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Home , Chelonoidis niger, Chelydra, Common box turtle, Macrochelys, Synonym (taxonomy)

California & Club the Tortuga Gazette Dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Education Volume 54, Number 6 November/December 2018

Alligator snapping turtle, temminckii. Photo by Gary M. Stolz, United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Public domain. Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macrochelys temminckii (Troost, 1835)

North America’s Giant Freshwater Turtle by M. A. Cohen rimordial in appearance and Jacob Temminck (1778-1858). Its serpentina. From 1835 until 2014, Pfierce in temperament, the alli- name, Macrochelys, derives biologists regarded the alligator gator snapping turtle, Macrochelys from two Greek root words, macro-, snapping turtle as the lone living temminckii is a formidable . meaning large, and -chelys, mean- species in the genus Macrochelys. It is, by far, the largest freshwater ing a turtle or tortoise. However, in 2014, a team of re- chelonian species native to North A for the genus name searchers officially described two America, as well as being among is Macroclemys, and even now this additional Macrochelys species the largest freshwater in the synonym is present in the litera- based on DNA evidence and cer- world, and it possesses a unique ture and on the internet. However, tain physical characteristics. The physical “lure” that it uses to at- the publication of the name Mac- Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, tract and catch prey. rochelys occurred before that of Macrochelys suwanniensis sp. nov. 1, Officially described in 1835 by Macroclemys, and therefore has is “restricted to the Suwannee Riv- the Dutch-American naturalist priority (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). er drainage of and Georgia.” Gerard Troost (1776-1850), the M. temminckii belongs the Che- alligator snapping turtle received lydridae, a small family of very 1 sp.nov. is an abbreviation of the Latin the species name temminckii in large turtles that also includes the phrase species nova, meaning a new honor of Dutch zoologist Coenraad , species. 2 November/December 2018

C North America’s Giant Freshwater Turtle by M. A. Cohen 1 O Turtletown: The Turtle Sanctuary of Max and Lillian Greene by Ralph Hoekstra 4 N Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph. D. 10 • Turtle Biologists Outline Ecological Repercussions of a World Without Turtles T The Turtle’s Garden: Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium 12 E Galápagos Conservancy press releases 13 N CTTC’s Annual Holiday Giving 2018 14 Meetings and Programs 15 T Russell A. Mittermeier: 2018 Behler Conservation Award Recipient 16 S

The Apalachicola alligator lateral ridges running the length of Range and Habitat snapping turtle, Macrochelys the carapace and adding to the pre- Endemic to the southeastern apalachicolae sp. nov., is “restricted historic appearance of the species. United States, M. temminckii lives to river drainages bounded by the Its carapace is generally covered in all regional river drainages that Choctawhatchee and Ochlock- with algae, adding to the camou- empty into the Gulf of Mexico. onee rivers in Florida, Georgia, and flage of the turtle as it lies in wait Ranging from southeastern Georgia Alabama,” according to Travis M. while luring its prey. and the Florida Panhandle west- Thomas and his team in a paper Cross-shaped and minimized in ward to eastern , the species published in the journal Zootaxa in size, the plastron of the alligator also occurs as far north as Iowa. 2014. snapping turtle lacks a hinge, and While it occasionally ventures its coloration ranges from pale to into brackish environments, the alli- gray-brown in mature individuals, gator snapping turtle lives primarily while, in juveniles, the plastron may in freshwater habitats in deep riv- be mottled with small white patch- ers and their larger tributaries; it is es (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). also found in bayous, canals, deep The pointed head of the species ponds, lakes, and swamps. Hatch- is huge and grayish-brown in color, lings and juveniles typically inhabit with muscular jaws and a sharply smaller streams ( Diversity hooked upper beak. The eyes of M. Web, n.d.). temminckii are encircled by rings of M. temminckii prefers habitats small, fleshy tubercles, and similar with abundant submerged veg- protrusions dot the sides and chin etation that provides cover for of its head as well as its neck (Ernst the turtle’s predatory activities. and Lovich, 2009). The species’ The species is highly aquatic; only tongue “lure” is described in the egg-laying females regularly leave “Feeding and Foods” section. the water in to nest, although Hand-colored lithograph rendered by John The alligator snapping turtle’s males do occasionally bask. E. Holbrook (1794-1871) in North American limbs are typically grayish to brown herpetology; or, A description of the inhabiting the United States published in 1842. above and pale on the under- Public domain. side, and the limbs terminate in oversized claws (Wildscreen Description Arkive, n.d.). The tail is nearly as Weighing up to 249 pounds (113 long as the carapace and has kilograms), the massive adult M. three rows of rounded protru- temminckii measures up to 31.5 sions on top and small scales inches (80 centimeters) in cara- underneath. pace length. Reports of even larger Sexual dimorphism in the individuals exist, but those reports alligator snapping turtle is con- are unconfirmed. spicuous, with the adult male Generally dark-colored and turtles being much larger overall rough-textured, the species’ car- and weighing up to twice as apace features three prominent, much as adult females (Ernst Profile photograph of a “typically cranky [alligator] snap- spiked keels, one medial and two ping turtle at Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in and Lovich, 2009). Alabama.” Photo by Garry Tucker, USFWS. Public domain. Volume 54, Number 6 3

