Amphibians and Reptiles

[jason45]

if you are not good at the event get a field guide and tab the book.

[Flavorflav]

Under the rules, you may not be tested on any taxa more specific than those on the list. This won't stop people from asking though, so being somewhat prepared is not a bad idea. Also the differences on the head scales is crotalus and sistrurus not crotalus and agkistrodon. The same goes for general coloration. To tell the difference between Crotalus+Sistrurus from Agkistrodon, you first look for the rattle, check to see if the head is a copper color (copperhead), and if the mouth is open with white it is a cotton mouth. The cotton mouth also has a golden lure like tail tip. They also have fairly distinguishable nonspecific traits.

As I said, start with the rattle and general coloration. If you have melanistic specimens, coloration will not be helpful. The most certain method to tell crotalus from sistrurus OR agkistrodon is the scales on the head. Crotalus has small asymmetrical head scales, while agkistrodon has large symmetrical scales. Sistrurus and Agkistrodon have nine large plates on the top of the head, while crotalus has mostly small scales.

[Deeisenberg]

I wasn't aware of the fact that it was also a difference between agkistrodon and crotalus. Thanks for that information.

[Flavorflav]

Natch.

[EcoFreak]

I love this event, but I have a question. Does anyone else have snakes in devision B? We arn't suppost to, but we seem to every year. please respond.

[savvyvonmunchausen]

i haven't done the event yet, but i'm going to at our confernce competition. no one really takes confernce seriously, but i'm still wondering what i should really be looking for along the lines of study materials? because i have no idea what this is gonna be like.

[Flavorflav]

I love this event, but I have a question. Does anyone else have snakes in devision B? We arn't suppost to, but we seem to every year. please respond.

Where did you get the idea that you aren't supposed to have snakes in division B? You had them last year (which was the first time this event has run since 2001) because you ARE supposed to.

[paradoxgirl]

thnx for the info

[Deeisenberg]

Yeah, the lists are identical for both divisions, and you most certainly do have snakes unless your state issues a special list or something. As for what to learn, the best answer I can give is learn id first, and then learn everything major about the species that is stressed in your sources. Then learn absolutely everything you can about all things herpetology.

[crabnebula143]

Is there a Amphibians+Reps. Wiki???