October 2012
volume 27, issue 10
Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society Inside this issue: Upcoming Events…
2
General PNHS info…….
3
Letter from the President………..……. 4 New Abstract: Adenovirus in Sulawesi Tortoises……...……... 6 Wisconsin taking some herps off the endangered list………. 7
Next Meeting:
Sunday, October 21, 2012 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Highline Community College
Doors Open: 5:30 p.m.
2400 S. 240th Street, Bldg. 12
General Meeting: 6:00 p.m.
Des Moines, WA
Speaker Presentation: “All About Cresties” Lynett Robertson of Lashed Dragons Www.LashedDragons.com
Urbanization , parasitism & disease ……..... 9
Herp-of-the-Month:
Frogs : the Cure for Glaucoma?........ 12
King Snakes & “Halloween” Herps
Classifieds………………. 13
(black &/or orange herps)
Contacts & Vets…………………..
13
Membership Application….……... 14
November PNHS Newsletter Deadline:
Oct. 30, 2012
Left: Happy Halloween! A beautiful Blair’s King Snake, photo courtesy of Wikipedia .Commons.
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Upcoming PNHS Events Pa g e 2 Kitsap Branch Fall Meetings 2012: Contact Troy Barnhart 360-908-8766 if interested.
October 21, 2012:
PNHS General Meeting Herp-of-the-Month: King Snakes & “ H alloweencolored Herps ” ( black and/or orange herps )
November 3-4, 2012: PNHS Outreach: “ America ’ s Family Pet Expo ” Puyallup Fairgrounds. Contact Outreach Coordina tor, Brandon Winter, if interested in joining the fun. Hours: Saturday 11/3: 10:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m. Sunday, 11/4: 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
November 11, 2012:
PNHS Annual Potluck/Auction Casual potluck & auction! ( No speaker, herp-ofthe-month, or general meeting ) Bring your favorite dish to share! Doors open: 5:00 p.m. Auction begins: 6:00 p.m. Questions? Donations? Please contact Brenda Huber ( B renda.huber@pnwhs.org )
Vol. 27 No. 10
General information & guidelines
re
PNHS’ Monthly Meetings are a great place to learn something new, purchase feeders at a discount, and meet new people
General Information The Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society (PNHS) is a non-profit organization registered with the State of Washington. PNHS is dedicated to the education of its members and the public, as well as the conservation, ecology, and captive care and breeding of reptiles and amphibians. The society also takes an active role in legislative and environmental issues affecting these animals and their habitats. Meeting Information PNHS holds its general meeting on the second Sunday of every month (with exceptions for holidays) at 6:00pm at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Building 12 Room 101. Doors open at 5:30. Other business and socialization occurs between 5:30 and 6; then the General Meeting starts. Meetings are open to the public, and the society encourages anyone with an interest in herpetology to attend. Please purchase a membership to show your support for the society. Animal Donations Looking to adopt, release an animal or donate cages and equipment? Please contact the Adoptions Committee by email at adoptions@pnwhs.org, or by voicemail at 206- 583-0686. We will contact you and make arrangements. Other Donations The Adoption Committee receives minimal financial support from the Society, so donations of money, food, cages, and equipment are always needed and appreciated. Please contact the Adoption Chair to make a donation. Adoptions To adopt an animal that is in the care of the Committee, you must be present at the meeting, be a current member (of at least one month), and be over 18 years of age or have parental consent. For more details see the web site or contact the Adoption Chair. Newsletter Information A monthly newsletter absorbs the lion’s share of the price of a PNHS membership. In order to keep it interesting, we encourage contribution of original articles, book reviews, letters, ads, and cartoons for publication. Items for incorporation into articles are also welcome, though with no guarantee of their use. Submissions may be sent to the Newsletter Committee or to the Society through the contacts listed on our Contacts page.
Above: Both Green Tree Python Photos courtesy of the Adams’ Family.
Editorial Policy The views expressed in this publication are solely the views of the authors and not necessarily the views of the Society, its members, or the Newsletter Committee. The Newsletter Committee reserves the right to edit all submissions including advertisements.
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Letter from the President By Brenda Huber
Vol. 27, No.10
“The Many Joys of Outreach” PNHS just finished up a fun weekend at the 18th annual Seattle Reptile Expo at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Once again, Paula, Giovanni & Marco Fagioli of the Bean Farm put on a fabulous show that drew record crowds. I managed to snap a few pictures that truly captured the spirit of PNHS’ mission to promote educational outreaches with the general public. Here are a few of my favorites:
Above: The best “Wow!” expressions: PNHS member Jennifer Lovett introduces her box turtle; Right: Jennifer’s 8 year old niece, Taylor, was an eloquent and precocious outreach star with her aunt’s uromastyx.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the many PNHS members who came out to help put on a great weekend outreach. Thank you to Continued...
