Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002 109

Volume 15 Number 10October 2002

MONTHLY MEMBERS MEETING

7:15 PMTuesday, October 15th

Arizona Game and Fish Department Office555 North Greasewood Road

(between Speedway and Anklam, west of Pima Community College.)

Tom JonesGrand Canyon University

The snake that sleeps alone:natural history of the eyelash palm-pitviper

(Bothriechis schlegelii)

Tom Jones received his BS and MS at Auburn University inAlabama. During his junior year in college, he spent 12 days inArizona during a 40-day, Habitats of the American West field class,and he was irrevocably hooked. When the opportunity arrived, Tommoved to Arizona to do his PhD at ASU, where he worked withJim Collins and W.L. Minckley. Subsequently, he did a postdoc atthe University of Michigan and briefly taught at East CarolinaUniversity, before getting the chance to return to the Sonoran Desertfor good. He now teaches in the Department of Biology at GrandCanyon University where he has been for about 8 years. Althoughhis primary academic interests have been systematics, ecology, andevolutionary biology of salamanders, he has conducted research ontopics as varied as squirrel biogeography and ajo lily populationbiology. His position at GCU has given him the opportunity to pursuea number of interests in population biology and natural history.Four years ago, Tom began teaching Neotropical Herpetology atthe Bocas del Toro Biological Station in Bocas del Toro, Panamá.The Station is run by the Institute for Tropical Ecology andConservation, in Gainesville, FL. Stumbling upon what appearedto be a fairly dense population of eyelash vipers led Tom and oneof his students, Geoff Sorrell, to begin what they hope will be along-term study.

Remembering Dr. Charles H. (Chuck) Lowe

This invitation is to invite you to join at the Arizona-Sonora DesertMuseum to remember Dr. Charles H. (Chuck) Lowe (1920-2002),and celebrate Southwestern natural history and his contributionsto our understanding of it. This will be: Friday, October 18, 2002, gathering to begin at 6 PM. The Desert Museum is closed to visitors at that time, and staffwill post directions to the Ironwood Gallery and Desert Gardenand to access via the special events entrance. We apologize tothose we have omitted, and encourage you to correct such mistakesas possible. RSVP: Please let us know if you will attend, and howmany others may come with you, by replying to this email.

This is an opportunity to unburden yourself of stories aboutthe man and your experiences in the Southwest and elsewhereconnected to shared interests. There will be ample opportunity tocommunicate then, but please take the time now to commit oneor more significant, interesting, entertaining, or important accountsto writing. Written material may be assembled there to be read,shared with his family, and/or become part of the record of NorthAmerican herpetology and desert ecology. Questions, written accounts (in any standard digital format),and pertinent images (which are not in overabundant supply) canbe sent to this email address; to George Bradley or Phil Rosen atthe Herpetology Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; or can be brought onOct. 18th. We can be contacted by phone at 520-621-3187.A map of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum can be viewed atthe address below:http://www.desertmuseum.org/about/planning.html#map

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002110

Charles Herbert Lowe, Jr.,Noted Desert Ecologist, Herpetologist, and Professor,

1920-2002.

Dr. Charles H. Lowe, Professor Emeritus of Ecology andEvolutionary Biology, who arrived at the University of Arizonain 1950 and retired in 1995, died Friday night, September 13,2002, after a period of declining health.

Dr. Lowe was an intense and colorful character who for manyyears was the leading naturalist and ecologist of the Southwest.In 1964 he published “The Vertebrates of Arizona”, a landmarkbook that also included his detailed descriptions of all of Arizona’snatural environments. For many years he taught a very popularand well-regarded course on the natural history of the Southwestat the University of Arizona. During the 1960’s, he and hisstudents, especially John Wright, Jay Cole, and Bob Bezy resolvedthe most difficult problem in North American herpetology (thestudy of amphibians and reptiles) by showing that many of ourwhiptail lizard species were in fact of hybrid origin, and were all-female species, reproducing without males (in a clone-likefashion). Although a herpetologist at heart, his ecological interestswere exceedingly broad. From 1969-1983, with National ParkService Naturalist Scotty Steenbergh, he published a key seriesof books and papers on the natural history, population decline,and physiology of the saguaro cactus in the Tucson area andelsewhere in the Sonoran Desert, and in 1980 he co-authored (withDavid E. Brown) the still-authoritative map of the BioticCommunities of the Southwest. In 1986 he published “TheVenomous Reptiles of Arizona” with Cecil Schwalbe and TerryJohnson. His students have gone on to successful positions asmajor museum curators from coast to coast, as professors, and askey conservation professionals in Arizona.

