Table Of ContentSNAKES◆LIZARDS ◆TORTOISES ◆AMPHIBIANS ◆INVERTS
Practical
Keeping
July 2022
PETER
PAN
DISCOVER THE
AMAZING WORLD
OF THE AXOLOTL
NEWS
ON THE MOVE
A NEW SPECIES OF
LEOPARD GECKO
HOW REPTILES NAVIGATE ON LAND AND FIND
FOUND IN INDIA
THEIR WAY BACK TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY
CHOOSING LIZARDS MUSK AND MUD TURTLES SAND BOAS
Contents
July 2022
m e
We lco
Features 56 SEEKING CELESTIAL CLUES – many reptile
and amphibian species are able to find their way
With the news focusing on the reintroduction 18 SNAKES OF THE SAND – a profile of the
back home when taken a long distance from
of bison this month, to Kent in southern Kenyan sand boa which is growing rapidly in
their territory and released in unfamiliar
England, London’s growing rat population is popularity, with an increasing range of colour
surroundings. But how do they do it? Here is
facing the return of a species that used to live here in the UK before the last Ice Age, some morphs now established.
what we know.
10,000 years ago. Aesculapian rat snakes (Zamenis longissimus) can grow up to 2m (6.6ft) 21 LOOKING FOR MORE LIZARDS? – many
long, which means they are Britain’s biggest snake. Although widely distributed across people start out keeping a leopard gecko or a Regulars
mainland Europe from France and Spain eastwards, their renewed presence here has not bearded dragon and then decide that they want
4 NEWS AND VIEWS – featuring stories that
proved to be harmful. to seek out other species as well, to add to their
include the discovery of a new species of leopard
Aside from a small number of these snakes which are present in the vicinity of collection. But which would be most suitable?
gecko in India, a previously unknown pit viper
Regent’s Canal near London Zoo, a larger colony has become established around the Here are a number of suggestions.
from China and the finding of three
Welsh Mountain Zoo near Conwy Bay in North Wales. These are believed to be the 36 BREEDING GIANT LAND SNAILS – the
unrecognised black-bellied salamander species
descendants of zoo escapees with their origins dating back to the 1970s. A third concluding second part of this comprehensive
from the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern
population was confirmed a couple of years ago, near Bridgend, also in Wales, and it has guide to these popular invertebrates focuses on
part of the USA, and more, including a
been present there since about the turn of the century. These snakes are very shy and hard
their breeding requirements and health care.
breakthrough in DNA research with snakes over a
to observe. 40 MUSK HAVE A TURTLE! – turtles are very
century old, plus a stunning new discovery about
Scientists have been monitoring the population in the Conwy Bay area since 2004,
appealing, especially as young hatchlings, but
snake and spider venom.
which is comprised of some 70 adult snakes, and 120 youngsters. What is remarkable,
you need to do your research, because
however, is how slowly they appear to grow. Tom Major from Bangor University explains 26 OUT OF AFRICA – colourful tails and body
otherwise, you could end up with one that is as
how the team recently discovered a snake born in September 2018 that had weighed 8g stripes. In his regular column this month, Paul
large as dinner plate, and rapidly outgrowing its
(0.3oz) when it was first recorded in 2019, and now weighs just 15g (0.5oz)! He suggests Donovan investigates the significance of these
accommodation. The needs of musk and mud
that this individual has probably only fed perhaps twice during that period - partly attributes in lizards.
turtles, which are in the main quite easy to
because it appears that Aesculapian rat snakes avoid crossing roads, which in turn reduces 32 Q & A – addressing the problems that you
house, are covered here in detail.
their ability to obtain prey. They also hibernate for about six months every year. want answered.
44 HEALTH TALK – how do you know whether
34 REPTILE FOCUS – a stunning portrayal of a
your reptile is fit and well? Here is a guide to
On the move?
species in close-up.
some of the common problems that can arise, in
If you’re setting off overseas on holiday soon, keep
the different groups of reptiles.
an eye open for any of the unusual buildings and 38 SUBSCRIPTION
46 MEET THE PETER PAN OF THE AMPHIBIAN
sculptures around the world that have been inspired OFFER – AND
WORLD – the axolotl is one of the most
by reptiles, and please send us through any photos BACK ISSUES.
remarkable amphibians in the world. A member
to share with your fellow enthusiasts here. As an Every single one
of the mole salamander genus, it has been very
example, this impressive building, clearly modelled is now available
popular as a pet for many years, with
on a tortoise, is an eco-shop in Thekaddy, near the to buy online!
