anotheca

April/May 2012 Caving Trip – Topside Encounters

Dante — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:20:01 +0000

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On our two week cave trip, we happened across quite a bit of cool wildlife above ground. I’ll post a few of the images here…

The Cricket Frogs were out in force

On the Talimena Trail we got to see a couple toads. This American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) was the largest of the encounters.

This juvenile toad on the Talimena Trail has striking coloration.

Daphne enjoys watching a nice Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) crossing the Talimena Trail.

Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

A Cpperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) in the leaf litter.

An Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae) captured crossing the Talimena Trail.

A Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) encountered crossing the Talimena Trail.

Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

This Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) was encountered crossing a road at night...unusual for this species.

An Ornate Box Turtle in the forest.

Matt is working hard to collect some spring cavefish...

Matt did get what he was looking for (Forbesichthys papilliferus)

We seined a bit in surface streams and saw some neat fish. This is the Cardinal Shiner (Luxilus cardinalis)

A male Cardinal Shiner (Luxilus cardinalis) with prominent breeding tubercles on its head

A male Southern Red Bellied Dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster) in breeding coloration

A female Southern Red Bellied Dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster)

A female Eastern Newt with a spermatophore in her cloaca - male's deposit spermatophores on the substrate and then females take them into their bodies to transfer sperm and fertilize the female's eggs

A ventral view...

I love the pattern on these guys

We did happen across some Rainbow Darters (Etheostoma cf caereleum) in breeding coloration

A Rainbow Darter from another drainage

More to come…

April/May 2012 Caving Trip – Subterranean Encounters

Dante — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:01:54 +0000

My friend and colleague, Dr. Matt Niemiller, and I teamed up with University of Maryland professor and research biologist Dr. Daphne Soares to swing a long caving road trip. For the part I participated in, we hit 6 states over 14 days and performed inventories in 15 caves, driving over 4,000 miles in the process. The process was challenging as we had to completely decontaminate our gear between every cave. That means a trip to the local car wash to use a high pressure washer, removing clay and mud. Then a trip to the local laundry mat to wash cloths for a long cycle in water over 102F and with 409 disinfectant. Lots of coins spent on this trip. The work involved annual counts of endangered subterranean species for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. We also performed some counts of imperiled groundwater species for state wildlife agencies. I got to see several cave crayfish species for the first time. This was a great trip. We encountered a lot of wildlife topside as well. I’ll make a second post for all of the surface wildlife.

The Mammoth Cave Crayfish (Cambarus pellucidus) in situ within a Kentucky cave

I enjoyed seeing some of the northern cave crayfish...like the Mammoth Cave Crayfish (Cambarus pellucidus)

The Mammoth Cave Crayfish (Cambarus pellucidus...formerly in Orconectes) from a Kentucky cave

Mammoth Cave Crayfish (Cambarus pellucidus...formerly in Orconectes) from a Kentucky cave

We all had a good time with the cave crayfish

The Appalachian Cave Crayfish (Cambarus packardi) from a Kentucky cave

The Ghost Crayfish or Northern Cave Crayfish (Cambarus inermis) - a female from a Kentucky cave

The Salem Cave Crayfish (Cambarus hubrichti) from a Missouri cave

Our survey team in Oklahoma during our annual Oklahoma Cave Crayfish count...we are recording weights and measurments here. This survey is a long haul as we typically spend 6-9 hours in 52F groundwater.

More weighing and measuring...Matt is thrilled

My good friend and colleague, Mike Slay, holding an Oklahoma Cave Crayfish (Cambarus tartarus)

The Oklahoma Cave Crayfish (Cambarus tartarus) - an adult male

It may not look like much, but for a subterranean crayfish, this is a BIG individual of the Delaware County Cave Crayfish (Cambarus subterraneus) - a record size female

The Delaware County Cave Crayfish (Cambarus subterraneus) from an Oklahoma cave

The chela (pincher) of a record size Delaware County Cave Crayfish

We regularly encounter this surface crayfish, the Ringed Crayfish (Orconectes neglectus) in Ozark caves

This female Ringed Crayfish (Orconectes neglectus) is in berry, or with egg beneath her tail, and was encountered inside of an Ozark cave

A ventral view of the female Ringed Crayfish in berry

A close-up of the eggs beneath the tail of the Ringed Crayfish

The formations in some of our survey caves are fantastic

Mackin's Cave Isopod (Caecidotea mackini) is only known from a single cave complex

The three of us were fortunate to get into a good number of caves with blind cave fish on this trip

The Northern Cave Fish (Amblyopsis spelaea) in a Kentucky cave

A Southern Cave Fish (Typhlichthys subterraneus) in a Kentucky cave

Another Southern Cave Fish (Typhlichthys subterraneus) from a different Kentucky cave

Yet another lineage of the Southern Cave Fish (Typhlichthys subterraneus)

The Swampfish (Chologaster cornuta) is a surface relative to subterranean Amblyopsid cave fish

The Northern Spring Cavefish (Forbesichthys papilliferus) is another surface relative to subterranean Amblyopsid fish

A close up of the head of The Northern Spring Cavefish (Forbesichthys papilliferus)

The Ozark Blind Cave Salamander (Eurycea spelaea) often times hangs out on cave walls above the water. When approached, the salamanders leap off of the walls and fall into the water below.

