Search found 353 matches

by WSTREPS
April 22nd, 2019, 4:43 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Another threat - invasive Pentastomid
Replies: 6
Views: 16930

Re: Another threat - invasive Pentastomid

For those that might not understand. Pentastomids are a wide spread naturally occurring parasite commonly found in North American snakes, including pigmy rattlesnake's , in size classes from juveniles all the way up to reproductive adults . When in the wild many snakes show no ill effects from the p...
by WSTREPS
April 17th, 2019, 4:56 am
Forum: News
Topic: Another threat - invasive Pentastomid
Replies: 6
Views: 16930

Re: Another threat - invasive Pentastomid

More like another example of scientist cashing in on the Pythons for paychecks mania. " Extending Parasite Range in Florida, USA " What? Right off the bat the scientist showed their deceit by placing that misleading line, bold faced in the "studies" title. The study showed NO ran...
by WSTREPS
July 19th, 2018, 9:59 am
Forum: News
Topic: I wasn't convinced this was possible [Graphic]
Replies: 27
Views: 37453

Re: I wasn't convinced this was possible [Graphic]

This pic from their study is a dramatic reference of size: Here's a more telling view of the same pic. Even with the forced perspective (the head out in front of the mans body).It is painfully obvious that it would be impossible for the snake to articulate it jaws past the wide shoulders once passi...
by WSTREPS
June 21st, 2018, 2:04 pm
Forum: News
Topic: I wasn't convinced this was possible [Graphic]
Replies: 27
Views: 37453

Re: I wasn't convinced this was possible [Graphic]

Fake. What a coincidence. Last year a nearly Identical vid. made the news rounds. That one also involved a 23ft python. That time it was a 25yr old man eaten. Video technology and the ability to create extremely realistic fakes is now available to anyone. For starters I've had numerus discussions wi...
by WSTREPS
May 23rd, 2018, 3:29 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OMG, she did'nt!
Replies: 51
Views: 127709

Re: OMG, she did'nt!

Haha, and as long as we're at it - it's TOO distracted, and TOO slow... Yeah man, and as long as we're at it. Grammar, spelling is an unimportant artifact to the intellectual content. Attacking someone's grammar is a straw grasped at after being outclassed on all points of relevance. Its a very imm...
by WSTREPS
May 22nd, 2018, 1:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OMG, she did'nt!
Replies: 51
Views: 127709

Re: OMG, she did'nt!

Sorry Ernie but you............Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Once again after being put out of countenance by intelligent and concise dialog. The best lateralis and his 3 college degrees can do...... Is compose a response that has all the wit and intelligence of a second grader laughing at his own f...
by WSTREPS
May 22nd, 2018, 9:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OMG, she did'nt!
Replies: 51
Views: 127709

Re: OMG, she did'nt!

I’ve worked my way through 3 college degrees so I am not prone to distraction, and I’ve also worked with and spent a lot of time in the field with the smart ones; such as professionals that have published papers, had a species named after them, or at the least contributed something meaningful to sc...
by WSTREPS
May 22nd, 2018, 5:10 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OMG, she did'nt!
Replies: 51
Views: 127709

Re: OMG, she did'nt!

E-squared actually makes a good point, even if (as so often) he missed his actual target ( & confidential 2 ernie, i've tried to tag lats snout ... I'm right on target. As is always the case. Perhaps it might not appear that way to those to distracted or to slow to follow. About the dopes that ...
by WSTREPS
May 21st, 2018, 2:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OMG, she did'nt!
Replies: 51
Views: 127709

Re: OMG, she did'nt!

Ernie I’m too old to be a snowflake. But not too old to know garbage when I see it, notably your posts and the pos sitting in office. Xox Looks like your never too old to be an idiot. If you or anyone else feels the need to talk about politics on this forum post it on the board line. Why spam the m...
by WSTREPS
May 21st, 2018, 1:44 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OMG, she did'nt!
Replies: 51
Views: 127709

Re: OMG, she did'nt!

