Search found 170 matches

by Robert Hansen
July 17th, 2020, 7:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Possible Country Records for the US
Replies: 196
Views: 629523

Re: Possible Country Records for the US

Richard: The preferred means of recording coordinates is through use of a handheld GPS unit. A popular Garmin model (the eTrex 10) sells for under $100. You can of course spend much more, or spend a little more and buy a used Garmin CSX that does a better job at getting sat signals in forested areas...
by Robert Hansen
July 17th, 2020, 1:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Possible Country Records for the US
Replies: 196
Views: 629523

Re: Possible Country Records for the US

I posted this some time ago on Facebook following the publication of the latest Bogertophis discovery. ***************** Do Baja California Ratsnakes Occur in California? The northern range limit of the Baja California Ratsnake ( Bogertophis rosaliae ) has long been in question. In March 1963, San D...
by Robert Hansen
July 14th, 2020, 8:42 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Possible Country Records for the US
Replies: 196
Views: 629523

Re: Possible Country Records for the US

This thread is by now pretty ancient and most of the participants are no longer around (interpret that as you like). However, for two of the more talked-about species ( Bogertophis rosaliae and Boa constrictor , now Boa sigma ), recent discoveries have confirmed some of the ideas posted here a few y...
by Robert Hansen
March 16th, 2017, 5:56 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Phrynosoma in Kern Co
Replies: 11
Views: 4628

Re: Phrynosoma in Kern Co

Unless somebody released a coastal, none naturally occur at the DTNA. The lowest I have seen coastals on the desert slopes is the southern flank of the Tehachapis, where they occur in a mixed shrub/Joshua Tree community. There are no known instances where blainvillii and platyrhinos occur together, ...
by Robert Hansen
May 8th, 2016, 6:30 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Need Expert Opinion On Panamint Rattlesnake ID
Replies: 56
Views: 35901

Re: Need Expert Opinion On Panamint Rattlesnake ID

That is a Panamint, based on color of tail rings. The body pattern also says stephensi, and that snake looks typical for southern stephensi pops.
by Robert Hansen
January 17th, 2016, 5:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Catalina Island Zonata
Replies: 148
Views: 8507

Re: Catalina Island Zonata

I assume all who are interested have actually read the published note. In that, we carefully detailed the chronology and background of each zonata record on the island. There is little doubt that Holder's record from 1910 pertained to this species, and surely nobody was releasing mountain kingsnakes...
by Robert Hansen
December 18th, 2015, 6:25 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Nikon 14-24 2.8 anyone??????
Replies: 2
Views: 3779

Re: Nikon 14-24 2.8 anyone??????

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone here has any feedback or experience with the Nikon 14-24 2.8 Everything out there says that its INSANELY sharp. That being said, as I am sure you guys know the lens cost a lot of money. I really like using a wide-angle for wildlife photography and am interesting ...
by Robert Hansen
September 17th, 2015, 3:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: new invasives
Replies: 7
Views: 2993

Re: new invasives

Link here to paper concerning Northwestern Salamanders and Christmas Trees.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciherpetology/15/
by Robert Hansen
July 16th, 2015, 8:46 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gartersnake (cyrtopsis) behavior - Rhabdophis impersonation
Replies: 41
Views: 16806

Re: Gartersnake (cyrtopsis) behavior - Rhabdophis impersonat

Great observation...never seen this before in any Thamnophis. Makes you wonder if they're sequestering bufotoxins. This should be published as a natural history note.
by Robert Hansen
September 16th, 2014, 8:07 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Zenscientist Registration
Replies: 5
Views: 4824

Re: Zenscientist Registration

An EndNote file of the contents of Herpetological Review is now available on ZenScientist.com. This will be of great use to anyone looking to publish a geographic distribution note or a natural history note. Also SSAR has decided to make all but the last five years of Herpetological Review availabl...
by Robert Hansen
September 15th, 2014, 8:59 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Zenscientist Registration
Replies: 5
Views: 4824

Re: Zenscientist Registration

An EndNote file of the contents of Herpetological Review is now available on ZenScientist.com. This will be of great use to anyone looking to publish a geographic distribution note or a natural history note. Also SSAR has decided to make all but the last five years of Herpetological Review available...
by Robert Hansen
July 1st, 2014, 10:09 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New species of rattlesnakes: Crotalus tlaloci & C. campbelli
Replies: 11
Views: 6883

Re: New species of rattlesnakes: Crotalus tlaloci & C. campb

justinm wrote:Thanks Chris, I found a link but I don't have a subscription that will allow me to read the abstract. Maybe someone can help out?

http://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view ... .3826.3.34
PM me with an email address if you need a copy of the paper.
by Robert Hansen
June 15th, 2014, 10:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Where can I get a John Zegel snake hook?
Replies: 6
Views: 2271

Re: Where can I get a John Zegel snake hook?

