Volume 21 this month’s guest speaker
May 2008 Matt Goode will report on several interesting natural history observations made by his field teams while working on various research projects over the past decade in “Being in the Right Place at the Right Time: Cool Herps Doing Cool Things.” Roger Repp will captivate the audience with photos and alliteration with his “Pre-parturition Pairings of Pregnant Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) in the Suizo Mountains.” Roger will discuss the otherwise relatively rare phenomenon of female pairings prior to and during the birthing process.
Number 5
Multiple Speakers
Herpetological Potpourri – Natural History Observations on Herps in the Wild
7:15 PM Tuesday, 20th May University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street
At thisHerpetological Society will share a selectionthe month’s general meeting, six members of Tucson of
their notable observations of reptiles (and maybe a few amphibians) “doing cool things.” In “Tortolita Rock Stars,” Young Cage will describe observations in the Tortolita Mountains, likely the least studied of the mountains surrounding Tucson, of lizards as they compensate for the limited and stunted trees to jockey on the rocks to bask.
“Who’s Your Mama” in this Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) Den? Photo by Roger Repp.
Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus). Photo by Young Cage.
In “Snakes in Saguaros and Other Tall Tales,” Don Swann will recount Coachwhips’ cactus-climbing abilities in the search for prey, as well as other saguaro and herp subjects. Marty Tuegel will summarize several of his observations of the Desert Box Turtle in “Notes from the Edge.” Finally, Robert Villa will share his observations in the self-explanatory “Crunchy on the Outside, Creamy on the Inside: A Rattlesnake Eats a Horned Lizard.”
next month’s guest speaker
Tuesday, 17th June Tucson Herpetological Society meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:15 PM SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008 49
Herping Down Under, A Virtual Tour Up the East Coast of Australia and a Visit to Darwin
Young Cage
Night Lizards in the Sierra Estrella
E. Linwood Smith1, Robert L. Bezy2, and Thomas C. Brennan1 1 Tucson Herpetological Society, Tucson, Arizona, USA. 2 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA. by the 1327-m (4354-ft) summit of Montezuma Peak, where Oneseed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma), Shrub Live Oak (Quercus turbinella), and Arizona Rosewood (Vauquelinia californica; Brown, 1978) cling to life, survivors from wetter and cooler times. With a 32-km (20-mi) axis oriented southeast to northwest, the Sierra Estrella is situated near the junctions of three major Arizona rivers: the Santa Cruz, the Salt, and the Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis), UAZ 56503, from the Sierra Estrella. Photo by R.L. Bezy. Gila. Despite its proximity to these historic water n warm spring evenings the raucous screams of sources, the range remains a little-explored wilder“hop toads” (Bufo woodhousii) pierced the air beneath ness due primarily to its imposing steepness (Thomas, the massive cottonwoods arching across the canals 1998). of the verdant oasis that was Phoenix rising from the The eastern base of the Sierra Estrella is protected desert ashes. In the irrigated backyards, “gardener by the existence of the Gila Indian Reservation ocsnakes” (Thamnophis marcianus) reached monstrous pro- cupied by both the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the portions gorging on the toads, and “red racers” (Sonora Pee-Posh (Maricopa). Amazingly, when first contacted semiannulata) streaked faster than greased lightning. In by the Spanish in 1697, these “Gileños” greeted the dwindling vacant lots, the few surviving “horny Eusebio Kino with wooden crosses (Kutz, 1992; toads” (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) basked in the mornSheridan, 1995). The range continued to be a focus of ing sun, snapping up “red ants” (Pogonomyrmex sp.) religious mystery as late as 1901 when an exorcism was under the “greasewood” (Larrea tridentata), and the last performed to rid the Akimel community in Komatke “bullsnakes” (Pituophis catenifer) were dispatched by the of a devil who blew out lanterns and overturned brave men with shovels. tables without leaving tracks in the ashes that had been These are but faint memories as the Phoenix spread across the mission floor. Upon completion of struggles against sinking under her own weight back the exorcism, a small snake was seen leaving the room. into the ashes, her clogged arteries unable to keep pace Perhaps the devil was Sonora semiannulata, the small, with her insatiable appetite for devouring the desert. red Groundsnake that continues to frighten people in As reminders of the inhospitable wasteland that was central Arizona. conquered, a few specks of desert were kept: CamelThe western flank of the range is more vulnerback Mountain, South Mountain, and Piestewa Peak. able to negative impacts. Little Rainbow Valley, lying It defies comprehension that a true wilderness has sur- between the Sierra Estrella and the North Maricopa vived so near the black boxes of downtown Phoenix Mountains to the west, has been under intensive agrithat occasionally it can be glimpsed even through the culture for decades and is now being invaded from the smog that hangs heavy over the Valley of the Sun. The north by housing tracts. story of the survival of this wilderness has many chapBelow, each author presents an account of his perters; one involves the Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia sonal experiences in the Sierra Estrella. vigilis). The Sierra Estrella rises a spectacular 854 m (2800 E.L. Smith ft) from the desert floor over a horizontal distance The most serious threat to the integrity of the of only 2.2 km (1.4 mi). Both flanks of the range are range occurred in the 1970s. The project that was equally sheer, meeting in a razorback ridge, punctuated going to be built in the Sierra Estrella was a hydroelec-
It defies comprehension that a true wilderness has survived so near the black boxes of downtown Phoenix that occasionally it can be glimpsed even through the smog that hangs heavy over the Valley of the Sun.
