Alicia's HerpetoArea BE by Alicia MOTTUR https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz Thank you Tiktaalik! en-us 2019-02-20 06:28:54 UTC 2026-03-11 09:25:23 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/346580733/b3a6182eada66b25170f4783f26c2169/herpetofauna_axolotl.jpg Theme 1 - Habitat type: Pond and reedbeds - Domaine du Silex, Watermael-Boitsfort amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333057940 The European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) lives and breeds here, within the Brussels-Capital Region, along with the European Toad (Bufo bufo) and the Common, or Smooth, Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). These species are the commonest and most widespread amphibians in Brussels.

Sources:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-02-20 06:55:09 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333057940 Theme 1 - Habitat type: Deciduous woodland - Forêt de Soignes, Groenendaal amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333059388 A few individuals of the Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) have been seen here, and the European Toad is common.

Source:
personal observation]]> 2019-02-20 07:04:26 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333059388 Theme 1 - Habitat type: Second-growth forest - Plateau de la Foresterie, Watermael-Boitsfort amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333642040 The Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is found here, but unfortunately this site has been under threat from real estate development since the 70's, and in 2018 the regional development program finally approved a building plan for the site, in direct contradiction with public opinion (and despite its Natura 2000 status!).  Please help by signing the petition, at this link:
https://www.change.org/p/gouvernement-bruxellois-non-%C3%A0-l-implantation-d-un-projet-immobilier-sur-le-plateau-de-la-foresterie

Sources:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-02-21 14:33:07 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333642040 Theme 1 - Habitat type: Natural woodland stream - Vallée du Vuylbeek, Watermael-Boitsfort amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333893277 The very rare Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) has been known to breed here.

Sources:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-02-21 20:26:00 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/333893277 Theme 1 - Habitat type: Stream, wet meadow and marsh - Marais of Jette amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334136179 One of the few places in Brussels where an indigenous Belgian reptile can be found - the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix). However, these individuals are probably from snakes introduced to the area, perhaps accidentally from eggs in a compost pile.

Sources:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-02-22 14:20:42 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334136179 Theme 1 - Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of the Brussels Region amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334139547 This is the most recent such Atlas, published in 2005, with data from observations between 1984 and 2003.  A new Atlas is planned about every ten years, and observations for a new, updated Atlas started being collected in 2016 and will be concluded at the end of 2019.  It will be interesting to see if the initiatives to preserve existing herpeto biodiversity in the Region (such as the "green and blue networks" of terrestrial and freshwater habitats) will show results in the next Atlas.]]> 2019-02-22 14:26:51 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334139547 Theme 1 - Spring amphibian migration and the problem of roads amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334151882 Soon the mass movement of toads, salamanders and newts will start, as they move from their hibernating spots in woodlands to the nearest bodies of fresh water to mate and lay eggs.  Tragically, this means that each late February into March, countless numbers of animals never make it to the breeding sites, as they have to cross busy roads.  Fortunately there are many volunteers who come to the rescue, with buckets and flashlights, to help them on their way.
Increasingly, concerned citizens and communities are constructing amphibian tunnels and other structures designed to channel the animals toward isolated crossing points.  One design is the combination of a "drift fence" with an amphibian tunnel.  Drift fences can either be permanent or temporary. Between 39 to 63% of toads migrating to their breeding ponds can be successfully channeled by drift fences.

Sources:
https://vimeo.com/30259920
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233522179_Cost_effective_drift_fences_for_toads_and_newts

]]> 2019-02-22 14:47:52 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334151882 Theme 1 - Herpeto biodiversity and impact from human activity amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334539487 Historically, the Brussels Region was characterised by an abundance of freshwater habitats – streams, ponds, marshes and wet meadows – as well as woodland and scrub.  These habitat types harboured a variety of herpetofauna typical of northern Europe, especially amphibians.
With increasing human pressure, clearing and draining the land for farming, settlements, transport, and industry, the populations of amphibians and reptiles have steadily decreased.  The 2005 Atlas documented and confirmed a trend that had been long apparent to experienced observers.  In the Brussels Region, populations of herpetofauna have shrunk, receding or disappearing entirely from locations where they used to be common, with often only relict populations hanging on in a fringe around the extremity of the region.  Most herpetofauna in Brussels is confined to a few sites in the northwest (Jette), west/southwest (Anderlecht) and south/southeast (Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Auderghem).

