A fossil thought to be key to turtle evolution turns out to be something else - which clarifies where our shelly friends came from. Today’s free newsletter is out (short article + my latest writing + upcoming events + ear perks from the week).

I posted about the box turtle and the bees I saw during my Texas Tortoise field survey (under TPWD permit). Here is one of the tortoises as first observed. Gives you a good idea of Texas Tortoise habitat. Scrubby plants and cactus. 🐢 #herps #tortoises

Another cool bee observation from the tortoise weekend. There hundreds of tiny holes in the ground and flying about an inch above the ground were a lot of Cactus Chimney Bees. I read that when the females emerge, the male bees swarm them. I was able to get a picture of this behavior. #WorldBeeDay 🐝

Guess it's #WorldBeeDay. While looking for tortoises this weekend, I checked the flowers to "see who is home". I found this pair of what iNaturalist says are Fairy Bees. It appears they are having a delicate moment. The flower they are on is a Maroon Blanketflower.🐝 #insects #bees

I always find it funny that there are so many European cultures that important foods for groups are actually from the Americas. I'm especially thinking about potatoes and tomatoes.

Three days wandering the South Texas scrubland looking for tortoises. Not many out moving but did find a beautiful Ornate Box Turtle and that made everything worthwhile while.🐢 #herps #turtles

I'm doing a graduate paper on Invasive Red-eared Sliders in Oregon. One of the native turtles there is a Western Painted Turtle. The other day I found an introduced WPT in a pond where Red-eared sliders are native! The tides are turning! But seriously, don't release pets 🐢 #herps #turtles

Most Species Observed...San Antonio!

Sometimes you get lucky and get to see nature in action. Got to see a breeding ball of Diamondback Watersnakes. Better pictures later. #herps #snakes

Our warmest and wildest 100th birthday wishes to Sir David Attenborough, vice-patron of our Society. Today, we are celebrating Priam's Birdwing, which he said he would include in his "ark" to protect from extinction. This illustration is from E Donovan's "An Epitome of...Insects of India" (1800).

Watching his shows right now

Figured it was time to update my profile pictures.

Found a Red-eared Slider (it's ok, they are native here!) today with a fish hook in its mouth. Fortunately I was with a friend who is a veterinarian. We took the turtle to her clinic, sedated it and she was able to remove the hook! Took an x-ray just to make sure there were no more. #herps #turtles🐢

While I am a Star Wars fan and all for celebrating 5/4, nothing beats the unbalanced rhythmic heartbeat in Mars, The Bringer of War by Gustav Holst. youtu.be/Jmk5frp6-3Q?...

One of the benefits to having a large TBR books stack is your spouse doesn't realize when you add to it.

It's funny when someone is mad at you (for a stupid reason) but they still watch every reel you post.

I went to a nearby park with the intent to hike & make more observations for the City Nature Challenge. I got to a river crossing. It looked so inviting. Drove back home and got my kayak. Soon I was on the creek. Saw this absolutely beautiful Texas Cooter basking amongst the duckweed🐢 #herps

Film you've watched more than six times with a gif. Deets in the ALT for you youngsters. Hard mode: no Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, Marvel, Disney, or Ghibli.

Did a deep cleaning of my Tokay Gecko tank today. Might as well continue annoying her with a photo shoot. She did great and got her payment at the end. #herps #gecko 🦎

The first turtle survey of the year was a big success, all 93 pounds of it! There were 3 other turtle species seen this weekend and one snake! Great start to turtle season! #herps #snappingturtle #herpetology

The drought in South Texas has been really bad. While we were supposed to get good rain today, the .02 inches I got today isn't going to help. Imagine my surprise when I found the Gulf Coast Toad in my yard tonight. Hopefully that means rain is on the way.

Finally got to name a new species! Introducing to the world, Terrapene stultusquartimensisi, the Green Spotted Box Turtle 🐢#herps

Final paper for the term submitted. Don't think I'll be doing the full time graduate student term again but it's done. Now to wait for the grades.

Took a bike ride today on the one of greenway trails in San Antonio. This trail goes by a beautiful pond with pond lilies, endemic Texas Cooters, and surrounded by large Cypress trees. The best thing is this little oasis is less than a 1000 feet from I-35 in the middle of town!

I grew up hearing the jokes about "going snipe hunting" and never really understood it. Then I found out Snipes are a real thing (not recently), didn't understand it even more. But either way, I was successful at Snipe Hunting (with a camera) yesterday. 🦆 #birding #Birds

So far the hardest part of this Master's program I'm going through is figuring out what to write about.

