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Odatria
The electronic newsletter of the Victorian Herpetological Society.
Issue 21, May, 2017.
Cover shot : Cover shot : This frog’s rockin’ This frog’s rockin’ by Adam Sapiano. If by Adam Sapiano. If
you have a photo that you think is worthy of our cover you have a photo that you think is worthy of our cover
we would love to see it!we would love to see it!
EXPONENTIAL!EXPONENTIAL! A REPORT ON THE 2017 A REPORT ON THE 2017
EXPO.EXPO.
Venomous Venomous Venomous snakes: are you snakes: are you snakes: are you a Man or a a Man or a a Man or a Mouse?Mouse?Mouse?
Top 10 Top 10 Top 10
BIZARREBIZARREBIZARRE turtles.turtles.turtles.
OUR NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday June 7 at 7.15 p.m. Anglers Tavern, 2 Raleigh Rd., Maribyrnong.
Special Guest Speaker;
DDDAVIDAVIDAVID KKKIRSHNERIRSHNERIRSHNER Free finger food and light refreshments!
Why not get there early and enjoy a
great meal in the bistro?
(meals not included with VHS meeting).
Also in this issue:Also in this issue:
‘Has anyone seen my dragon?’‘Has anyone seen my dragon?’
The Lost Reptiles Home.The Lost Reptiles Home.
Page 3
V.H.S. President
Adam Sapiano reports.
future.
It was then over to Joe Ball
who captivated the audi-
ence with his passion for
keeping and breeding blue-
tongue lizards. Joe is cur-
rently working on some
amazing stuff - and has the
photos to prove it! The
morphs he has been able to
produce are out of this
world. Who would have
thought the humble ‘bluey’
could come in so many
different colours and pat-
terns.
Then it was time for Bryan
Grieg Fry. Again, it was
immediately apparent that
Bryan is passionate about
his work, and he was more
than happy to share it with
us. He has been lucky
enough to travel the world
doing what he loves, but
always returns to continue
his research in Queensland
(although at times he
fellow herpers.
The evening kicked off
with a life membership
award to Roy Pails. Roy
has always supported the
V.H.S. and was involved
with every expo until the
closure of his shop. We
look forward to seeing Roy
at our next meeting and
wish him well for the
A tasty dinner... What a massive weekend
for anyone who loves rep-
tiles. The festivities started
with a night that I am sure
will be remembered for
many years to come by all
those in attendance. Two
amazing speakers, a great
venue and a room FULL of
The 2017 Reptile and AmphibianThe 2017 Reptile and AmphibianThe 2017 Reptile and Amphibian
Expo Weekend.Expo Weekend.Expo Weekend.
Above: long-time
V.H.S. supporter
Roy Pails
receives a well-
deserved life
membership.
Left: Joe Ball
captivates the
dinner audience.
Issue 21, May, 2017.
Page 4
Odatria
The 2017 Expo Weekend (cont.).The 2017 Expo Weekend (cont.).The 2017 Expo Weekend (cont.).
some of the words I would
use to sum up this year’s
expo. This year the com-
mittee decided to create an
expo subcommittee, which
proved to be one of the best
things we could have done.
The assistance of these
individuals, both during the
lead up and on the day it-
self, was instrumental in
wasn’t certain if he would
make it back). I am sure we
could have sat there and
listened to Bryans anec-
dotes about his field trips
all night.
ExpoNENTIAL! Massive, non-stop, busy
and exhausting are just
Above: Bryan
Grieg Fry and
Joe Ball: two
amazing speak-
ers.
Right: the expo
enjoyed record
sales!
Page 5
Issue 21, May, 2017.
the overall success of the
event. I would like to make
special mention of Vince
Pintaudi who has taken
over control of our Face-
book page and produced
the best numbers we have
ever seen.
The expo had everything.
We had entertainment for
kids, guest speakers, ven-
omous snake demonstra-
tions, wildlife presenta-
tions, auctions, raffles,
products and equipment,
and of course, livestock for
sale. Not only were the
door takings up by almost
48%, but we also had the
largest number of animals
ever sold at an expo, with a
total of 864 comprising 206
snakes, 294 lizards, 359
frogs and 5 turtles.
We also decided to change
the layout this year, making
it easier to see everything
and simpler to locate what-
ever it was you were after.
We are already working
hard on next year’s expo,
so if you are a commercial
vendor and would like to
become a sponsor, please
contact us at
We look forward to seeing
you all at our next meeting
on the 7th June.
Below: massive, non-stop, busy and
exhausting—the 2017 expo.
‘‘‘The The The EXPOEXPOEXPO hadhadhad
EVERYTHINGEVERYTHINGEVERYTHING.’.’.’
