Serpentario Amaru

Captain's Log, Day 60: 'Amaru' means serpent in Quechua. Today I got the chance to visit some members of the original Amaru Zoo (originally Amaru serpentario) in another part of the city. Ernesto began cultivating native plants and collecting reptiles when he was less than ten years old; an effort which evolved into an in-home serpentarium and later approval from the government to function as a rescue center for reptiles. When he finished his biology degree and began research in earnest in the Amaru basin, his life's work evolved into the zoo that I'm working for today. The current serpentarium guardian seems to be on much the same path...

Beyond what I'm learning about the state of conservation in other countries, the chance to see other biologists' lives is a total treat. Amaru serpentario is currently located in the backyard, attic, and bedroom of one of the part-time workers of Amaru. I was impressed and more than a bit jealous that his mother allowed him to keep so many snakes inside.

The serpentario is located near Parque del Dragon in Cuenca. I found this to be pleasingly apropos. 

Due to limitations in space and facilities in Amaru itself, the zoo overflow of reptiles is sent to a house across the city which is maintained by one of the zoo's part-time workers, Jose Manuel. Jose Manuel is a biology student at a local university, and a total badass. 

Remember, kids: Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, venom slack. 

There is an incredible collection of herps in this in-house serpentarium. They're all gorgeous. 

About to molt...

Described as "a little aggressive."

The first living Bushmaster I've seen in my entire life. They have three. 

So much reptilian beauty. If you're afraid of snakes, you really shouldn't be. They play important ecological functions and are stunningly beautiful, and mostly harmless. Quechua cultures believe that serpents are strong forest spirits, and should be respected accordingly. 

...actually, some of the venomous species command a healthy respect for reasons beyond spirituality. You can't deny this beauty, though.

Sneaky geckos in one corner of the serpentarium! They had a half dozen eggs tucked into these walls, too. 

Awesome gecko home. 

Mice colonies. Om nom nom nom. 

This is Jose Manuel in his backyard, where he has an outdoor cage for frogs and snakes that are native to the area. 

Native and beautiful. 

Jose Manuel told me that in addition to all the reptile rescues, a lot of Barn Owls, escaped Parakeets and Parrots, and the occasional mammal call his backyard home. He says the noise of the owls is incredible some nights, when they're lusting for the healthy supply of mice he has (tantalizingly on display at all hours). 

This, dear reader, is Cusy the Cusumbos. Apparently Cusy (Cusi?) means prosperous and happy in Quechua. Check out that tongue! Great for fruits and insects...

And for looking super silly in photos. 

The garden was excellent, too. Ernesto's cactus legacy lives on in the house's greenhouse setup...

I wish I had an attic full of spiders! Jose Manuel showed me two different years' worth of tarantula hatchlings from two seperate species. Incredible. He saves the skins and dead ones as specimens for a planned insect museum later in life. 

Many of the species he has are local and under-studied. It seemed to me like he's making it his mission to change that. 

Almost more so than snakes, spiders play extremely important roles in most ecosystems! Again, if you can't appreciate a friendly tarantula, you're really missing out. They're generally much more venomous in the States than they are down here, which isn't saying much, as they aren't too toxic...

Hide and seek spider. 

Jose Manuel had additional snakes in the attic above his room. Warmer for the species that need more heat. 

He let me hold this beauty: the mother of the most recent batch of hatchlings. I found out something I didn't know: these spiders can live past 20-25 years!! That's incredible. He had one spider that is older than us (with our 22 years)! 

More Cuencan natives. I'm disapointed I don't have more time to go looking for these guys. 

Nerding out: Jose Manuel showed me how to sex the spiders by their molts. 

Note the whitish casemarks at the rear: this one's a male. If they were larger, more bulbous, "like Mickey Mouse ears," it would be a female. 

This is what I mean by enjoying visiting the lives of other biologists. Note the taxonomy posters in the next room, the sweet childhood throwback action figures, field equipment, shelf of snake skins...and two shelves of hundreds of spider hatchlings. Who wouldn't want a room like that?! Jealous. 

Insects of Cuenca, by Jose Manuel. For the future insect museum...

Again. Wish I had more time to go out and find these guys before I go. 

Biology is a fascinating world. The insect specimens could all be quite useful in answering any number of ecological queries in the future---and the fact that Jose Manuel is a student and is making contributions to the knowledge of so many different species NOW is so exhilirating...I couldn't imagine a more exciting field to work in. Props to Ernesto for inspiring the next generation on their quests for natural knowledge and conservation.

Spanish class in ten minutes.

More posts to follow soon.

Cheers.