• Interesting Facts about Amphibians (3)
• Interesting Facts about Birds (22)
• Interesting Facts about Fishes (9)
• Interesting Facts about Mammals (48)
• Interesting Facts about Reptiles (16)

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Aldabra Tortoise

DESCRIPTION: They are dark gray to black in colorwith a highly domed thick carapace, a very long neck to aid in food gathering,and short, thick legs.Males have longer, thicker tails than females. SIZE:Mature males have an average carapace (shell)length of 122 cm.Adult female carapace length averages 91 cm. WEIGHT: Adult males up to 250 kg or more.Mature females average 159 kg. FUN FACTS: The Aldabra tortoise is the largestanimal on the atoll. The tortoises fill a niche very similar to the oneoccupied by elephants in Africa and Asia. Aswith elephants, they are the main consumers of vegetation and noticeably alterthe habitat during their search for food. Tortoises have been known to knockover small trees and shrubs to obtain nutritious leaves. This makes pathwaysand clearings within the forestlands for other animals. Seeds pass through thetortoise's digestive tract and eventually become food for many other species. TheAldabra tortoise is one of the longest-lived animals on earth, if not thelongest. No one knows exactly how long these animals are capable of living, butthey are believed to easily surpass 100 years. So far, the tortoises studiedhave outlived the scientists studying them, and proper records have not beenmaintained.

Alligator

FUN FACTS: The namealligator was derived from the Spanish words el lagarto, meaning "thelizard," which is what Spanish explorers called these creatures. TheAmerican alligator is one of just two species of true alligators - the other isthe Chinese alligator. Alligators are one animal that haschanged very little since the prehistoric days. When dinosaurs became extinct,these modern day contemporaries continued to prosper. The alligator became the official statereptile of Floridain 1987. It is also the mascot of Universityof Florida at Gainesville. Communicating territory in the water isoften difficult, but many crocodilians are quite adept at it. Most species usea headslap or jawclap above or beneath the water. A crocodilian performs aheadslap by raising its head and slamming it against the surface of the water.Jawclaps are when the reptile opens its jaw in a biting motion at the surfaceof the water, then quickly closes it. The result is a loud pop and splash. Unlikeother reptiles, female alligators will protect young for up to two years afterhatching. The first two years are the most critical in the life of analligator. Eighty percent or more may fall victim to wading birds, raccoons,bobcats, otters, snakes, large bass and even larger alligators. Once analligator exceeds four feet, it is relatively safe from predators, but maystill be vulnerable to cannibalism. There are approximately 80 teeth intheir mouth at one time. When the teeth wear down they are replaced.Consequently, an alligator can go through 2,000-3,000 teeth in a lifetime. There are two true species ofalligators: American and Chinese. The Chinese gator is smaller than itsAmerican cousin - only growing to 2 meters in length. There are also fewer than1,000 Chinese alligators left in China'slower Yangtze RiverValley. Alligatorsare hunted for their meat and skin. As early as the 1800s, alligator skins weresold in the Miamiarea for $7 each.

Anaconda

SIZE: Averages 6 m in length; averagediameter is 30 cm;reportedly can grow in excess of 10m in length, though individuals at this length arerare and/or poorly documented; the largest credibly documented specimen wasreported to be 11.4 min length, though this 1944 figure is not innately accepted throughout theentire zoologic community; newborn anacondas are 30-60 cm in length FUN FACTS: The name "anaconda" isderived from the Tamil word "anaikolra", which means "elephantkiller." Early Spanish settlers referred to the anaconda as"matatoro" or "bull killer." Though anacondas are excellentswimmers, they will also hang from branches to dry off. The only area on the anaconda's bodywithout scales is the cloaca. Glands in this area emit a foul smelling musk,which is poisonous for small organisms. Scientists believe the musk may preventticks and leeches from attaching themselves to the cloaca

Bearded Dragon

BeardedDragons are generally considered good pets even for beginner reptile owners,even though they have a fairly complicated diet, special enclosure needs andrequire a fair amount of care.  BeardedDragons are very social, easy to handle and can get depressed if your notpaying enough attention to them causing their scales to fall off.  Some of these little guys will actually bobtheir heads and wave to you through the glass when you approach the tank. Adult sizeusually reach lengths of 18-24  by about2 years of age and have been known to live over 10 years.

