Chicago Herpetological Society

Come on over and watch the incredible Ty Park!

Episode 134 - Ty Park (Iguana Land) Tonight we are joined by an industry LEGEND, Mr. Ty Park. Most recently, Ty is known most for his Reptile Zoo, Iguana Land in Punta Gorda, FL. The zoo is o...

Well the herd is back outside! Sorry no videos of the move but i will my observations and efforts.

Took a weigh in on Shelly our 29 yr old male Sulcata and he came in at a measly 82lbs. Belle was frisky so I will get a weight on her this weekend. My guess is around 68-70lbs. Leo our old man leopard will get weighed then as well but i’m guessing 10-12lbs.

They got showered and cruised for late meal of fresh lawn and settled into their summer home.

Orphaned bearded dragon so we are holding for 30 days in case an owner steps forward to recover.

Recent posts on social media regarding an American Alligator, Alligator mississippians, where shared by many sources and the appropriate authorities are aware and investigating.

The CHS is not currently involved in this effort. Please remember that all crocodilians are illegal to own in Illinois without a “Special Use Permit” per the Illinois H**ptiles Act (510 ILCS 68).

My alternate identity was up lecturing remotely to a class at Aurora University today and i wish i could do it full time.

Apparently it was well received. It is a fun topic. Class was HAS-3320 Forensic Investigations Involving Animals (4 semester hours). Presentation was "Surviving Large Intakes of Reptiles". This is a course offered as part of their Human Animal Studies bachelors degree.

Tomorrow November 28, 2023 is the 11th anniversary of Giving Tuesday and the Chicago H**petological Society is an active recipient organization. We are a 501(c)3 organization and 100% of our donations go to support conservation and rescue efforts for reptiles and amphibians.

Click here to donate any denomination to help us make an impact.

Donate | Chicago H**petological Society This form can be used to make a one time or recurring donation to the CHS. Please be advised that once this payment is made, it cannot be refunded. If you are interested in adopting or relinquishing an animal through the CHS, please visit the adoptions page for further information. Donating here doe...

Come say hi this afternoon at the Historic Pullman Foundation Exhibit Hall for the 11th Annual Companion Animal Blessing! This family friendly event near the Pullman National Historical Park honors companion animals of all kinds (including reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates). The Chicago H**p Society will be present with some of our own companion animals for people to meet. We hope to see some of you here!

Moments Monday: Today’s Moment’s Monday includes a restored historical image of Clifford Pope, brought back to life from the original 1942 printed photo from the library of the late Michael Dee, and restored by IHS volunteers.

Clifford H. Pope (1899-1974)
Prominent American H**petologist Clifford Pope was a trailblazer in the early 20th century. Former President and Journal Editor of the American Society of Ichthyologists and H**petologists (1935), curator of the Field Museum (1940-1954), taxonomist, ecologist, and author, it’s hard to describe Pope’s career in just one paragraph. His meticulous research and extensive fieldwork led to the description of numerous reptile and amphibian species, including species like Hyla sanchiangensis, Amolops chunganensis, and Rana fukienensis. Pope's work extended beyond taxonomy; he delved into the ecological and behavioral aspects of these animals, shedding light on their complex lives, including eight expeditions to China prior to 1930. His work as an author is also of note, authoring such classics as Snakes Alive and How They Live (1937), Turtles of the United States and Canada (1939), China's Animal Frontier (1940), The Reptile World (1955) and The Giant Snakes (1961). His passion for herpetology and his engaging writing style made his publications accessible to both scientists and the general public, leaving a lasting impact on the field and inspiring future generations of herpetologists to explore and protect these remarkable creatures. Several species of reptiles and amphibians have been named in Pope's honor including Pope's keelback (Amphiesma popei ), Pope's emo skink (Emoia popei ), Pope's skink (Eumeces popei), and Popes' tree viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum) just to name a few.

Happy Moments Monday! On days like these, we like to celebrate impactful moments in the history of herpetology as a science.
Photographed handling an Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus), is acclaimed zoologist and host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Marlin Perkins.

📸:Lincoln Park Zoo, April 23, 1948. Photographer unknown.

