Reptiles

Yellow-bellied slider

2010-01-11T06:31:00.000-08:00

The yellow-bellied slider is a semi-aquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. This subspecies of Trachemys scripta is native to the southeastern United States, specifically from Florida to southeastern Virginia, and is the most common turtle species in its range. It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including slow-moving rivers, floodplain swamps, marshes, seasonal wetlands, and permanent ponds. Yellow-bellied sliders are popular as pets.

Description

Adult male yellow-bellied sliders typically reach 5–8 inches (13–20 cm) in length; females are anywhere from 8–13 inches (20–33 cm). The carapace (upper shell) is typically brown and black, often with yellow stripes. The skin is olive green with prominent patches of yellow down the neck and legs. As the name implies, the plastron (bottom shell) is mostly yellow with green spots along the edges. Adult males tend to grow darker as they age. Yellow-bellied sliders are often confused with Eastern River Cooters, who also have yellow stripes on the neck and yellow undersides, but the latter lack the green spots characteristic to T. scripta scripta.

Mating can occur in spring, summer, and autumn. Yellow-bellied sliders are capable of interbreeding with other T. scripta subspecies, such as red-eared sliders, which are also commonly sold as pets. The release of non-native red-eared sliders into local environments caused the state of Florida to ban the sale of red-eared sliders so as to protect the native population of yellow-bellied sliders.

Mating takes place in the water, but some suitable terrestrial area is required for egg-laying by nesting females, who will normally lay 6–10 eggs at a time, with larger females capable of bearing more. The eggs incubate for 2–3 months and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through winter. Hatchlings are almost entirely carnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, and carrion. As they age, adults eat less and less meat such that up to 95% of their nutritional intake comes from plants.

The slider is considered a diurnal turtle; it feeds mainly in the morning and frequently basks on shore, on logs, or while floating, during the rest of the day. At night, it sleeps lying on the bottom or resting on the surface near brush piles, but in all cases it prefers to stay in the water. Highest densities of sliders occur where algae blooms and aquatic macrophytes are abundant and are of the type that form dense mats at the surface, such as Myriophyllum spicatum and lily pads (Nymphaeaceae). Dense surface vegetation provides cover from predators and supports high densities of aquatic invertebrates and small vertebrates, which offers better foraging than open water.

The lifespan of yellow-bellied sliders is over 30 years in the wild, and over 40 years in captivity.

As pets

Housing

Baby yellow-bellied sliders may be kept in a 10-US-gallon (38 l) aquarium, but as they age, they will require much more space. One or two adults may be housed in a 75 US gal (284 l) (or larger) aquarium. The turtles require enough water to turn around should they fall on their backs, with a depth of 16–18 in (41–46 cm) recommended. Water temperature should be kept between 72–80°F (22–27°C) and properly filtered. Fish may also be kept together with the turtles, and given enough vegetation to hide in. Sliders need a basking area that is kept warm during the day and that will allow the turtle to move around, balance, and dry off completely. This area should average 89–95°F (32–35°C) and can be heated with a UV-B heat lamp, although direct sunlight is always preferable. The lamp should be switched on during daylight hours.

Diet

Pond plants such as elodea and cabomba can be left in the water, while human-consumed vegetables such as romaine lettuce, escarole and collard greens must be changed daily. As sliders are omnivores, insects and freshly killed fish may also be provided for protein. Commercially processed animal-based reptile food may be given too, but any leftovers should be immediately removed to prevent fouling the water.

Sternotherus odoratus

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The Common Musk Turtle or Stinkpot is a species of small turtle native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States, named after their ability to release a foul musky odor to deter predation. They are sometimes bred specifically to be kept as pets.

Description

Stinkpots are a black, grey or brown turtle with a highly domed shell. They grow to approximately 4 inches (10 cm) in length. They have long necks and rather short legs. Males can usually be distinguished from females by their significantly longer tails. Their heads are vaguely triangular in shape, with a pointed snout and sharp beak, and yellow-green striping from the tip of their nose to their neck. Algae often grows on their carapace.

Behaviour

Musk turtles are almost entirely aquatic, spending the vast majority of their time in shallow, heavily vegetated waters of slow moving creeks, or in ponds. They typically only venture onto land when the female lays her eggs, or in some cases, to bask under lighting.

Diet

They are carnivorous, consuming a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates, including crayfish, freshwater clams, snails, and various insects. They will also eat fish and carrion. Their common names are derived from the scent glands located just under the rear of their shell, which allows them to release a foul musky odor to deter predation which hardly ever occurs. Wild turtles often will not hesitate to bite if harassed, though they are not particularly fast-moving and their reach is limited.

Reproduction

Breeding occurs in the spring, and females lay 2 to 9 elliptical, hard-shelled eggs in a shallow burrow or under shoreline debris. The eggs hatch in late summer or early fall. Hatchlings are usually less than one inch long. Their lifespan, as with most turtles, is quite long, with specimens in captivity being recorded at 50+ years of age.

Geographic distribution

The Common Musk Turtle ranges in Canada in southern Ontario, southern Quebec, and in the Eastern United States from southern Maine in the north, south through to Florida, and west to central Texas, with a disjunct population located in central Wisconsin.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by the French taxonomist Pierre André Latreille in 1802, from a specimen collected near Charleston, South Carolina. At the time, almost all turtles were classified in the genus Testudo, and he gave it the name Testudo odorata. In 1825, John Edward Gray created the genus Sternotherus to include species of musk turtle and it became Sternotherus odoratus. The species has been redescribed numerous times by many authors, leading to a large amount of confusion in its classification. To confuse it further, the differences between mud turtles and musk turtles are a point of debate, with some researchers considering them the same genus, Kinosternon.

Conservation status

Though the Common Musk Turtle holds no federal conservation status in the US and is quite common throughout most of its range, it is listed as a threatened species in the state of Iowa.

In captivity

Due to its small size, the Common Musk Turtle generally makes a better choice for a pet turtle than other commonly available species, such as the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). Throughout their range wild-caught specimens are commonly available, but the species is also frequently captive-bred specifically for the pet trade. They readily accept a diet of commercially available turtle pellets and various insects, such as crickets and mealworms, or earthworms. Due to their almost entirely aquatic nature, the Common Musk Turtle also does not necessarily require the UV lighting that most other turtle species do for proper captive care, though it is usually recommended to give them a more natural light cycle than normal indoor lighting. I recommend you have UV lighting because this strengthens their shell.

Spotted Turtle

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The Spotted Turtle is a small turtle with a shell that can grow between 8--12 cm (3 to 5 inches). Their upper shell, or carapace, ranges in colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots. Spotted Turtles inhabit a variety of shallow, fresh-water areas such as flooded forests, marshes, wet meadows, bogs and woodland streams in the Eastern U.S. (the eastern Great Lakes and east of the Appalachian Mountains) and southern Canada (Ontario). Many Spotted turtles are kept as pets, however, this practice is illegal in many jurisdictions, including Canada, due to their threatened status.

Adult males have brown eyes, a brown or dark grey beak and chin; adult females have orange eyes, a yellow/orange coloured beak and chin.

Diet

Young spotted turtles are mostly carnivorous, eating insects, such as crickets, worms, snails, slugs, spiders and fish. As spotted turtles age, they will consume some vegetation, such as anachris and other water plants, but adults' diets will primarily consists of protein-rich foods: insects, fish, snails and crustaceans. All food that is consumed is done so underwater, as Spotted Turtles, like other aquatic species, cannot swallow food out of water. Spotted Turtles will hunt on land, however, they bring their catch back into the water for consumption.

Notes

The spots on Spotted Turtles vary greatly throughout their range. They can have up to a hundred spots, while some have no spots at all. Spotted Turtles shed their scutes in small pieces occasionally resulting in completely smooth shelled specimens. These are very intelligent turtles and have been tested like the Wood Turtles in mazes and have been proven to have the brain capacity of a mouse. These turtles are only active in the cooler spring months.

Red-Eared Slider

2010-01-11T06:20:00.000-08:00

The Red-Eared Slider, known most commonly in the UK as the Red-Eared Terrapin, is a semi-aquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of Pond Slider. It is a native of the southern United States, but has become common in various areas of the world due to the pet trade. They are popular pets in the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Name

Red Eared Sliders get their name from the distinctive red mark around their ear. The Slider part of their name comes from their ability to slide off rocks and logs and into the water quickly. This species was previously known as Troost's Turtle in honor of an American herpetologist; Trachemys scripta troostii is now the scientific name for another subspecies, the Cumberland Turtle.

Behavior

Red-eared Sliders are almost entirely aquatic, but leave the water to bask in the sun and lay eggs. These reptiles are deceptively fast and are also excellent swimmers. They hunt for prey and will attempt to capture it when the opportunity presents itself. They are aware of predators and people and generally shy away from them. The Red-eared Slider is known to frantically slide off rocks and logs when approached.

Contrary to the popular misconception that Red-eared Sliders do not have saliva, they, like most aquatic turtles, have fixed tongues. This is the reason they must eat their food in water.

Description

The female Red-eared Slider grows to be 25–33 cm (10–13 in) in length and males 20–25 cm (8–10 in). The red stripe on each side of the head distinguishes the Red-eared Slider from all other North American species. The carapace (top shell) is oval and flattened (especially in the male), has a weak keel that is more pronounced in the young, and the rear marginal scutes are notched. The carapace usually consists of a dark green background with light and dark highly variable markings. The plastron (bottom shell) is yellow with dark paired irregular markings in the center of most scutes. The plastron is highly variable in pattern. The head, legs, and tail are green with fine yellow irregular lines. Some dimorphism occurs between males and females. Male turtles are usually smaller than females but their tail is much longer and thicker. Claws are elongated in males which facilitate courtship and mating. Typically, the cloacal opening of the female is at or under the rear edge of the carapace while the male's opening occurs beyond the edge of the carapace. Older males can sometimes have a melanistic coloration being a dark grayish olive green, with markings being very subdued. The red stripe on the sides of the head may be difficult to see or be absent.

Diet

Red-eared Sliders are omnivores and eat a variety of animal and plant materials in the wild including, but not limited to fish, crayfish, carrion, tadpoles, snails, crickets, wax worms, aquatic insects and numerous aquatic plant species. The captive diet for pet Red-eared Sliders should be a varied diet consisting of feeder fish, aquatic plants and other natural foods. They should never be fed commercial dog food, cat food, nor fish chow or turtle food. Commercial turtle foods can be used sparingly and should not be used as the primary food. Calcium (for shell health) can be supplemented by adding pieces of cuttlebone to the diet, or with commercially available vitamin supplements. A nutritious food readily accepted by young turtles is baby clams soaked in krill oil covered with powdered coral calcium. Younger turtles tend to be more carnivorous (eat more animal protein) than adults do. As they grow larger and older, they become increasingly herbivorous. Live foods are particularly enjoyed and add to the quality of life of captive turtles. Providing a wide variety of foods is the key to success with captive Red-eared Sliders.

