Python Season

A new season will be available to hunters for reptile of special concern in Florida state-managed areas around the Everglades. (News source.)

Florida Python Ban

Florida is trying to ban "reptiles of concern." (News source.)

Tuataras and UV

Tuataras need UV for healthy bone growth and stability. (News source, and here.)

Not really news for herpetoculturists, but apparently the media isn't quite up to speed.

Eating Herps: Risk Analysis

Eurekalert: Study carried out into biological risks of eating reptiles

Reptile Biology Notes

Research on alligator respiration suggests they "breathe like birds." (News source.)

The "tentacles" on a tentacled snake are very sensitive to the touch, allowing the snake to find prey in murky water. (News source.)

Reptile Art Prints

I have started a new product line alongside my book publishing venture: reproduction prints from vintage natural history plates. Several snakes and other reptiles are now available in print and greeting card formats from my reptile art print gallery. Other species (invertebrates and birds to start) will be added soon.

Reptile Zoo Fined

An Ontario serpentarium operator was charged with possession of four native species (some considered endangered in Ontario) and fined $8,000 (CAN). (News source.)

Legal Matters in Edgewood, Florida

A reptile ban in Edgewood, Florida, was skipped, after local herpetoculturists showed some fight. Venomous owners will have to register with the city. (News source.)

NC Legislation

During the "crossover deadline," North Carolina passed updated legislation for herp keepers:

"Under S307, Regulate Ownership & Use of Certain Reptiles, herpetology fans would have to make sure their snakes — particularly those that are poisonous or constrict their prey — are kept under control.
"The measure updates laws regarding the handling of venomous snakes and other reptiles, clarifying penalties for exposing others to dangerous creatures or transporting them in a negligent fashion." (News source.)

Smugglers Foiled

Australian officials found a shipment of 35 reptiles being smuggled from one state to another. (News source.)

Stupid Reptile Laws are Still the Law...

Officials in Milwaukee confiscated a city resident's apparently well-kept collection of boids, monitors, turtles, and a "crocodile." (Not sure if that's an actual croc, or is a gator or caiman.) (News source, and here.)

Pennsylvania to Get State Reptile?

It's about time PA gets a state reptile, but why would someone suggest an eastern box turtle? (News source.) That's already the state reptile of several other states, and not particularly representative of the Keystone state. We need something like the bog turtle...

Australian Field Guide

Australian reptiles and frogs are the subject of a new Cronin's Key Guide. (News source.)

New Herps from Tanzania

17 species of reptiles and amphibians have been discovered in the South Nguru Mountains in Tanzania. (News source.)

India: New Serpentarium

The Mahender Chaudhary Zoological Park in Chhatbir will open up a new serpentarium soon. (News source.)

Florida Rules Updated

Amnesty rules have been relaxed a bit, allowing people to turn in non-native reptiles that require a permit at specified events. Also, adopters with permits can now accept reptiles from those without permits. (News source.)

Herp Smuggler Sentenced

A 29-year old South African man was sentenced to a year in jail in Madagascar for trying to smuggle out hundreds of small reptiles and amphibians in his coat and luggage. (News source.)

Reptiles More Popular than Dogs?

Apparently, they are... in the UK, at least. (News source.)

Poached Reptiles Seized

Malaysian officers confiscated 1,272 live reptiles destined for the illegal food market. (News source.)

Florida: Reptile Discovery Center

Deland, Florida, is getting the Reptile Discovery Center soon...

Iguana Hunters: The Strictly Controversy

An article here detailing how Strictly Reptiles obtains iguanas and more from the burgeoning invasive population in Florida, and how state regulations might affect that. (News source.)

CDC on the Attack Again

Lots of media attention on a new paper that has been published, warning parents not to buy exotic pets. Of course, cleanliness and good hygiene protocols would go a long way toward reducing risk, but the CDC prefers outright bans. (News source.)

