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Raymond Hoser
Born
Raymond Terrence Hoser

1962 (age 61–62)
United Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Websitewww.raymondhoser.com

Raymond Terrence Hoser (born 1962) is an Australian snake-catcher and author.

Hoser's work on herpetology is controversial, including his advocacy of the surgical alteration of captive snakes to remove their venom glands and his self-published herpetological taxonomy, which has been described as "taxonomic vandalism".

Career

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Taxonomy

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Hoser has written on herpetology, with a focus on the taxonomy of Australian snakes. He has written and edited for Monitor, an amateur magazine of the Victorian Herpetological Society.[1] Since 2009, he has self-published the Australasian Journal of Herpetology.[2] Hoser has described several species and genera of reptiles, including Pseudechis pailsei and Acanthophis wellsi (snakes in the family Elapidae).[3][4][5][6]

A 2021 review found that 59 of Hoser's reptile names had been over-written by other herpetologists.[7] His work on the taxonomy of the Pythoninae[8] was affirmed by a later phylogenetic study,[9] but Reynolds et al. 2013, suggest the name Malayopython be used in place of Hoser's Broghammerus.[10] Similarly, for two species of alligator snapping turtle, Thomas et al. 2014 give new names to over-write Hoser's names.[11] The new names have found widespread acceptance in preference of Hoser's names.[7]

Professional academic herpetologists have had significant criticism of his taxonomic work.[12] Hoser's work has been described as "amateur",[13][14] “vanity publishing”,[15] not peer-reviewed,[16] "taxonomic vandalism",[12][17] extensively plagiarised,[18] and a source of confusion.[13] In particular, several of his descriptions are said to lack adequate detail and reference to type specimens.[13] [19] As a result, herpetological societies in America, Europe and Africa have resolved to ignore or over-write Hoser's nomenclature.[15][20]

Hoser responded to the over-writing by declaring the new names to be junior synonyms which thus are invalid according to the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (the Code).[21] In 2013, he applied to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to confirm that his names were "available" (i.e. had been validly published), using the name Spracklandus as a test case.[22] In 2021, the ICZN responded that it found “no basis under the provisions of the Code for regarding the name Spracklandus as unavailable, nor for regarding any of issues 1–24 of Australasian Journal of Herpetology as being unpublished in the sense of the Code”.[22] ICZN Commissioner Frank Krell wrote that herpetologists' voluntary decision to ignore and overwrite Hoser's names "might be a better way forward than a suppression of Hoser's works by the ICZN".[23]

Snake handling

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Hoser has a business as a snake handler and provides reptiles for children’s birthday parties and catching and moving snakes in urban areas.[24][25] As part of his business, he claims "Snakeman" (and others) as trademarks, names which he has taken steps to defend on several occasions.[26][27][28][29] He once criticised the zookeeper, conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin for giving people "false ideas about how to behave around snakes".[30]

Hoser is an advocate of surgically altering snakes to inhibit the production of venom.[31][32] The procedure for creating venomoid snakes is regarded as controversial.[33] A 2008 government tribunal ruled that Hoser's venomoid snakes cannot be handled by members of the public, due to the risk of the venom glands regrowing.[34]

In May 2023, Two Wrongs nightclub in Melbourne was criticised for having snakes and at least one baby crocodile for an event where they were touched and held by guests. Hoser, who provided the animals, defended the event.[35] The incident was investigated by the RSPCA and the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action.[36]

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Hoser is a self-described "anti-corruption crusader" and whistleblower who has self-published books alleging corruption in Australia.[37][38][39][40] In 2001, the Victorian Supreme Court found Hoser liable for contempt of court and fined him $5,000 after he published names of two county court judges and two magistrates in a book entitled Victoria Police Corruption with allegations of bias and improper conduct.[41] Hoser's 2003 appeal against the charge was unsuccessful and he was found guilty of a second contempt charge which was originally dismissed.[42]