What a nice message to send out to the world. Another chump for trump, and interesting that 141 people looked at the post and didn’t condemn this idiot. Just the reference to shooting a protected species is cause enough to speak up. What does President Trump have to with that vid ? Chumps against T...
by WSTREPS
May 16th, 2018, 5:56 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Law Enforcement looking to catch herpers in Arizona
Replies: 10
Views: 19601

Re: Law Enforcement looking to catch herpers in Arizona

I'm glad to see that the existing laws are being enforced in Arizona. Its a good reminder to be informed and legal when field herping. The question is what are these existing laws premised on? Certainly not scientifically sound principle's. At the very least they are not well thought out. Theoretic...
by WSTREPS
May 16th, 2018, 6:02 am
Forum: News
Topic: Law Enforcement looking to catch herpers in Arizona
Replies: 10
Views: 19601

Re: Law Enforcement looking to catch herpers in Arizona

The two species discussed were rosy boas and speckled rattlesnakes. Lets look at the numbers. Using rosy boas for example. You are allowed to have 4 in your possession with a hunting license. Last yr. the State of Arizona issued over 340 thousand hunting licenses. This means that by law 1,340,800 ro...
by WSTREPS
May 10th, 2018, 7:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Cuban field herping - Oct 6-15, 2018
Replies: 6
Views: 9260

Re: Cuban field herping - Oct 6-15, 2018

Is this a commercial advertising site? Trying to drum up some business. Try Craigslist. It should be made clear that this a private business going thru a travel agency that calls itself the Caribbean Conservation Trust (CCT). They get that word "Conservation" in the name and it throws peop...
by WSTREPS
April 4th, 2018, 6:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 6 days in South Florida
Replies: 12
Views: 12276

Re: 6 days in South Florida

Wonderful finds! I assume being in South Florida, there was never a lack of an abundance of Green Iguanas? Sure there are plenty of Green iguana's in South Florida. In addition to everything else why shouldn't illegals also have their natural wildlife. Currently there is a reward out for informatio...
by WSTREPS
April 1st, 2018, 8:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 6 days in South Florida
Replies: 12
Views: 12276

Re: 6 days in South Florida

Dude, did I not tell you that I visit Florida 3 times a day through the news? This is what you siad "I have not been to Florida since 1987". Thats the real of it. Like most who take up your view you are clueless. 30yrs ago driving through Homestead was like visiting 1870's wild west. So t...
by WSTREPS
March 31st, 2018, 8:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 6 days in South Florida
Replies: 12
Views: 12276

Re: 6 days in South Florida

LOL! Florida makes national news 3 times a day and it is all negative. Despite all of the illegals and migrants that Ernie speaks of, blah blah blah............. You fail on all counts. That silly dthor68 comment. A response from a guy who hasn't been to Florida in 30yrs was all very poorly thought...
by WSTREPS
March 25th, 2018, 12:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 6 days in South Florida
Replies: 12
Views: 12276

Re: 6 days in South Florida

Nothing uninteresting any of that. All those animals are amazing. You only got to scratch at the surface of the region's diversity. One that is far to rapidly disappearing. South Florida is one of the most diverse and interesting places on the planet. It is an incredible mixture. In my opinion virtu...
by WSTREPS
February 6th, 2018, 8:34 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Borneo Dispatches #24: The Coral Snake Mistake
Replies: 48
Views: 29768

Re: Borneo Dispatches #24: The Coral Snake Mistake

It never surprises me how careless people are. Randomly grabbing at or considering grabbing snakes in areas literally crawling with hazardous taxon without making a proper ID. This compounded by the fact that many look like harmless species. This ties in with the somewhat recent thread about mimicry...
by WSTREPS
December 6th, 2017, 8:21 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

I did know Joe, I spent time in the field with him and almost went on his ill fated expedition but I got married instead. Had he survived the trip he would have been my graduate advisor. FYI, he didn't assume anything , he was told by his field assistant that the snake was a Lycodon and he reached ...
by WSTREPS
December 3rd, 2017, 7:26 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

If you have a basic understanding of snakes and their behavior's. You will already know this but some are clearly novices in this area. They confuse and mix-up various defensive strategies and fail to understand the sequencing and predator prey relationship as it applies to the snakes that are the p...
by WSTREPS
December 1st, 2017, 5:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

Why even bring this up? I'm not sure how its at all relevant, especially because eye witness accounts describe him reaching into a bag that he was told contained a harmless Dinodon sp., he didn't see the snake before it bit him. Why do You care? Did you know Joe? I brought it up as a point of irony...
by WSTREPS
November 29th, 2017, 12:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

The only thing I know about snakes is that they are slimy. But just winging it. Mimicry is one of the most studied aspects of snake ecology and behavior. Joe Slowinski was one of the worlds foremost EXPERTS on the subject. Joey ended up taking a dirt nap courtesy of a bite he received from a snake h...
by WSTREPS
November 19th, 2017, 7:43 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