Feeding and Foods factors, mating in M. temminckii oc- international meat markets, habitat Within the mouth of the alligator curs in early to late spring. Nesting alteration and destruction, and snapping turtle there is a unique typical­ly takes place once a season, pollution and pesticide accumula- prey lure that the turtle utilizes in but sometimes only in alternating tion (Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle its quest for food. A vermiform (i.e., years. Incubating from 100 to 140 Specialist Group, 1996). worm-shaped) appendage located days, clutches vary in size from Conservation near the front margin of the turtle’s eight to 52 eggs with 30 being the Several states prohibit all com- lower jaw serves as a “fishing lure,” average number of eggs per clutch mercial trapping of M. temminckii, attracting prey into the cavity of its (Animal Diversity Web, n.d.). while other states allow harvesting open mouth. Attached to the lower provided the necessary permits jaw, the appendage wiggles at both are obtained. Using “forensic ends. At rest this appendage is a genetic tools” it is now possible grayish color, turning pink (mim- to identify the origin of turtle icking a worm) when the turtle is meats, determining whether actively seeking prey. the source of the meat is a The only known turtle in the protected watershed, which is world that is equipped with an illegal, or an area in which har- “oral predatory lure,” the alligator vesting is legal with the proper snapping turtle waits quietly in the permits (Ernst and Lovich, mud for the prey to investigate its 2009). “lure.” Sensing the precise moment The International Union for at which to snap its powerful jaws Alligator snapping turtle with its mouth agape. Notice the Conservation of Nature’s shut, the turtle traps its meal inside the vermiform “lure,” the pink appendage at the front Red List currently categorizes its mouth (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). of its lower jaw. Photo © 2007 by LA Dawson. Source: the alligator snapping turtle Capable of staying submerged for Creative Commons; license: CC-BY-SA-2.5. as “vulnerable” while noting 40 to 50 minutes at a time, the that this evaluation “needs turtle lies motionless while hunting As they emerge from the nest updating” (Tortoise & Freshwater in September or October, hatch- and surfaces only to take in air (An- Turtle Specialist Group. 1996). imal Diversity Web, n.d.). lings resemble the adult alli­­gator CITES classifiesM. temminckii A dietary omnivore, M. temminckii snapping turtles in many respects, as Appendix III, requiring nations is both a hunter and a scavenger, including the dark, rough-textured to cooperate in the prevention of feeding mainly on fish, also ingest- carapace, small tubercles on the “unsustainable or illegal exploita- ing clams, crabs, crayfish, leeches, skin, and the long tail. Both males tion” for purposes of international mussels, and snails. Other flesh and females mature and become trade in wildlife (Convention on foods include amphib­ians, , reproductively active between 11 International Trade in Endangered mammals, snakes, turtles, and and 13 years of age (Animal Diver- Species. n.d.). = small alligators. foods in- sity Web, n.d.). clude various fruits, grains, leaves, REFERENCES Predators Animal Diversity Web. (n.d.). Macrochelys tem- nuts, roots, and seeds. Being an Birds, large fish, otters, and rac- minckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle). [online] opportunistic feeder, the species coons prey on eggs, hatchlings, and Available at: https://animaldiversity.org/ also consumes carrion (Ernst and juvenile alligator snapping turtles; accounts/Macrochelys_temminckii/ Lovich, 2009). alligators are also likely to prey on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. (n.d.). The CITES Appendices | Reproduction the young turtles. CITES. [online] Available at: https://cites.org/ The alligator snapping turtle Humans are the only predators eng/app/index.php exhibits temperature-depen- of adult M. temminckii, which has Ernst, C. and Lovich, J. (2009). Turtles of the dent sex determination/pattern historically suffered substantial United States and Canada. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2, abbreviated as TSD-2. Science exploitation for its meat, especially pp.138-150. for the soup industry (Ernst and broadly describes this pattern as Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. female-male-female TSD, meaning Lovich, 2009). 1996. (errata version published in 2016). that at both the lower and the high- Macrochelys temminckii. The IUCN Red List Threats of Threatened Species [online] Available at: er incubation temperatures, female Because of various threats, alli- http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996. hatchlings emerge, while intermedi- gator snapping turtle populations RLTS.T12589A3362355.en ate incubation temperatures in the are in significant decline throughout Wildscreen Arkive. (n.d.). Alligator snapping nest tend to produce males (Ernst their range. Among the threats im- turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). [online] and Lovich, 2009). Available at: https://www.arkive.org/alli- pacting the species are commercial gator-snapping-turtle/macrochelys-tem- Depending on geographical trapping for both the domestic and minckii/ 4 November/December 2018 Turtletown The Turtle and Tortoise Sanctuary of Max and Lillian Greene in Meiners Oaks, California by Ralph Hoekstra illian Benson was born in ( hermanni L1912 in Minnesota. Max boettgeri), marginated tor- Greene was born in 1904 in toises (Testudo marginata), South Dakota. Both of their Greek tortoises (Testudo families moved from their graeca ibera), Russian tor- farms in Minnesota and South toises (Testudo [Agrionemys] Dakota to the Ojai, CA area in horsfieldii), leopard tortoises the 1920’s. This is where Lil- ( pardalis babcoc- lian and Max met. Max bought ki, now Stigmochelys pardalis), some land in Meiners Oaks Sulcata tortoises (Geochelone in 1924 and, with the help of [] sulcata), and others, built their home. They radiated tortoises (Geoche- married in 1929. lone [] radiata). Their only child, Malcomb The Greenes took advantage (Max Jr.) was born in 1930. Max of the ease with which tortois- Sr. died December 11, 1993 at es could be obtained. Lillian age 90. Lillian died February didn’t tell me exactly how they 23, 1999 at age 87. Max Jr. obtained their exotic tortoises, died June 12, 2001. Max Jr. was but she did tell me about some diagnosed with when of their backgrounds. She told Lillian Greene became ill, but Lillian Greene is seated while giving a turtle talk, and Max Greene me that her large and famous postponed his own treatment holds a . Photos courtesy of Jim Buskirk. male marginated came from in order to help his mother. Yugoslavia, and that is why she The entry of Malcomb Max and Lillian named their named him “Yugo.” Yugo ended Harvey (Max) Greene and Lillian sanctuary “Greene’s Turtletown” up siring almost all of the marginat- Eugenia Greene into the turtle and and made a sign with that name ed tortoises kept in California! Jim tortoise hobby began in earnest and hung it near the entrance to Buskirk, who has done many field when Max retired from his job their yard. They welcomed visitors studies of European tortoises, tried in 1970 at age 65. The local Ojai and gladly shared their thoughts in vain to explain to Lillian that mar- newspaper reported this story in and experiences with the visitors. I ginated tortoises can only be found 1989. Their first tortoise was a believe these visits began in about in Greece. desert tortoise that showed up in 1975 and continued even after Max their garden, dragging a three-foot Sr. died, until Lillian’s health prob- length of chain. They named him lems wouldn’t allow for it. “Speedy.” Max and Lillian began collecting Their time with tortoises, like “exotic” tortoises in the 1970’s, many of us, began with a single and soon they had a collection of desert tortoise. I remember read- around 200 box turtles and tortois- ing a newspaper account of how es. A 1989 Ojai Valley newspaper Max would take a desert tortoise, article said that their collection probably “Speedy,” for walks. The included 20 varieties of turtles and Greene’s home became a sanctuary, tortoises. Max told the reporter and this desert tortoise was soon that he estimates that they have This photo is believed to be Yugo, and was taken joined by other tortoises, either cared for some 2,000 tortoises in- by the author during one of his visits. given to them by folks who found cluding all of the tortoises that they tortoises wandering on a road or hatched. Lillian told me a story about her given to them by the California Fish The 1970’s were an era when Russian tortoises. The Russian tor- and Wildlife and by Animal Control. there were almost no restrictions toises became readily available in They were very proud that they on importing tortoises from all over the market place in the 1990’s, but received the to have desert the world. Their collection includ- during the Cold War were not being tortoises. ed many wild-caught Hermann’s exported in the 1970’s. She told me Volume 54, Number 6 5 that a Dutch university graduate Jr. found canceled checks that student applied to the Soviet Union Max and Lillian used to buy a for a small group of Russian tor- pair of wild-caught adults and five juvenile radiateds. Their other adult female was hatched on their property from eggs deposited in a pen while the Greenes were caring for ra- diated tortoises belonging to someone else. The adult pair that they pur- chased from Tom Lackey was imported from Madagascar, Photo of what is believed to be Mrs. Hags taken by the author during one of his visits with others, probably in the late 1970’s by someone who lived toises for him to do for a research in Indiana. The source for this study. The application was ap- information was a telephone proved, but not until the researcher call with John Grigus, a breeder had moved on. Somehow Max and of radiated tortoises. Tommy Lillian got those tortoises. Crutchfield told me in a tele- phone conversation that a man named Bill Minnick, who lived in Indiana in the 1970’s, This shed is where Max did his research and treatments imported radiated tortoises. of their tortoises. Photo by the author.. Max and Lillian had a pair in pens in the back of their home. of adult Sulcata tortoises. The With one exception, all of the spe- Greenes were among the first cies were kept in separate pens. keepers of this tortoise species The marginated and the Hermann’s in California. The male was terri- tortoises shared the main pen in torial and aggressive, and after front of their home. Max Sr. died, he only allowed Lillian told me that they confront- Lillian in his pen. The pair were ed many of the health problems kept at night in a steel stor- associated with keeping wild- age shed, and, if Lillian hadn’t caught tortoises. There weren’t opened the door when it wanted many veterinarians in the 1970’s out, he would shove the door who had the expertise to deal with Visitors entered the property through a gate just off of off of its track. Max Jr. was al- the driveway. This led to the pen that was used to house chelonian health issues, and none lowed to enter the pen to make their Leopard tortoises. On the occasion of this trip by practiced anywhere near them. She repairs. the author, he took this photo of a pair that was mating. told Max that if they are going to The Greene’s Max, in an undated interview with home was situated the Ojai Valley newspaper, told the on a large lot that reporter that the Russian tortoises provided room for were by far his favorite tortoises. their tortoise pens. He named the large female “Mrs. Max, who was an Hags.” She came to them with large electrician, ran sacs of skin that hung down in front electricity to the of her rear legs. Mrs. Hags, at an pens in order to estimated age of 70, went on to heat the tortoises. produce lots of babies. The same Max used cement article mentioned the Greenes hav- blocks to build the ing a 100-year old male pens located in the named “Vern” who fathered many front of their home offspring. to house their ex- Max and Lillian acquired their otics and their box radiated tortoises from the widow turtles. The desert These pens were in the front of Max and Lillian’s property. Photo by the of Tom Lackey after he died. Max tortoises were held author. 6 November/December 2018 keep these tortoises, they better owner Bob Thomas, Michael Connor their . Most notable were learn how to treat them. and Dave Friend. Both Buskirk and the collections of Care Society Max heeded this advice and made Thomas had made their visits when members Peggy Nichols, Betsy a lab and a turtle hospital in the red Lillian still allowed visitors to enter McCormick, Jack and Mae Smith, shed next to their house. He bought their home. Both men told me that Betty Caldarelli, Helen Cain and a microscope and slides to collect they saw many containers of baby Sandy Veverka. I also visited Walter specimens. He kept daily logs to tortoises wherever the Greenes Allen’s Casa de Tortuga many times. keep track of his treatment regi- could find a place to put them. It was Betty Caldarelli who sug- mens. He experimented with using gested that I go to Ojai and visit the human antibiotics to treat turtle Greenes, and told me that, if Lillian illnesses, keeping track of dosages liked me, she may give me some and duration of the treatment. Max baby tortoises. She also told me to probably got the medicines from his bring some food for the tortoises. brother-in-law, a doctor. Max treat- My wife Jane and I made our first ed a box turtle that had infected visit to Turtletown in 1991. Max Sr. inner ears, a was still alive and Max Jr. was there health issue. He told the reporter to help his dad with the tour. It was that he soon was able to save about a hot day in August. Lillian was al- 60% of the turtles and tortoises ready busy with giving a talk to a that had health issues. He also told group of visitors who had arrived the reporter “I do my doctoring at before we did. Lillian then gave us night.” her turtle talk and show-and-tell. Lillian gave numerous educational Jane stayed in the shade in the talk “turtle talks” to Turtletown visitors, area while Lillian gave me a tour. By often while seated under a canopy. that time, we had spent too much This talk was a requirement before time in the heat and had to go getting the tour of the sanctuary home. that was conducted by Max Sr. Lil- I called Betty Caldarelli when I got lian continued to do these talks and home to tell her of our visit. Betty tours even after Max Sr. died. Lillian told me that we left too soon, and used photographs, shells and a tur- we missed the part when Lillian tle skeleton for these talks. would go into her house and bring After Max Sr. died, Lillian con- out babies for us to choose. I also tinued not only to do these talks called Lillian a few days later to and tours, she also had to care for thank her allowing us to visit, and their collection by herself with the Lillian suggested that we come help of a local teen-aged boy who again on a day when it wasn’t so came every afternoon. This care warm. We accepted her invitation included not only the animals out- and visited her again, bringing lots doors, but also the incubators in of food for the tortoises. her house that were full of eggs and Photo sequence documenting the separation of On another visit, I got there in the cardboard cartons holding baby conjoined twins. Photos by Max Greene Sr. time to help Lillian open the doors tortoises. of the tortoise houses. Just before A local grocery store delivered Max photographed some of his noon she asked if I could go to the its surplus greens to her every af- treatments. He was probably the sandwich shop across the street to ternoon. At night, she covered her first person to successful separate get sandwiches. I asked her what tortoises with electric blankets conjoined twins (two tortoises in she wanted to eat and her answer during the cold months. All this a single egg, both connected to a was a grilled cheese sandwich—her went on even after she was stooped single egg sac). He also used oxyto- staple every day. Then she gave over suffering from osteoporosis! cin to treat an egg–bound tortoise. me money for her lunch and mine, She quit using electric blankets Michael Connor told me that Lillian and she was quite insistent that I when a tortoise scratched through documented this event with an ar- accept her money. This became the one and started a fire. From then ticle in the Tortuga Gazette. routine on all of my visits. I made up on, she covered them at night with I first heard about the Greenes in for this by bringing her even more ordinary blankets. 1991. I had been visiting other large food for her collection of tortoises. Early visitors to Turtletown in- collections to see the tortoises and I made some small tortoise hous- cluded Jim Buskirk, Triple T Ranch to see how other hobbyists kept es for her to use in her house while Volume 54, Number 6 7