Sources:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf
]]> 2019-02-24 08:40:13 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334539487 Theme 2 - The Common Frog amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541038 These frogs live in wet meadows or by ponds and marshes for most of the year, and only hibernate if the weather turns very cold.  During hibernation they burrow in mud or vegetation underwater, usually where there is a slight current, and are able to survive just on the oxygen absorbed through their skin. In the breeding season (mainly in April) they congregate in shallow, still water of ponds and marshes in huge groups called frog “choirs”.  The females prefer those males with the loudest and longest croaking.
Interestingly, like chameleons they can change their skin colour to blend in with their surroundings.
Tadpoles have no lungs at hatching, and breathe with gills, but their lungs start forming when their hind legs begin growing.  They also have only a soft, cartilaginous skeleton, so that tadpole fossils are extremely rare.  Fossil tadpoles have been found in China, in Miocene Epoch strata (23 mya to 5.3 mya old), preserved as a thin deposit of carbon.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_frog
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadpole
]]> 2019-02-24 08:57:53 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541038 Theme 2 - The Common Toad amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541139 The toad is one of the top four most common and widespread European amphibians, along with the Common Frog, Edible Frog, and Smooth Newt.  Although there is no strict taxonomic distinction between frogs and toads in the order Anura, the so-called true toads, including our Common Toad, are only in the family Bufonidae.
The Common Toad is more terrestrial than frogs and spends the non-breeding part of its yearly cycle in a variety of habitats, including woodland, fields, gardens, and parks, even quite far from water.  During the day the toad hides under tree stumps, logs, stones, leaf litter or in abandoned burrows of small mammals.  At dusk the toad emerges to hunt for insect and other invertebrate prey.  The breeding season starts in late February or early March (that is, now!), depending on temperature and rainfall.  When the toads make their way to the breeding areas in ponds and other wetlands, they navigate by smell, visual landmarks, and even the Earth’s magnetic field.
Habitat loss, from draining of wetlands, pollution, agriculture, and road mortality during the breeding migration are the main threats to toads.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_toad
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072941/
]]> 2019-02-24 08:58:58 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541139 Theme 2 - The Fire Salamander amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541220 Their preferred habitat is deciduous woodland in higher elevations between about 250 and 1000 metres.  This makes it all the more unusual that the Fire Salamander has been recorded as breeding in the Vallée du Vuylbeek, since the elevation there is less than 100 metres above sea level.
They shelter under leaf litter and fallen trees during the day and need clean ponds or streams for their tadpoles.  The eggs are fertilised internally, and the female releases the young into the water when they hatch (though some subspecies keep them for longer, only releasing them when more mature).
Surprisingly, their coloration is variable, with some subspecies replacing yellow spots with reddish or orange spots, while others are almost all black.
And in case you’re wondering why they’re called Fire Salamanders, the legend goes that they can survive in fire.  However, the unfortunate truth is that, since they hide under logs, people probably saw them escaping from their hiding places when their logs were used for firewood. Poor salamanders...

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_salamander

]]> 2019-02-24 08:59:45 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541220 Theme 2 - The Common, or Viviparous, Lizard amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541298 Although called the Viviparous Lizard, this species may also lay eggs (oviparous) in the more southern parts of its range.  It’s thought that developing viviparous reproduction was a way of coping with cold latitudes, thus the Common Lizard lives farther north than any other species of terrestrial reptile.  Perhaps also related to its wide range and variety of habitats, the Common Lizard shows variable colouring and patterns. 

