Reptiles Definition

ESSAY We must safeguard the web of life and care about the other living species that we share this planet with. Pygmy tarsiers eat and host bugs that we've seen at home — insects, spiders, lizards, bedbugs, lice, fleas, roundworms, and tapeworms. The vaquitas are preyed upon by large sharks and killer whales, keeping them away from us. But only 10 vaquitas are left and in their absence, the diet of sharks and whales may change. A tiger in the wild indicates that the forest it inhabits is healthy and diverse. As of now, there are 3,900 tigers in the wild globally, and more than twice as many (8,000) in captivity. By protecting the web of life, we build a kinder world for everyone. For the first time, over 40 organizations from 13 countries have joined forces through the Atelopus Survival Initiative (ASI), to save the harlequin toads in South and Central America from extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said 83% of 94 harlequin toad species are th...

@turbo_bunny/TikTok A woman has explained why some venomous species of snake play dead when they come into contact with humans. On TikTok, @turbo_bunny regularly posts videos of her encounters with all sorts of wildlife, 'but reptiles are extra special', her Instagram bio reads. From her feed, it appears she lives in Texas and part of her job involves relocating potentially dangerous animals, like venomous snakes. In one viral upload, we watch how she deals with an Eastern Hognose, a rather strange-looking snake with a flat head. 'Instead of violence, they usually choose death,' she explains. Loading… 'I was called to relocate this Eastern Hognose. Now, this is a venomous species, but they're not considered medically significant. Their venom is mostly for toads and frogs,' she says. As she approaches the snake, its mouth falls agape as it appears to pretend it's dead. 'They play dead, that's their thing. In fact, it's so much their thing, the...

According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Dog are loyal and energetic companions. This may come as no surprise to many Western cultures who have always seen dogs as lovable buddies. But canines have a more nuanced history in China. Based on artifacts and archeological discoveries, scholars have learned that first and foremost, dogs were seen as laborers to early Chinese civilizations. Think: More work, less play. Over time, Chinese dog breeds evolved into family protectors and symbols of good fortune. Unlike dogs indigenous to Japan and Australia, Chinese dog breeds are much more varied in their temperaments and features. One thing they all have in common? Bragging rights as some of the oldest and rarest breeds on earth. Domesticated dogs in China Modern humans can't seem to figure out exactly when our ancient ancestors first began domesticating dogs. We have a lot of guesses, but no specifics. One 2015 study on canine genomes found dogs from East...

Children will be able to practice their gardening and painting skills with this multi-purpose kit. Each package comes with one 10 X 4.5 X 3-inch planter tub, one water bottle, four seed packets, one soil disk, two shovels, one rake, four plant markers, and an instruction sheet. On the art side, you'll receive four butterfly sticks, one palette, 12 acrylic paints in bright colors, and two paintbrushes. The seeds included are: cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, and balsams, which will grow into colorful flowers. One buyer, who gave this kit a 5-star rating, calls it a "great gift for my 8 year old granddaughter! She got to be creative with decorating the planter and grow her own flowers!" Another purchaser who gave the item 5 stars writes, "Bought this for my 4 year old daughter who loves to garden with her daddy. She went crazy when she opened it!" Adblock test (Why?)

Phoenix Herpetological Society warns of toxic toads being seen by many in the Valley The Phoenix Herpetological Society says there are many frogs coming out, enjoying the monsoonal weather in Arizona right now, but there is a toad, in particular, to watch out for. PHOENIX - The monsoonal moisture is bringing more than rain and damaging winds to the Valley as many critters are out and about making unwanted appearances. Some of those critters can be dangerous. This year, unlike last year, the Phoenix Herpetological Society says it's received dozens of calls and photos of homeowners finding critters in their yards. Many of the species that are out loving the recent weather are not dangerous, but one in particular, a toxic toad, could be dangerous. "There's the Arizona Toad, the Red-spotted Toads, some Spadefoot Toads. There are so many different kinds and they all look a little different," said Katelyn Garcia with the Phoenix Herpetological Socie...

A fight between a 15-foot king cobra and a giant monitor lizard was recently caught on camera by an Indian forest official. The video was shared with a local journalist, who later posted the video to social media. The site was rather unusual, as officials said that king cobras tend to eat other snakes. However, it wouldn't be the first time a king cobra was spotted preying on a monitor lizard in the country. The incident occurred near a forest in the Indian state of Kerala, International Business Times reports. According to journalist Bobins Abraham Vayalil via Twitter, the fight ensued for nearly 10 minutes before the two went their separate ways. The video—which was reportedly recorded by a forest official and shared to Twitter by Vayalil—shows the two take turns biting one another. Throughout the majority of the one-and-a-half-minute video, the lizard and the snake remain coiled around one another. Indian outlet Mathrubhumi reported Monday the lizard eventually escaped and fled ...

