Rockin' Reptiles... (and other cool creatures!!!)

Altogether now : AWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!

(Source: translucent-moons)

fortheloveofherpetology:

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

• Saltwater Crocodiles have an enormous range, populating the brackish and freshwater regions of eastern India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia
• Also called the estuarine crocodile
• Earth’s largest living crocodilian. Average-size males reach 17 feet and 1,000 pounds, but specimens 23 feet long and weighing 2,200 pounds are not uncommon
• Classic opportunistic predators, they lurk patiently beneath the surface near the water’s edge, waiting for potential prey to stop for a sip of water. They’ll feed on anything they can get their jaws on, including water buffalo, monkeys, wild boar, and even sharks. Without warning, they explode from the water with a thrash of their powerful tails, grasp their victim, and drag it back in, holding it under until the animal drowns
• They are excellent swimmers and have often been spotted far out at sea
• Population estimates range from 200,000 to 300,000 worldwide, and they are considered at low risk for extinction. But saltwater crocodile hides are valued above all other crocodilians, and illegal hunting, habitat loss, and antipathy toward the species because of its reputation as a man-eater continue to put pressure on the population

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fortheloveofherpetology:

Sailfin Dragon (Hydrosaurus amboinensis)

• Live in the Tropical regions of eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines
• Also known as Malayan Sail Finned Lizard, Asian Water Dragon, Sail Tailed Water Dragon 
• Largest of the Agamid family
• Water-loving lizards who are usually found near in or near mountain streams
• They have the ability to hide underwater for an hour
• These lizards can reach lengths of up to four feet
• Can live up to 25 years
• Males have a large fan-like sail protruding from the base of their tale

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VIPERS!!!! Gotta LOVE ‘em!

Atheris desaixi, also known as Mount Kenya Bush Viper or Desaix’s Bush Viper

Endemic to Kenya, this beautiful (and don’t forget VENOMOUS!) viper is now suffering rapid habitat loss, given its limited geographical range in only two isolated populations in the country, as well as demand by reptile collectors thanks to its beautiful coloration.

Like saw scaled vipers they also engage in stridulation, which is the act of rubbing together body parts to create a grating sound. In the case of this snake - it rubs its serrated, keeled scales on the lower part of its body to produce a hissing noise.

triiku:

Atheris desaixi.Another species of snake that engages in stridulation (plus, she’s adorable).

reptilefacts:

fortheloveofherpetology: European Adder (Vipera berus)

• Found throughout most of Western Europe and all the way to Far East Asia; this incredible species has both the widest range of any terrestrial snake species and the Northern most range, 69° North longitude - North of the Arctic circle! It can also be found at the highest altitude of any snake (2600m above sea level)
• The adder is Britain’s only venomous snake
• They are entirely absent from the Channel Islands. They are also entirely absent from Ireland
• Unusually for a snake, the adder is sexually dimorphic. This means that you can tell the sexes of adults apart by visual differences. They generally differ in both size, as the females are bigger than the males and also in coloration (dichromatic); females are usually brownish in color whilst males are normally greyish. Both sexes have the iconic zigzag patterning
• Oviparous- gives birth to live young
• In the wild adders hibernate for 5-7 months, ending when the weather turns favorable for basking
• Their diet mainly consists of small rodents but they will occasionally feed on nestling birds, lizards and frogs. They hunt both actively and also by ‘sit and wait’ strategies. They strike at prey, injecting their venom, and immediately release it to avoid being bitten back. The envenomed prey then wanders off to die and the adder uses its amazing sense of smell to follow the scent trail and eat the dead prey

I do not own these images