#herpetologist — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #herpetologist, aggregated by home.social.
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CW: Eww, grotty newts half eaten by otters.
2/2
For years, I've been finding headless newts and have assumed that it was otters eating them. This day, I found a bunch of freshly dismembered newts, so fresh that their headless bodies were still wriggling when touched.This time, the otter was pretty conclusively the culprit, but why just eat the heads and why the dismemberment? Tails and feet were chewed off, but the only parts that seem to have been eaten were the heads. (More info in alt text.)
The newts' orange coloring is a form of aposematism, i.e. a warning mechanism that says "hey, I'm really nasty to eat so don't bother!" They are poisonous to most predators.
But are the heads less poisonous? Are they not poisonous to otters? And if they're not going to eat them, why chop the newts' bodies up so badly. Are they maybe like house cats that just like to hunt for "sport" and play with their prey to death?
Any #WildlifeBiologist or #herpetologist have any thoughts?
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CW: Eww, grotty newts half eaten by otters.
2/2
For years, I've been finding headless newts and have assumed that it was otters eating them. This day, I found a bunch of freshly dismembered newts, so fresh that their headless bodies were still wriggling when touched.This time, the otter was pretty conclusively the culprit, but why just eat the heads and why the dismemberment? Tails and feet were chewed off, but the only parts that seem to have been eaten were the heads. (More info in alt text.)
The newts' orange coloring is a form of aposematism, i.e. a warning mechanism that says "hey, I'm really nasty to eat so don't bother!" They are poisonous to most predators.
But are the heads less poisonous? Are they not poisonous to otters? And if they're not going to eat them, why chop the newts' bodies up so badly. Are they maybe like house cats that just like to hunt for "sport" and play with their prey to death?
Any #WildlifeBiologist or #herpetologist have any thoughts?
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And the herpetologists of Mastodon picked #SnakesOfMastodon when #Masssstodon was right there.
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And the herpetologists of Mastodon picked #SnakesOfMastodon when #Masssstodon was right there.
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Western box turtles duking it out in my irrigation pond. They're usually super skittish, but they were so engrossed in their encounter that they didn't notice me.
Any #herpetologist out there familiar with these critters? Is this courtship or territorial behavior? There are at least five of them in the pond at the moment. It's almost comical watching them go at it. Toward the end, one lands a pretty good blow and knocks the other backward. I have more video, but shortened it for uploading.
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Western box turtles duking it out in my irrigation pond. They're usually super skittish, but they were so engrossed in their encounter that they didn't notice me.
Any #herpetologist out there familiar with these critters? Is this courtship or territorial behavior? There are at least five of them in the pond at the moment. It's almost comical watching them go at it. Toward the end, one lands a pretty good blow and knocks the other backward. I have more video, but shortened it for uploading.
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One last #LizardReport before I leave for the season. I hadn't seen Bill in a couple days but this morning he was up on the porch. He even came in the house a couple times. I normally let them come in and wander around when the door is open, but I had to make sure to shoo him out because I don't want him to get stuck when I leave.
He and my little porch buddy got into this strange behavior multiple times this morning and I managed to catch it once on video. The little one squirms under Bill's belly. Any #herpetologist that can explain this behavior? Given the season, I'm guessing it's some kind of courtship. I'm also guessing that "little guy" who lives under the chair on the porch might actually be "little gal." She's looking kind of chubby. I assumed it was just fat from all the worms I've been feeding her but now I'm wondering if she's about to lay eggs.
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One last #LizardReport before I leave for the season. I hadn't seen Bill in a couple days but this morning he was up on the porch. He even came in the house a couple times. I normally let them come in and wander around when the door is open, but I had to make sure to shoo him out because I don't want him to get stuck when I leave.
He and my little porch buddy got into this strange behavior multiple times this morning and I managed to catch it once on video. The little one squirms under Bill's belly. Any #herpetologist that can explain this behavior? Given the season, I'm guessing it's some kind of courtship. I'm also guessing that "little guy" who lives under the chair on the porch might actually be "little gal." She's looking kind of chubby. I assumed it was just fat from all the worms I've been feeding her but now I'm wondering if she's about to lay eggs.