Meet the rough-skinned newt. It's an innocuous Bowen resident who actually packs a punch! At less than 10 centimetres long, this timid little creature can be spotted all over Bowen. They like dark damp areas with ponds, fallen logs and leaves, so the mid-island trail, Killarney Lake, Fairy Fen, and up in the Bonanza Mines on Mt Gardner are great places to find them.  They can also be a welcome visitor to any (fishless) backyard pond, as they hunt slugs and snails in your garden, but also will eat small fish – and can fall prey to bigger fish. Despite their appeal to larger fish, there is only one predator who can actually survive eating a rough-skinned newt. Newts contain a toxic poison called tetrodotoxin (TTX), that even the newts themselves cannot digest! This is the same toxin found in puffer fish. Garter snakes that live in the same geographic area as newts have evolved to be able to prey on those newts without being affected by the toxin. Gar...

Appenzeller Sennenhund The Appenzeller Sennenhund is tri-color, medium-sized, and almost squarely built and balanced. He is muscular and agile and makes a good driving, watch, guard, house or farm dog. Due to their versatility and willingness, they excel in agility, obedience, herding and search and rescue. Adblock test (Why?)

It can be difficult to find a dog breed that fits into an active lifestyle, but fear not, all you need to do is contemplate getting a Feist. The Feist has been around for a long time but regardless of being one of the first dog breeds in America, it is often less talked about in comparison to some of its current counterparts. The Feist is a small dog which is brilliant at both hunting and friendship and when you have the right energy to match them, they may be one of the best breeds to consider if you are looking for a dog of a lifetime. What a Feist Is? A descendent from the terrier, a Feist is a small dog ranging between 10 to 18 inches tall and weighing around 20 pounds. As they are bred specifically for hunting rather than for how they look, dogs from this breed greatly differ one from another. What they do have in common is that they are all little dogs with long legs and tall ears and lots of excess energy. Feist from England These petite dogs were transported to th...

Scaleless snakes may seem contradictory — scales are a defining feature of the animal, after all. And yet, snakes without scales have been found in the wild, are commonly bred in captivity, and are even trendy pets. When all is said and done, these creatures are not so different from their scale-covered counterparts. But there are some distinctions that make them a subject of interest for reptile fans and researchers alike. From their extra-bright colors to their smooth, marshmallow-like skin, scaleless snakes are curious animals. Here are eight facts about them. 1. Their Lack of Scales Is a Mutation It's understandable to think that a scaleless snake's lack of scales is a deformity — it does seem like a mistake. However, it is technically a mutation. The absence of scales is a recessive trait, best compared to albinism that appears in many animals (including snakes). As a result, it can be passed down, provided scaleless snakes mate with other scaleless s...

French company Iguana is taking aim at the record books with a new amphibious boat patterned after its military and emergency offerings, and designed to outsprint every other amphibian on the market with a peak output of 900 horsepower. The Iguana Pro featured in these images is no slowpoke; this six-seat military-focused RIB is already capable of speeds up to 55 knots (63.3 mph, 101.9 km/h). But Iguana is adapting the design for the civilian market with a pure focus on maximum performance, preparing to launch a two-seat version with twin 450-horsepower outboards. Murdered-out in an all-black paint job, the new RIB has been structurally reinforced in the tube and hull, and kitted out with Ullman seats designed for high-speed water safety. Like all the Iguana amphibians, it's much slower on land. It rolls on a pair of kevlar-reinforced rubber tracks, connected to the hull via strong, hydraulically retractable struts. In the water, the tracks pull up and largely out of the way, addin...

Slithery serpents are no stranger to the coastal wetlands that make up the Lowcountry.     There are 38 species of snakes overall throughout the state of South Carolina. Of those, thankfully only six are venomous. The "scary six" are the copperhead, cottonmouth, pigmy rattlesnake, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake and the coral snake.    Unfortunately, especially for those with the fear of the silent crawlers also known as ophidiophobia, two venomous snakes can be fairly common on Daniel Island — the copperhead and cottonmouth. Most of the others that might be seen scurrying about are harmless – the black racer, brown snake, corn snake, Eastern garter snake and the rat snake.    Snakes to beware   The copperhead is South Carolina's most venomous snake. Wherever construction is taking place on the island, there is a good chance that a copperhea...