COME AND SEE SYDNEY’S LARGEST
RANGE OF REPTILES & ACCESSORIES
Kellyville Pets has a brand new reptile department
that is bigger and better than ever before!
Our reptile products are available online at
http://www.kellyvillepets.com.au
with delivery starting from as little as
$4.
95
Australia wide.
http://www.kellyvillepets.com.au
1-15 Millcroft Way, Beaumont Hills NSW 2155 I (02) 9629 3282
$
SAVE
on your online order
with the code:
iHERPPublisher: John McGrath
[email protected]
IT & Marketing: Andy Round
[email protected]
Social Media: Vince Pintaudi
Additional Design:
Rachael Hammond
Next Issue: January 2018.
Website: http://www.iherpaustralia.com.au
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/iherpaustralia/Postal Address:
12 Haines Street Mitcham, Victoria, 3132
Advertising Enquiries:
[email protected]
[email protected]
On the cover: Galapagos Land Iguana
(Conolophus subcristatus). This species is the
sole agent of seed dispersal for at least four
endemic species of plants and appears to be
important in revegetating areas denuded by
volcanic activity. See article on page 4. Image
by buteoThe ‘Wrangler’ Writes...
Welcome to another issue of
Australia’s favourite online reptile
and amphibian magazine. The
breeding season is well and truly
upon us, and the results of all
those exciting breeding projects
should soon be apparent. Plus
there will be a lot more juvenile
herps for enthusiasts to choose
from. Send us a pic if you hatch
out something unusual.
This issue kicks off with a great
article from Kit Prendergast on
lizard pollinators and seed dispersers. Turns out
that there are many lizards which are absolutely
indispensable for the reproduction of plant species;
who would have guessed? We decided, for the first
time, to feature an exotic species on our cover, as a
sort of tribute to these amazing reptiles.
Next, Mitch Hodgson takes us to an incredible
landscape in semi-arid western NSW. Then, the
results of three days I spent in Huadiwan market
in Guangzhou – Chinese herp lovers are being
spoilt by a bunch of unbelievable morphs and
mutations, but some of our humble Aussie species
still command ridiculous prices.
Plus Ben Dessen is out to debunk some popular
herp myths; we have two columns by resident vets
Dr Josh Llinas and Dr Tom Vowell; and we look at
an exotic species that may have already become a
permanent Australian resident. Vickie Lillo visits the
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and Neville Burns is
on the road again up north.
As we head towards Xmas, thank you all for your
support over the last year. iHerp Australia remains
free to download or read online, so if you like what
you see, please tell your friends – we depend on
you! Speaking of which, we also depend on our
fantastic sponsors, so please support them in any
way possible, perhaps when you are doing the
Xmas shopping! Kellyville Pets still has a special
offer of $20 off online orders for iHerp readers, and
together with Amazing Amazon has some great
specials for Xmas. Both of these herp retailers
also offer gift vouchers – I know what I want from
Santa! Take a moment to have a look at our other
advertisers; if you can support them, we all win.Happy Herping!
John McGrath
Issue 9 | Nov - Dec 2018
Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions of iHerp Australia or its editors.
The information contained has been obtained by iHerp Australia from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither iHerp Australia nor its authors guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information
published herein and neither iHerp Australia nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages, including exemplary damages, arising out of use, inability to use, or with regard to
the accuracy or sufficiency of the information contained in iHerp Australia publications.
All rights reserved.iHerp Australia
conveyed away from the parent plants, and may be
deposited in favourable or protected microclimates (crevices or burrows, for example), or it may be that
successful dispersal is effected through sheer weight of numbers. For example, of 160 scats collected from
Galapagos Land Iguanas (93% contained undamaged seeds, with a total of 5,705 Conolophus subcristatus),
seeds from 32 plant species. Although trials resulted in only 4% of these seeds germinating, C. subcristatus’
large body size and long gut retention times means
that it is able to ingest large quantities of seed and carry them considerable distances. This coupled with
its high local density means that effective, legitimate agent of seed dispersal. It is, in C. subcristatus is an
fact, the sole disperser of endemic thouarsii, Scalesia affinis, Stylosanthes sympodialis Jasminocereus and
Tephrosia cinerearevegetating areas denuded following volcanic activity., and appears to be important in(^) In another instance of a lizard species assuming the
dual roles of both saurophily and saurochory, the Striped Lava Lizard (Tropidurus semitaeniatus) is both
the most important pollinator and seed dispersal agent of the cactus Melocactus ernestii. Lizard pollination has
been found to result in a significant increase in fruit set, and seeds that had passed through the lizards’
digestive tracts exhibited a significantly enhanced
germination rate. Lizardpollination and seed dispersal are all the more incredi--plant mutualisms involving
ble because in general there are very few instances in
which plants rely on the same agent to perform both functions. Like most other cases of double-mutualisms,
the above relationship has evolved between two endemic species in an ‘extreme’ habitat containing
with low animal diversity.
Highly Unusual Mutualists.
