Recent Research
Frog Communication – Study Shows Frogs go far Beyond Croaking
Feb 17th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A recent study has challenged what we know, or thought we knew, about frog communication. Researchers were astonished to discover that the calls of male Emei Music Frogs, (Babina daunchina) inform females of such details as the length and width of the singer’s burrow.
Construction Skills Needed
Named for the males’ banjo-like calls (they really do sound like banjos, please check video below), the Emei Music Frog is native to marshy habitats in central and southwestern China. Females deposit their eggs in burrows constructed by the males, and the tadpoles develop there as well. The ability to construct a safe burrow is, therefore, an important consideration when females go “mate shopping”. You can see photos of the unique nests and egg masses of a related species, Japan’s Ryuku Brown Frog, here. More >
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Loading ...Giant Turtles – Working with the World’s Largest Freshwater Species
Feb 10th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Turtle enthusiasts seem always to remain interested in even the commonest species. I’ve worked with world-renowned herpetologists who keep Sliders and private breeders who care for 2,000+ turtles (not a misprint!) yet find a place for Common Snappers. I’m the same way…as I write, I’m watched by a Stinkpot that I acquired in 1969. Yet there’s no denying the allure of 4 foot-long Giant Softshells, 200+ lb. Alligator Snappers, massive Painted River Terrapins and other rare giants like the turtle I’m holding in this photo (a Mata Mata rescued from a food market; the largest I’ve seen, perhaps a record). Today I’d like to share some experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have had with these and others. Don’t miss the chance to visit collections housing these amazing creatures; volunteer opportunities with field research programs are also sometimes available.
In 1985, while a reptile keeper at the Bronx Zoo, the opening of a 77,000 gallon Asian river exhibit (at Jungle World), allowed us to work with large turtles on a grand scale. Another unique opportunity came in 1997, with the seizure of nearly 10,000 turtles in Guangzhou, China. Many were sent to the USA, where I and others helped to place them in private and public collections. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...New Dinosaur Described as a “Komodo Dragon-Tiger Cross”
Feb 6th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A farm in southern Brazil’s pampas region has yielded the bones of an ancient mammal-like reptile loosely described as a terrifying cross between a Komodo dragon and a tiger. Having worked with both of these modern-day predators, I was immediately intrigued by the newly-described creature (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dec., 2011), dubbed the “Pampas Killer”.
A Reptile, but…
The Pampas Killer, or Pampaphoneus biccari, haunted Brazil’s grasslands during the Permian Period, some 260 million years ago. It has been classified as a Dinocephalian Theraspid, or “Mammal-like reptile”. Interestingly, today’s monitor lizards are also sometimes described as “mammal-like” by those familiar with them.
The Paleontologists (scientists who research ancient creatures and the history of life on earth) who are studying the Pampas Killer believe it possessed characteristics of both monitors and predatory mammals such as tigers – yikes! It and related dinosaurs may have been an early step in the evolutionary march towards warm-blooded, furred mammals, which appeared 35 million years later. Please see the drawings and articles below for artists’ re-creations of the Pampas Killer and its relatives. More >
(+1 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...People as Python Prey – Giant Snakes Attack 150, Kill 6 in Philippines
Jan 30th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The subject of giant constrictor attacks upon people always brings out wild claims. While working with Green Anacondas in Venezuela, I tried to track down 2 reports of human predation, but was unable to prove or disprove either. I recall reading several well-authenticated accounts in old issues of Herpetologica, and sadly, have first-hand knowledge of a tragic incident involving a captive Burmese Python in NYC. But a recent article on the Agta people of the Philippines took me very much by surprise – from 1939-1973, 26% of all Agta men, and 2% of the women, had been attacked by Reticulated Pythons!
Living with Giant Pythons
The article, published in a recent issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the USA, was co-authored by a prominent herpetologist and a scientist who lived with the Agta people, in a remote region of the Philippines, for 24 years; some impressive photos are included as well (please see abstracts, below). More >
(+1 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...Scorpions as Pets – an Overview of their Care
Jan 26th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. I can’t remember a time when scorpions did not fascinate me, and their lure grows stronger with each new species I encounter. In the past, I’ve written on the care and natural history of Emperor, Flat Rock, Asian Forest and other popular scorpions. Today I’d like to present a general overview. I hope it will help you to decide if a scorpion is the right choice for you and if so, how to get started.
What’s in Store for Scorpion Fans
Among the world’s 2,000+ scorpion species we find an astonishing diversity of fascinating creatures, many of which make hardy pets that adjust well to small enclosures. Several reproduce readily in captivity – lucky scorpion keepers may even be treated to the sight of a female feeding her offspring with crickets! At least 15 species are established in the pet trade, and specialists are working with several others. More >
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