O
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SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
(Gopherus agassizii) on top of one of those razor ridges, photographing the first records of Red-backed Whiptails (Aspidoscelis xanthonota), locating a half-dozen pairs of nesting Prairie Falcons and a pair of Black Vultures that Dave Brown and I were pretty certain were nesting, finding a hand full of ancient junipers near Estrella Peak that look for all the world like Bristlecone Pines, getting nearly shoved out of a helicopter by a huge ice chest, watching everyone walk away from a helicopter crash, and coming within a whisker of falling more than a hundred feet into a canyon. On 5 April 1976 while waiting for the helicopter on a ridge north The razor-back ridges of the Sierra Estrella rising from the desert floor. Photo by T.C. Brennan. of Montezuma Peak, I turned a Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata). Searchtric pumped storage project. The idea was to create a ing through the litter, I was surprised to discover a reservoir at the south end of the range, run the water Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis), a species usually downhill through a turbine system to create electricassociated with the Mohave Desert which lies 282 ity during peak demand periods in the afternoon, and km (175 mi) to the northwest. Rich Stephenson and then pump the water back up to the upper reservoir I managed to secure a total of four night lizards that at night when energy demand was lowest. The project day, two under Banana Yuccas and two under Desert would have consisted of an upper reservoir and a Agaves (Agave deserti) from locations north and south lower reservoir with a hydroelectric generating system of Montezuma Peak. These extended the range of of turbines and associated equipment between the two X. vigilis south of the Gila River and 120 km (75 mi) reservoirs. southeast of the Harquahala Mountains. I deposited The Arizona Game and Fish Department as well the specimens in the University of Arizona (UAZ) colas the Desert Bighorn Sheep Society were concerned lection of amphibians and reptiles. about the potential effects on Desert Bighorn populaThe proposed hydroelectric project was never tions in the range, but no one knew for sure how many built, and eventually the Bureau of Land Management sheep might actually be affected, hence the reason for (BLM) designated the area north of Montezuma Peak our pedestrian surveys of sheep. We conducted the as the Sierra Estrella Wilderness. Today, nearly the first survey in October 1975 and the second in April entire range is protected to at least some degree by vir1976. In both surveys, we had helicopter support to tue of its occurrence on the Gila Indian Reservation, move our camp every four or five days (hence we BLM wilderness, and Estrella Regional Park. had a cushy camp situation with large, well stocked ice chests, cots to sleep on, chairs to sit in, etc.). Our daily itinerary (two of us in October and three of us in April) was to hike down ridges to the desert floor looking for sheep in the canyons on either side of the ridge and then hike back up the next ridge. On most days each of us was alone (very stupid and dangerous, but we were young so we got away with it). The work I was lucky enough to do in the Sierra Estrella stands out in my mind as being one of my most cherished memories. I can tell you stories about getting tipsy and telling Chuck Lowe stories with Dave Brown at campfire, Desert Agave (Agave deserti) habitat of Xantusia vigilis in the Sierra Estrella. Photo by E.L. finding a colony of Desert Tortoises Smith. SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
Searching through the litter, I was surprised to discover a Desert Night Lizard, a species usually associated with the Mohave Desert.
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The distribution of the species in southern Arizona thus appears to form a semi-circle extending from the Cabeza Prieta Mountains in the west, north to the Kofa and Castle Dome mountains, east to the Harquahala Mountains, and then southeast to the Sierra Estrella.