Born in Los Angeles, California, on April 16, 1920, the youngCharles quickly developed a love of the desert, and especially of

reptiles and amphibians. Highly competitive, he went to UCLA witha basketball scholarship, where he nonetheless pursued his desireto become a professional herpetologist. After graduating fromcollege, he served in World War II as a U.S. Navy Ensign, Lt. (jg)in the Pacific, resuming study at UCLA in 1946. In 1950, with newPh.D. in hand, he immediately departed for Arizona and theuncharted ecological realms of the Sonoran Desert region. Duringhis graduate studies he also worked as an ecological consultant atGround Zero in White Sands with two of his great lifetimecollaborators, Kenneth Norris and Richard Zweifel. For most of hislife, Lowe had a superb mastery of the scientific literature, and heand several students, including Wallace Heath, David Hinds, andAnnette Halpern, performed a fascinating series of laboratoryexperiments on the ecology and physiology of diverse animalsranging from fish to lizards to roadrunners and jackrabbits. Forexample, their determination that the desert pupfish can toleratetemperatures up to 112 degrees Fahrenheit remains the knownbenchmark for fish; they also demonstrated the pupfish’s remarkableability to tolerate low oxygen levels. Although he was strong in thelibrary and laboratory, it was his dedication to direct learning andexploration in the field that became his trademark and an examplesuccessfully followed by many students.

Dr. Lowe flew with backcountry pilot Ike Russell to theunknown reaches of Sonora and the islands in the Sea of Cortez,and explored even more widely on the ground, inspiring generationsof “desert rats”. He and his wife Arlene chaperoned ecologists, moviestars, and journalists through the natural and cultural history of theSonoran Desert. He built one of the world’s largest and mostrepresentative collections of Southwestern amphibian and reptilespecimens, discovered and described no less than 20 new speciesand subspecies, and published over 136 scientific articles and books(at last count). He had a widely-known ego to match, and in lateryears expressed many varied regrets for having allowed it to roamall-too-freely. He suffered with the decline of the desert, and, in thepast two decades, struggled with declining health and a house firethat destroyed invaluable materials and research in progress. In thesedecades he also enjoyed a much-mellowed autumn with his childrenand grandchildren, precious nurse Rosalie Peralta, his assistantGeorge Bradley, and his students, including work with Philip Rosenon ecological monitoring in the National Parks system, and withDaniel Beck and Brent Martin on Gila monsters and beaded lizards.While he could be aggressive and was not particularly tolerant, hisdrive to learn and achieve brought him great success and led towide renown as a researcher. Matching this was his enjoyment ofteaching, as well as the many stories about him that made him muchlarger than life. Yet larger still were his thoughtfulness, generosity,and his depth of feeling for nature and for those working with him.

Dr. Lowe was husband of the late Arlene Patten Lowe, and issurvived by his loving son Charles A. (Cal) of Tucson, and daughterCatherine Anne and grandchildren Griffen Kathleen (9) and MichaelRyan (12) of Los Angeles. A small service for family and closefriends will be held on September 29. A larger public memorialwill be held in October at a site and date to be determined. Thosedesiring to be placed on the contact list for the memorial can contactPhil Rosen or George Bradley (520-621-3187;pcrosen@u.arizona.edu), Cecil Schwalbe (cecils@ag.arizona.edu,520-571-9550 phone/fax), or family members. Donations in hismemory may be made to the Charles H. Lowe, Jr., HerpetologyResearch Fund at the Tucson Herpetological Society, P.O. Box 709,Tucson, AZ 85702-0709, or to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002 111

Tucson Herpetological SocietyThe Charles H. Lowe, Jr., Herpetology

Research Fund

The Charles H. Lowe, Jr., Herpetology Research Fund wasestablished to support research that contributes to the conservationof the herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert, including the states ofArizona, southern California, Sonora and on the Baja Californiapeninsula and gulf islands. Dr. Cecil R. Schwalbe spearheaded thefund in honor of the many contributions to our understanding ofherpetology in the Sonoran Desert by Dr. Lowe. The fund wasinaugurated at the Current Research on the Herpetofauna of theSonoran Desert II Conference, April 2002.

APPLICATION PROCEEDURES

EligibilityAny current THS member is eligible to receive awards from theC.H. Lowe Research Fund. Researchers need not be affiliated withan institution and need not have previous experience. Pre K-12educational institutions and students are encouraged to apply. THSBoard Members and Lowe Fund Committee Members are noteligible.

FundingBeginning in 2003, proposals will be reviewed semiannually on 1May and 1 November. Decisions to award will be made on thevalue of the research being proposed and not on the experience orstatus of the person making the request. No requests will beapproved that involve collecting animals for personal collectionsor profit. Requests are not to exceed $500. Although the fund isprimarily for the purchase of equipment, requests can includepersonnel and travel costs. All awards are subject to THS boardapproval. Awards may not necessarily be granted every period andare subject to availability of funds. Funding may be awarded out ofcycle under special circumstances.

ProposalsRequests should include a general description of the project, itsobjectives and methods, and time frame for both equipment useand project closure, (not to exceed 2 pages, single-spaced). Adetailed budget should be included (not to exceed 1 page). TheC.H. Lowe Research Fund Committee will review proposals blind(i.e., cover pages will be removed before proposals are distributedto reviewers so that reviewers will not be influenced by knowingwho submitted a particular proposal). Proposals should besubmitted to the C.H. Lowe Fund Committee Chair (TaylorEdwards) with a cover page including contact information, andfour copies of the project description and budget. Projectdescriptions should avoid reference to the applicant to maintainanonymity during the review process.

Proposals should emphasize research that:• Focuses on herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert;• Contributes to conservation;• Contributes to education;• Is novel or unique;• Is not supported by other means;• Provides geographic distribution data;• Allows equipment to be shared among multiple

projects.

