Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Erik,
I am working under Dave Prival. The project lead here at amistad is Brett DiGreggorio. No alterna yet, but we have had a great time non the less. Hit me up if you guys come across anything unusual.
Eliot
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1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boas
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
and always looking for more!

Eliot, if you can, send me an e-mail at: nmherper@hotmail.com

Dave Prival is the guy doing the study under Matt Goode. I haven't met Dave yet, but it's the same study (Chihuahuan Desert study). They have surveys going on at: WHSA, CAVE, GUMO, FODA, BIBE, and AMIS.

Send me an e-mail as I'd rather talk in private...

Hi Eric,
I realize you don't know me but wondered if you could post a picture of the New Mexico alterna you [I presume] legally collected in Eddy County? A friend of mine saw it on the Chihuhuan forum but not many people have access to that forum, me included. Since it was legally collected I don't see the harm. One person said it was from highway seven and another said it was from Sitting Bull Falls. Divulging the locality is up to you of course. Since alterna are protected throughout New Mexico collectors should realize its illegal to search for alterna out there. Have you seen any lepidus? Just curious. Respectfully, Brad Anderson

e-mail me Brad, I sent you an e-mail on June 10th, so....

It would be me who found the alterna. I am the "lead" herper at CAVE. Endangered status or not, since the animal was found within project grounds (that being a National Park) it would be illegal to 'poach' the animal unless under scientific and Park permit. Poaching being defined as the active searching/hunting and collection of any plant, animal, or mineral resource within park boundaries.

FWIW, it wasn't found on the Range Road. Oh, and 2 lepidus so far.

Chris Newsom
Biology Major - NMSU

this is kind of bugging me...

Any locality info that has been ASSUMED is just that. The only individuals knowing that information are Charles Painter (NMDG&F) and my boss here at CAVE.

Chris

Chris,
First of all, congrats on being the "lead" herper. It sucks to be a follower! Second, thanks for the lecture. Its always a pleasure to be talked down to by the "scientific" types especially since in your case you're probably in your early twenties. I've been collecting and breeding alterna for only 25 years so I know hardly anything about them compared to you.
3rd, I was just asking for a photo not Iraq's secret stash location of WMD's. 4th: I know of at least 8 alterna collected in the last 11 years from Eddy Co. New Mexico. Where to look for them is no secret, finding them is whats hard. Now that they are protected in NM its also illegal. It was also illegal in Texas for 10 years until TP&W pulled them off the protected list. Relax Chris, Carlsbad is not going to be overun with "poachers" because you found one there. Good grief!

I didn't mean my reply to come off the apparent way it did. The original reply was directed somewhat towards yours and also to Eliot's post. Erik brought to my attention that it was assumed he had found the alterna. As for the post to another forum, it was posted to that forum for the means of why it's passworded. I did not want to alterna mentioned on here or another forum until the season was over. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

Relax Chris, Carlsbad is not going to be overun with "poachers" because you found one there. Good grief!

Try telling that to the Caverns and the state. They are litterally paranoided about the find. I'm just a mere puppet in my short tour here and I was just trying to reinforce what I've been beaten with a dead horse on. I surely was not trying to come across as the "holier than thou, I'm a college researcher, look what I found you common folk." That is FAR from how I am and even more extremely far from my views. Ask Erik, he's been helping me with the project when he can.

Chris

Brad,
With all due respect, I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut
that some moron shows up there within a few weeks (looking
for alterna).

best
Joe

do you happen to have any photos of the NM alterna that you know of? You can either post them or e-mail them to me...

Erik

nmherperAThotmailDOTcom