Author: John Virata
Zoo Atlanta Hatches Critically Endangered Bog Turtle
The bog turtle is listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN. [...]
Louisiana Police Officer Keeps Bearded Dragon Until Owner is Located
The police officer put out an APB for the owner, but three days later, nobody has come forward. [...]
New Gecko Species From Germany’s Geiseltal Region Described
The gecko is closely related to the European leaf-toed gecko Euleptes europaea [...]
Albino Galapagos Tortoise Hatches At Switzerland’s Tropiquarium of Servion
The albino hatchling was joined by a normal sibling, which is black in coloration [...]
Wandering Salamanders Can Jump And Glide From World’s Tallest Trees
The salamander can effortlessly glide from tree branches and maintain a stable gliding position by adjusting its limbs and tails. [...]
University of Texas at Arlington Study Looks At Snake Venom Gene Evolution
Snakes had to develop highly specialized venom glands to produce and store what the researchers call a diverse and deadly mix of venoms to those who [...]
Robert Irwin Removes Snake From Road Inside Australia Zoo
Robert is growing into quite the reptile handler and while his voice and mannerisms are his own, you can still see the father in the son. [...]
Pitviper Conference To Be Held July 13-16 in New Mexico
The conference brings together the world's foremost experts on venomous pitvipers. [...]
Give Turtles A Break On World Turtle Day, New York DEC Says
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hopes awareness will help turtles safely cross the roads to their nesting grounds. [...]
New Paraguayan Colubrid Snake Species Discovered And Described
The researchers note the snake should be the subject of conservation action due to the limited range in which it was found. [...]
Cedar Key Mole Skink May Get Endangered Species Protections
The lizard, which is known to occupy several islands off Florida's Nature Coast, was first petitioned for protections in 2012. [...]
13-Foot King Cobra Caught And Released In India
The king cobra is not a member of the Naja genus, which all other cobras are, but rather has its own genus, Ophiophagus, Greek for “snake eating.” [...]
New Mountain Frog Species From Australia Discovered And Described
Philoria knowlesi is known to breed in the spring and early summer, using bogs, banks of headwater streams and seepages as breeding grounds. [...]
Captive Wildlife Permit Rules Changed In Florida
"Leaving Floridians’ livelihoods, businesses, hobbies and pets open to wide interpretation. . . is scary to all permit holders, especially those of us [...]
Rattlesnake Handler at Texas Rattlesnake Roundup Dies of Snake Bite
This particular festival was showcasing about 18 live rattlesnakes and had about 100 lbs of snake meat to cook for festival goers, according to news r [...]
21 Percent Of All Reptile Species Threatened With Extinction, Study Says
Climate change is described as a looming threat to reptiles, as the changes reduce thermally viable windows for foraging, among other things. [...]
26 Eastern Indigo Snakes Released In Northern Florida
Eastern indigo snakes are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. [...]
Virginia Living Museum’s Two-Headed Turtle Dies
The two-headed turtle was rescued in Suffolk, Virginia two years ago and was brought to the museum as a hatchling. [...]
Crocodile Put On No Fly List At Navy Air Station Key West
American crocodiles are widely found in coastal areas and prefer waters with salinity. Sometimes they are found on US Navy airport runways. [...]
Endangered Bahamian Rock Iguanas Getting High Blood Sugar From Ecotourists
Tourists on the Exhuma Islands in the Bahamas are causing Bahamian rock iguanas (Cyclura sp.) to suffer from unusually high bold sugar due to the feed [...]
Lizard King Michael Van Nostrand Sentenced To 8 Months In Prison, Fined $100,000
Van Nostrand, 55, was also ordered to immediately pay a fine of $100,000. That money will be paid directly to the Lacey Act Reward Fund. [...]
Ball Python Found On Walmart Shelf In Indiana Adopted
The seemingly healthy snake was found at the store April 19 and brought to the City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control. [...]
Turtle Haulout Built In Baltimore Harbor
The National Aquarium in Baltimore, along with Waterfront Partnership, National Aquarium, Clearwater Mills, LLC and Living Classroom Foundations creat [...]
Giant Malaysian Turtle Surrendered To Wisconsin Animal Rescue
“Our ultimate goal is to get him placed in a breeding program with an accredited facility so we can keep his species from going extinct." [...]