Deliverables:All awardees are required to submit a project report for publicationin the Sonoran Herpetologist’s “Current Research News” withinsix months of the award. This report will include a description ofthe project and may consist of just a few lines to several paragraphs,dependent on the scope of the work. The committee may waivethis requirement if the product of the research is not deemed suitablefor publication. For appropriate projects, the committee may alsoencourage submission of a full-length article to the SonoranHerpetologist.

Additional information:Researchers must adhere to federal and state Fair Labor, CivilRights and ADA Regulations. Awardees must be in accordancewith all federal and state laws regarding wildlife, animal welfare,and land access. Awardees will be responsible for acquiring theproper permits for conducting such research (wherever that researchmay be conducted), which may be requested by the committee.Awards will be revoked immediately if compliance is not met. TheTHS holds no responsibility for research deliverables that may berequired by other participating parties on the project.

All equipment purchased from the C.H. Lowe Fund is the propertyof the THS and can be withdrawn from a project at any time uponrequest of the committee. Expendable items awarded during aproject may remain property of the awardee. It is understood thatdamage to and loss of field equipment can occur. Researchers areasked to treat THS equipment with care and respect. Equipmentlost or damaged on a project will not necessarily be replaced.

Equipment already owned by the THS can be requested at anytime (email or snail mail acceptable) from the C.H. Lowe FundCommittee Chair. Equipment may not be available if already inuse, and equipment already in use may need to be shared amongmultiple projects. Committee members can authorize the use ofequipment without board approval and will balance multiplerequests to the best of their ability.

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002112

BOOK REVIEWS

Neotropical Treeboas- Natural History of the Corallushortulanus Complex, by Robert W. Henderson. 2002. KriegerPublishing Co., P.O. Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542. 228pp. Hardcover. US $ 44.50. ISBN 1-57524-038-6.

David L. Hardy Sr.

With more and more books being published on the subject ofherpetology, titles and subjects covered are becoming morespecialized. That is certainly the case with Bob Henderson’s newbook on one group of tree boas within the genus Corallus. Theprimary focus of a very detailed and scholarly work is the “Corrallushortulanus Complex” which since 1996 is comprised of thefollowing species: Corallus cookii (St. Vincent Island), C.grenadensis (the Granada Bank), C. hortulanus (Amazonia,Guiannas, and SE Brazil) and C. ruschenbergerii (Costa Rica,Panama, northern Colombia and Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago).Corrallus hortulanus was previously referred to as C. enydris andhas by far the widest distribution. Henderson has studied C.grenadensis in the field for the past 17 years and his writingconcentrates on the huge amount of data he has collected on thisparticular species. But this book is much more.

There are 10 Chapters in all which are entitled: Introduction,Methods, Species, and Study Sites; Color and Pattern, MeristicCharacters, and Size; Habitat Selection and Use; Activity; Foodand Foraging; Predators and Defensive Behavior; Reproduction;Populations; Ecological Relationships with Other Boids; and finally,Treeboas and Humans. Additional sections are Literature Citedand Additional Corallus hortulanus Complex Literature, and thesealone are valuable resources.

Each of the four species is dealt with individually and at length,and this is the heart of the book. However, the Chapter on“Ecological Relationships with Other Boas” was what I particularlyliked and its presence may be overlooked by those who shop bytitle only. Using text and extensive Tables, Henderson provides awonderful overview of the 22 species of boines known to inhabitthe American tropics from northern Mexico to southern SouthAmerica, including many island populations. There is a summaryfor each on distribution, size, habitat and diet for Neotropicalboines. The prey that has been recorded for each species is listedin an extensive Table.

The hortulanus complex of treeboas are known for theirextreme variation in both color and pattern. There are 32 Plates(two to a page) showing this amazing variation, and not only that,the locality is given for the individuals depicted which increasesthe value of these photos. For herpetoculturists it may be possibleto confirm or figure out where the treeboa they have or wish tohave, may have originated. There are also many black and whitephotos, especially of the habitat where treeboas are found.

Any professional herpetologist interested in snakes will wantthis classic book in their library. Herpetoculturists who like boasin general will find this book a wonderful source of information.Treeboas as a group show such variation in color and pattern thatthese traits alone make them fun to keep and breed. Hendersondeals with all aspects of their physical being. In addition, theirnatural history and its variation between and within species is

described with detail and thoroughness. Although there are manyFigures and Tables of data, the writing is clear and flowing so thatone can stop for the details of data or read on without thatdigression.

Photos in several other books show the Emerald Treeboa (C.caninus) eating a pre-killed parakeet in a controlled situation andthe same snake/prey situation has also appeared on commercialnatural history television programs on the Amazon Basin. Althoughsome treeboa species do include birds as a component of theirdiet, Emerald Treeboas do not. Perhaps there is a chance that thisbook may now put that myth to rest.

In the final Chapter, “Treeboas and Humans” there isfascinating information on how humans have interacted withtreeboas, beginning about 15,000 years ago. Besides killing them,animals were introduced which killed Treeboas as prey or becamenew prey for the snake. Over the years, plantations have replacedtheir forest. In recent years, 18,000 C. hortulanus have beenexported to the pet industry.

