NW CA Herps presentation

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Hello everyone!

For those of you who live in the area (Cali? Oregon? other), I will be doing a comprehensive identification seminar at the Humboldt State University Natural History Museum on Saturday, January 10th of '09. This will be a 3-4 hr presentation that will discuss details concerning all herps native to Humboldt and its surrounding counties. I do not have exact times yet as to when it will begin, but the norm is b/n 11am - 3pm. I will keep you posted. The following is an outline describing what to expect:

Outline for Herp Presentation (HSU Natural History Museum)

This is the first in a two-part presentation called “Understanding Native Herps of NW CA”. January is not really a great month to look for herps, unless you want to get cold and wet. So, today is lecture day! The 2nd part will resume in April at the onset of fairer weather and will involve a herp walk that will start at Fern Canyon and continue along Ossagon Trail (Prairie Creek Redwoods SP).

Basic Intro:

Humboldt County is famous for its majestic redwoods. Look further, and you will see an incredible geological, botanical, mycological, and wildlife diversity as well! Today we are going to talk about some this diversity and see how it relates to some of our native species of reptiles and amphibians. At the end of this presentation we will all hope to have a better understanding of: 1) how to identify herps native to Humboldt and its surrounding counties by looking at specific morphological features, behaviors, and preferred habitats ; 2) how some of these characteristics make these species well-adapted to specific habitats; and 3) what effect mankind is having on these species. No doubt, a whole range of other issues relating to herps may arise, and I will encourage such discussion.

(You may notice that I often use “We” instead of “I”. This is not due to personality issues! I like to include my audience. I would like this to be a group learning experience. I often return home from these presentations with information I have learned from you, the audience.)

Intro to Reptiles and Amphibians:

I.Tetrapod cladogram (classical taxonomy vs. cladistics)
II.Amphibian evolution: water to land transition
A.From gill to lung (swim bladder) indirect or direct development
B.Eggs and skin adaptations and limitations, mucous and serous glands, chromatophores
C.Primitive and modern amphibians
III.Reptile evolution: direct development, anapsids and diapsids
A.The amniotic egg
B.Skin, Kidneys, etc. adaptations and limitations, waterproofing, uric acid and water conservation, negative ventilation, increased lung S/A
C.What’s a reptile? (cladistics)
D.Primitive and modern reptiles
E.
Native Amphibians

I. Urodela: SalamandersID features:costal folds/grooves, foot tubercles
A.Ambystomatidae: mole salamanders paedomorphism, neoteny
1. Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile)
B.Dicamptodontidae: giant salamanders paedomorphism, neoteny
1. Pacific Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)
C.Rhyacotritonidae: torrent or seep salamanders lung reduction, slow indirect development
1. Southern Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus)
D.Salamandridae: newts rough skin, no costal grooves, nuptial pads, high toxicity, indirect development, mating balls
1Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)
2Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis)
E.Plethodontidae: lungless salamanders no lungs - dermal respiration, long tongues, direct development, no aquatic stage, nasolabial grooves
1Plethodon: woodland salamanders
a)Scott Bar Salamander (P. asupak)
b)Dunn’s Salamander (P. dunni)
c)Del Norte Salamander (P. elongates)
d)Siskiyou Mountain Salamander (P. stormi)
2Ensatina: ensatinas (Ensatina eschscholtzii) “swollen” tails constricted at base, maternal care of eggs and early young
a)Oregon Ensatina (E. e. oregonensis)
b)Painted Ensatina (E. e. picta)
3Aneides: climbing salamanders truncation of toe tips
a)Clouded Salamander (A. ferreus)
b)Black Salamander (A. flavipunctatus)
c)Arboreal Salamander (A. lugubris)
d)Wandering Salamander (A. vagrans)
4Batrachoseps: slender salamanders caudal autotomy
a)California Slender Salamander (B. attenuatus)
II. Anura: Frogs and Toads all natives - indirect development
A. Ascaphidae: Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) male copulatory organ
(tail), slow-development, relic species
B. Bufonidae: true toads skin adaptations, toxicity
1. Boreal (Western) Toad (Bufo boreas boreas)
C. Hylidae (tentative): treefrogs and chorus frogs
1. Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) toe pads
D. Ranidae: true frogs dorsolateral fold
1. Northern Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora) coastal
2. Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) inland rivers
3. Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) high altitude habitat
4. American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana

continued....

