Ophidian Spotlight: WAGLER'S VIPER (Tropidolaemus wagleri)

For EMMA WOLF...


This gorgeous nocturnal and arboreal (tree dwelling) pit viper (the family of venomous snakes with heat sensing pits on the face) is found in the forests of SE Asia, in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.


A captive Wagler's Viper uses its tongue to smell its surroundings, as all snakes do, using the Jacobson's Organ (a scent organ) in the roof of the mouth. Therefore, remember to wear deodorant around them, you dirty Euro-Trash!


They are also referred to as Temple Vipers, because of their abundance near some Buddhist temples in Malaysia, where they are allowed to pass in the temples and are even sometimes handled.


The belief amongst many zookeepers and snake enthusiasts for a long time was that they were mildly venomous and never bit, because of the practice of handling amongst some Buddhist monks. It turns out that the monks in Malaysia would often sew their mouths shut or defang them... although it is true that this species can often be lethargic and docile.


The Wagler's does in fact have a strong Hemotoxic (acting on the blood and blood vessels) venom, that it uses to prey upon small arboreal animals, like birds, frogs, lizards, and rodents. It is an ambush predator, staying very still for hours to days waiting for prey to come by, when it suddenly and quickly strikes.


Although venom is used for defense as well with Vipers and Pit Vipers, bites inflicted for defense usually inject less venom than those intended to subdue prey. Notice the slit/cat-like pupil that is indicative of the Pit Vipers.


There is some geographic variation in the color and pattern of this species (you will notice the variation by looking back on previous pics), but much of the variation is random and not at all geographic. There is also a sexual dimorphism, difference in body form between the sexes, as with most snakes, the females get larger than the males.


The original Latin name for this species, Lachesis wagleri. Today the genus name Lachesis is used only for The Bushmasters, a group of large neotropical (found in the tropical regions of the Americas) pit vipers.


What do you mean, "why aren't you smilin?"? This IS my smile!

Random Herp Photo - MAN WITH TUATARA AND EGGS

A biologist in NZ holds an adult TUATARA (Sphenodon punctatus) along with its eggs, both part of a captive breeding program in place to save these highly endangered animals.

Tuatara facts:

1. Although they resemble lizards, the 3 species of Tuatara are part of an ancient ORDER of Reptiles known as the Rhynchocephalia. The other orders of CLASS Reptilia are Crocodylia (Crocs and Alligaors), Testudinata (Turtles), and Squamata (Lizards and Snakes).

2. Tuataras are endemic (found only there) to New Zealand.

3. Tuataras are critically endangered animals, having been wiped off the 2 main islands of NZ by introduced animals and destruction of habitat.


MORE INFO ABOUT TUATARAS ON MY PREVIOUS BLOG POST.

Another installment in our ENDLESS PARADE OF TURTLES! (for Luka)

SPOTTED POND TURTLE (Geoclemys hamiltonii)


These rather handsome devils are found in northern India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.


Also referred to as the Black Pond or Asian Spotted Pond Turtle


The adults reach a length of 14 inches.


The PLASTRON (under shell) of an adult Spotted


This older male ponders the implications of crayfish, snail, or small frog for dinner. Hmmmm, what goes best with a 1956 Chateau Le Quaquaqua?


They inhabit slow or still bodies of fresh water with ample aquatic vegetation.


Turtle on a desk shows us the distinctive 3 keels on the CARAPACE (upper shell).


This baby Spotted was hatched as part of a breeding program in northern India. The distribution of these turtles is very spotty across their range, and it is suspected that they may be endangered.


BABY TURTLE PARTY!!! I'll bring the chopped up beef heart and live earth worms, you bring the buckets... baby turtles and water will be provided by the hall.

Herpetological Breeding Congregations

Let's have a look at some Reptiles and Amphibians that breed in groups.

California Newts (Taricha torosa)


The typical method of mating amongst California Newts involves the male amplexing (grasping the female for mating in a kind of hug). He then rubs his nose on her chin, and if she accepts, he then releases her, and deposits a sperm packet on the bottom of the pond or stream where they have come to reproduce. She takes the sperm packet up into her cloaca, fertilizes the eggs, then shortly after lays them (in small masses) on objects in the water.

In areas where there are more males then females, competition for females can be quite intense.


When there are MANY more males than females, these large breeding congregations occur. These breeding masses are usually seen in small streams that flow into ponds.


Taricha torosa egg mass


The closely related Rough Skinned Newt (T. granulosa) has a similar breeding regime, and occasionally gathers in breeding groups, as well.


African Foam Nest Treefrog (Chiromantis xerampelina)


Also known as African Gray Treefrogs, they mate in congregations in trees with branches overhanging seasonal bodies water. The group whips up a lather of foam made of skin secretions and sperm, into which the eggs are deposited.