Herpetoculturists are keeping several species of treeboa andworking especially with the red, orange, and yellow color phases.A litter of captive born treeboas with a number of color phasestaken to a show in San Diego recently, sold out immediately asthey were a big hit (Rich Ihle pers. comm. 2002). In the past,imported treeboas predominated but this is beginning to changewith more captive born treeboas showing up (Danny Mendez pers.comm. 2002). There will undoubtedly be a growing market for themore spectacular patterned and colored animals.

This is a fine book and I highly recommend it to everyherpetologist, especially those interested in snakes. Seriousherpetoculturists will also find this book interesting and valuable.Although some may be intimidated by the level of scientific writing,they shouldn’t be, since the natural history and other interestingtopics are easily assimilated and enjoyed.

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002 113

The Cuban Treefrog in Florida: Life History of a SuccessfulColonizing Species, by Walter E. Meshaka Jr. 2002. UniversityPress of Florida, 15 NW 15th Street Gainesville, FL 32611 208pp. Cloth, $69.95. ISBN 0-8130-2109-X

Eric W. Stitt

Florida is a melting pot of introduced species. Thousands ofnon-native plants have become established in the state, and at least94 are considered invasive enough to change native ecosystems(Gordon and Thomas 1996). Almost 1000 insects, 35 fish, 36amphibians and reptiles, approximately 22 birds, and at least 19mammals have become established in Florida (see Simberloff etal. 1996 for citations). The mechanism behind these introductionsvaries with the species, but some were intentionally introduced forbiological control or landscape stability. Others escaped captivepropagation (plants) or import facilities (animals). Some vertebrateswere intentionally released by overstocked importers, while stillother species arrived by serendipity, having rafted from island toisland along the way to Florida. Walter Meshaka Jr. has establishedjob security in his quest to document the ecology and spread ofFlorida’s introduced herpetofauna. In The Cuban Treefrog inFlorida, Meshaka takes a long look at one introduced species’potential to colonize an ecosystem.

The Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) is a large(<125 mm) hylid frog, first documented in Florida in the 1940’s,that remained in low numbers for decades following its initialestablishment. However, in the early 1990’s, Meshaka begannoticing more Cuban treefrogs, and that they were more widelydispersed than formerly recognized. In Chapter 1 of this book,Meshaka describes the train of thought that led out from hisobservations. His description culminates with the statement: “TheCuban treefrog is a successful colonizing species, but I don’t knowwhy.” For the remainder of the book, Meshaka tests 10 correlatesassociated with successful biological invasions to determine whichones help explain the Cuban treefrog’s success.

In Chapter 2, Meshaka provides an overview of thebiogeography and origin of Osteopilus, including recent patternsof colonization for O. septentrionalis in the West Indies. Heprovides an exhaustive literature review of the biology of thespecies, and a comprehensive list of citations documenting thespread of the frog by site and county in Florida. In Chapter 3,Meshaka describes the Florida Everglades and Everglades NationalPark, where most of his research was conducted. Chapter 4 isessentially an expanded “methods” section for a scientific paper.In this chapter, Meshaka details the procedures and protocols usedfor upcoming chapters, which focus on reproduction (Ch. 5), larvaeand post-metamorphs (Ch. 6), activity (Ch. 7), habitat (Ch. 8), diet(Ch. 9), predators (Ch. 10), and body size (Ch. 11).

In Chapter 12, Meshaka provides a synthesis of his findings,suggesting that a suite of variables, including high fecundity, aplastic breeding system, the ability to capitalize on major ecologicaldisturbances, and superior competitive ability have combined tomake the Cuba treefrog a formidable colonizer. He then (Chs. 13and 14) speculates as to the future distribution of the species. Hesuggests that north of the frog’s present range in Florida, climate

may be the only limiting factor. Likewise, he considers furthercolonization in the Lesser Antilles “inevitable,” and predicts thisfrog will become ubiquitous in association with humans. Regardingthe frog’s future at Everglades National Park, Meshaka is optimisticand presents an interesting scenario: restoration efforts may raisethe water table, thus eliminating breeding habitat and bringing morepredatory fish into close contact with all life stages of the frog.As one just beginning to delve into the invasive species literature,I found this book to be a very satisfying read. Meshaka iscomprehensive and detailed in his approach. His logic is easy tofollow, and hypotheses are clearly stated. However, I do have afew minor criticisms. First, a series of 33 photographs in Chapter4 are interesting, but overdone and only marginally relevant. Thephotos depict study locales at Everglades National Park, and areusually paired as before and after shots showing the effects ofHurricane Andrew. Meshaka explains in later chapters that theCuban treefrog takes advantage of such events, but these photoswould be better placed in that context or within the discussion ofcorrelates at the end of the book. A related criticism is his need toinclude tables and figures for seemingly every measurable aspectof Cuban treefrog biology. For example, Chapter 9 (Diet) includes29 tables and 24 figures! While I greatly appreciate the level ofdetail presented, at times I found the copious tables and figuresdistracting. Lastly, Meshaka often concludes chapters with adiscussion of other introduced reptiles and amphibians in Florida.These summaries often feel cursory, as if included as anafterthought.

