Reptile Facts

A tumblr devoted entirely to reptiles, in the wild or in captivity as pets. The purpose of this blog is to inform people about reptiles - their habits in the wild as well as some snippets as to their care in captivity, and the unsuitability and ethics of keeping some species in captivity. My main tumblr [x] A turn based reptile breeding game I helped moderate:

[biomorphosis]

This is a ghostly web-footed gecko, they can be found and perfectly camouflage among the powdery reddish sands of the Namib Desert, their primary habitat.These geckos have adapted their webbed feet not only to help them stay atop, but to bury beneath the dunes of the Namib Desert. Strictly nocturnal lizards, they spend the day in self-dug burrows and emerge at night to feed.

Their bloodshot-looking eyes are massively oversized to help them detect prey, which includes crickets, grasshoppers, and small spiders. They move surprisingly quickly across the sand, and adhesive pads on their toes make them excellent climbers.

People sometimes hunt these tiny lizards for food, and human encroachment is destroying some of its habitat. Their estimated lifespan in the wild is about five years.

[animaltoday]

Andros Iguana (Cyclura Cychlura) - 

One of three subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguanas, the Andros Iguana is one of the largest species of rock iguana.  It is thick and stalky, and can grow up to about 4.5 feet.  

Males are larger than females and have more distinct blueish stripes as well as taller dorsal crests.  Juveniles have darker bodies which lighten and become more colorful as they age.  Their faces also become more red.  Females rely on old termite mounds for nesting, and they are often destroyed by pigs or loggers. 

Primarily herbivores, these large iguanas will eat almost any kind of leaves, flowers and fruits, occasionally eating invertebrate like crabs or slugs.

All of the Northern Bahamian rock iguanas are threatened due to hunting and habitat invasion.  Invasive species like feral dogs and goats will kill or compete with the iguana for food.   

Photos: (top) (bottom left) (bottom right)

[turtleconservancy]

Rarer than most gemstones and arguably more beautiful, these hatchling Geometric Tortoises (Psammobates geometricus) and their habitat are in desperate need of protection. The Turtle Conservancy is currently expanding our Geometric Tortoise Preserve to ensure a future for this Critically Endangered species.

[typhlonectes]

European Asp (Vipera aspis)

This common and highly venomous viper (family Viperidae) is found across a wide variety of habitat types in central and southern Europe. They are viviparous, and may reach a length of up to 65 cm (26 in). They are highly variable in color and pattern.

photographs by Felix Reimann and Dick Bartlett

[typhlonectes]

CURRENT WORK IN HERPETOLOGY:

New Iguana Discovered in Chile

During a field trip at 3000 m above sea level, a group of scientists, led by Jaime Troncoso-Palacios, Universidad de Chile, discovered a new endemic iguana species, in the mountains of central Chile.

Noticeably different in size and scalation, compared to the rest of the local lizards, what initially grabbed the biologists’ attention was its colouration. Not only was it unlike the already described ones, but also appeared surprisingly consistent within the collected individuals, even regardless of their sex.

Eventually, it was this peculiar uniformity that determined the lizard’s name Liolaemus uniformis. The study is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys…

(read more: PhysOrg)

photograph: Jaime Troncoso-Palacios 

[turtleconservancy]

This Spiny Turtle (Heosemys spinosa) hatching from its egg at our conservation center is pretty darn cute! However, it is listed as endangered due to illegal trade and habitat destruction. Please help us ensure a future for this little guy and countless others!

[reptilefacts]

Insect-mimicking snakes?

New Guinea has quite a few venomous, really dangerous snakes. Death adders (Acanthophis), taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), or Papuan blacksnake (Pseudechis papuanus) are elapid snakes that have caus…

[typhlonectes]

ZOOBORNS:

Baby Beaded Lizards Hatch at Columbus Zoo

A Beaded Lizard hatched on January 17, at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and more emerged on January 21 and 22! This is the first successful Beaded Lizard hatching at the Zoo since 2000! The recommendation to breed this vulnerable lizard, which is protected under CITES II, comes from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. The Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum) is found in rocky regions of Central and western Mexico, as well as down to northern Central America, but due to habitat loss and poaching their numbers are diminishing. Learn more: ZooBorns

[biomedicalephemera]

Ways to Die: Snake Venom

The vast majority of snakes that one encounters in the wild (unless you live in Australia or India) are either non-venomous to humans or want nothing to do with you.

However, should you stumble upon a rattlesnake nest or coral snake hole while texting in the middle of nowhere, there will probably be a combination of different enzymes and polypeptides pumped into your body, via the modified parotid salivary glands (right below the ear in humans) that snakes have evolved over the ages, to disable their prey. Of course, you’re not prey, but you stepped on a snake while texting. It has every reason to envenomate you.

