Table of contents for July 2024 in Practical Reptile Keeping

Australia's frog population has been devastated by the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which has already driven at least six amphibian species to extinction on that continent alone, and threatens dozens more worldwide. But now it appears that researchers at Macquarie University, working in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Melbourne, have come up with a novel and simple solution to help endangered frogs survive the devastating impacts of this global pandemic. The findings of this research offer a potential lifeline for fastdeclining populations like the green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea), which has disappeared from more than 90 per cent of its former native range in Australia. A deadly impact Dr Anthony Waddle, a Schmidt Science Fellow at Macquarie University's Applied BioSciences, says very few interventions directly address the…

Scientists at the University of Sydney in Australia and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the UK have made a remarkable discovery: a commonly used blood thinner, heparin, can be actually be repurposed as an inexpensive and effective antidote for cobra venom. Addressing the problem Cobra bites kill thousands of people a year worldwide and many more are seriously maimed by the necrosis – the death of body tissue and cells – caused by the venom, which in turn can lead to limb amputation, assuming the victim survives. Current antivenom treatment is expensive and does not effectively treat the necrosis of the flesh where the bite occurs. “Our discovery could drastically reduce the terrible injuries from necrosis caused by cobra bites – and it might also slow the effects…

Out of Africa FEATURE The genus Bitis is well-represented in Africa by some pretty well-known, and impressive species. The puff adder (B. arietans), Gaboon viper (B. gabonica), and the rhinoceros viper (B. nasicornis) all spring to mind. I have been fortunate to have looked after a good number of individuals of these species over the years and frequently encounter the puff adder on my journeys into the bush. But an equally impressive number of small vipers within the genera Bitis, Echis and Cerastes are just as imposing and interesting, yet are generally rather ignored because of their larger cousins. Members of the genus Echis in particular are considered extremely dangerous snakes, being responsible for a high number of fatalities each year. Hide and seek On a trip with my wife in…

FEATURE | MACKLOT'S PYTHON When people think of pythons, the image that commonly comes to mind is often of 4.9m (16ft) giants such as reticulated or Burmese pythons, or alternatively, at the other end of the scale, small species - notably the ball (royal) python. For some reason, the medium-sized pythons in the middle tend to be overlooked! This is possibly because they can often simply be just too expensive for many hobbyists. Examples in this category include bismarck pythons, green tree pythons, woma pythons and black headed pythons. The water pythons are a notable exception within this group though, being not only inexpensive, but also easy to keep and even more straightforward to breed successfully. This group description is misleading, however, as the majority of the three members forming…

This new species of snake, now known as Hibernophis breithaupti, provides rare insight into the social behaviour of this group of reptiles and fills some gaps in our knowledge of the evolution of those forming the living family Boidae. The quartet of fossilised snakes unearthed in western Wyoming dates back 38 million years. They were found preserved in a cluster within a hibernaculum, which is a space where animals shelter together during colder months. The position in which the specimens were located “represents social behaviour in snakes, which is something that we don't often see,” explains Michael Caldwell, a professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of Alberta. He adds that this is the first clear evidence of reptilian social behaviour in the fossil record. Highly unusual This…

No-one knew exactly where in Thailand this stunning blue tarantula originated, nor anything about its lifestyle. A research team working under difficult conditions has now finally been able to unmask much about this distinctive arachnid, enabling it to be officially documented by science for the first time. “In 2022, the bamboo culm tarantula (Taksinus bambus) was discovered, marking the first known instance of a tarantula species living inside bamboo stalks. Thanks to this discovery, we were inspired to rejoin the team for a fantastic expedition, during which we successfully tracked down the electric blue tarantula” says researcher Dr. Narin Chomphuphuang. An unusual type of habitat Following the announcement of the discovery of Taksinus bambus in Thailand, he and his research team, along with JoCho Sippawat, a local wildlife YouTuber, embarked…

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are bitter and toxic chemicals, produced by several different types of plants and are among the leading causes of accidental death in grazing cattle in North America, causing liver damage. Plants that contain these alkaloids are not to be eaten, but that hasn't deterred the bella moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) from doing so! These day-flying moths exclusively eat the alkaloid-laden leaves and seeds of rattlebox (Crotalaria) plants. They then use the toxin to guard their eggs and deter predators in later life stages. They even use it to make pheromones (chemical messengers wafted through the air) that attract mates. Discovering the source of protection Exactly how bella moths and related species evolved the ability to safely consume pyrrolizidine alkaloids remains unknown. But now researchers have sequenced the bella moth…

