Following the sad news of the last post I wanted to post something a bit more positive. I found this on the subject of the surviving Farancia erytrogramma.
Can You Actually Get Stabbed by a Snake?
South Florida Rainbow Snake declared extinct
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The US Fish and Wildlife Services have declared the South Florida Rainbow Snake Farancia erytrogramma seminola extinct after no recorded sightings for 50 years or more. Another species, the Florida Fairy Shrimp Dexteria floridana is also feared to be worthy of Endangered Species status following this investigation encompassing a review of statuses of said species’. Its feared the wetland habitat occupied by the two species has been destroyed by property developers. This sad news appears to yet again, highlight the “Johnny come lately” approach to conservation priority, this review was clearly too late for F e. seminola. The status of the remaining subspecies the Common Florida Rainbow Snake F e. erytrogramma is considered to be of least concern according to the IUCN Red List when assessed in 2007.
Here is a fuller report of this news.
Florida loses two species to extinction
I wanted to post a photo of F e. erytrogramma but I could not find a good image that was also appropriately licensed. Instead I found this stunning example of another extant Farancia, the stunning Eastern Mud Snake Farancia abacura abacura.
Slow Worms getting jiggy
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I photographed this pair of Slow Worms Anguis fragilis in late spring at a friends garden, ca. 05/09. The male is biting the back of the females neck, this was the first time I had seen this! There was a thriving population in the garden including all major sizes cohorts, including many large females that appeared gravid!
Venomous spider’s nest found in Buckinghamshire garden
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
For a start all spiders are venomous but proportionally few species are considered medically significant, so venom in spiders is really no big thing. As mentioned in the article (well done BBC writer!) the species in ‘discussion’ has been known as an introduced species within the South West UK for over 100 years, so False Black Widows Steatoda grossa in the UK is nothing to make a fuss about either. According to the article, we must beware environments behind wooden panels (should be abolish anything that has anything to do with wooden panels!?), damp leaves and logs (no mention of any temperature preference). You may think living in the South East you are safe – think again! These crazed blood thirsty arthropods are on the march Eastward. Thankfully pest control companies have a specialist pesticide, so specialised and mysterious is this pesticide, it is not available to the public. Can you imagine!? B&Q’s across SW England (and maybe the East, in preparation) would be swamped by a panic stricken public! Thank jeebus we can all rest easy in the knowledge our local pest control agencies are on hand to spray toxic chemical solution all over the place at any moments notice!
Another boring but sadly predictable, albeit mildly entertaining viewpoint courtesy of the BBC sensationalist journalism department!
BBC News – Venomous spider’s nest found in Buckinghamshire garden
More coming soon!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Garter Snakes (Thamnophis spp.) emerge and bask close the hibernaculum. Surely one of natures many great spectacles, thousands of snakes emerge over matter of weeks flooding the area!