R.L. Bezy Not long after Lin Smith deposited the four X. vigilis from the Sierra Estrella in the UAZ collection, I was visiting Charles Lowe and had a chance to examine the specimens. They appeared to be Desert Night Lizards (X. v. vigilis), found in yuccas and agaves predominately in the Mohave Desert, rather than Arizona Night Lizards (X. v. arizonae), found mostly in rock crevices in central Arizona (see Bezy [2005] for additional details and discussion of Xantusia in Arizona). At about this time, a second population of X. vigilis south of the Gila River was discovered by Clay May in the Cabeza Prieta Mountains in far western Arizona. The known distribution of the species in southern Arizona thus appears to form a semi-circle extending from the Cabeza Prieta Mountains in the west, north to the Kofa and Castle Dome mountains, east to the Harquahala Mountains, and then southeast to the Sierra Estrella. Do night lizards occur in the vast area of Arizona south of this arc? Over the years I have searched for them under rocks, yuccas, agaves, and sotols in the Mohawk Mountains with Ed Moll, the Coyote and Ajo mountains with Wade Sherbrooke, Martina Mountain with Clay May, the Sauceda Mountains with Kit Bezy and Kate Bolles, the Sand Tank Mountains and Table Top Mountain with Erik Enderson, and the Javelina Mountains with Erik Enderson and Tom Brennan and have failed to find them. In 1979 Terry Johnson and Cecil Schwalbe discovered a third population of Xantusia south of the Gila River in the Galiuro Mountains (Johnson et al., 2001). It turned out to be the southern-most population of the species now known as Bezy’s Night Lizard (Xantusia bezyi). This heightened my interest in obtaining tissue samples of night lizards for DNA analysis from the Sierra Estrella, as it lies geographically intermediate between the Harquahala Mountains (X. vigilis) and the Galiuro Mountains (X. bezyi). On 31 March 1991, Kit Bezy, Kate Bolles, and I climbed up the west face of Sierra Estrella below Butterfly Peak and reached the agaves at about 900-m (3000-ft) elevation. Unfortunately, the dead plants were few and far between, and we spent most of the time scrambling from one to the other along the nearly vertical slope. We found no Xantusia. In November 1999, Linda Bezy-Botma, Randy Botma, Kate Bolles, and I made a second attempt to find Xantusia in the range. We reached the agaves at about the same elevation, and again we did not find night lizards. In April 2006, Tom Brennan, Erik Enderson, and I were standing atop the Javelina Mountains after having failed to find Xantusia beneath dead yuccas and agaves on the summit. I commented to Tom, “Strange they are not here, when they’re right over there,” pointing to the Sierra Estrella. I recounted how Lin Smith had discovered them near Montezuma Peak, but they had not been seen for nearly thirty years. That’s all it took. SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
Distribution of three species of Xantusia in Arizona (hollow dots = the Sierra Estrella population; solid dots = X. vigilis; squares = X. bezyi; and triangles = X. arizonae). Map by Kit Bezy.
T.C. Brennan For my 10-year-old daughter Moira and me, the “Star Mountain” is a special place. We share fond memories of hiking through its rocky canyons and elephant tree-lined slopes, observing its myriad desert creatures, sleeping under the stars, and discussing incomprehensibles while gazing into the night sky. But sentimentality is not the only reason that this is a special place. The Sierra Estrella is home to a remarkable diversity of life, including at least 22 species of snakes (6 different rattlesnakes), 15 lizards (including Red-backed Whiptails and Desert Night Lizards), 1 tortoise, and 6 amphibians. Several years ago, I began an ongoing, informal inventory of the reptiles and amphibians of the Sierra Estrella. Some of the more interesting things encountered along the way include a Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis; ASU 34859) preying on a Red-backed Whiptail (ASU 34855), a large herd of Desert Bighorn Sheep, and two Speckled Rattlesnakes (Crotalus mitchellii) sharing an aestivation site with a Desert Tortoise. In early April 2006, Bob Bezy, Erik Enderson, and I were on a field trip in the Sand Tank and Javelina Mountains. Among our many campsite conversations was one about the discovery of Xantusia in the Sierra Estrella 30 years earlier and the lack of subsequent observations. Bob suggested that I keep an eye out for Xantusia the next time I visited the Sierra Estrella. Needless to say, the next time I was in the Sierra Estrella I had Xantusia on my mind, and I adjusted my search methods to increase the chances of finding one.
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Kofa Mountains, was derived from Mohave populations as recently as 10,000 years ago, when junipers were present even at low elevations in the Colorado Desert (Van Devender, 1990). But, studies of Xantusia DNA have yielded more than a few surprises, occasionally revealing ancient differences that are not evident in the external appearances of these habitat specialists. It will be exciting to finally get a glimpse of the biogeographic history of these small reclusive lizards hidden atop the razor-back ridges of the Sierra Estrella. Acknowledgements We thank the field participants listed above, Red-backed Whiptail (Aspidoscelis xanthonota) from the Sierra Estrella. Photo Kit Bezy and Kate Bolles for helpful suggestions by T.C. Brennan. on an earlier version of the paper, and Kit Bezy In April 2006 Bob’s advice paid off with a juvenile for production of the map. night lizard (ASU 35970) found high on a ridge about 1.6 km (1 mi) north of Montezuma Peak and another Literature Cited (ASU 35974) about one week later near Quartz Peak. Bezy, R.L. 2005. The night lizards (Xantusia) of AriI contacted Bob about the finds, and a few weeks zona. Sonoran Herpetologist 18:14-19. later he and I were back in the Sierra Estrella. It was Brown, D.E. 1978. The vegetation and occurrence of 24 May, and the temperature was predicted to reach chaparral and woodland flora on isolated mountains well over 40º C (104º F). We started the climb just within the Sonoran and Mojave Desert. Journal of after dawn, burdened with a large supply of water. The the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 13:7-12. climb was arduous, but we kept plodding up the slope Johnson, T.B., C.R. Schwalbe, R.L. Bezy, C.H. Lowe, toward the Xantusia haven. When we finally reached and R.B. Spicer. 