with the juvenile radi- her permit from California Fish and ateds. I put the larger Game which was issued on the con- of the two in with her dition that no sales of tortoises can adult male. A one-sided occur when desert tortoises are on combat episode soon the premises. started with Lillian’s The infirmities of old age caught male pushing the new up with Lillian, and she had to be guy around like a beach hospitalized. During her stay in the ball. He soon joined the hospital, an undetected sore on the other male in the juve- back of her foot brought her close niles’ pen. to death. Her son Max brought her During one of our to Sun City, Arizona where Lillian’s phone calls I told Lillian sister lived with her husband, who that some Libyan Greek was a retired physician. They cared This is what a lucky visitor would see when visiting Turtletown: a tortoises were available for Lillian until she died. carton of hatchling tortoises. Lillian would offer such a visitor the for sale from an im- While Lillian was hospitalized, chance to pick out one or two babies to bring home! Photo by the porter in Florida. To my Max Jr. and the teen-aged helper author. surprise she asked me tried to take care of her collection raising young tortoises indoors. to buy a pair for her. To of turtles and tortoises. Max asked She hadn’t asked me to do this, but her dismay, however, the pair soon for my help. I went to meet him at accepted them anyway. On a sub- succumbed to a disease. Lillian was Turtletown. sequent visit, she gave them back in her 80’s and still wanted to add We inventoried the collection and to me because she said she was too to her collection. we made a list of Lillian’s friends set in her ways to try something new. Betsy McCormick ended up with the houses. Lillian was concerned that her pair of radiated tortoises had not produced fertile eggs. The female nested but the eggs were infertile. I had read an article that said that male radiated tortoises needed to experience male-to-male combat in order to enhance their fertility. I did some searching and found out that the Jersey Zoo had a sur- plus male. I contacted the zoo, told them of the situation with Lillian’s pair and got permission from them to import the male. This idea came to a halt when the US Fish & Wild- life Service wouldn’t approve the import permit stating that there are enough surplus males already in This photo sequence displays shell damage due to the use of a grappling hook. It was used by Lillian America. during her show-and-tell talks. Photographs by Max Greene Sr. He was right! The Bronx Zoo had two of them, and, when I asked Bill Lillian had a very pleasant per- who kept similar species. I made a Holmstrom, the curator of Reptiles sonality and liked the people who matrix for Max Jr. to show Lillian, at the Bronx Zoo, about them, he visited her collection. But she and he let her know that this place- agreed to give them to me. All I had changed her mind about some peo- ment would be temporary until she to do was to pay for the shipping ple, who upon receiving a tortoise regained her strength. Lillian did not and to return the containers. from her for free, went on to sell the approve this plan. She insisted that I called Lillian to tell her the good tortoise soon after getting the gift. she would soon be healthy enough news. I brought the two males to Lillian never charged anyone for to leave the hospital and resume her. One was too small to do any her baby tortoises. They were a gift her life with the tortoises. sort of combat. He went to the pen from her to fortunate Turtletown Even after she was moved to visitors. She diligently protected Arizona she still would not approve 8 November/December 2018

