Megan Mosby
Executive Director
New Species – New Hope
Good news! A new species has been identified on a Sky Island mountain range in the Chiricahuas…a new species of tarantula living in our own backyard. For me, while this news is exciting, it is also complicated…due to my unnatural fear of things with a lot of legs, namely spiders. Facing my fears in favor of embracing a newly discovered creature is a challenge (so many legs to get up and go on!) and with 8 eyes (take my word for this), and a lot of bristly hairs (designed to be shot up the nose of any dangerous antagonist) and with accompanying fangs (the better to bite you with). But enough with my fears. This beauty of a creature is blackish-grey with a bright red belly coupled with all of those other things already mentioned….but it IS certain to be a beauty in the eyes of another jacobii tarantula!
(Photo credit: Brent E. Hendrixson, Fox Weather)
In the middle of an extinction crisis, the discovery of a new species is good news, and gives me hope!
Because of the isolation of the Sky Islands where it was found, it has been able to evolve uniquely. The separation of the mountain ranges by low level grasslands and desert has provided for this and other unique species to populate unhampered. The newly found tarantula named aphonopelma jacobii isn’t the only tarantula in the high elevation area which is also home to the A. Chiricahua tarantula. But, the uniqueness and coloration topped with a good disposition (hmmmm???) makes this newly discovered creature high on the list of the collectors. Flagrant collection, along with the challenges of climate change and habitat loss will present a new set of challenges for jacobii.
Tarantulas, like many other misunderstood critters have more good to offer than not. Gardeners love to have them in the yard. They are known for their voracious insectivores eating habits. Caterpillars, beetles and other challenges for gardeners are regularly on their menus.
In addition, while they do have a venomous bite after first warning you off by shooting those bristly hairs up your nose, the pain is usually like a lingering bee sting. Researchers are finding the peptides in the venom useful in research for treating muscular dystrophy. Atrial fibrillation, neuropathy, sickle cell anemia and Parkinson’s disease are also targets of new research related to the venom from tarantulas. (Check out some of the research being done at UC Davis).
These are reason in themselves to protect jacobii while we can. It would be a shame to lose something that might teach us ways to prevent suffering in others. In a time when the loss of species around the planet is headlines, isn’t it great that we are able to applaud the recognition of a new discovery of a unique species? This and many other reasons, is why we need to protect the remaining unexplored places that might harbor more treasures. We should welcome the identification of new species, whether it is leggy, hairy, and fangy, or not.
So, good news from the Chiricahuas…our number of tarantulas species just grew to 30! And, this does give me reason to hope!
This Week @ Liberty – August 27, 2024
I know I may talk a lot of ‘smack’ about Phoenix and our heat and this insane weather we’ve been having (90+ days of over 100 degrees?! Where are we!), but I’m not sure I’ve talked too much about how much I love it. In retrospect, Phoenix is the first place I chose to move on my own (after graduating high school and my father retired from the military). There’s a different kind of pretty here that I’ve always loved, even as a kid. And, to be frank, I’d much prefer the heat than the cold (I lived in South Dakota, people…beautiful, but never again).
If you’re wondering why I’m telling you this, it’s because I have a good friend from England coming next week (and staying for ten days!). Which means we get to explore Arizona in a way only a true “tourist” can. We’ll be going to Pine/Strawberry for a few days, checking out Cave Creek, and of course throwing my husband his 40th birthday party while she’s here (I’ve heard red solo cups are a very American thing). So, while I will be out the next two weeks, that doesn’t mean there won’t be lots happening here at Liberty Wildlife (and for me to bug all my favorite volunteers and staff for updates, and photos, to keep you all posted).
Radiographs: Can You Spot the Fracture?
For those of you unfamiliar with radiographs, it’s really just a fancy word for X-ray (because we are, of course, all sorts of fancy here). The technical terminology is, “an image produced on a sensitive plate or film by X-rays, gamma rays, or similar radiation, and typically used in medical examination.” For us humans, they can be used to spot a multitude of different things to enable us to better diagnose injuries, catch abnormal masses, and even pneumonia.
For animals, it’s not so different. Radiographs of the chest, abdomen and the skeletal structure can help us spot a multitude of different things that we may otherwise miss. A big one we aim to look for?