Hibernation

Reptiles do not hibernate but actually brumate, becoming less active but occasionally rising for food or water. Brumation can occur in varying degrees. Red-eared Sliders brumate over the winter at the bottom of ponds or shallow lakes and they become inactive, generally, in October, when temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C). Individuals usually brumate underwater. They have also been found under banks and hollow stumps and rocks. In warmer winter climates they can become active and come to the surface for basking. When the temperature begins to drop again, however, they will quickly return to a brumation state. Sliders will generally come up for food in early March to as late as the end of April. Red Eared Sliders kept captive indoors should not hibernate. To prevent attempted hibernation/brumation in an aquarium, lights should be on for 12–14 hours per day and the water temperature should be maintained between 76–80 °F (24–27 °C). Water temperatures must be under 55 °F (13 °C) in order for aquatic turtles to brumate properly. Controlling temperature changes to simulate natural seasonal fluctuations encourages mating behavior.

Reproduction

Courtship and mating activities for Red-eared Sliders usually occur between March and July, and take place underwater. The male swims toward the female and flutters or vibrates the back side of his long claws on and around her face and head. The female swims toward the male and, if she is receptive, sinks to the bottom for mating. If the female is not receptive, she may become aggressive towards the male. The courtship can take up to forty-five minutes, but the mating itself usually takes only ten to fifteen minutes.

Sometimes a male will appear to be courting another male. This is actually a sign of dominance and they may begin to fight. Juveniles may display the courtship dance, but until the turtles are five years of age they are not mature and are unable to mate.

After mating, the female spends extra time basking in order to keep her eggs warm. She may also have a change of diet, eating only certain foods or not eating as much as she normally would. Mating begins in May and egg-laying occurs in May through early July. A female might lay from two to thirty eggs, with larger females having larger clutches. One female can lay up to five clutches in the same year and clutches are usually spaced twelve to thirty-six days apart. Turtle eggs are fertilized as they are being laid and buried in the sand. The time between mating and egg laying can be days or weeks.

Hatching

Eggs hatch sixty to ninety days after they have been laid. Late season hatchlings may spend the winter in the nest and emerge when the weather warms in the spring. Just prior to hatching, the egg contains 50% Turtle and 50% egg sac.

New hatchlings break open their egg with an egg tooth, which falls out about an hour after hatching. This egg tooth never grows back. Hatchlings may stay inside their eggshells after hatching for the first day or two. When a hatchling decides to leave the shell, it has a small sac protruding from its bottom plastron. The yolk sac is vital and provides nourishment while visible and several days after it has been absorbed into the turtle's belly.

Damage or motion enough to allow air into the turtle's body results in death. This is the main reason for marking the top of turtle eggs if their relocation for any reason is required. An egg that has been turned upside down will eventually terminate the embryo growth by the sac smothering the embryo. If it manages to reach term, the turtle will try to flip over with the yolk sac which allows air into the body cavity and death follows. The other fatal danger is water getting into the body cavity before the sac is absorbed completely and the opening has not completely healed yet. It takes 21 days between the egg opening until water entry. The sac must be absorbed, and does not fall out. The split may be noticeable in the hatchling's plastron on turtles found in the field indicating the age of the turtle to be about 3 weeks old. The split must heal on its own before allowing the turtle to swim. However, this does not mean there is no need for moisture throughout the first 3 weeks of life outside of the egg. A good idea is to place the hatchlings on moist paper towels. The eggs should be kept on the moist towels from the day they are laid (dig them up an hour after being laid) and covered with toweling until they hatch and can swim. The Turtle can also suck the water it needs from the toweling. Red Ear Slider eggs matriculate in South Florida in 91 days while in New York City the egg takes 102 days. Turtles which were relocated exhibited this effect with constancy.

As pets

The Red-eared Slider is commonly kept as a pet and is often sold cheaply (and illegally). Red Eared Sliders are the most common type of water turtle kept as pets. As with other turtles, tortoises and box turtles, individuals that survive their first year or two can be expected to live almost as long as their owners. Individuals of this species have lived at least 35 years in captivity.

Red-eared sliders can be quite aggressive—especially when food is involved. If being kept as a pet, care must be taken to prevent injury or even death of its smaller tankmates. If a group of hatchlings are kept together, the oldest and most aggressive will soon outgrow their younger and smaller siblings.

United States federal regulations on commercial distribution

A 1975 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation bans the sale (for general commercial and public use) of turtle eggs and turtles with a carapace length of less than 4 inches (100 mm). This regulation comes under the Public Health Service Act and is enforced by the FDA in cooperation with State and local health jurisdictions. The ban has been effective in the U.S. since 1975 because of the public health impact of turtle-associated Salmonella. Turtles and turtle eggs found to be offered for sale in violation of this provision are subject to destruction in accordance with FDA procedures. A fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year is the penalty for those who refuse to comply with a valid final demand for destruction of such turtles or their eggs.

Many stores and flea markets still sell small turtles due to an exception in the FDA regulation which allows turtles under 4 inches (100 mm) to be sold "for bona fide scientific, educational, or exhibitional purposes, other than use as pets."

As with many other animals and inanimate objects, the risk of Salmonella exposure can be reduced by following basic rules of cleanliness. Small children must be taught not to put the turtle in their mouth and to wash their hands immediately after they finish "playing" with the turtle, feeding it, or changing the water.

U.S. State Law

Some states have other laws and regulations regarding possession of Red-eared Slider because they can be an invasive species where they are not native and have been introduced through the pet trade. As of July 1, 2007, it is illegal in Florida to sell any wild type Red-eared Slider, as they interbreed with the local yellow-bellied slider population – Trachemys scripta scripta is another subspecies of the same species, and intergrades typically combine the markings of the two subspecies. However, unusual color varieties such as albino and pastel Red-eared Slider, which are derived from captive breeding, are still allowed for sale.

Australia

The Red-eared Slider turtle is banned in Australia because of the threat the species poses to wildlife. Anyone that keeps or breeds Red-eared Slider turtles could face fines of more than $100,000 or five years' jail.

Painted Turtle

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Painted Turtle is a reptile that is common in southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico and is related to other water turtles such as sliders and cooters. This turtle lives in ponds, lakes, marshes, and in slow-moving rivers that have soft, muddy bottoms. The maximum carapace size, or shell length, for painted turtles is or 25 cm (10 in.). Its shell is used to protect it from its predators.

The skin of an adult Painted Turtle's head, neck, feet and tail, and the carapace-edge (marginal) scutes have a red and yellow striped design that gives the appearance of having been hand-painted. The plastron, depending on the subspecies, can be entirely yellowish or yellowish-orange, mostly yellowish with a dark pattern in the center, or may have a bold, elaborate pattern of yellow, orange, red and dark gray. The background skin tone of the painted turtle varies from olive green to solid black. The Painted turtle is the only species in the genus Chrysemys. It comprises four sub-species: the Eastern, Southern, Midland, and Western Painted Turtle. The only species of Painted Turtle that has a stripe on its back is the Southern Painted Turtle.

The Painted Turtle is the official reptile of the U.S. states of Colorado (specifically the Western Painted Turtle) and Michigan.

Reproduction

Mating begins shortly after the turtles have emerged from hibernation in early spring when the water temperature is still low. Mating may also occur in the fall. The breeding season typically lasts from late spring to early summer. Males begin to breed when they reach maturity, usually at 70–95 mm plastron length when they are three to five years old. Females take longer to mature (4–5 years) and are larger at maturity. The courtship ritual of adult painted turtles is a rare and beautiful sight, rarely seen in the wild. Possessing a broader, thicker tail and a smaller (about 80 percent the size of an adult female of the same age), more elongated body shape, the male painted turtle swims to face the female nose-to-nose, prior to fertilizing her ova, and uses his comparatively hugely over-sized front claws to tickle the cheeks of the female rapidly up-and-down in a vibratory manner, in about one-second bursts, with the "palms" of the forefeet facing outward. If the female is receptive, she will stroke the forelimbs of the courting male.^[5] Different subspecies of painted turtle can and do interbreed - the offspring exhibit an intergradation of the characteristics of the parent races. Painted turtles are amniotes that requires females to nest on land. Females prefer soft, sandy soil with good exposure to the sun for their nest site. Nests are dug with the turtle's hind feet, usually within 200 metres of water. The nest is no deeper than 10 to 12 centimetres. The females will lay 4 to 15 oval, soft shelled eggs, in a conical flask-shaped hole. The eggs are elliptical, white to off-white and are mostly smooth with slight pits. Female turtles may lay up to five clutches of eggs per season although typically, they will lay only one or two clutches. Once the eggs are laid the mother will cover the hole with dirt or sand and leave the nest unattended. Painted turtle eggs hatch 72 to 80 days after they are laid. Once the young hatch and dig out of the nest, they are immediately independent.Nest tempurature determines the sex and survivability of hatchlings. A study was done by Dr. Brooks in which he studied what temperatures produced different sexes. The results showed that males were only produced by temperatures of 22, 24, and 26 degrees Celsius, while females were produced at temperatures of 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. Both sexes were produced at 20 and 28 degrees Celsius. This study showed that eggs incubated at constant temperatures could determine sex, but naturally incubated eggs with varying temperatures are not able to be determined.

Behavior

Painted turtles are most active from May to October in the Northeastern United States. Instances of local flooding following heavy rainfall in warm months, will sometimes force these turtles to temporarily take to the land for a day or two, migrating between habitats and taking risks crossing roads. It is then that a specimen can be captured with relative ease. During the winter, painted turtles hibernate(or, technically,brumate) by burying themselves deep in the mud beneath streams and ponds. The mud insulates the turtle, which helps prevent freezing during the harsh winter months. The turtle may submerge itself in up to 90 cm (3 ft) of mud under less than 1.8 metres (6 ft) of water. Painted turtles can survive without oxygen at 3 degrees Celsius (37 °F) for up to five months, longer than any other known air-breathing vertebrate. To survive during hibernation, the turtle must prevent lactic acid from building up in its body. The turtle accomplishes this by slowing its metabolic rate, which in turn lowers the rate of lactic acid production. It then uses magnesium and calcium stored in its shell to buffer and neutralize lactic acid. Northern populations of painted turtle may remain dormant for four to six months. More southerly populations may become active during warm periods. When emerging from a dormant period, most turtles will not begin to eat again until the water temperature has reached approximately 60 °F (16°C).

The painted turtle spends the majority of its time in the water, but it can often be seen lying in the sun on floating logs or on rocks by the shore. This behavior is called basking. Some turtles bask simply by floating at the surface of the water with only the tip of their nose breaking the surface. Adult painted turtles are very shy and are not easily captured. Painted turtles bask because they cannot generate heat or regulate their own body temperature. Instead, they rely on heat from the sun to raise and maintain their body temperature at a level high enough for food in their stomachs to digest efficiently; about 65°F minimum. Basking episodes generally last for two hours at a time. Painted turtles are omnivorous, taking insects, worms, tadpoles, small fish and crustaceans as well as carrion, in addition to duckweed and other aquatic vegetation. Like almost all semi-aquatic turtles, painted turtles cannot and will not ingest food unless their mouths are fully underwater.