told us that some peo- He also made a hinged tortoise ple already took the shell as a “show and tell” item for his marginated tortoises mother which she used to educate and the box turtles visitors to Turtletown. without first asking him. Max donated almost all of Lillian’s He knew who they were. turtle and tortoise knickknacks, We placed the re- jewelry and literature that included maining tortoises into a complete set of the International their tubs and loaded Turtle and Tortoise Society Jour- them into Rich’s Sub- nals, to the Turtle and Tortoise Care urban. We said our Society Chapter. The sale of these goodbyes to Max Jr. and items netted the chapter over got into the SUV. Rich $2,00000 ; $80000 of these funds had to make a U-turn, purchased a great collection of rep- and we heard the swish- tile books for the Los Angeles Zoo. ing of water—almost all All of the books were stamped “Do- of the tortoises had uri- nated to the Los Angeles Zoo from nated! We had to empty the estate of Malcomb and Lillian the urine from the tubs, Greene.” rinse them out and re- As I said before, Max Jr. was not place the newspapers. a “turtle person”. He was, however, We then loaded the a serious collector of antiques and tortoises back into the artifacts. His collection included tubs and departed. museum-quality items amassed There were some over many years. A visit to his home tortoises that were nev- was a treat! The first words out er on exhibit or in the of your mouth were “These items pens. There were about should be in a museum!” A very happy Lillian with the author and her radiated tortoises, her original male and the male from the Bronx Zoo. Photo by Max a dozen deformed tor- I am glad that I was able to help Greene Jr. toises that Lillian kept in Max Jr. with this sad project of her house. I had to add finding homes for his parents’ a temporary move of her tortoises, another adoptee/care- turtles and tortoises. However, I much less a permanent one. In the taker to the list to receive these end, most of my recommendations tortoises. Pat and Mike Chris- for who should receive the tortoises tianson gladly accepted these were implemented, with some ex- tortoises (along with a few “nor- ceptions. mal” ones). Mike is a licensed My recommendation for the ra- veterinarian, and both Pat and diateds was for Max Jr. to sell them, Mike share a love for animals of but he replied that his mother never all kinds. sold any tortoises and he was not Max Jr. created a Certificate about to do so himself. He told me of Adoption for each person that, if I wanted the radiateds, they who received Lillian’s tortoises, were mine. a document that listed the tor- Max Jr. asked me to help with toises that were given to them. the distribution of the collection. Max Jr. told me that he wasn’t a I gathered up large plastic tubs “turtle person” and didn’t want and asked Rich Ayres and Michael to keep any of the animals. Connor to help. Rich Ayres was to Max Jr. was retired from Shell be the temporary keeper of the ra- Oil, where he worked as a ge- diateds. Michael Connor was to be ologist and had assignments there to verify what we were doing in Alaska and Texas. Either by in case anyone had suspicions of avocation or vocation, he picked what was happening. up paleontology skills. When he This photo, taken by the author, shows Russ Smith (left), My son Brian, Rich, Mike and I was a teenager, he uncovered a then the Curator of Reptiles at the Los Angeles Zoo, drove to Turtletown in Rich’s Chevy of a whale in a creek bed receiving the gift of reference books from Max Greene Suburban. We met Max Jr. and he near Ojai. Jr. (right). Volume 54, Number 6 9 must mention a tragic thing that adjoining pen. I called Mike Chris- contrary–he gave them all away! happened to my tortoise collection tianson and made an appointment What we who keep turtles and because of my help. Max gave me with him to confirm my suspicions. tortoises should take from this sto- a male to breed Sadly, my suspicions were correct. ry is the need to have a plan for how with my female. He also told me to All of the tortoises that were still to dispose of your collection before take back the two radiated males alive that tested positive for the the time comes when you cannot that were mine. I placed the Rus- disease were euthanized immedi- take care of them. sian male in the pen that held my ately except for the larger of the I wish to thank Wendy Barker, Russian female and also held my two radiated males from the Bronx Executive Director of the Ojai Val- long-term Hermann’s and margin- Zoo. Mike valiantly tried for months ley Museum for her help. Wendy ated male. One night a rat entered to save him, but to no avail. provided me with two articles that the tortoise house at night and I never got to meet Max Sr., but were published by the Ojai Valley killed the Russian male. I could tell I have learned a lot about him. He News entitled: “Turtles find haven that it was a rat by the size of the was a pioneer in the treatment of with the Greenes” and “So Happy tooth marks. turtle diseases. I have fond mem- Together.” I also wish to thank Dave An outbreak of herpes ories of my good friends Lillian and Friend, Jim Buskirk, Michael Connor occurred in my collection, probably her son Max Jr. and Bob Thomas, who regaled me from the stressed Russian male. I always had intended to write an with personal stories of their visits I was told that Russian tortoises article about Lillian. When I started to Turtletown during the prepara- are carriers of this disease, and, al- talking with folks who knew her, I tion of this article. = though it is dormant, it can become found out that I needed to dispute active if the tortoise is stressed. some misinformation and to count- Special thanks to Ralph Hoekstra for researching and preparing this article. He is a past president My other tortoises in the pen soon er rumors that were circulating. One of the CTTC Turtle & Tortoise Care Society (Long showed the symptoms of this example of these false beliefs was Beach). He has been a tortoise enthusiast for 40 disease, including the two Bronx that Max Jr. sold off his mother’s years and has kept most of the tortoise species Zoo radiated males who were in an turtles and tortoises. Quite the that are, or were, in the pet trade.