In 2011, Hoser was convicted and fined $12,000 in the County Court for demonstrating with venomous snakes less than three metres from the public, working in accessible pits and demonstrating in a way that put the animals at risk of theft. He allowed his 10-year-old daughter to be bitten five times by venomoid specimens of two species of highly venomous snakes, an inland taipan and a common death adder, to demonstrate that his venomoid snakes were harmless.[43] The manager of the shopping center where Hoser performed claimed that Hoser's performance was not consistent with his act description and said that he would not be allowed back.[44] Following this incident, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment suspended Hoser's commercial wildlife demonstrator license and his authorisation to hold snake-handling courses and use wildlife in film and television.[45] Hoser said that he would apply to the courts for an emergency injunction against this suspension.[45]

In 2012, Judge Jenkins found that Hoser intentionally allowed two snakes to bite his daughter seven times, and compromised both the safety of the audience and the welfare of the snakes during his demonstration.[46] In March 2012, Jenkins upheld an appeal by Hoser of the DSE actions against him, fining him $4,000 under the Wildlife Safety Act and ordering him to pay the costs of the DSE of $8,000.[47] Jenkins found that "through his demeanour and evidence, displayed a contempt and reckless disregard for the licence conditions. He has conducted his demonstrations in a manner which seriously compromises the welfare of the snakes he is displaying and the safety and well-being of audience members, including children and, on one occasion, his own daughter."[47] In March 2013, Justice Robert Redlich of the Victoria Court of Appeal recommended that Hoser hire a lawyer to represent him rather than representing himself, and adjourned the hearing until 13 June 2013.[46][48] In May 2013, Hoser appealed to the Victoria Court of Appeal in an attempt to overturn the Department of Sustainability and Environment's (DSE) decision to cancel his wildlife demonstrators licence and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) deputy president Judge Pamela Jenkins's decision in 2012 to uphold that DSE cancellation of his license.[46][48]

In 2015, VCAT member Gerard Butcher cleared Hoser to resume demonstrations for schoolchildren.[49]

In 2018, Hoser sued Sportsbet, alleging the bookmaker infringed on his trademark by using the words "snake man" in three TV ads. In October 2018, the judge dismissed the claim for one of three relevant adverts and Hoser was ordered to pay the defendant's legal costs as agreed, which were in fact written off. Sportsbet in turn agreed to stop running all three offending adverts and proceedings were discontinued in relation to the two adverts that the judge had not ruled on.[50]

Candidate for local and state government

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Hoser ran in the 1999 Frankston East state supplementary election. He received the fewest votes (11 out of 26,842 votes or 0.04% of first preference votes).[51]

In 2012, Hoser ran for council of the City of Manningham (Mullum Mullum ward), but failed to win one of three positions. He received 4.31% of the primary vote.[52]

Hoser announced his candidacy for the 2023 Warrandyte state by-election[53][54] but his name did not appear on the Victorian Electoral Commission's list of candidates when nominations for independent candidates closed on August 10 2023.[55]