Housing

Aquariums used to house a painted turtle should be sized to at least 80 gallons per adult, but a 20 gallon, or 30 gallon breeder tank is great for babies, or hatchlings. They must have an accessible land area (commercially made turtle ramps are available at most pet stores) to bask on such that they are able to dry completely. The tank should be cleaned at least a couple of times a month and the correct size filtration system (rated for at least twice the gallons of the turtle's enclosure) should be purchased, kept clean and well-supplied with filter media. UVA/UVB light is critical to the health of basking turtles; this is best provided by natural sunlight, though artificial sources can be used for indoor enclosures. It should also be noted that a UV light source must have no glass in between it and the turtle because UVB light, which has a relatively short wavelength, cannot penetrate ordinary glass. Turtles require heat and sunlight (either natural or artificial) to properly digest food and develop their shells and beaks, so fluorescent UVA/UVB lamps alone are not suitable for turtles and should be supplemented with an additional radiant heat source. Exposure to sunlight or artificial heat sources must be arranged carefully since overheating can kill a turtle within minutes. A sufficient amount of clean, shaded, cooler water to which the turtle can retreat must always be provided. Keep an outdoor turtle habitat fitted with an effective barrier such as a firmly-attached 1/2-inch wire mesh cover with a sturdy frame which a young child, cat, dog, or natural predator cannot dislodge.

Feeding

Painted turtles are omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of aquatic animals, plants and algae. In captivity, they are willing to eat commercial turtle food, but it is generally considered healthier to provide a varied diet containing natural foods along with commercial. Babies and juveniles require a diet primarily consisting of animal matter such as worms, small fish, insects(they feed largely on larvae in the wild), and other raw, low fat, high vitamin and mineral density foods with low phosphorus and salt content. For mature turtles, about half of the diet should consist of high nutritional content plant matter, with more calcium rich animal foods being offered to females prior to egg-laying. Mature turtles require substantially less feeding than juveniles, only requiring feeding a few times a week, rather than daily.

Predators

Painted turtles are vulnerable to predation throughout their development and into adulthood. Many animals such as raccoons, several types of squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, skunks, badgers, foxes, fish crows, garter snakes, deer, ants, beavers, and humans will prey on turtle nests. Newly hatched turtles are eaten by rats, muskrat, mink, raccoons, snapping turtles, snakes, bullfrogs, large fish and herons. Adult turtles are preyed upon by alligators, snapping turtles, raccoons, bald eagles, osprey, and red shouldered hawks. Humans pose many threats to painted turtles through habitat destruction, the use of pesticides, vehicles on roadways, intentional killing by anglers, and improper care while kept as pets. When a painted turtle feels threatened, it may kick and scratch, bite and urinate. Painted turtles that have avoided predators and disease have been known to live longer than thirty years in the wild.

Bell's Hingeback Tortoise

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The Bell's Hingeback Tortoise, Bell's Hing-back Tortoise, Bell's Hinged Tortoise, Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise, or Bell's Tortoise is a species of turtle from the Testudinidae family. It has the hinge that all the tortoises in Kinixys have. This Hineback is the most common and is widepsread throughout Africa, mainly Sudan, Tanzania, Congo and down to Southern Africa.There are several subspecies and the Bell's hingeback tortoise is subject to wide variation throughout its extensive range.

Description

The Bell's Hingeback is a small-sized light brown tortoise. They can grow up to 22 cm. On the back of its shell, the tortoise has a 90 degree hinge which, when closed, can protect its rear legs and tail from predators. This broad band of flexible connective tissue is located between the 4th and 5th costals and the 7th and 8th peripherals in adults. Most Bell's Hingebacks have five claws on each forefoot except for one of the subspecies, K. b. nogeuyi.

Home's Hinge-back Tortoise

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The Home's Hinge-back Tortoise, Home's Hinged Tortoise, or Home's Hinged-backed Tortoise is a species of turtle in the Testudinidae family. It is found in Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and possibly Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and plantations . It is threatened by habitat loss.

Eastern Box Turtle

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The Eastern Box Turtle is a subspecies within a group of hinge-shelled turtles, normally called box turtles. T. c. carolina is native to an eastern part of the United States. Occasionally, it is referred to as the Common Box Turtle to distinguish it from the other five subspecies of eastern box turtles.

Description

Eastern box turtles have a high, dome-like carapace and a hinged plastron that allows total shell closure. The carapace can be of variable coloration, but is normally found brownish or black and is accompanied by a yellowish or orangish radiating pattern of lines, spots or blotches. Skin coloration, like that of the shell, is variable, but is usually brown with some yellow, purplish or white spots or streaks. This coloration closely mimics that of the winter leaf of the tulip poplar. The color of the shell and skin of an eastern box turtle differs with age; younger turtles of the type are often more vibrantly colored than the older. Furthermore, males normally possess red eyes (irises) whereas females usually display brown eyes. Eastern box turtles feature a sharp, horned beak, stout limbs, and their feet are webbed only at the base. Staying small in size, males grow to up to seven inches, and females to about eight. In the wild, box turtles are known to live over 80 years, but in captivity, usually live only between 30-50. Virtually all turtles have a covering of scutes, or modified scales, over the bony shell. The number,size,form,and position of these scutes can help in identifying the turtle. Only in the soft-shelled turtles and leatherback sea turtles are obvious scutes absent, leaving skin to cover the bones.

Eastern box turtles have many uniquely identifying characteristics which separate them from North American tortoises and water turtles. While the female's plastron is flat, in males it is concave so the male may fit over the back end of the female's carapace during mating. The front and back of the plastron are connected by a flexible hinge. When in danger, the turtle is able to close the plastron by pulling the hinged sections closely against the carapace, effectively sealing the soft body in bone. The shell is made of bone covered by living vascularized tissue and covered with a layer of keratin. This shell is connected to the body through its fused rib cage which makes the shell permanently attached and not removable.

When injured or damaged, the shell has the capacity to regenerate and reform. Granular tissue slowly forms and keratin slowly grows over the damaged area to replace damaged and missing scutes or scales. Unlike water turtles such as the native eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), box turtle scutes continue to grow throughout the turtle's life and develop growth rings. Water turtles typically shed their scutes as they grow.

Distribution & habitat

The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name. They are populated as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The eastern box turtle is considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region; however, populations can be found in areas not bisected by heavily traveled roads. In the Midwest, they are a species of Special Interest in Ohio, and of Special Concern in Michigan. Eastern box turtles prefer deciduous or mixed forested regions, with a moderately moist forest floor that has good drainage. They can be also found in open grasslands, or pastures.

Behavior & diet

The eating habits of eastern box turtles vary greatly due to individual taste, temperature, lighting, and their surrounding environment. Unlike warm-blooded animals, their metabolism doesn't drive their appetite, instead, they can just lessen their activity level, retreat into their shells and halt their food intake until better conditions arise. In the wild eastern box turtles are opportunistic omnivores and will feed on a variety of animal and vegetable matter. There are a variety of foods which are universally accepted by eastern box turtles, which include earthworms, snails, slugs, grubs, beetles, caterpillars, grasses, fallen fruit, berries, mushrooms, flowers, bread, duck weed, and carrion. Studies at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Maryland have also shown that eastern box turtles have fed on live birds that were trapped in netting. Many times, they will eat an item of food, especially in captivity, just because it looks and smells edible, such as hamburger or eggs even though the food may be harmful or unhealthy. Box turtles are also known to have consumed poisonous fungi making their flesh inedible by native American hunter gatherers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that hatchling box turtles are more carnivorous than their sub adult and adult versions. There is as yet no concrete evidence to support this theory.

In captivity

Thousands of box turtles are collected from the wild every year for the domestic pet trade, especially from Texas, the Carolinas, and Arkansas. Captive turtles may have a life span as short as 3 days if they aren't fed, watered, and held in a proper container. The eastern box turtle is protected throughout most of its range but many states allow the capture and possession of box turtles for personal use. Although the United States has banned their export, some box turtles still end up in the Asian food market. Captive breeding is fairly commonplace, but not so much that it can supply the market demand. Although box turtles may make hardy captives if their needs are met, and are frequently kept as pets, they are very difficult to keep owing to their many requirements.

Eastern box turtles require high humidity, warm temperatures with vertical and horizontal thermal gradients, suitable substrate for burrowing, and full spectrum ultraviolet lighting that mimics sunlight. A basking area at one end of the enclosure is important to offer the turtle the ability to warm itself and is critical to sexually mature males and females for development of sperm and egg follicles respectively. Eastern box turtles are semi aquatic in the wild and love to immerse themselves completely in water. Therefore, a large, easily accessible water dish for bathing and drinking is important to their health. Water should be fresh and clean and available at all times. Because box turtles seldom get the nutrients they need to foster shell growth and skeletal and skin development, they also may require vitamin supplements to keep them healthy such as calcium, vitamin a, and folic acid. Captive diets include various live invertebrates such as crickets, worms, earthworms, grubs, beetles and larvae, cockroaches, small mice, and fish (not goldfish). Mixed berries, fruit, romaine lettuce, collard greens, dandelion greens, chicory, mushrooms and clover are suitable for box turtles as well. While some high quality, moist dog foods may be occasionally offered, whole animals are preferable. Reptomin is a suitable food for hatchling and immature/subadult box turtles.

Garter Snake

2010-01-11T03:18:00.000-08:00

A garter snake is any species of North American snake within the genus Thamnophis. Because of the similarity in the sound of the words, combined with where people often see them, they are sometimes called garden snakes, gardner snakes or gardener snakes, or even garder snakes or guarder snakes. They are harmless to humans. Garter snakes are common across North America, from Canada to Central America, and they are the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America. In fact, the common garter snake, T. sirtalis, is the only species of snake to be found in Alaska, and is one of the northernmost species of snake in the world, possibly second only to the Crossed Viper, Vipera berus. The genus is so far ranging due to its unparticular diet and adaptability to different biomes and landforms, from marshes to hillsides to drainage ditches and even vacant lots, in both dry and wet regions, with varying proximity to water and rivers. However, in the western part of North America, these snakes are more water loving than in the eastern portion. Northern populations hibernate in larger groups than southern ones. Despite the decline in their population from collection as pets (especially in the more northerly regions in which large groups are collected at hibernation), pollution of aquatic areas, and introduction of bullfrogs and bass as predators, this is still a very commonly found snake. The San Francisco garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia, however, is an endangered subspecies and has been on the endangered list since 1967 and has a red and orange colored pattern on its back. Predation by crayfish has also been responsible for the decline of the narrow head garter snake, T. rufipunctatus.

There is no real consensus on the classificiation of species Thamnophis and disagreement among taxonomists and sources, such as field guides, over whether two types of snakes are separate species or subspecies of the same species is common. They are also closely related to the snakes of the genus Nerodia, and some species have been moved back and forth between genera.

Description

There is little variation within the pattern of scales among the different varieties of garter snakes, but coloration varies widely across varieties and geographic regions.

The pattern on these snakes consists of one, two or three longitudinal stripes on the back, typically red, yellow, blue, orange or white. The snake genus earned its common name because people described the stripes as resembling a garter. In between the stripes on the pattern are rows with blotchy spots. Even within a single species the color in the stripes and spots and background can differ from a dark red to a lime green. In some species the stripes vary little in color from the adjacent bands or background and are not readily seen. Most garter snakes are under 60 cm (24 inches) long, but can be larger. T. gigas is capable of attaining lengths of 160 cm. The average lifespan is 6 years.