Vol. 27, No. 10
Letter From The President Continued….
To the Robertson family, to new member Darcy Davis, to Lash Watson and wife, Dorothy, to Jennifer Lovett and niece, Taylor, to Eli Nossen, Tanya Emerson & her mother, and to Norm Hill. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to Elise Erickson of Integrated Reptiles who lent us her sweet Albino Burmese Python, “Thor,” for the entire day on Saturday….he was a huge hit. Our own board member, Brandon Winters of Winter’s Reptiles, brought his own sweet Albino Burmese Python, “Dexter,” for us to use on the second day of outreaches. Thank you one and all! Brenda Huber President Counter-clockwise from above: The Robertson Family, Darcy Davis & Thor; Lash Watson & Thor; the Seattle Turtle & Tortoise Club members & fabulous display; Eli Nossen & a Kenyan Sand Boa; the best silly tortoise sticker ever (I got one for Mr. Nigel Edinburgh.)
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Vol. 27, No. 10
New Abstract: Sulawesi Tortoise Adenovirus-1 in Two Impressed Tortoises (Manouria impressa) & a Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone Platynota) Reprinted with Permission from Herpdigest Vol. 12, Issue #47, 10/07/12
Vanessa L. Schumacher, D.V.M., M.S., Dipl. A.C.V.P., Charles J. Innis, V.M.D., Dipl. A.B.V.P. (Reptile and Amphibian Practice), Michael M. Garner, D.V.M., Dipl. A.C.V.P., Guillermo R. Risatti, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., Robert W. Nordhausen, B.A., M.A., Kelly Gilbert-Marcheterre, James F. X. Wellehan, Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.Z.M., Dipl. A.C.V.M. (Virology, Bacteriology/Mycology), April L. Childress, and Salvatore Frasca, Jr., V.M.D., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.V.P. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 43(3):501-510. 2012
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2011-0228R.1
From the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3089, USA (Schumacher, Risatti, Gilbert-Marcheterre, Frasca); New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, USA (Innis); Northwest ZooPath, 654 West Main, Monroe, Washington 98272, USA (Garner); California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA (Nordhausen); and Zoological Medicine and Wildlife Disease Laboratory, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 S.W. 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA (Wellehan, Childress). Present address (Schumacher): Institut f체r Tierpathologie, Vetsuisse Fakult채t, Universit채t Bern, L채ngassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Correspondence should be directed to Dr. Schumacher (vanessa.schumacher@vetsuisse.unibe.ch). Abstract: Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus-1 (STAdV-1) is a newly discovered virus infecting endangered and threatened tortoises. It was initially described from a confiscated group of 105 Sulawesi tortoises (Indotestudo forsteni) obtained by the Turtle Survival Alliance and distributed to five sites with available veterinary care across the United States. In a 3-yr period from the initial outbreak, one multi-species collection that rehabilitated and housed adenovirus-infected Sulawesi tortoises experienced deaths in impressed tortoises (Manouria impressa) and a Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota). Impressed tortoises that died had evidence of systemic viral infection with histopathologic features of adenovirus. Adenovirus was identified by consensus nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and subsequent sequencing of PCR products. Sequencing indicated that the adenovirus infecting these impressed tortoises and Burmese star tortoise was STAdV-1. In one impressed tortoise, viral infection was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. In situ hybridization using a semiautomated protocol and fluorescein-labeled riboprobe identified STAdV-1 inclusions in spleen, liver, kidney, and testis of one impressed tortoise. The impact of this virus on captive and wild populations of tortoises is unknown; however, these findings indicate that STAdV-1 can be transmitted to and can infect other tortoise species, the impressed tortoise and Burmese star tortoise, when cohabitated with infected Sulawesi tortoises.