Preparations are already underway for the
2018 V.H.S. R2018 V.H.S. R2018 V.H.S. REPTILEEPTILEEPTILE & A& A& AMPHIBIANMPHIBIANMPHIBIAN EEEXPOXPOXPO
which is to be held on Saturday 3rd March 2018.
Are you part of a REPTILEREPTILEREPTILE---RELATEDRELATEDRELATED BUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESS? Why not consider the benefits of becoming a
SPONSORSPONSORSPONSOR? Contact the V.H.S. for further details.
Page 6
Odatria
Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?
C areful—five points off if you buzz in with the incorrect answer! My genus is presumed to be named after a town in Mexico; my specific
name has a more obvious derivation. Once thought to eat birds, my main diet seems to consist of small
mammals and reptiles. Juveniles exhibit ontogenetic colour change which occurs at around
one year of age and takes 5-10 days. I am found in parts of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, as well as Far
North Queensland. I am sometimes confused with the Emerald Tree Boa, with which I
share an unusual way of resting. I am the....
(Answer in next issue. Last time: I am the Tuatara.)
????
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videos and slide shows. But best of all, iHerp Australia is designed to be accessible to everyone:
iHerp Australia magazine is 100% FREE to download.
That’s right, there are NO FEES – IT COSTS YOU NOTHING! So help support a new national resource for anyone with an interest in herpetology – SUBSCRIBE NOW in
advance for Issue 1 (May-June). And tell your friends!
Simply visit https://iherpaustralia.com.au/
Australia's first online digital interactive magazine for herpetologists .
W ith the conclusion of
another highly suc-
cessful expo, it is worthwhile
reflecting on the huge
amount of work that goes
into these events. All those
who gave freely of their time
and expertise are to be con-
gratulated. If you would like
to become involved in any
way, please contact a com-
mittee member. Furthermore,
although expo attendance
was up significantly, this is
not reflected in the numbers
at our quarterly meetings.
The committee goes to great
lengths to procure the best
and most entertaining
speakers available from all
around Australia – plus
there’s free pizza; what more
could you ask for? So next
time, why not bring along a
friend?
While I’m on my soapbox,
you will note that most of the
new content in this issue
emanates from Adam
Sapiano. We would love to
receive your contributions –
whether you are a seasoned
herper or perhaps keeping a
beardie for the first time, it’s
all relevant.
Besides the expo round up,
this issue also contains an
article on the Lost Reptiles
Home, plus a great article
from ‘Old Man Perentie’
himself, Brian Bush.
Time to wind down now and
turn our attention to regular
maintenance as we near the
end of the breeding season.
If you’ve got a cool breeding
project planned for next sea-
son, why not drop us a line?
Don’t forget to support our
sponsors, Minibeasts
Enterprises and Karingal Vet
Hospital, wherever possible.
And remember our next
meeting is on Wednesday 7th
June at the Anglers, which
has proved to be a great new
venue. Guest speaker is David Kirshner, and this promises to be a very informative and entertaining evening. We have also secured Marion Anstis as guest speaker for the meeting scheduled for 6th Sep-tember, so mark it down in your calendar.
John McGrath
The Wrangler Writes.
Page 7
2017 VHS Office
Bearers:
President: Adam Sapiano
Secretary: Kevin Welsh
Treasurer: Shane Brodie
Exec. Committee: Grant
Burling, Brian Barnett.
Odatria is published by the
Victorian Herpetological
Society Inc. copyright 2016
all rights reserved. Apart
from any fair dealing, as
permitted under the Copy-
right Act, no part may be
reproduced or stored by
any process without written
permission. Uncredited
photos are from the VHS
archives. Photos published
remain the property of both
the VHS and the respective
authors and are subject to
full copyright and all rights
are reserved. Views or
opinions expressed are
entirely those of the rele-
vant authors and should
not necessarily be taken to
represent the VHS.
Correspondence:
Issue 21, May, 2017.
‘Why do I lick my eyes? ‘Why do I lick my eyes? ‘Cause I can!’‘Cause I can!’
Page 8
Odatria
Five years ago I success-
fully applied for a Vagrant
Permit, in order to allow
me to rehome unwanted or
vagrant reptiles with
Wildlife Licence holders
and thereby ensure these
animals get the care they
deserve. At the time, there
was only one other permit
holder, located in
Melbourne’s east.
I would like to explain
exactly what happens when
these animals come into
our care and what it is we
do with them - as well as
share one particular good
news story we have had
along the way. A handful
of people seem to have
formed the perception that
the Lost Reptiles Home is
simply a money-making
venture and that we turn
over huge profits each
year! I can assure you that
nothing could be further
from the truth.