We got to see lots of Ozark Blind Cave Salamanders (Eurycea spelaea)

Another adult Ozark Blind Cave Salamander (Eurycea spelaea)

A sick Ozark Blind Cave Salamander larvae (Eurycea spelaea) in situ

Ouch!! An Ozark Blind Cave Salamander (Eurycea spelaea) infected with trematode parasites

Cave Salamander larvae (Eurycea lucifuga) from a Kentucky cave

The Rich Mountain Salamander (Plethodon ouachitae) can be found in caves of the Ouachitas but is equally common in the leaf litter and under cover

The Rich Mountain Salamander (Plethodon ouachitae)

A cluster of Northern Long Ear Bats (Myotis septentrionalis)

More to come on the wildlife we saw topside…

Conserving the Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma bishopi)

Dante — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:21:54 +0000

The Atlanta Botanical Garden was contacted by USFWS and Virginia Tech researchers working with the federally endangered Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander, Ambystoma bishopi. Owing to drought, the breeding ponds for the salamanders were not filling up and this year’s eggs were drying out. We were asked to develop a protocol for collecting eggs, hatching them, and rearing the young. I used a technique I had developed as a kid to collect the eggs, minimizing disturbance, and they hatched. We were also able to figure out how to feed larval salamanders that hatch out at the size of a grain of wild rice. Ultimately, we want to be able to use the animals we raise to develop captive breeding protocols. We had some success; hopefully, we will have a little more. Here are shots of the process and the developing larvae.

Kelly Jones has egg clutches flagged in the wild.

Mark Mandica organizes the egg clutches after they arrive to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

The eggs are organized by clutch and are set up for hatching in one of our conservation greenhouses.

Larval Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders hatch out without back legs and at the size of a grain of wild rice.

This shot demonstrates early rear limb development in these salamanders.

This is a late stage larvae...note the developed back legs.

Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders are nocturnal, spending the daylight hours hidden in root masses and decomposing vegetation.

The gills of larvae have an odd yellow coloration.

Several fingers on the hands of the salamanders grow much longer than the others.

I’ll post more on this conservation project when I have it!

Cave Life of Oklahoma and Arkansas – the book is finally out

Dante — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:48:39 +0000

My involvement in this project spans 11 or 12 years; Geo started the book project over 13 years ago! Both Mike Slay and Geo Graening have shown dedication to the conservation of subterranean fauna that has inspired me to be a better conservation biologist. These guys are amazing and it is an honor to be a coauthor with them. I am clearly biased but I feel that this important biodiversity assessment will shore up the conservation of some of the region’s imperiled subterranean fauna. Remember that the Ozarks were previously considered an impoverished area for subterranean biodiversity relative to other regions of North America. Not anymore…this project performed biological inventory events in at least 466 subterranean sites, discovered over 20 new species, and improved the knowledge base for the region.

I would like to thank Dr. Culver for writing the blurb on the back of the dust jacket, “Cave Life of Oklahoma and Arkansas is the most comprehensive study of regional cave fauna published to date. The photographs bring the reader into the habitat in a way that words cannot. For the cave specialist, the authors document a remarkable richness of species in a region whose subterranean life was previously thought to be scarce. The book’s treatment of conservation issues is the most thorough to date for any region, and is especially timely considering the growing threats of global warming, land development, and population growth.”

For more info on the book, please visit:

http://www.oupress.com/ECommerce/Book/Detail/1623/cave%20life%20of%20oklahoma%20and%20arkansas

The three authors at a book signing event in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From left to right: Graening, Fenolio, and Slay.

A Blind Eel from the Congo River and Poison Frog Parental Care….