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Bill The Lizard is over on the neighbor's wall, but has some weird crustiness around his nostrils. Any #herpetologist know what's going on here?
#Herps #Lizard #Herpetology -
Bill The Lizard is over on the neighbor's wall, but has some weird crustiness around his nostrils. Any #herpetologist know what's going on here?
#Herps #Lizard #Herpetology -
Well, guess what I happened to spy out my front door tonight, lying on the warm concrete that had #baked in the #sun all afternoon?
And he/she brought a #friend this time!
If there are any #herpetologists out there, I'd be curious if this behaviour means anything, or if they're just sharing heat or something. The colouring and size differ between them, so is this a male and a female?
(Regina, SK, middle of the #Canadian prairies)
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Well, guess what I happened to spy out my front door tonight, lying on the warm concrete that had #baked in the #sun all afternoon?
And he/she brought a #friend this time!
If there are any #herpetologists out there, I'd be curious if this behaviour means anything, or if they're just sharing heat or something. The colouring and size differ between them, so is this a male and a female?
(Regina, SK, middle of the #Canadian prairies)
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Find the #lizard game, since the last one was popular. This should be fairly easy. Please don't give away the answer! Inspired by Dr. Earyn McGee who goes by afro_herper on Twitter, but isn't on here.
The animal's whole body is visible, not hidden. This was at Carrizo Plain National Monument a week ago.
If you're a #herpetologist and find it, can you maybe ID it? I'll post a close up pic once the location is revealed.
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Find the #lizard game, since the last one was popular. This should be fairly easy. Please don't give away the answer! Inspired by Dr. Earyn McGee who goes by afro_herper on Twitter, but isn't on here.
The animal's whole body is visible, not hidden. This was at Carrizo Plain National Monument a week ago.
If you're a #herpetologist and find it, can you maybe ID it? I'll post a close up pic once the location is revealed.
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Mr Photogenic. I figure if we are supporting higher mammals (quendas) and frogs in the #garden we are doing something right. This guy was completely fine with my presence.
Looking at Reptiles and Frogs of the Perth Region I think it is probably a Western green tree frog Litoria moorei (also https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/frogwatch/frogs/motorbike-frog) also known as the motorbike frog for its call. But you know, not a #herpetologist :)
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CW: Snek 🐍
Any #herpetologist folks out there have i.d. ideas for this lil brownie? Spotted in Boston, very confrontational, lurching out to bite quickly, not very scared, which was surprising. Didn't get a good look at its belly but didn't look red. It's about 90°F here today which is about the hottest it usually gets. Is it a baby?
Sorry my google camera tries to A.I. sharpen everything, idk how to turn that off
Edit to add: ~8 inches long
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CW: Snek 🐍
Any #herpetologist folks out there have i.d. ideas for this lil brownie? Spotted in Boston, very confrontational, lurching out to bite quickly, not very scared, which was surprising. Didn't get a good look at its belly but didn't look red. It's about 90°F here today which is about the hottest it usually gets. Is it a baby?
Sorry my google camera tries to A.I. sharpen everything, idk how to turn that off
Edit to add: ~8 inches long
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African rock python is a large, non-venomous snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the six largest snake species in the world and is widely feared, though it very rarely kills humans.
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🐍 Serengeti | Tanzania
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#365pixofficial #herpetologist #africaphotography #conservation #capturedinafrica #insidenatgeo #snakes #snakesoftheworld #africawildlifephotography #snakesarecool #snakelivesmatter #africanwildlifephotography #fightextinction #biologyislife #africanrockpython -
CW: Discussion of CWs
Genuine question re: #ContentWarnings
I've seen some discussion that animals that are commonly feared, like #snakes #spiders should be masked w CWs. I have...really mixed feelings on this?
I understand the accessibility angle, but also my lifelong #arachnophobia was hugely helped by posts framing them as adorable and beautiful. And as a #herpetologist a lot of my work involves animals other find scary- including one of my beloved pets.