Fractures. And while there are plenty of them that we can see, and feel, to perform surgery and better assist in the healing process of our native wildlife, radiographs help us to pinpoint exactly where a fracture is to do that. Of course, our volunteer veterinarians and medical staff are adept at finding them (they’ve been doing it a long time), let’s see if you can spot the fracture in these recent radiographs:
An American Kestrel (who weighs about as much as a stick of butter) comes in with a wing fracture: can you see where it is? It is the right radius (think smaller bone in your forearm), close to the elbow joint, as well as a fracture on the same side at the wrist. For these types of fractures, a figure-8 wrap is done to help stabilize the break for better healing.
A Great Horned Owl came in with a wing droop on one side: hint, this is not a fracture. Did you spot what was wrong? A pellet was lodged in the left front near the shoulder/humerus.
A Turkey Vulture was brought in with a severe wing droop and an obvious fracture to the right wing. Can you see it? If you guessed the right radius and ulna (again, your forearm), you’d have guessed right. The white around the fracture is also the start of a callus, which the volunteer veterinarians were able to work through to pin this fracture for better stabilization, as well as to wrap with a figure-8 wrap.
A Great Horned Owl arrived with what appeared to be…nothing. Further examination proved otherwise: can you spot where the fracture is? It is the left “fingers”, or phalanges, that are fractured on the left wing. These types of fractures can be harder to heal because they are so close to the joint; a splint and figure-8 wrap can be used to stabilize the fracture, and reassessment needed to see how the fracture is healing
Coachwhip Snake and the Tail that Never “Ends”
Admittedly, Coachwhip Snakes are not a type of snake I’ve ever seen before (in my defense, it’s not like I ever went out looking for them). Found only in the southwestern United States, these fast-moving, slender snakes can range anywhere from three feet all the way up to eight feet. They are usually spotted in habitats that include creosote, mesquite dune, and grasslands, but are also found in agricultural fields and arid environments. And while their prey consists of mostly lizards—like tiger whiptails or horned lizards—they also go for small mammals (bats included) and birds (mostly nestlings and eggs). They actively pursue their prey, and have even been known to ambush them as well (one was noted in the shade of a mesquite, coiled and ready, until a lizard walked by).
Unfortunately for our friend here, hunting has been difficult. Based on the damage to the scales around the head, as well as the tail, this Coachwhip experienced some severe trauma. While it’s easy to speculate, our best guess is a large predator got a hold of him, and he was able to escape (in fact he was found coiled beneath a desert tortoise den in someone’s backyard).
Midwestern veterinarians and students have been working closely with this patient. After skin samples were sent in, it was confirmed that several different types of bacteria were present within the wounds and on the skin—which goes with our speculation that the snake was grabbed by something—and confirmation it’s an older wound. Antibiotics, topical creams, and water soaks have helped alleviate some of the damage. But the truth is, this snake is doing most of the work on his own…
By shedding! And we hope that after just a few more cycles, most of the damage caused by this trauma will be healed, and we’ll have a snake ready to get back out in to the wild.
Reference: https://tucsonherpsociety.org/amphibians-reptiles/snakes/coachwhip/
Notable Mentions
Well, if you haven’t heard yet, let me be the first to tell you; we’ll be open for Public Hours this Sunday, September 1st, from 9am-11am! We remain in our summer hours for another month (or so) until this weather calms itself down enough that 10am-1pm isn’t such a hard feat for all our animals and volunteers alike. For now, our early shift wins!
And, without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:
Our newest addition, Zeus the Bearded Dragon, can now be seen in the Interactive Room (1 picture – by Ceci)
Hollie, Midwestern University’s CVT, checks for bacteria in a microscope (remember when I said we were fancy?) (2 pictures)
Our resident Biologist and Education Coordinator Laura Hackett assists a mourning dove throughout the hatching process (4 pictures)
Millie the California Condor cannot WAIT for me to be done with cleaning her enclosure to be let out to eat (1 picture)
As per usual, I appreciate you all taking the time to read the blog each and every week. It means the world to me that you’re here, keeping up with Liberty Wildlife and all we do here.
Until next time!
Posted by Acacia Parker
Public Outreach Coordinator