Monthly Archives: May 2021

Recommended Reading

 

Robert W. Henderson dedicated large parts of his professional life to the study of West Indian reptiles with particular focus on the Genus Corallus and herein the species Corallus grenadensis. This fascination, research and accumulated knowledge is the foundation of this synopsis reflecting the status of the current knowledge. The book is more than 400 pages strong and contains more than 300 high quality color photos, most of which never been published before.

Unsurprisingly, Henderson’s love for the species residing on the Windward Islands is shown by the fact that much more information and scientific analysis is provided on these species than on some others. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not a fault of the author, but simply a lack of data and detailed analyses that we suffer from for many of the other taxa. It’s about time to change that. 

This book is a must read for any person interested in the genus Corallus.  Get it directly from the publisher  here  or, if you are in the USA,  here.

Quote of the Month

It is not the strongest of the species that survives but the most adaptable.
~ Charles Darwin

The rapid changes in the West Indies include development, deforestation, chemical uses, increase in population and traffic, pollution, exploitation, drought and climate change.  It is questionable if any West Indian Boa species has the capability to adapt to these, given the brevity of time in which these changes occur.

Happy Birthday

Few (if any) people who have seen his miracles were not captivated by the magic which waits underneath the curtain he uplifted for us to see. He’s thought to be one of the most well-travelled people on the planet. From his journeys he always brought us a wealth of information, novelty, and impressions, so beautiful that no one was left untouched.

He turned many of us into naturalists, paved the way for many academics and certainly succeeded to instill the will to preserve (or even restore) the planet in most of us.

Congratulations on your 95th Birthday Sir David Attenborough!