A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
LATEST ISSUE
In Pod@rcis 9(1) you find articles on Lesbos with a snake new to the island, a strange amplexus in Bufo bufo, and book reviews on Greece and salamanders.
BOOK
Recently the Dutch book 'Salamanders: Huisvesting - verzorging - kweek' by Pasmans, Bogaerts, Wallays and Janssen appeared. The purpose is to provide Dutch readers with basic information on those newts and salamanders kept most often these days. A4-format, 64 pages, of which 11 in full colour. €8,- plus €3,- postage (in NL).
For orders mail Sergé Bogaerts: s-bogaerts@hetnet.nl
POD@RCIS ON CD
Volume 1-8 (English (1-8) and Dutch (1-5) versions) now available on CD for Euro 10. - (postage included). Requests: Treasurer Podarcis, treasurer@podarcis.nl, postal giro account 8490492 (IBAN: NL24 PSTB 0008 4904 92, BIC: PSTBNL21), Klaproosstraat 3, NL-2012 ZA Haarlem, The Netherlands. Credit cards accepted: MasterCard. Alternatively, the easiest option: mail a €10.- banknote.
USA customers: contact Twan Leenders, twanleenders@scinax.com (cheques, PayPal account).
The cd also supplies you with links to the latest Adobe PDF Reader, and contains a smaller Reader for use on computers or laptops with limited space or speed. The cd is self-installing. Works under Windows, Linux, and on Apple computers.
WEBSITE
We are developing a new website. The main purpose is to enable a more active and easier use and management. The work progresses slowly, but surely. Therefore, on the current website - which you visit right now - only the most essential elements are maintained. Until further notice the webzine will be published here as usual.
MANUSCRIPTS
We always look forward to receiving new manuscripts on amphibians and reptiles. Share your experiences with others. If necessary, we will translate your manuscript into proper English with the help of native speakers, at no charge. The peer-reviewed webzine POD@RCIS is a registered periodical (ISSN 1567-3871), and accepted as a publication medium in the biological community. Look for citations in e.g. The Zoological Record and large reliable herpetological databases like the EMBL Reptile Database. Scientific names published in POD@RCIS are valid according to the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Further, the webzine is deposited in a growing number of large scientific libraries around the world to ensure continued availability (e.g. in Naturalis (Leiden, The Netherlands), Museum A. Koenig (Bonn, Germany), and the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University (New Haven, USA), see colophon for current details).
COSTS
Only issues published in the current year need to be paid for; older volumes are free. However, you do have to register to be able to download these issues: we would like to know how widely our magazine is read, and we wish to keep you informed on our latest publications (we will not sell or publish your address in any form!). We offer exceptionally advantageous mass contracts to related herpetological societies. Inquire at secretary@podarcis.nl
The yearly subscription price is Euro 5. - only (see sign-on form for a paid subscription: menu on the left: Members > Sign-on). Pay by banktransfer, or mail a five Euro note in an envelope to the treasurer. Treasurer 'Podarcis': treasurer@podarcis.nl, postal giro account: 8490492 (IBAN: NL24 PSTB 0008 4904 92, BIC: PSTBNL21), Klaproosstraat 3, NL-2012 ZA Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Please note that USA customers can get access quickly via Twan Leenders, twanleenders@scinax.com (cheques, PayPal account). Subscription price: US $6.50
Attention: because of our method with passwords valid per issue (which codes expire soon after downloading), you have to get in touch with our treasurer (treasurer@podarcis.nl) for each new download.
OLD NEWS
Why is Podarcis written in two different ways? Podarcis refers to the site, the organisation and the Foundation. Pod@rcis with the at-sign is the name of the webzine.
When registering as subscriber, be sure to fill in all fields and check "I agree". Avoid spaces and unusual ASCII codes in your chosen user name and password. If problems persist, consult the webmaster Nico Bouthoorn (webmaster@podarcis.nl).
Those persons who use a non-existing e-mail address when registering, will be removed from our subscription list without further notice.
Sometimes members report difficulties in downloading issues of POD@RCIS, but rarely we are to blame. Often it turns out that people try to download while at work. Many employers have taken precautions to avoid irrelevant communications. Be also aware that antispam programs, firewalls, and other (web-) filters may need to be fine-tuned. Again: because of our method with passwords valid per issue (codes soon expire after downloading), you have to briefly get in touch with our treasurer (treasurer@podarcis.nl) for each new download.
The most common error reported: after clicking on the button to open a PDF, the computer freezes. You might see a white screen or an error message. Best solution is to install the newest versions of your browser, and Adobe Reader or other PDF Reader. Also make sure to save the files downloaded; if your PDF Reader opens the POD@RCIS files 'automatically' (you can toggle this) while downloading, the files will disappear without a trace when you do not use the option "save as…" before closing the Reader.
Herman in den Bosch
(editor@podarcis.nl)