Tom R. Johnson Robert N. Bader Donald J. Coxwell SPECIAL ISSUE NUMBER 2 SEPTEMBER 1975 Cover design, booklet format, and photographs by Tom R. Johnson EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ST. LOUIS HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY Tom R. Johnson, President 2820 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, Mo. 63143 Craig Petefish, Vice-President 11220 Hi-Tower St. Ann, Mo. 63074 Diane M. Johnson, Sec.-Treas. 2820 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, Mo. 63143 Donald J. Coxwell, Editor 11908 San Remo St. Louis, Mo. 63138 Cover : Cuban treefrog, Hyla septen

A note of thanks goes to the authors listed in the bibliography; for, without their works, this special issue would have been extremely difficult. Tom R. Johnson Robert N. Bader Donald J. Coxwell...

Salamanders have been on earth a very long time; as a matter of fact, the first land vertebrate animal was a type of salamander that evolved from air-breathing fresh water fish—around 300 million years ago (late Devonian period). Today, they range in size from a few inches to over five feet long (the giant salamander of China and Japan reach nearly 5 feet in length). Salamanders require a moist environment of various degrees—from slightly moist (as with a newt eft stage), to a completely aquatic

It would be erroneous to say that all species of salamanders can be successfully kept in captivity, because, as with other groups of animals, there are types which are hardy in captivity, and there are types which are extremely delicate. It is recommended that only the more hardy species be considered for keeping in the home. As far as local species are concerned, the various mole salamanders (genus Ambystoma : the tiger, spotted, and small-mouthed salamanders) seem to do well in captivity. They

1. Terrestrial (land) species. The first consideration for keeping terrestrial forms is proper moisture. The home terrarium with deep soil and rooted plants is very good for many salamanders, but it affords too many hiding places, and you may never see your specimens. A 1 to 2 inch layer of soil (⅓ black dirt, ⅓ peat moss, ⅓ fine sand) works very well for most land salamanders (mole salamanders, slimy salamanders, and the California newt). A few flat rocks or slabs of bark, or some dead leaves w

The universal food item that can be fed to most of the salamanders discussed above is the earthworm. Worms are the natural food for many of them, they can be stored alive, they can be collected easily, or purchased at a bait shop. They supply most of the nutritional needs for salamanders, and they come in various sizes. For large salamanders the worms can be fed to them whole. Or for smaller species the worms can be chopped into small pieces and offered to the salamander on the end of a thin wir

The toads and frogs evolved from salamanders some 180 million years ago (Triassic period). They have changed little since they developed the large, jumping-type legs, and have become very successful. Today there are over 2,600 species of toads and frogs, and they live in a variety of environments. With proper care, most toads and frogs do quite well in captivity. Knowing their natural history can help to furnish the keeper with the information necessary to keep these amphibians in good health...

The selection of the proper anuran (toads and frogs) for you to keep depends partially on where your interests lie. If you are interested in toads, then the common species in your area may be selected (Missouri common toads include the American and the Fowler’s toad). The very large Marine toad, Bufo marinus , is a species that is quite hardy in captivity, and are not expensive to purchase. Spadefoot toads (genus Scaphiopus ) are rather difficult to collect, except during their breeding season,

As with salamanders, the toads and frogs can be put into two categories: 1. Aquatic, and 2. Terrestrial (living on land). Both types of amphibians can be successfully kept in aquaria. American Toad Bufo a. americanus. 1. Aquatic and semi-aquatic toads and frogs. The truly aquatic toads and frogs that are often kept in captivity by amateur herpetologists are the South American Surinam toad, Pipa pipa , and the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis . Both forms can be kept in a 10-gallon aquarium wi

A typical terrarium set-up will work very well for most treefrogs. But, even though you may have the most beautiful terrarium plants—the treefrogs will spend most of their time sticking to the upper corners of the aquarium. Besides plants, a few small branches and a shallow water dish are also required. Spraying the terrarium once-a-day will do the treefrogs and the plants some good. The temperature for most treefrogs or terrestrial toads and frogs can range from 68 to 75°F. However, tropical sp