For those of us who work in the western states, where wehave seen the introduced American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)decimate the native ranid frog fauna, this book presents aninteresting parallel. I highly recommend it to anyone interested inthe conservation of native species, or interested in the biology ofsuccessful “weedy” species.

Literature CitedGordon, D. R. and K. P. Thomas. 1996. Florida’s invasion by non-

indigenous plants: history, screening, and regulation. Pages21-37 in Simberloff, D., D. C. Schmitz, and T. C. Brown,editors. Strangers in Paradise: Impact and Management ofNonindigenous Species in Florida. Island Press, CoveloCalifornia. 467 pages.

Simberloff, D., D. C. Schmitz, and T. C. Brown (editors). 1996.Strangers in Paradise: Impact and Management ofNonindigenous Species in Florida. Island Press, CoveloCalifornia. 467 pages.

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002114

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES

Field Observations of Anuran Predation bythe Black-necked Gartersnake

(Thamnophis cyrtopsis) in southern Arizona

Erik F. Enderson3234 E. Patricia St. Tucson, AZ, 85716

eenderson@msn.com

Robert L. BezyHerpetology,

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos Angeles, CA, 90027

bezyr@theriver.com

The dietary habits of the Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophiscyrtopsis) fig. 1, appear to consist largely of anurans (Fouquette1954, Fleharty 1967, Jones 1990). Fouquette (1954) found thatof 40 specimens examined from Texas, 35 contained anurans.For a population of T. cyrtopsis in western Arizona Jones (1990)also found that anurans predominated in the diet, as ca. 97% ofthe prey items in adult T. cyrtopsis were anurans.

Fig. 1- Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)

In southern Arizona we have observed T. cyrtopsis feedingupon or containing: Bufo alvarius (fig. 2), Bufo punctatus,Gastrophryne olivacea, Hyla eximia, Rana catesbeiana, Ranachiricahuensis (fig. 3), Rana yavapaensis (fig. 4) and Speamultiplicata. Of particular interest are B. alvarius, G. olivacea,H. eximia, and S. multiplicata which appear to have potent skinand/or paratoid toxins. In addition, our observations of Balvarius, G. olivacea, and H. eximia appear to be the firstpublished records of post-metamorphic individuals of thesespecies in the diet of T. cyrtopsis.

The powerful toxins and hallucinogenic properties of B.alvarius that have gained this species an unfortunate notorietyhave been well documented (Hanson and Vail 1956, Porter andPorter 1967, Erspamer et al. 1967, Cei et al. 1968). Oral exposureto this toad species can be life threatening to domestic pets (Eubig

1999), although Wright (1966), observed a raccoon consuming a B.alvarius.

Fig. 2. T. cyrtopsis regurgitating post-meatmorphic Bufo alvarius.

Noxious secretions from the granular glands of adult G. olivaceamay cause irritation and burning of the eyes and mouth in humans(Conant and Collins 1991, pers. obs.). On several occasions duringand after handling G. olivacea we have endured symptoms that webelieve were caused by these small anurnas’ skin secretions. Afterhandling G. olivacea we have experienced burning in the eyes andmouth, difficulty swallowing, nasal discharge, and sneezing. Similareffects have been noticed for H. eximia and S. multiplicata.

Fig. 3- T. cyrtopsis consuming Rana chiricahuensis

Certain snakes however, appear to be immune to amphibiantoxins. Heterodon spp and Xenodon spp feed almost exclusively onBufo adults (Duellman and Trueb 1994:260), and Brodie (1968),reported T. sirtalis to be resistant to the strong toxins of Taricha spp.Greene (1997:68) presents a photo of the colubrid snake Liophisepinephalus swallowing the highly toxic Harlequin Frog (Atelopusvarius) and suggests that the snake possess immunity to the toxins.Our field observations of T. cyrtopsis prey items suggest it, and perhapsother gartersnakes may possess immunity to amphibian toxins as well.

On 22 July 2002 at ca. 2252h in a canyon in the Pajarito-AtascosaMts. complex, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, we captured and palped twoactive T. cyrtopsis. TC1 (unsexed) measured 48.5cm SVL, weighed

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002 115

68g at capture, and regurgitated one adult G. olivacea (fig. 5) andone post-metamorphic B. punctatus. TC2 (unsexed) measured62.8cm SVL, weighed 73.5g, and regurgitated one adult G.olivacea and one post-metamorphic S. multiplicata. The snakeswere released at the capture site.

Fig. 4- T. cyrtopsis with Rana yavapaiensis feed buldge.

Fig. 5- T. cyrtopsis with regurgitated Gastrophryne olivacea

At ca. 0800h on 7 September 2000, Enderson captured anadult T. cyrtopsis on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge,Pima Co., Arizona that yielded 14 recently metamorphosed B.alvarius. On 12 August 1998 at ca. 0930h Enderson forceregurgitated a female T. cyrtopsis from a canyon in Huachuca Mts,Santa Cruz Co., Arizona that yielded a large adult H. eximia.

Literature CitedBrodie, E. D. Jr., 1968 Investigations on the skin toxin of the

adult rough-skinned newt Taricha granulosa. Copeia,1968 (2) :307-313.

