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Below we have listed sources for information, equipment, supplies, etc.,
that visitors to this website might find useful. To suggest additional
links, please contact us at
SierraHerps@gmail.com.
KNOWLEDGE
Mexican Herpetological Society (Sociedad
Herpetólogica Mexicana)
– Mexico’s largest herpetological organization, publisher of the Bulletin
of the Mexican Herpetological Society (Boletín de la Sociedad
Herpetológica Mexicana).
Society for the Study of Amphibians and
Reptiles (SSAR)
– The largest international organization devoted to the study of amphibians
and reptiles. Publisher of Journal of Herpetology, Herpetological
Review, Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, and other
series.
Mexico-Herps.com
– Tim Burkhardt’s online catalogue of Mexico’s herpetofauna, with maps and
photos. A work in progress.
Alterna Page
– A terrific online resource for all things related to Gray-Banded
Kingsnakes. Maintained by Joseph Forks.
Kingsnake.com Mexicana Kingsnakes Forum
— online forum for enthusiasts.
Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
–
Located in Fort Davis, Texas (in the
heart of alterna country), CDRI promotes public awareness,
appreciation, and concern for the natural diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert
region through education and research.
Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum
– The world-famous Desert Museum, located in the
Sonoran Desert outside of Tucson, maintains an impressive display of
herpetofauna native to the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico.
Tucson
Herpetological Society
– The Tucson Herpetological Society is a nice mix of
professional and avocational herpetologists, dedicated to conservation,
education, and research concerning the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona
and Mexico. Their monthly newsletter, The Sonoran Herpetologist, is
available online via the THS web site.
Herp
Conservation Unlimited
– A newly formed non-profit organization that seeks to
promote conservation and management of native
amphibians and reptiles.
Texas
Herpetological Society – The THS has to be one of
the longest-running regional herp organizations in the U.S., with its
formation dating from 1939. The group is a blend of academic and avocational
herpetologists who meet twice yearly for a spring field trip and a fall
symposium. The society’s newsletter is available online.
Dan Johnson’s Black Gap Alterna – Although no
longer working with captive kingsnakes, this website is a tremendous
resource in depicting the remarkable pattern variation within a relatively
small area of the range of Lampropeltis alterna.
Kingsnake.com Gray-banded Kingsnake Forum
— online forum for alterna enthusiasts.
HUSBANDRY
TECHNIQUES
Captive Care & Breeding of Colubrid Snakes
(Steven Osborne)
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
Boaphile Plastics
– Manufacturer of rack systems that we use.
Reptile Basics
– Manufacturer of rack systems that we use. They also sell a variety of
other husbandry-related products.
The Bean Farm
– Supplier of nearly everything related to captive maintenance of reptiles.
Infrared-USA.com
– Supplier of Raytek infrared thermometers.
Streamlight-Flashlights.com
– Maker of outstanding field lights, from big ones to little ones.
GPS Handheld Units –
Nearly all field herpetologists use a
handheld GPS unit of some kind to “geocode” collecting sites. These range
from relatively inexpensive (< $100 US), non-mapping units to devices
offering sophisticated mapping capabilities, and of course costing much more
(upwards of $600 US). Significant discounts from list prices are typically
available. A good starting point for comparing various GPS units is
GPS-Planet.com.
Princeton Tec – Manufacturers of outstanding
field lighting equipment. Be sure to check out their line of
headlamps.
RodentPro.com
– Supplier of flash-frozen feeder rodents. There are a number of feeder
animal suppliers out there, most of whom are reliable and reputable. We have
had a good track record with Rodent Pro.
SPOT Satellite Messenger
–
This cool device is probably not for everyone, but is worth a look if you
spend field time in remote or hazardous places where mobile phone service is
unavailable.
Superior Enterprise
– Suppliers of insulated shipping boxes, clear plastic containers, show
displays, etc.
Fenix Outfitters
— More options for field lights and other gear.
MAPS
Raven Maps & Images
– The nicest Mexico topographic wall map around.
Omni Resources
– Maker of Mexico raised relief wall maps.
Mexico Atlas GPS
– Electronic map files that can be uploaded to GPS receivers.