More than 70% of the rep-
tiles we handle are
unwanted snakes. Most of
these are carpet pythons
that are typically a little
‘Has anyone seen my dragon?’
snappy or have outgrown
their enclosures. We also
take in a large number of
adult bearded dragons with
metabolic bone disease
and/or missing limbs or
tails.
When an animal is surren-
dered to us, we first con-
duct a visual check to see if
it appears healthy. In some
cases, veterinary treatment
may be required. Unfortu-
nately, we have been
forced to euthanize a small
number of cases over the
years, for various reasons.
Ever wondered where
the reptiles come from
that get auctioned off
at V.H.S. meetings?
Adam Sapiano
explains.
Right: unfortu-
nately, this blue-
tongue died two
days after being
rescued.,
Page 9
Issue 21, May, 2017.
Every animal stays with us
for a minimum of 28 days
before any attempt to
rehome. Whilst they are in
our care, these stray or un-
wanted reptiles must be
housed, fed, heated and
cleaned – all of which
represents a cost that
must be borne by the
Lost Reptiles Home.
When the animals are
ready to be rehomed we
have a couple of op-
tions, but the most com-
mon is via a V.H.S.
auction. I have seen
carpet pythons sell at
auction for as little as
$15; all proceeds are
then donated to the
V.H.S. We do retain
some specimens for
sale, in an attempt to
recoup some costs, but
their food bill quickly
amounts to more than
we can sell them for.
However, it is not all
bad news for the Lost
Reptiles Home. One of
the best experiences I
have had in the reptile
industry was being able
to reunite a 12-year-old
boy with his much-
loved bearded dragon.
The look on his face is
one that I will never
forget. We have been
fortunate enough to
return a few reptiles to
their grateful owners,
but sadly most are
unclaimed and
unwanted. Despite the
costs involved, I believe
the Lost Reptiles Homes
continues to perform a
worthwhile and valuable
service.
Above: a success story; this owner was delighted when we reunited him with his bearded dragon.
Page 10
Odatria
Kevin Welsh’s Top 10!Kevin Welsh’s Top 10!Kevin Welsh’s Top 10!
BIZARRE TURTLE SPECIBIZARRE TURTLE SPECIBIZARRE TURTLE SPECIES. ES. ES.
T urtles are amongst the oldest of reptiles, with the basic body plan ap-
pearing around 220 million years ago and remaining remarkably stable
ever since. Protection is afforded by the shell, which evolved from broad ribs
and bony extensions of the backbone. There are more than 300 species of tur-
tle in existence today, in all shapes and sizes. This collection, courtesy of list-
verse, contains some of the more unique forms.
10. Spiny Turtle.
Heosemys spinosa is indigenous to Southeast
Asia, where it inhabits rainforest, usually in
the vicinity of small streams. The shell is cog-
shaped, with a set of spikes running around
the edge. These are particularly sharp in
young specimens and help deter predators.
They also assist to camouflage the turtles in
leaf litter. Spiny Turtle numbers have plum-
meted in recent years due to hunting by hu-
mans and habitat loss.
9. Chinese Softshell Turtle.
This species is native to China, Japan, Taiwan, northern Vietnam, Korea and eastern Russia. However, its traditional importance as a food item has seen it introduced into many other countries including Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. There are even feral populations in California and Massachusetts. Chinese Softshell Turtles have a unique ability to excrete urea (or ‘urinate’) from their mouths. This unusual adapta-tion helps the turtle to survive in brackish water by eliminating waste without the significant water loss associated with urination from the cloaca; the animals simply rinse their mouths in the water. Chinese Softshell Turtles are considered a delicacy in many parts of Asia and as a result, wild popula-tions are listed as vulnerable. More than 90 million of these creatures are sold by Chinese turtle farms every year.
Page 11
Issue 21, May, 2017.
8. Mary River Turtle.
One of Australia’s largest turtles, the
Mary River Turtle is confined to the
Mary River in southeast Queensland.
Overall colour varies from rusty red to
pink, brown or black. The head is small,
but the tail is exceptionally long and can
measure almost two-thirds of the length
of the carapace. The hind feet are also
extraordinarily large, making these tur-
tles extremely fast swimmers. Another
unique feature are the long barbells that
protrude from the turtle’s chin. Mary
River Turtles are slow to reach maturity;
this takes about 25 years for females
and 30 for males. Although they regu-
larly surface to breathe in the normal
manner, the turtles are also capable of
absorbing oxygen via the cloaca whilst
underwater. Mary River Turtles spend most of their lives in the river, allow-
ing algae to grow on their bodies, which may serve as camouflage. The algae
on their heads looks remarkably like unkempt hair and has resulted in the
nickname of ‘punk rock turtle’!
