Most of my life has been spent chasing and investigating reptiles in one form or other, however, it is only the past 15 years that I have been involved in the study of reptiles at an academic level in a regional University (Charles Darwin University, formerly Northern Territory University).
For much of this time I worked on the eco-physiology of pythons.
Eco-physiology is the study where we obtain an understanding of the ecology of an animal by investigating its physiology.
I worked with Associate Professor Keith Christian and we also investigated the ecology of freshwater turtles (Chelodina rugosa), Frillneck lizards (Chlamydosaurus kingii), a number of species of monitor such as Merten’s Water monitor (Varanus mertensi) and many other reptiles and frogs.
I finished a postgraduate diploma in science at Northern Territory University in 1995, a master’s degree in science in 1997 and a PhD in 2003, all of which relied on investigating various aspects of python ecology and physiology.
Currently I am a co-director of a company called Snake Ranch Pty Ltd.
Snake Ranch was set up by Mr John Weigel and myself to breed and sell pythons for the pet trade in Australia.
We have most species of python and a few very special projects that should produce animals over the next few years.
While Snake Ranch will set up its own web site and aim to sell the pythons produced there, I aim to sell a few animals not held there through this site.
Specifically, I will introduce you to the Kimberley Rock Monitor (Varanus glauerti), Pygmy Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) and Albino Olive pythons (Liasis olivaceus).
I am offering something a little different to the mainstream reptiles and aboriginal art sites and will give you the best reptiles and art that money can buy.
I am based in the Top End of the Northern Territory and have lived here for the past 20 years.
Publications |
| Bedford G S (1989) |
Social Behaviour and Ventral Colouration in Austrelaps sp. Herpetofauna. Vol. 19 (1):30. |
| Bedford G S (1991a) |
Record of Road Kill Predation by the Fresh Water Snake (Tropidonophis mairii). Herpetofauna. 21:35-36. |
| Bedford G S (1991b) |
Two Records of Road Kill predation by Mulga Snakes (Pseudechis australis). Herpetofauna. 21:39-40. |
| Read J L and Bedford G S (1991) |
The Distribution and Ecology of the Pygmy Copperhead Snake (Austrelaps labialis) . Herpetofauna. 21(2):1-6. |
| Bedford G S (1991) |
Additional Nocturnal Sightings of Three Species of Dragon Lizard in Northern Australia. Herpetofauna. 21(2):35. |
| Bedford G S (1992) |
A Different Feeding Strategy in the Striped Skink (Ctenotus uber orientalis) from South Australia. Herpetofauna. 22(2):31-32. |
| Bedford G S (1992) |
Observations of Scent Following in a Male Carpet Python (Morelia spilota variegata). Herpetofauna. 22 (2):45. |
| Bedford G S (1992) |
Notes on the Incubation and Hatching of the Black Whip Snake (Demansia atra). Herpetofauna. 22(1):24. |
| Bedford G S and Sullivan T (1993) |
Observations of Intra and Interspecific Aggression and Possible Mating Hierarchy in the Northern Childrens Python (Liasis childreni). Herpetofauna. 23(2):10-12. |
| Bedford G S (1993) |
Eye Protection During Basking by an Albino Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus) Herpetofauna. 23(2):40. |
| Bedford G and K Christian (1993) |
Egg size of the prickly tailed Gecko (Nephrurus asper, Gunther, 1876) with a preliminary comparison of investment per progeny among geckos. Dactylus 1:38-41. |
| Bedford G S K A Christian and A D Griffiths (1993). |
Preliminary notes on the reproduction of the frillneck lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii. pp. 127-131 in :D. Lunney and D. Ayers (eds) Herpetology in Australia: A Diverse Discipline. Transactions of the Royal Society of New South Wales. |
| Bull C M, Bedford G S and Schulz B A (1993). |
How do Sleepy Lizards Find Each Other? Herpetologica 49(3): 294 - 300. |
| Christian K A and G S Bedford (1993). |
High reproductive expenditure per progeny in geckos relative to other lizards. Journal of Herpetology 27:351-354. |
| Christian K A and G S Bedford (1995). |
Seasonal changes in thermoregulation by the frilled lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii in tropical Australia. Ecology 76:124-132. |
| Christian K A, G Bedford and A Griffiths (1995). |
Frillneck lizard morphology: comparisons between sexes and sites. Journal of Herpetology 29:576-583. |