Photo courtesy RanjithSiji, CC BY-3.0 via straightforward care needs.
Periyar National Park in the Indian state of Kerala. WikiMedia Commons.
David Alderton 52 CATERING FOR VEGETARIAN LIZARDS
– aside from deciding whether you want a lizard
60 HERPETOLOGICAL MYSTERIES – in the first
that can be handled easily, there is another, very
David Alderton, Editor. Email: [email protected] of a two-part series, Dr Karl Shuker investigates
personal decision that will affect your choice. Do
✥ David has extensive practical experience with this group of creatures, going back over 40 years. He has written reports of a mysterious gigantic sea serpent from
and broadcast widely about their care and biology. you wish to handle live food on a daily basis? If
Canada.
not, there are a few species of lizard that will
Main cover image of an axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). Photo courtesy Arm001/www.shutterstock.com 66 HOW TO CONTACT US.
thrive on a vegetarian diet.
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News & Views
Featuring stories that include the discovery of a new species of leopard gecko in India, a previously unknown pit viper from China and the finding of
three unrecognised black-bellied salamander species from the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern part of the USA, and more, including a
breakthrough in DNA research with snakes over a century old, plus a stunning new discovery about snake and spider venom. Compiled by G. Valentine.
New species of leopard gecko discovered
Painted leopard gecko
(Eublepharis pictus).
Photo by Zeeshan Mirza.
Deep in the forests of Odisha and Range and relationships
Andhra Pradesh in India lives a "The species appears to be common in
colourful gecko species whose the hill forests, but its distinctiveness was
true identity has just been only confirmed by other researchers,"
revealed. Meet Eublepharis pictus, Zeeshan Mirza explains. In a phylogenetic
which is also now known as the study, where they looked for the
painted leopard gecko. evolutionary history and relationships
The discovery of this new species within and between the leopard gecko
was made by chance when researchers species which make up the genus
Zeeshan A. Mirza of the National Eublepharis, the researchers found that
Centre for Biological Sciences in what had until then been considered a
Bangalore and C. Gnaneswar of the southern population of east Indian
Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in leopard gecko might be distinctive
Chennai found a gecko in a water tank enough to represent a new species.
near a temple in Vishakhapatnam, Once they had DNA data that they
Andhra Pradesh, during a field survey. could work with, the team then also
Back then, they identified it as an east made morphological comparisons
Indian leopard gecko (Eublepharis between the species, looking at
hardwickii). specimens across various natural An east Indian leopard gecko. Photo courtesy Reptiles4all/www.shutterstock.com
4 | Practical Reptile Keeping
Map of east India Lifestyle
showing the The painted leopard gecko measures
distribution of E. 11.7cm (4.6in) in length, which is
hardwickii (black
relatively large for a leopard gecko. The
circles) and E. pictus
Brahmani River, which runs through the
(blue rhombus).
Eastern Ghats, separates it geographically
Image of E. pictus courtesy
Gnaneshwar C. H. from the east Indian leopard gecko, with
which it shares a lot of similar traits.
The new species lives in dry evergreen
forests mixed with scrub and meadows. It
is strictly nocturnal, actively foraging
along trails in the forest after dusk. While
looking for food, it has been observed
licking surfaces as it moves, which
suggests it might use its tongue as a
sensory organ.
Protection required
Even though the painted leopard gecko
seems to be widespread across the state
of Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh,
the researchers are concerned about its
conservation. There is a worry that it may
be at risk of being collected illegally — as
a result, the researchers have not
revealed the exact locations where it may
be found.
It may face human persecution as well.
