The American crocodile in Portete Bay, Colombia
The American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, has undergone population declines over much of its distribution due to human persecution, overexploitation and…
The American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, has undergone population declines over much of its distribution due to human persecution, overexploitation and…
Regina septemivatta Regulating water flow through dams can be detrimental to riparian habitat. In the United States over 75,000 large…
Extant aquatic reptiles are rather scarce – only about 0.8% of the living fauna but, they are much more diverse…
Photo by Jim Craig The superfamily Acrochordoidea includes the extant file snake family Acrochordidae and fossil Cretaceous-Paleogene families Nigerophiidae and…
Originally published on the Serpent Research Blog A. The Chinese mud snake, Myrrophis chinensis. B. The Kerala mud snake,Dieurostus dussumierii…
WDR, Crotalus atrox. JCM Ocean garbage patches get a lot of attention, but a lot of trash is blowing across…
A. The Chinese mud snake, Myrrophis chinensis. B. The Kerala mud snake, Dieurostus dussumieriiPhoto credit A. You Chugwei; B. A.…
Scientists have been able to reconstruct, for the first time, the intricate three-dimensional structure of the backbone of early tetrapods,…
Tadpoles. Photo Credit: Manchester University. It is generally appreciated that frogs and salamanders have remarkable regenerative capacities, in contrast to…
Howdy Herpers, 10 January 2013 As I’m sure none of you remember, back in January of 2010 I sent out…
URBANA – Speculation about how animals will respond to climate change due to global warming led University of Illinois researcher…
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners (including Wildlife Foundation of Florida, The Future of Hunting in…
The first global overview of reptile extinction risk has been published in the journal Biological Conservation (Böhm et al. 2013).…
Above: Artist’s conception of the feathered dinosaur Similicaudipteryx using its tail feathers in a mating display. (Illustration: Sydney Mohr) A…
Alligator Snapping Turtle The following is from the Center for Biological Diversity. Amphibians and reptiles are amazing creatures with clever…
The dice snake and its distribution. The semi-aquatic dice snake (Natrix tessellata) ranges from Italy to China, an east-west axis…
Plethodon albagula. Photo credit Stanley Trauth Lungless, woodland salamanders depend on forested habitats and are sensitive to changes in temperature…
Anomaloglossus astralogaster. Photo credit: Marcos Guerra The Chagres Highlands may be a lower montane forest refuge for some rare amphibians…
World Snake Day
World Snake Day is July 16. The day is important to the conservation of snakes. Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica and can vary from the longest species, the reticulated python, to the smallest Barbados Threadsnake. Snakes try to avoid human contact. They consider humans predators. Venomous snakes (and many) use their venom to obtain food and only use it for defense when forced to. World Snake Day can help remove people's fears and illusions about snakes, and help them gain recognition as a marvelous adaptable apex species. World Snake Day can be used to educate and inform people about how to deal with snakes. Let's not mis this opportunity.
World Lizard Day
August 14th is World Lizard Day. It's the perfect time to show some love for these remarkable creatures that have been sharing our planet since the time of the dinosaurs. With over 6,000 known species, lizards come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, and you can find them on every continent except Antarctica. But why should we celebrate lizards, you ask? Well, they're not just cool to observe in their natural habitats but also essential players in many ecosystems. Lizards help keep insect populations in check, which is vital to our ecosystems. So, let's give these amazing creatures the recognition they deserve on this special day! tems worldwide.
World Turtle Day
Turtles and tortoises have secured their enduring places as enduring symbols in folklore, fables, and popular culture, enchanting our imaginations with their representations of wisdom and resilience. Annually, on May 23, we gather with delight to observe World Turtle Day, a dedicated day that pays homage to these unwavering creatures. Turtles and tortoises, both esteemed members of the reptile family, inhabit an array of diverse environments worldwide, where they play pivotal roles within their ecosystems.
These extraordinary beings don’t merely excavate burrows that become abodes for various other species; they also provide a valuable service by assisting in maintaining the cleanliness of our beaches. Their diet includes the remains of deceased fish that wash ashore, making a substantial contribution to ecological equilibrium. This underscores the profound significance of safeguarding these gentle creatures.
World Turtle Day stands as an occasion specially designated to celebrate and protect both of these remarkable creatures. Its origins can be traced back to 2002 when American Tortoise Rescue introduced this meaningful event. It casts a spotlight on the myriad challenges that turtles and tortoises confront due to human intervention and environmental hazards. On this special day, educational institutions, rescue centers, and nature enthusiasts unite to deepen their understanding of these creatures and pledge unwavering commitments to their preservation.
Here are some impactful ways in which you can actively participate in the endeavor to safeguard these exceptional animals: Adopt a Turtle or Tortoise: Contemplate adopting a turtle or tortoise from a rescue shelter. These low-maintenance creatures make ideal companions, especially for families with young children.
The Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus, has long been Amazonia’s most iconic animal. It is widely regarded as the largest snake in existence. However, in a groundbreaking development, Rivas et al. published a paper in February 2024, unveiling a second species of…
This book is available as a high quality PDF on the Herpetological Conservation International website. Aquatic Snakes, Diversity and Natural History covers about 420 snake species with text written by…
Lizards and snakes living in sandy soils in dry habitats and tolerating high temperatures have been considered beneficiaries of global warming as suitable habitats expand due to climate change. However,…
The species seemed to have bug eyes and a smile, so a team of researchers named it Kermitops gratus in honor of the banjo-playing Muppet. Michael Levenson, NYT One crawled…
About 128 million years ago, a surge of adaptation caused snakes to explode in diversity and evolve up to three times faster than lizards. Since they initially descended from lizards,…
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