Diet

Garter snakes, like all snakes, are carnivorous. Their diet consists of almost any creature that they are capable of overpowering: slugs, earthworms, insects, leeches, lizards, spiders, amphibians, birds, fish, toads and rodents. When living near the water, they will eat other aquatic animals. The ribbon snake in particular favors frogs (including tadpoles), readily eating them despite their strong chemical defenses. Food is swallowed whole. Garter snakes often adapt to eat whatever they can find, and whenever, because food can be scarce or abundant. Although they dine mostly upon live animals, they will sometimes eat eggs.

Behavior

They have complex systems of pheromonal communication. They can locate other snakes by following their pheromone-scented trails. Male and female skin pheromones are so different as to be immediately distinguishable. However, sometimes male garter snakes produce both male and female pheromones. During mating season, this fact fools other males into attempting to mate with these "she-males". This causes the transfer of heat to them in kleptothermy which is an advantage immediately after hibernation so allowing them to be more active. She-males have been shown to garner more copulations than normal males in the mating balls that form at the den when females emerge into the mating melee.

If disturbed, a garter snake may coil and strike, but typically it will hide its head and flail its tail. These snakes will also discharge a malodorous, musky-scented secretion from a gland near the anus. They often use these techniques to escape when ensnared by a predator. They will also slither into the water to escape a predator on land. Hawks, crows, raccoons, crayfish and other snake species (such as the coral snake and king snake) will eat garter snakes, with even shrews and frogs eating the juveniles.

Being heterothermic, like all reptiles, garter snakes bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature. During hibernation, garter snakes typically occupy large, communal sites called hibernacula. These snakes will migrate large distances to brumate.

Reproduction

Garter snakes go into brumation before they mate. They stop eating for about two weeks beforehand to clear their stomach of any food that would rot there otherwise. Garter snakes begin mating as soon as they emerge from brumation. During mating season, the males mate with several females. In chillier parts of their range, male common garter snakes awaken from brumation first, giving themselves enough time to prepare to mate with females when they finally appear. Males come out of their dens and, as soon as the females begin coming out, surround them. Female garter snakes produce a sex-specific pheromone that attracts male snakes in droves, sometimes leading to intense male-male competition and the formation of mating balls of up to 100 males per female. After copulation, a female leaves the den/mating area to find food and a place to give birth. Female garter snakes are able to store the male's sperm for years before fertilization. The young are incubated in the lower abdomen, at about the midpoint of the length of the mother's body. Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young. Gestation is two to three months in most species. As few as 3 or as many as 80 snakes are born in a single litter. The babies are independent upon birth.

Venom

Garters were long thought to be nonvenomous, but recent discoveries have revealed that they do in fact produce a mild neurotoxic venom

Garter snakes are nevertheless harmless to humans due to the very low amounts of venom they produce, which is comparatively mild, and the fact that they lack an effective means of delivering it. They do have enlarged teeth in the back of their mouth, but unlike many rear-fanged colubrid snakes, garter snakes do not have a groove running down the length of the teeth that would allow it to inject venom into its prey. The venom is delivered via a Duvernoy's gland, secreted between their lips and gums. Whereas most venomous snakes have anterior or forward venom glands, the Duvernoy's gland of garters are posterior (to the rear) of the snake's eyes. The mild poison is spread into wounds through a chewing action. The properties of the venom are not well known, but it appears to contain 3FTx, commonly known as three-finger toxin, which is a neurotoxin commonly found in the venom of colubrids and elapids. A bite may result in mild swelling and an itching sensation. There are no known cases of serious injury and extremely few with symptoms of envenomation.

Python regius

2010-01-11T03:14:00.000-08:00

Python regius is a non-venomous python species found in Africa. This is the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in the pet trade. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Adults generally do not grow to more than 90–120 cm (3.0–3.9 ft) in length, although some specimens have reached 152 cm and even 182 cm (5–6 feet), but this is very rare. Females tend to be slightly bigger than males maturing at an average of 4-4.5 feet. Males usually average around 3-3.5 feet. The build is stocky while the head is relatively small. The scales are smooth and both sexes have anal spurs on either side of the vent. Although males tend to have larger spurs, this is not definitive, and sex is best determined via manual eversion of the male hemipenes or inserting a probe into the cloaca to find the inverted hemipenes (if male).

The color pattern is typically black or dark brown with light brown or gold sides and dorsal blotches. The belly is a white or cream that may or may not include scattered black markings. However, those in the pet industries have, through selective breeding, developed many morphs(genetic mutations) with altered colors and patterns.

Common names

Royal python, ball python.

The name ball python refers to the animal's tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened. The name royal python (from the Latin "regius") is based in part on the story that Cleopatra supposedly wore the snake around her wrist.

Geographic range

Found in Africa from Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Niger and Nigeria through Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic to Sudan and Uganda. No type locality was given in the original description.

Habitat

Prefers grasslands, savannahs and sparsely wooded areas.

Behavior

This terrestrial species is known for its defense strategy that involves coiling into a tight ball when threatened, with its head and neck tucked away in the middle. In this state, it can literally be rolled around. Favored retreats include mammal burrows and other underground hiding places where they also aestivate. In captivity they are considered good pets, for their relatively small size and placid nature make them easy to handle.

Feeding

In the wild, the diet consists mostly of small mammals, such as African soft-furred rats, shrews and striped mice. Younger individuals have also been known to feed on birds. Pythons that are imported from the wild tend to be picky eaters and may not respond to food as well as captive-bred pythons, which usually do well on domestic rats and mice, either live, pre-killed, or frozen-thawed. The size of the prey item given to a python should be equivalent to or slightly larger than the width of the largest part of their body. This python is known for being a picky eater and may not eat for months, particularly during the winter breeding season. While this is not odd, care should be taken to watch that the snake does not experience significant weight loss.

Reproduction

Oviparous, with anywhere from 3-11 rather large, leathery eggs being laid (4-6 being most common). These are incubated by the female underground and hatch after 55 to 60 days. Sexual maturity is reached at 6–18 months for males, 12–36 months for females. Age is only one factor in determining sexual maturity and ability to breed – weight is the second factor. Males will breed at 500 grams or less, but in captivity are often not bred until they are 800 grams (1.7 lbs.), and females will breed in the wild at weights as low as 800 grams, though 1200 grams or more is most common--in captivity, breeders generally wait until they are no less than 1500 g (3.3 lbs.). Parental care of the eggs ends once they hatch, and the female leaves the offspring to fend for themselves.

Captivity

Due to their smaller size compared to other pythons and commonly docile temperament, these snakes are bred in captivity and have become popular as pets. Juveniles tend to be more aggressive at first, but typically calm down as they get used to human contact. Wild-caught specimens have greater difficulty adapting to a captive environment, which can result in refusal to feed, and they generally carry internal or external parasites which must be eliminated by administering anti-parasitic drugs. Specimens have survived for over 40 years in captivity. In Captivity, most adult Python regius should be kept in a minimum of a 20 gallon long glass tank, as these pythons are ground dwellers and are highly secretive and largely sedentary. Some large females may require cages up to the size of a 40 gallon long tank. Also, at least two hiding places should be provided at different ends of the tank, one should have a thermostat-controlled heating pad under it to allow the animal to regulate its temperature. Be aware that most snakes are escape artists, therefore the tank you select should have a locking lid. Juveniles in particular may be stressed by overly large cages that do not have sufficient small hiding spaces. Controlled temperatures of 80F with a 90F basking area on one end of the cage are necessary for proper health. Humidity should be maintained at 60% to 80% with dry substrate.

Beliefs and folklore

This species is particularly revered in the traditional religion of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is considered symbolic of the earth, being an animal that travels so close to the ground. Even among many Christian Igbos, these pythons are treated with great care whenever they happen to wander into a village or onto someone's property; they are allowed to roam freely or are very gently picked up and placed out in a forest or field away from any homes. If one is accidentally killed, many communities in Igboland will still build a coffin for the snake's remains and give it a short funeral.

Kingsnake

2010-01-11T03:13:00.000-08:00

Kingsnakes are a type of colubrid snake that are members of the Lampropeltis genus, which also includes the milk snake along with another four species and 45 sub-species.

Lampropeltis means "shiny shield", a name given to them in reference to their dorsal scales. The majority of kingsnakes have quite vibrant patterns on their skin. Kingsnakes use constriction to kill their prey and tend to be opportunistic when it comes to their diet; they will eat other snakes (ophiophagy), including venomous snakes, lizards, rodents, birds and eggs. The Common Kingsnake genus are known to be immune to the venom of other snakes and are known to eat rattlesnakes (note - Kingsnakes are not necessarily immune to the venom of snakes from different localities.). The "king" in their name (as with the king cobra) references their taste for other snakes.

Some species of kingsnake, such as the Scarlet Kingsnake, have coloration and patterning which can cause them to be confused with the venomous coral snakes. There are mnemonic rhymes to help people distinguish between the coral snake and its non-venomous look-alikes.

Taxonomic reclassification is an ongoing process, and different sources often disagree, granting full species status to a group of these snakes that another source considers a subspecies. In the case of Lampropeltis catalinensis, for example, only a single specimen exists, and therefore classification is not necessarily finite. In addition, hybridization between species which have overlapping geographic ranges is not uncommon, confusing taxonomists further.

Kingsnakes are commonly kept as pets, due to their ease of care. Kingsnakes are overall hardy and simple to care for. Their captive diet usually consists of appropriately sized rodents, prekilled. Giving live rodents is an illegal offense in some countries and may be bad for the snake's health, as live rodents are capable of delivering powerful bites, potentially injuring the snake. Kingsnakes are generally docile, curious and gentle. Kingsnakes enjoy being handled. They seemed to be mesmerized by patterns flashing on a television.

Nerodia floridana

2010-01-11T03:11:00.000-08:00

Florida green watersnake is a harmless North American species of water snake. N. floridana is the largest and most dominate watersnake in North America. Fully grown it will reach 30-55 in (76-140 cm). Its coloration is solid greenish-brownish with whitish belly in adults. Juveniles have about 50 dark bars down their dorsum and on their sides, which fade gradually with age.

Habitat

N. floridana are found throughout Florida and in parts of southern Georgia with two isolated populations in western and southern South Carolina. They prefer choked vegetation and calm waters such as swamps and marshes. They can also be found in lakes, ponds, ditches, and slow rivers and occasionally in brackish water. In South Carolina it is considered imperiled.

Diet

The diet consists of small aquatic life such as frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and fish.

Antaresia stimsoni

2010-01-11T03:08:00.001-08:00

Antaresia stimsoni is a python found in Australia. The snake is named Stimson's python in honor of A. F. Stimson of the British Museum, but is commonly and incorrectly referred to as Stimpson's python. These snakes are sold and kept as pets in some Australian states. The species is also referred as the Large-blotched python for the patterns of its markings, or in reference to its genus as an Inland Children's python.

Description

A species of the Pythonidae family, non-venomous snakes that trap and asphixiate prey. It is contained by a group without well developed heat-sensing pits, these are only found at the lips. Small and terrestrial, adults grow up to about 100 cm in length. They have 35-49 rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 240-305 ventral scales and 30-45 subcaudal scales. The subcaudals are mostly or entirely divided, while the anal scale is single.