They can be found in meadows, wet areas, woodland, roadsides, and even gardens.  Even small, favourable micro-habitats presenting abundant prey, warmth and shelter (such as a southern-facing brick or stone wall) can be colonised by the lizards.  They eat only invertebrates, mainly insects and spiders, which are attracted by the same warm areas as the lizards.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viviparous_lizard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe_I4HxjLzc
]]> 2019-02-24 09:00:21 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541298 Theme 2 - The Slow Worm amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541354 Members of the family Anguidae, in the order Squamata (lizards, snakes, and worm lizards), include species with either reduced/absent legs as well as normal legs.  Like typical lizards, slow worms have eyelids, the ability to shed their tails as a defensive strategy (autotomy), visible ears, and shed their skin in patches.
They prefer damp habitats and areas providing abundant hiding places, where they can hunt worms and slugs.
It is thought the family of slow worms and their relatives evolved in North America during the Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 mya) and later spread to Eurasia in the Early Tertiary Period (66 to about 23 mya).

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguis_fragilis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguidae
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Anguidae/
]]> 2019-02-24 09:01:02 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541354 Theme 2 - The Grass Snake amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541413 This is a non-venomous snake of wet meadows, fields and woodland edges, where it preys mainly on frogs and toads, as well as some insects and larvae.
When threatened, they defend themselves by playing dead, vomiting their stomach contents, excreting a pungent liquid, or sometimes by rearing up and flattening the front of their bodies, like a cobra.  This may in fact be a fossil behaviour, as the extinct European Cobra (Naia romani) co-existed with the Grass Snake during the Miocene Epoch, and it could have been advantageous to the Grass Snake to imitate its lethal cousin.
Each individual snake's pattern of ventral spots is unique, making an easy way for researchers to monitor populations in a given location.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_snake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oof8XaPWKIk
]]> 2019-02-24 09:01:56 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541413 Theme 1 - Reptile fossil ID card - Allopleuron (Chelone) hoffmanni amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541462 The Hoffmann’s Giant Sea Turtle lived in the Cretaceous Period and was a member of a genus of sea turtles belonging to the same family as living sea turtles, Cheloniidae.  It measured up to 2 to 2.5 metres long.  Fossils of this turtle, discovered in Maastricht (Netherlands) in 2006, can be seen in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (in the Mosasaur exhibit, and in the main hall of dinosaurs).

Please find below a phylogenetic tree of A. hoffmanni, and an image of the fossil.

Sources:
http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=255079
http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/chelonii/chelonioidea.html

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326481176_A_new_phylogenetic_hypothesis_of_turtles_with_implications_for_the_timing_and_number_of_evolutionary_transitions_to_marine_lifestyles_in_the_group]]> 2019-02-24 09:02:42 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541462 Theme 1 - Amphibian fossil ID card - Metoposaurus diagnosticus amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541526 This animal is classed in the order Temnospondyli of primitive amphibians that lived from the Carboniferous into the Cretaceous, with fossils found on every continent.  Temnospondyls lived in a wide range of habitats, including fresh water, terrestrial and coastal marine areas.  Remarkably, fossils of all life stages have been found, from the larval stage, metamorphosis, and adults. Even some soft tissue fossils exist, from the early Carboniferous Mauch Chunk Formation in Pennsylvania.  (I was particularly excited to discover this because I remember visiting this formation during my university courses in geology in Pennsylvania.  We found crinoids, brachiopods and trilobites, but no Metoposaurus...)
Unlike modern amphibians, temnospondyls had scales, bony plates, and claws.
M.diagnosticus and others in its genus were very large - up to 3 metres long and about 350 kilos.  Their fossils are found in the late Triassic period in Europe.  They had many teeth, and it is thought they preyed on fish, and were perhaps preyed on in turn by phytosaurs (extinct reptiles resembling crocodiles).  The fact that many fossils are found together suggests that they may have congregated in evaporating bodies of water during the dry season, where many died.  Alternating growth/rest patterns on their bones are thought to show a yearly life cycle adapted to wet and dry seasons in their habitat.
Sources:
http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/temnospondyli/metoposauroidea.html#Metoposauroidea
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metoposaurus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereospondyli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temnospondyli]]> 2019-02-24 09:03:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/334541526 Theme 2 - Step 1 - Endemism and climate change amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/336276414 There is a probable relationship between the phenomena of glacial periods and high endemism in the European peninsulas.  I would say that organisms responded to climate change using all five of the options listed, depending on the species.  For those European species moving to warmer areas for food (option 2), at the extremities of their new southern range they would find themselves hemmed in by the natural confines of the peninsulas (mountain ranges and the Mediterranean).  This isolation over a sufficiently long period could account for the evolution of endemic species in those peninsulas, similar to the phenomenon of island endemism. ]]> 2019-02-28 07:00:51 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/336276414 Theme 1 - Geologic clock amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/337211631 This diagram shows, in proportion, the duration of the various geologic periods.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_time_scale]]> 2019-03-03 11:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/337211631 Theme 1 - Distribution of Anura and Caudata in the Brussels Region amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/339670973 Distribution of amphibian species is generally similar to the distribution of reptiles in the region, being confined to the city's green belt, and especially  in the remaining wetland habitats and woodland.
The only species of introduced amphibian in the Brussels Region is the Marsh (or Lake) Frog (Pelophylax ridibunda).

