Table of contents for November 2024 in Practical Reptile Keeping

A team of biologists led by The University of Texas at Arlington has discovered a new tiny lizard species in the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. This is particularly significant as geckos as a group are less common in this part of the world, compared with Asia for example. Distinctive features This discovery highlights the unique characteristics of this particular South American gecko, including its small size. It only measures about 6.4cm (2.5in) long, combined with its brown colouration, a distinctive cone-shaped head, a long snout and particularly unusual skull anatomy, in terms of its bone structure. The new species, now officially named as Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus, was identified through a combination of visual examination, molecular genetics and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans, having previously been confused with other geckos…

An international team of palaeobiologists have found that it was the sinuses of oceandwelling relatives of modern-day crocodiles which prevented them from evolving into deep-diving animals like whales and dolphins. Their research indicates that thalattosuchians, which lived at the time of the dinosaurs, were prevented from exploring the ocean depths because of their large snout sinuses. Whales and dolphins (cetaceans) evolved from land-dwelling mammals to become fully aquatic over the course of around 10 million years. During this time, their bone-enclosed sinuses reduced and they developed sinuses and air sacs outside of their skulls. This would have alleviated increases in pressure during deeper dives, allowing them to reach depths of hundreds (dolphins) and thousands (whales) of meters without damaging their skulls. Different groups Thalattosuchians lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous…

There is no mistaking crocodile skinks, as they do look remarkably like crocodilians, having an appearance quite distinct from that of any other lizard. Their body shape is relatively flat, and four ridges of spines, rather like the scutes of a crocodile, extend down the back. Living conditions Although the habitat on the islands where they occur is surprisingly varied, crocodile skinks are invariably found in humid tropical forests, favouring damp areas and living close to water. Terrestrial by nature, they utilise the leaf litter both as a retreat and also for hunting their invertebrate prey. Even so, they can prove to be reasonably adaptable. In areas where the forest has been replaced by coconut plantations, so they have started to use the piles of husks stripped off the nuts…

Quick on their feet Spiny-tailed iguanas (Ctenosaura) are the fastest of all reptiles, with a top speed equivalent to 34kph (21mph). Longest-lived lizard – a title is held by the slow-worm (Anguis fragilis). This species may live for up to 30 years in the wild, while an individual at Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark lived to be 54 years old. Shortest-lived – Labord’s chameleon (Furcifer labordi) from Madagascar has the shortest lifespan of any four-legged creature, living for no more than five months. Walking on water – a feat performed by basilisk lizards (Basiliscus) from South and Central America, which can literally scamper over the surface of water. This is made possible thanks to folds of skin on their toes, which can be unfurled like webbing, preventing them from sinking. Danger…

Reptile cases are often both interesting and challenging, and none more so than that of Ted, the Hermann’s tortoise. He was referred on a Friday night, with a long piece of fishing wire hanging out of his mouth. Ted had been outside in the garden all day and when his owners went to bring him indoors, they were shocked to see the long piece of wire hanging out of his mouth. It soon came to light that their son had been fishing and had left his equipment in the garden to sort out and put away later. The chances that there was a hook at the end of this line in Ted’s body appeared to be worryingly high… Examination This initial concern meant that the wire could not be pulled…

Flea toads, which are classified in the genus Brachycephalus, are so-called on account of their size, measuring less than 1cm (0.4in) long when fully grown. They are far smaller than a fingernail or a 50p (or 50 cent) coin. The group includes the world’s smallest vertebrate, a title now held by the Brazilian flea toad (B. pulex) first discovered during 2011 in Bahia state, which also lies in the same area, on the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Another member of this group has now been discovered in Brazil, which is only fractionally larger than this species, with the group as a whole being of particular interest to biologists. Key differences “Most small toads have all the characteristics of large species, except in terms of their size, but these flea toads…

Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) can consume prey even larger than scientists realised, according to a new study. This means more animals are on the menu across southern Florida, where these invasive snakes have decimated populations of foxes, bobcats, raccoons and other animals. The pythons can swallow deer, alligators and other prey whole. What they eat is limited in part by how big an animal they can wrap their flexible jaws around, which is a reflection of the snake’s gape. Why gape size matters University of Cincinnati Professor Bruce Jayne said measurements of snakes captured in and around Everglades National Park reveal that the biggest pythons have an even bigger gape than mathematical models would suggest. Jayne examined three of the largest snakes captured by research partners Ian Easterling and Ian…