Geographic range

Found in Australia from the coast of Western Australia through central regions of all states (except Victoria) as far as the Great Dividing Range. Not found in the far north, extreme south or east. The type locality given is "15 km SE of Nullagine, Western Australia, in 21°58'S, 120°12'E" [Australia].

It also is found on Dirk Hartog Island.

Habitat

Occurs throughout many dry inland areas, mainly in rocky areas, but also Eucalyptus woodlands, arid shrublands and deserts. Occurrence in open or flat areas is unusual.

Behavior

Generally nocturnal.

The species occupies crevices, hollows, and holes made by other creatures in termite mounds, the latter offering a controlled climate. Antaresia stimsoni is an ambush predator, spending much of its time waiting for prey, trapping and killing by constriction. They are often recorded at rocky hills or other habitat providing good cover.

Feeding

The diet consists of small lizards, frogs and mammals.

Reproduction

Oviparous, with females laying clutches of 7-9 eggs. Females incubate their eggs in typical python fashion.

Taxonomy

Four species are currently recognized in the genus Antaresia, which is contained by the family Pythonidae; infraspecific ranks have also been described.^[3]^[4] All Children's pythons were previously place in the genus Liasis, but this was revised by authors in the 1980s. The new genus Antaresia was proposed by Wells and Wellington, but their name for this species, Antaresia saxacola, was withheld from acceptance due to a petition before the ICZN. When this dispute was resolved in 1991, and the genus name already in use, L. A. Smith's epithet 'stimsoni' had appeared in several publications. While the nomenclatural validity of Antaresia stimsoni is questionable, this is the current and accepted name.

A new subspecies, A. s. orientalis was also described by Smith (1985), but not recognized as valid by Barker and Barker (1994). However, the list of taxa maintained by the Western Australian Museum names two subspecies.

The Western Australian subspecies, A. stimsoni stimsoni, occurs in coastal regions and the interior of the state.

In captivity

The species is kept as a pet and successfully bred in captivity. It is easily handled and rarely bites, and is listed as an easily maintained, not rare or endangered, and commercially available pet herpetofauna (category 3) in the Western Australian Government's Gazette (2003).

Recently a group of 4 baby Stimson's pythons escaped on board a Qantas airline, resulting in the plane being fumigated.

Stenodactylus petrii

2010-01-11T03:05:00.001-08:00

The Stenodactylus petrii, or dune gecko, is a small, mostly nocturnal gecko of the genus Stenodactylus. It has large, interesting, eyes, which have earned it the nickname "frog-eyed" gecko.

They are found across northern Africa and in Israel in arid regions. From head to base of tail, they are about 2-3 inches long, a very small ‘dwarf’ gecko. The tails are quite long, compared to their size, 1-2 inches. If a tail is dropped, it will grow back, only shorter and stubbier. Unlike other geckos, these can not climb up smooth surfaces. Instead, they prefer to dig. During the day, they usually hide in burrows or in caves, though often these are out and about in the day. They sometimes appear slow, but they can be extremely fast. Camouflage in the sand helps them remain inconspicuous, especially when hunting. They eat mainly crickets and mealworms.

As pets

They are kept as pets, but are relatively hard to obtain. Local pet stores most likely do not have them. The best places to find them are at reptile shows or try looking up the nearest dealer of them to you. These geckos prefer live, moving food to hunt for themselves. In captivity, they are very active, often attempting to climb the walls of their cage or walking around, appearing very interested in something unknown. They never close their eyes and always appear to be awake. They are territorial, and it is best not to put them in a cage with leopard geckos. These small geckos will not bite or scratch unless they are much stressed. If they refuse to eat, this is a sign of stress. Once they eat, it is a sign they are comfortable with their environment. They are hardy but because of their size, they are best not being touched or moved to often. They can survive a large temperature range but are best with between 75-85 degrees in the day and 65-75 degrees at night. These temperatures can be maintained best with a heat lamp depending on where you live. Heat rocks and heating from underneath are not good for them. They will not need a humidity chamber. They also need a good size water bowl and somewhere to hide. Because of their digging, loose rocks are not good because the rocks can fall on the geckos while they dig

Rhinoceros Iguana

2010-01-11T02:59:00.000-08:00

The Rhinoceros Iguana is a threatened species of lizard of the genus Cyclura that is primarily found on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, shared by the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They vary in length from 2 to 4 1/2 feet and skin colors range from a steely gray to a dark green and even brown. Their name derives from the bony-plated pseudo-horn or outgrowth which resembles the horn of a rhinoceros on the iguana's snout.

Distribution and habitat

Ranging throughout Hispaniola, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; Rhinoceros Iguana populations are stable only on Isla Beata and the extreme of the Barahona Peninsula inside Parque Nacional Jaragua. There are moderately dense populations in the southeastern region of Haiti and its offshore islands including the saltwater lake of Etang Saumatre. Populations in Haiti are even more endangered due to the deforestation and human clearing practices. In general, the iguanas are found most abundantly in, although not restricted to, scrub woodland, dry forests characterized by xeric, rocky habitats of eroded limestone in coastal terraces and lowlands of the mainland and several offshore islands and small cays in a variety of subtropical life zones and habitat types.

An individual was photographed on May 4, 2008 on the Limbe Island in Northern Haiti. It had been caught by a group of fishermen from Bas-Limbe, Bord de Mer village. The Rhinoceros Iguanas caught on Limbe Island are eaten by the local population. This siting represents a new area previously not thought to be in the Cyclura cornata's range.

The Rhinoceros Iguana is a diurnal species living primarily in rocky outcroppings with little vegetation for cover. Although quick to flee when attacked or threatened, they will aggressively attack by biting and repeatedly striking with their thick tail if cornered.

Diet

The Rhinoceros Iguana, like most Cyclura species is primarily herbivorous, consuming leaves, flowers, berries, and fruits from different plant species. A study in 2000 by Dr Allison Alberts of the San Diego Zoo revealed that seeds passing through the digestive tracts of Cycluras germinate more rapidly than those that do not. These seeds in the fruits consumed by cycluras have an adaptive advantage by sprouting before the end of very short rainy seasons. The Rhinoceros Iguana is also an important means of distributing these seeds to new areas (particularly when females migrate to nesting sites) and, as the largest native herbivores of their island's ecosystem, they are essential for maintaining the balance between climate and vegetation. Rhinoceros Iguanas do appear to be opportunistic carnivores as individual animals have been observed eating small lizards, snakes, and insects.

Mating

Male Rhinoceros Iguanas, unlike other members of the genus Cyclura, reach sexual maturity at four to five years of age. Females become sexually mature at two to three years of age. Male Rhinoceros Iguanas are territorial and the most aggressive males will have the largest range of territory. Mating takes place at the beginning of, or just prior to, the first rainy season of the year (May to June) and lasts for two to three weeks. Females lay from 2 to 34 eggs, with an average clutch size of 17, within 40 days. Females guard their nests for several days after laying their eggs, and incubation lasts approximately 85 days. It has been noted that their eggs are among the largest lizard eggs produced in the world.

Endangered status

Although Rhinoceros Iguanas are the most common species of Cyclura kept in captivity there remain approximately 10-16,000 of these animals in the wild. A successful breeding program existed at the Parque Zoológico Nacional of the Dominican Republic (ZooDom) from 1974 to 1994, with an average of 100 babies hatching annually. These efforts included reintroductions of captive-bred "head-started" young to several protected areas in the southwest Dominican Republic in order to reduce the odds of predation by snakes and feral animals such as mongoose or cats. The program has not continued since 1995, due to an administrative change at the zoo.

As of 2009, a reintroduction of rhinoceros iguanas on the Samana peninsula is planned by the Iguanario de los Tocones.

Captivity

The Rhinoceros Iguana is well established in captivity, both in public and private collections. Rhinoceros Iguanas in captivity throughout the United States totals 39 males, 32 females, and 36 undetermined individuals at 20 zoological institutions, with an additional 533 animals of unassigned subspecies, reported by seven American Zoological and Aquarium Association institutions. The actual number may be much higher considering animals kept at European and Asian zoos and the many kept as pets in private collections. As a result, the demand for wild-caught animals to supply zoos and the pet trade has been reduced.

Despite these numbers, making them also the most numerous species of Cyclura, they are still considered a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) protected animal.

Northern Blue-tongued Skink

2010-01-11T02:56:00.000-08:00

As with most Blue-tongued Lizards the Northern Blue-tongued Skink has a very distinctive patterning. The Northern Blue Tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia) is a subspecies of the Eastern Blue-tongued Skink. Northerns also tend to be a bright orange to soft peachy orange or even a yellowish colour with darker stripes along their side and back with a lighter creamier colour on their stomachs. As their name would suggest they also have a bright blue tongue that is often used to warn off or startle predators. Their legs are short and small compared to the length and width of their bodies. They can grow to approximately 24 inches (61 cm).

Behavior

Northerns are very mild mannered and love to be handled when treated gently and with respect. They are easy to tame and can be good with small children even. Make sure they aren't hungry though as fingers can sometimes look like small mice. Northerns are aggressive to all other Blue tongues. Whilst it may not seem so at the start, Northerns are known to suddenly attack other blueys tearing off limbs and potentially killing cage mates. Housing them separately is advised. During mating season, the male will grab the female around the side of the body and try to position her to mate. This can be a very violent act, so keep watch. They can be shy and will very much like to hide. When they are just getting used to you a small piece of food can be used to lure them from their hiding spot so that they can be handled. This practice shouldn't be continued for long though or they may begin to associate you hand with food and bite and nip at you even when you have no food. If they feel threatened they will often open their mouths and show their tongues in an attempt to frighten. When that doesn't work, they can flatten their bodies in an attempt to make themselves look bigger.

Northern Blue-tongued Skinks as pets

Northerns are one of the most common Blue-tongued Skinks that are kept as pets because they are very mild mannered and easy to breed producing more in their litters then other types of Blue-tongued Skinks. They are also easy to find, inexpensive, and have very striking markings.

Lifespan

A well fed and healthy Northern can live 20 or more years.

Breeding

The breeding season occurs once yearly. When a male finds a female he likes he will scent mark her and follow her around. Mating is very aggressive and the males will hold the female down by biting her. Damage to the scales and light bleeding are common. This is the only time males are aggressive towards females and therefore they can be kept together for the rest of the year as they will be quite compatible.

Northerns are ovoviviparous. Their gestation period is roughly 100 days with 15 to 20 babies born per litter. The babies look almost exactly the same as the adults with only slight variations to colouring. The babies will wander off on their own and begin eating small insects and fruits just a few days after birth. If you are planning on selling them you should wait until after their first few sheds to make sure they are healthy and get used to being handled.

Monitor lizard

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Monitor lizards also known as bayawak or goannas, genus Varanus, are members of the family Varanidae. Varanus is a group of carnivorous lizards which includes the heaviest living lizard, the Komodo dragon and the crocodile monitor which is the longest lizard in the world. The closest living relatives are the anguid and helodermatid lizards.

Monitor lizards are generally large reptiles, although some can be as small as 12 centimetres in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semi-aquatic monitors are also known. Almost all monitor lizards are carnivorous, although Varanus prasinus and Varanus olivaceus are also known to eat fruit. They are oviparous, laying from 7 to 37 eggs, which they often cover with soil or protect in a hollow tree stump.