References

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  1. ^ Borrell B (March 2007). "Linnaeus at 300: the big name hunters". Nature. 446 (7133): 253–5. Bibcode:2007Natur.446..253B. doi:10.1038/446253a. PMID 17361154. S2CID 35602076.
  2. ^ "Australasian Journal of Herpetology". Smuggled.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ^ Uetz, Peter; Hallermann, J. "Pseudechis pailsi (Hoser, 1998)". Reptile Database. Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Pseudechis pailsei Hoser, 1998". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  5. ^ "Acanthophis wellsi (Hoser, 1998)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  6. ^ Kuch, Ulrich; Keogh, J. Scott; Weigel, John; Smith, Laurie A.; Mebs, Dietrich (March 2005). "Phylogeography of Australia's king brown snake (Pseudechis australis) reveals Pliocene divergence and Pleistocene dispersal of a top predator" (PDF). Naturwissenschaften. 92 (3): 121–127. Bibcode:2005NW.....92..121K. doi:10.1007/s00114-004-0602-0. PMID 15688185. S2CID 26068662. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2008.
  7. ^ a b Wüster, Wolfgang; Thomson, Scott A.; O'Shea, Mark & Kaiser, Hinrich (2021). "Confronting taxonomic vandalism in biology: conscientious community self-organization can preserve nomenclatural stability". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 133 (3): 645–670. doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blab009. hdl:2436/624028.
  8. ^ Hoser, R.T. (2004). "A reclassification of the Pythoninae including the descriptions new genera, two new species and nine …". Crocodilian—Journal of the Victorian Association of Amateur Herpetologists. 4: 21–39.
  9. ^ Rawlings, L.H.; Rabosky, D.L.; Donnellan, S.C.; Hutchinson, M.N. (2008). "Python phylogenetics: inference from morphology and mitochondrial DNA". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 93 (3): 603–619. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2007.00904.x.
  10. ^ Graham Reynolds, R.; Niemiller, Matthew L. & Revell, Liam J. (2013). "Toward a Tree-of-Life for the boas and pythons: Multilocus species-level phylogeny with unprecedented taxon sampling". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 71: 201–213. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.011. PMID 24315866.
  11. ^ Thomas, T.M.; Granatosky, M.C.; Bourque, J.R.; Krysko, K.L.; Moler, P.E.; Gamble, T.; Suarez, E.; Leone, E. & Roman, J. (2014). "Taxonomic assessment of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae: Macrochelys), with the description of two new species from the southeastern United States". Zootaxa. 3786 (2): 141–65. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3786.2.4. PMID 24869532.
  12. ^ a b Kaiser, H.; B.I. Crother; C.M.R. Kelly; L. Luiselli; M. O'Shea; H. Ota; P. Passos; W. Schleip & W. Wüster (2013). "Best Practices: In the 21st Century, Taxonomic Decisions in Herpetology are Acceptable Only When Supported by a Body of Evidence and Published via Peer-Review" (PDF). Herpetological Review. 44: 8–23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Wüster, W.; B. Bush; J.S. Keogh; M. O'Shea & R. Shine (2001). "Taxonomic contributions in the "amateur" literature: comments on recent descriptions of new genera and species by Raymond Hoser" (PDF). Litteratura Serpentium (21): 67–79, 86–91. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2007.
  14. ^ Wüster, W.; A.J. Dumbrell; C. Hay; C.E. Pook; D.J. Williams & B.G. Fry (2004). "Snakes across the Strait: Trans-Torresian phylogeographic relationships in three genera of Australasian snakes (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis, Oxyuranus and Pseudechis)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 34 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.08.018. PMID 15579378. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2007.
  15. ^ a b Meagan Dillon (22 May 2013). "Snake fans vent at vain wife name" (PDF). NT News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  16. ^ Alison Bevege (26 July 2012). "Boffins big blue over little croc". NT News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  17. ^ Naish, Darren (20 June 2013). "Taxonomic vandalism and the Raymond Hoser problem". Scientific American. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  18. ^ Denzer, Wolfgang; Ulrich Manthey; Philipp Wagner & Wolfgang Böhme (2015). "A critical review of Hoser's writings on Draconinae, Amphibolurinae, Laudakia and Uromastycinae (Squamata: Agamidae)" (PDF). Bonn Zoological Bulletin. 64 (2): 117–135. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  19. ^ Williams D, Wüster W, Fry BG (December 2006). "The good, the bad and the ugly: Australian snake taxonomists and a history of the taxonomy of Australia's venomous snakes". Toxicon. 48 (7): 919–30. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.07.016. PMID 16999982.
  20. ^ Measey, John. "Taxonomic Vandalism". Herpetological Association of Africa. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  21. ^ Jones, Benjamin (7 September 2017). "A Few Bad Scientists Are Threatening to Topple Taxonomy". Smithsonian. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  22. ^ a b International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (30 April 2021). "Opinion 2468 (Case 3601) – Spracklandus Hoser, 2009 (Reptilia, Serpentes, Elapidae) and Australasian Journal of Herpetology issues 1–24: confirmation of availability declined; Appendix A (Code of Ethics): not adopted as a formal criterion for ruling on Cases". The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 78 (1). doi:10.21805/bzn.v78.a012. ISSN 0007-5167. S2CID 233448875. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  23. ^ Krell, Frank-Thorsten (30 April 2021). "Suppressing works of contemporary authors using the Code's publication requirements is neither easy nor advisable". The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 78 (1): 61–67. doi:10.21805/bzn.v78.a021. ISSN 0007-5167.