Dante — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:06:46 +0000

At the year’s end I wanted to post some images of a couple of other cool species I got to photograph this year. The Congo River’s Blind Eel (Mastacembelus brichardi) lives in the rapids area of the Lower Congo River. Science isn’t quite sure yet why it has a morphology of a cave fish…that is it is nearly depigmented and doesn’t have eyes. The Congo River is a turbid river and light is completely cut out of the water column in just a few meters depth; however, there are still plenty of other species of fish living there that have retained their eyes and vision. The lack of eyes and low pigmentation are strange and a mystery for science to work out. I had the good fortune of photographing a couple of specimens and wanted to post them. Likewise, I wanted to include a couple of shots of a male Terrible Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) carrying tadpoles. I hope everyone has a fantastic new year!

The Congo River Blind Eel (Mastacembelus brichardi)

A Terrible Poison Frog, Phyllobates terribilis, transporting tadpoles.

Happy New Year!

A Conservation Program for the Georgia Blind Salamander

Dante — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:39:57 +0000

I have been trying to establish a conservation program for the Georgia Blind Salamander (Haideotriton wallacei) and for the Dougherty Plains Cave Crayfish (Cambarus cryptodytes) at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We finally landed the funds and set up a small facility to accommodate live animals. The idea is that we will try to develop husbandry and breeding protocols before the salamander and crayfish are in dire shape. We will also learn about behaviors, growth rate, reproductive output, etc. The aquifer that these species live in is threatened by fertilizer contamination according to the USGS. With the facility at the Garden ready, we used cave divers to collect live specimens. I’ve provided some of those images below. I hope you enjoy the shots of these rare aquifer inhabitants!

Our cave diving team...Ben Martinez (left), Kelly Jessop (middle left) and the Stines (middle right and right). Without cave divers, we simply wouldn't have a study. I can't thank them enough.

Our cave divers prepare to make a dive in a blue hole.

Our divers at a site in Florida, preparing to make a cave dive.

One of the flooded caves we sent the divers into is a lake from above with cypress trees.

The Dougherty Plains Cave Crayfish (Cambarus cryptodytes) is also known as the Apalachicola Cave Crayfish.

(Cambarus cryptodytes)

The Georgia Blind Salamander (Haideotriton wallacei).

(Haideotriton wallacei)

More to come before too long…

Fall Field Work in Chile

Dante — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:14:49 +0000

I went back to Chile to perform some field work for the Darwin’s Frog Conservation Initiative. We went into the field to collect more Darwin’s Frogs for the breeding facility in Santiago and to collect specimens of False Toads (Telmatobufo).

My close friend, Marcela Tirado, and I in the field collecting frogs. Marcela is one of the key reasons that the Darwin's Frog Conservation Initiative has worked and frogs are breeding in the facility at the National Zoo of Chile in Santiago.

The Andean foothills are home to the Chile Mountains False Toad (Telmatobufo venustus).

Swift mountain streams are home to Chile Mountains False Toads.

The tadpole of the Chile Mountains False Toad is streamlined for life in flowing waters.

A suctorial disc allows the tadpole to attach to submerged rocks and rasp food from them..

A juvenile Chile Mountains False Toad (Telmatobufo venustus).

A subadult Chile Mountains False Toad (Telmatobufo venustus).

A juvenile Chile Mountains False Toad (Telmatobufo venustus).

We were lucky and managed to find several individuals of Bullock's False Toad (Telmatobufo bullocki) in a small forest fragment.

Bullock's False Toad (Telmatobufo bullocki) was considered by some in Chile to have gone extinct. It is listed by the UK's EDGE program as the 5th most endangered frog in the world.

We saw lots of Darwin’s Frogs (Rhinoderma darwinii) on this trip.

A male "Gruñidor" (Pristidactylus)

A biting tabanid fly.

Collecting a swab from frogs in quarantine.

Frogs in quarantine.

The False Toads (Telmatobufo) in our facility are doing great!

Peru/Iquitos: Fall 2011

Dante — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:14:02 +0000

Went back down to Chile to work on the Darwin’s Frog Conservation Initiative. I flew through Lima, Peru, first and grabbed a quick commuter flight to Iquitos to check out some amphibian breeding programs there as well as some other odds and ends. Here are some shots from Peru…

Caecilians were on my mind this trip. My old friend W.W. Lamar had a surprise for me...a stunning species of Caecilia.

The blue in this species (Caecilia) rivals what I have seen in other South American species (Siphonops).

Great face!

Who said that caecilians have small teeth?

Teeth!!

Caecilian annuli

The reproductive structure of a male caecilian (a phallodeum). Caecilians utilize internal reproduction.

A close up of the phallodeum.

This aquatic caecilian (Typhlonectes species) was captured on the Rio Itaya

A tropical aquarium fish vendor preparing export of baby arawanas.

Carrying boxes of baby arawanas.