Distribution

The various species of Varanus cover a vast area, occurring through Africa, the neat subcontinent from India and Sri Lanka to China, down Southeast Asia to Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and islands of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

Intelligence

Varanid lizards are very intelligent, and some species can even count. Careful studies feeding V. albigularis at the San Diego Zoo varying numbers of snails showed that they can distinguish numbers up to six. V. niloticus have been observed to cooperate when foraging. One varanid lures the female crocodile away from her nest while the other opens the nest to feed on the eggs. The decoy then returns to also feed on the eggs.^[8]^[7] Komodo dragons, V. komodoensis, at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., recognize their keepers and seem to have distinct personalities.

In captivity

Monitor lizards have become a staple in the reptile pet trade. The most commonly kept monitors are the Savannah monitor and Acklin's monitor, due to their relatively small size, low cost, and relatively calm dispositions. Nile monitors, white throated monitors, water monitors, mangrove monitors, emerald tree monitors, black tree monitors, acanthurus monitors, quince monitors, crocodilemonitors and komodo dragons have also been kept in captivity. Like all reptiles that are kept as pets, monitors need hiding places and an appropriate substrate. Monitors also need a large water dish in which they can soak their entire body.

In the wild, monitors will eat anything they can overpower, but crickets, superworms, and the occasional rodent make up most of the captive monitors' diet. Boiled eggs, silkworms, earthworms, and feeder fish can also be fed to them. However, due to their predatory nature and large size some monitors can be dangerous to keep as pets; adult Nile monitors and water monitors, for example can reach seven feet in length.

Protected status

In Tamil Nadu and all other parts of South India, catching or killing of monitor lizards is banned.

leopard Gecko

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The leopard gecko is a nocturnal ground-dwelling gecko found in the deserts of Pakistan, northern India, Vietnam, and parts of Iran. Unlike most geckos, it possesses eyelids. It has become well-established in captivity, particularly through the pet industry. Leopard geckos are considered one of the most common pets in the reptile industry today because of their cheap care and limited housing requirements.

Distribution

The native habitat of the leopard gecko is the rocky, dry grassland and desert regions of south-Asian Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India, and parts of Iran. As nocturnal creatures, they spend the day hidden under rocks or in dry burrows to escape the daytime heat and emerge at dusk to hunt insects.

Care

Leopard geckos in captivity are commonly kept in 10- to 20-gallon aquarium tanks, or similar sized vivariums, with more space needed for multiple geckos. Leopard Geckos usually live around 15 years. Males are territorial, and can behave aggressively towards other males in the same enclosure.

The gecko needs a similar habitat to many other reptiles. This includes a warm and cool area of the tank and monitoring of the temperatures for the safety of the animal. If the temperature is not controlled correctly it can cause burns. Substrate is provided to the animals but there is controversy over which ones are safe. Leopard geckos have been known to ingest the substrate which can block the animals' intestines. Because of this most owners use more solid substrates, ranging from paper towels to slate tile.

Because moisture helps the gecko to shed, owners typically provide a moist hide for the gecko. Geckos also will rub against rough surfaces to remove their old skin. Sometimes it is necessary for the owner to assist in removing the skin around the gecko's toes.

If you cant remove some of the old skin from toe, and tail areas you can let the gecko soak in luke warm water. This will help get the old skin off.

Jackson's Chameleon

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They are native to the humid, cooler regions of Kenya and Tanzania, East Africa, found in great numbers at altitudes over 3,000 m. The subspecies merumontanus can only be found on Mount Meru and the Arusha Region of Tanzania. The subspecies xantholophus was introduced to Hawaii in the 1970s and has since established populations on all main islands. This population was the primary source of Jackson's Chameleons for the exotic pet trade. However, the exportation of these animals (and many others) from Hawaii for the pet trade has been made illegal to prevent opportunists from willfully establishing further feral animal populations in order to capture and sell them.

These are small to medium sized chameleons. Their adult size is 12 inches (30 cm) in total length. They have a saw-tooth shaped dorsal ridge. There is no gullar crest. They attain sexual maturity after five months. The lifespan is variable, with males generally living longer than females.

Most chameleons are oviparous, but Jackson's Chameleon gives birth to live offspring: 8 to 30 live young are born after a five to six month gestation. The subspecies merumontanus gives birth to 5-10 live young.

They are sometimes called Three-horned Chameleons because males possess three brown horns: one on the nose (the rostral horn) and one above each orbital ridges around the eyes (preocular horns), like Triceratops. The female generally have no horns, or traces of the rostral horn (in the subspecies jacksonii and merumontanus). The colouring is usually bright green, with some individual animals having traces of blue and yellow, but like all chameleons it changes colour quickly depending on mood, health, and temperature.

Jackson's chameleons live primarily on a diet of small insects. They are less territorial than most species of chameleons. Males will generally assert dominance over each other through color displays and posturing in an attempt to secure mating rights, but usually not to the point of physical fights.

Green Iguana in captivity

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The Green Iguana has become popular in the pet trade—over 800,000 animals were imported into the United States alone during 1995, primarily originating from captive farming operations based in their native countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and Panama). In 1998 a National Iguana Awareness Day (NIAD) was established to discourage consumers from viewing iguanas as "disposable pets". Despite the low cost and "mass market" appeal of these animals they are demanding to care for properly over the course of their lifetimes, and many die within a few years of acquisition.

Size

People purchase iguanas due to the small size, low price, and apparent low cost of feeding of juvenile iguanas. Though small as juveniles, iguanas can grow to six feet in length and weigh some 20 pounds.

Diet

Although they will consume a wide variety of foods if offered, green iguanas are naturally herbivorous and require a precise ratio of minerals (2 to 1 calcium to phosphous) in their diet.

There is some debate as to whether captive green iguanas should be fed animal protein.Zoologists, such as Adam Britton, believe that such a diet containing protein is unhealthy for the animal's digestive system resulting in severe long-term health damage and death. On the other side of the argument is that Green iguanas at the Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida, have been observed eating dead fish and individuals kept in captivity have been known to eat mice without any ill effects. De Vosjoli also writes that some animals have been known to survive and thrive on eating nothing but whole rodent block, or monkey chow, and one instance of Romaine lettuce with vitamin and calcium supplements.

Heat and light

Being tropical animals, Green iguanas will thrive only in temperatures of 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 32 degrees Celsius) They require a source of Ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) lighting; without proper lighting their bodies cannot develop Vitamin D, and subsequently will develop metabolic bone disease which is fatal if not treated.

Legalities

In some locales, iguanas are considered exotic pets, and may be prohibited (New York City and Hawaii), or a special license or permit may be needed to own an iguana. Hawaii has strict regulations regarding the import and possession of Green iguanas, violators can spend three years in jail and fined up to $200,000.

Green iguanas are considered an invasive species in South Florida and along the gulf coast of Florida from Key West to Pinellas County. Over the years escaped and intentionally released iguanas from the pet trade survived and then thrived in their new habitat. They commonly hide in the attics of houses and on beaches and destroy gardens and landscaping. As most reptiles carry salmonella, this is also a concern and a reason legislation has been sought to regulate the trade in iguanas.

Socialization and habitat

Socialization of an iguana may take several years. Iguanas have individual personalities that require some adaptation on the part of the owner. At about five to ten years, an iguana may exhibit bonding behavior similar to that of mammalian pets. Such an iguana may have a complex "need of attachment" to include separation anxiety.

As pets

A pet iguana habituates to humans to such a degree that humans no longer cause a "fight" or "flight" reaction. Iguanas achieve this after they have acclimated to their new habitat and brief yet constant interaction with their owner.

Healthy pet iguanas are very observant, confident, and curious. Iguanas can be "potty-trained" to go outside (when it is warm), go in a specific location (as on newspaper) or in a tub of warm water (and even on the toilet).

Most veterinarians do not have the training to treat an iguana.

Gran Canaria Skink

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The Gran Canaria Skink is a species of skink in the Scincidae family which is endemic to Gran Canaria. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, rocky areas, sandy shores, pastureland, and plantations. The adults measure about 16 - 18 cm out of which the tail forms 50%. Their legs are tiny, slim, and have five fingers. They live solitarily and only seek a partner during the mating season. They're ovoviviparous; females give bith to 2 - 4 babies after three months of pregnancy. They are kept as pets by terrarists.

Gecko

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Geckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae, found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. An estimated 2,000 different species of geckos exist worldwide, with many likely yet to be discovered. The name stems from the Indonesian/Javanese word Tokek, inspired by the sound these animals make. The Malay word for gecko is cicak.

All geckos, excluding the Eublepharinae family, have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. Many species will, in defense, expel a foul-smelling material and feces onto their aggressors. There are also many species that will drop their tails in defense, a process called autotomy. Many species are well known for their specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth and vertical surfaces, and even cross indoor ceilings with ease (it is believed that the van der Waals force may contribute to this capability). These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world, where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the House Gecko) become part of the indoor menagerie and are often welcome guests, as they feed on insects, including mosquitoes.

The largest species, Delcourt's gecko, is only known from a single, stuffed specimen found in the basement of a museum in Marseille, France. This gecko was 60 cm long and it was native to New Zealand. It was probably wiped out along with much of the native fauna of these islands at the end of the 19th century, when new predators were introduced there. The smallest gecko, the Jaragua Sphaero, is a mere 16 mm long and was discovered in 2001 on a small island off the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Common traits

Geckos come in various colors and patterns such as purple pink blue. . Some are subtly patterned and somewhat rubbery looking, while others are brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their environment or with particular temperatures. Some species are parthenogenic, which means the female is capable of reproducing without copulating with a male. This improves the gecko's ability to spread to new islands. However, in a situation where a single female gecko populates an entire island, said island will suffer from a lack of genetic variation within the geckos that inhabit it. The Gecko's mating call sounds like a shortened bird chirping which attracks males when they are around so the female can create a baby with more genetic variation by using sexual reproduction instead of asexual. Geckos also make a quality pet for small households. They can live and breed in small tanks or Terrariums. They must have proper livng space to survive. The average temperature in the day should be between 78-88 degrees Fahrenheit (25-31 degrees Celsius) and at night temperatures should not go below 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) inside the tank. Proper foods for the geckos range from small baby crickets, roaches, phoenix worms and manufactured diets such as crested gecko diet. Many have a sweet tooth and like fresh fruits and honey.

Gecko toes: setae and van der Waals forces

The toes of the gecko have a special adaptation that allows them to adhere to most surfaces without the use of liquids or surface tension. Recent studies of the spatula tipped setae on gecko footpads demonstrate that the attractive forces that hold geckos to surfaces are van der Waals interactions between the finely divided setae and the surfaces themselves. Every square millimeter of a gecko's footpad contains about 14,000 hair-like setae. Each seta has a diameter of 5 micrometers. Human hair varies from 18 to 180 micrometers, so a human hair could hold between 3 and 36 setae. Each seta is in turn tipped with between 100 and 1,000 spatulae. Each spatula is 0.2 micrometers long (200 billionths of a meter), or just below the wavelength of visible light.

