Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know its still a ways off, but I want to make sure everyone who is in the area has plenty of time to mark their calanders for Feb 10th.

His lecture will be on the Fauna of New
Guinea. For those of you who dont know, Dr. Sprackland
has a special fondness of monitor lizards, and has
published some noteworthy titles on the animals, such
as the book, Giant Lizards. He has also done field
research with tv personality/ herpetologist Mark Oshea
in Papua New Guinea, in search of the elusive Varanus
salvadorii.

http://www.markoshea.tv/series2/series02-06.html

Spread the word on this event! Its not to be missed!

=)

Make sure to bring a copy of his book, to be signed!

(contact me for location, etc)

That book is as good as toilet paper. It is laden with incorrect information and accounts, poor husbandry advice/recommendations, and a plethora of mislabeled photographs. It is poorly organized, and I am appalled that any publisher would publish such a poorly edited and revised book. It is hands down one of, if not THE worst books relating to monitor lizards out there. Hats off to TFH publications....

Blink182herper--

It was written in 1992, what did you expect?
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I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

- Jack Handey

Can anyone name an english book on monitors before 1992? There are of course some good papers on them but few books on same (in english)... of course there were several books in the early 1960's and mid 1950's that had Varanus in them, but not dealing directly with them....
mbayless

So you think a book with bad information is better than no book at all? Really? I would think people that have such confidence in written works would want them to uphold a higher standard.

The book does have some nice pictures though.

--Robert

I agree with you on the fact that the book does offer some nice photographs, however I would ignore most of what their captions have to say....hahaha.

Hi Robert and Blink,
I was merely pointing out that in 1992, there were no such books on Family Varanidae, except for a few books on Australian Goannas only - and there was need for such a book then - and since then, there have been a plethora of them published, both good and bad. As Varanus husbandry and knowledge of them has greatly increased in last 13 years, his book is of course dated and inacurate with some errors as well....as new information is discovered, concepts of older information is deemed an error or the author was misinformed - sometimes this is so, other times not -
Cheers,
markb

So would you scientist say that Dr. Sprackland's book laid the foundation for other material about varanids? I know that his book led to a lot of interest in monitor lizards by people that had no idea what a monitor was.

I remember being a teenager and seeing the picture of him holding a water monitor. That picture and book got me interested in monitors even though it was many years before I got one.
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Ed

These heat lamps make my electric bill to high.

I am sorry Mark, but you do not relax your opinions of people you do not care for. This is only one more of your side taking, at all costs.

His book is weak, it was weak at the time it was written. It does not matter if most other books were also weak. The time it was written does not account for mislabeling photos, or simple bad information. For instance, he said ackies hatched at 1 1/2 inches in lenght. Considering, ackies were hatched both in the states and in Europe(and published) since 1984, he simply made that up or was in total error.

He also showed an extreme lack of husbandry skills in his captive recomendations. Such as, do not use dirt for substrate, the reason is, all the monitors will do is dig and dig and dig, and make a mess.

Consider, these two small examples are only two of many.

Even such non-sense as the title, the giant lizard book, then includes some monitors, and other small lizards, even the title was in error and not accurate.

Consider, I have met Robert on several occasions, and he is a dear man, very very nice. But after a short conversation, I could tell he was not very pragmatic and did not have the mental abilities to actually understand the subject matter.

Another for instance, Once he called me and asked for any deceased specimens. There is indeed nothing wrong with that. I asked, what will they be used for? he explained they would be used for taxonomic studies. I then responded with, but these are only captive monitors that may or may not, have accurate locality information. He said he did not care. So they went to that nice lady from Mich. to use in dna comparisons. Sir, you cannot use imported animals of unknown locality for taxo studies.

So in the end, Robert Sprackland, is a very nice person, I enjoyed our conversations, but his book is and was, very weak. Also the difinition of a good book is how it stands the test of time. Sir please consider, thats also the true test of good information on husbandry. I will say, hes also a very brave person, as he had the guts to actually talk to me, face to face, unlike you. Thanks FR

Sprackland is well-meaning, but doesn't understand the subject matter completely? Sounds like most liberals I know.
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I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

- Jack Handey

Save your political convictions for your town's school board meetings.. I'm sure there are more people in your local PTA that would care to listen to your babbling than here on the monitor forum.

lol
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I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

- Jack Handey

I don't know about giant lizards but his latest book about savannah monitors was truly, inexcusably, horrifically dreadful. There is absolutely no excuse for letting such vile drivel be sold in petshops. Robert is a very nice man, I don't want to believe that he really wrote this.
my review of that book

-----
Mampam Conservation

I'd be a millionaire

yeah, I learned that word a couple of weeks ago, and thought it would sound clever in a sentence.

Nows your chance to come tell him what you think about his book.

I think more importantly, it is an oportunity to hear some cool first hand accounts of travels to far off lands. How many times have you been to Indonesia? Or 99% of americans for that matter?