Tail-coiling behavior has been discussed in scientific literature for 100 yrs. The possibility that tail flashing / tail coiling is used as a form of disruptive coloration is a slim one when all the factors surrounding the behavior are taken into account. Nowhere in scientific literature is the idea...
by WSTREPS
November 17th, 2017, 8:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

Obviously its time to put a baby on board sign on MonarchzMans post. If anyone would like to offer some comments or answers to the presented information and questions in the post below, have at it. Ernie Eison The purpose of disruptive coloration in a defensive context is to break up an individual's...
by WSTREPS
November 17th, 2017, 8:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

You just don't know when to give up. Disruptive coloration is meant to break up an animal from a predictable shape. Tail flashing, as in ringnecks, provides a markedly different pattern from the dorsum, thus would break up a shape. As I said, it is possible, but like aposematism, it has not been lo...
by WSTREPS
November 17th, 2017, 7:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

As for disruptive coloration, the purpose of this is to break up an individual's shape, which this would do, so I do not see how whatever you said casts doubt on it. You're obviously just arguing to argue. It typically is used with cryptic coloration, but there's no reason why this couldn't fit the...
by WSTREPS
November 17th, 2017, 1:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

You also haven't demonstrated the second component necessary for aposematic signaling to work. A secondary defense. Yes, ringnecks have pretty potent saliva, but the reality is that they 1) rarely bite and 2) have mouths so small that they're not likely to deter even moderate sized predators. So wh...
by WSTREPS
November 17th, 2017, 8:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

Startle displays are, now I hope you can follow my logic because it's apparently difficult for you, are meant to startle. Birds can be highly neophobic, and thus a startle display can give them enough pause for a snake to escape. This is likely a target for birds as they are sensitive to long wavel...
by WSTREPS
November 17th, 2017, 12:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

As I said before, ringneck snakes like do startle displays which are meant to be shocking to give a predator pause long enough for the prey to escape. And what is the point of shock value in the ringnecks startle display. They Flash bright colors. The display is the same as seen in many highly veno...
by WSTREPS
November 16th, 2017, 6:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

I'd also wager you have never seen a bird grab a ringneck snake. Or any conspicuous snake for that matter. The success of aposematic signaling is predicated on predators attacking prey, having a negative experience, and therefore being deterred from preying upon that species in the future. You woul...
by WSTREPS
November 16th, 2017, 2:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

It was easy to pin down the MonarchzMan. His answers are not the answers that an "expert" would give. They are the answers that a grad student would give. It was obvious. There are far fewer assumptions and uncertainties out there for this. Really? Is that why the paper's are filled with a...
by WSTREPS
November 16th, 2017, 12:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

No. Just no. Vision modeling is done *all the time.* With respect to Raccoons? Yea, they can't perceive those colors: Again you must state that you are an expert. Are you or are you not a grad student ? An idea is not proof. Its speculation. And in the world of biology speculation is often very wro...
by WSTREPS
November 16th, 2017, 8:44 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

Your biasing your opinions based on your own (literal) views of the world. We can model raccoon vision to actually "see" how conspicuous signals look to them. I do not know that anyone has done this, and my guess would be that they could detect a difference, but I have done enough work wi...
by WSTREPS
November 16th, 2017, 5:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

Nocturnal mammals (I'd guess owls, too) generally have no need to see color, so they have greater variety/density of rods (light sensing photoreceptors). None of the animals I mentioned hunt solely in complete darkness. Just like the snakes they are active during periods when there is enough availa...
by WSTREPS
November 15th, 2017, 4:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?
Replies: 97
Views: 137300

Re: Could Pattern Mimicry in Snakes be Misinterpreted?

given the fact that so many of these aposematically colored species are either fossorial or otherwise very secretive. What good do bright colors do when you're underground or nocturnal? Nature is cryptic. For snakes its always hide first. Buy most cant always hide. Coral snakes, kingsnakes, tri col...
by WSTREPS
November 1st, 2017, 6:59 am
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles
Replies: 24
Views: 27884

Re: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles

Sounds like perhaps there is not a wild-population crisis, but a reporting/paperwork crisis. Is there a mechanism to propose changing the forms to better reflect the animals' source and therefore greatly improve management of the species (and others)? Seems like the farmers would be all about calli...
by WSTREPS
October 30th, 2017, 3:33 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles
Replies: 24
Views: 27884

Re: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles

True, I did mistakenly attribute the graphic posted by Bryan Hamilton to the Stephanie A. Zimmer-Shaffer, Jeffrey T. Briggler, and Joshua J. Millspaugh paper but as explained they did make use of the misplacing information found on that graphic in their work. My criticisms and reasoning behind that ...
by WSTREPS
October 30th, 2017, 10:32 am
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles
Replies: 24
Views: 27884