This month, the second floor classroom at the Notebaert is going to be a superhero hideout for our August meeting! This month is all about the amazing superpowers that reptiles have. We'll learn how their abilities help them survive, meet some live animals and see some of those abilities in action, and have fun! Kids will have the opportunity to make their own reptile-themed superhero (or villain, we don’t judge!) identity with masks to color and decorate.

The meeting will be at 1:00 PM at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and is free to attend- just tell the security or admissions desk that you're here for the CHS Junior H**pers meeting and they will let you right in. As always, you're welcome to bring your own reptile pets, and while the games and activities are geared for kids 3-12, the whole family is invited!

Happy August! This month we’re pleased to share that the Amphibian Foundation will be speaking with us about Global Amphibian Declines. The Amphibian Foundation is a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia dedicated to the research and conservation of amphibians across the globe. In addition to their conservation work, the Amphibian Foundation offers several herpetology related classes for all ages.

The meeting will be at 2:00 pm at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Our meetings our free to attend and open to the public, just tell security or admissions that you’re there for the meeting and they will let you up! Refreshments will be provided and as always you’re welcome to bring your own pet reptiles. And if you can’t join us in person you can watch our meeting on Zoom at this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89898242246

August 4th I’m speaking at the Minnesota H**p Society. This will be my first time traveling to Minnesota and I look forward to hanging with peers. I wonder what I should speak about?

**p

https://omny.fm/shows/wbbmam-on-demand/another-theory-about-chicagos-chonkosaurus

Another theory about Chicago's "Chonkosaurus" - WBBM Newsradio On-Demand One expert on turtles suggest the behemoth seen along the Chicago River last week may have been a pet for years. WBBM Newsradio's Rob Hart reports.

Watch: Giant Snapping Turtle Spotted on Chicago River

Greetings!

This bill is very important. If passed, the bycatch of the traps could severely impact other turtle species, including protected species. It could encourage more poaching. It’s a really bad bill. Please take a moment to check out the link to USARK's website and fill out the forms that USARK has made so easy to submit.

https://usark.org/23il2/?fbclid=IwAR18XtbNbUSWLWB7eI1YCt0Bb6nl2s9L1Zlozn9SJAveTl045qqqFoBpJlQ

John Archer
President
Chicago H**petological Society
[email protected]

ALERT: Illinois turtle trap bill | USARK - United States Association of Reptile Keepers Update 3/24: A hearing has been scheduled for March 30. Now is the time to formally oppose through the legislature website. It only takes a minute! Just go here, fill out the form, and select OPPONENT: https://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/146734?committeeHearingId=20085&LegislationId=146734&Legisl...

With link to original paper.

Sleeping glass frogs hide by storing most of their blood in their liver Glass frogs snoozing among leaves blend in by hiding almost all their red blood cells in their liver until the tiny animals wake up.

Please remember that Facebook prohibits trading or selling animals. Also please check state requirements on the breeding, trading and keeping of native species. Please be responsible and avoid even unintended legal consequences.

Reminder: there will be no meeting at the Notebaert today. The zoo visit has preempted the meeting. See you next month for our December party

Online Membership Renewal is back online!

Apologies for the delay in fixing this convenience.

Membership | Chicago H**petological Society

Snakes On A Plane 2? United Finds One On A Boeing 737 Flight To Newark A snake caused mass hysteria aboard a United Airlines flight after landing as it moved about the cabin in protest of the fasten seatbelt sign.

Expressive Snake Portraits by Ben Simon Rehn Capture Serpentine Elegance in Brilliant Hues More than 3,000 species of snakes can be found on our planet, slithering through vastly different ecosystems and exhibiting an extraordinary range of colors, patterns, and sizes. Regarded in myth as guardians of the underworld, cunning spirits, or wielders of magic, they have long been dreaded, reve

Over 100 Young Crocodiles Find Refuge on Their Father's Back in India's Chambal River The gharial, a large crocodile with a distinctive bulge on its snout, is critically endangered in the wild, with researchers counting only a few hundred individuals in 2017. Living primarily in the rivers of Nepal and India, the scaly reptiles saw a rapid decline since the 1930s due to overfishing a

Incredible animals.

The Field H**per: Finding Reptiles and Amphibians for Fun - Cool Green Science H**ping, finding reptiles and amphibians, is growing as a hobby.