The authors believe the species would
stand more of a chance against humans if
history museums. named it the painted leopard gecko more people knew it was actually
“Most species within this genus are (Eublepharis pictus), based on its harmless. To protect it, they suggest
quite similar in general appearance," colouration." listing it as Near Threatened based on
Zeeshan Mirza explains. "With a few key With this new addition, the gecko IUCN conservation prioritisation criteria,
A painted leopard
distinctive characteristics based on the genus Eublepharis now contains 7 until more is known about the size of its
gecko in its natural
number of specimens which we have species. Two of them — E. pictus and E. populations.
habitat.
examined however, we have been able satpuraensis — were described by Further research may also encourage
Photo courtesy Sanjay Kumar
to describe this as a new species and Zeeshan Mirza. & Avinash Ch. better protection of the biodiversity that
exists in the area. "The Eastern Ghats are
severely under-surveyed, and dedicated
efforts will help recognise it as a
biodiversity hotspot," says Zeeshan Mirza.
Further information
Zeeshan A. Mirza, Chandrashekaruni
Gnaneswar. Description of a new
species of leopard geckos,
Eublepharis Gray, 1827 from
Eastern Ghats, India with notes on
Eublepharis hardwickii Gray, 1827.
Evolutionary Systematics, 2022; 6 (1):
77 DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.6.83290
JULY 2022 | 5
News & Views
New pit viper found in China
T
he Jiuzhaigou National Nature
The newly-
Reserve, a World Heritage Site, lies
discovered pit
in the transition zone from the
viper.
eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet
Photo courtesy
Plateau to the Sichuan Basin in Sheng-chao Shi
Sichuan Province, China, and occupies
an area of 651km² (251ml²). The
reserve is covered with well-preserved
original forests, and numerous alpine
lakes. Beautiful and picturesque, it is
home to some very rare animals, such
as the giant panda (Ailuropoda
melanoleuca) and golden snub-nosed
monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana).
A unique environment
The herpetological diversity, in
contrast to that of mammals, is
relatively low in the area due to the
relatively cool alpine environment. In
order to investigate things further, and
discover the effects of an earthquake
on the ecology of the area, a group of
researchers recently conducted a
series of investigations in Jiuzhaigou Recognition
National Nature Reserve. During their After carrying out both morphological
herpetological surveys, they collected and phylogenetic (DNA) analyses, the
some specimens of Gloydius, a genus scientists found out that these
of venomous pit vipers endemic to specimens did in fact belong to a
Asia, from Zharu Valley. yet-to-be-described species. “The new
The underside of species is morphologically similar, and
the pit viper. Photo phylogenetically closely related to
courtesy Sheng-chao Shi. Gloydius swild, another recently
Stunning autumn described species from Heishui, Aba,
colour in Jiuzhaigou Sichuan, but differs from it by having
National Park, which
larger eyes (relative to the head) and a
attracts millions of
continuous regular brown stripe on
visitors annually.
both dorsolateral sides of the body,”
Photo courtesy Locomotive74/
www.shutterstock.com explains Dr Jingsong Shi. “We therefore
6 | Practical Reptile Keeping
provides new insights into the make them more prone to vehicle
diversity and the distribution patterns collisions, because the road surface
of Asian pit vipers,” they add, heats up more quickly in the morning,
suggesting that the formation of the and acts as a heat reservoir. This is why
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau might be one of the research team is also keen to
the key factors explaining the highlight the need to remind drivers
geographical isolation of these alpine to slow down in order to avoid these
pit vipers in southwest China. unique species being killed on the
road.
Development risks
Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve,
Further information
where the new species was found,
Mei-Hua Zhang, Sheng-Chao Shi,
receives millions of tourists every year.
Cheng Li, Peng Yan, Ping Wang, Li
named it after its unique colour A wintry scene in “The only known habitat of the new
pattern: Gloydius lateralis.” Jiuzhaigou National species is Zharu Valley, and it is now Ding, Jie Du, Anđelka Plenković-
Park, compared with being developed for tourism,” the Moraj, Jian-Ping Jiang, Jing-Song
Lifestyle summer. This explains researchers point out. “Thus warning Shi. Exploring cryptic biodiversity
the relative dearth of in a world heritage site: a new pit
This newly-described snake feeds on signs are still needed to remind visitors
reptiles in this region. viper (Squamata, Viperidae,
small mammals, such as mice, and “is to watch out for the venomous pit
Photo by Jie Du. Crotalinae) from Jiuzhaigou, Aba,
active on sunny days by the roadside viper, since this and another pit viper
Sichuan, China. ZooKeys, 2022;
in a hot, dry valley” according to the species, Protobothrops jerdonii, are
1114: 59 DOI: 10.3897/
researchers. often found in grass or bushes close to
zookeys.1114.79709
“The discovery of this species the roads.”