Mexico Maps
– Just as the name suggests.
Travel Guide Warehouse
– Online source for various road maps of Mexico.
International Travel Maps & Books
— ITMB produces
very nice Mexico regional maps (e.g., “Mexico North East Travel Map”) and
adds new maps to their inventory periodically.
Map Coordinate Conversion
—
The GPS Visualizer site is the best we have found for converting all manner
of GPS coordinates from one format to another. Very handy!
WEATHER
LINKS
Curious about weather and
climate in areas where Mexicana kings occur? The links below will give you
some idea, although please realize that the ranges of these snakes might not
extend to the area from which weather data are taken. For example, Ciudad
Durango is the closest city for which weather information is available, and
yet Durango Mountain Kingsnakes are found 22 miles/35 km west of the city in a
cooler, higher-elevation setting that receives more rainfall.
Ciudad Durango, DGO
(elev. 6093 ft / 1857 m)
Saltillo, COAH
(elev. 5873 ft / 1790 m)
Monterrey, NL
(elev. 1270 ft / 387 m)
San Luis Potosí, SLP
(elev. 6243 ft / 1903 m)
Zacatecas, ZAC
(elev. 7021 ft / 2140 m)
Aguascalientes, AGS
(elev. 6184 ft / 1885 m)
Queretaro, QTO
(elev. 5978 ft / 1822 m)
Guanajuato, GTO
(elev. 5968 ft / 1819 m)
Morelia, MICH
(elev. 6014 ft / 1833 m)
Mexico Rainfall Map
—
Check
out this site for a current rainfall map for Mexico. It relies on satellite
data to estimate rainfall over previous 24 hours at one-hour intervals.
Moon Phase Calculator
—
Needing
to plan for nocturnal field searches? Click on this link, then scroll to
bottom of page to select YEAR and MONTH.
WeatherBuffs -
Do you obsess about weather? Current and pending weather conditions can be
critical factors in predicting whether our target species will be surface
active. WeatherBuffs offers an amazing range of products for amateurs up to
professional meteorologists.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Whether searching out herps in the wild or simply observing captive animals,
being able to record good photos adds immeasurably to the experience.
Although the older images on this site were recorded on 35mm film (using
Nikon cameras and lenses), all of the more recent photos are digital.
Currently we are using a Nikon D80 DSLR with either a 60mm or 105mm macro
lens and diffused fill flash. For sources of information or to purchase
equipment, consult the following sites:
FHF Image Lab
— Sponsored by FieldHerpForum, this forum is just for herp folks and offers
great information.
B&H Photo
— A reliable source for all things digital. If you buy stuff from online or
mail order outlets, check out the dealers before you commit to a purchase.
fredmiranda.com
— A wealth of information about equipment and techniques. Strongly oriented
toward Canon equipment.
Digital Camera Resource Page
— One of several sites worth checking if you are in the market for a new
camera.
Full Spectrum Photography
— Gallery maintained by Brad Alexander, showcasing a variety of images with
an emphasis on herpetofauna and their habitats.
They also provide studio photography for private collections and businesses.
KenRockwell.com
— Comprehensive site containing reviews of cameras and lenses, along with
considerable “how-to” information.
Nikonians.org
— If you own Nikon equipment, check out this site.
Sto-Fen Products —
Makers of the Omni-Bounce flash
diffusers used by many herp photographers for macro work. The Omni-Bounce
units are small, rectangular plastic boxes that snap on to flash units.
Joby Gorillapod
—
The Gorillapod is a cool little flexible tripod that can be used to
stabilize a camera or to position remote flashes. They come in different
sizes for different purposes.
Wimberly
—
Manufacturers of the pricey but rugged Wimberley Macro Brackets. The bracket
allows you to freely position an off-camera flash. Available in both single
and double-bracket models.
Medic Batteries
—
Whether for photo or flashlight needs, batteries are expensive. Medic
Batteries is one of several online sources for batteries greatly discounted
from typical retail prices.
The Battery Station
— Another online source for batteries greatly discounted from typical retail
prices.
Battery Junction
— Online source
for batteries greatly discounted from typical retail prices. They also
carry top LED flashlights from Surefire and Fenix.
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