| Christian K A and G S Bedford (1995). |
Physiological consequences of filarial parasites in the frillneck lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii. Canadian Journal of Zoology 73:2302-2306. |
| Bedford G S (1995) |
Anti Predator Tactics from the Frilled Neck Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii. Monitor. 6(3): 129-130. |
| Bedford G S and Coward R (1995) |
Liasis olivaceus, (Olive Python), Albinism. Herp. Review. 26 (1):39. |
| Bedford G S (1995) Carlia (Scincidae), |
Tail Waving and Prey Piracy. Herp. Review. 26(2):99-100. |
| Bedford G S, Christian K A and Barrett B (1995) |
A Method for Catching Lizards in Trees and Rock Crevices. Herp. Review. 26 (1): 21-22. |
| Bedford G S and Griffiths A D (1995) |
Road kill predation by the Blackheaded Python (Aspidites melanocephalus). Herpetofauna. 25(1):53. |
| Bedford G S (1995) |
Fish as a prey Item for the Slatey Grey Snake (Colubridae) in the Northern Territory. Herpetofauna. 25(2): 59 |
| Bedford G S (1995) |
How many species? A Critical look at the captive breeding of reptiles in South Australia during the 1994 season. SA Herpetological Group Newsletter 89: 14-16. |
| Christian K and G S Bedford (1996). |
Thermoregulation by the spotted tree monitor, Varanus scalaris, in the seasonal tropics of Australia. Journal of Thermal Biology 21:67-73. |
| Christian K A, A D Griffiths and G S Bedford (1996). |
Physiological ecology of frillneck lizards in a seasonal tropical environment. Oecologia 106:49-56. |
| Christian K A, B. Weavers, B Green and G Bedford (1996). |
Energetics and water flux in a semi-aquatic lizard Varanus mertensi Copeia 1996:354-362. |
| Christian, K A, G S Bedford, and S R Shannahan (1996). |
The solar absorptance of some Australian lizards and its relationship to temperature. Australian Journal of Zoology 44:59-67. |
| Bedford G S and K A Christian (1996). |
Tail morphology related to habitat of varanid lizards and some other reptiles. Amphibia-Reptilia 17:131-140. |
| Christian K, B Green, G S Bedford and K Newgrain (1996). |
Seasonal metabolism of a small, arboreal monitor lizard, Varanus scalaris, in tropical Australia. Journal of Zoology 240: 383 - 396. |
| Bedford G S and O Grady A P (1996) |
Unusual Behaviour by Tympanocryptis lineata on the Barkly Tablelands. Herpetofauna. 26(1): 44. |
| Bedford G S (1996) |
Successful breeding of the Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) in the Wet/Dry Tropics of Australia. Herpetofauna. 26(1):19-21. |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (1998) |
Changes in Tail Colour after Autotomy in the Gekkonid Lizard, Oedura marmorata in Central Australia. (Dactylus). |
| Christian K A,Bedford G S, Green, B, Schultz T and Newgrain K (1998) |
Energetics and water flux of the marbled velvet gecko (Oedura marmorata) in tropical and temperate habitats. Oecologia. 116:336-342. |
| Kennett R, Christian K, and Bedford G (1998) |
Underwater nesting by the Australian freshwater turtle, Chelodina rugosa: The effect of prolonged immersion and eggshell thickness on incubation period, egg survivorship and hatchling size. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:1019-1023. |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (1998) |
Standard metabolic rate and preferred body temperatures in some Australian Pythons. Australian Journal of Zoology, 46: 317 - 328. |
| Bedford G S, Comber P and Lea J (1999) |
Ophiophagy in a King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis) from Central Australia. Herpetofauna 29(1) 56. |
| Christian K, G Bedford, and T Schultz (1999). |
Energetic consequences of metabolic depression in tropical and temperate zone lizards. Aust. J. Zool. 47:133-141. |
| Christian K A, G Bedford, B Green and A Griffiths (1999) |
Physiological ecology of a tropical dragon, Lophognathus temporalis. Australian Journal of Ecology. 24(2); 171-181. |
| Christian K A, Griffiths A D, Bedford G and Jenkin G (1999) |
Androgen concentrations and behaviour of frillneck lizards (Chlamydosaurus kingii). Journal of Herpetology 33:12-17. |
| Bedford, G S and Christian, K A (2000) |
Digestive efficiency in some Australian pythons. Copeia 3:829-834. |
| Bedford G S and Comber, P (2000) |
Paired overwintering in Stimson's pythons: coincidence or deliberate? Herpetofauna 30:48-49. |
| Bedford G S (2000) |
Colour change during mating in the arid zone frog Litoria gilleni. Herpetofauna 30:51. |
| Bedford G S (2000) |
