Author: herpsocireland

Amphibian Activity in 2017 With The HSI

March 15, 2017

The HSI has emerged for our winter brumation and hit ground running in 2017. In early February our science officers attended the annual herpetofauna workers meeting in Nottingham where they got to exchange ideas and experiences with conservation organisations, ecological consultants, statutory bodies, land managers, academic institutions, students, and enthusiastic volunteers. Plenty of fresh new … More Amphibian Activity in 2017 With The HSI

Political Accountability on Environmental Issues

February 10, 2016

The Herpetological Society of Ireland is not a lobby group, and as such we will refrain from directly endorsing any candidates, or parties, ahead of the upcoming general election. However it is important to note that widespread political apathy on environmental/wildlife issues has facilitated some incredibly reckless and irresponsible actions from our elected officials. We … More Political Accountability on Environmental Issues

2015: Year in Review

January 12, 2016

For a society run entirely by volunteers, it can seem like the work is never ending. For this reason, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on what we have achieved, and to remind ourselves that all the long nights in front of a computer, wet days rambling around in ponds, and early mornings … More 2015: Year in Review

Update on ASA campaign to save the Quito Rocket Frog

January 3, 2016

  We are proud to have contributed towards efforts to save an entire species – the Quito Rocket Frog – by adopting some tadpoles! We adopted Villico, Ultio, Timbul, Pimbalo, Jimbirico and Guilli. This critically endangered species is threatened by the potentially imminent eruption of Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador. The fundraising campaign was launched by our partners, … More Update on ASA campaign to save the Quito Rocket Frog

Species Profile: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

October 14, 2015

Name: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Range: Southeastern United States Diet: Carnivorous. Primarily feeding on small mammals, but will also feed on birds. Conservation Status: IUCN – Least concern This species, along with the bald eagle, has attained iconic status in the United states, and its cultural significance cannot be overstated. The snake appears on the Gadsden … More Species Profile: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Joint Herpetological Scientific Meeting 2015 – Highlights

September 8, 2015

The Herpetological Society of Ireland, and Dublin University Zoological Society were honoured to host the “Joint Herpetological Scientific Meeting 2015” at Trinity College Dublin. The JHSM was a joint venture between the two societies, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), The British Herpetological Society (BHS) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG-UK). The meeting … More Joint Herpetological Scientific Meeting 2015 – Highlights

Sex and Climate Change – Yes, You Read That Right…

June 9, 2015

Climate change; two words synonymous with a growing list of threats facing the continuity of our planet, and coming to the forefront as one of the most prominent problems of the 21st century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes climate change as ‘a statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the … More Sex and Climate Change – Yes, You Read That Right…

Atlas Moth Care

June 4, 2015

Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) Caresheet Sexing and characteristics. Caterpillars are green, with long, soft, blue protrusions coming out of their bodies, a red spot on the side of their last feet (prolegs), and are covered in white pruinescence (a waxy substance that resembles powder). The adult moths have comb-like antennae and a rusty brown, fuzzy thorax. The heavy-bodied abdomen alternates between … More Atlas Moth Care

Species Profile: African Clawed Frog

June 1, 2015

Name: African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) Range: Sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic,  Gabon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Diet: Opportunistic predators, consuming both live and dead matter. Conservation Status: IUCN – Least Concern The African clawed frog is an aquatic species that is … More Species Profile: African Clawed Frog