Snakes’ thermoregulatory needs
JULY 2022 | 7
News & Views
Three new black-bellied salamanders
T
hree new species of black-bellied
salamander have been discovered by a
research team led by R. Alexander Pyron,
the Robert F. Griggs Associate Professor of
Biology at the George Washington University.
The new salamanders, which are found in the
southern Appalachian Mountains of the
eastern United States, stem from black-bellied
populations that were long considered to be a
single species.
Advances in science and understanding
The discovery sheds light on “cryptic” species,
which are described as those lacking obvious
differences which can separate evolutionarily
distinct populations. According to the
researchers, black-bellied salamanders were
known as a single species for more than 100
years, but nonetheless have subtle differences
between them. One of the trio of newly-discovered salamanders. This is Desmognathus gvnigeusgwotli, from Straight Fork, Great Smoky
“Black-bellied salamanders have been Mountains, North Carolina. Photo courtesy Todd Pierson, Kennesaw State University.
commonly studied for over 100 years,” Pyron
explains. “In 2002, a cryptic dwarf species was aspects differed among the specimens, “In fact, the name ‘quadramaculatus’, which was
discovered, and, in 2005, DNA evidence began including variation in size, shape and color used for over 120 years, is not the correct name
to suggest there were still more. It wasn’t until pattern. After sequencing the genome from D. for any of these five species! We tracked down
we recently obtained funding from the quadramaculatus, the researchers discovered the original specimens at museums in
National Science Foundation for our research five separate species, three of which are new to Philadelphia and Paris and found that they
that we were able to sequence the DNA to researchers. The new species are now known as belonged to a totally separate species. This
discover that there were actually five similar- D. gvnigeusgwotli, D. kanawha, and D. raises the question of how ‘cryptic’ they
looking species here.” mavrokoilius. ultimately are!”
The researchers began by observing According to the researchers, future studies
Desmognathus quadramaculatus, a species of The wrong name… should offer substantial additional insights into
salamander that has been poorly characterised “After looking at multiple specimens, we see the evolutionary history, geographic
throughout its history. They noticed that obvious and substantial phenotypic [= genetic] distribution, ecological interactions and other
certain morphological, genetic and geographic variation between most lineages,” Pyron adds. aspects of the new black-bellied salamanders’
lifestyles.
Further information
R. Alexander Pyron, David A. Beamer.
Nomenclatural solutions for diagnosing
‘cryptic’ species using molecular and
morphological data facilitate a taxonomic
revision of the Black-bellied Salamanders
(Urodela, Desmognathus
‘quadramaculatus’) from the southern
Appalachia. Bionomina, 2022; 27 (1) DOI:
D. kanawha from Whitetop, Virginia. D. mavrokoilius from Hickory Creek on Bearwallow 10.11646/BIONOMINA.27.1.1
Photo courtesy Todd Pierson, Kennesaw State University. Mountain, North Carolina. Photo courtesy Max Seldes, University of Georgia.
8 | Practical Reptile Keeping
SKYDIVING SALAMANDERS LIVE IN THE WORLD’S TALLEST TREES
S
alamanders that spend their
The wandering salamander,
entire lives in the crowns of the
Aneides vagrans, is about
world’s tallest trees — California’s
10cm (4in) long.
coast redwoods — more than
Photo courtesy Wirestock Creators/
46m (150ft) above the ground have www.shutterstock.com
evolved a behaviour that is well-
adapted to the dangers of falling from
high places: the ability to parachute,
glide and manoeuvre in mid-air.
Flying squirrels, not to mention
numerous species of gliding frogs,
geckos, and ants and other insects, are
known to use similar aerial
manoeuvres when jumping from tree
to tree or when falling, so as to remain
in the trees and avoid landing on the
ground. The researchers suspect that
this salamander’s skydiving skills also
provide a way to steer back to a tree
which it has fallen or jumped from,
providing protection against
terrestrial predators.