Cei, J. M., V. Erspamer, and M. Roseghini. 1968 Taxonomicand evolutionary significance of biogenetic amines andpolypepiteds skin. II. Toads of the genera Bufo andMelanophryniscus. Syst. Zool. 17 (3) :232-245.

Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1991. Reptiles and Amphibiansof Eastern / Central North America. Third Edition.Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. ix+ 450pp

Duellman, W. E., and L. Trueb. 1994. Biology of Amphibians.John Hopkins Paperbacks edition, Baltimore. xix +670pp.

Erspamer, V., T. Vitali, M. Roseghini, and J. M. Cei. 1967. 5-methoxy and 5-hydroxy-indoleakylamines in the skin ofBufo alvarius. Biochem. Pharmacol. 16:1149-1164.

Eubig, Paul A. 2001. Bufo species toxicosis: Big toad, bigproblem. Veterinary Medicine Toxicology Brief 96 (8)

Fleharty, E. D. 1967. Comparative ecology of Thamnophiselegans, T. cyrtopsis and T. rufipunctatus in New Mexico.Southwest Naturalist 12:207-230.

Fouquette, M. J. Jr. 1954. Food competition of four sympatricspecies of garter snakes, genus Thamnophis. The TexasJournal of Science 6:172-188.

Greene, H. W. 1997. Snakes. The Evolution of Mystery in Nature.University of California Press, Berkeley. xiii + 351pp.

Hanson, Joe A., and James L. Vial. 1956. Defensive behaviorand effects of toxins in Bufo alvarius. Herpetologica 12(2): 39-252.

Jones, K. B. 1990. Habitat use and predatory behavior ofThamnophis cyrtopsis (Serpentes:Colubridae) in aseasonally variable aquatic environment. SouthwestNaturalist 35:115-122.

Porter, Kenneth R., and Wendy F. Porter. 1967. Venomcomparisons and relationships of twenty species of NewWorld toads (Genus Bufo). Copeia 1967(2) :228-307.

Wright, John W. 1966. Predation of a Colorado River Toad, Bufoalvarius. Herpetologica 22 (2) : 127-128

Photos by Erik F. Enderson

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002116

HERPETOFAUNA OF THE 100 MILE CIRCLE

To see the herpetofauna of the 100 mile circle in color, visit theTHS web site at http://tucsonherpsociety.org

Northern Mexican Garter Snake(Thamnophis eques megalops)

byEric Wallace

A relatively long, stout-bodied garter snake where females mayreach a length of 112 cm. (44 in.). Mexican garter snakes have 3bold stripes and are easily confused with the black-necked andcheckered garter snakes that are found throughout their range. All3 species can be identified by noting which scale rows the lateralstripe falls across in the anterior portion of the body. Mexicangarter snake’s lateral stripe occurs on scale rows 3 & 4, on rows 2& 3 on black-necked garter snakes and row 3 in checkered gartersnakes.

An extremely aquatic, secretive garter snake, it is rarely foundaway from permanent water and dense vegetation. In Arizona, itinhabits cienegas, cienega-streams and cottonwood-willow riparianareas. Mexican garter snakes are distributed from southern Mexiconorth through the Mexican Plateau and Highlands to central Arizonaand west-central New Mexico. Historically, in Arizona, they werefound at low- to mid-elevations, 530-1875 m. (1720-6150 ft.),throughout the greater Gila River Basin and the headwaters of theRio Yaqui (San Bernadino National Wildlife Refuge). Oncecommon in the Tucson Basin, it is now extirpated from the area.

Mexican garter snakes primarily feed on frogs and fish althoughthey are known to take small rodents and lizards. Females givebirth to up to 25 live young between late May and early July. Theyare active during the warmer months of the year and are most readilyobserved in the morning. If handled or threatened, Mexican gartersnakes will strike repeatedly and bite, all the while smearing a strongsmelling musk and feces on the handler.

Mexican garter snakes have declined throughout much of theirrange in Arizona and are considered a Species of Special Concernby the Arizona Game and Fish Department and it is illegal to handleor collect them without the proper permits. Although MexicanGarter snakes do not have official Federal protection, much of their

remaining habitats are protected, at least in part, due to the Federallisting, under the Endangered Species Act, of several other wetlandobligate species including Sonoran Tiger salamanders, Chiricahualeopard frogs and Huachuca water umbel.

Reasons for decline include alteration and destruction of theiraquatic habitat and the introductions of exotic species (e.g.,bullfrogs). Surveys conducted during the mid-1980’s and 2000suggest this trend is continuing. On a positive note, a populationat Santa Cruz, which was thought to be extirpated, was recentlyfound to persist there, albeit in low numbers.

In Arizona the subspecies Thamnophis eques megalops,Northen Mexican Garter snake is found.

Crother 2001 "2000", recognized this subspecies as the North-ern Mexican Gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops).

Current distribution of Thamnophis eques megalops inArizona

photo by Erik F. Enderson

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002 117

BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS24 September 2002

Robert L. Bezy, Secretary

Directors Present: Roy Averill-Murray, Bob Bezy, Jillian Cowles,Taylor Edwards, Kent Jacobs, Cristina Jones, Dick Martin,Ed Moll, Don Swann.

Directors Absent:, Erik Enderson, Caren Goldberg.Members Present: Bill Savary, Dale Turner, Marty Tuegel.