2001. Geographic distribution. the site of my previous collection at 1140-m (3700-ft) Xantusia vigilis arizonae. Herpetological Review elevation, we had little difficulty locating two additional 32:121. specimens of X. vigilis, and both of us enjoyed a long Kutz, J. 1992. Mysteries & Miracles of Arizona. rest under the shade of a Canotia (Crucifix Thorn). Rhombus Publishing, Corrales, New Mexico. Leavitt, D.H., R.L. Bezy, K.A. Crandall, and J.W. Sites, Conclusions Jr. 2007. Multi-locus DNA sequence data reveal a Three decades have passed since the original history of deep cryptic vicariance and habitat-drivdiscovery of Xantusia in the Sierra Estrella. With the en convergence in the Desert Night Lizard Xantusia recently collected tissue samples, DNA sequences can vigilis species complex (Squamata: Xantusiidae). Mobe obtained for comparisons with those of other night lecular Ecology 16:4455-4481. lizards (Leavitt et al., 2007; Sinclair et al., 2004). The Sheridan, T.E. 1995. Arizona. A History. University of results might indicate that the population of Xantusia Arizona Press, Tucson. in the Sierra Estrella, like those in the Harquahala and Sinclair, E.A., R.L. Bezy, K. Bolles, J. Camarillo R., K.A. Crandall, and J.W. Sites. 2004. Testing species boundaries in an ancient species complex with deep phylogeographic history: genus Xantusia (Squamata: Xantusiidae). American Naturalist 163:396-414. Thomas, B. 1998. Challenging the Estrellas. The Toughest Mountain Hike. Arizona Highways 74(1):16-19. Van Devender, T.R. 1990. Late Quaternary vegetation and climate of the Sonoran Desert, United States and Mexico. Pages 134-163 in J.L. Betancourt, T.R. Van Devender, and P.S. Martin, eds. Packrat Middens: the Last 40,000 Years of Biotic Change. University of Arizona, Tucson.
Bezy struggling up the ridge near Xantusia habitat. Photo by T.C. Brennan.
Studies of Xantusia DNA have yielded more than a few surprises, occasionally revealing ancient differences that are not evident in the external appearances of these habitat specialists.
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
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n at u r a l h i s to ry n ot e
Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater): Behavior
Howard O. Clark, Jr. H. T. Harvey & Associates, Fresno, California, USA. hclark@harveyecology.com
The Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) isina the large, diurnal, heliothermic, iguanid lizard occurring
When found in rock crevices, the lizards swell their bodies by inflating their lungs which wedges them tightly between the rock surfaces.
desert regions of southeastern California, western Arizona, and in portions of Nevada, Utah, and Mexico (Johnson, 1965; Werman, 1982). The species is restricted to rocky areas and volcanic outcrops within its range (Smith, 1946; Nagy, 1973). Chuckwallas escape from predators in a unique manner. Their habitat consists of numerous cracks and crevices that they use as refuge. Smith (1946) noted that chuckwallas he observed were very wary and slipped easily into concealment while he was several hundred feet away. Likewise, Johnson (1965) reported that chuckwallas moved without hesitation headfirst into these cracks when approached. When found in rock crevices, the lizards swell their bodies by inflating their lungs which wedges them tightly between the rock surfaces, making removal practically impossible. Here I describe the behavior of a chuckwalla using a rock crevice as a retreat. On 17 June 2006 I was hiking along a trail on an unnamed hill near Ridgecrest, Kern County, California (913 m; N 35° 34.466 W 117° 39.557, NAD83/WGS84). As I approached the chuckwalla, it ran into a boulder that was cracked in half. The boulder was situated such that I could widen the crack with my hands until the chuckwalla was further exposed. As the crevice widened, it puffed its body up and extended its four limbs outward, to a point where its body was suspended and outstretched between the rock surfaces using only its four limbs. At that time I was able to reach in and capture it. Upon inspection, it appeared to be an immature male in good health. I released the lizard, and it immediately returned directly to the same crack I originally found it. I wanted to place the boulder back the way I found it so as to not disturb the microhabitat (Goode et al., 2004), but I did not want to injure the chuckwalla. I captured the lizard again and released it a meter or so further away. Again, it returned to the same crack. For a third time, I captured the lizard and released it a meter or so away in another area. It returned to the same crack again. I did not want to stress the chuckwalla any more than I had to so I carefully placed the boulder back the way I found it with the chuckwalla safely hidden within. No obvious injury was inflicted to the lizard, and it appeared in good condition after its removal and handling. The peculiar behavior of the chuckwalla is worth noting. Even after being stressed on three successive occasions, it insisted on returning to the same crevice. SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
Figure 1. Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) near rock bolders. Photo by K.W. Hughes, near Ridgecrest, CA.