Source:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-03-10 13:15:49 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/339670973 Theme 1 - Distribution of reptiles (native & introduced) in the Brussels Region - first map amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/339670999 In this first map, the two categories of reptile species (native and introduced) are not distinguished.  The majority of populations are in the south, south-east and east of the region, corresponding to the more wooded, greener areas of Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Auderghem, and the valley of the Woluwe.  Another concentration is in the northwest, corresponding to the Marais of Jette and nearby green spaces(the species here is the Grass Snake (introduced to the region, but native to Belgium).

Source:
http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-03-10 13:16:10 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/339670999 Theme 1 - Distribution of reptiles (native & non-native) in the Brussels Region - second map amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/339671022 In this second map, native and introduced reptiles are shown by two different colours - blue for native species, orange for introduced.  Now we can see that native populations are almost entirely limited to the south, south-east and east.
The central pentagonal area corresponds to the centre of Brussels - this section and the adjoining areas are too densely urbanised to sustain herpetofauna.
The number of introduced species of reptile is very limited in the Brussels Region, including only the Grass Snake and the Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta).  The Grass Snake is a special case, since this species is otherwise indigenous to Belgium, but its range has shrunk and it has disappeared from locations where it formerly occurred.  The small population in Brussels is the result of clutches of eggs hidden in compost brought from other sites, or from deliberate releases from private vivaria.
The Terrapin is a North American semi-aquatic turtle deliberately released in Brussels ponds by pet owners.

Source: http://www.herpetobru.be/herpeto_atlas_bxl.pdf]]> 2019-03-10 13:16:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/339671022 Theme 3 - Physiology and adaptations of the Common Toad amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340091707 Toads have many adaptations and physiological characteristics suited to their mainly terrestrial lifestyle.
They show variable coloration among individuals, which camouflages them against the substrate where they live, and they live in a wide range of habitats, including woodland, parks, gardens and meadows. They have sturdy legs for walking, rather than hopping, but the feet become more webbed during the breeding season when they return to ponds.
The males are more numerous and significantly smaller than females and develop special nuptial pads on their forefeet during the breeding season to be able to grip the female (amplexus) and stay with her as she travels to the breeding site.
Both adult toads and tadpoles secrete the repulsive substance bufagin, which discourages some predators. They are nevertheless preyed on by many animals, which are either unaffected by the venom or have evolved strategies to avoid it.  To counter predation, toads lay thousands of eggs.
They can travel up to several kilometers from their hibernating site to their breeding site, and toads have evolved various means of orientation to find their way, including a magnetic sense, in addition to orientation by sight and smell.
When threatened, toads adopt a defensive posture by raising themselves high up on all fours and puffing up. They also stay under cover during the day, and emerge towards dusk to hunt invertebrate prey.
Toads regularly shed their skin in patches and then consume it to recuperate the nutrients that would otherwise be lost.