Re: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles

Regarding average age to maturity, what scale are we talking about? In Ontario, average age to maturity is 17 years....... Go back and read what I said. It was crystal clear. The only paper's by Jeff I know of involve alligator snapping turtles, Macrochelys temminckii this subject pertains to commo...
by WSTREPS
October 30th, 2017, 6:37 am
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles
Replies: 24
Views: 27884

Re: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles

In the papers abstract (the only thing Wildlife legislator's ever read) is a chart containing information that is exceptionally misleading in context. Comparing large mammalian reproduction and recruitment to reptiles. It creates a visual that to the uninformed (Wildlife legislator's) appears scient...
by WSTREPS
October 29th, 2017, 2:13 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles
Replies: 24
Views: 27884

Re: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles

Welcome to the party. I appreciate the wonderful mix of lies and half truths you sprinkle in with your responses. Why? Its a shame threads are diverted in this manor. But once again a trolling post by Bryan Hamilton. To this my response is a simple one. You make the accusation now back it up. Provi...
by WSTREPS
October 29th, 2017, 12:30 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles
Replies: 24
Views: 27884

Re: Commercial harvest and export of snapping turtles

The author's did no live snapping turtle research of their own. They don't have a clue if any of the biological information is accurate or not. Its all "modeling" based on speculative numbers. Love that little Bill Nye science chart, lets compare the reproductive and recruitment rate of la...
by WSTREPS
October 25th, 2017, 11:18 am
Forum: News
Topic: Chasing Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades
Replies: 6
Views: 15350

Re: Chasing Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades

Bryan Hamilton you seem to enjoy posting python related articles, Why? And can you tell us about your relationship to Bobby Reed and Gordy Rodda. Two major benefactor's of the python scandal. Do you know them? Above is the question. It still hasn't been answered. For the second time an effort to di...
by WSTREPS
October 24th, 2017, 2:10 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Chasing Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades
Replies: 6
Views: 15350

Re: Chasing Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades

Bryan Hamilton you seem to enjoy posting python related articles, Why? And can you tell us about your relationship to Bobby Reed and Gordy Rodda. Two major benefactor's of the python scandal. Do you know them? The guy persistently trolls me and when he is presented with a harmless question, his res...
by WSTREPS
October 22nd, 2017, 3:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Eyelash Vipers & Flowers
Replies: 12
Views: 10138

Re: Eyelash Vipers & Flowers

I have found a number (very common) of eyelash vipers back when I running around Central America. I don't ever recall finding one amidst beautiful flowers. My take is this. No doubt if the opportunity presents itself an eyelash viper will take a small bird. But, I don't believe this would be a desig...
by WSTREPS
October 22nd, 2017, 3:04 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Pet Snakes Set off Chain of Events: Could make you sick
Replies: 16
Views: 20202

Re: Pet Snakes Set off Chain of Events: Could make you sick

Have you considered reaching out to Frank Mazzotti about a paper? It seems like a great study and one several scientists would be interested in exploring. Absolutely I have reached out not only to Mazzotti but to others as well. What I say I do not say lightly or without a well heeled knowledge. Li...
by WSTREPS
October 22nd, 2017, 2:46 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Chasing Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades
Replies: 6
Views: 15350

Re: Chasing Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades

Bryan Hamilton you seem to enjoy posting python related articles, Why? And can you tell us about your relationship to Bobby Reed and Gordy Rodda. Two major benefactor's of the python scandal. Do you know them?

Ernie Eison
by WSTREPS
October 20th, 2017, 3:39 pm
Forum: News
Topic: State pushes to tighten wild reptile collection rules-Nevada
Replies: 235
Views: 372610

Re: State pushes to tighten wild reptile collection rules-Ne

There is definition and how that definition is applied to actual usage. The use of the word bias with a negative tone no matter how slyly inserted to imply that someone has shown a preconceived or unreasoned prejudiced. Only has merit when it can be demonstrated that the content presented has been i...
by WSTREPS
October 19th, 2017, 1:46 pm
Forum: News
Topic: State pushes to tighten wild reptile collection rules-Nevada
Replies: 235
Views: 372610

Re: State pushes to tighten wild reptile collection rules-Ne

Richard F. Hoyers truthful analysis of the Natureserve system is well worth reading and considering. Its sad that once again we have another effort to discredit fact based content with innuendo and nothing more. Claims of bias are baseless if they can not be supported by factual information to demon...