reptiles

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 43

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #43

We’re taking a hike in Southern Europe to find a lizard that looks like a snake! Yep folks, we’ve heard that there are lizards in the world that don’t have legs! Are you ready to go exploring?

MEET THE EUROPEAN GLASS LIZARD!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Europe-W. Asia/ dry grasslands, rocky areas

   Diet: Carnivore: slugs, snails, invertebrates

   Length: 3 ¼-4ft

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • European glass lizards are legless lizards.
  • They are grey as juveniles and brown as adults.
  • European glass lizards have movable eyelids.
  • They are diurnal (active during the day).
  • European glass lizards don’t just realize their tails, they shatter it. The tail falls off in pieces in order to fool their predators.

These cool lizards think they’re fooling everyone looking like a snake! They’re not fooling this elephant and horse though! How about you?

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 42

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #42

We’re going to the pine forests near our backyard to meet a useful snake! Get your walking stick out and put your hiking boots on! Let’s do this!

MEET THE COMMON KINGSNAKE!

   Range/Habitat: Western-Eastern Southern US/ forests, scrub, suburbs

   Diet: Carnivore: snakes, birds, rodents

   Length: 3 ¼-6 ½ ft

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Common Kingsnakes are powerful constrictors.
  • They are excellent swimmers!
  • Common kingsnakes vary in color and pattern depending on where they live.
  • They can live up to 25 years.
  • Common kingsnakes give off a smelly, musky odor when threatened.
  • Common kingsnakes eat venomous snakes. They are immune to the venom!

Snakes shouldn’t be feared. They are an important part of the ecosystem! Kingsnakes even eat venomous snakes, so if you see one, just wave from a distance and let him go on about his merry way!

  

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OLYMPIC ANIMALS WEEK DAY #2

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

OLYMPIC ANIMALS DAY #2

We’re taking the Ellie and Edmond sub down to depths of the ocean to meet one amazing reptile! These turtles can dive deep and swim great distances! There’s plenty of room in the sub for everyone to meet these big reptiles! Let’s go!

MEET THE LEATHERBACK TURTLES!

   Range/Habitat: Tropical-Subtropical-temperate oceans worldwide

   Diet: Carnivore: jellies, fish

   Length/Weight: 4 ½-6ft/ up to 2000lbs

   Conservation Status: critically endangered

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Leatherback turtles are the largest of all marine turtles.
  • They have the longest migration of any marine turtle, up to 3,700 miles one way!
  • Leatherback turtles can dive down to depths of 1,300 ft!
  • They can hold their breath for up 80 minutes!
  • Leatherback turtles do not have hard carapaces (top shells); instead they have leathery ones.
  • They have large flippers to help them swim.
  • Relatives of the leatherback turtle date back 100 million years!

Wow! We love leatherback turtles! Can you believe that they swim 3,700 miles to get to their feeding & breeding grounds? You thought the 800 meter relay was hard! These turtles can do that in a blink!

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, education, Environment, nature, oceans, Olympics, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 41

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 41

We’re staying in western Africa today to meet a brightly colored lizard! Be careful where you step though, these little reptiles like to live among the leaves of the rainforest floor! Let’s be quiet and see if we can find…

MEET THE AFRICAN FIRE SKINK

   Range/Habitat: West-Central Africa/ rainforests

   Diet: Insectivore: insects, spiders

   Length: 9-14”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • African Fire Skinks are also called the fire-sided skink.
  • They have red and black bands on their body and blue and black bands on their tails.
  • African fire skinks live in the leaf litter of the rainforest floor.
  • They burrow underground.
  • African fire skinks can shed their tails.
  • They can live for 15-20 years.

These skinks are so colorful. Everyone thinks lizards are green or brown, but they can come in a huge variety of colors. Do you have a favorite lizard?

Categories: adventure, africa, Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, rainforests, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 41

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 41

Let’s pack our bags and head off to the Far East today to find a brightly colored lizard! Grab your wellies because we’re heading into the wetlands to locate these little reptiles! Are you ready?

MEET THE CHINESE CROCODILE LIZARD!

   Range/Habitat: East Asia (China)/ wetlands

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, tadpoles, insects

   Length: 15- 18”

   Conservation Status: vulnerable

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Chinese crocodile lizards have enlarged scales down their tails, similar looking to crocodiles.
  • They live near or in watery habitats.
  • Chinese crocodile lizards are excellent swimmers and can stay submerged for long periods of time.
  • They will “freeze” or stay perfectly still for hours to defend themselves.
  • They can even shut down on extremely cold evenings.
  • Chinese crocodile lizards are called by local people “lizards of great sleepiness”.
  • Male Chinese crocodile lizards are more colorful than the females.

Wow! These lizards are amazing! They look a bit like little dinosaurs. Watching them has made us soooo sleepy. Who else needs a nap?

  

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wetlands, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 40

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 40

We’re off to the rainforests of Central America to meet a really cool reptile that has a special adaptation! Can you run on top of water? We didn’t think so! Let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE PLUMED BASILISK!

