The Controversy Over a Second Species of Giant Anaconda
The Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus, has long been Amazonia’s most iconic animal. It is widely regarded as the largest snake…
The Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus, has long been Amazonia’s most iconic animal. It is widely regarded as the largest snake…
This book is available as a high quality PDF on the Herpetological Conservation International website. Aquatic Snakes, Diversity and Natural…
About 128 million years ago, a surge of adaptation caused snakes to explode in diversity and evolve up to three…
We detected clear ontogenetic venom variation in C. m. nigrescens. Venoms from younger snakes contained more crotamine-like myotoxins and snake…
The Pantepui is a remote, biodiverse region made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Lost World. In a recent…
By conducting gene tree reconstructions of 3FTxs, the researchers uncovered intriguing evidence of potentially novel heterodimers within the genetic sequences…
Social behavior in snakes is under-studied and, as a result, poorly known. Using social network analysis, Tetzlaff et al. (2023)…
An intriguing example is the puff adder (Bitis arietans), which sheds its skin shortly after birth. These viper species use…
The feeding behavior of kingsnakes preying on rattlesnakes is a well-known example of a predator-prey relationship among snakes. Recently, my…
Studying organism movement patterns can offer valuable insights into species ecology and evolution. Various methods, including radio telemetry, have revealed…
Snakes are usually thought of as deaf. But they are not. While they lack external ears, they have sound receptors.
The diet of Bothrops asper changes with age. Young individuals feed on amphibians, centipedes, reptiles, and mammals. Older individuals specialize…
Autohemorrhaging means an animal breaks blood vessels and releases blood at will. Often it is associated with stressful situations It…
Urbanization changes landscapes, often simplifying and homogenizing natural ecosystems while introducing novel environments. Although this transformation often adversely impacts native…
An invasive snake threatens vulnerable snakes and lizards in Switzerland
They are the largest pit-vipers and the only oviparous pit- vipers in the western hemisphere.
The kraits in the genus Bungarus, are venomous elapid snakes which inhabit the Asian subcontinent. Most members of the genus…
A home-owner encountering a rattlesnake in their yard, garage, or house can be un-nerving. As people build more houses in…
A Fox News story in 2015, stated authorities in Puerto Rico caught a 3.6-meter, 70 pound Burmese Python in a…
The Florida Everglades supports a variety of native animals but over the years the pet trade and keepers of exotic…
African water snakes of the genus Lycodonomorphus (Family Lamprophiidae) are widespread, abundant and presumably an important component of many aquatic…
Dipsas catesbyi has been recorded making a vocalization. It is not a hiss. Do some snakes communicate with sound?
A new paper in Herpetology and Ichthyology finds the Green Rat Snake likely contains multiple species level clades.
The King Cobra is thought of as a single wide spread species, but a recent paper published in MPE suggests…
Hot-spring snakes of the genus Thermophis are unique – they are one of the few eastern hemisphere members of the…
Russells Viper, Bannerghatta, India. Saleem Hameed <saleemham at rediffmail.com>, CC BY 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons
Najash is an extinct genus of basal snakes from the Late Cretaceous (Candeleros Formation) of Patagonia. Some modern snakes retain…
Arcanumophis problematicus from Santo Domingo, Peru. Photographs by A. Catenazzi. The snake Liophis problematicus was described as a new species…
Color patterns of snakes have been the subject of many studies and even more speculation. Why is it that some…
. Garter snake dens in the Interlake region of Manitoba, Canada, are the scene of a mating frenzy each spring…
In the science fiction classic Blade Runner, Harrison Ford’s character Rick Deckard tracks down a replicants (synthetic humans) using a…
An article in TheDailyNews.com (New York) recounts the 1973 death of a man from the bite of an eastern massasauga.…
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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