7. Spiny Softshell Turtle.
The Spiny Softshell Turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America, and is found in the US, Canada, and northern Mexico. It has a distinctive appearance, with a long, thin nose, a triangular head and a flat, round shell covered in black spots, which fade with age. The name is derived from cone-like projections on the front edge of the shell. Unlike other turtles, the sex of hatchlings is determined by genetics, rather than the temperatures experi-enced during incubation.
6. Eastern Long-necked Turtle.
Common in eastern Australia, the Eastern Long-necked Turtle is
a species of snake-necked turtle with a neck so long (up to 60%
of the carapace length) that it is obliged to bend its head side-
ways into its shell rather than simply retract it. It is also remi-
niscent of a snake when hunting, as it strikes at prey by quickly
straightening its neck. When threatened, the Eastern Long-
necked Turtle can emit a foul-smelling fluid from musk glands –
it is also referred to simply as the ‘stinker’.
Page 12
Odatria
Page 12
Top 10! (cont.).Top 10! (cont.).Top 10! (cont.).
5. Black-knobbed Map Turtle.
Graptemys niginoda is a small turtle
that is endemic to the rivers of Missis-
sippi and Alabama. The carapace is
slightly domed and features four
prominent, black, backward-facing,
knob-like processes. Little is known
about the species’ foraging behaviour,
however the turtles are known to con-
sume insects that fall into the water,
together with freshwater sponges, mol-
luscs and algae.
4. Big-headed Turtle.
A native of Southeast Asia, the most obvious fea-ture of this turtle is its enormous head. This is so large that it cannot be withdrawn into the shell, but some protection is provided by a bony cover-ing – powerful jaws are also used for defence. The Big-headed Turtle has been reported to climb trees and bushes with the aid of its large beak, strong claws and muscular tail. Another species that is widely consumed in Asia, this turtle is rap-idly disappearing in the wild.
3. Pig-nosed Turtle.
The last remaining member of the family Carettochelyidae, the Pig-nosed Turtle is indigenous to northern Australia and New Guinea. It is the only freshwater turtle with flippers, like marine turtles. The fleshy nose resembles that of a pig, and can act as a snorkel, protruding from the surface of the water. It is also highly sensitive and may assist to detect prey in murky rivers. Pig-nosed Turtles can grow to a shell length of about 70cm and weigh over 20kg. Hatchlings remain dormant inside the eggs until environ-mental cues trigger mass hatching, conferring safety in numbers. Sadly, the total population of Pig-nosed Turtles has decreased by half over the last 35 years due to exploitation for the pet industry and meat.
Page 13
Issue 21, May, 2017.
2. Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle.
Also hailing from Australia and Papua New
Guinea, Emydura subglobosa is popular in captiv-
ity as the outer edges and underside of the shell
are a striking bright orange colour (more vivid in
juveniles). These animals typically only leave the
water to nest or bask. When basking, tears run
down the turtle’s face into its mouth, which opens
and closes in a fashion that is roughly analogous
to panting.
1. African Helmeted Turtle. This turtle has a wide distribution in the continent of Africa, from Ghana to Cape
Town. It can also be found as far afield as Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula.
The African Helmeted Turtle also possesses musk glands in the carapace, which pro-
duce a strong odour to deter potential predators. After selecting a nest site, gravid
females will then urinate to soften the ground, making digging easier. But it is the
feeding behaviour of the African Helmeted Turtle that is perhaps most notable. This
is the only turtle that is known to hunt in packs; sizeable prey items such as doves,
snakes and other turtles are drowned by the collective efforts of a group of the tur-
tles. In addition, large mammals such as warthogs, buffalo and rhinoceroses have
recently been observed to use the turtles to remove external parasites like ticks and
blood-sucking flies.
Page 14
Odatria
‘Monitoring ‘Monitoring ‘Monitoring the past.’the past.’the past.’ There is some
fantastic mate-
rial in the annals
of the VHS’ past
publications. This
article dates
back to 1995,
from the legen-
dary ‘Old Man
Perentie’, Brian
Bush.
‘Monitoring ‘Monitoring ‘Monitoring the past.’the past.’the past.’ There is some
fantastic mate-
rial in the annals
of the VHS’ past
publications. This
article dates
back to 1995,
from the legen-
dary ‘Old Man
Perentie’, Brian
Bush.
Page 15
Issue 21, May, 2017.
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Odatria
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Issue 21, May, 2017.
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Odatria
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Issue 21, May, 2017.
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Odatria
If there are any particular articles that you would like to see reproduced,
or you have one that you would like to share, please contact the editor.
Page 21
