherpsoc.org SERGEANT AT ARMS Neill Jones (317) 385-9763 neilljones92@gmail.com

Appointees for 2018

EDITOR Jim Horton (317) 443-4845 stardali84@hotmail.com

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Ed Ferrer (317) 787-7448 pythonpals1@msn.com

WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR Angela Thomas (317) 882-5266 necali@comcast.net

WEBSITE COORDINATOR Barbara Filtri webmaster@hoosierherpsoc.org PUBLICIST/MEDIA DIRECTOR Abbie Watson

MEMBERS AT LARGE Pat Hammond (317) 656-9496 gnawbone92@yahoo.com

Rick Marrs rickmarrs@gmail.com

Dale Schoentrup eyelashviper@hotmail.com Will Brown (765)278-1480 wrbrown15@aol.com

Mary Hylton (317) 966-4591 liblady81@hotmail.com

Rex Morrell

The Hoosier Herpetological Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of its membership and the conservation of all reptiles

and amphibians. General monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Holliday Park Nature Center.

Membership is open to all interested individuals. No venomous animals are allowed at the General Meetings.