Vol. 27, No. 10
Wisconsin Proposes Taking 16 Species Off the Protected List and Adding 8 New Ones... By Meg Jones , Journal Sentinel Reprinted with permission from Herpdigest Vol. 12, Issue #47, 10/07/12
Canada horse-balm, pygmy snaketails and Blanding's turtles are about to get the boot. Kirtland's warbler, fawnsfoot mussel and beach-dune tiger beetle could soon get their ticket punched. Four decades after the Wisconsin Legislature created a list of its endangered and threatened species, flora and fauna continue to move on and off the list. The proposal is to subtract 16 plants and animals and add eight animals. Jumping on or dropping out are several critters that fly, swim, creep or slither, as well as plants and flowers most people probably wouldn't think twice about driving over with their riding lawnmower. It takes awhile to change the list, and stakeholders get a chance to weigh in on just what is endangered or threatened in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments about the potential economic impact of the latest proposed listing and delistings; the deadline is Oct. 24 for written comments. There are 239 species on Wisconsin's protected lists ranging from the northern cricket frog, piping plover and American marten to the Pecatonica River mayfly, queen snake and northern wild monkshood. No need to look those up - respectively, they're an amphibian, bird, mammal, insect, reptile and a flowering plant in the buttercup family. While there are plenty of successes for endangered species that bounced back once on the list the wolf for one, the bald eagle for another - not all have happy endings. Are they even here? Barn owls, Bewick's wrens and snowy egrets are proposed to get bumped off the list because few, if any, are still in Wisconsin. And there are only two native sites for the Canada horse-balm, a medicinal herb in the mint family. Findings were recorded in 1865 and 1940, so experts figured there's no point keeping it on the list because it's probably not here. One other plant recommended for delisting - hemlock parsley, recorded in the 1800s by famous Wisconsin naturalist Increase Lapham - also hasn't been seen and probably isn't here. "We have success stories where either the populations are expanding or responding well to restoration efforts," said Terrell Hyde, a biologist in the DNR's Endangered Resources Program. "And then we have species like the Bewick's wren where we find out that they never really established populations in the state." As much of Wisconsin's native prairies and savannas were bulldozed to make way for communities and subdivisions, many of the native grasses and plants disappeared. But through prairie res-
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Wisconsin, Continued‌ .
"A lot of these plants have very specific microhabitats or they may be on the edge of their range here in Wisconsin," said Kelly Kearns, a DNR botanist. "So to have lost one of these species is not necessarily that surprising. A huge percent of our landscape has been transformed from what it originally was. Even in forests there's been logging or grazing, which has a significant impact on the flora." The Butler's garter snake, a small reptile that has stalled some real estate projects in southeastern Wisconsin, is recommended for delisting because new genetic analysis found that there are more than originally believed. And when biologists looked for the Blanding's turtle, they discovered large stable populations widely distributed around the state. Ornithologist Noel Cut right, founder of the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, doesn't have a problem with delisting the barn owl, Bewick's wren and snowy egret. Since the Kirtland's warbler is already on the federal endangered species list, it makes sense to add it to Wisconsin's list, especially since the yellow-breasted songbird has been found breeding here, Cutright said. And black terns also are proposed for gaining endangered species status because of dwindling numbers. If the black tern gets the green light, it would bring the number of terns to four on Wisconsin's list. "If you knew where to go you could find" black terns, said Cutright, who lives near Newberg in Ozaukee County. "I had them breeding within a mile of where I live, but now I would have to go to maybe Horicon to find them in breeding numbers." List offers a boost Tod Highsmith, a member of the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association, has never seen the elusive ottoe skipper butterfly. There are only a few places in the state to see it. But landing on the endangered species list might give the ottoe skipper a chance to rebound. "It's always nice when the little fluttery things get attention as well as the big furry things," Highsmith said. Though nine plant species are recommended to be taken off the list, none are proposed for addition. Kearns said it's not that no additional plant species need protection in Wisconsin, it's because there is not enough staff or funding to determine which plant species in the state should be put on the protected list. Plus, folks don't seem to get as jazzed up about grasses and flowers as they do wolves and eagles. "Plants don't usually drive the same passion as megafauna. People would just as soon mow it as look at it," said Justin Ellis, treasurer of the Botanical Club of Wisconsin.
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Vol. 27, No. 10
Rhodes Studies: How Urbanization can influence Parasitism & Disease Transmission in Wildlife Reprinted with permission from HerpDigest, Vol. 12, Issue #47, 10/07/12
By Caroline Ponseti, October 3, 2012, Memphis Commercial Appeal Adiha Khan, a Rhodes College senior, and Germantown resident, has been studying snakes in Overton Park to examine how urbanization can influence parasitism and disease transmission in wildlife. When Khan was a freshman, she approached Rhodes biology professor Laura Luque de Johnson about the possibility of doing research and was placed on the snake parasite project. Researchers in the project study snake parasitism in Overton Park as a bioindicator for the health of the ecosystem. "When you think about it, Overton Park is a fragmented forest surrounded by both urban and residential areas," Khan explains. "Our creation of these urban and residential areas is affecting the ecological balance between the snakes and parasites." Khan has become passionate about the project, that she has been working on during her entire time at Rhodes. "It's been a wonderful and exciting experience because I've had the opportunity to involve myself in all the aspects of the study, including GIS (geographic information system) work, microscopy, molecular analysis and snake-catching." The research team is in the process of confirmed their discovery of an
unidentified hepatozoon species of blood parasite that they have isolated from the snakes.
