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Rex is a Savannah Monitor, Varanus exanthematicus, and is a close relative to the famous Komodo Dragon. He is native to Africa. With a stocky body & a block-shaped head, Rex looks very prehistoric. He is equipped with large, powerful legs & sharp claws. Rex is an apex predator. He uses his long, forked tongue to smell & investigate the environment around him. Since Rex is a predator, rodents & insects make up the bulk of his diet. Unfortunately, the majority of lizard skin used in the leather trade is derived from this species. Rex was donated to me by a friend. |
Rex
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Tuga (aka Baby Rex) is an Argentine Black & White Tegu, (Tupinambis merianae). They are is the largest species of tegu. This terrestrial species inhabits the
tropical rain forests of | photo coming soon! |
| Harriet is a Red-footed Tortoise, Geochelone carbonaria, named after a closely related Galápagos tortoise who, at 175 years old, was the oldest living animal on Earth. Unfortunately, the real Harriet, who was collected by Charles Darwin himself, died June, 2006 at Croc Hunter Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. The red-footed tortoise gets its name from the red or orange scales visible on its legs. Red-footed tortoises live in South America and some islands of the Caribbean. Red-foots are endangered and are protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). | Harriet
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Crush & Squirt are Eastern Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) and are commonly found throughout North America. They are water turtles that live in ponds, lakes, marshes, and in slow-moving rivers that have soft, muddy bottoms. Their hard shell protects them from predators. The underside, or plastron, of their shell has a beautiful design that (hence the name) looks as if it's painted on. Painted turtles are most active in the spring & summer months. During the winter, they hibernate by burying themselves deep in the mud beneath streams and ponds. The mud insulates the turtle which helps prevent freezing during the harsh cold. Painted turtles can survive without oxygen at 38°F for up to 5 months, longer than any other known air-breathing vertebrate. The painted turtle spends most of its time in the water, but can often be seen lying in the sun on floating logs or on rocks by the shore. |
Crush & Squirt
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| Biggie is a Bearded Dragon, native to Australia. What is most fascinating about them is their social behavior that includes a full set of body movements which represents their language. They have actions for dominance, appeasement, playfulness, and competition. Bearded Dragons have gained tremendous popularity and are to this day one of the most popular reptile pets in America due to their friendly demeanor. Bearded Dragons are illegal to export from Australia. However, they are easy to breed & readily available in captivity, so pressure on wild populations from the illegal pet trade has decreased. Unfortunately, habitat destruction & the introduction of non-native species, still calls for protecting and conserving these fascinating creatures. | Biggie
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Jake is an albino Corn snake (or Red Rat snake), Pantherophis guttata. Corn snakes are found throughout the eastern U.S., from NJ to the Florida Keys & as far west as Texas. NJ is their northern-most range, where they are listed as endangered. Corn Snakes are very popular pets. The name 'corn snake' refers to the pattern on its belly, which resembles Indian maize corn. Some, however, believe it is because they were first found in corn fields hunting rodents. After many generations of selective breeding, corn snakes are found in a wide variety of different colors & patterns. These result from combining dominant & recessive genes that code for color. New & interesting variations, or “morphs” become available every year as breeders gain a better understanding of their genetics. |
Jake |
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Diablo & Pandora are Black Pine snakes, Pituophis lodingi. They are one rarest snakes in North America. It is more than likely that they have gone completely extinct in most of their natural habitats, as these areas become more & more developed by humans. They can grow fairly large and thus make easy targets for cars, builders/developers, and fearful people with shovels. Most pine snake populations are declining at massive rates. The majority of wild Black Pine snakes exist in De Soto National Forest, in Mississippi, where they are protected. This is currently their last stronghold as a wild population. Much research is being conducted but it may be too little too late. They have the ability to create an extremely loud hissing sound when they feel threatened. They also vibrate their tails, producing a noise similar to that of the rattlesnake. |
Diablo & Pandora |
| Elvis is an Eastern Chain King snake named after the 1950's musician Elvis Presley who was deemed "The King of Rock 'n' Roll". This species, Lampropeltis getula, is found all along the eastern U.S. and often inhabits woodlands, swamps, wetlands, farmland, & meadows. King snakes are truly the KINGS of all snakes mainly because they will readily eat other snake species. Medical experiments with Eastern king snakes have demonstrated that they are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, & copperheads. | Elvis
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Harry & Hermione are Hog Island Boas (Boa imperator). The Hog Islands (also called Cayos de los Cochinos) are a string of islands off the coast of Honduras. These boas are thought to have gone extinct in the late 1970's/early 80's due to over collection and human predation.They are very popular due to their smaller size & amazing coloration. Some people believe that these boas have evolved or adapted over time to smaller prey on islands, & therefore remain significantly smaller than their mainland counterparts. Hog Island boas are well-known for their subtle, yet beautiful changes in color. Like a chameleon, they shift between shades of blue, orange, peach, grey, cream, and white. These dramatic color changes possibly offered them some advantage in the wild, whether it be hiding from predators or to ambush prey. Some theorize that it allowed them to camouflage or blend in with the white, sandy beaches. Unfortunately, we may never know. |
Harry & Hermione |
| Julius Squeezer is a Ball python (Python regius) native to Africa. The name 'ball' python is derived from their tendency, when stressed or frightened, to curl into a tight ball. The species name 'regius' is Latin for royal which comes, in part, from Cleopatra (ruler of ancient Egypt), who supposedly wore the snake around her wrist. Like most snakes, Ball pythons are ambush predators. This means they like to surprise their prey by striking out suddenly and constricting them. Ball pythons are commonly available, and with advances in knowledge of their genetics, many new colors and patterns are emerging & fetching top dollars among hobbyists. Unfortunately, as common as they are, tens of thousands of wild ball pythons are imported into the U.S. from Africa each year. | Julius Squeezer
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