Sexing Snakes

A snake sexing lesson from Stephen Colbert ...

Endangered Species List Expands to 16,000

The World Conservation Union has released it's expanded list of Endangered Species. New to the list are Polar Bears and hippopotamuses.

More than 40 percent of species that have been assessed worldwide are threatened with extinction. These include a quarter of the world's coniferous trees, an eighth of its birds, and one-third of its amphibians. Also listed are a quarter of all the mammal species that were assessed for the survey.

Very scary indeed!

Scotch Tasting at the Academy May 10th

California Academy of Sciences is having a Scotch tasting night, with live music, salsa dancing and sweets. RSVP is neccessary. See here for more details.

Snakes evolved on land

I didn't really realize that there was a controversy of where snakes evolved (land or water). I always assumed it was in fact on land. A new study appears to support that theory.

The fossil snake—which has a primitive pelvis and robust, functional legs outside the ribcage—dates from about 90 million years ago.

Sebastian Apestegu­a, a researcher with the Argentine Museum of Natural Science, says the new fossil is not the oldest snake fossil ever found. Older marine snakes have been unearthed in North Africa and Eastern Europe.

But the species, named Najash rionegrina, is the earliest limbed snake ever found in a fully terrestrial deposit, he says.

So we lied

So we lied earlier when we said the East Bay Vivarium blog was up and running ... but now it is for real. I mean it. Expect posts whenever we have something interesting to talk about. Maybe once a week maybe more often. Feel free to leave relevant comments and give us a heads-up if there is anything you think we should be blogging.

T-Rex debate

The debate continues on whether Tyrannosaurus rex was a mainly a predator or a scavenger.

Dr Lawrence Witmer, from Ohio University, used the medical scanning technique of computed tomography (CT scanning) to reconstruct the shape of the animal's brain, including its inner ear, which is involved not only in hearing but also balance.

The structure of its inner ear suggests it had excellent hearing and balance.

"The inner ear provides very important clues about behaviour," said Dr Witmer. "It talks of relative types of movement; for example, how agile they were.

"T. rex has the inner ear of a much smaller, very agile animal. It had a heightened sense of equilibrium and balance.

"But there's evidence it went beyond that, that it emphasised that."

The Ohio researcher said the T. rex also employed rapid turning movements of its eyes and head to track its prey.

It seems every year we learn something new about the "King of Dinosaurs"

Cane Toads Destroy the World

... or Australian fauna at least. Cane Toads have evolved longer legs in order to travel longer distances in shorter periods of time reports the University of Australia, Sydney.

"Scientists say the species Bufo marinus is developing a leggier, faster-moving form that is now hopping out rapidly across the continent.

The toads were introduced 70 years ago to control pests, but have since wrought havoc on indigenous animals.

They kill snakes, lizards, water birds - even crocodiles and dingos.

When harassed they secrete poison carried in two sacs behind the head which is lethal to a potential predator within minutes of being ingested."

Stay away from the toads!

Welcome

Welcome to the East Bay Vivarium Blog. Expect posts in the next few weeks