Canebrake Rattlesnake

DESCRIPTION: The canebrake rattlesnake is aheavy-bodied snake. Color is pale grayish-brown to pink, with a pattern ofdark-brown to black V-shaped cross bands and a russet stripe down thecenterline of the back. (The rusty stripe distinguishes a canebrake from acommon timber rattler). A broad, dark stripe angles back from the eye, and thetail is velvety black. SIZE: Adults average 1.2 m in length, but someindividuals reach lengths of 180cm WEIGHT: Average weight is 2.3 kg; maximum is 4.5 kg FUN FACTS: Rattlesnakes are classified as pit vipersbecause of facial pits found below and between the eye and nostril on bothsides of the head. The pit is highly sensitive to infrared radiation (heat) andserves as a direction finder in locating warm-blooded prey or predators. Rattlesnakes have a special feedingsystem based on venom, injected into prey through teeth called fangs. Whenapproached, rattlesnakes normally remain motionless and quiet, relying onexcellent camouflage. If cornered however, they will stand their ground. The rattlesnake uses its rattle to warnother animals of its presence, so it doesn't have to waste venom on defense. The rattle is a series of hard segmentsmade of keratin. A new segment is added each time a snake sheds its skin. Whenshaken, the segments vibrate against each other, producing a familiar buzz. Don't be fooled by the rattling motion- there are several snake species (black racer, milk snake, hognose) thatvibrate their tails when cornered. Theage of a rattlesnake is not evident by the size or number of segments in itsrattle. The rattle is often broken off after a couple of years. An adultrattlesnake that has the original button at the tip of its tail is rare.

Gecko

DESCRIPTION: Greenish gray lizard with gray andorange-brown spots covering body; body is slender with a large head; eyes areprominent in all species; broad fleshy toes with inner folds FUN FACTS: Nearly all geckos have a voice, rangingfrom a small squeak to the deafening whistles of the African whistling gecko. The gecko sticks its eggs to walls orrocks near cracks or holes. More than one female may use the same 'nest'. Theeggs are soft-shelled at first with a very sticky surface. They harden soonafter they are laid. Tokays have padded toes with stickingpower, which has long been the obsession of scientists. However, knowing whatresearch has found, it's not surprising. Each of its four feet has five toes.Each toe has fine hairs 1/10 mm long, packed at 5,000 hairs per sq mm. Each hair has 400-1,000 branches that end in aspatula-like structure about 1/50,000 inch long. Each hair is strong enough tosupport an ant's weight. One million hairs can support a small child! Tokay Geckoes are solitary creatures,only encountering the opposite sex during the breeding season. They areterritorial and will defend their space against intruders of the same speciesand of other species, ensuring less competition for food. These geckoes can inflict severe bitesif they are sufficiently threatened. Their nose is used for breathing andalso for detecting scents. A large number of sensory cells on a membrane in thenostrils and the Jacobson's organ help tokays to hunt. Their tongue is used tocarry scent particles to the holes in their palate. These particles are thentransported to the Jacobson's organ, which tells their brain about theenvironment (smell and taste). They have folds of skin that preventthem from casting a shadow while resting on a tree. By opening up the skin foldcompletely, it allows them to blend in with the tree bark. Another important feature of the tokayis its ability to cast off its tail in defense and later regenerate a new one.The cast off part will continue to move for several minutes, giving the geckotime to escape. It takes approximately three weeks for these geckoes tocompletely regenerate a new tail although it is usually never as long as theoriginal tail. Inparts of Southeast Asia, tokays are regardedas bringers of luck, good fortune, and fertility.

Gharial

DESCRIPTION: Crocodile-like in appearance with adistinguishing long, narrow snout and up to 110 razor-sharp interlocking teeth. SIZE: Males range between 5 to 6.5 m. Females are smaller,ranging between 3.5 to 4 m WEIGHT: Adults weigh between 159 to 181 kg FUN FACTS: Gharials have between 106 and 110interlocking, razor-sharp teeth, which help them catch slippery fish. The long,narrow snouts of gharials have low resistance, increasing their speed throughwater. Salt-excreting glands on the tongues ofgharials help them tolerate saline (salty) environments. Of all crocodilian species, gharialshave the largest eggs, weighing about 160 g each. Gharial eggs are temperature-dependent,meaning the gender of the hatchlings is dependent upon the temperature in whichthey are incubated. In general, males are produced with warm temperatures andfemales with cool temperatures. Hatchlings weigh 75 to 130 g and measure 32.5 to39.2 cm. Unlike most crocodilians, femalegharials are unable to assist their hatchlings to water due to their unique jawstructure. However, they do protect their young around the nesting area forseveral weeks after hatching. Adult male gharials have a roundedgrowth on the tip of their snouts, called a ghara. It enhances vocalcommunication by acting as a resonator that prdouces a loud buzzing call. Theghara is also a visual stimulus for females during the breeding season andhelps with the production of bubbles during courtship displays. Males begin todevelop their gharas around 10 years of age. Like all reptiles, gharials areectothermic, depending on external heat sources to regulate their bodytemperature. Very agile in aquatic environments,gharials have flattened, muscular tails and webbed feet that help propel themthrough water. Gharials frequently bask in the sun toincrease their body temperature, resulting in better mobility and digestion. Gharialshave a structure at the back of the eye, behind the retina, called the tapetumlucidum, which enhances their night vision. This mirror-like structure reflectslight (that has not already been absorbed by the eye) back into the eye asecond time to help produce a brighter image. The tapetum lucidum causes theireyes to glow at night, when a light is shone on them.

