Famous Reptiles

In Turks and Caicos the presence of invasive species such as the Cuban Knight Anole and feral cats is putting native species are at risk. The Cuban Knight Anole is valuable to the island nation where it is native and for which it is named, but when introduced to habitats outside its natural range, the species becomes problematic. As the largest member of the Polychrotidae  family, the Knight Anole measures up to 24 inches (61 cm) long and is an agile hunter. The Anole lives in the tree canopy in its native ecosystem and feeds on everything from insects to tarantulas to other lizards. In Cuba, the Anole helps balance the ecosystem, but the predatory lizard can and does have negative impacts on islands such as Turks and Caicos in the Carribean, as well as in Florida. The Cuban Knight Anole poses a threat to native lizards such as the Turks and Caicos Curly-tailed Lizard, pictured here. Credit: jdf_92 On the Turks and Caicos Islands the Knight Anole, invasive feral cats, an...

Popular among pet owners for its largely docile nature, particular varieties of green tree pythons are endangered as a result of being sold as food and for their skin - a compoundable endeavour. In spite of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorised the reptile species as being of the 'least concern' in terms of endangerment. So if you happen to stumble upon these animals in the wild, be sure to let them be.

The Maui News The Kula Community Association will discuss Upcountry water issues, axis deer, downhill bicycle tours and the county budget during a meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight. Meeting topics will include: • Upcountry water, with Maui County Department of Water Supply Director Jeff Perason describing the current water situation as well as how to meet the growing demand for water in the future. • Axis deer, with Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura and Maui County Farm Bureau Board President Kyle Caires discussing plans to reduce the problem. • Downhill bicycle tours, which have been a nuisance and safety concern for Upcountry residents for several decades. The association has put together a draft county ordinance and is seeking feedback from residents. To view the ordinance, visit kulamaui.com/uploads/5/6/3/9/5639079/bikes-kca_ver_10-14-2021.pdf. • County budget. Residents can submit Upcountry items that they think should go into the 2022-23 budget...

A group of sea turtles peers over Seawall Boulevard, and the Gulf of Mexico beyond, from a mural on the side of Galveston's McGuire-Dent Recreation Center. The Turtles About Town statues, created by the Turtle Island Restoration Project and Clay Cup Studios, serve as 50 further reminders of the island city's — and the public at large's — fascination with these seafaring reptiles. "There's something about sea turtles that people just love, and I'm so surprised at how much people are thrilled with sea turtles," says Christopher Marshall, director of Texas A&M University at Galveston's Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research. "I think it has to do with the fact that they're just so ancient," he says. "They seem like they've been here — well, they have been here — for millions of years, and people recognize that. There's something special about something so ancient and primitive still swimming our seas and follo...

A wide-eyed snake has made scientists do a double take. The Hispaniolan vineboa, with its large protruding eyes and square snout, is the first boa species to be discovered in the Dominican Republic in more than a century. Naturalist Miguel Landestoy of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and colleagues discovered the snake, Chilabothrus ampelophis, slithering in a patch of mountainous dry forest near the country's southwestern border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. The last time researchers described a new boa species on the island was in 1888. "The fact that an animal could have gone undetected for so long on this island that has a lot of people on it is pretty remarkable," says R. Graham Reynolds, a herpetologist at the University of North Carolina Asheville. What's more, the Hispaniolan vineboa may be among the smallest boas in the world, Reynolds, Landestoy and colleague Robert Henderson of the Milwaukee Public Museu...

Baby woodland critters are often associated with the spring. But for some, fall is the time for babies, and September is an active month for baby snakes who are dividing their time between eating as much as possible and looking for a place to spend the winter. Maine is home to nine species of snakes, all non-venomous, according to Jeremy Bullock, president of the Maine Herpetological Society. The most common, he said, is the garter snake. Other snakes in the state are the brown, ribbon, smooth green, northern water, milk, northern black racer, ringneck and redbelly. Their babies tend to look like miniature versions of the adults, he said. "The one you are most likely to see are the common garter snakes," Bullock said. "Those little guys are so much fun and tend to be quite active in the daytime when they are out sunning themselves or looking for prey." Snakes mate in the spring, Bullock said, and dependi...