Becoming familiar with the natural history of your captive amphibian will help you determine what they can be fed. Giving your toad or frog a variety of live insects is a good practice. For the totally aquatic species; earthworms, minnows, goldfish, shrimp, and even small tadpoles, are all eaten by them. If these are not available, try small pieces of raw fish, liver, or beef. Toads and large frogs will eat mice—the size depending on the size of the toad or frog. Feeding your animals by just dum

It happens so often that people have seen tadpoles (Toad and frog larvae) in ponds or puddles while out in the country, and have taken them home—only to find out they have no idea how to care for them. The development of these amphibians can be a real learning experience for children, and with proper care, your tadpoles can mature to small toads or frogs. Overcrowding and lack of proper food are two mistakes made most often by people who try to keep tadpoles. One half to one dozen is more than e

Large numbers of hatchling and adult turtles are sold or traded each year in the United States. Unfortunately, from the point of view of the turtles themselves, the majority of them are condemned to death by unintentional maltreatment and few manage to survive a year. The species most often abused is the red-eared slider, Chrysemys scripta elegans . Next most common are the map turtles, Graptemy , and third in abundance are the painted turtles, Chrysemys picta . All are water turtles and require

Description and diet: Water turtles, such as the red-eared slider, vary in color and usually have webbed feet for swimming. These turtles are generally carnivorous (meat eaters), and their primary diet consists of chopped raw beef, horsemeat, fish, worms, and also aquatic greens. Some water turtles will eat bits of green leafy vegetables, such as fresh greens, lettuce, endive, and spinach. All turtles are different, however, and a variety of foods should be offered to determine their likes and d

Description and diet: Tortoise is the term generally used in referring to dry land turtles. They seldom swim or enter the water. Carapace and plastron (upper and lower shell) range from light tan to dark brown in color; The skin is rough appearing and the legs are scaled and elephant-like, with no webbing of the feet. Food consists of vegetables, fruits, grass cuttings, dandelions, petals from various garden flowers, bits of raw meat that is finely chopped, and canned dog food. Foods such as car

Many different kinds of turtles make satisfactory additions for your collection. Actually, every one of our native turtles, at least when small in size, can be acceptable. Larger examples of some species, however, are sometimes unpleasant and even positively dangerous as members of your collection. Below is a list of those turtles that should be avoided by the amateur herpetologist: Adults: Common Snapping Turtles Alligator Snapping Turtle [1] Soft-shelled Turtles Very Large Sliders Musk Turtles

Keeping lizards as “pets” can be a very challenging task, because, it has been found that many species will not thrive in captivity. When looking for a lizard to buy or catch, keep in mind some of the basic requirements the animal should have while you are choosing a lizard. The lizard should be alert and active. Check its mouth for signs of sores, bad teeth or gums, or other indications of mouth rot. Check the eyes for discharges, make sure the eyes are not sunken into the head. Observe it walk

There are many species of snakes throughout the world (over 2,700 species). Some of these make very good “pets”, while others never seem to thrive in captivity. Because of the many varieties of snakes, the care of them can vary quite a bit. There are a few basic needs that all snakes, regardless of the species, require in order to do well in captivity. All snakes are carnivorous. They eat only whole animals. This food may vary from termites to rabbits—with all types of animals in between. This s

Allen, E.E., and W.T. Neill. 1950. Keep them alive! The Reptile Inst., Silver Springs, Fla. Anderson, P. 1965. The reptiles of Missouri. Univ. Mo. Press, Columbia, Mo. Anon. 1969. Leaflet #1-5 (turtle and tortoise care), International Turtle & Tortoise Soc., Los Angeles, Calif. Breen, J.F. 1967. Reptiles and Amphibians in your home. T.F.H. Publications, Jersey City, N.J. Conant, R. 1975. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians. 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Cochran, D.M. 1

The St. Louis area amateur and professional herpetologists have organised a regional herpetological society. The S.L.H.S. is interested in promoting public education and conservation of the herpetofauna of Missouri. The organisation has a monthly meeting, guest speaker, a monthly newsletter, as well as special publications. All areas of herpetology are the concern of its members; herp management, taxonomy, conservation, and so on. People of all ages have become members of this active group. They