New Herps from Zootaxa, September 2008

The papers aren't accessible (subscription required), but you can view the pdf abstracts.

1) A new frog, Adelophryne patamona, is described from Guyana.
2) A new skink, Oligosoma pikitanga, is described from New Zealand.
3) A new lizard, Bachia oxyrhina, is described from Brazil.
4) A new gecko, Cnemaspis biocellata, is described from Thailand/Malaysia.
5) A new lizard, Scriptosaura catimbau, is described from Brazil.
6) A new lizard, Leptodactylus cupreus, is described from Brazil.

Also, chromosomal analysis of some frogs (Pristimantis spp.) from Brazil suggests an undescribed species. And, there's a paper on foam-generating tadpoles.

Reptiles of Nauru

An interesting paper has been published in Pacific Science, reprinted on RedOrbit.

Terrarium Burns Down

A Terrarium in Varna, Bulgaria, burned down in an apparently accidental fire. Numerous reptiles were killed. (News source.)

Poachers Caught

When a lorry in Malaysia had an accident, it exposed more than 200 boxed illegally captured reptiles headed for a restaurant. (News source.)

Florida Symbol

The loggerhead sea turtle has been designated Florida's state saltwater reptile. (News source.)

Kuwait Gets Reptile Museum

Three young men in Kuwait have started a reptile museum, housed at the Aqua Park. They have 600 live animals, though not all are on display. (News source.)

Two New Books

Georgia herpetologists have published two new books of interest:

Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia (University of Georgia Press)
Turtles of the Southeast (University of Georgia Press)

(News source.)

Accident Frees Reptiles

A car crashes into two houses, one the home of a herp enthusiast -- six reptiles are missing, but believed to be hiding in the house. None are venomous. (News source.)

Pet Shop Inside Theft

A California reptile specialty store thinks an employee is behind a series of stolen reptiles (subsequently sold elsewhere) worth $2,600. (News source.)

Giant Pliosaur

A fossil pliosaur discovered in 2006 has been confirmed as the largest marine reptile ever, with an estimated length of 50 feet. (News source.)

Stupid Lawyer Tricks

In order to get felony charges reduced (for a woman who stabbed her husband's bearded dragons during a fight), a defense attorney is trying to argue that bearded dragons aren't actually pets. (News source.)

Ohio Species of Concern List Revision

Five herps will be added to Ohio's species of concern list, if a revision is approved: smooth earth snake, smooth green snake, queen snake, ground skink, and Blanchard's cricket frog. (News source.)

MD Herp Law Changes

Maryland DNR is planning some changes to the herp regs, adding 6 more turtle species to the regulated species list, with a few other herp species receiving increased protection. (News source.)

State Reptile for Colorado Coming?

Students are trying to get the western painted turtle appointed as Colorado's State Reptile. (News source.)

Documentary Set-Ups

Apparently, some people in the UK are surprised that captive animals are often used to create scenes in wildlife documentaries. Attenborough's "encounter" with a spitting cobra in his latest documentary involves a captive animal, for example. (News source.)

Attenborough on Herps

David Attenborough has filmed his last wildlife documentary, to come out in 2008. It's on reptiles and amphibians, titled Life in Cold Blood. (News source.)

Smuggling to Ireland

A package of various common pet-store arachnids and herps from a US pet shop was confiscated by Irish customs. The package was labeled "aquatic plants." (News source.)

Louisiana Cookbook

Alligator and rattlesnake make it into a new cookbook, "After the Hunt," by Chef John Folse. (News source.)

UK Reptile Theft

Burglars stole almost £3,500 worth of reptiles from a Yarnton pet shop: bearded dragons, ratsnakes, kingsnakes, a rainbow boa, tortoises, etc. The news account focuses on the "venomous" western hognose, of course.

Herp Taxidermy

A New Hampshire taxidermist tells a little about his award-winning work, which includes a specialization in reptile taxidermy, here.