While all snakes have multiple active enzymes in their venom, all snakes dangerous to humans have either neurotoxins or cytotoxins as a significant component in their venom. For the most part, elapids (such as the cobras and mambas) create neurotoxins, while the viperids (such as vipers, adders, and rattlesnakes) create cytotoxins.

Neurotoxins

Dendrotoxins: Inhibit neurotransmission by blocking the exchange of positive and negative ions across the pre-synaptic neuronal membrane, causing paralysis. Found in some rattlesnakes (such as the Mojave) and mambas.

Fasciculins: Destroys acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in synaptic clefts of nerves. Without AChE, acetylcholine (ACh) is not broken down, and remains bound to the postsynaptic vesicles of the nerve, leading to constant contraction of the related muscles. This is called tetany or tetanic paralysis. Found only in mambas.

α-neurotoxins: Very large group of toxins that mimic ACh and bind to post-synaptic vesicles, leading to numbness and paralysis. Found in cobras, kraits, and sea snakes. 

Cytotoxins

Cardiotoxins: Target muscle cells and cause depolarization. If enough of these components reach the heart, the depolarization can cause irregular heartbeat or spontaneous stopping of the heart. Can cause fasciculations in skeletal muscles. Found in the Naja genus, and in King Cobras. Minor but important component of mamba venom.

Phospholipases: Proteins that target the phospholipid bilayer of cells, causing cellular rupture. Can cause extreme blistering at site of bite. Relatively uncommon, found in the Japanese Habu.

Hemotoxins: Burst red blood cells (hemolysis), causing thin blood, internal bleeding, and blood clots due to the massive clotting response. Found to some degree in almost all vipers, as well as some cobras.

Images: Top: Bungaris fasciatus - Banded Krait. An elapid, and the largest of the kraits. Has neurotoxic venom. [source] Center Right: Hydrophis robusta [now Hydrophis spiralis] - Yellow Sea-Snake. The longest sea snake, at 3 m (9.8 ft). A member of the Hydrophiinae, separate from other elapids. Though they have some of the most toxic venom in the world, bites are extremely uncommon and often unnoticed. [source] Center Left: Vipera russellii - Russell’s Viper. A particularly aggressive viperid. Necrosis and amputation following envenomation not uncommon, due to hemolysis and local cell damage. [source] Bottom: Vipera caudisona [now Crotalus horridus] - Timber Rattlesnake. A venomous viperid endemic to the United States. Primarily hemotoxic venom, very low fatality rate, but very painful bites. [source]

[typhlonectes]

The Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii)

…is a small aquatic turtle that lives in both fresh and brackish waters.  They can grow up to about 4 inches in size.  In the Lower Florida Keys, the population is considered “threatened” by the state of Florida due to the potential losses of freshwater wetlands due to development and sea level rise. 

We were using this particular fellow yesterday to teach kids about the special adaptations these turtles have for survival. (He was released immediately after).  Notice his webbed feet to help swim and burrow underwater, and hard beak to help him crunch prey like snails, crayfish, insects,and worms. 

For more info on the striped mud turtle, check out the Florida Wildlife Commission’s species profile page: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/reptiles/striped-mud-turtle/ As always, we encourage people to admire reptiles and amphibians in their native environments.  It is illegal to remove or disturb them on National Wildlife Refuge lands and many other areas.

(via: Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex)

Photos: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ralph L. Brown, Jr., and Mary Keim

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Beddome’s Keelback (Amphiesma beddomei)

Also known as the Nilgiri Keelback, Beddome’s keelback is a species of keelback snake (Amphiesma spp.) that was first discovered near the Nilgiri hills but is common in the Western Ghats in India. Beddome’s keelbacks are typically found in or around moist deciduous forests and occasionally evergreen forests as well. A. beddomei is not an aquatic species but is often seen around the banks of streams in search of its favorite prey item, toads and frogs. 

Classification

Animalia-Chordata-Reptilia-Squamata-Serpentes-Colubridae-Natricinae-Amphiesma-A. beddomei

Image: L. Shyamal

[typhlonectes]

Tuatara Hatchling at UK’s Chester Zoo

*INCREDIBLE NEWS* Our keepers have hatched the first ever tuatara outside of their native New Zealand - a successful breeding that has taken several decades to achieve. The tuatara is one of the world’s oldest living species and is believed to have pre-dated the dinosaurs, having been on the planet for more than 225 million years. Around 70 million years ago they became extinct everywhere except New Zealand, where it now has iconic status. Our achievements in successfully hatching the tuatara - and all of the intricate skills developed along the way - give us confidence that we can help save highly threatened species such as mountain chicken frogs and Bermudan skinks from extinction in the wild.

(via: Chester Zoo)

[fimbry]

This is how she is. On the move all night long with short rest periods. White lips are honestly so active, more so than any of my others.