Honduran Milksnake

DESCRIPTION: Narrow bodied snake; black and redbanded SIZE: 150 cm WEIGHT: Average 1270 g FUN FACTS: Like many reptiles, the incubationtemperature of their eggs may determine the offsprings' sex; warmertemperatures usually create males while cool temperatures create females. These snakes are known for theirimitation of the markings and behavior of the venomous coral snake. By suchmimicry, they lead potential predators to believe they are dealing with adangerous animals, and are thus left alone. Milksnakes use quick, jerky movementsso that their bands flash, startling predators. Their bright colors signaldanger and often confuse predators, making these snakes hard to follow. Milksnakes are known for eating othersnakes. Milksnakes have one of the widestdistributions of any snake in the Americas. Theyget their name from an old belief that it drinks milk from the udders of cows.This myth probably arose because they were commonly spotted in barns andstables, where there is a concentration of rodents.

Iguanas

DESCRIPTION: Arboreal; earthy green lizard withtransverse bands on the body and tail; short, powerful limbs; sharp claws;long, strong tail; large flap of skin (dewlap) that hangs from throat and helpsto regulate temperature; prominent crest of soft spines along the middle of theneck and back, beginning at base of the skull FUN FACTS: Iguanas are able to hold their breathfor up to 30 minutes.            They will often jump from tree to waterusing their powerful tail for swimming to escape. They are also able to leapdown 40-50 feetwithout injury. To attract a mate, mature males mayturn orange during breeding season. Iguanas store large amounts of fat intheir lower jaw and neck area in order to survive times of famine. The pouch atthe base of their neck is called a dewlap, and is used in display. Theirtail has weakened vertebrae so the iguana can break free and escape if caughtby the tail. Iguanas are also able to whip their tail in defense, leavingbehind a stinging welt or worse.

Komodo Dragon

DESCRIPTION: Terrestrial multi-hued lizard with darkyellow, green, brown, and gray scales in years 1-5; adults generally areearthen red to gray and nearly black in various species; have short, powerfullimbs and tail; sharp claws SIZE: Males - 2.5-3.18 m total adult body length,Females - 1.8-1.96 m total adult body length WEIGHT: 164.25 kg maximum.Males - 90.9-135 kg,Females - 34-56.8 kg FUN FACTS: Komodo dragons are found on only fourislands in Indonesia with atotal area approximately the size of RhodeIsland! After hatching, the young immediatelyclimb trees to avoid being eaten by their cannibalistic elders. Komodos are opportunistic carnivoreswhose saliva contains several strains of virulent bacteria which in turn causessevere infection that can lead to blood poisoning and death in 1-5 days. Komodos have been known to dig upfreshly buried humans and eat the remains. Their sense of smell is so keen theycan detect the scent of carrion 5miles away! They have also been known to hunt in largepacks and bring down large prey. They are excellent swimmers and cancross great distances and strong ocean currents just to raid neighboringislands where the only available food source is domestic animals. Larger dragons eat first, while smallerdragons get what's left over. They have been known to eat up to 80% of theirbody weight in one meal. They communicate through body language:hissing loudly and inflating their throat. At times, their tails are used toswipe the feet out from under prey. Fat stored in their tail can providedragons with metabolic water in times of drought, enabling them to go for 1 to1 months without eating or drinking. Thesemembers of the lizard family Varanus, have a forked tongue that collects scentmolecules for analysis. Molecular analysis is conducted by the Jacobson's Organin the top of the mouth.

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