There were other crevices nearby, but apparently this particular crevice had an important characteristic that I was unable to determine. Perhaps because the chuckwalla appeared to be an immature, it may not have learned avoidance behavior by using several cracks as refuge, especially after a particular crack exposed it as vulnerable to potential harm. Literature Cited Goode, M.J., D.E. Swann, and C.R. Schwalbe. 2004. Effects of destructive collecting practices on reptiles: a field experiment. Journal of Wildlife Management 68:429-434. Johnson, S.R. 1965. An ecological study of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesis Baird, in the western Mojave Desert. American Midland Naturalist 73:119. Nagy, K.A. 1973. Behavior, diet and reproduction in a desert lizard, Sauromalus obesis. Copeia 1973:93-102. Smith, H.M. 1946. Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United State and Canada. Comstock Publishing Co., Ithaca, New York. 557pp. Werman, S.D. 1982. Notes on the ecology of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesis Near Baker, California. Journal of Herpetology 16:417-418. Editor’s Note: As a friendly reminder, prying and moving cover can be detrimental to habitat. The THS tries to discourage these collecting techniques. Note also that destructive sampling is frowned upon, and habitat should be returned to its original condition when searching for reptiles and ampibians, as indicated by the author. Note also that it is illegal to use manual or powered jacking or prying devices to take reptiles or amphibians in Arizona (Arizona Game and Fish Commission Rule R12-4-303.C).
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current research summaries
Global Warming and Flowering of Sonoran Desert Shrubs
With global warming, flowering bloom. Increases The Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) is a at many locations has shifted toward earlier dates of polytypic taxon presently composed of five subspein average annual temperature since the late 1890s makes it likely that flowering also has advanced in the Sonoran Desert. In this study, the author used phenological models to predict annual date of spring bloom in the northern Sonoran Desert from 1894 to 2004. Herbarium specimens were then assessed for evidence of the predicted shift in flowering time. Phenological models were derived from known flowering requirements of Sonoran Desert shrubs. According to the models, flowering might have advanced by 20–41 days from 1894 to 2004. Across the 20th century, there was a significant increase in the proportion of shrub specimens collected in flower in March and a significant decrease in the proportion collected in May. Thus, the proportion of individuals in flower in each spring month shifted toward the start of the calendar year between 1900 and 1999. This shift could not be explained by collection activity; collectors showed no tendency to be active earlier in the year as time went on, nor did activity toward the end of spring decline in recent decades. Earlier bloom eventually could have substantial impacts on plant and animal communities in the Sonoran Desert. Bowers, J.E. Has climatic warming altered spring flowering date of Sonoran Desert shrubs? Southwestern Naturalist 52:347-355.
Species Recognition of the Panamint Rattlesnake
cies that range across southwestern North America, including the Baja Peninsula and islands in the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés. The authors of the current study used mitochondrial (mt) and nucelar DNA to evaluate 104 individuals of three subspecies of C. mitchellii: C. m. mitchellii (n = 3), C. m. pyrrhus (n = 83), C. m. stephensi (n = 18), with Sistrurus c. catenatus as the distant outgroup. They detected deep phylogenetic splits in the subspecies of C. mitchellii, with 5.0–6.4% mtDNA sequence divergence (SD) separating C. m. mitchellii and C. m. pyrrhus, while C. m. mitchellii and C. m. stephensi had SD values of 6.4–7.3%. C. m. pyrrhus and C. m. stephensi had SD values of 5.2–6.7%. In addition, C. m. mitchellii and C. m. pyrrhus were identical in all 449 intron base pairs (nuclear DNA), but C. m. stephensi differed from both at a single nucleotide polymorphism. The authors used these molecular results to diagnose C. m. stephensi as sister to mainland subspecies of the C. mitchellii complex, a result consistent with certain head scalation characters and its northernmost geographic distribution in this complex. Furthermore, four morphological apomorphies (derived characters not present in the common ancestor; supraocular scales prominently ridged and/or creased, contact between rostral and prenasal scales, ground coloration of tail congruent with that of body, and black rings in the distal 15% of the tail) also diagnose C. m. stephensi from all other subspecies of C. mitchellii. The authors hypothesized that the northern distribution of C. m. stephensi likely resulted from two vicariant events: 1) Pliocene expansion of the Sea of Cortés as the Salton Trough and 2) Pliocene development of the lacustrine Bouse Embayment along the Colorado River drainage. Despite previous conclusions in the literature based on morphology, molecular results showed no evidence of intergradation between C. m. pyrrhus and C. m. stephensi. Based on these results, the authors advocate that C. m. stephensi be elevated to a full species, which renders a minimum of two species within the C. mitchellii clades examined here. Douglas, M.E., M.R. Douglas, G.W. Schuett, L.W. Porras, and B.L. Thomason. 2007. Genealogical concordance between mitochondrial and nuclear DNAs supports species recognition of the Panamint Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii stephensi). Copeia 2007:920-932.
