RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by Matt Wilson:

Hi all, i'm a seventeen year old amateur Herpetologist from Lancashire. Just thought i'd try at getting myself known. I try to get down to Dorset twice each year for field work, and normally go out with Herpetological Conservation Trust wardens Chris or Neil. Already know David Bird who helps me out with my yearly field trips to Greece in June, through his valuable experience in this region of Europe. I mainly specialise in European reptiles, and do alot of captive work with European reptiles and amphibians at home, due to lack of areas in my area to find any reptiles.

How do i get JPEGS onto forum?, as i have many good photos of Lacerta agilis (Male & female) from Dorset, as well as Vipera berus mating, taken on my April trip. Don't have digital camera, but i use "Dynax 4" 28-80mm camera, takes great photos, but lose bit of quality when scanning them onto PC via printer.

Cheers,

Paul,

I commonly collect many batches of common frog spawn in my area in late February. Although some claim that this does more bad than good, this has certainly not been the case near me, as due to the work of myself and a few friends we have spread the frog population over a wider area in my village. Collecting adult frogs is not a good idea. I have once kept a Iberian Parsley Frog overnight in Spain, but only because it had a fishing hook through it's leg and i wanted to help it carefully and correctly. If frogs are 3cm they will probably die soon, so do the best thing and put them back near the edge of your pond. As they are odviously getting enough food to grow from juveniles, if you want to do something with frogs collect spawn in early year, but make sure that it is of the Common Frog first.

Hope this helps you decide,

Paul,

If you want to keep frogs as pets there are many species commonly avaliable in captivity that do well and thrive for many years. I work at Manchester Museum, where we have one of the largest collections of neo-tropical and commonly kept frog species in the world. If you are just starting out i would highly recommend the European Tree-Frog (Hyla arborea), i have a mating pair at home, and they are very hardy captives. They are about 4-5cm in length and are easy to maintain, although as with any frog species, purchasing juveniles can be risky. No heating is required, as they are native to Netherlands and even Denmark. Look for adult frogs, as juveniles are delicate and quick to hop out of your hands. Also recommend N.American Gray Treefrogs. Stay away from tropical frogs from Costa Rica such as Red-Eyed tree-frogs (Agalychnis callidryas), we have many juveniles suddenly dying at the musuem, due to tricky requitements. I disagree that such frogs such be so commonly offered full stop, and should only be purchased by specialists in my opinion.

Sorry to move of European herps there, but just trying to give the correct advice.

Sorry, here is picture, forgot to attach.

Hi Alan,

Very much like all your photographs you posted on the forum. This specimen will probably just be a very old slow-worm as they are known to live much longer than snakes. It has no vental groove, which means that it is not a Glass Lizard. It was about 50cm, i went to the local vet on the island who had a slow-worm in a jar, but he had thrown it out the day before i visited him. I will certainly investigate it further when i return next week, but i suspect that any Anguis i see will be a typical specimen, and not like the one photographed. Slow-worms are often hard to track down in hot Med countries, as even in this country, how often does one see a slow-worm out basking? When summer approaches they often retreat further under ground than usual.

Lee,

Other Anguis on Cephalonia, Ithaca and s.Greece are same in size and shape to UK fragilis, but with vivid lines along flanks. Called 'cephallonica' after Cephalonia. Anguis and Ophisaurus can bite, but only if physically being hurt by something, in this case a cat. As if a human picks one up, a Anguis will never bite, unless one causes it pain, and even them probably won't bite.

These are photographs taken in April of male and female sand lizards spoted in Dorset, the male in particular allowed me to get face to face with it without him retreating, as my camera has poor zoom. Thought everyone would be interested.

Thanks Lee,

Although i believe that the small black scorpions from south Med are dangerous, i just don't know what species they are. Have only seen one or two of these, but the centipedes i see more than most animals.

Hi,

I live in the north-west and i have to say that that in Lancashire (were i live) according to papers i have read Adders are almost extinct, the last one i heard of was seen at a reservoir near Blackburn. There is no point trying to pursue reptiles in this area, unless you find out other places. There is of course Southport for Sand Lizards or Natterjack Toads, but a license is needed to pursue them, and don't hold your breath on being given info on their exact localities. Best off arranging organised event in Dorset with one of wardens like i do each year if you are really interested, best way of not getting into trouble in regard to Smooth snake and sand lizard.

Sorry its not the answer you wanted. You just have to work around it like i have had to do, it all depends on how desperate you are to get into it.

Paul,

I have kept the European Tree-frog for some time now, are you sure this is what it is? How big is the frog?, normally they grow no larger than 5cm, and unless your specimen is a minority it should have a dark stripe passing from the snout to the back legs. Doubt it is a common frog as i am sure i wild caught one would be dead by now. Try to post a photo if possible.