Learning more about how the turtles shell evolved and why.

Scientists are finding out that the tortoise shell evolved for burrowing purposes not protection.
With the discovery of a fossil that predates others by 5 million years they are learning more about the function of the plastron and carapace. Follow the link below to learn all about it.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160715171312.htm

Below is a link to an older article that explains the importance of this fossil which was found in
2008. It had a fully formed plastron but the carapace was only partially developed. Perhaps the softshell turtle is the last remnant of this prehistoric ancestor.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130530132431.htm

With the evolution of the turtle shell it became what we see today on most chelonians. They are the only animal that has its ribs fused to the shell. With this change they could no longer breathe expanding the lungs. Below is an article discussing how turtles and tortoises breathe.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141107091449.htm

Hope you enjoy these articles that offer yet more insight to the wonder that is the turtle!

Ball Pythons! Bill Keith will be speaking on these wonderful snakes at the SLHS general meeting, Sunday July 10th.

                       

Ball Pythons are a very popular snake in the pet trade. Many of them, if not most, are captive bred and within the last decade or so breeders have come up with some amazing color morphs. If you are interested in a pet python but do not want a snake that will one day become huge then the Ball Python is the snake for you. The natural color of these snakes is beautiful even without all the selective breeding and a normal color phase Ball Python is accessible to most anyone who would like to have one. With their smaller size (about four feet which is small in the python world!) and generally timid nature they are excellent snakes for beginners. Once, wild caught were all you could get and they were sometimes very hard to get to feed in captivity. But the captive bread babies available today are usually great eaters and will feed on thawed feeder rodents.

Come to the St. Louis Herp Society's meeting this Sunday, July 10th and learn more about these fantastic snakes from Bill Keith. Meetings take place at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Rd. Doors open at 6:30 and the meeting will begin at 7. Hope to see you there!

For more information about the SLHS visit our website. stlherpsociety.org

How it got its name. A Ball Python all balled up.

Mamma incubating her eggs.

  

A beautiful piebald color morph.

 

Nice golden color phase.

Ball Pythons! Bill Keith will be speaking on these wonderful snakes at the SLHS general meeting, Sunday July 10th.

                     

Ball Pythons are a very popular snake in the pet trade. Many of them, if not most, are captive bred and within the last decade or so breeders have come up with some amazing color morphs. If you are interested in a pet python but do not want a snake that will one day become huge then the Ball Python is the snake for you. The natural color of these snakes is beautiful even without all the selective breeding and a normal color phase Ball Python is accessible to most anyone who would like to have one. With their smaller size and generally timid nature they are excellent snakes for beginners. Once, wild caught were all you could get and they were sometimes very hard to get to feed in captivity. But the captive bread babies available today are usually great eaters and will feed on thawed feeder rodents.

Come to the St. Louis Herp Society's meeting this Sunday, July 10th and learn more about these fantastic snakes from Bill Keith. Meetings take place at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Rd. Doors open at 6:30 and the meeting will begin at 7. Hope to see you there!

For more information about the SLHS visit our website. stlherpsociety.org

How it got its name. A Ball Python all balled up.

Mamma incubating her eggs.

  

A beautiful piebald color morph.

 

Nice golden color phase.