(^) Returning for a moment to the Green Iguana (Iguana
iguanapractice a highly novel form of seed dispersal. All other ), this species has recently been shown to
known seed dispersal by reptiles is via endozoochory: fruits are ingested, and the seed is subsequently
dispersed when it is eventually deposited in scats. Epizoochory involves dispersal in which seeds adhere
to the external surfaces of animals, and is common
amongst mammals and birds, whose fur and feathers, respectively, provide ideal surfaces to which seeds can
adhere. Reptiles’ smooth, scaly skin would seem to preclude this method of dispersal, however Green
Iguanas have been documented to effectively disperse seeds of Melocactus curvispinus which adhere to their
snouts when they consume the fleshy fruits. Moreover, seeds stuck to the lizards’ snouts germinated in higher
numbers and at faster rates than ingested seed and those collected from fruits.
Mexican Spinyeating leaves in a herb garden in Puerto Vallarta, -tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata)
Mexico. Image by Jeremy Christensen.
deadlines to meet and couldn’t stay too long, but it was nice having the
chance to hunt for the bustard!
Once we returned to the homestead and had some lunch I went over to
the lab to do some work on a presen-tation I was giving the following
day. But about ten minutes later a student came rushing in saying there
was a snake... and with that I was off. A few students had been sitting
in the outdoor common area having afternoon tea when a beautiful
Eastern Brown Snake (textilis) had come right past them Pseudonaja –
obviously searching for some shade to escape the heat. Most were
spooked, but a few were absolutely stoked and followed the snake to
take photos.
Shortly after we had left the snake to go on its merry way, a student came
running over with a herp that everyone is familiar with; a Central
Bearded Dragon (So far, the only beardies I’d seen Pogona vitticeps).
had all been dead half-mummified one outside the - most notably the
front of my accommodation. So it was a welcome change to finally see
on that was alive. As many people know, I’m generally uninterested in
), Cow Snakes guttatus Pantherophis, also known as Gray Rat Snakes, spiloides. P(Corn Snakes (
spp.) all bred by one of Alen’s Heterodonamongst other common names) and hognose snakes (
spp. also known as ‘pacman’ frogs) Ceratophrysfriends, along with various morphs of horned frogs (
Pyxicephalus adsper-). There were also invertebrates (tarantulas and and some African Bullfrogs (sus
-sized a large mantis), albino frogs and a medium
). Alen explained that he tigrinum Ambystomaterrarium containing several adult Tiger Salaman-ders (
had imported them from Europe, but that they were not very popular in Guangzhou as the climate
is too hot for them, resulting in reduced lifespan and an inability to breed.
I could not fault Alen’s set up. His animals are
maintained to high standards; every one of them has access to clean water and obviously the vast
majority, if not all, are captive bred. I was also impressed by the range of terrariums available,
particularly the smaller glass terrariums and the
(^) New Caledonian Giant Gecko; slide show two of Alen’s stunning new Crested Geckos.Above: Below (slide show):
contains more images from the shop.
‘There were also
,sgorfllu bnacirfA
invertebrates, and several
adult
.’srednamala sregit
CONTENTS
4
16
24
nocturnal vision, and must rely on its
olfactory apparatus to detect prey.
But make no mistake, the giant monitor can hone in on a dead or
dying animal nearly 9.7km (6 miles)
away with its insanely keen sense of smell. Called ‘buaya darat’ (or land
crocodile) by the peoples of the
Lesser Sunda chain of islands in Indonesia, the Komodo Dragon is
listed as vulnerable by the IUCN,
but wild populations are now protected in a national park.Next, it’s time to visit the Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus (^) )
which are on public display in their
own eponymous exhibit, ‘Oasis on
the Nile’, which just opened this past March. The second-largest living
crocodilian, Nile Crocodiles are
responsible for hundreds of attacks on humans (and many fatalities)
every year in their native Africa. They have also
become one of the latest invasive species to
colonise south Florida, although there is not yet proof that they are breeding in the wild. The
specimens at St. Augustine arrived safely secured
in the cargo hold of a regular Delta passenger flight after crossing the Atlantic. In spite of being diverted
to Atlanta during their journey, thanks to Hurricane
Irma, John Brueggan, director of the Alligator Farm,
Left: keeper Kiersten Wallace hands out another
‘rat snack’.
Above top: the albino alligators are kept in a shaded
area near the entrance to protect them from strong light.
Above: adult American Alligators comprise six to
eight hundred pounds of pure muscle, with one third of the body weight concentrated in the formidable
tail. Images courtesy Vickie Lillo.
48
Redunique red stripe on the side of the head. -eared Sliders are distinguished by a
Image by r.chayanutt.38
Seduced by Flower Power!
Lizards as Pollinators and
Seed Dispersers.4
Life in Arid Lands.
A glimpse into semi-arid
western NSW.16
The Gecko Factories
of Guangzhou.
PLUS Paradox beardies, pied
iguanas and giant bullfrogs.24
What’s New?
Captive turtle check list.
33Ben’s Reptiles 101:
Reptile FAQs – ‘Myth-busters’
Part One.
In Print:
Teenage mutant
ninja invaders!
A Visit to the Vet:
Reptile Vets: When
should you see one?
Healthy herps on the road
and at the clinic: developing
a reptile-specific practice.A Good Book.
The Alligators of St.
Augustine.
From humble roadside
attraction to leading centre
for conservation.48
Nev goes North... again.
Neville Burns heads back
to his old stamping
ground around Cairns.56
34
38
42
44
47