Sources:
Faune belge (1st part), de Selys-Longchamps, 1842
Vertebrates of Belgium, G.F. de Witte, 1942
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_toad

]]> 2019-03-11 17:49:14 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340091707 Theme 3 - Physiology and adaptations of the Viviparous Lizard amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340092065 Like the common toad, this lizard lives in a wide range of habitats and is variable in coloration, for better camouflage.
As their name indicates, they are viviparous, which is an adaptation allowing them to live farther north than any other non-marine reptile (up to 70°N, above the Arctic Circle). More southerly populations, however, can be oviparous.  Young that hatch from eggs have an egg tooth in order to break the shell. In viviparous populations, the 3 to 10 young are born after about three months, usually in July. They are sexually mature at 2 years, with a lifespan of 5 to 6 years in the wild.
Like many other lizards, the Viviparous Lizard has the defensive strategy of caudal autotomy, meaning that part of its tail can be broken off to distract a predator (the severed tail wiggles to draw the predator's attention).  The tail can later grow back, although the missing vertebrae are replaced only by cartilage and the regrown tail is shorter and less flexible.  Although a life-saving tactic, the animal is still somewhat handicapped after losing its tail.
An interesting adaptation is the ability of this lizard to detect the presence of potentially predatory snakes, such as vipers, through chemoreceptivity to snake scent marks picked up by the lizard's Jacobson's organ. Experiments have shown that the lizards adopted defensive behaviors when they detected the scent marks of lizard-eating snakes, as opposed to more relaxed behavior in the presence of non-predatory snakes (such as the Grass Snake).

Sources:
On the Variations of the Common Lizard, G.A. Boulenger, Journal of Zoological Research, March 1917
Chemoreceptive and behavioural responses of Common Lizard to snake chemical deposits, Thoen et al., Animal Behavior, 1986, 34, 1805-1813
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viviparous_lizard]]> 2019-03-11 17:49:49 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340092065 Theme 4 - Toad Rescue in Watermael-Boitsfort - February/March 2019 amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340267146 On the 24th and 28th of February and the 3rd of March I helped out at one of the local "toad patrols" to assist the migrating toads to reach their breeding ponds.
Since the beginning of the rescue operations, volunteers at the site helped more than 2,800 toads, 311 Common Frogs, and 11 newts.
I would be very interested to know how many such amphibian rescue patrols exist in everyone else's HerpetoAreas, and how many volunteers participate. In Watermael-Boitsfort we had a lot of volunteers on some evenings, and far too few on others. With about 1 kilometre of road to supervise we really needed more people to cover the entire stretch without missing any toads.]]> 2019-03-12 06:28:05 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340267146 Theme 4 - The endangered Breviceps macrops, or Desert Rain Frog - otherwise known as "The World's Cutest Frog" amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340268578 OK - it's not a European species, but I couldn't resist including this little guy in my HerpetoArea.
This species, as well as the others in its family (Brevicipitidae), is endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation.  It lives in a limited range of coastal sand dunes (less than 2,000 sq. km) in Namibia and South Africa, and is noteworthy for laying its eggs in sand burrows, where they hatch into miniature frogs, not passing through an aquatic tadpole stage.  These frogs get the moisture they need from the fog off the Atlantic.
Main threats to this frog are diamond mining, road building and urbanisation.
I'm sure I'll never see one in its native territory, which is just as well.  People should leave these wild areas alone. Tourism pressure and building of ever more hotels have probably taken their toll of this frog's limited habitat.  If you love wildlife, it's sometimes better to stay at home...