Sent you an email address via PM...hope that works.
by Robert Hansen
May 29th, 2014, 11:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Needing help
Replies: 28
Views: 7316

Re: Needing help

Jim: thanks for any forthcoming info. As for your desert phase helleri , I really don't have much experience with that area but would be really surprised if helleri naturally occurred near Indio. That's some serious low, hot desert, lacking any major drainages or other corridors that would allow ani...
by Robert Hansen
May 29th, 2014, 1:49 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Needing help
Replies: 28
Views: 7316

Re: Needing help

Jim:

Yes, it would be nice to have info on your lateralis record. You can email me at [email protected].

Thanks.
by Robert Hansen
May 28th, 2014, 6:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Needing help
Replies: 28
Views: 7316

Re: Needing help

Robert Hess: Your snakes are correctly ID'd as lateralis , and at the elevation you found them, you are well below the lowest elevation for taeniatus in that area. Carl: Your snake is also correctly ID'd as lateralis . Here are some pics of both species from just a few miles apart. Aside from the ob...
by Robert Hansen
May 27th, 2014, 7:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Needing help
Replies: 28
Views: 7316

Re: Needing help

The first taeniatus was found on the Kern Plateau by me in 1982, and lateralis has been known from there prior to that. Mostly, taeniatus occurs at higher elevations (6000 to > 7000 ft elev) in pinyon-juniper-Jeffrey pine communities, with lateralis occupying lower elevations, sometimes in those sam...
by Robert Hansen
March 22nd, 2014, 5:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Hydromantes question
Replies: 1
Views: 1019

Re: Hydromantes question

Is it worth looking for these guys in late July, or should I just forget about it? I know it is probably the worst time, but that is when I'll be in CA. H. shastae and brunus are low-elevation species with winter/early spring activity windows. H. platycephalus occurs at high elevation and can gener...
by Robert Hansen
September 3rd, 2013, 9:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rim Fire Progress Report (great site w/ maps)
Replies: 3
Views: 1117

Re: Rim Fire Progress Report (great site w/ maps)

Fieldnotes wrote:I'm sure it has burned, perhaps even imporved some people's herp spots, cause its about to reach one of my favorite Yosemite sites near Hwy 120/.
A well-studied Ensatina hybrid zone has been destroyed.
by Robert Hansen
August 17th, 2013, 8:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Columbia Spotted Frog Surveys
Replies: 7
Views: 3316

Re: Columbia Spotted Frog Surveys

Great report, Zach. Nice pics, too. Which population segment did you survey...the southernmost one?
by Robert Hansen
August 5th, 2013, 10:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: List of Herpetological events: symposiums, conferences, etc?
Replies: 5
Views: 2204

Re: List of Herpetological events: symposiums, conferences,

To my knowledge, there is not a single location for this information. However, Herp Review publishes a list in each issue, and I've copied that information below. 22–27 August 2013—SEH 17th European Congress of Herpetology, Veszprém, Hungary. Information: http://seh2013.org/ 13–15 September 2013—6th...
by Robert Hansen
July 1st, 2013, 8:37 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Recommendations for a field-worthy point-and-shoot?
Replies: 4
Views: 3354

Re: Recommendations for a field-worthy point-and-shoot?

Thanks for all of the recommendations and testimonials. Jason, nice stephensi!
by Robert Hansen
June 30th, 2013, 6:42 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Recommendations for a field-worthy point-and-shoot?
Replies: 4
Views: 3354

Recommendations for a field-worthy point-and-shoot?

Not for me, but a young friend wanting to have something for the field capable of taking decent herp shots. He does not know an f-stop from ISO, so please don't suggest he go the DSLR route :) I don't keep up with reviews on P&S cameras, so really have no idea what the best options are. Recommen...
by Robert Hansen
June 23rd, 2013, 9:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps of the Gabes and Berdoos
Replies: 51
Views: 18133

Re: Herps of the Gabes and Berdoos

The absence of some stuff in the San Gabriels might be the result of climatic warming/drying cycles during the Pleistocene. Here's a possibly related example. In northern Baja California, you've got two significant mountain ranges: the Sierra Juarez and the more massive Sierra San Pedro Mártir. Sage...
by Robert Hansen
June 1st, 2013, 8:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter ID
Replies: 9
Views: 1947

Re: Garter ID

Cool find. I'd love to know precisely where they found this snake. T. s. fitchi does indeed routinely occur at much higher elevations in the northern Sierra than is the case in the central and southern Sierra, for reasons that escape me. If you have the locality info and feel like sharing (beyond wh...
by Robert Hansen
May 1st, 2013, 11:02 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: image I liked the results of, opinions welcome!
Replies: 8
Views: 5147

Re: image I liked the results of, opinions welcome!