MACK SNOW: This is an American morph, recorded originally in the collection of John and Amy Mack, owners of the company Reptiles by Mack in Xenia, Ohio. So-called because of their evident white markings, Mack snows have quickly become very popular, although contrary to what their name might suggest, they are not snow white, like the snow variety of the corn snake (Pantherophis guttata). Instead, their appearance is spotted. They have a reduced amount of yellow pigment in their bodies, and this helps to explain why they also have black eyes. There is a wide variation in the coloration of Mack snows. They are black and white on hatching and this is when it is easiest to tell them apart from non-Mack snows. Some then keep this very pale background…

Q Have you always been interested in reptiles? A I have always loved snakes, from my early days in Cornwall when I would ride my Shetland pony past the adders basking on the rocks. I would also pester my poor grandmother to take me to the little zoo on Hastings Pier in Sussex. I would then impatiently line up with the other children, to hold the huge boa constrictor that was brought out at midday. Q How did you become involved in photographing reptiles? A It never actually occurred to me that I could combine my passion for all things scaly with another long-term obsession, that of photography. This came about when a good friend introduced me to Phil, who is based at Spire Ridge near Thatcham in Berkshire. He…

Introduction It is a great shame that the majority of adult green iguanas seen in the UK reptile hobby today have unfortunately spent at least part of their lives in rescue centres, often for two main reasons. Either they outgrew their enclosures or they suddenly turned ‘nasty’, or both. Housing one of these lizards in an appropriately large enclosure properly equipped with the correct heating, lighting and furnishings is relatively easy, provided sufficient space is available. On the other hand, dealing with ‘difficult’ iguana behaviour is often an extremely complex and challenging subject that requires time, patience and dedication in order to establish a safe and balanced relationship between these very large reptiles and their keepers. A failure to appreciate and understand their basic behavioural patterns and instinctive reactions to…

Averaging just 7.1 mm (0.3 in) long in the case of males, Brazilian flea toads (Brachycephalus pulex) are the smallest vertebrates on Earth. Despite their diminutive size, their organs and functions hardly differ from animals a thousand times larger. While examples of extreme miniaturisation abound in nature, just how these creatures get so small remains a scientific mystery. Shrinking away What do flea toads and smartphones have in common? Despite shrinking to extremes, the tiny amphibians’ organs and muscles are the same as those found in much larger species, yet they are still able to thrive in their incredibly small bodies. When it comes to technology of course, we have long since become accustomed to things shrinking as a reflection of innovation. Though few consider the ability of animals to…

Members of this group of snakes manage to strengthen their heart and boost their metabolism swiftly, in order to digest their massive meals, and scientists want to discover their secrets. In fact, within the first 24 hours after a python devours large prey, its heart grows 25%, its cardiac tissue softens dramatically, and the organ squeezes harder and harder to more than double its pulse. Meanwhile, a vast collection of specialised genes kicks into action to help boost the snake’s metabolism fortyfold. Two weeks later, after its feast has been digested, all systems return to normal—its heart remaining just slightly larger, and even stronger, than before. Potential medical applications This extraordinary process, investigated in detail by CU Boulder researchers, could ultimately inspire novel treatments for the common human heart condition…

One of the most unique and interesting groups of African snakes are the egg-eaters. As their name suggests, they live on a diet that consists entirely of whole bird eggs, and they have evolved a fascinating way of consuming them. There are currently 18 recognised species of African egg-eating snake, forming the genus Dasypeltis. I will discuss three of them here, that are to be found in southern Africa. At least two if not all three of these have been bred successfully in private collections in South Africa itself. When it comes to starting out with the group, I would recommend the rhombic or common egg-eater (Dasypeltis scabra) as being the easiest to keep, followed by the southern brown egg-eater (Dasypeltis inornata) and then the East African egg-eater (Dasypeltis medici…

Around 88 million years ago, after the prehistoric supercontinent known as Gondwanaland had begun to separate into pieces, a small chunk of land measuring 592,848 sq km (228,900 sq ml) in area started to drift away from what is now India. This ultimately formed the island of Madagascar, which is positioned off the southwest coast of Africa. Diversity Today, it is regarded as one of the largest and oldest islands on earth, and has had more than enough time to create an amazing array of beautiful landscapes. The diversity that exists on the island today is partly the result of its massive spine, formed by a range of mountains that extend along the island’s entire length, splitting it into two. The result is that a diverse range of unique environments…

Unfortunately, the information that is generally available extends across a wide range of forums and websites. This in itself can be problematic, as the information isn’t always reliable and it can also be daunting for a newcomer to sift through. My aim in writing this article is to help keepers - both old and new – by presenting the latest knowledge about tarantulas, which in turn should hopefully promote a better understanding of their captive needs in general, and in turn encourage more interest and specialisation in particular species. Ecology Tarantulas are found in numerous habitats throughout the world, ranging from deserts and scrubland to tropical rainforests. They are not social and so should be housed individually, with the sexes having to be introduced cautiously for breeding. Within their ecosystems,…