Perhaps you should look beyond your opinion of his book. Opinions are alot like a$$es you know. Everyone has one... hahahaha

Yes, everyone has one, but some have two!!

the fact that there is wrong information and mislabeled photographs within the book is not my opinion, but a clearly noticeable observation. Is it my opinion that V. yemenensis is not a savanah monitor(as I believe it is mislabled within the book)???

My post was not aimed at discrediting the work and/or research that Dr Sprackland has done or does; which in fact I would love to speak to him in person about(sadly, I will not be able to make it out to California to do so..).

I was merely stating that the editing and review of the book prior to going to the press was poor, based on the errors mentioned earlier within the book itself. It is quite obvious that this publication lacks any sort of peer-review whether it be by colleagues, or other researcher/scientists within that field of study, therefore I feel that this book lacks any form of credibility. And yes, it is my opinion, that the book stinks.

Doesnt just apply to exanthematicus.

I am rather fond of the thought "if you havent anything nice to say..."

Ive gone to great lenghts to organize events, fly out speakers, and do so with little to no assistance. This is fine. I like meeting new faces, and hearing of things that I would never have the privledge of hearing, had I not gone to such lengths.

You should learn to be more respectful, regardless of the validity of your opinions. This may be the internet, but there are still living breathing people on the other end.

This is something that everyone should think of more.

But yes, it is a shame youre not closer. It will be one hell of a night. =)

Ill have copies of his presentation on video for those who are interested of hearing his tales of New Guinea, but cannot make the presentation. The only cost will be shipping, and the price of the materials.

cheers!
=)

I will be interested in a video copy of the presentation early next year.

When my wife and I talk about vcations we want to go on , family and friends think we are weird. They talk of wanting to go to Paris, Italy, etc. We want to go to Indonesia and Australia. I guess that is such for varanus and snake fans.
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Ed

These heat lamps make my electric bill to high.

This is what my dads friends ask when they hear of my travel.
haha

Just contact me, and Ill send you out a copy when the time comes.
=)

V.exanthematicus, is the Savanna or Savannah, monitor. Other species can be considered Savanna monitors, as in use of the similar type habitat, but not by common name.

Also, if this is not a good forum(monitor forum) to discuss monitor books, could you please lead me to a good place?

I do not think anyone called Mr. Sprackland a bad person. We are discussing his book.

As far as monitor books go, you could compare, The Giant Lizard Book(1991), to Daniel Bennetts book(1995), The little book of monitors. Both books did not contain modern husbandry techiques. But Daniel indeed did great research and brought much of the past information to that time(1995) including extensive captive reproduction with indo monitors. In my opinion, neither author had extensive experience or successful experience with captive monitors. The difference is, Daniel Bennett did not pretent to. The simply presented information that was published in a current(for the time) and simple reable fashion. While Dr. Sprackland, did to much in the way of asumptions on captive monitors, as well as editorializing where information was not present.

Also, Daniels book stayed on title. As mentioned above, Spracklands book did not.

So yes, I agree with Samsung, The Giant lizard Book, is not very good. With that said, I own it, as well as some of the other horrible THF books. As well as most other monitor books. But I do understand a good book from a not so good book.

A couple other books of that time were, Goanna book, by King and Green, a very good book for the understanding of monitors. And of course there was, The Natural History of Monitor Lizards, by Harold De Lisle(1996), this book seemed to have remove good sections of several other books, and put them together in one book. Thanks FR

If you want to critique a book, then start another thread. This thread is an announcement of Dr. Spracklands presentation on his research pertaining to the the Fauna of New Guinea.

He happened to write a few books, and if people wish to bring copies to get signed, then it would be a good opportunity to do so.

Thank you

But it never seems to happen, these threads get a life of their own. You may have givin birth to it, but it sure did change and grow up.

Besides, It started with Samsungs, I only followed him. Thanks FR

y dont you write a book FR?????
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.1 blue spot timor
these lamps make my room hot!!!!

Varanus albigularis has been called a 'savanna' monitor since 1905 - also 'blunt-nosed' monitors, along with V. exanthematicus and V. ocellatus; when V. yemenensis was discovered in 1989, it was assigned affinity with V. albigularis, which it clearly has and shows....so some have called it a 'savanna' monitor too - and as you rightly say, it is not a 'savanna' type habitat wise -
cheers,
markb

I believe the misrepresented photo is of a V. flavescens, not a V. yemenensis. I meant to say flavescens, but for some reason yemenensis came out. Regardless, this animal is labeled in the book as V. exanthematicus, if I remember correctly?

being part of that 1% and all. Perhaps my opinions are more equal than yours? hahaha

I should have said so to begin with, but had no idea so much discussion would ensue.

"Dr. Sprackland
has a special fondness of monitor lizards, and has
published some noteworthy titles on the animals, such
as the book, Giant Lizards."

Folks were just explaining why the book was "noteworthy".

That book sucks, its lame and out of date. It has no good info. on captive husbandry or on monitors in general. I read it and I swear it made me dumber. haha

Anyways I just read all this and realized I was the only one that didn't comment.

Hey we could all still go though and tell him his book sucked and throw popcorn at him??

oh and BTW I know if I cant say anything nice then I should JSTFU right? But then yall would think I was a mute typer hahaha