Neat idea...especially using a "night" snake. One thing that does not quite work for me is that the angle of illumination makes it clear that the moon is not the source. Possibly one way to address this is to position an off-camera flash above and to the left of the snake to mirror the gen...
by Robert Hansen
April 23rd, 2013, 11:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Diadophis tail defense
Replies: 4
Views: 1632

Re: Diadophis tail defense

This is an example of aposematic (warning) coloration that strongly contrasts with the rather drab dorsal color of ringneck snakes, potentially creating a startle effect in a predator. If this momentarily halts a predation attempt, this might allow the snake to escape. Then throw in some nasty musk ...
by Robert Hansen
April 15th, 2013, 11:05 pm
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: Acrantophis Appreciation
Replies: 18
Views: 11447

Re: Acrantophis Appreciation

... i for one am just blownaway by the fact theres boas in madagascar period, how strange & unlikely is that? Its even more unlikely than a python in mexico, but i guess theres one there too. Yet somehow the entire freaken new world couldn't come up w/ a single decent dang monitor (sans gilas) ...
by Robert Hansen
April 4th, 2013, 7:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Mexican Reptile Books (Southern Region)
Replies: 11
Views: 5749

Re: Mexican Reptile Books (Southern Region)

In addition to Matt's list, Julio's book on SLP is also in the works.
by Robert Hansen
March 23rd, 2013, 10:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: CA frog I.D
Replies: 7
Views: 1918

Re: CA frog I.D

You are right on the money. Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii), and a nicely patterned one at that. What elevation were you finding these?
by Robert Hansen
March 20th, 2013, 6:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Field guides for Mexico?
Replies: 4
Views: 1742

Re: Field guides for Mexico?

There are 3 books that come to mind that fit the bill. Two are travel-friendly, the third is a larger reference work, now out of print and rather pricey. Jon Campbell's "Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatán, and Belize" http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-Northe...
by Robert Hansen
March 19th, 2013, 9:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Field guides for Mexico?
Replies: 4
Views: 1742

Re: Field guides for Mexico?

Nothing yet for the whole country (though one is in the works), but there are a number of modern regional works that cover Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Querétaro, Hidalgo, with one for San Luis Potosí due soon, as well as quite a few regional works. Is there a particular reg...
by Robert Hansen
March 13th, 2013, 8:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rana draytonii in Nevada
Replies: 8
Views: 2534

Re: Rana draytonii in Nevada

http://www.fototime.com/B36386B04AF6E44/standard.jpg Rana draytonii was introduced to multiple localities in Nevada in the 1930s, with stock apparently derived from SF Bay Area populations. This fact was somehow overlooked much later, when a manuscript was developed (but never published) to describ...
by Robert Hansen
February 4th, 2013, 1:43 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Nay for the Mojave?
Replies: 28
Views: 4445

Re: Nay for the Mojave?

Roger, thanks again Robert :) :thumb: To me all of the Coleonyx seem like they'd be especially vulnerable to transdermal water loss, but that is just my impression based on their soft, almost translucent looking, skin. Always hard for me to imagine such seemingly delicate looking creatures survivin...
by Robert Hansen
February 4th, 2013, 9:26 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Nay for the Mojave?
Replies: 28
Views: 4445

Re: Nay for the Mojave?

Thanks much Robert. Just the kind of informed response I was hoping for. No where do you suggest that moisture conservation by snakes during droughy years/cycles is a factor in their activity. Can I assume that you don't give much weight to that supposition? edit: Jim, your post hit before while I ...
by Robert Hansen
February 3rd, 2013, 10:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Nay for the Mojave?
Replies: 28
Views: 4445

Re: Nay for the Mojave?

As most here know, the Mojave (at least the California portion) is a winter rainfall desert. Winter precip levels affect primary production--the germination of annual plants. In turn, this affects insects, rodents, birds, lizards, and things that feed on them. Data for snake populations are largely ...
by Robert Hansen
November 19th, 2012, 10:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: No records of Sonoran Desert Toads from Nevada?
Replies: 1
Views: 1095

Re: No records of Sonoran Desert Toads from Nevada?