Clutch size for Stimson's python (Antaresia stimsoni). Herpetofauna 30:53-54. |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (2001) |
Metabolic response to feeding and fasting in the water python (Liasis fuscus): A new model for metabolic depression. Australian journal of Zoology 49:379-387. |
| Bedford G S (2001) |
For comfort - rotate. Herpetofauna 31:72. |
| Bedford G S and Padovan A (2001) |
The spread of an exotic westward: Hemidactylus frenatus. Herpetofauna 31:74. |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (2002) |
Maximum oxygen consumption ( max) measurements in Australian pythons. Herpetologica Submitted Nov. 2002 |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (2002) |
The energetics of brooding in Australian pythons. Functional Ecology. (Submitted Jan 2003) |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (2002) |
The spatial ecology of pythons in the Northern Territory of Australia. Wildlife Research. (Submitted Jan 2003) |
| Bedford G S and Christian K A (2002) |
Seasonal Body temperatures in four species of Australian python. Journal of Thermal Biology (Submitted Jan. 2003) |
| Bedford G S, Christian K A, Green B and Newgrain K (2002) |
Seasonal water, sodium and energy turnover in five species of Australian python (Serpentes: Boidae). Ecological Monographs. (Submitted Jan. 2003) |
| Speake B K, Thompson M B, Thacker F E and Bedford G S (2003) |
Distribution of lipids from the yolk to the tissues during development of the water python (Liasis fuscus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B. 173:541-547. |
| Bedford G S, and Husband G (2003) |
Captive Breeding of the yellow throat monitor, Varanus baritji. Herpetofauna. 33(2) 105-108. |
Grants, Conference Presentations and Public Seminars |
| |
Frillneck lizard morphology: comparisons between sexes and sites. World Congress of Herpetology, January 1994 |
| Bedford G S, Griffiths A D and Christian K A (1993) |
Reproduction, Growth and Juvenile Behaviour of Frilled Lizards (Chlamydosaurus kingii). Poster Presentation at the Second World Congress in Herpetology, Adelaide. |
| Christian K A and Bedford G S (1994). |
Thermoregulation by the spotted tree monitor, Varanus scalaris, in the seasonal tropics of Australia. Ecological Society of Australia meetings, September 1994. |
| Bedford G S (1995) |
Thermoregulation by the Spotted Tree Monitor, Varanus scalaris, in the Wet/Dry Tropics of Northern Australia. Presentation at 23rd Conference of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, Laurel Hill, Canberra. |
| Bedford G S (1995) |
Preliminary investigations into Shivering Thermogenesis as a Strategy to Aid in Digestion in Five Species of Australian Python. Presentation at 23rd Conference of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, Laurel Hill, Canberra. |
| |
Travel grant of $200.00 to present spoken papers at the 23rd Australian Society of Herpetologists meeting at Laurel Hill, Canberra in February 1995. |
| (1996) |
Invited guest speaker for the May meeting of the South Australian Herpetological Society. South Australian Museum. |
| (1996) |
Invited guest speaker to the June meeting of the Victorian Herpetological Society in Melbourne. |
| (1997) |
Commonwealth Scholarship (Australian Post-graduate award) (Phd) |
| (1997) |
Australian Geographic Grant ($1000) |
| (1997) |
Royal Zool. Soc. of N.S.W. Grant ($500) |
| (1997) |
Invited guest speaker at the C.S.I.R.O. Alice Springs (Sept.) |
| (1998) |
Invited guest speaker to the European Herpetological Conference in Kassell, Germany. |
| (1999) G. Bedford and K. Christian. |
Be prepared to sit and wait: the Australian python motto. Australian Society of herpetologists meeting, Ross River, NT. |
| (2003) G. Bedford and K. Christian. |
Shivering thermogenesis in Australian pythons. |
| |
Australian Society of Herpetologists meeting, Mary River Park, NT. |
Theses |
| Bedford G S (1994) |
Functional Physiology in the Family Boidae: A Preliminary Investigation Into Shivering Thermogenesis as a Thermal Strategy to Aid Digestion in Five Species of Australian Python. Graduate Diploma in Science. Northern Territory University. |
| Bedford G S (1996) |
Metabolic Physiology, Digestive Efficiency and Energetics of Some Australian Pythons. Master of Science. Northern Territory University. |
| Bedford G S (2003) |
Physiology and Ecology of Python Species from the Northern Territory of Australia. Doctor of Philosophy. NT University. |