Integrated aerial movements
“While they’re parachuting, they have
an amazing amount of control,” wandering salamander (Aneides noise in their motions, they’re just
explains Christian Brown from the vagrans) was revealed by high-speed totally surfing in the air,” says Robert
University of South Florida (USF) in video footage taken in a wind tunnel Dudley, UC Berkeley professor of
Tampa. “They are able to turn. They at the University of California, integrative biology and an expert on
can flip themselves over if they go Berkeley, where the salamanders were animal flight.
upside down. They’re able to maintain nudged off a perch into an upward “That, to me, implies that this
that skydiving posture and kind of moving column of air simulating free behaviour is something deeply
pump their tail up and down to make fall. embedded in their natural responses,
horizontal changes in direction. Their “What struck me when I first saw the and that falling must happen at
level of control is just very impressive.” videos is that the salamanders are so reasonably high frequencies so as to
The aerial dexterity of the so-called smooth — there’s no discontinuity or have an effect on their reactions. And
it’s not just passive parachuting:
The gigantic they’re not just skydiving downwards.
redwood trees that They’re also clearly undertaking lateral
are home to the motion as well, which is what we
wandering would call gliding.”
salamanders.
Photo courtesy Stephen
A hidden ability
Moehle/www.shutterstock.
com The behaviour is all the more
surprising because the salamanders,
aside from having slightly larger foot
pads, look no different from other
salamanders that aren’t aerially
manoeuvrable. They have no skin
flaps, for example, that would tip you
off to their parachuting ability.
“Wandering salamanders do have
big feet, they have long legs, they
JULY 2022 | 9
News & Views
have active tails. All of these things
lend themselves to aerial behaviours.
But everybody assumed these were
just for climbing, because that’s what
they use those features for when we’d
be looking at them,” Brown explains.
“So, it’s not really a dedicated
aerodynamic control surface, but it
functions as both. It helps them to
climb, and it seems to help them
These salamanders have relatively long legs
parachute and glide as well.”
and large feet, which assist their lifestyle.
Among the questions the
Photo courtesy HWall/www.shutterstock.com
researchers hope to answer in future
research are how salamanders manage
to parachute and manoeuvre without
obvious anatomical adaptations to This Californian
gliding, and whether many other species of salamander,
animals with similar aerial skills have Ensatina eschscholtzii,
never been noticed before. is entirely terrestrial,
and displayed no
“Salamanders are sluggish, you don’t
ability to control its
think of them as having particularly
movements when off
fast reflexes. It’s life in the slow lane.
the ground.
And flight control is all about rapid Photo courtesy Wirestock
response to dynamic visual cues and Creators/www.shutterstock.
being able to target and orient and com
change your body position,” Dudley
explains. “So, it’s just kind of odd. How
often can this be happening, anyway,
and how would we know?” An arboreal
salamander (Aneides
Life in the canopy lugubris) on an oak
Using a wind tunnel, Brown and UC tree. This species also
Berkeley colleague Erik Sathe displayed aerial of tail — with the abilities of three trunk or large branch before hitting
compared the gliding and parachuting ability. other salamander species native to the ground. Ground-dwelling
Photo courtesy Michael
behaviour of A. vagrans — adults are northern California, each with varying plethodontid salamanders that jump
Benard/www.shutterstock.
about 10cm (4in) from snout to the tip com degrees of arboreality — that is, the take longer to assume a skydiving
ability to climb or live in trees. posture and do so much less often,
The wandering salamander, which and with a smaller effect on the
probably spends its entire life in a aerodynamics during freefall.
single tree, moving up and down but Two of the least arboreal
never touching the ground, was the salamanders — Ensatina eschscholtzii,
most proficient skydiver. A related a forest floor-dwelling salamander, and
species, known as the arboreal the spectacled black salamander (A.
salamander (A. lugubris), which lives in flavipunctatus) which occasionally
shorter trees, such as oaks, was nearly climbs trees — essentially flailed
as effective at parachuting and gliding. ineffectively for the few seconds that
they were airborne in the wind tunnel.
Clear differences All four species are plethodontid or
A wandering salamander readily leaps lungless salamanders, the largest
from perches in the crowns of family of salamanders and mostly
redwood trees, apparently with the found in the Western Hemisphere.
expectation that it can easily “The two least arboreal species flail
manoeuvre in midair back to a tree around a lot. We call it ineffective,
10 | Practical Reptile Keeping