My sense is that their distribution closely tracks the portions of the Sonoran and Colorado deserts where summer monsoonal moisture is substantial with low levels of inter-annual variability. In other words, summer precip levels are high enough to create breeding habitat for a several-week period an...
by Robert Hansen
October 1st, 2012, 12:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Happy 100th birthday, Hobart Smith!
Replies: 10
Views: 3529

Re: Happy 100th birthday, Hobart Smith!

Video tribute to HMS, courtesy of Oscar Flores at UNAM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC3VMWTDy5U
by Robert Hansen
September 27th, 2012, 3:53 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Happy 100th birthday, Hobart Smith!
Replies: 10
Views: 3529

Re: Happy 100th birthday, Hobart Smith!

Hobart has been quite deaf for many years now, but communicates very capably via email. My last email exchange with him was a few months ago and he was quite lucid!
by Robert Hansen
August 18th, 2012, 10:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Are you at the World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver?
Replies: 19
Views: 8338

Re: Are you at the World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouve

A number of WCH pics have been posted on the Herp Review Facebook page, FYI.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Herp-Rev ... 4018791286
by Robert Hansen
August 1st, 2012, 4:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Putting Slender Salamanders in the NAHERP Database
Replies: 13
Views: 3952

Re: Putting Slender Salamanders in the NAHERP Database

Jonathan: Thanks for the compilation. I'd like to offer two points. The first is that NAFHA records are one piece of the data puzzle. The majority of specimens/locality data reside in museum collections. In looking only at NAFHA records, one can get a very misleading view of "data deficiency&qu...
by Robert Hansen
July 6th, 2012, 1:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lampropeltis ID?
Replies: 8
Views: 2619

Re: Lampropeltis ID?

Most definitely ruthveni.

Cheers,

BH
by Robert Hansen
July 6th, 2012, 6:39 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Mojave Desert: Part 6
Replies: 9
Views: 3450

Re: Mojave Desert: Part 6

Superb post, Zach. Really impressive. Thanks.

Bob
by Robert Hansen
July 5th, 2012, 9:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: WW Bear / UFO post
Replies: 38
Views: 5137

Re: WW Bear / UFO post

Here's my "UFO" story. I was working a long-term desert canyon study site alone one summer moonless night. All of sudden a brightly lit object appeared in the very low western sky at what looked like the head of the canyon, just a few miles away. The light from this object got so bright th...
by Robert Hansen
July 2nd, 2012, 1:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Why do some of us not enter our data in naherp.com?
Replies: 134
Views: 19057

Re: Why do some of us not enter our data in naherp.com?

One of our members has seen several in the Bakersfield area, but has not submitted any of them to the database. This is one of our problems. Other than that, I cannot comment on the scarcity of CA glossies, as I haven't seen one in over 20 years, and haven't looked for them either. Brian: I am awar...
by Robert Hansen
July 2nd, 2012, 1:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Why do some of us not enter our data in naherp.com?
Replies: 134
Views: 19057

Re: Why do some of us not enter our data in naherp.com?

Just a point of clarification about the status of "Glossy Snakes"...it's not all of them, but only the south-coastal/San Joaquin Valley subspecies, A. e. occidentalis . Those of us who have done field work for decades have noted a decline in this form, most obviously of course as a result ...
by Robert Hansen
June 27th, 2012, 2:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: June issue of Herp Review
Replies: 2
Views: 1529

Re: June issue of Herp Review

RR:

Very funny! I think you "retired" as I recall. Rejection rate is still pretty good, ca. 50-60% for general articles and techniques mss., but lots of content coming our way. See you in Vancouver?

BH
by Robert Hansen
June 27th, 2012, 12:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Congrats to our VP, Rob Schell...
Replies: 10
Views: 3402

Re: Congrats to our VP, Rob Schell...

Very sweet pic, indeed. Congrats to Rob!
by Robert Hansen
June 27th, 2012, 12:18 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: June issue of Herp Review
Replies: 2
Views: 1529

June issue of Herp Review

http://www.fototime.com/44945D406CFE062/standard.jpg Volume 43, number 2 (June 2012) is now online at ZenScientist.com, and will mail from the printer on 29 June. This is a special "World Congress of Herpetology" issue, to coincide with the 7th WCH in Vancouver in August. Contents include...
by Robert Hansen
June 14th, 2012, 9:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gartersnake: Diablo, Coast or Both? (update)
Replies: 40
Views: 11369

Re: Gartersnake: Diablo, Coast or Both?

Brian: Actually, I earlier alerted Jeff Boundy to Owen's initial post, given that Jeff is the guy who published the description of Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus (Diablo Range Gartersnake) and knows the garter snakes of that region better than anyone. I think it's quite interesting that hybridization ...