Tuatara: New Zealand reptiles

It has survived ice ages, volcanic eruptions and the intrusion of humans on its South Pacific island home, but New Zealand's last survivor of the dinosaur age may become extinct due to global warming.

Mounted with spiny scales from head to tail and covered by rough, grey skin that disguises them among the trees, the tuatara is one of the world's oldest living creatures.

But the lizard-like reptile is facing increasing risk of extinction from global warming because of its dependency on the surrounding temperature, which determines the sexes of unborn young while still in their eggs.

So named by New Zealand's indigenous Maori people because of the spines on its back, the tuatara is the only survivor of its species of reptile that flourished during the age of the dinosaurs, some 200 million years ago.

It can grow up to 20 inches and weigh up to 2.2 pounds and like its reptile relative, the turtle, the slow-moving tuatara can live for more than 100 years, feeding mainly on insects.

But scientists say its long life span as well as its four-year breeding cycle - relatively slow for a reptile - will make the adaptation process more difficult.

read more "Tuatara: New Zealand reptiles"

Winnipeg reptile expo draws rare and threatened animals

WINNIPEG – Reptiles were on the loose this weekend at the Manitoba Reptile Breeders Expo.

“It’s amazing, I love all the animals and the reptiles,” said one child visiting the expo.

Over 1,000 reptiles were on display and up for sale, from geckos, tarantulas, tortoises, and snakes.

Rare reptiles made an appearance like axolotl’s, which are believed to be extinct in the wild but are now thriving in captivity.

Not thriving are the Western Hognose snakes. They’re a threatened Manitoba species found in Spruce Woods Provincial Park.

“If we lose them then the balance of nature is unbalanced,” said Judy Robertson with Wildlife Haven, one of the vendors at the expo educating visitors about Manitoba reptiles.

But one thing organizers say all reptiles have in common is that they’re low maintenance, making them a great pet option.

“They’re really easy to take care of, you don’t have to walk them, you can play with them when you want or leave them alone,” said Steven Rempel, Prairie Exotics.

Tarantula owners agree. “They’re really easy to care for and very docile spiders so you can hold them and they’re great for looking at,” said Stephanie Kolodka, tarantula owner.

Close to 1,000 people walked through the expo on Saturday and Sunday stopping at the 23 vendors to learn about reptiles and touch them too.

But not all reptiles are legal as pets in Winnipeg after a bylaw was passed last year that doesn’t allow pet crocodylia or venomous reptiles.

Source: Here

read more "Winnipeg reptile expo draws rare and threatened animals"

248-Million-Year Old Fossil Shows Mother Reptile In Act Of Giving Live Birth

An ancient fossil specimen recovered in China shows a mother reptile in the middle of the giving live birth. The 248 million-year-old fossil is of a marine reptile called Chaohusaurus - a member of a bigger group of reptiles called Ichthyosaurs.

Scientists said the specimen is indicating that live-birth in air-breathing marine animals was not an aquatic adaptation.

Source: Here

read more "248-Million-Year Old Fossil Shows Mother Reptile In Act Of Giving Live Birth"

Reptile: Monitor Lizard

Monitor lizards, large and sometimes fearsome lizards common throughout Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australasia, aren't just big and scary: they're also among the fastest learners in the reptile world. Monitor lizards have been proven to be able to count--not just know which of a group has the highest number of objects, but to know exactly which that number is. (You can read more about that experiment here.)

Source: Here

read more "Reptile: Monitor Lizard"