These groups can vary in number.


Frogs within the mass may pair off or pile on in groups. With so many eggs and sperm mixing together in the foam nest, the paternity of any individual frog is unsure.


The outside of the foam nest hardens, with the eggs developing in the wet frothy inside.


When the tadpoles have hatched, and then reached a certain size, they wriggle vigorously. This action dissolves the hard shell in spots, and the tadpoles drip out into the pond below.


Red-sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis)


The Red-sided Garter ranges over the Central U.S. and Central and Western Canada.


In parts of their range, especially in Canada, they hibernate in caves and hollows in large numbers.


When they emerge in Spring, the males come out first, followed by the females days later.


The largest breeding congregations are known from historic sites, which may have been used for hundreds of years, in Manitoba (a province of Canada).


Unlike our previous 2 animals in the post, both amphibians, these reptiles fertilize the eggs internally (the males placing the sperm into the female directly). Therefore, despite the great competition for the larger females, only one male fertilizes a female. She then slithers off, and eventually gives live birth, as garter snakes do.

A GALLERY OF TURTLES (International) pt. 2

In my ongoing tribute to my friend Luka's obsession with turtles... I thought I'd move on to some or our Chelonian friends from around the world with another list of my favorites... Again, in no particular order.


06. Snail Eating Turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga)


This rare turtle is distributed throughout SE Asia.


Snail Eating Turtles come equipped with Japanese Kabuki face paint.


Malayemys approaching its usual diet of freshwater aquatic snail


They are Threatened due to habitat loss and overcollection, but have proven to be difficult to raise in captivity.


The colors of many turtles fade with advanced age.


The Snail Eater is a small turtle, only reaching a length of 8 inches.


07. Ploughshare Tortoise or Anganoka (Geochelone yniphora)


The Anganoka is endemic (found only) in Madagascar.


One of the rarest tortoises in the world, they have suffered from habitat destruction and overhunting.


The name "Ploughshare" refers to the plough (plow) like projection (an extended gular scute) at the front of the plastron. Gular means throat, and scutes are the sections of the shell. The males are larger and have longer gular projections, with which they may joust each other over females.


They have a notch at the top of the carapace, so that they may extend their necks upward to feed on vegetation.


" Hey baby, wuss crack a lackin?"



Captive breeding programs for Ploughshares by environmental and governmental groups have become an integral part of conservation efforts.


Mother and young


Sharing the love with Geochelone yniphora


08. Expansa or Arrau (Podocnemis expansa)


Arraus live in freshwater rivers in the tropics of South America.


The largest river turtle in the Amazon watershed, this picture taken in a tributary in Brazil


Expansa is in the suborder Pleurodira or "sideneck turtles", which pull their heads and necks in sideways, instead of straight back in an S shape... as do most of the freshwater turtles you know, who are in the suborder Cryptodira.


The colorful face of the smaller male


Herbivorous turtle, often dives for food


The bright colors of a younger male


Females come up onto sandy beaches and sandbars to lay eggs.


Looking for just the right spot


A large female at night


Digging a deep nest for the eggs, like most turtles they have Temperature Dependent Sex Determination (lower temperatures produce mostly males, higher produce mostly females).


Arraus congregate in large numbers to back on logs.


09. Pignosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)


Pig-noses are softshell turtles found in Northern Australia and New Guinea.


While most softshells have cartilaginous shells, Carettochelys has a bony carapace underneath the skin.


The Pignose is unusual in freshwater turtles, in having flippers like Sea Turtles.


Also referred to as the Fly River Turtle in Australia, they prefer sandy bottom rivers. They are sometimes found in brackish and saltwater estuaries.


Males have longer and thicker snouts then the females.


A hatchling Pignose


10. Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)


The largest turtle species alive swims the open ocean.


Though we often see pictures of Sea Turtles on the beach, they spend the vast majority of their lives out in the ocean (where they will feed mostly of Sea Jellies).


The distinctive ridges on the carapace of the Leather Back, which is lacking in scales... thus skin covered, and "Leatherback"


A Leatherback caught in a fishing net is freed.


Pretty turtles get all the attention.


A female, who has come ashore, begins digging a nest for the eggs.


A researcher monitoring the progress of this female, as she lays eggs. Leatherbacks are of great concern, because they are Critically Endangered from pollution, capture as bycatch in fishing nets, and egg collection for food.


A female makes tracks back to the ocean, after laying eggs. She will never knowingly come into contact with her young again.


Leatherbacks make nests on beaches of all continents, except Antarctica.


A hatchling emerges from the sand, ready to head to the ocean.


A hatchling's first encounter with the sea.