Photo sequence of “non-nest” nesting by a Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni). The nesting took place indoors in a shallow plastic tub lined with newsprint. Photographed by Max Greene Sr. 10 November/December 2018

Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. A varied selection of recent articles, stories and sites on the Web that some of you may find as interesting as I did. This list is also posted at tortoise.org/turtlenetpicks Galapagos Tortoise Theft | 123 A Turtle by Any Other Name... | Sci- Mexico Blocks Xcacel Beach Hotel hatchling Galapagos tortoises were ence Friday podcast uncovers how Project (Again) | Mexico has denied stolen from the breeding facility on exploiting rules sowed permits for another proposed hotel Isabela Island! confusion in alligator snapping turtle development at Xcacel. The beach is Utah Sulcata! | Reports have sur- . a major nesting site for loggerhead, faced that sulcata are being aban- Loggerhead Sea Turtles Hatch in hawksbill and green sea turtles. doned to die at Red Cliffs Desert Delaware | For the first time since Six in 10 Turtle Species Are Threat- Reserve. 1973, a loggerhead nested ened or Extinct | 61 percent of all Stolen Radiated Tortoises on a beach in Delaware and success- modern turtle species are threatened fully produced hatchlings... or already extinct according to a new Return to Australian Zoo | Two study by researchers from the Uni- radiated tortoises stolen from Perth Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles Hatch in versity of Georgia, the University of Zoo in 2013 have been recovered New York | ...meanwhile, 96 Kemp’s California-Davis, the U.S. Geological safe and sound. hatchlings crawled out to sea from their nest on the Survey and the Tennessee Aquarium Arkansas Expands Turtle Harvest Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, New Conservation Institute. Bucking trends to conserve native York! turtles, in response to a petition to Plastic Waste Kills! | Researchers ban commercial harvest Arkansas Hurricane Erases Whole Island | found there was a one in five chance Game and Fish Commission voted East Island, one of the larger islands of death for a sea turtle who had instead to issue up to 150 turtle of French Frigate Shoals and used as consumed just one plastic item - trapping permits despite there being a nesting beach by green sea turtles, rising to 50% for 14 pieces. only 35 trappers operating in the was wiped out by Hurricane Walaka Video - Turtle Nursery Secrets | state. Released off BBC Natures - Turtle Nursery Se- Northernmost American Turtles? | Seal Beach | Video and photographs crets from the Nest. New research paper concludes that of the release of “Jelly the green CTTC On Facebook | For breaking snapping turtles are native to Cape sea turtle” following her successful news updates, visit and “like” us on Breton Island, Nova Scotia. rehabilitation at the Aquarium of the Facebook! Pacific.