Treasurer’s Report - Jacobs.

Beginning Balance $10,665.47Deposits 326.00Expenses 103.41Ending Balance $10,888.06

Speakers Bureau $ 933.53Jarchow Award 45.00FTHL Fund 95.00C.H.Lowe Research Fund 2,173.00General Fund $ 7,641.53

CRHSDIII (CD) $ 6,759.28

Itemized Deposits: Membership $184.00, T-shirts 142.00.

Itemized Expenses: Bank Charge $2.30, Newsletter $5.11,T-shirts $96.00.

Committee ReportsConservation - Edwards for Caldwell. There is an opportunity

to develop a workshop with the Tucson Audubon Society thatwould cover amphibians and reptiles.

Speakers Bureau - Edwards and Moll.11 Sept. - Ed Moll. Wakefield Middle School. Presentation

with Tucson Audubon Society in the “Building the FutureGroup” program.

21 Sept. - Ed and Judy Moll. Harvest moon celebration heldat Tucson Mountain Park. Discussion with attendees (110present) about amphibians and reptiles, including livereptiles, brochures, and coloring pages.

21-22 Sept. - Paul and Steve Condon, Taylor Edwards,Caren Goldberg, Matt Kaplan, Don Swann, MartyTuegel. Tucson Reptile Show. Discussions with hundredsof attendees about amphibians and reptiles; gave outbrochures, bumper stickers, AGFD regulations, andmembership information.

Program - Roy Averill-Murray. The October talk will be by TomJones. Additional prospective speakers are being contacted.David Hall has agreed to speak in November.

C. H. Lowe Jr. Herpetology Research Fund - Edwards. Thedraft of the guidelines was reviewed and approved by theBroad. The committee chair will receive and distributeproposals, which will be reviewed anonymously by thecommittee twice a year (1 May and 1 November).

Old BusinessPARC - Roy Averill-Murray. A small group will be meeting this

week for strategic planning of the Southwest Regional WorkingGroup.

Membership Secretary - Swann. Dave Hardy has expressed aninterest in continuing to serve as the Membership Secretary.His continuing service in this capacity is greatly appreciatedand the Board looks forward to working with him in developingthe electronic data base for membership.

2002 Slate of Candidates

The Board of Directors were presented with and accepted theslate of Candidates for the November elections. The followingpeople ar on the Officer’s slate:

President Taylor EdwardsVice President Don SwannSecretary Robert BezyTreasurer Marty Tuegel

Nominees for Directors are (three openings):Cristina Jones, Hans Koenig, Ed Moll, Eric Stitt, Brian Wooldridge

Other nominations may be submitted directly to the Board byten or more members with the consent of the candidate and mustbe received at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting(November 5). Thanks to the Nominating Committee, CarenGoldberg (chair), Dennis Caldwell and Roger Repp, for puttingtogether an excellent slate of candidates.

Please note the Annual Meeting and Election will take placeon November 19, 2002.

SH MEMBERSHIP UPDATEAs of 3 October 2002

NEW MEMBERSBrooke Gebow TucsonDiana & David Freshwater TucsonMichael Maxam & Marisa Bentley TucsonGordon Moyer TucsonElissa Ostergaard TucsonRichard & Marjory Wagner Tucson

C. H. LOWE HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH FUNDLeone L. Mohney Tucson

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002118

ADVERTISEMENTSAds are $2 per line. The first two lines are free to members (approximately 240 letters and spaces), and are run the number of timesspecified at the time of listing with prepayent when applicable. Otherwise they are run one time only, but repeats may be requestedby letter or phone. Charges for commercial ads are: 1/8th page $5; 1/4 page $10; 1/2 page $20. No ad should be submitted whichinvolves wild caught herptofauna. Acceptance of any ad will be at the discretion of the Editor and in accordance with Society policy.The Society is not responsible for the accuracy of representations made in any ad.

For Sale: Rats- small $1.00, medium $1.50, large $2.00, jumbo $2.50. $10 minimum order. Various reptile cages andaquariums, $10 and up. Contact: Marcia at 744-4211 (Tucson) or e-mail: boahiss@earthlink.net.

Arizona Herpetological AssociationP. O. Box 64531

Phoenix AZ 85082-4531

Meetings: 4th Tuesday, 7:00 PMLocation: The Phoenix Zoo, Auditorium, 455 North

Galvin Pkwy (between McDowell and Van - Buren)

Journal: The Desert MonitorDues: Individual $20, Family $25, Contributing $35Information: (408) 894-1625

The Tucson Herpetological Society has started a col-umn in its monthly newsletter, The Sonoran Herpetologist,titled, “Local Research News”. We want to update our read-ers on interesting herpetology research projects happeningaround the state.

We are currently collecting pieces for submission. thesubmissions need not be more than a few paragraphs and donot need to include data, specific localities or other details.The emphasis should be on how science is being applied toherpetological questions.

