Blair Hedges provided an update on CaribHerp. We’ve posted on CaribHerp previously, and Blair told us of some exciting new developments. Perhaps the most exciting, an effort to make an app to identify frog calls! Also, Blair is still offering free, cool posters!
Here’s the abstract of the talk:
With color images and distribution maps, caribherp.org functions as a checklist and quick identification guide to the ~800 species of amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies. Sounds and video are included, when available. An initial list of species accounts is first generated by the user, for all species or only those on one island, or those having a search term in their account. The list may be further sorted in many different ways (taxonomy, common name, author, etc.). A new journal, Caribbean Herpetology , is integrated with the database. An online form may be used to submit short articles in the journal, reporting new and significant information on distribution, behavior, and other categories. After review and acceptance, these articles are published online and the information is integrated with the database. Photos, video, and sounds (frog calls) may accompany article submissions. As the journal develops, longer articles will be published. Two other related Caribbean web resources have been released as well: caribmap.org and caribnature.org . CaribMap is a resource for exploring historical map images of the Caribbean, now numbering more than 800 maps dating back to the early 1500s. Map images are fully sortable and searchable. Each map is scanned at high resolution so that small toponyms may be resolved. CaribNature is a conservation site that presents multimediaessays on the natural history of the islands and difficulties facing the biodiversity, starting with Haiti. The mediography is mostly from the work of professional videographers and photographers. The site is available in English, Spanish, and French.
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