User:The Transhumanist/Sandbox143

Portal topics: Activities; Culture; Geography; Health; History; Mathematics; Nature; People; Philosophy; Religion; Society; Technology; Random portal

Introduction

Read more...

Selected reptile type

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Crocodiles (family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term crocodile is sometimes used even more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia, which includes the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae), the gharial and false gharial (family Gavialidae) among other extinct taxa.

Although they appear similar, crocodiles, alligators and the gharial belong to separate biological families. The gharial, with its narrow snout, is easier to distinguish, while morphological differences are more difficult to spot in crocodiles and alligators. The most obvious external differences are visible in the head, with crocodiles having narrower and longer heads, with a more V-shaped than a U-shaped snout compared to alligators and caimans. Another obvious trait is that the upper and lower jaws of the crocodiles are the same width, and the teeth in the lower jaw fall along the edge or outside the upper jaw when the mouth is closed; therefore, all teeth are visible, unlike an alligator, which possesses in the upper jaw small depressions into which the lower teeth fit. Also, when the crocodile's mouth is closed, the large fourth tooth in the lower jaw fits into a constriction in the upper jaw. For hard-to-distinguish specimens, the protruding tooth is the most reliable feature to define the species' family. Crocodiles have more webbing on the toes of the hind feet and can better tolerate saltwater due to specialized salt glands for filtering out salt, which are present, but non-functioning, in alligators. Another trait that separates crocodiles from other crocodilians is their much higher levels of aggression.

Crocodile size, morphology, behaviour and ecology differ somewhat among species. However, they have many similarities in these areas as well. All crocodiles are semiaquatic and tend to congregate in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and sometimes in brackish water and saltwater. They are carnivorous animals, feeding mostly on vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, and sometimes on invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans, depending on species and age. All crocodiles are tropical species that, unlike alligators, are very sensitive to cold. They separated from other crocodilians during the Eocene epoch, about 55 million years ago. Many species are at the risk of extinction, some being classified as critically endangered. (Full article...)

Selected Crocodilia article

At the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States and a small section of northeastern Mexico. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator.

Adult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 4.6 m (11.2 to 15.1 ft) in length, and can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), with unverified sizes of up to 5.84 m (19.2 ft) and weights of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) making it the second largest member by length and the heaviest of the family Alligatoridae, after the black caiman. Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3 m (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length. The American alligator inhabits subtropical and tropical freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps, from southern Texas to North Carolina. It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates.

American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. They play an important role as ecosystem engineers in wetland ecosystems through the creation of alligator holes, which provide both wet and dry habitats for other organisms. Throughout the year (in particular during the breeding season), American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates. Male American alligators use infrasound to attract females. Eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year. This species displays parental care, which is rare for most reptiles. Mothers protect their eggs during the incubation period, and moves the hatchlings to the water using her mouth. (Full article...)

Selected lizard article

The leopard gecko or common leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a ground-dwelling gecko native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The leopard gecko has become a popular pet, and due to extensive captive breeding it is sometimes referred to as the first domesticated species of lizard but no lizards are actually domesticated. (Full article...)

Selected turtle article

Olive ridley sea turtle at Kélonia, an aquarium in Saint-Leu, Réunion

The olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. L. olivacea is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

This turtle and the related Kemp's ridley sea turtle are best known for their unique synchronised mass nestings called arribadas, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. (Full article...)

Picture slideshow

Image 1Carolina anole
Image 2Aldabra giant tortoise
Image 3Marine iguana
Image 4Thamnophis elegans terrestris at Western terrestrial garter snake
Image 5Plumed basilisk
Image 6Sinai agama
Image 7White-headed dwarf gecko
Image 8Gold dust day gecko close-up
Image 9Eastern long-necked turtle
Image 10Mwanza flat-headed rock agama
Image 11Marginated tortoise hatchling
Image 12Leiocephalus carinatus
Image 13Gold dust day gecko
Image 14Common collared lizard
Image 15Cerastes cerastes
Image 16Trachylepis striata
Image 17Eastern bearded dragon
Image 18Bosc's fringe-toed lizards during courtship
Image 19Phelsuma grandis
Image 20Vipera xanthina
Image 21Gold dust day gecko
Image 22Leiocephalus personatus
Image 23Cape skink - Trachylepis capensis. Close-up on purple Aster flowers.
Image 24Anole at Polychrotinae
Image 25Green sea turtle
Image 26Ladder snake
Image 27Barracudasauroides
Image 28Morelia spilota
Image 29Green sea turtle
Image 30Australian water dragon
Image 31Rough chameleon
Image 32Jackson's chameleon
Image 33Species of Ceratopsia dinosaurs
Image 34Bothriechis schlegelii
Image 35 Albino alligator
Image 36Steneosaurus
Image 37Namaqua chameleon
Image 38Yacare caiman
Image 39Red-headed Amazon River turtles
Image 40Mexican beaded lizard
Image 41A green sea turtle swimming above a coral reef.
Image 42Italian wall lizard
Image 43Indian chameleon
Image 44Trachylepis maculilabris mating
Image 45Dwarf yellow-headed gecko
Image 46Plestiodon fasciatus
Image 47Niveoscincus metallicus
Image 48Asian vine snake Ahaetulla prasina. This snake has a wide distribution in Asia. It feeds on small reptiles and amphibians, particularly lizards and tree frogs. Adults may attain 1.8 m (6 feet) in total length, with a tail 0.6 m (2 feet) long. Its appearance is very much like those of South American vine snakes. It is a rear-fanged species and is mildly venomous but is not considered a threat to humans.
Image 49Vipera dinniki
Image 50Common box turtle
Image 51Namaqua chameleon
Image 52Green sea turtle
Image 53Sicilian wall lizard

Selected snake article

Morelia spilota variegata, commonly known as Torresian carpet python, Darwin carpet python or northwestern carpet python, is a subspecies of python found in New Guinea and Australia, smaller than the nominate subspecies Morelia spilota spilota and has a more restricted geographic range. (Full article...)