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Re: NFC: Italian Wall Lizards in Topeka
Thanks for the article it was rather interesting as is the walll lizard.
On Mon, 11 Mar 2002 09:50:02 -0600 SHasloue at kdhe_state.ks.us writes:
>
> Robert:
>
> I've never seen one of them. Apparently their distribution is
> relatively
> confined. I found this article in the archives of our local
> newspaper.
> FYI.
>
>
> Collegiate students show and tell about rare lizards
>
>
> By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH
> The Capital-Journal
>
>
> Sixth-grade students at Topeka Collegiate sat on the edge of
> their seats Friday as an amateur herpetologist from Germany
> examined two species of European lizards that have made their
> homes near the elementary school.
>
>
> The two species -- the Podarcis and possibly the Lacerta -- are
> endangered in Europe but thrive in auto repair shops, churches
> and backyards near both sides of S.W. Gage from about 23rd
> Street to 17th Street. Members of both species apparently
> escaped from a commercial animal dealer near S.W. 21st and Gage
> during the 1950s. Both species have established themselves in
> the area.
>
>
> Dr. Guntram Deichsel is a biostatistician for a pharmaceutical
> company, but his hobby is reptiles and amphibians, which is the
> reason for his detour to Kansas from Connecticut, where he
> traveled on business earlier this week.
>
>
> Deichsel had read in the Audubon Society's reptile and
> amphibian field guide that the Lacerta lizard, which is dark
> green and about 18 inches long, is found in Topeka.
>
>
> The Lacerta was once thought to be a single species, but it was
> discovered three years ago that it is two species. The lizards
> look nearly identical as adults, although differences can be
> detected among the young.
>
>
> The Lacerta was commonly called the European green lizard, but
> the scientific discovery has resulted in the single species
> dividing into two separate species -- the western green lizard
> and the eastern green lizard.
>
>
> Deichsel, who is interested in determining which species the
> Topeka lizard belongs to and correcting the reptile and
> amphibian handbooks, contacted one of the Audubon authors and
> was referred to John Simmons, collection manager at the Museum
> of Natural History at the University of Kansas.
>
>
> Simmons referred Deichsel to Joseph T. Collins, professor
> emeritus at KU and founder and director of the Center for North
> American Amphibians and Reptiles, who referred Deichsel to
> Topeka Collegiate science teacher Larry Miller.
>
>
> Miller's students have conducted annual amphibian and reptile
> counts and photographed species that were pictured in several
> versions of Collins' field guide.
>
>
> As Deichsel flipped the lizard over in his hands Friday, he
> told the students there was an 80 percent likelihood the
> creature was a western green lizard. But he couldn't be sure
> until he could examine a young lizard, which the students
> hadn't managed to capture.
>
>
> The cold and rainy drizzle on Friday meant the creatures were
> likely seeking cover, and Deichsel would need to pray for warm
> weather before his return trip to Germany on Sunday.
>
>
> Miller conducted a summer class three years ago called "In
> Search of the Green Lacerta." He sent fliers to neighbors,
> asking them to collect the lizard, but none were caught during
> the weeklong class.
>
>
> The day after the class ended, a neighbor brought in a Lacerta,
> and there has been a steady stream since.
>
>
> "Last year this time people were bringing in young lizards all
> the time," Miller said, "but we didn't know."
>
>
> Copyright 1998 The Topeka Capital-Journal
>
>
>
>
>
> Steve Haslouer
> Environmental Scientist III
> Bureau of Environmental Field Services
> Kansas Department of Health and Environment
> 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 430
> Topeka, KS 66612-1367
>
> (785) 296 - 0079
>
>
Robert Rice - NFC president www.nativefish.org
Hemochromotosis the # 1 genetic killer in the USA . Ten percent of us
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Treatment is simple and easy with an early diagnosis so get tested.