   Range/Habitat: Central America/ rainforests-wetlands

   Diet: Omnivore: insects, rodents, fruits

   Length: 23 ½-30”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Plumed Basilisks are arboreal (they live in trees).
  • They live near streams and rivers.
  • Plumed basilisks run across the surface of the water on their hind feet.
  • Plumed basilisks have 3 crests on body; on their head, back and tails.
  • They are excellent swimmers and can stay under water for 30 minutes.
  • Male plumed basilisks are very territorial. They preside over a territory with numerous females.

These lizards are sooo cool! Can you believe they can run on water? We wish we could do that, alas we only doggie paddle, or elephant and horse paddle in this case!

  

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, rainforests, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

AMERICAN ANIMALS DAY #2

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK DAY #2

It’s day two of American Animals week and we drove the RV down to the Southwestern United States to find a really cool reptile! Grab your sunscreen or mud and your sunglasses, because it’s going to be a hot one!

MEET THE GILA MONSTER!

   Range/Habitat: Southwestern US-desert, scrub, rocky outcrops

   Diet: Carnivore: eggs and small animals

   Length: 14-20 “

   Conservation Status: threatened

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Gila Monsters are one of two venomous lizards in the whole world (the other is the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard.)
  • They brightly colored to ward of predators.
  • Gila Monsters have a forked tongue like a snake and it helps them “smell” for prey.
  • They inject venom into their prey when they bite. They have special glands in their lower jaw that stores the venom.
  • Gila monsters’ tails store fat so they can survive when food is scarce or when they hibernate in the winter.
  • Gila monsters have bumpy heads. Those bumps are part of their skull.
  • They are not harmful to humans, despite their bad reputation! So Gila Monsters aren’t so monstrous after all!

We think Gila monsters are super cool! These amazing reptiles are protected here! That is good news, because it sure would be a shame if we didn’t have this neat lizard to see!

  

 


 

 

 

 

 

Categories: american, Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 39

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 39

We’re going to the rainforests of Southeast Asia to meet a brightly colored snake! We’re going to watch this guy from a distance though just to be safe! Let’s do this!

MEET THE BLUE CORAL SNAKE

    Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforests

    Diet: Carnivore: snakes, lizards, frogs

    Length: 4- 4 ½ ft

    Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Blue Coral snakes are also known as Blue Malaysian Coral Snakes.
  • They have bright blue bodies with orange undersides, head and tails.
  • Blue coral snakes are highly venomous.
  • They flip upside down and show their bright orange coloration as a warning to predators.
  • Blue coral snakes are nocturnal.

We’re definitely going to observe these snakes from a distance. It’s best to pay attention to their warning coloration too!

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, nature, rainforests, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 38

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 38

Whew, it’s hot here in this desert! We hope someone brought some mud for sunscreen! We’re here to find a marvelous lizard who can blow himself up! No, no, the lizard doesn’t actually explode, instead they inflate! Are you ready to meet this new friend?

MEET THE CHUCKWALLA!

   Range/Habitat: Southwestern United States-Northern Mexico/desert

   Diet: Herbivore: fruit, leaves, flowers, succulents

   Length: 11-16 ½”

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Chuckwallas are large, wide and flat bellied lizards.
  • Their name comes from a Native American word!
  • Chuckwallas like hot conditions. They are often seen basking in the sun during the day!
  • When threatened chuckwallas jam themselves in crevices and inflate their lungs and flaps of skin, so that is impossible for a predator to get them out!
  • They have thick long tails.
  • Male chuckwallas are larger and often have black heads.
  • They have a life span of up to 25 years.

 

Wow, they lizards are not only cool, but they have a cool name! Try saying Chuckwalla three times fast! Chuckwalla, chuckwalla, chuckwalla… We got tongue tied just typing it :)!

       

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 37

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 37

We’re staying in the North American woods today to find a little reptile who lives in ponds! Grab your bug spray and your waders because we’re off to find this great reptile!

MEET THE WOOD TURTLE!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Canada-Northern United States/ponds, woods,

streams

   Diet: Omnivore: worms, slugs, leaves, insects

   Length: 5 ½-7 ½”

   Conservation Status: endangered

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Wood turtles are diurnal (active during the day).
  • They are excellent climbers.
  • Wood turtles have pyramid shaped scutes.
  • Wood turtles have perfect coloration to camouflage in their habitat.
  • They hibernate in rivers in winter.
  • Wood turtles are intelligent and have excellent homing skills (finding their way back to their habitat).
  • They can live up to 40 years.

Wood turtles are really amazing turtles. Scientists have even tested these turtles in mazes and they do as well as rats! Pretty cool! They are endangered though, primarily due to habitat loss and taking the turtles from the wild. Turtles can make great pets, but it is very important that if you get a turtle, you get them from reputable breeder and not the wild!

 

  

 

 

Categories: Animals, backyard, Children, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, rivers, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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