Herpetology B/C

[Kyanite]

I am a first time Division B participant in Herpetology event. We had an invitational recently where the entire question papers and station pictures were copied from a Division C invitational that has been available on the wiki test exchange. It was entirely copied, even the tie breaker questions were lifted off. I'm wondering if this is usually done - do supervisors for invitationals copy questions entirely. Unfortunately, this was one wiki paper that I did not get a chance to go through, so we didn't do too well . But looks like supervisors/coaches also need to be a bit more professional, original and put in some work when setting up papers.

They do not and should not copy the tests, that is poor conduct

[matematika]

Plethodon (woodland salamanders and kin) have way too many species, and apparently Plethodon cinereus is the most popular species of them all. Is it okay if I just used that one species for the whole thing?

[Froggie]

Plethodon (woodland salamanders and kin) have way too many species, and apparently Plethodon cinereus is the most popular species of them all. Is it okay if I just used that one species for the whole thing?

You could probably get away with info about one species, but you might want to look at some other ones just to see if there's anything special about them.

[Galahad]

Would making a page full of pictures best be sorted in color, or by classification?

A friend recommended a color sorted page as classification had repeated pictures, thus wasting our valuable ink and prevents us from raping our printer.

Also... would you recommend just making notes on the specimen listed on the national list or go beyond into species and non-specified genuses

[Avalanche]

Hello,

To anyone not making a binder. I would recommend the audubon field guide. This field guide provides all the herps in the US. It also provides important information about each species. But even with this field guide being able to identify quickly is important.

To those who are going to make a binder. My partner and I, made our binder from the Peterson’s Field Guide. We have both, and it provides great identification information. It doesn’t provide as much information about the other information, such as reproduction. It doesn’t include extra information and is according to CNAH. And only these herps will be on the tests.

When making a binder I would recommend first making a page about each family. Include basic information about each finder. There is an example binder handout on Soinc. Do similar things for each Genus and then if you have extra time make pages for important species. Identification is also very important. So making quizlets can help you practice.

[Kyanite]

Would making a page full of pictures best be sorted in color, or by classification?

A friend recommended a color sorted page as classification had repeated pictures, thus wasting our valuable ink and prevents us from raping our printer.

Also... would you recommend just making notes on the specimen listed on the national list or go beyond into species and non-specified genuses

I do something similar i call it a “quick ID page”, i have photos of each specimen off the list on a page with the genus or family name listed below them in a massive collage. This allows me to make the id quick and then go to the page of info. I have mine listed in the order of the list

And go off of the list make the notes cover the lowest classification they give.

[winniethepoe]

I just finished Regionals for the 2017-2018 competition year, does anyone know if Herpetology will be in next year's rotation?

Thanks!

[Froggie]

I just finished Regionals for the 2017-2018 competition year, does anyone know if Herpetology will be in next year's rotation?

Thanks!

It should be coming back next year.

[matematika]

In the official list, Anolis is under Polychridae, but by Wikipedia and many other sites:

Previously, it was classified under the invalid Polychrotidae family that contained all the anoles including Polychrus, but recent studies place it under Dactyloidae.[2]

[Froggie]

In the official list, Anolis is under Polychridae, but by Wikipedia and many other sites:

Previously, it was classified under the invalid Polychrotidae family that contained all the anoles including Polychrus, but recent studies place it under Dactyloidae.[2]

Yeah we noticed that too, it seems like the list is a bit outdated. Just follow the list, I guess.