These molecular results diagnose C. m. stephensi as sister to mainland subspecies of the C. mitchellii complex, a result consistent with certain head scalation characters.
Globe Mallow (Spharalcea ambigua) in flower, Spring 2008. Photo by Roger Repp.
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
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announcements
2008 CH Lowe Research Fund Award Recipients
Taylor Edwards Chair, C.H. Lowe Herpetology Research Fund, taylore@u.arizona.edu
Thewas established to Jr., Herpetology Research Charles H. Lowe, Fund support research that con-
Herpetological Publications of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Available Free
tributes to the conservation of the herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert, including the states of Arizona, southern California, Sonora, and on the Baja California peninsula and gulf islands. The CH Lowe Research Fund is chaired by Taylor Edwards, and the committee consists of Dr. Cecil Schwalbe, Don Swann, Roy Averill-Murray, and the current THS President. Since T. Edwards is the current President, Roger Repp, the past president, was invited back as the 5th committee member. The committee reviews proposals blind, and decisions are made on a variety of criteria, which include quality of research, regional significance, conservation and education application, ability to reuse equipment, and availability of funds. The committee received two proposals for the 2008 funding cycle, both of which were good fits to the award criteria. The committee is pleased the announce that $500 will be awarded to both: Adrian Munguia-Vega Conservation Genetics Laboratory, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona Habitat fragmentation in the Baja California Peninsula and its effects on the genetic structure of four endemic vertebrates with contrasting dispersal behavior This project involves genotyping two lizard species endemic to Baja, Mexico, each with contrasting dispersal abilities. The project aims to determine how far individuals move in the fragmented landscape of the Santo Domingo Valley. Kimberly Baker and Dr. Kevin Bonine School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona Thermal ecology and disease in Canyon Treefrogs (Hyla arenicolor) This study aims to examine, by monitoring behavior patterns, whether temperature or amount of contact with water play a role in helping the frogs clear chytrid-fungus infection. We are extremely happy that the CH Lowe Research Fund continues to attract the attention of such well-written and scientifically strong proposals. We encourage more researchers to apply and utilize this wonderful resource of the Tucson Herpetological Society.
DUniversityprovides access to the publications of eep Blue the of Michigan Museum of Zoology, in
particular the Occasional Papers and Miscellaneous Publications, which contain many important herpetological titles. The University of Michigan Library provides this service free as part of the UMMZ commitment to the scholarly community. Further, Deep Blue is designed to continue to grow and evolve to reflect current publishing needs identified by UMMZ faculty, staff, and students. To access UMMZ herpetological publications, go to: http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/49534.
Upcoming Meetings
5-8 June 2008 – Southwest PARC Annual Meeting. University of Texas, Austin, Texas. http://chelydra.unm.edu/swparc/. 23-28 July 2008 – 51st Annual Meeting, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; 88th Annual Meeting, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; 66th Annual Meeting, The Herpetologists’ League. Le Centre Sheraton Montréal Hotel, Montréal, Quebec, Canada. http://www.dce.ksu.edu/conf/jointmeeting/. 17-20 August 2008 – 6th World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil. http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/ index.php?section=51/. 17-20 September 2008 – Turtle Survival Alliance 6th Annual Symposium on Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles. Tucson, Arizona. http://www.turtlesurvival.org/.
Remember the THS in Your Will
Including the value in your organization and the the THS will is an excellent way to support of this
conservation of the herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert. We would like to recognize and thank anyone who has included the THS in their will. Please contact us so we can express our appreciation. For information about designating the THS in your will, please contact Kent Jacobs, Treasurer, Tucson Herpetological Society, at JacobsKent@earthlink.net.
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SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
BoarD meeting synopsis 29 April 2008 Philip R. Brown, Secretary Directors Present: Philip Brown, Young Cage, Dennis Caldwell, Taylor Edwards, Heidi Flugstad, Kent Jacobs, Roger Repp, Erin Zylstra Directors Absent: Paul Condon, Elissa Ostergaard, Robert Villa Members Present: Kevin Bonine, Robert Bezy, Ed Moll Treasurer’s Report - Jacobs 27 April 2008 Beginning Balance $20,424.72 Deposits $7,907.10 Expenses $14,170.00 Ending Balance $14,161.82 Speaker’s Bureau $618.13 Jarchow Award $2.05 FTHL Fund $594.00 C.H. Lowe Research $1,770.50 General Fund $5,356.50 CRHSD IV $4,240.64 Mexican Tortoise $1,600.00 Itemized Deposits: (March 22, 2008 - April 27, 2008): Membership $382.00; CRHSD IV $7,475.10; Flattailed Horned Lizard $50.00. Itemized Expenses: Newsletter (April) $155.19; Postage (Feb., Mar., Apr.) $246.00; Speaker’s Bureau $669.35; C.H. Lowe Research Fund $1,000.00; CRHSD IV $12,099.46. Committee Reports Web Site - Edwards for Marty Tuegel: Web site is up to date. Back issues of SH will be added as time permits. Discussion was held over whether a “Be Responsible - hand over unwanted animals” logo should be included on the web site; it was decided it did not apply to our society enough to warrant it. Conservation - Caldwell: Dennis discussed the Desert Tortoise Adoption program held 26 April at AGFD and said that more than 500 people attended and got information on desert tortoises, including the new brochure, Native Plants for Desert Tortoises. He stated that the 3,000 initially printed are almost gone and is looking into funding sources for a second printing. He also stated that the public has until 14 July to have input on the proposed Rosemont Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains. He is still working on the THS response against the proposal.