Not posting much here for no particular reason. Had a nice sunny day today so what else to do but go look for turtles! Never disappointed to find the endemic Texas Cooter! 🐢 #herps #turtles

Finished the first week of my second term into my masters. This term is going to be busy but fun. These classes are really interesting.

If there are any book nerds reading this, I'm looking for a novel, fiction book with a natural history, wildlife, Ecology background to it. Kind of a book where nature is a character. Any ideas?

Watching Prehistoric Planet Ice Age. Thinking about how bad a wet Wooly Mammoth must smell.

I'm not a paleontologist, but I am a biologist The difference number in teeth thing put me on team Nanotyrannus. I also think I read something that the brain case had a different orientation in the skull I may be mistaken on that one. It is cool to see a discovery solve a puzzle. Do Spinosaurus next

Turtles are resilient animals. It's frustrating when one is "rescued" Usually the stress of being put in captivity and the medical procedures to "fix" it are even worse. For example this wild softshell turtle living his best life with the front of his face missing #herps #turtles #herpetology

I just love the fact I get to work with this incredible species that lives right where I do! This light color is unusual in Texas Tortoises. They usually have more of the darker scales with some spots of the cream color. This one has a very unique coloration! #herps #tortoises #herpetology 🐢

This has been a crazy month for me. Alligator Snapping Turtle survey, weeklong camping trip to the Chiricahua Mountains, Texas Tortoise survey and now I begin my Masters in Wildlife Management. I'm excited for this new phase. Gonna have to cut back on the camping and hiking trips for a while!

If you see this, post a concert picture you took. This is Melissa Bonny singing with Kamelot.

For the tiny Ant on top of Sugarloaf Mountain. How did you get here? Did you walk? Was it many generations of your ancestors that moved up the mountain? Did you hitch a ride? #insects #ants #entomology #naturepondering

Back from another turtle survey weekend. It was the first time at this site where both species of snapping turtle were caught. While it isn't unheard of, it is unusual to find both the Alligator Snapping Turtle and the Common Snapping Turtle in the same location. #herps #turtles #herpetology 🐢

I've just been lurking here and not posting much. Lots of cool stuff going on this month. Actually going to be a really big month for me. Really excited for all the activities and to see what the next steps will be. Until then, here's a cool Map turtle basking in the Angelina River. #herps 🐢 #turtle

You know it's going to be a fun weekend when both kayaks are loaded! To the river!! #kayaking

Braved the heat and went for a bike ride. Fortune the best doesn't bother me. Would be tough to be into the outdoors and unable to tolerate the heat of South Texas. It's actually not too bad this year though. Like being able to get 8 off road miles right from my house.

I think this was the first time we caught and recorded data from an Alligator Snapping Turtle at night (under TPWD permits). This turtle was very feisty. The 33 pound male (15.2kg) was released into the same pound he was found. (The picture says 16.3kg, the sling weighs 1.1) 🐢 #herps #herpetology

Here's a better picture of the Alligator Snapping Turtle found today crossing the road. #herps #turtle 🐢

New herp accomplishment for me today. Found an Alligator Snapping Turtle on the road!

I've been really busy with turtle stuff lately and almost too much to post here. I did get a new camera that takes incredible macro pictures so I've been playing around with that. So here's a cool dragonfly I found in Ft Worth. I think it's a Widow Skimmer. #inverts #macro

It's been 20 years since I finished my (second) undergraduate degree. Today I just registered for online classes to start my Masters. Excited for this new adventure. Let's see where it goes!

Got a quick kayak paddle in the local lake yesterday. I love the different perspectives kayaking gives you. You're much lower than normal and feel more part of nature instead of above it. Also, the turtles aren't as shy when you're in a kayak so you can get closer. #herps 🐢

Spent the weekend in East Texas looking for my favorite animals🐢🐢! Two new individuals and a new species at this study site. Four species for the weekend. Not too bad. #herps

A friend texted me asking if I have plans this weekend. Dude, it's turtle season. My weekends are booked for the next 3 months. Gonna have to get on my calendar a helluva lot earlier than the day before. In other news...turtle season starts tomorrow!!🐢🐢

Got out and did some kayaking today. The creek is a great spot to see the endemic Texas Cooter. It's exciting to think that this super common turtle is found no where else in the world but central Texas! 🐢 #herps

Something for all you biologists out there. If you ever name a species and it happens to change colors, PLEASE don't name it just one of the colors they change into. I'm looking at you Green Anole and Gray Tree Frog.