  24. ^ "Toeing the party line". The Age. 21 September 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  25. ^ Dobbin, Marika (9 April 2008). "Escaped python ends up in Burnley Tunnel". The Age. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  26. ^ Townsend, Samantha (4 October 2011). "Snakemen in a venomous fight for title". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 31 August 2012.Matt Meir (3 October 2011). "Only one 'snakeman'". Gatton Star. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  27. ^ "Paul's your go-to man for snakes". Grafton Daily Examiner. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  28. ^ "Snake Man strikes". Grafton Daily Examiner. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  29. ^ Munro, Peter (29 November 2009). "Snakes and the city". theage.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  30. ^ "Snake bites up as warm weather brings reptiles and people together". The Age. 31 January 2007. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  31. ^ Hoser, R. (2004). "Surgical removal of Venom glands in Australian Elapids-The creation of Venomoids". Herptile. 29 (1): 37–40. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  32. ^ R. Hoser Surgical Removal of Venom Glands in Australian Elapid Snakes. The creation of venomoids. Archived 25 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Jeff Miller Venomoids: An Overview Archived 10 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Southeastern Hot Herp Society 29 March 2001 Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  34. ^ Cooper, Mex (15 October 2008). "'De-venomised' snakes ruled dangerous". The Age. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Investigation launched over controversial influencer event at Melbourne nightclub". Yahoo News. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Investigation launched over controversial influencer event at Melbourne nightclub". Yahoo News. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  37. ^ Callow, H. Clare. "Investigating Corruption – The Strange Case of Raymond Hoser" (PDF). Australian Rationalist No 55. Rationalist Society of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  38. ^ Bolton, Robert (26 November 1998). "The Media Report". abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  39. ^ Martin, Brian (October 1997). "Defamation and the Australian media: a case study". Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  40. ^ "Wildlife smuggling book defeats 'ban'" Archived 3 August 2012 at archive.today, Green Left Weekly, 30 June 1993. Retrieved 12 October 2008
  41. ^ "Scandalous behaviour; Police under pressure; Starbucks Australia". ABC Radio National. 16 December 2001. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    - "Scandalising the Court" Archived 16 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Press Gazette, 10 October 2003. Retrieved 12 October 2008
  42. ^ "Author losses contempt of court appeal". ABC News Online. 15 December 2003. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  43. ^ Prytz, Anna (10 August 2011). "Handler Raymond Hoser let snakes bite his daughter". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  44. ^ Jefferson, Andrew. "Melton shops ban for snake act - Business - News - Melton Leader". Melton-leader.whereilive.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  45. ^ a b "Snake handler Raymond Hoser has licence revoked". Herald Sun. 18 August 2011.
  46. ^ a b c Russell, Mark (21 May 2013). "You die real quick: snake handler's appeal after daughter bitten | The Wimmera Mail-Times". Mailtimes.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  47. ^ a b "Snake man is sprung". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  48. ^ a b "Victorian snake handler fights ban". Yahoo! 7 News. No. 21 May 2013. AAP. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013.
  49. ^ "VCAT clears snake handler Raymond Hoser to resume demonstrations for schoolchildren". heraldsun.com.au. 11 August 2015.
  50. ^ Chung, Frank (20 October 2018). "'Snakeman' loses Sportsbet trademark battle". News.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  51. ^ "State Election 1999: Frankston East District results summary". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  52. ^ "Results for Manningham City Council Elections 2012". Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  53. ^ Hoser, Raymond. "Snakeman Raymond Hoser is running for the State seat of Warrandyte in the Aug 2023 by-election". The Snake Man. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  54. ^ Cowie, Tom (22 July 2023). "Snake catcher, Gen Z hopefuls among field for Warrandyte byelection". The Age. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  55. ^ "Warrandyte District by-election candidates". Victorian Electoral Commission. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
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