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Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 8th, 2009, 12:24 pm
by jason45
if you are not good at the event get a field guide and tab the book.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 8th, 2009, 2:31 pm
by Flavorflav
inuyashakusho wrote: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.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 10th, 2009, 5:49 pm
by Deeisenberg
I wasn't aware of the fact that it was also a difference between agkistrodon and crotalus. Thanks for that information.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 13th, 2009, 8:34 am
by Flavorflav
Natch.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 15th, 2009, 7:56 am
by 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.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 15th, 2009, 10:56 am
by 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.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 15th, 2009, 12:07 pm
by Flavorflav
EcoFreak wrote: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.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 15th, 2009, 12:36 pm
by paradoxgirl
thnx for the info
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 15th, 2009, 12:58 pm
by 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.
Re: Amphibians and Reptiles
Posted: January 15th, 2009, 3:31 pm
by crabnebula143
Is there a Amphibians+Reps. Wiki???