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_rain_frog]]> 2019-03-12 06:39:06 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340268578 Theme 2 - Visit to Natural History Museum of Tournai (and Vivarium), 17 March 2019 amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340287469 To be diplomatic, I'll pass over the vivarium and zoology portions of this museum.  I've never been a fan of taxidermy and animals in formaldehyde bottles, and I found the room where they raise live mice and rats in cramped, dirty shoe-box cages for reptile food simply heartbreaking...
Aside from those aspects, the museum had a nice exhibit about pollinators, from which I learned a lot.  It showed how flowers have co-evolved different forms along with pollinating insects, corresponding to the morphology of various insects.  It also explained ways of caring for your garden to provide food and habitat for pollinators
And the mineral collection was great.]]> 2019-03-12 08:11:36 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340287469 Theme 2 - Visit to Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 13 March 2019 amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340287930 Obviously the greatest reptile stars of the Museum are the iguanodons discovered in 1878 in a coal mine in Bernissart, Belgium.  They are probably about 125 to 128 million years old (early Cretaceous).  At the time they were found, the theory was that they were bipedal, so the skeletons were displayed in this posture, and even deformed to be able to stand up.  However, studies in the 1980s and after suggested they were mainly quadrupedal, but the fossils were too fragile to be repositioned correctly.  Just one skeleton in the Brussels Museum is displayed on all fours.
Another interesting part of the collection are the many fossils from the Messel shale pit in Germany - they include frogs, snakes, birds, and bats. In the Eocene this site was the location of a tropical lake, and its fine sediments and anaerobic conditions allowed amazingly well preserved fossils.  The Brussels Museum was the only institution outside Germany to excavate here, and it was also instrumental in obtaining UNESCO World Heritage protection in 1991 (otherwise the shale pit would have become a garbage dump...).
Finally, the BiodiverCity exhibit is also fascinating, since it shows the wide range of animal and plant life that is possible even in a dense urban area like Brussels (such as slow worms and common lizards). It explains the importance of preserving open soil for microfauna and flora. It also discusses the problem of habitat fragmentation in an urban setting and the necessity of creating and preserving wildlife corridors, such as hedgerows, parks, trees or ponds. For example, it mentions how concrete banks of streams, ponds or canals pose an insurmountable barrier for frogs and toads.]]> 2019-03-12 08:13:18 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340287930 Theme 2 - HerpetoArea comparison amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288137 I'm really impressed with my co-learners' HerpetoAreas - they make fascinating reading and they transport me to places I would otherwise know nothing about.  The beautiful images and videos of unusual habitats and unique species are also a great treat.
Obviously the HerpetoAreas from Mediterranean or tropical biomes (Greece, Spain, Colombia...) have a very different and richer herpetofauna than Belgium.  Not only the number of individuals and variety of species are richer, but there are more families of herpetofauna present in these habitats, and there are many endemic species (which is not the case in Belgium).  Many of my co-learners live in areas classified as biodiversity hotspots (such as the Colombian rain forest, or the Mediterranean hotspot).
Unfortunately, the one thing all our HerpetoAreas seem to have in common is the threat posed by human activity - habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation from urbanisation, agriculture, pollution, recreational use, forestry, etc. Unless there is a drastic reform of our way of doing things, I don't know how our beloved wildlife will survive much longer.]]> 2019-03-12 08:14:13 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288137 Theme 3 - HerpetoArea comparison - physiology & adaptations of herpeto amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288465 Once again I'm struck by the incredible species richness in my co-learners' HerpetoAreas. Also, my impression is that the species highlighted for their physiology and adaptations show more specialisation than "my" species (toad and common lizard). While the toad and common lizard are generalists, living in a wide range of habitats and eating a range of food, the species such as rocket frog from Colombia, the Iberian rock lizard, European worm snake (Greece), and the Ladakh high altitude toad (Pakistan) are evolved to occupy specialised ecological niches. Consequently they are more at risk from human activity affecting their habitat.]]> 2019-03-12 08:15:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288465 Theme 4 - Proposal for NGO to save Madagascar's reptiles amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288619 Any NGO working to conserve herpetofauna and other wildlife in Madagascar absolutely must involve local people and respect their interests.  While ecotourism and agriculture are key aspects of the economy in Madagascar, the income generated is not fairly distributed among the people.  Poverty will always be an obstacle to nature protection, since poor people cannot be expected to leave natural resources alone when they are desperate for their families' survival.
Ecotourism operators have a moral duty to give back as much as possible of their revenues to the local population, to convince the locals that the natural habitats and wildlife of their country are worth more alive than dead.  If this means raising the costs of their travel packages, then so be it.  Costs of travel (including airplane tickets) should more fairly reflect the environmental impacts of these activities.
The NGO should also campaign for sustainable agriculture, such as shade-grown coffee plantations.  Examples from other countries (Guatemala, Costa Rica, etc.) demonstrate that it is indeed possible to combine profitability with environmentally-friendly agriculture.
Finally, the NGO should work to make education about ecology and wildlife protection an integral part of the primary and secondary school system.  These subjects not only teach children about conservation, but they could provide additional career choices for young people, to protect wildlife areas and habitats in their own country.]]> 2019-03-12 08:16:05 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288619 Theme 4 - Field research and report on threats to herpetofauna amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288838 I combined research on two sites in the Brussels Region known for harbouring herpetofauna - namely, the Plateau de la Foresterie in Watermael-Boitsfort (Common Lizard and Slow Worm) and the site known as Keelbeek in Haren (also Common Lizard).  Both these sites are under immediate threat from real estate speculation, despite overwhelming public opposition, and abundant scientific data from area naturalists and nature protection associations showing the value of these sites for conserving biodiversity in the Brussels Region.
Instead of repeating the information, I decided to put the main body of this report directly in our Group 2 padlet, along with my list of sources (excluding interview sources, who I won't name, to preserve their confidentiality).

