Reptiles Definition

Lemon Frost leopard geckos are known for their distinctive coloring – and skin tumors. Scientists have now linked the tumors to a gene implicated in human skin cancer. Credit: L. Guo et al./ PLOS Genetics 2021/Steve Sykes The leopard gecko's name was Mr. Frosty, and he was hard to miss. Yellow bands striped his back, and uncommonly white skin peeked out from speckles on his head and tail. "It's this really striking coloration pattern," says Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Leonid Kruglyak, a geneticist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). A California reptile shop began breeding Mr. Frosty in 2016 and produced a colony of lemon-yellow lizards. The color variety was known as Lemon Frost. With their bold bands and snazzy spots, the rare animals could fetch upwards of $2,000. But the gaudy geckos had one problem. Roughly 80 percent develop bulbous white skin tumors within the first five years of life. In some in...

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Reptile Gardens was a hot spot for visitors last summer, with guest numbers up around 30 percent. But the staff is hoping to return to a more normal about of people as they begin an expansion of the park. For just under a century, Reptile Gardens has given all kinds of snakes, alligators, and turtles a home in the midwest. Although their countless curiosities draw people in year after year, Reptile Gardens is stepping up its game, expanding the scope of the park. "We've renovated the area so that we can have all three; the big giants that we have, the teenagers that we have, then these little guys," said the public relations director for Reptile Gardens, John Brockelsby and he held a small turtle. "And they'll all be on display for all of our guests to see all summer long." New enclosures, new pools, and even new shade for one of the park's biggest attractions, "These guys are just, they're really the iconic animal of r...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] South Carolina dog is the oldest pup alive, says Guinness World Records    WWTI - InformNNY.com World's oldest dog living confirmed as 22-year-old Toy Fox Terrier    Guinness World Records Meet 22-year-old Pebbles, world's oldest living dog. What's the secret to her long life?    Times Now Meet the world's 'oldest dog living' a 22-year-old Toy Fox Terrier named Pebbles    Hindustan Times Pebbles, 22, crowned world's oldest dog - and dethrones TobyKeith as champion    The Mirror View Full Coverage on Google News

Over the past few weeks, Monmouth County has had a few unusual visitors. I'm not talking people, I'm talking black bears. Shannon Holly from the Jersey Shore Morning Show told the story of a friend who got an early start at 5:30 one morning, looked out the window, and saw a black bear climbing a tree. photo: Shannon Holly's neighbor photo: Shannon Holly's neighbor loading... This happened on Coachman Drive in Freehold Township on May 19. The bear was looking for food and was going after the bird feeder. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says that if you come in contact with a black bear to stand your ground and avoid direct eye contact. Then, slowly back away. Absolutely do not run. If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area. American Black Bear Lynn_Bystrom loading... Freehold is inland enough that seeing a black bear is rather rare but not unheard of. Atlantic Highlands. That's a completely different story. The Atlantic Highlands Police ...

The ISLAND-OCEAN CONNECTION CHALLENGE aims to maximize the marine benefits of island conservation for ecosystems including coral reefs, and climate and community resilience. We are launching a new era of island restorations and rewilding focused on scaling and deploying this whole-systems conservation 'multi-tool' for optimal impact.   Challenge partners are committed to the holistic restoration of at least 40 globally significant island ecosystems, from ridge-to-reef to benefit biodiversity, climate, and communities by 2030.   We seek additional partners to join this collaborative and advance this novel restoration and resilience effort. Join this movement by adding your commitments, resources, projects, programs, and / or islands to this 2030 challenge.    Join us today in this campaign of hope and resilience!   SAMPLE COMMITMENTS Any individual or organization (local, national, regional, or global) is invi...

Dr. Dara Johns/Special to the NWF Daily News / USA TODAY NETWORK  |  Northwest Florida Daily News Dear Readers, This warm weather has caused the snake population to wake up and begin to move. Our area is seeing a lot of snake bite occurrences in the dog population. Not all these incidents have had positive outcomes. Some pets, even with antivenin, have not survived. Snake bite symptoms and treatment It is important to know what to do if a snake has bitten your pet. You may not even see it happen. Your dog or cat comes in the house with an odd swelling on its face, chest or paw. The tissue that is swollen is usually weeping blood or dark black fluid. It is very painful to the touch. The pet may be having trouble walking. Cats are particularly susceptible to snake venom and can succumb very quickly. If your pet is bitten by a snake, keep it as calm as possible. Try not to cause the heart to race. Do not apply a tourniquet. It can cause severe damage to the circulation...