A freshwater ray (Potamotrygon motoro)

A Rivulid (Copeina)

A juvenile Piranha (Pygocentrus niger)

Another stunning Loricarid...

I got to see some great carneros on this trip - many species of Cetopsid catfish qualify as "carneros." Schools of Carneros are renoun for attacking larger fish, burrowing into their bodies and eating them from the inside out. They are also associated with feeding on human bodies that wind up in streams and rivers. This is a species that grows to a larger size (Cetopsis coecutiens).

The Blue Whale Catfish (Cetopsis coecutiens), a Cetopsid catfish.

A juvenile Blue Whale Catfish (Cetopsis coecutiens), a Cetopsid.

The business end of a carnero.

And if there was any doubt about the damage these catfish do to larger fish….

Damage done by carneros.

Another species of carnero (Cetopsis) from the Iquitos area...

An elongate cetopsid catfish

A parasitic trichomycterid catfish

Common Caiman (Caiman crocodilius)

A Yellow Foot Tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata), known locally as "Motelo"

A hatchling Amazon Mud Turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides), known locally as "Guacamaya Charapa"

A hatchling Amazon Toadheaded Turtle (Mesoclemmys raniceps)

A hatchling Yellow-Spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis)

A Spider Monkey (Ateles belzebuth)

An Amazonian River Dolphin

A free tail bat

I’ll post more soon.

More Time on the Gulf of Mexico

Dante — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:44:48 +0000

I had the opportunity to work with my good friend Dr. Jose Torres on the Gulf of Mexico again. We spent a few days deep water trawling and I am posting some of the photographic results here. I hope you enjoy them…

The trip started off with an amazing red moon rising up over the warm waters of the gulf.

A Dragonfish (Malacosteus)

The Dragonfish (Malacosteus)

A Dragonfish (Neostomias cf filifer)

A Dragonfish (Astronesthes macropogon)

Dragonfish (Eustomias schmidti)

Dragonfish (Leptostomias bermudensis)

A Dragonfish (Stomias affinis)

A Viperfish (Chauliodus sloani)

One of my all time favorites, the Fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta)

The Fangtooth has larger teeth, relative to body size, than anything else in the animal kingdom.

The Ghostly Seadevil (Haplophryne mollis)

The lure on this anglerfish has a short "rod" attaching it to the fish...so the glowing bulb sits on the face of the fish.

A male anglerfish (Haplophryne)

The Whipnose Seadevil (Gigantactis)

The long "rod" or illicium extends from the head of the anglerfish. The bioluminescent "lure" or esca is attached to the end of the illicium.

An Avocet Eel (Avocettina infans)

A Snipe Eel (family Nemichthyidae)

Hatchetfish (Argyropelecus gigas)

The ventral photophores of Argyropelecus gigas.

The lateral pattern of Argyropelecus gigas.

Google-eye (Xenophthalmichthys danae)

Spookfish (Dolichopteryx longipes)

Tripod Fish (Bathypterois cf viridensis)

Lanternfish (Diaphus effulgens)

A juvenile Flying Fish

A mesopelagic squid (Pyroteuthis margaritifera)

A pelagic snail (Cavolinia tridentata)

A mysid shrimp instar

mesopelagic amphipod

Larval Blind Lobster

Larval Crab - Megalops

Larval Lobster

More to come…

One of Mexico’s Strangest Reptiles (Bipes biporus)

Dante — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:30:56 +0000

Mexico has some strange herpetofauna. One of the oddballs is the Mexican Mole Liazrd (Bipes biporus). Other common names include the “Five Toed Worm Lizard,” the “Baja Worm Lizard,” and the “Ajolote.” These Amphisbaenians have front legs but no rear limbs. They live below the substrate, burrowing through sandy soils. The mythology surrounding these animals is as shocking as their appearance. Mexican mythology holds that the animals will burrow into the rectum of people sleeping on the ground, or those simply being careless enough to sit unclothed on the ground. Similar mythology exists for various caecilians around the world. Thanks to the generosity of Carl Franklin, I was able to photograph Bipes. I very much appreciate his time and help. Here is what I got…

The Ajolote (Bipes biporus)

These amphisbaenians are from the family Bipidae.

Mole Lizards utilize peristalsis to move, unlike their snake relatives.

Amphisbaenians are related to snakes and lizards in that they are also squamate reptiles; however, amphisbaenians are in their own unique group of reptiles, the amphisbaenia.

In contrast to the Ajolote, most amphisbaenians don't have any limbs. This is another amphisbaenian (Amphisbaenia fuliginosa).

(Amphisbaenia fuliginosa)

Another strange Brasilian amphisbaenian (Leposternon microcephalum).

More soon…