Speaker’s Bureau - Ed Moll: March 30 - Villa participated in an urban wildlife presentation with Ostergaard at a Humane Society of Southern Arizona public workshop on pet safety. April 5 - Villa presented a program to about 50 kids and their parents at the Wilmot Library. April 8 - Villa presented a program to about 20 equestrians at the Tucson Saddle Club. April 10 - Villa gave a presentation to about 15 equestrians in the Southern Arizona Horseman’s Association. April 10 - Edwards gave a presentation on Desert Tortoises to 8 volunteers at Saguaro National Park East. April 11-13 - Villa staffed a table at the CRHSD IV, bringing in 4 new memberships. April 20 - Villa gave a program for the Fort Lowell Neighborhood Association. April 22 - Villa and Bill Savary presented information at the Agua Caliente Earth Day. April 26 - Villa staffed a table at the AGFD/ ASDM Desert Tortoise Adoption Day program. April 26 - Moll manned the THS table at the “Between the Tracks Festival” in Vail. Ed talked to approximately 50 visitors about the value of reptiles and gave out THS publications. Edwards reported that he received a letter from one of the equestrian organizations praising the great job Villa did in presenting to their group. He also reminded everyone of Robert’s plea at the last general meeting for additional help with the Speaker’s Bureau. Moll also requested additional help for the May 10 Ironwood Day at the Mason Audubon Center. Anyone interested in helping the SB should contact Ed or Robert. Sonoran Herpetologist - Edwards for Roy AverillMurray: Taylor will work on getting the SH available electronically to members as time permits. Bezy is working with Roy, Repp, and Marty Tuegel to get missing back issues of SH into pdf form and up onto the THS web site, again as time permits. Eventually all back issues should be available. Bob remarked that it is not difficult to write an article for SH, as it is not strictly a research journal but is open to articles about natural history, field trips, observations, etc. Caldwell suggested we look into getting the posters from CRHSD IV translated into a format permitting them to be used as articles for SH. Program - Repp: Upcoming programs include: 20 May - Multiple speakers - short presentations on unusual or very interesting field observations 17 June - Young Cage on Australia SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008 57
15 July - John Murphy on a Malaysian mud snake 19 August - Adrian Munguia-Vega on Basiliscus 16 September - TBA 21 October - TBA 18 November - Elections and THS Photo Contest 16 December - TBA C.H. Lowe Research Fund - Edwards: Taylor initiated a discussion about means of “encouraging” Lowe Fund recipients to write articles on their research (as required in the grants) in a timely manner. The BOD voted to allow the Lowe Fund Committee to use whatever means it considered necessary to accomplish this, including blocking proposals from schools or departments that have reports still delinquent. THS 2008 Photo Contest - Cage: Details and announcement will be posted in the SH and online soon. There will be less emphasis on the 100 Mile Circle and more on general Sonoran Desert species, and there will be a world herpetology category. T-shirts and hats are proposed as prizes. Putting the winning pictures onto a CD as a screensaver is a possibility. Repp will look into the costs of producing a calendar. Old Business Current Research on the Herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert IV - Zylstra: Erin reported that more than 140 people attended the meeting, which everyone agreed was a resounding success. She said that some financial transactions are still outstanding, so no monetary numbers were available yet. Repp will write up his impressions of the meeting for the SH. Great and hearty kudos go to Erin and all the other organizers of this event. (She is going to have a big box of materials, information, computer stuff, etc., all organized, to turn over to whoever organizes the next one!) New Business 501(c)(3) Sponsorship criteria - Edwards is still working on this. New pre-meeting/dinner site - Caldwell: Citing unhappiness with current sites, new possibilities were named; Roger and Dennis will investigate. Monitoring of Snakes in Pima County - Bonine: Kevin mentioned a “citizen-scientist” program by Pima County to involve the public in monitoring snakes seen in Pima County and expressed their interest in having us involved. We agreed that it could be a good program for us and are awaiting further details.
m e m B e r s h i p u p Dat e
Membership Information
Individual $20 Sustaining $30 Family $25 Contributing $50 Student $14 Life $500 To receive a membership form and recent issue of Sonoran Herpetologist call (520) 624-8879 or write: Tucson Herpetological Society, P. O. Box 709, Tucson AZ 85702-0709.
Time to Renew Your THS Membership?
