Amphibians and Reptiles

[guerillagorilla]

Have you guys encountered any calls at regionals yet?
Any interesting questions from the past competitions you guys can share?

At regionals, my partner and i didnt come up with any calls, there was a lot of anatomy that gave sus the edge cause we actually studied for it. I think calls were skipped because they are too annoying to set up.

[countryblondie31]

Have you guys encountered any calls at regionals yet?
Any interesting questions from the past competitions you guys can share?

At regionals, my partner and i didnt come up with any calls, there was a lot of anatomy that gave sus the edge cause we actually studied for it. I think calls were skipped because they are too annoying to set up.

Our was a strict ID test. Which is a pain when you know anatomy and calls. I think that the people running the events don't want to bother with the calls. it's just extra work. But it stinks if you spend time studying them and they aren't on it. They should be required or not....TSD is important to know for those random questions.

[sewforlife]

Have you guys encountered any calls at regionals yet?
Any interesting questions from the past competitions you guys can share?

At regionals, my partner and i didnt come up with any calls, there was a lot of anatomy that gave sus the edge cause we actually studied for it. I think calls were skipped because they are too annoying to set up.

Our was a strict ID test. Which is a pain when you know anatomy and calls. I think that the people running the events don't want to bother with the calls. it's just extra work. But it stinks if you spend time studying them and they aren't on it. They should be required or not....TSD is important to know for those random questions.

The frog calling varies. I would prepare for it just in case, by listening to most of the Hylidae species calls, and writing down what they sound like on a post-it and stick it somewhere in your field guide. I encountered one frog call at my States competition, and it was easy to find.

[sewforlife]

can any1 help me with choosing between the Audobon or Peterson field guides?

I would just combine both. Take notes from Audobon and tape them into Peterson. If u can ID on sight, then you don't need the pics.

[Lily Essence]

I have some questions.

Some of the turtles have been reclassified, (for whatever reason) and the true Genus of the species is no longer the one on the official list. Should I go with the new classification or should I go with the one on the list?

I remember being at an invitationals and the official list said that a turtle was Pseudemys, but our book/field guide said it was something else. My partner and I put down the one on the list and got it wrong. The proctors said it was the one in the book. The field guide is 30-something years old, should my partner and I (when asked for a genus) put down the one on the list, the field guide, or the newest classification?

Thanks to anyone who can answer my questions.

[dickyjones]

It's on soinc's FAQs. Go with the ones on the list (or with the East/Central Peterson guide). Hopefully your judges will agree with you. I believe that the list is based (mostly) on the Eastern/Central Peterson guide with a few additions from western.

[Lily Essence]

Thanks, dickyjones.

I have one more important question.

Quoted from my Division B Rules Manual:

Teams may bring one published field guide and one unaltered Official National List of Amphibians and Reptiles. Teams may write in their field guides, add Post-It or other notes and tab pages. At the national tounamnt teams will be allowed to use both eastern and western field guides. No other resources, electrongic devices or printed labels will be allowed.

Can I make my own chart, print it out and put it in my field guide? Does that count as a "printed label" or "other resources"? I believe it would go under "other notes" and therefore be allowed...

[dickyjones]

Yes, you should be allowed to insert notes into your field guide. Go to FAQs on the national website and print out the clarification that "students may attach notes, pictures, and diagrams" to their field guides and bring it with you so that the event supervisor can't argue with you.

[sewforlife]

Yeah. You can definitely add in your own diagrams. You could even just print out diagrams from online, which would be easier.

[Lily Essence]

Thanks everyone that answered my questions, I never saw the FAQ part of the site. My bad, I thought that my questions would have been on the Rules Clarifications page. Sorry again - :sweatdrop: