Today's Crocodilians are within the "Archosaur" clade, which is closely related to birds and extinct dinosaurs. Throughout their nearly 200 million year existence, there is a "ghost lineage" that continues to baffle scientists when it comes to understanding their evolution. This means…
Fangs developed a series of times to give us some of the most venomous predators of the planet.
The Venomous Vipers Vipers are some of the most specialized Reptiles on the planet with their foldable fangs and potent venom. Because of their deadly saliva mix, Vipers are considered to be highly advanced compared to all ancestral snakes. This means…
Reptile Anatomy and Physiology is an important part of Herpetology and captive care!
The Secretive Toad Headed Agama (P. mystaceus) is a unique Agamid species from desert regions of Asia and the Middle East.
When you think of butterflies, there may not be an immediate correlation to Reptiles, but they may have a more common relationship than previously thought. The Lepidoptera group, which includes moths and butterflies, have adapted to exploit obscure sources of nutrition, like tears. Butterflies and other…
The Pininga Turtle makes a long journey to the freshwater lagoons in the Brazilian Dunes.
Animal ambassadors like Casper are a vital part of awareness and conservation outreach for many private sectors and the AZA.
Texas is home to three native Pitviper species: the Cottonmouths, Copperheads, and Rattlesnakes
The Crocodilians Crocodilia are found all across the Old and New World, and they share some basic features since they belong to the same phylum. All Crocodilians have hard scaled osteoderms (or scales) that are made of bone down their streamlined bodies.…
All over the world there are extraordinary Reptiles and Amphibians hiding among the unique habitats they exist in, but many of us will never see them. While herping is a naturalist favorite for everyone, very few people get up close and…
Vipers are some of the world's most beautiful predators, patterned with vibrant warning coloration and markings. The Viperidae group is broken into two subfamilies including the True Vipers and the Pit Vipers. Unfortunately, their beautiful patterns and elusive lifestyle make them difficult to study and…
Through gene editing, scientists were able to cause albinism in brown anole lizards.
The habitats that reptiles and amphibians depend on are species specific and reliant on the adaptive ways of the animals. “Niches” are specialized habitats made only for these specifically adapted creatures. In Florida, it is seemingly flat with little-to-no evidence…
The Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) is a relatively small species that is hardy, durable and adaptable.
Reptiles are a lot smarter than some think.
shutterstock/Peter_Hermes_Furian Phylogenetic Trees show the connection between species and groups. Emerging evidence from paleontologists (scientists who study fossils) and fossil collection shows that many dinosaurs had feathers...just like birds do today! It has become a popular saying that modern day…
Ball Pythons Once imported by the thousands from Africa, Ball Pythons (Python Regius) are now widely available in captivity from breeders. While some people have a typical 9 to 5, others breed reptiles for a living! This has taken the pressures…
Extinction means an animal is gone forever, so they will never be back! Reptiles and amphibians are currently facing this risk, where 20% of the described reptiles are threatened or endangered, and 31% of the amphibians (over 2000 species) are…
The king cobra is the largest venomous snake of the world.
Even today, the ocean is still one of the most unexplored parts of our planet. Many mysteries surround this vast place, yet it undeniably supports a massive diversity of life. Marine reptiles were common in the past eras during the…
When I sit with a Galapagos tortoise, I can feel a charm I haven’t felt with another reptile. Although tortoises are sometimes considered primitive and regal, their individuality gives the Galapagos tortoises that “gentle giant” type of aura. While the threatened Galapagos…
The male tortoise weighs 33 pounds and has a 17.3-inch carapace.
CrocFest 2018 raised quite a lot of money toward conservation issues.