Outfitted in her peacock rain boots for protection, Khan has embarked on several snake hunts in Overton Park, the project's main study site. She laughs, "My mom makes fun of me for catching snakes but being too afraid to kill a spider." Khan and Luque de Johnson once traveled to a nearby swamp for a snake-catching exploit. She laughs about her experience trudging through the swamp water in search of snakes. "I fell in six or seven times and forgot a change of clothes," she recalls. "When I met my brother's fiancee that night, I looked like a swamp monster." Continued‌...
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Vol. 27, No. 10
Snake Studies Continued‌. The research team is in the process of confirming their discovery of an unidentified hepatozoon species of blood parasite that they have isolated from the snakes. If they are able to prove it, they will be able to name the new species, a task that has gotten Khan excitedly playing around with potential names. "Adiha not only thrives in the field but in the lab as well," says Luque de Johnson. "By her sophomore year she was able to run and troubleshoot molecular assays." At the end of that year, Khan presented her research at the American Society of Parasitology conference in Anchorage, Alaska, alongside mostly graduate and Ph.D. students. Khan credits her liberal arts education for her diversity of skills and interests. Her dual love of biology and English has enabled her to develop her writing skills through many outlets. "I co-authored a publication that was published last March in the Journal of Urban Ecosystems," Khan says. "It involved a lot of writing, editing and reviewing. These are skills that I was able to develop through a fiction-writing seminar with Professor Mark Behr." In addition to her work in the lab, Khan has been working on a paranormal fiction novel since her freshman year. She hopes to use her free time after she graduates in December to fully develop the story. Khan currently serves as the unit coordinator of the oral surgery unit of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and the president of Tri-Beta Honor Society at Rhodes. She plans to enter dental school next fall to pursue a career in oral surgery and facial reconstruction. "I have never regretted taking a chance on this enthusiastic, intelligent, young woman," Luque de Johnson says. "Four years later, I do not see Adiha as my student, I see her as a partner in research." Caroline Ponset is a Rhodes student associate in the communications office.
Vol. 27, No. 10
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Could Frogs Hold Cure for Glaucoma & Blindness? Washington & Lee Researchers Exploring Reprinted with permission from HerpDigest, Vol. 12, #47, 10/07/12 By: Tim Ciesco | WSLS10, Published: September 25, 2012
They may not be not princes in disguise, but researchers at Washington & Lee University believe frogs hold a different kind of secret -- the secret to curing degenerative eye conditions, like glaucoma, in humans. "We're doing some really new stuff," said Luke Deary, a Senior at Washington & Lee who is working on the project. "I hope it can spawn into something that really helps a lot of people." When a frog's optic nerve -- the connector between the eye and the brain that allows it to see -- is damaged, it's able to regenerate that nerve. In other words, the frog can regain its sight. That is not the case in humans or other mammals. "The question is why frogs?" said Dr. Fiona Watson, an Assistant Professor of Biology and Neuroscience at Washington & Lee, who is leading the project. It's a question she and a group of undergraduate students want to answer. Specifically, they want to figure out what genes in a frog turn on or off during that regeneration process. "What we hope is we'll be able to figure out how the frogs can do it and see if there may be some therapy we can apply to the clinic," said Watson. The frogs they're using in the study have been altered so that a group of cells in their eyes called retinal ganglion cells give off a green glow when observed through a special microscope. Watson says they do that to help distinguish these cells they want to study from other cells. They begin by giving the frog an anesthetic, then very carefully go through its mouth to "crush" or damage the optic nerve in one eye. After about 35 days, when the optic nerve regenerates, they collect tissue samples from the frogs, which they study further. Finally, they send the samples off for gene sequencing. "The frog genome and the human genome are very similar," said Watson. While there's still a lot of research that has to take place before they're able to reach the end goal, the group says they're excited about what they're doing and what the future holds for their work. "Just being a part of that is pretty great," said Bayan Misaghi, a sophomore at Washington & Lee, who is also working on the project. Watson and her team are working with another group from Johns Hopkins University where researchers want to recreate the regeneration process in mice. http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/sep/25/could-frogs-hold-cure-glaucoma-blindness-wl-resear-ar2232511/ for video version of story.