When it comes to animals, it's best to always keep your guard up. No matter where you are, there could always go to be a potential danger lurking around the corner- so it's good to have some idea of what to look out for. Whether it is considered a danger because of venom or a "silent killer", here are some of the most dangerous animals you will find throughout the midwest. Wisconsin- Brown Recluse Spider 496833999 benjaminjk loading... This spider is identified as a one-third-inch-long spider that has a violin-shaped marking near its head. It is one of two spiders in Wisconsin that are venomous, the other being the northern black widow, and fortunately is rare. South Dakota- Puff Adder The only animal that is able to live with this snake is a toad. It is a highly venomous snake and if it attacks it could lead to fatalities. When threatened, the snake will puff up their head and if the venom gets into your system, it can cause cell death and organ failure. It...

Working dog breeds are not for the faint of heart for three major reasons. First of all, they're enormous dogs. These canines have spent centuries hauling heavy carts for trade workers, standing alongside soldiers in wartime and keeping watch over cows and sheep, among other immensely important jobs. Naturally they're going to be big and strong! Second, working dog breeds are known for their headstrong personalities. Many tend to make their own decisions and do what they believe is right. This brings us to reason number three: their undying loyalty. When presented with danger, working dog breeds will defend their people and their turf no matter what. This means making split second decisions based on the information at hand. The result is a collection of pups who love deeply, don't take kindly to strangers (for the most part) and excel at making you feel safe. Owning a working dog breed Technically, you'll never own a working dog breed. These animals see the...

As a breed with a history as a working dog, the Perro de Presa Canario requires a significant amount of exercise. Aim for at least an hour of exercise every day, and adding tasks to the sessions can help keep the dog mentally and physically satisfied. It should be mentioned that, due to the dog's size and power, they should not be left alone and unsupervised outside for long periods of time, even if you have access to a fenced-in yard. Other needs for the Perro de Presa Canario include dental hygiene and nail care. Brush your Perro de Presa Canario's teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the accompanying bacteria. Daily is better. Check your Perro de Presa Canario's nails once a month and see if they need to be trimmed. Although, if a Perro de Presa Canario is given sufficient outdoors time, there's a strong likelihood that their nails will stay in great condition naturally. Also, make sure to check the dog's ears for signs of debris ...

An endangered Lau banded iguana has been welcomed at Dartmoor Zoo. Tonga has arrived at the Zoo near Sparkwell and is their latest addition. Lau banded iguanas are found on the Lau Islands of the eastern part of the Fijian archipelago. The species is considered a national treasure by the government of Fiji, and its likeness has been featured on postage stamps and currency. But populations of these iguanas have been declining over the past century and they're now sadly listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Threats include habitat destruction from logging and farming, invasive predators and the illegal pet trade. Read More - Critically endangered wildcats arrive at Dartmoor Zoo A spokesperson for Dartmoor Zoo said: "Come and meet Tonga for yourself this May half term. You can spot him in our Reptile and Bug House." The Lau Banded Iguana is an Endangered species found on several landmasses in the Lau Island Group in Fiji. Depending on the island flora they are found...

A devastated North Shore family have put up a big cash reward in a bid to find their beloved family dog Simba, who went missing on Mother's Day and hasn't been seen since. Fluffy chow chow Simba vanished from a Castlecrag home, on Sydney's Lower North Shore, about 4pm on May 8. Simba's family is now offering a $10,000 cash reward for his safe return. For more Pets related news and videos check out Pets >> CCTV captured that day shows Simba marching down Edinburgh Road at 12.32pm. Pet Detective service Arthur & Co is on the case, with its investigators scouring the area, asking nearby residents to download and send in CCTV footage. CCTV captured from the day Simba disappeared shows him marching down Edinburgh Road at 12.32pm. Credit: Facebook The doggy detectives have formed a map of Simba's movements using a combination of CCTV footage from the area, and say the dog's path can be mapped until a certain point. "What we do know is that...