The style and format are very informal (see SonHerp13:123 for an example). I will be happy to help with editingor if you already have a brief description or project sum-mary, I will be happy to assist in formatting it.Taylor Edwards, tayache@Ag.arizona.edu

Information for ContributorsAuthors should submit original articles, notes, book re-views to the Editor, either via email using an attached wordprocessed manuscript or by mail to the Society’s address.The manuscript style should follow that of Journal of Her-petology and Herpetological Review, publications of theSociety for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. For fur-ther information, please contact Erik Enderson ateenderson@msn.com

Sonoran HerpetologistLocal Research News

TIME TO RENEW YOURTHS MEMBERSHIP?

I hope this is a helpful reminder to those of you whose member-ship renewal is due this month. Please call or email with correc-tions and errors. 624-8879 or dhardysr@theriver.comDave Hardy Sr.Membership Secretary

Due in October:Danny & Sharon Brower Travis LaDucJoshua Marki Hugh & Rebecca McCrystalMark Moser Priscilla Titus, Eric Stanford & Jon TitusDale Turner & Julia Fonseca

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002 119

Dedicated to conservation, education, andresearch concerning the amphibians and reptiles ofArizona and Mexico. THS is a registered non-profitorganization.

OfficersDon Swann dswann@u.arizona.edu PresidentTaylor Edwards tayache@Ag.arizona.edu Vice PresidentBob Bezy bezyr@theriver.com SecretaryKent Jacobs jacobskent@earthlink.net Treasurer

DirectorsRoy Averill-Murray rmurray@gf.state.az.us 2002-2003Jillian Cowles jillian@mindspring.com 2002-2003Caren Goldberg careng8@yahoo.com 2001-2002Cristina Jones cajones@u.arizona.edu 2001-2002Dick Martin dick@gailanddick.com 2002-2003Ed Moll e.o.moll@att.net 2001-2002Erik Enderson eenderson@msn.com Past President

Editor Erik Enderson eenderson@msn.com 319-0723Assoc. Ed. Dale Turner dturner@theriver.com 792-2690Art Editor Dennis Caldwell djcaldw111@aol.com 624-0198Distribution Fred Wilson fmw@uswest.net 743-3920Distribution Trevor Hare trevor@skyislandalliance.org 321-1462

Sonoran Herpetologist is the newsletter-journal of the TucsonHerpetological Society, and is Copyright 2001. The contentsof Sonoran Herpetologist may be reproduced for inclusion inthe newsletters of other herpetological societies providedthe material is reproduced without change and with appro-priate credit, and a copy of the publication is sent to theTucson Herpetological Society. Occasional exceptions to thispolicy will be noted.

A complete set of back issues are available in the SpecialCollections area of the University of Arizona library. Theyare accompanied by a copy of The Collected Papers of the Tuc-son Herpetological Society, 1988-1991.

Deadline for SonHerp 15 (11) is November 6Society Activities

Monthly Members MeetingRoy Averill-Murray, Program Chairperson

3rd Tuesday, 7:15 PM

Board of Directors MeetingTuesday October 22, 7:00pm

Arizona Game and Fish Department Office555 North Greasewood Road

Speakers BureauTaylor Edwards, DirectorEd Moll, Director

Scheduled presentations

Herpetological Information HotlineBob Brandner 760-0574

Jarchow Conservation AwardTaylor Edwards, Chairperson

Publications:Sonoran HerpetologistLiving with RattlesnakesLiving with Gila monstersTHS Herp Coloring BookTHS Collected Papers, 1988-1991 (out of print)

THS Internet World Wide Webpagehttp://tucsonherpsociety.org

Bill Savary bsavary@mindspring.com

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATIONIndividual $20 Sustaining $30Family $25 Contributing $50Student $14 Life $500

To receive a membership form and recent issue ofSonoran Herpetologist call (520) 624-8879 or write:

Tucson Herpetological SocietyP. O. Box 709

Tucson AZ 85702-0709

The Tucson Herpetological Society invites your contribu-tions to a regular feature in the Sonoran Herpetologist, Natu-ral History Observations of southwestern herps. Similar toLife History Notes in Herpetological Review, these can in-clude information such as size, behavior, diet, predation,community structure or other interesting observations .Please submit your noteworthy observations to Dale Turner(dturner@theriver.com), editor for this section. Submissionsshould be brief , typed double-spaced, and in electronic formif possible.

Sonoran HerpetologistNatural History Observations

Sonoran Herpetologist 15 (10) 2002120

Your membership has expired.This is your only reminder.

Please renew!

SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST

October 2002Printed on Recycled Paper

IN THIS ISSUE

Remembering Dr. Charles H. Lowe (1920-2002)........................................................................................................109-111

BOOK REVIEW: Neotropical Treeboas- Natural History of the Corallus hortulanus Complex by David L. Hardy Sr......................................................................................................................................................................112

BOOK REVIEW: The Cuban Treefrog in Florida: Life History of a Successful Colonizing Species

by Eric W. Stitt...............................................................................................................................................................................113

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES: Field Observations of Anuran Predation by the Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis) insouthern Arizonaby Erik F. Enderson and Robert L. Bezy...................................................................................................................................114

HERPETOFAUNA OF THE 100-MILE CIRCLE: Mexian Gartersnake (Thamnophis eques)by Eric Wallace...............................................................................................................................................................116

NEXT MEETINGTuesday, November 19th

Sonoran Mud Turtles (Title to be determined)Dave Hall

University of Arizona