Classifieds
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Screaming Roaches!*** Dubia Roaches For Sale All sizes available -Our roaches are gutloaded with Repashy “Superload” as well as a mixture of fresh fruits and vegetables. Your herps will love them! *** They’re roaches; I’m screaming. Please save me by
contacting: ScreamingRoaches@gmail.com Join the Global Gecko Association Today! The GGA is a six year old international organization dedicated to the needs of all people interested in geckos. Members receive the twice-yearly, full-color journal, “Gekko”, plus “Chit-Chat”, our quarterly newsletter. Annual Membership is $32 US, $34 Canada/Mexico, $36 Overseas. Email: ElizabethFreer@aol.com (503)-436-1064 or www.gekkota.com
Feeder Insects & Rodents I have superworms, giant mealworms, and lots more! Plus, I now carry frozen rodents. Order in advance: special pricing for PNHS members,,as well as quantity discounts!
Bean Farm’s Creative Habitats Slide-Top Aquariums Various sizes available. We can deliver the cages to the meetings, as well as any other item from the Bean Farm catalogue.
For pick up and PNHS meeting delivery.
Please contact us by the Friday before the meeting in order for items to be delivered. Thank you!
Jennifer Sronce (425) 750-0477
Paula & Giovani Fagioli (877) 708-5882
www.seattlefeeders@gmail.com
Email: beanfarm@beanfarm.com www.beanfarm.com
Advertise in the PNHS Newsletter! Business Card .............................$5 Quarter Page................................$10 Half Page ....................................$15 Full Page .....................................$25 If you would like to place an ad in the PNHS newsletter, please contact: newsletter.editor@pnwhs.org GET PUBLICITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS & SUPPORTING PNHS!
Vol. 27, No. 10
Contact Information PNHS P.O. Box 27542
General information: 206-628-4740
Seattle, WA 98165
Email: contact.us@pnwhs.org
www.pnwhs.org
Adoptions:206-583-0686
Area Representatives N King & Snohomish
Brenda Huber 206-334-7168
brenda.huber@pnwhs.org
S King & Pierce
Dale Drexler
dale.drexler@yahoo.com
Greater Seattle
Brenda Huber 206-334-7168
Kitsap, Island
Troy Barnhart
Oregon
Elizabeth Freer 503-436-1064
253-606-4328
Brenda.huber@pnwhs.org
360-908-8766 troy.barnhart@pnwhs.org elizabethfreer@aol.com
Officers for 2012 President
Brenda Huber
brenda.huber@pnwhs.org
Vice President
Brandon Winter
brandon.winter@pnwhs.org
Treasurer
Dale Drexler
dale.drexler@pnwhs.org
Secretary
Teresa Montoya
secretary@pnwhs.org
Members-At-Large
Ted Adams
ted.adams@pnwhs.org
David Brunnelle Carol Dean
david.brunnelle@pnwhs.org carol.dean@pnwhs.org
Matt Lee
matt.lee@pnwhs.org
Julie Sharkey
julie.sharkey@pnwhs.org
Event Coordinator
Norm Hill
norm.hill@pnwhs.org
Newsletter Editor
Marian Huber
newsletter@pnwhs.org
Webmaster
Geoff Sweet
webmaster@pnwhs.org
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To join PNHS, please print & complete the following application, enclose your yearly or multi-yearly membership fee and return to: PNHS Membership Secretary P.O. Box 27542 Seattle, WA 98165 Membership applications and fees may also be received at the monthly meetings by the Membership Secretary. With your yearly or multi-year membership fee you will receive the monthly PNHS E-Newsletter, access to membership pricing for adoption animals, and the opportunity to participate in the many outreaches and special “Members Only” events held throughout the year.
Please select one of the options below:
Please select your preferred membership category: Individual Membership (One person)
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Please select the format in which you would like to receive your newsletter: Today’s Date: ___________________________ Joining Kitsap Branch? Yes____No____ Name(s) (please print clearly): ______________________________________________ Parent or Guardian (if member is a minor): ___________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________ State: _____ Zip: ______________ Email Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________________ Would you be interested in volunteering for PNHS: YES / NO Please make checks payable to PNHS. Thank you! PNHS only: Membership Expiration Date: _______________________ Contacted: ____