Turtle Biologists Outline Ecological Repercussions of a World Without Turtles press release from Turtle Survival Alliance written by Jordan Gray Charleston, South Carolina—19 and demonstrating quantitative September 2018—Daudin’s Giant and qualitative environmental Tortoise. Floreana Giant Tortoise. impacts of large-scale population Viesca Mud Turtle. Pinta Giant reduction and species loss. Tortoise. Reunion Giant Tortoise. In “We are only beginning to un- just the last 200 years, these five derstand the ecological value of species of chelonian have disap- turtles to the ecosystems we share peared from the Earth forever—and with them. Given the rapid decline an unparalleled number of others of many turtle populations, and the are on the brink of following suit. of some species, we are Of the 478 recognized modern-day racing against time to learn more species and of turtle about their place in the intricate and tortoise, approximately 61% machinery of nature,” states co-au- are threatened with or have already , the last Pinta giant tortoise, thor Dr. Jeffrey Lovich. become extinct, making them the ( nigra abingdoni), who died on TSA President Rick Hudson adds: 24 June 2012, causing his species to become most endangered order of verte- extinct. Photo © 2007 by putneymark. Source: “This is an important and highly brates. But, what does the loss of Creative Commons; license CC-BY-SA-2.0 useful paper in that it summarizes these animals which have inhabited the information we need to answer the earth for over 200 million years (U.S. Geological Survey), Dr. Whit that oft-asked question ‘what good mean for global ecology and the Gibbons (University of Georgia), Dr. are turtles and why should we pro- environments in which they reside? Joshua Ennen (Tennessee Aquar- tect them?’ For all of us working to In a new publication in BioScience ium Conservation Institute), and conserve turtles this paper is much entitled “Where Have All the Turtles Mickey Agha (University of Califor- needed and long-overdue.” = nia-Davis) address these questions Gone, and Why Does It Matter?” Click by synthesizing existing knowledge Where Have All the Turtles turtle biologists Dr. Jeffrey Lovich to read the full paper. of the ecological role of chelonians Gone? Volume 54, Number 6 11 12 November/December 2018 the Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Turtle’s arden nn o heonn by M A Cohen ative to the temperate areas Description Nof the Northern Hemisphere, A mat-forming, her- common yarrow, Achillea millefoli- baceous, evergreen um, is a member of the daisy family, perennial, common the Asteraceae, also known as the yarrow grows easily and Compositae. rapidly, producing an Besides its extensive native dis- abundance of flowers tribution, common yarrow has been and attracting ben- introduced, often as forage for live- eficial to the stock, into Australia, New Zealand, garden. With an upright and elsewhere, naturalizing freely growth habit, A. mille- throughout many regions with mild folium spreads freely temperatures. through rhizomes, hor- The genus name of common izontal underground yarrow, Achillea, derives from the stems which produce name of Achilles, the hero of the lateral shoots that, in Foliage and blossoms of the common yarrow, Achillea millefolium. Trojan Wars in Greek mythology, turn, form new . Photo © 2005 by Pablo Alberto Salguero Quiles. Source: Creative who reportedly used the plant to A note of cau- Commons; license: CC BY-SA 3.0. staunch the bleeding of wounded tion: some gardeners soldiers. Several of common yar- consider A. millefolium to be an ag- The species flower color is white, row’s other common names re­fer gressive species that may overtake with cultivars available in many col- to its historical use for stopping neighboring plants. Despite this ors, including cream, pinks, yellows, bleeding, including bloodwort 1, invasive tendency, common yarrow red, and bicolor pastels. Flowering nosebleed plant, soldier’s wound- is an excellent choice for meadows, typically occurs from April through wort, sanguinary, and staunchweed. cottage gardens, rock gardens, September in the Northern Hemi- flowering ground covers, wildflower sphere. 1 -wort: Used in combination with another word, the term –wort, meaning gardens, and other informal plant- Cultivation an herbaceous plant, denotes a plant ings. Best grown in full sun, A. mille- used for food or for medicinal purposes. Finely-cut, -like, leaves are folium prefers sandy soil, good green or gray, grow 2.8 drainage, and moderate watering to 4.7 inches (7 to 12 once established. Provide regular centimeters) long, and watering following the initial plant- have a spicy fragrance. ing, after which the species will Flower clusters, known become quite drought-tolerant. to botanists as com- Deadheading, the removal of pound corymbs, are spent flower heads, will encourage flattened or slightly rebloom and prolong the blooming convex groupings of 20 season. To promote vitality, when to 25 individual blos- clumps of common yarrow become soms; each corymb is overcrowded, dig and divide the in- 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 dividual plants in spring. centimeters) across With its many positive qualities, and sits atop a stalk common yarrow is a valuable ad- that grows up to 3 feet dition to the garden: it attracts (1 meter) tall. Common beneficial and predatory insects A magenta cultivar of common yarrow. Photo © 2007 by Kenpei. yarrow has a spread of as well as pollinators, is deer- and Source: Creative Commons; license: CC-BY-SA-3.0. up to 3 feet (1 meter). rabbit-resistant, and its chemistry, Volume 54, Number 6 13 particularly the abundance of min- Galápagos Conservancy press releases erals in its leaves, improves poor es found on Volcano to have soil. Additionally, A. millefolium is Galápagos tortoises returned partial genetic ancestry with this useful both as a cut fresh flower home following trafficking species. The young tortoises are in season and as a dried flower for attempt to Peru all healthy, and will eventually be winter bouquets. 14 June 2018—After a lengthy stay released onto when in Peru following a wildlife traffick- Edibility and Medicinal Uses they are five-six years old as part of ing attempt in April 2017, 26 young Common yarrow has been utilized a long-term program to repopulate Galápagos tortoises were finally by humans for many centuries. Culi- the island with giant tortoises. nary uses of common yarrow in- returned to the Islands. A clude young leaves minced in mixed technical team from the salads, and fresh leaves served Galápagos National Park Di- with fruit. Leaves can be cooked rectorate (GNPD) executed like other greens, and tea can be the necessary procedures brewed from its flowers and leaves. to enter the tortoises into Native Americans called com- quarantine at the Galápa- mon yarrow a “life medicine,” and gos Air Base on Baltra modern science is investigating its Island. They will remain in efficacy as a treatment for numer- quarantine for six months ous ailments. = in a specially-constructed corral within the Air Base, REFERENCES­ which has been set up to Brenzel, K. (2012). The New Sunset Western Garden Book. 9th ed. New York, NY: Time meet all of the conditions Home Entertainment Inc., pp.132-133. the tortoises require for Edible Wild Food. (n.d.). Common Yarrow, Achillea optimal well-being during Map of the Galápagos Islands; in pink: distribution of Galápa- millefolium. [online] Available at: https://www. this period. gos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) complex. Rendering © 2012 ediblewildfood.com/common-yarrow.aspx Specialists from the by Chucao. Source: Creative Commons; license: CC-BY- SA-3.0. Growers Exchange. (n.d.). Achillea millefolium GNPD and Galápagos Conservancy reviewed the (Yarrow). [online] Available at: https://www. The Floreana tortoise went thegrowers-exchange.com/Achillea_Millefo- physical conditions of the tortoises extinct on its home island ap- lium_p/her-ach01.htm and placed a subcutaneous identifi- proximately 150 years ago due to cation device in each. The tortoises exploitation by whalers and other were active and healthy and did not mariners for food, as well as hunting hesitate to feed on chopped by the first settlers in the 18th and provided by Park rangers. 19th centuries. Whether to lighten Jorge Carrión, Director of the their load for the journey home or to Galápagos National Park, expressed make additional room for whale oil, his gratitude to all the Ecuador- mariners dropped a large number ian and Peruvian institutions and of tortoises from other islands at organizations that made it possible Banks Bay, at the base of Wolf Vol- to recover this group of tortoises cano. Scientists on an expedition to that are part an important endemic Wolf Volcano in 2015 found 19 tor- species to the Archipelago. toises with partial Floreana tortoise § § § ancestry, which were transported 67 Tortoises Hatched from back to Santa Cruz for the new the New Floreana Breeding breeding program. Program This Year The restoration of a tortoise pop- ulation on Floreana Island with high 25 July 2018—A total of 67 tortois- genetic similarity to the island’s es hatched this year from the first original tortoise is part of a larger nesting season of the new Flore- island restoration program, which ana tortoise breeding program, includes the elimination of intro- which was started in March by the Botanical illustration of common yarrow from duced mammals and the return Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Sch- Galápagos National Park to “bring of other species that disappeared weiz [translation: Flora from Germany, Austria back” the extinct Floreana tortoise from the island (such as the native and Switzerland ] by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm () using tortois- snake and Floreana mockingbird).= Thomé, published in 1885. Public domain. 14 November/December 2018

From the Chair by Abigail DeSesa, Outgoing CEO Annual Holiday Giving Donations are the life blood of • Recommended by an Execu- As a Member, if you would like to every non-profit or charitable or- tive Board Member recommend an organization that ganization, allowing them to fulfill • Chelonian Related fits these requirements, please their stated missions. CTTC is no • Current Charitable 501(c)3 contact your Chapter’s Executive exception. A wonderful woman Non-profit Organization Board Delegate for submission no named Marcella Blechman gave the • Established and Reputable later than July 1st annually. After CTTC the phenomenal ability to not Additionally, the Executive Board vetting of the recommended or- only fulfill our missions, but assist distributed a $1,000 to the Santa ganizations, the entire California others with theirs, by paying her Clarita Valley Chapter for building Turtle & Tortoise Club Executive generosity forward to fellow orga- safe holding pens for turtles and Board will vote on each organization nizations supporting chelonians in tortoises at their local animal shel- and the amount they will receive, at need. ter. Future donations to outside the annual October meeting. The In October of 2018, the California organizations, as well as distri- Annual Holiday Giving is subject to Turtle & Tortoise Club’s Executive butions to our chapters, will be the annual performance of the In- Board, voted to give out donations determined by these requirements, vestment Portfolio. in its Second Annual Holiday Giving. in addition to how well the Califor- Congratulations to the thirteen Twelve outside recipients received nia Turtle & Tortoise Club Executive recipients that received donations 00 a total of $34,000 . Board’s Investment Portfolio per- in the Second Annual Holiday Giving The following requirements had forms. The Investment Portfolio for the contributions they bring to to be met to be considered for a do- was created out of the Marcella the chelonian world. = nation from the California Turtle & Blechman Estate Donation received Tortoise Club Executive Board. in the Fall of 2016.