These van der Waals interactions involve no fluids; in theory, a boot made of synthetic setae would adhere as easily to the surface of the International Space Station as it would to a living room wall, although adhesion varies with humidity and is dramatically reduced under water, suggesting a contribution from capillarity. The setae on the feet of geckos are also self cleaning and will usually remove any clogging dirt within a few steps. Teflon, which has very low van der Waals forces, is the only known surface to which a gecko cannot stick. Geckos' toes seem to be "double jointed", but this is a misnomer. Their toes actually bend in the opposite direction from our fingers and toes. This allows them to overcome the van der Waals force by peeling their toes off surfaces from the tips inward. In essence, this peeling action alters the angle of incidence between millions of individual setae and the surface, reducing the van der Waals force. Geckos' toes operate well below their full attractive capabilities for most of the time. This is because there is a great margin for error depending upon the roughness of the surface, and therefore the number of setae in contact with that surface. If a typical mature 70 g (2.5 oz) gecko had every one of its setae in contact with a surface, it would be capable of holding aloft a weight of 133 kg (290 lb): each spatula can exert an adhesive force of 10 nanonewtons (0.0010 mg_f). Each seta can resist 10 milligrams-force (98 µN), which is equivalent to 10 atmospheres of pull. This means a gecko can support about eight times its weight hanging from just one toe on smooth glass.

Nocturnal vision

A study from Lund University proved that nocturnal geckos such as the helmet gecko, Tarentola chazaliaei, discriminate colors in dim moonlight when humans are color blind. The sensitivity of the helmet gecko eye was calculated to be 350 times higher than human cone vision at the color vision threshold. The optics in the gecko's eyes, having distinct concentric zones of different refractive powers that constitute a multifocal optical system, together with the large cones of the gecko, are important reasons why they can use color vision at low light intensities. Although the intraspecific variation is large, in most of the individuals studied the concentric zones differed by 15 diopters. This is of the same magnitude as needed to focus light of the wavelength range to which gecko photoreceptors are most sensitive. In contrast, the optical system of a different day gecko species showed no signs of distinct concentric zones and is thereby monofocal. Another feature of the nocturnal geckos – and other lizards – in which they differ from most other vertebrates is that they only have cones in their retina.

Common collared lizard

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The Common collared lizard, Oklahoma collared lizard or collared lizard, is a North American lizard that can reach a foot (30 cm) long in length (including the tail), with a large head and powerful jaws. They are well known for the ability to run on their hind legs, looking like small dinosaurs. The collared lizard is the "state reptile" of the United States state of Oklahoma, where it is known as the Mountain Boomer. The name "collared lizard" comes from the lizards' distinct coloration, which includes bands of black around the neck and shoulders that look like a collar. It is a member of the collared lizard family.

These reptiles are often tamed and kept as pets. When born in captivity, they are quite docile and tolerant of interaction with humans. They are very active and predatory lizards, requiring a large amount of space to run. They prefer high temperatures, up to 105-110°F (40-43°C) at their basking spot and 80°F (26°C) elsewhere in their habitat during the day. Some collared lizards eat small amounts of fruit or vegetables, but most prefer a diet of insects. They will also consume vertebrate prey, including small mammals and other lizards. Like many reptiles, in captivity they must be provided a diet supplemented with extra calcium and a light source with a UVB radiation to reduce the risk of bone disorders.

The origin of the name "mountain boomer" is not clear, but it may date back to settlers travelling west during the Gold Rush. One theory is that settlers mistook the sound of wind in canyons for the call of an animal in an area where the collared lizard was abundant. In reality, collared lizards are silent.

Like many other lizards, including the frilled lizard and basilisk, collared lizards can run on their hind legs, and are relatively fast sprinters. Record speeds have been around 16 miles/hour (26 km/h), much slower than the world record for lizards (21.5 miles/h or 34.6 km/h) attained by the larger-bodied Costa Rica spiny-tailed iguana, Ctenosaura similis.

Collared lizards in the wild have been the subject of a number of studies of sexual selection. In captivity if two males are placed in the same cage they will fight to the death. This is not only in captivity though for it will fight if any other male is in its presence. Females will not fight though because just like many other animals in the animal kingdom the males fight to get the females attention. Then they will try to kill the other male to win the female over. Males have a blue-green body with a light brown head. Females have a light brown head and body.

Common House Gecko

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The Common House Gecko, is a native of southeastern Asia and the northern parts of Africa. Known as the Pacific house gecko, the Asian house gecko, or simply, the house lizard, it is the most recently discovered member of a quartet of small, prolific and aggressive lizards (or Gekkonids) that are nocturnal. They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights, hence their name. Spread around the world by ships, these geckos are now common in the southern half of the United States as well as large parts of Australia. They grow to a length of between three to six inches (about 7.5–15 cm), and live for about five years.

A tropical gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus thrives in warm, humid areas where it can crawl around on rotting wood in search of the insects it eats. The animal is very adaptable and may prey on insects and spiders, displacing other reptiles.

Like many geckos, this species can lose its tail when alarmed. And like all geckos, its call or chirp rather resembles the sound "gecko, gecko". However, this is an interpretation, and the sound may also be described as "tchak tchak tchak" (often sounded three times in sequence). In Asia/South East Asia, notably Malaysia and Singapore geckos have local names onomatopoetically derived from the sounds they make: Hemidactylus frenatus is called "chee chak" or "chi chak" (pr: chee chuck), said quickly. Also commonly spelled as "chicak" in Malay dictionaries. In the Philippines they are called "butiki" in Tagalog, or "tiki" in Cebuano, and in Thailand "jing-jok"

Description

In this species, the snout is longer than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, and is 1.3 to 1.5 times the diameter of the orbit. The forehead is concave and the ear-opening is small and roundish.

The body and limbs are moderately sized. The digits are moderately dilated and free; the inner one has a sessile claw. There are 4 or 5 lamelli under the inner digits, 7 or 8 (seldom 9) under the fourth finger, and 9 or 10 under the fourth toe.

The upper surfaces of the body are covered with small granules. The largest granules are on the snout; on the back these granules are intermixed with more or less numerous irregularly scattered round convex tubercles which are always much smaller than the ear-opening, and which are sometimes almost entirely absent.

The nostril is pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and three nasals. There are 10 to 12 upper and 8 to 10 lower labials. The mental is large, triangular or pentagonal. There are two or three pairs of chin-shields, the median is in contact behind the point of the mental.

The abdominal scales are moderate in size, cycloid and imbricate. The male has a series of 30 or 36 femoral pores, which are not interrupted on the preanal region.

The tail is rounded, feebly depressed, and covered above with very small smooth scales and six longitudinal series of keeled tubercles. The underside has a median series of transversely dilated plates. The tail serves in many species as an energy or fat like storage which the animal uses under abnormal feeding conditions. They are also used in territorial posturing, male house geckos lift their tails and vibrate it briefly to ward off other males. Though fragile, the tail regenerates to its original shape if detached.

The coloration of the animal is grayish or pinkish brown above. This tint can be uniform in color, or more or less distinctly marbled with darker markings. The head is generally variegated with brown. On the side of the head, a more or less defined brown streak, light-edged above, passes through the eye and in some individuals extends along the side of the body. The lower surfaces of the animal are whitish.

House Geckos in Captivity

House Geckos can be kept as pets in a vivarium with a clean substrate, and typically require a heat source in order to regulate their body temperature, and a system of humidifiers and plants in order to provide them with moisture

Central Bearded Dragon

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Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring in a wide range of arid to semi-arid regions of Australia. A Bearded Dragon in captivity is often a member of this species, they are used as pets and exhibited in zoos.

Description

Adults of this species usually grow to be about 2 feet in length, with the tail accounting for over half of the total body length. Females are typically smaller than the males, have smaller heads, and thinner legs and tails. Bearded dragons come in a wide variety of colors, including brown, grey, reddish-brown, and orange. They are capable of undergoing very slight changes in the shade of their color to help regulate temperature. The specialized scales along both sides of the throat, neck, and head form many narrow spines which run down the side of the body to the tail. When feeling threatened a bearded dragon will flatten its body against the ground, puff out its spiny throat, and open its jaws to make itself appear larger. The bearded dragon is so named because of the spiny throat projections appear similar to a human beard. Males typically have a darker "beard" than females, and during mating season and courtship the "beard" will typically darken to near-black. The bearded dragon, like most agamid lizards, has strong legs which enable it to lift its body completely off the ground while it moves. This is done to reduce the heat taken in from the ground, as well as to increase the air-flow over the belly to cool itself further.

Pogona vitticeps was first described by Ernst Ahl in 1926, placing it in the genus Amphibolurus.

Ecology and behavior

This dragon is native to the semi-arid woodland, arid woodland, and rocky desert regions of Central Australia. They are skilled climbers, and often spend just as much time perching on tree limbs, fenceposts, and in bushes as they do on the ground. They spend much of the morning and evening sunning themselves on top of an exposed branch or rock where they bask. They are diurnal, but like most desert animals they spend the hottest parts of the day hiding in underground burrows or any other cool hiding spot removed from direct sunlight. They can get sick easily without proper care

Bearded dragons do not generally make sounds. Instead they use actions, positions and colour displays to communicate. When threatened, however, bearded dragons make a hissing sound similar to a cat.

Arm waving is used mainly by young dragons and seems to be a signal to recognize the presence of another dragon. This action is not often used by adults.

Basking position is used to signal dominance. The dominant animal will choose the best basking spot, often climbing over other Bearded Dragons to get there.

There are several different kinds of head bob gesture. These are: Slow bowing motion - often used by adult females to signal submission to a male. Fast bob - often used by males as well as a black beard to signal dominance. Violent bob - used by males just before mating. Often this action will shift the lizard's entire body. Gravid females will often refuse the advances of a male by chasing him and lying on his back.

Diet

Central bearded dragons are omnivorous feeding on insects and other invertebrates, and are known to sometimes eat small vertebrates such as mice. They also tend to eat more soft plant matter (such as green leaves, fruits and vegetables, and flowers) as they mature. They gain much of the moisture they need from their food.

Reproduction

Central bearded dragons reach full sexual maturity around 18 months of age. Males will become very aggressive towards each other and will assert their dominance by inflating their beards and through fast head bobbing. Breeding typically occurs in the early spring Females will lay a clutch of eleven to thirty oblong-shaped eggs in a shallow nest dug in the sand. After being laid the eggs are buried and are left unattended. The eggs will hatch approximately 60 to 80 days later depending on the incubation temperature. In captivity, they can be incubated in a styrofoam fish box, but without a male lizard the eggs the female lay will not be fertile. However a female bearded dragon can retain sperm, and thus produce fertile eggs even after being separated from a male.

Bearded Dragon courtship involves the male "head bobbing" to display dominance. If the female displays submissive behavior the male will use its mouth to grab the back of the females head and the male will also wrap its front legs around the females upper torso to keep her from moving. Copulation and insemination doesn't take very long. The gestation period averages about a month and a half.

Captive breeding

Several of the Pogona genus are bred in captivity as pets, the two most popular are this species, Pogona vitticeps, and the Western Bearded Dragon. The bulk of captive bred Bearded Dragons today are thought to have originated from stock illegally exported from Australia during the 1970s.

Captive Bearded Dragons world wide are threatened by Agamid adenovirus, a virus that when showing symptoms compromises the immune system of the dragon, and leads to death from other diseases, however majority of the infections are sub-clinical. Sub-clinically infected animals show no signs themselves but are active carriers of the disease and will infect other Bearded Dragons.

