Whit Gibbons, Herpetologist and Author
The month of March has two notable dates related to snakes. The first is St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. Legend has it that the fifth-century bishop rid Ireland of its snakes. A nice legacy some might think—except the island is … Continued
In a poll to determine which of the world’s turtles would take home the people’s choice award, box turtles would win in a landslide. Sea turtles captivate observers around the globe, but few people get to know them. That is … Continued
Q. I live near Charleston, SC, and spotted a blue anole sunning himself. It was fully blue. I am familiar with our common green and brown anoles, but this one made me think twice. His tail had been severed and he looked rather thin. I live near an elementary school and am concerned that it may be an escaped pet rather than a “native.” He did not scurry off when I took its picture. Please let me know if you believe it is a lost pet or if more blue anoles may start appearing.
Q. You recently provided facts about salamanders. What can you tell us about frogs and toads?
How are they different from other animals? What makes them special?
Q. Salamanders come in many colors and are widespread yet they seem to be one of the least appreciated groups of animals. Most of my friends have never even seen one. What interesting facts could I tell them about salamanders?
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, bringing to mind the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” If he had written that today instead of 1835, he would probably have mentioned “a young woman’s fancy” as well. And had he been an ecologist rather than poet laureate of Britain, he might have noted that as days grow longer and nights get shorter, courtship and romantic engagement in the Northern Hemisphere become prevalent throughout the animal kingdom. Some performances are already underway.
Q. You once wrote that blue pigment is not known to exist in any terrestrial or freshwater animals with backbones. I found a blue bullfrog in a marsh in Virginia. It was mostly blue with some gray blotches; it did not have green anywhere on its body. How do you explain the appearance of a frog like this?
Q. You recently explained how alligators survive cold winters. What about turtles, which even live in cold northern states and Canada. How do they do it?
I have received the following questions about winter behavior of alligators. Q. Do alligators up north hibernate? Can they breathe underwater? A. Alligators do not live “up north,” do not technically hibernate and cannot breathe under water. The most northern localities of … Continued
Over the eons, millions of species have gone extinct naturally. Today, species headed toward extinction are generally helped along their way because of human activities. Enter the tuatara, an odd exception to the rule. Unlike most pending extinctions around the world, when the last tuatara is gone, humans will not be to blame. Most tuataras disappeared long before our time.