FEATURE | HOW SNAKES MOVE It could be seen as one of life's ironies that limbless animals like snakes have directly evolved from those that do have limbs. Why this has happened is not yet clearly understood, but one theory suggests that limbless motion uses less energy that having to control limbs as you move, putting them in position. Yet it appears that different forms of limbless motion use significant variable amounts of energy. Some of these movements are actually more efficient, whereas others require increased energy, compared with the use of limbs. So this explanation is clearly not entirely convincing. Nonetheless, it is clear that snakes are capable of being able to move very quickly and efficiently. The main challenge that they face is to overcome the resistance of…

FEATURE | PARASITIC WORMS This group of reptiles can be affected by a range of internal parasites that localise within their gastrointestinal tract. In a recent study on seemingly healthy pet tortoises carried out in the UK, almost 50% of the animals were found to be shedding some parasites in their faeces without any obvious clinical signs of illness. Pinworms In the case of those tortoises that are most commonly kept as pets, oxyurids (pinworms) are the most frequently occurring parasite identified, especially in young Hermann's (Testudo hermanni) and Horsfield's (Agrionemys horsfieldii) tortoises. These are small worms measuring less than 7mm (0.25in) in length, and rarely cause any problems in low numbers. In fact, they have even been suggested to have a beneficial effect in churning up faecal matter and…

More than 100 million years ago, the ancestors of the first snakes were small lizards that lived alongside other nondescript lizards of similar size in the shadow of the dinosaurs. Then, in a burst of innovation in form and function, the ancestors of snakes evolved legless bodies that could slither across the ground, along with highly sophisticated chemical detection systems to find and track prey, plus flexible skulls that enabled them to swallow large animals. Those changes set the stage for the spectacular diversification of snakes over the past 66 million years, quickly allowing them to exploit new opportunities that emerged after the asteroid impact that wiped out roughly three-quarters of the planet's plant and animal species, including the huge dinosaurs. Key factors in their diversity Yet what triggered the…

New Curtin University-led research has identified fossilised bones discovered in western Queensland, Australia as belonging to a previously unknown species of pterosaur, dating back 100 million years. Unearthed in 2021 by Kronosaurus Korner museum curator Kevin Petersen, the fossilised remains have been ascribed to a new species called Haliskia peterseni. Based on the shape of its skull, arrangement of teeth and shape of the shoulder bone, a research team led by Adele Pentland, from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, identified the specimen as an anhanguerian, which form a group of pterosaurs known to have lived across the world, with their remains being found in what is now Brazil, England, Morocco, China, Spain and the United States. A unique specimen “With a wingspan of approximately 4.6m (equivalent to 15ft),…

FEATURE | AFRICAN GECKO This article is for those more adventurous keepers who want to start out with keeping a gecko other than the pet industry standard of a leopard gecko. If you only have restricted space available, and are looking for a more unusual small species to keep, here's a suggestion from Timothy Zedi. The African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a small species of lizard that grows to a maximum size of 15cm (6in) in length. It is native to West Africa, being found from Senegal to Nigeria, extending down to northern Cameroon, occurring in countries such as Ghana, Togo and Benin within this range. These geckos belong to the same family as the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) and they have a very similar physical appearance, although their…

These newts occur widely across parts of Spain and Portugal, and are also to be found on the opposite side of the Straits of Gibraltar in Morocco, North Africa. They rank as Europe's biggest species of newt, growing up to 30cm (12in) in overall length, although those housed in aquariums tend to be smaller. Also known as sharp-ribbed newts, they have swollen areas on their skin called tubercles, running down each side of the body. These contain a toxin, which can be used in a simple and yet very effective way. If the newt is grabbed by a predator and compressed in its mouth, so the newt's sharp ribs emerge through the sides of its body, acquiring the toxin here as they do so. The sharp, poison-laden tips of the ribs…

FEATURE | STARTING WITH A PET TORTOISE Hermann's tortoises are one of the most popular species of pet tortoise, largely because of their size, distinctive individual colouring and relative ease of care. As a Mediterranean species, they are quite hardy with no shortage of personality, and their lifespan of around 75 years means they may outlive their owner – so taking one on is a big commitment. Housing An initial consideration for new keepers is whether to have one or more of these tortoises. The simple answer is they are solitary, and aside from mating, they show little or no interest in companions. In fact, taking on more than one can lead to problems later in life if they start disagreeing, but at an early age, they will live together…

FEATURE | INTERVIEW Q How did you first become interested in chameleons and what was their particular appeal for you? A My interest in chameleons was accidental…. I had been doing research in Europe on porpoises, and knew a few people in South Africa. I had decided I needed a break from the porpoise research, and somebody suggested that I come over to South Africa and get involved in chameleon work. The thought of that was extremely exciting… it was something new, totally different and my imagination ran wild. I envisioned myself running around in the African veld, and much to my surprise this is exactly what happened! I made the research contacts and although I spent much of the first year working in the lab, I hooked up with…