I hope this is a helpful reminder to those of you whose membership renewal is due this month. Please call or email with corrections and errors. 624-8879 or dhardysr@theriver.com Dave Hardy Sr., Membership Secretary
Due in May
John Craig Pat Lopez Brent Martin Erik, Lisa and Noah Rakestraw Lirain Urreiztieta Christopher & Elizabeth Warren Brian & Minerva Wooldridge
Membership Update - 1 May 2008
CONTRIBUTING Carianne Funicelli Harry Greene & Kelly Zamudio SUSTAINING MEMBERS Jeff Moorbeck & Jennifer O’Leary NEW MEMBERS Thomas Jones John & Katherine Murphy Robert Nixon John Porter Adrian Quijada-Mascareñas Hanna Strauss Dick Van Loben Sels JARCHOW CONSERVATION AWARD Michael & Marlis Douglas Lee Oler SPEAKERS BUREAU Michael & Marlis Douglas HORNED LIZARD FUND Lee Oler Tucson Ithaca, NY
Milwaukee, WI
Phoenix, AZ Plainfield, IL Tucson Hereford, AZ Tucson Sherman Oaks, CA Tucson
Champaign, IL Tucson
Champaign, IL
Tucson
CHARLES H. LOWE HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH FUND Michael & Marlis Douglas Champaign, IL Jerrold & Martin Feldner Tempe, AZ Harry Greene & Kelly Zamudio Ithaca, NY
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SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
Sonoran Herpetologist is the newsletter-journal of the Tucson Herpetological Society, and is Copyright 2007. The contents of Sonoran Herpetologist may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies provided the material is reproduced without change and with appropriate credit, and a copy of the publication is sent to the Tucson Herpetological Society. Occasional exceptions to this policy will be noted. Contents are indexed in Zoological Record. A complete set of back issues are available in the Special Collections area of the University of Arizona library. They are accompanied by a copy of The Collected Papers of the Tucson Herpetological Society, 1988-1991. Editor Roy Averill-Murray, averill-murray@sbcglobal.net Associate Editors Robert Bezy, bezy@comcast.net Don Swann, donswann@dakotacom.net Dale Turner, dturner@theriver.com Art Editor Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Book Review Editor Eric Stitt, stitt@cox.net Distribution Fred Wilson, fredtj@comcast.net Trevor Hare, trevor@skyislandalliance.org Membership Dave Hardy Sr., dhardysr@theriver.com
Officers
President Taylor Edwards, taylore@u.arizona.edu Vice President Elissa Ostergaard, elissaost@gmail.com Secretary Philip Brown, philipandbarbara@earthlink.net Treasurer Kent Jacobs, jacobskent@earthlink.net Directors: Young Cage, ydcage@aol.com Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Paul Condon, ptcondon@comcast.net Heidi Flugstad, flugstad@email.arizona.edu Robert Villa, herpsandviolin@aol.com Erin Zylstra, erinzylstra@hotmail.com Past President Roger Repp, repp@noao.edu
The Tucson Herpetological Society is dedicated to conservation, education, and research concerning the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona and Mexico.
Tucson Herpetological Society is a registered non-profit organization.
Society Activities
Monthly Members Meeting Elissa Ostergaard, Program Chair 3rd Tuesday, 7:15 PM Board of Directors Meeting Last Tuesday of each month (except December), 7:00 PM Arizona Game and Fish Department Office 555 North Greasewood Road Speakers Bureau (scheduled presentations) Robert Villa, Director Ed Moll, Director Conservation Committee Dennis Caldwell, Director Herpetological Information Hotline Bob Brandner 760-0574 Jarchow Conservation Award Taylor Edwards, Chairperson Publications: Sonoran Herpetologist, Backyard Ponds brochure, Living with Venomous Reptiles brochure, THS Herp Coloring Book, THS Collected Papers, 1988-1991 THS Internet World Wide Webpage http://tucsonherpsociety.org Marty Tuegel, Webmaster, mtuegel@cox.net
Information for Contributors
Authors should submit original articles, notes, book reviews to the Editor, either via email using an attached word processed manuscript or by mail to the Society’s address. The manuscript style should follow that of Journal of Herpetology and other publications of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. For further information, please contact the editor.
Deadline for Sonoran Herpetologist 21(7): June 15
For more information about the THS and the reptiles and amphibians of the Tucson area visit
tucsonherpsociety.org
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SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 21 (5) 2008
Newsletter-Journal of the Tucson Herpetological Society May 2008, Volume 21, Number 5 F e at u r e a r t i c l e 50 Night Lizards in the Sierra Estrella n at u r a l h i s to ry n ot e 54 Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater): Behavior current research summaries 55 Global Warming and Flowering of Sonoran Desert Shrubs 55 Species Recognition of the Panamint Rattlesnake announcements 56 2008 CH Lowe Research Fund Award Recipients 56 Herpetological Publications of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Available Free 56 Upcoming Meetings
Your membership has expired. This is your only reminder. Please renew!
tucsonherpsociety.org