Reptiles and Amphibians!

Herpetological species from the Bronx Zoo. Take a look if you would like, and see if their are any species you would like to know more about. Just send me a species in my ASK and I will do my best. Thanks and enjoy!

Click read more to see some species names and pictures from my trip to the Bronx zoo.

Emerald Swift (Sceloporus malachiticus)

These beautiful lizards are indigenous to the high altitude cloud forests of extreme southern Mexico and much of Central America
Emerald swifts get their common name as a result of the magnificent bright green and blue coloration exhibited by mature males. Female swifts are not as ornately colored, but still an attractive lizard nonetheless
Nearly all emerald swifts available in this country are of a wild caught origin
They have approximately a five year life span
These lizards are quite territorial
Emerald Swifts are excellent climbers which agilely scale trees and rocks in their native habitat
Unlike many lizards, Emerald Swifts are live-bearers, which means they give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs
Emerald swifts are insectivores
Emerald swifts are quick and agile creatures that will rarely tolerate handling. They are not aggressive, and rarely if ever attempt to bite. However, they will wiggle and squirm if restrained, which may result in stress over time
The Emerald Swift is a beautiful, but delicate lizard that is very difficult to keep. It has an extremely high mortality rate in captivity, often dying within one year

I do not own these images or this information

Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides)

Native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea
The different species are found variously in open woodlands, at the margins of forest and field, semi-deserts
They get their name for their bright blue tongue which is used to startle predators when they feel threatened
They are omnivores and use their tongue, strong teeth, and extremely powerful jaws to crush insects and snails, fruits and flowers. They also ingest small stones, which help in their food digestion
Blue Tongue Skinks also have the interesting anatomical feature of a transparent lower eyelid that helps the desert dwelling skinks to keep sand and dust out of their eyes. They are also capable of dropping their tails when threatened. It takes roughly a year for a new tail to grow back in

I don’t own the any image but the second, or this information

Sailfin Dragon (Hydrosaurus amboinensis)

Live in the Tropical regions of eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines
Also known as Malayan Sail Finned Lizard, Asian Water Dragon, Sail Tailed Water Dragon
Largest of the Agamid family
Water-loving lizards who are usually found near in or near mountain streams
They have the ability to hide underwater for an hour
These lizards can reach lengths of up to four feet
Can live up to 25 years
Males have a large fan-like sail protruding from the base of their tale

I do not own these images

Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

Komodo Dragons have lived in Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago
Reaching 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth
They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails
Komodo Dragons will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans
When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey
Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse
A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding
There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status

I do not own these images or this information

Tegu

Native to South America
One of South America’s largest terrestrial reptiles
They have much in common with Monitor Lizards
They have powerful limbs and long claws, which are used for digging
They use their long forked tongue to “taste” the air
Tegus have a wide-ranging diet, including insects and invertebrates, small mammals, birds, other lizards, and carrion.
Good swimmers
They bite and scratch for defense along with using their long powerful tails as a club
These lizards communicate with one another by making loud, snoring noises, which carry a long way in still air
The pictures above are some of the varieties of Tegu’s. The Black and White Argentinian Tegu, The Red Tegu, and the Golden Tegu

I do not own these images

Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Found on the Galapagos Islands
Scientists figure that land-dwelling iguanas from South America must have drifted out to sea millions of years ago on logs or other debris, eventually landing on the Galápagos. From that species emerged marine iguanas, which spread to nearly all the islands of the archipelago. Each island hosts marine iguanas of unique size, shape and color
Gentle herbivores which eat only seaweed and underwater algae
Threatened under the IUCN RED list
Their short, blunt snouts and small, razor-sharp teeth help them scrape the algae off rocks, and their laterally flattened tails let them move crocodile-like through the water
They have dark gray coloring to better absorb sunlight after their forays into the frigid Galápagos waters. And they even have special glands that clean their blood of extra salt, which they ingest while feeding
Often have white “wigs” of salt on their heads from what they expel through glands near their nostrils

I do not own these images

Moloch AKA Horny Lizard (Moloch horridus)

Thorny devils are found throughout out Australia’s interior desert, mostly on sandy soils
Thorny Devils get water when it lands on their back or from overnight condensation. The water runs along thousands of tiny grooves on its back until it reaches the corner of its mouth where the Moloch can drink it. It moves through those tiny grooves by a capillary action done through gulping
It feeds exclusively on ants, eating huge numbers in a single meal. It is estimated a Thorny Devil can eat between 600 and 3,000 ants! The amazing fact is that they eat them one at a time with its flicking sticky tongue, at a rate of up to 45 flicks per minute.
The thorny devil is not an aggressive reptile. It prefers defense and has various ways of doing this:
1) The ability to change color to match the soil beneath it
2) They take refuge in small shrubs upon the approach of a potential predator
3) When frightened, it tucks its head between its front legs which shows a false head or knob on its neck in the place where its normal head would be
4) If a predator attempts to flip it over it resists by applying counter pressure to the ground on the other side with its spines and its curved tail
5) Jerky movement may imitate a leaf, and it often “freezes” in mid stride
6) The ability to puff themselves up to make them appear larger

The Thorny Devil water capturing

I do not own these images

Mali Uromastyx (Uromastyx maliensis)

North African deserts
10-15 inches in length
Males are primarily jet black with bright yellow markings, while females tend to be more of a uniform brown or tan in color
primarily an Herbivore
Can go long periods of time without drinking. They get most of their water from the plants they eat
Mali Uromasryx will lash out with its spiny tail when it feels threatened

I do not own these images

Horny toad, AKA Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi)

Found in the deserts and semi-arid environments of North and Central America, from southern Canada to Guatemala
The short-horned lizard is often referred to as a “horned toad” or “horny toad” because its squat, flattened shape and short, blunt snout give it a toad-ish look
They feed primarily on ants, waiting for one to unsuspectingly crawl by before snapping it in and swallowing it whole. They are also known to eat grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders
Despite their spiky features, short-horned lizards are preyed upon by a number of creatures, including hawks, roadrunners, snakes, lizards, dogs, wolves, and coyotes. Consequently, beyond their natural camouflage, they have adapted a pair of remarkable talents. In order to ward off hungry predators, short-horned lizards are capable of inflating their bodies up to twice their size, resembling a spiny balloon. And if this proves insufficient, some species employ one of the animal kingdom’s most bizarre defensive mechanisms: They shoot blood from their eyes
The ominous squirting blood emanates from ducts in the corners of their eyes and can travel a distance of up to three feet. It’s meant to confuse would-be predators, but also contains a chemical that is noxious to dogs, wolves, and coyotes

Click here to watch the blood shooting mechanism in action

I do not own these images or this video