Sources:
personal observations, press articles, and interviews]]> 2019-03-12 08:17:01 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340288838 Theme 4 - HerpetoArea comparison - threats to herpetofauna amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340289426 It seems to be more or less the same story across all our HerpetoAreas - human activity is the root cause of declining herpetofauna populations.  Common to all HerpetoAreas are the threats posed by habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation and climate change.  Urbanisation, intensive agriculture, pollution and road mortality seem to be critical problems everywhere. Unfortunately, the fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis also seems widespread among amphibians in many of our HerpetoAreas.
Some HerpetoAreas in southern and south-eastern  Europe seem to suffer particularly from problems such as tourism, introduced species, wanton killing, and over-exploitation. ]]> 2019-03-12 08:19:17 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340289426 Theme 5 - Business plan of volunteer organisation to protect local herpetofauna amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340289517 In my business plan for a local herpetofauna association, the key aspects would include public education, citizen involvement and hands-on experience protecting herpetofauna, and crowdfunding to support projects.  By not depending on traditional sources of public or private funding, the association could be more independent.
Public education could be tackled in various ways, such as through programmes in schools, guided walks, poster campaigns, as well as TV or radio spots, books, pamphlets, and art projects (like "Adders are Amazing" in Wales).  Such efforts could help to combat the ignorance and prejudice towards herpetofauna shown by many people.
Citizens could get involved via volunteering to maintain or establish habitat for herpetofauna, or by participating in toad patrols during the spawning season.  They could also help with campaigning and lobbying authorities and local government.
Finally, crowdfunding (please see the video below) would be a powerful tool to finance projects, especially publications and posters, creation and maintenance of herpetofauna underpasses or barriers, purchasing land for nature reserves, or creating and maintaining blue corridors.
I wish I could really create such an association; who knows - if anyone out there is interested, please let me know!]]> 2019-03-12 08:19:39 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340289517 Theme 5 - Business plan comparison amottur https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340289728 Most of my co-learners' business plans highlight the importance of public education and involvement, the invaluable contributions to be made by citizen science, and the need to maintain and create more protected sites for herpetofauna.  Some also mention the advantages of crowdfunding.
As several people have pointed out, reptiles and amphibians suffer from bad press and ignorance within the general public, and the best way to combat this is to get people out in the field and let them see these animals firsthand, to realise how fascinating and important they are.
A touch of humour can help too - check out this video with the flying snake!]]> 2019-03-12 08:20:33 UTC https://padlet.com/amottur/h7xerzjuseyz/wish/340289728