Bothrochilus albertisii

[allcreaturessmall]

I had three slider turtles surrendered today - three. Two are babies, like the little one shown up top. Yes, they were each surrendered in one of those. One is an adult female, pictured below with the turtle “habitat” on her back for comparison. All are in neglected condition with poor shell health. SO… This is what you need to understand when getting a turtle. 1. The little baby turtles sold on the beach, the fair, at flea markets, in little hole-in-the-wall shops? Are illegal. Turtles under 4″ in general are not being legally sold. This has been a federal law since about the mid-70′s due to salmonella outbreaks linked to the turtles (google it if you don’t believe me). Anyplace selling these turtles for any reason other that research or education is doing so illegally and, if they come in a little “habitat” like the one shown here, unscrupulously. 2. Turtles can not survive in tiny critter keepers. They should live 30+ years but most will only make it a few months in such containers. Why? Well: 3. Turtles need 5-10g of water (not tank, water) per inch of shell length to keep clean and happy. What’s more, they need: 4. Heat and UVB to digest, absorb calcium, and grow. Both of the tiny turtles we got in today have severely soft shells from calcium deficiency, and one has a mild respiratory infection from inadequate heat. 5. They also need filtration to help keep clean, or they can develop shell rot, bacterial infections, eye infections, etc. Even with a filter, expect large WEEKLY water changes. 6. A dry area to get totally out of the water to bask. Lacking a basking spot can lead to shell rot, which can go bone deep and be lethal. 7. A nutritious, fortified diet, PLUS fresh foods. Baby turtles need plenty of protein items while adult (sliders) will need a good portion of their diet to be vegetation. Those crappy oversized pellets baby turtles are sold with are not complete nutrition in and of themselves. 8. Finally, turtles need educated owners committed to a high-maintenance, long lived, LARGE pet with significant space requirements. Slider turtles and cooters, the most common species sold in those horrid little boxes, can grow to over a foot in length. The big girl pictured could still easily put on another 5″ or more in size and will need to live in a good hundred gallon tank (at least) to be happy and healthy. Don’t be an impulsive, uneducated, crummy pet owner. Only get a turtle if you’re ready to provide everything - I mean everything - they need to grow, survive, and thrive.  And yes, the turtles pictured are now all living in spacious, filtered, heated, UVB’d environments to recover from their negligent care. 

[theexoticvet-deactivated2022070]

3-D Printed Shells Help Tortoises Survive Hostile Desert Life

A team in the South Western U.S. is using 3-D printed tortoise shells to help the dwindling desert tortoise population. But these aren’t replacements for damaged shells. They’re high-tech decoys, designed to confuse one of the tortoise’s worst predators.

Ravens feed off young desert tortoises, picking off the small ones before they grow too big, which takes seven to 10 years. Instead of trying to eliminate these predators, the team from Hardshell Labs, along with Tatjana Dzambazova of 3-D software company Autodesk, are giving the tortoises a better chance of survival.

The shells are printed to match the size of a young desert tortoise. They’re fitted with sensors, which track the activity of the ravens, and—here’s the neat part—they have a non-toxic spray that trains the ravens not to attack. So after enough of times of swooping down and pecking at a bad-smelling shell (with no tortoise inside), they’ll eventually abandon the tortoises as a food source entirely. (Read More)

[reptilefacts]

The animal's body temperature remains several degrees above burrow temperature during the reproductive season.

Salvator merianae, the black and white tegu, also called the Argentine giant tegu, is the largest species of tegu lizard and one of the largest lizards found in the Americas, measuring as much as 2 m in length. Moreover, at the time of writing, it is the only warm-blooded lizard known to science. The discovery of its enhanced capacity for heat production and conservation is an important contribution to our understanding of how endothermy may have evolved in the ancestors of mammals and birds (and dinosaurs).

This is the conclusion of a study conducted by Brazilian and Canadian biologists at São Paulo State University’s Bioscience Institute in Rio Claro, Brazil (IBRC-UNESP), with support from FAPESP, and published in Science Advances.

The study initially involved four tegus, two males and two females. They were kept in captivity, and their body temperatures and heart rates were continuously monitored for a year.

In fairness, this is a small sample size in term of individual animals

[kaijutegu]

What kinds of geckos won't drop their tails, or regrow them? I'd freak out if it ever happened.

Pretty much any gecko can drop their tail! Tail-dropping, or autotomy, is many a gecko’s major line of defense against predation. Geckos that don’t readily drop their tails have equally unsettling defense mechanisms; day geckos and halmahera geckos, for instance, slough off their skin when startled. This is not pleasant. However, I’m going through and googling pretty much every gecko I know of- even the less-commonly-kept ones like knob-tailed geckos and pictus geckos- and it seems like any and all of them can lose their tails. Not all can regenerate, but many can. The notable exception is cresties- they often to drop without much provocation and they don’t every regenerate. In fact, no wild crestie adult has ever been discovered with their tail.

[markscherz]

Some geckos, especially the Eublepharids, are reluctant to drop their tails. This is probably due to their role in fat storage.