When the female is ready to lay eggs she will generally stop eating and spend most of her time trying to dig.

Blotched blue-tongued lizard

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The Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard is a skink with a fleshy blue tongue which is used to taste the air and scare off potential predators. They are a robust and relatively large member of the skink family (Scincidae) that tend to rely on camouflage and bluff as their means of defence. However, if cornered or molested they put on an impressive and effective defensive display. If further molested they will bite, but only as a last resort and although their bite is painful due to their powerful jaws, their teeth are blunt and generally don't break the skin. They are of course harmless like all skinks and are inoffensive by nature, often being kept as pets due to their appealing, inquisitive natures and readiness to become tame.

The lizard is about 35 to 50 cm long and is found in wet and dry sclerophyll forests, montane woodland and coastal heathlands. It is an omnivore with a diet consisting of leaves, flowers, fruit, slow-moving invertebrates, and small vertebrates. It has heavily lidded eyes that are well protected. The anus can excrete a foul-smelling musk. The tail can also be dropped (autotomy) when grasped by a predator (like most skinks) but these large skinks are much less likely to do so.

They are found in south-eastern parts of Australia including Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait. In the northern parts of their range they are restricted to highland areas, whereas in southern Victoria and Tasmania they can be found right down to the coast. Some herpetologists believe that there are two distinct forms of this species - a highland or alpine form and a lowland or southern form. Specimens from the northern parts of the species range (alpine form) are generally larger and blacker. They also tend to have more colourful blotches on their back, sometimes being pale pink, salmon-pink or bright orange in colour.

Blotched blue-tongued lizards emerge from hibernation in late September (in Tasmania), mate in late October and the young are born in autumn (March-April). These large skinks are viviparous (give birth to live young) and long-lived (anecdotally 20 years or more). They have adapted well to some rural and urban areas where they can be found living on farms and in gardens, where they are an asset, as they love to eat pests like snails, slugs and occasionally rodents.

The blotched blue-tongued lizard is among the animals identified from the Pleistocene fossil sites of the Naracoorte Caves.

Bearded Dragon

2010-01-11T01:42:00.000-08:00

A Bearded Dragon is one of seven species of agamid lizards in the genus Pogona found in zoos and private collections. Pogona describes seven species found across Australia, some of which are bred and sold as pets.

Bearded Dragons are popular exotic pets, most commonly Pogona vitticeps, the Inland or Central Bearded Dragon. They are a popular species among children, because of their friendly and calm nature, along with the relative ease of caring for them. Most Bearded Dragons in captivity have broad triangular heads and flattened bodies, with adults reaching approximately 16 to 22 inches (410 to 560 mm) from head to tail and weighing 350 to 600 grams (10 to 20 oz).

Sexual dimorphism

Males have a distinct set of pre-anal pores between the back legs and have hemipenal bulges at the vent area. Females usually have no buldge passed the vent or only one. And contrary to some belief, they do have pores, but they are less noticable than a males. The pores are easy to see by looking at the dragon's underside. Bearded Dragons should not be turned over. It can depress their respiratory system resulting in death. To check your dragon's sex, lay your dragon on one hand if a baby, or on a solid surface if it is an adult, then GENTLY lift the tail up so you can see the underside. Do not bend the tail as it can break the bone at the base. Males and females are of comparable size, although males usually sport a larger head and a thicker tail base than the females. However, this is not always true. There are cases where a female has a bigger head and tail then her male counterpart. Mature males will turn their throat pouches (Beards) black during courtship to signal dominance, although females have also been known to do the same.

Diet

Many Bearded Dragons have native habitats that are dry and sparsely vegetated, so food may often be difficult to find in the wild. As a result, Bearded Dragons are omnivorous, capable of subsisting on a wide variety of food sources. A typical diet for captive Bearded Dragons includes leafy greens and vegetables,and regular meals of feeder insects, with crickets being their main insect matter, or 'morio' worms (giant mealworms) although the chitin on mealworms are harder to digest than most other worms, superworms, waxworms, butterworms, phoenix worms, and basically any other type of worm.

Their stomachs are large enough to accommodate large quantities of food. Young Bearded Dragons do not eat as much vegetation as their adult counterparts. As a Bearded Dragon ages it may be persuaded to eat less animal matter and more plants, maybe leveling off at around an 80% plant and 20% animal diet.

Popular feeder insects include Superworms, crickets, roaches, locusts, silkworms, hornworms, butterworms, and phoenix worms. The mealworm has a fairly hard chitin and is generally low in the "meat to chitin" ratio, as well as having poor calcium/phosphorus content, making it far less nutritious than other feeder insects. Chitin is hard enough that large amounts of it may cause impaction in the Bearded Dragon's digestion system and can lead to death, especially in younger and smaller animals. Waxworms and superworms can be given as a treat, but sparingly as in most cases as they are extremely fatty, and in some cases very addictive, although they can be useful in building up an undernourished animal. The rule of thumb on feeder insects is that the food must not be larger than the space between the animal's eyes; feeding something larger could make it hard for the animal to swallow the food and can lead to fatal impaction.

A significant portion of the Bearded Dragon's diet consists of leafy greens. Dragons enjoy many types of readily available greens, including: collard greens, spring greens, escarole, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, parsley, and carrot tops. It is also recommended that this portion of the animal's diet be supplemented with a variety of finely diced fruits and vegetables. Feeding a mixture of these plants ensures a wider variety of nutrients, and variations in texture to aid digestion.

Other greens or vegetables and fruit that an animal may eat include grapes, strawberries, raspberries, papayas, melons, apples, peaches, pears, orange-fleshed squashes, mangoes, pattypan squash, pumpkins, green beans, peas, maize (corn), carrots or their tops, beetroot, nasturtium, alfalfa (lucerne), celery, rosemary, oregano, basil, hibiscus, pansies, carnations and rose petals.

Poisonous and dangerous foods

Insects caught in the wild are not recommended, due to the increased risk of pesticide exposure and viruses. Fireflies and all other animals with bioluminescent chemicals are fatal to Bearded Dragons.

Avocado, Rhubarb and broccoli have thought to be fatal to dragons. Spinach contains high oxalates which bind to calcium and in large amounts can lead to metabolic bone disease. Kale and cabbage also contain oxalates, but the ability of oxalates to lower calcium absorption is relatively small and definitely does not outweigh the ability of oxalate-containing foods to contribute calcium to the meal plan. If a bearded dragon's digestive tract is healthy, and it receives adequate ultraviolet light and temperature, it will gain significant benefits including absorption of calcium from calcium-rich food plants that also contain oxalic acid. Bearded dragons also cannot eat citrus fruits. Bananas are not recommended for regular feeding to bearded dragons as they are very high in phosphorous which can conflict with the dragon's calcium absorption.

Housing

A 20-US-gallon (76 l; 17 imp gal) enclosure (30 inches (760 mm) long by {12 inches (300 mm) square in cross section) is ideal for a baby Bearded Dragon, but they will outgrow this within 3–4 months. When provided with the proper habitat, temperatures, and UVB lighting, young Bearded Dragons are capable of growing 1 inch (25.4 mm) or more per week. An adult needs a 40 gallon "Breeder" (36 inches (910 mm) long by 18 inches (460 mm) wide by 12 to 16 inches (300 to 410 mm) high) or larger, as these tanks provide the best floor space available. This is important, as Bearded Dragons are terrestrial lizards, and so tanks with a large floor space allow the Dragon room to turn around, lie down, and run around.

The Breeder style has much better floor space dimensions than similar volume tanks like the 40-US-gallon (150 l; 33 imp gal) "Long" or standard 55-US-gallon (210 l; 46 imp gal) tanks which, while 12 inches (300 mm) longer than the 30 US gallons (110 l; 25 imp gal), {40 US gallons (150 l; 33 imp gal) or 50 US gallons (190 l; 42 imp gal) Breeder tanks, are much narrower in width at 12 inches (300 mm) and 13 inches (330 mm) respectively. An enclosure with glass only at the front lowers the visibility of the world outside the vivarium, thus preventing over-curious animals from trying to escape, helping them remain satisfied with their enclosure which in turn helps prevent snout rub.

Bearded Dragons bask most of the day, absorbing the heat they need to digest their food. It is important that there are at least one or two good basking spots in the dragon's habitat. Rocks are preferable to logs as they hold heat better, though logs can also provide stimulation for the animal, which will use them for climbing. Any item taken from the outside must first be boiled or baked, however, to remove contaminants. Electric or battery powered heating devices such as electrically heated rocks can cause stomach burns if they malfunction, so they are not widely recommended. The habitat should also include something the dragon can hide under.

Substrate is another very important factor in keeping a healthy dragon. Babies and juveniles are particularly at risk of impaction and are often kept on paper towels or newspaper, as they are easy to dispose of and clean up after and there is no risk of the baby ingesting substrate. Tile is a popular choice; as is nonadhesive shelf liner. Reptile carpet shouldn't be used, because the dragon's nails can get stuck in the carpet which can cut off blood circulation, and leave the dragon without nails. As the animal gets older it can be put on finely-sifted play sand. Calcium sand is often used, but is also reported to be a cause of impaction due to 'clumping' in the gut if ingested, while play sand will pass straight through a well-fed individual. Rabbit food pellets, made of alfalfa, are the recommended choice by most breeders as they are digestible and also easy to clean up. Walnut shells are another option; although they are natural, they cannot be digested and may cause impaction. Woodchips, or anything else of that sort must never be used. They are large, with sharp edges, and can be swallowed. They are not digestible, however, and will swell and clog the gut, causing a very painful and potentially fatal impaction.

Light and heat

Bearded Dragons also need proper lighting. An ultraviolet lamp is needed, with two options being available, Fluorescent lamps or Mercury-vapor lamps. These lamps have variable ranges of UVB output; rs must ensure the proper distance from the lamp to the basking spot so the lizard can properly absorb the rays. Lamps are typically replaced every six months. Heat rocks and pads are not recommended as dragons have few nerves on their underside and the heat can damage them without them realising. Without adequate UVB, a Dragon will develop Metabolic Bone Disease and not eat as much. A Dragon needs between 12 and 14 hours of daylight; much less or more causes problems with their circadian rhythms and makes them lethargic and sick.

Handling

A person handling a Bearded Dragon must make sure all of its body is being supported. It must not be held by its chest without extreme care, as it may make it difficult for the animal to breathe. The most comfortable position for the animal is lying down in the person's hand or on the person's chest. Miniature Bearded Dragons are very friendly as long as they have been handled since they were young. Many owners report an almost dog-like affection.

Illnesses

Bearded Dragons are generally hardy, but are still susceptible to various illnesses. Common ailments include parasitic diseases, calcium deficiency, respiratory diseases and stomach impactions.

Insects, green foods and unclean conditions may cause parasites. Signs of parasites include runny droppings and a bad odor. Respiratory problems can arise from too much or too little heat. These are signified by mucus, raspy breathing with the mouth open, and blocked nasal passages. However, these can be corrected by improving housing conditions and administering antibiotics. Pregnant females may also suffer from egg binding, which can only be corrected by a vet.