Annual Giving 2018

Recipient’s Name Amount Awarded Turtle Conservancy (TC) $ 6,000 Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) $ 4,000 Desert Tortoise Council (DTC) $ 4,000 Long Island Turtle Rescue $ 4,000 Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group $ 2,000 Tortoise Group $ 2,000 The Desert Tortoise Conservancy $ 2,000 Dr. Margaretha Hofmeyr (South Africa) $ 2,000 Dr. Russell Burke, Hofstra U () $ 2,000 The Living Desert $ 2,000 Dr. Stephen Dunbar (Sea Turtles) $ 2,000 Southwestern Herpetologists Society $ 2,000 Santa Clarita Valley Chapter Reimbursement $ 1,000 Castaic Animal Shelter Turtle & Tortoise Holding Enclosure

TOTAL GIVING $35,000 Volume 54, Number 6 15

Box Turtle Hibernation Ecology Meetings and Programs Click on your Chapter’s website link for the latest program information. Programs may be T. P. Boucher et al. [2017, The scheduled after newsletter publication. Herpetological Bulletin 142:1-5] studied thermal ecology of the Chino Valley: 16 November; Santa Barbara-Ventura: Contact (Terrapene 21 December–no meeting the chapter for meeting information carolina carolina) during the Foothill: 27 November–Dr. cooler months of the year (Sep- Alan Pollack; 17 December– Santa Clarita: 1 December— tember-April) at the Mason Neck Christmas Party Potluck [note Annual Holiday Potluck and National Wildlife Refuge, Fairfax the meeting date changes] Bingo Party [note the meeting County, Virginia. The research date change] enlisted individual male and female High Desert: 12 November; TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo): turtles tracked by radio teleme- 10 December 14 November; 12 December try. Observations were made on Inland Empire: 2 November; behavior and thermoregulation in 7 December TTCS (Long Beach): 16 November–Dr. Michael Tuma; relation to their effect as the turtles Kern County: 12 November; 21 December–Annual Holiday entered into hibernacula, moved 10 December during winter, and emerged in the Party and Gift Exchange Low Desert: 3 December spring. The authors found extensive Valley: 16 November; above ground movements through Orange County: 9 November; 21 December–Annual Holiday mid- to late December and ground 14 December Potluck and Gift Exchange movements among hibernacula Ridgecrest: 12 November; Executive Board: Meetings take were more frequent than expected. 10 December place at the Los Angeles County Turtles emerged in late March Arboretum in Arcadia, CA. and early April and, depending on the spring warm-up, the turtles remained close to hibernacula “I think I learned to appreciate and treasure before undertaking characteristic each day, because you don’t know how many spring movement and activity. The you’re going to be given.” observed thermal characteristics —Sandra Day O’Connor (born 1930), Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1981-2006) of microhabitats appeared to affect and could predict varied behaviors and movements. While turtles in Classified Advertisements geographic areas where tempera- Classified advertisements run for one issue at $500 for up to four lines. Ads are accepted tures fall below freezing enter at the discretion of the Editor. Classified ads are available to members and subscrib- ers only and are run as a service to our members. California Turtle & Tortoise Club is not hibernacula during the winter, this responsible for merchandise placed for sale in the Tortuga Gazette. study found this to be a general- Please make your check payable to the California Turtle & Tortoise Club. ization. The temperature profiles Please send ad fee to: CTTC Tortuga Gazette, attn Treasurer, P. O. Box 7300, Van Nuys, of specific microhabitats suggest a CA 91409-7300. relationship between amount, Mail fee with ad copy to the Tortuga Gazette mailing address; OR mail fee to the postal and degree of activity. In northern address above, and email the ad copy to the Gazette Editor. Virginia, the authors found turtles to be significantly more active California Turtle & Tortoise Club: a Society The Tortuga Gazette (ISSN 1073-1334) is owned than expected at temperatures Dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, by the California Turtle & Tortoise Club Execu- that would otherwise suggest less Conservation and Education since 1964. Pro- tive Board, which is incorporated in the State of movement. They entered hiber- moting and Facilitating the Care, Rescue and California as a Not-for-Profit Corporation and is tax-exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3). nacula late, moved (relocated) Adoption of Native and Nonnative Turtles and Tortoises. All material is copyright © CTTC unless dependent on environmental ambi- otherwise attributed. CTTC policy permits ent temperatures, seemed to be reproduction of articles by other not-for-profit subject to freezing during the win- groups and educational institutions when per- ter, and emerged early. = Is your email address changing? mission is requested. Permission is granted on a case-by-case basis and CTTC must be cited as Update your email address through your the source of the material. Originally published in the Bulletin of the Chicago MailChimp account by clicking the “Update Views expressed in the Tortuga Gazette are Herpetological Society 53(4): 102, 2018. Re- Your Preferences” link on your newsletter no- those of the contributors and not necessarily printed with permission. tice. Or send your changes and corrections to those of the Editor or the California Turtle & Tor- [email protected] toise Club. 16 November/December 2018

