Summer has come early to our Santa Cruz, California, headquarters. Already temperatures have reached 100º F and more, a reality appreciated here only by our small collection of tropical lizards. Nevertheless, though slowed a bit by the heat we are still expanding our online museum. In the past two months we have gotten more species contributors signed on to do contributions, the first of which should be on our next upload.

We are also getting a trickle of useful and greatly appreciated donations, ranging from a slide and negative scanner to bibliographic software to cash contributions. We are particularly in need of the latter, because even we must pay rent! Please remember that all contributions are tax-deductible, and if anyone has some fundraising ideas to share, please contact us.

Our field work and publication projects continue. A long-time study of coastal dune communities around Monterey, California, is almost ready to be published in Zoologica Nova, and we are editing a report on Asian pit vipers for Lizard Biology. Meanwhile, I am departing to Papua New Guinea in June and August to do field studies on the lizards of the southern lowlands. Results will appear on this site later this year. In addition, the VMNH has been consulting with a natural history television program producer and is arranging to market videotapes of their programs. Again details will appear later this summer.

Our Engineer and Board Member Daniel Diessner represented the VMNH at two important European meetings this spring, and he is preparing a report on his activities and the liaisons for the VMNH. 

In short, we have been so busy that we haven't yet had time to prepare reports on all our activities. Hopefully, our output shall increase as we get cooler weather and some much needed cash funding (all of us have "day jobs" at this point, and operate the museum as a labor of love).

Enjoy your summer as we continue our mission to explore and document biodiversity. 

With warmest tropical regards,

Robert G. Sprackland, Ph.D., Director & President
               Email: director@curator.org