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Reptiles (including Anapsids)

I. Anapsidae (anapsids) – Chelonia (turtles and tortoises) ancient lineage,
carapace, plastron, fused vertebrate
A. Emydidae: box and water or pond turtles
1. Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata)
II. Diapsidae (diapsids) – Lepidosauria (lizards, snakes , and tuataras)
Squamata (lizards and snakes) scalation
A. Sauria: lizards caudal autotomy
1.Phrynosomatidae (spiny, horned, and earless lizards)
a)W. Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus gracile) sexual dimorphism
b)Northwestern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis) sexual dimorphism
2.Anguidae: alligator and glass lizards, slow-worms
a)Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea) ovoviviparous, brown eyes
1. Northwestern Alligator Lizard (E. c. principis)
2. Shasta Alligator Lizard (E. c. shastensis)
b)Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) oviparous, yellow eyes
1.California Alligator Lizard (E. m. multicarinata)
2.Oregon Alligator Lizard (E. m. scincicauda)
3. Scincidae: skinks
a) Skilton’s (Western) Skink (Eumeces skiltonianus
skiltonianus) maternal care of eggs, the color blue
B. Serpentes: snakes Jacobson’s organ
1. Boidae: boas primitive snakes
a) Erycinae: sand boas, rosy and rubber boas the
Americas, East Africa and the Middle East
1. Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) cold weather tolerance, ovoviviparous, the head-like tail
2. Colubridae: colubrids
a) Colubrinae:
1. Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber
constrictor mormon) diurnal, good vision
2. California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus
californicus) rattlers for dinner
3.California Mountain Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis zonata X multicincta)warning
colors
4.California Whipsnake (Chaparrel ssp.)
(Masticophis lateralis lateralis)
5.Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer
catenifer) the hissing bluff
a) Dipsadinae:
1.Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis) spiny tailed slug eater
2. Northwestern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis
punctatus occidentalis) the red coil
3. Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata)
c) Natricinae: water and grass snakes
1. Thamnophis: garter and ribbon snakes
ovoviviparous
a. Pacific Coast Aquatic Garter Snake
(Thamnophis atratus) biters and poopers,
excellent swimmers

I. Oregon Garter (T. a. hydrophilus)
b. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
(Thamnophis elegans) variable diets
I. Mountain Garter (T. e. elegans)
II. Coast Garter (T. e. terrestris)
Humboldt ssp., genetic conundrums
c. Northwestern Garter Snake
(Thamnophis ordinoides) variable colors,
fossorial, older sister group to atratus and
elegans
d.Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis
sirtalis)
I. California Red-sided Garter
(T. s. infernalis) T. s. tetrataenia?!
II. Valley Garter (T. s. fitchi) infernalis
intergrades
c. Viperidae: vipers large front-folding hollow fangs, haemotoxins,
Neurotoxins, myotoxins
B.Crotalinae: New World pit vipers infrared heat sensors
a.Northern Pacific Rattlesnake the infamous rattle
(Crotalus oreganus oreganus)

Human Impact:

The opportunity to be swept away by the diverse beauty of these animals is present every time I head out on the trail. I would therefore like to bring up a few issues regarding looking for herps in the wild. It is important to know how our presence affects these animals. For perspective’s sake, imagine that we are just big, lumbering giants out to eat them! Short of eating sea turtles, iguanas, alligators, rattlesnakes, and frogs legs, this usually isn’t the case. Humankind however, whether intentionally, or through lack of foresight or understanding, has had a tremendously devastating impact on many species of reptiles and amphibians.

Human impact discussed: Invasive species, habitat loss, pollution, global warming, over-collection, and more.

Ethics of responsible field-herping (in preparation for the herp-walk)

Conclude with questions…

Sorry if the outline's indentations might be off...

Steven

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Wow! Not a single indentation!

[adamanteus]

I would go! If only!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Ah, but some of the numbers and letters are out of context..... Harumph!

[Garter_Gertie]

Holy Poop Buckets! You giving grants for air fare?

I WANNA HEAR IT! WWWWAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mtolypetsupply]

Steven,

Any possibility of taping that and Youtubing?????

[tyflier]

Wow. That sounds like an excellent presentation. I wish I could make it up there, but...it's a long drive from the Eastside to the Westside this time of year...

Good Luck, and have fun! Sounds like a fantastic presentation!

[Stefan-A]

Film it, put it on YouTube.

[Hornets23]

Yeah...that would be awesome. It sounds like a very interesting and informative presentation.