Behler Turtle Conservation Award 2018 Russell A. Mittermeier by Jordan Gray—Turtle Survival Alliance press release 23 August 2018—This forests and , with year the 13th annual Behler a strong side interest in Turtle Conservation Award turtles, working with last celebrates and honors year’s Behler Award winner Russell A. Mittermeier Peter Paul van Dijk, now at for his half-century of GWC as well. dedication to science and Although he has been conservation of turtles and involved in the creation primates, as well as being a of many different funding world-leading global con- mechanisms for biodiver- servationist of the highest sity conservation and is a caliber. Russ has been a regular participant in con- hard-core herpetologist ferences on subjects as since childhood, with a par- diverse as climate change, ticular interest in turtles, parkeri Rhodin & Mittermeier, 1976, Parker’s snake-necked turtle, biodiversity, protected snakes, and crocodilians. photographed at the Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY. Russell Mittermeier was involved in areas, and of course pri- As an undergraduate at the official description of this species. Photo © 2006 by David J. Stang. Source: mates and turtles, he is Dartmouth (where he and Creative Commons; license CC-BY-SA-4.0. happiest when out explor- Anders met and formed a ing yet another rain forest, International Union for the Con- life-long friendship) and at gradu- or searching for a rare or servation of Nature (IUCN). He has ate school at Harvard, he pursued turtle or some other flagship spe- served as Chair of the IUCN Pri- work on turtles and primates and cies on his bucket list, or adding yet mate Specialist Group since 1977, carried out field work in Panama, another country to his Travelology and in 1979 began a process with Tanzania, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, List, currently at 169 countries. Ed Moll and Peter Pritchard that and Suriname. The work in Brazil led Indeed, based on a -watching resulted in the creation of the IUCN to a number of publications on Am- model, he created the concept of Freshwater Chelonian Specialist azonian turtles, the most notable of Primate-Watching and Life-List- Group in 1981. He served as that which was the redescription of the ing to stimulate global interest in new group’s first Vice Chair under Red-headed Amazon Sideneck Tur- these animals, and is in the pro- Ed Moll and has been on the Exec- tle ( erythrocephala). cess of trying to do the same for utive Committee of the combined In 1989, Russ became President Turtle-Watching. He has almost IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater of Conservation International (CI), certainly been to more rain forests Turtle Specialist Group ever since, a position that he held for 25 years, than anyone else and seen over 90 as well as a long-time and current switching to Executive Vice-Chair species of turtles in the wild. Board member of Turtle Survival in 2014. At CI, he was the key figure Russ is especially proud of his Alliance, Turtle Conservancy, Turtle in adapting Norman Myers’ Biodi- work in discovering and describing Conservation Fund, and Chelonian versity Hotspots concept as a core species new to science. He has Research Foundation. He was also strategy for that organization for been involved in the description present at the creation of the TSA the next two decades, with huge- of 20 new species (3 turtles and in Fort Worth back in 2001. Other ly successful fundraising results. 17 primates), has had 8 named IUCN positions include the Steering From Myers’ original 10 hotspots, after him (two lemurs, one saki Committee of the Species Survival and then later 18, Russ and col- monkey, three frogs, a lizard, and Commission since 1982 and the leagues carried out research that an ant – but no turtles yet), and IUCN Council from 2004 to 2012, eventually increased the number has collected several named by and he was an IUCN Vice-President to 36. Russ also created the con- other people. His work has been from 2008-2012. In December, cepts of Megadiversity Countries recognized by many different 2017, Russ moved to Global Wildlife and High Biodiversity Wilderness organizations, universities, and Conservation (GWC) to work with Areas as additional strategies for countries. Wes Sechrest and Don Church, priority-setting, and also worked He is a member of the American and is currently that organization’s with several colleagues to adapt Academy of Arts and Sciences, has Chief Conservation Officer. His these and the Hotspots for turtle two honorary doctorates, one from work there, as it has for the past 50 priority-setting as well. In addition, Stony Brook and one from Eckerd years, focuses heavily on tropical Russ has had a long history with College in Florida, was named a Volume 54, Number 6 17

“Hero for the Planet” by Time mag- Survival Alliance are honored to be azine in 1998 (an honor shared by joined again this year by the Turtle previous Behler Award winner Peter Conservancy and the Turtle Con- Pritchard), and has received nearly servation Fund as co-presenters of To Our two dozen awards, including the the prestigious Behler Turtle Con- Gold Medal of the San Zo- servation Award, bringing together ological Society (1987), the Order the four turtle organizations most Members: of the Golden Ark from Prince Ber- closely tied to John Behler’s legacy. nhard of the Netherlands (1995), This award would not be possible the National Order of the Southern without the following group of May Your Cross from the President of Brazil dedicated and generous co-spon- (1997), the Grand Sash and Order sors: Global Wildlife Conservation, of the Yellow Star (1998) from the Turtle Conservancy, IUCN Tortoise President of Suriname, the Sir Peter and Freshwater Turtle Special- Holiday Scott Award for Conservation Merit ist Group, Chelonian Research from the SSC (2006), and the Har- Foundation, Wildlife Conservation vard University Graduate School of Society, Turtle Conservation Fund, Season be Arts and Sciences Centennial Med- Surprise Spring Foundation, Turtle al (2017). In September, he will also Survival Alliance, Andrew Sabin receive the prestigious Indianapolis Family Foundation, George Meyer filled with Prize for his leadership in global and Maria Semple, Brett and Nancy conservation efforts. Last but not Stearns, and Deb Behler. least, Russ has for a long time been Congratulations Russ, old Hope, Joy a trusted friend, mentor, facilitator, friend—extremely well deserved! and partnership builder for many in Anders G.J. Rhodin and Rick Hud- the turtle and global research and son, Co-Chairs, Behler Turtle and Peace conservation communities. Conservation Award Committee. The Tortoise and Freshwater = Turtle Specialist Group and Turtle

The California Turtle & Tortoise Club (CTTC) Chino Valley Chapter: P. O. Box 1753, Ridgecrest Chapter: P. O. Box 1272, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Contri- Chino, CA 91708-1753 Ridgecrest, CA 9355 butions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Please pay by USA funds only (US Foothill Chapter: P. O. Box 51002, Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter: bank check, money order, or International Pasadena, CA 91115-1002 P.O. Box 3086, Camarillo, CA 93011- Postal Order). 3086 Membership in the CTTC and subscriptions to High Desert Chapter: P. O. Box 163, the Tortuga Gazette are handled through the Victorville, CA 92393 Santa Clarita Chapter: P.O. Box 4012, Castaic, CA 91310 CTTC Chapters. The Chapters also manage Inland Empire Chapter: P.O. Box membership renewals. 2371, San Bernardino, CA 92406- TOOSLO Chapter: P.O. Box 14222, Many members choose to join a nearby 2371 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 Chapter to participate in Chapter meetings Kern County Chapter: P.O. Box Turtle & Tortoise Care Society and other activities. Print membership forms 81772, Bakersfield, CA 93380-1772 from the CTTC website. Chapter: P O Box 15952, Long Beach, CA 90815 Your Chapter and your renewal date (month/ Low Desert Chapter: P.O. Box 4156, year) are displayed on your newsletter notifi- Palm Desert, CA 92261 Valley Chapter: P.O. Box 7364, Van cation. Mail your new or renewal membership/ Orange County Chapter: P.O. Box Nuys, CA 91409-7364 subscription to the Chapter of your choice. 11124, Santa Ana, CA 9271 Membership fees • Student membership ...... $1500 • Individual membership .... $2500 the Tortuga Gazette California Turtle & Tortoise Club Family membership ...... $3500 • Post Office Box 7300 00 • Life membership ...... $500 Van Nuys, CA 91409-7300 https://www.tortoise.org/