The Trials and Tribulations of a Herpetologist Part I

The moment you have all been waiting for...why on Earth would I have to skin a rabbit in the name of science. 

A 'Lizard in Society' Update

A word from your ever diligent Hopeful Herpetologist,

I doubt many people look at "The Lizard in Society" page more than once so you may not know that I continuously update it whenever I find/remember new content. So here's what's new, enjoy!

Rango 
(I had no idea just how many lizards there were in this movie until i had to look at the cast list. 
4 lizards! I'm pretty sure that is the largest number of lizards in one movie I have ever seen).

2011

Rango Vazquez Gutierrez, a strange pet chameleon who becomes stranded in

 the desert and uses his unique wit to survive. 

Same family of lizards as Pascal from Tangled 

Chameleon...so cool!

YouTube Channel

A word from your ever diligent Hopeful Herpetologist,

Hello all, this is just a heads up that I have a YouTube channel with some desert fiasco and lizard related videos for those who are interested.

Sorry about the music, I just couldn't resist.

About the video:

One of the defense mechanisms for desert horned lizards is to tilt onto one side to make themselves look too big to eat, they also camouflage themselves under the sand while they sleep to hide from predators.

 This horned lizard has a red and yellow radio transmitter glued to her back that allows researchers to find her and study her movement throughout the day. Both lizards have paint markings, which makes it easier for researchers to find and identify previously captured individuals. It looks like the leopard lizard that tries to take a bite out of her got a taste of the paint and didn't seem to like it much. 

Personally, I think his eyes were a bit too big for his stomach, he'd have a heck of a time trying to swallow her.

In Honor of Lizards

This a poem one of my wonderfully talented roommates wrote for me as a Christmas present this year and, as it is also about lizards I thought I might share it with you. Enjoy.

In Honor of Lizards

for Anne 

(that's me...when I'm not being Hopeful Herpetologist)

Some might think it odd that Anne

Should choose to make her future plan

Involving certain small reptilians

But truly there are many millions

Of cogent reasons (as we’ll find)

Why all should love the lizard kind.

They’re small and quiet, quick and neat

Excepting, maybe, when they eat

Each other. Yes, sometimes they tend

To gobble up a smaller friend

And you’ll sometimes see them trot about

With half their lunch still sticking out.

But if that less than wholesome sight

Should make you lose your appetite

Never fear, there is a chance

You’ll study those that dine on ANTS!

And then the fun begins with speed

Hours of watching video feed—

Ants that leave and ants that stay

Ants that run around all day

Ants that go and ants that come

Until the end of Christendom.

And why? Well, that’s for you to see

You’re the scientist. Not me.

Of course you won’t spend every day

In such a sedentary way

You’ll go wherever the lizards go!

And where is that? Well, as you know

For cold-blooded creatures, the perfect spot

Is always where it’s very HOT.

  

So to the desert off you trek

In dust and sand up to your neck

Without a shower or a bed

Skinning bunnies you find dead

Chasing scales till morning light

Hoping the tent stays up at night.

And when you’re back to civilization

Still you have an obligation

To research, synthesize, regroup

And measure piles of lizard poop.

But there’s no doubt that lizards are

The pinnacle of life by far

And worth the hours, days and years

The strain, the sweat, the blood and tears.

Indeed, I can’t imagine who

Could something more fun to do.

So Anne, I wish you all the best

May you and lizards both be blessed

Good luck, good tidings, and Godspeed

(But I think I’ll stay at home and read.)

~Rachel~

On a side note, yes I did spend three weeks in the desert living in a tent with only two showers to hold me over. I also weighed and measured quite a lot of lizard poop and sent a few months counting ants on videos to help us understand the availability of prey for ant-eating lizards. A rabbit or two were skinned during this time but it was in the name of science I promise.

One of the lizards I worked with in the desert, the Western whiptail,
very hard to catch once they've warmed up.

It truly was a test of my love for lizards and I'm happy to say that I continue love them just as much, if not more than I did before.   

The Leopard Lizard. I think she's sun bathing in this person's hand 

The desert horned lizard, or horny toad if you prefer. They look so grumpy.

Just in case you were wondering about the part with
 "half their lunch hanging out."
Yes that is a leopard lizard in the process of digesting a whiptail,
lovely imagery isn't it? 

If any of you feel the need to know more about my experiences into the nitty-gritty part of science and herpetology, or simply to ask me something along the lines of why on Earth a rabbit had to skinned, leave a comment and I would be perfectly willing to expand on the story.

The Dangers of Asian Carp

I know I already have these videos posted but I wanted to put everything in one place just in case nobody bothers to look at the Fun Biological Phenomena page and gets really confused. So enjoy if you've never seen this and reminisce if you have. And if you just don't care, then have a nice day.

- a word from your ever diligent Hopeful Herpetologist