User:The Transhumanist/Sandbox143
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Introduction
Selected reptile type
Turtles, or testudines, are reptiles of the order Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked turtles), which differ in the way the head retracts. There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles, including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins. They are found on most continents, some islands and, in the case of sea turtles, much of the ocean. Like other amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals) they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water.
Turtle shells are made mostly of bone; the upper part is the domed carapace, while the underside is the flatter plastron or belly-plate. Its outer surface is covered in scales made of keratin, the material of hair, horns, and claws. The carapace bones develop from ribs that grow sideways and develop into broad flat plates that join up to cover the body. Turtles are ectotherms or "cold-blooded", meaning that their internal temperature varies with their direct environment. They are generally opportunistic omnivores and mainly feed on plants and animals with limited movements. Many turtles migrate short distances seasonally. Sea turtles are the only reptiles that migrate long distances to lay their eggs on a favored beach.
Turtles have appeared in myths and folktales around the world. Some terrestrial and freshwater species are widely kept as pets. Turtles have been hunted for their meat, for use in traditional medicine, and for their shells. Sea turtles are often killed accidentally as bycatch in fishing nets. Turtle habitats around the world are being destroyed. As a result of these pressures, many species are extinct or threatened with extinction. (Full article...)
Selected Crocodilia article
The Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) is a critically endangered crocodile. Its population is very small, and they can only be found in the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and Colombia. Extensively hunted for their skins in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is one of the most endangered species of crocodiles. It is a very large species of crocodilian; males have been reported up to 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) in the past, weighing over 900 kg (2,000 lb), but such sizes do not exist today, 5.2 m (17 ft 1 in) being a more widely accepted maximum size. A large male today may attain 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) in length and can weigh up to 450 kg (1,000 lb), while females are substantially smaller with the largest likely to weigh around 225 kg (496 lb). Sexual dimorphism is not as profound as in other crocodilian species. The coloration is light even in adults.
The biology of the Orinoco crocodile is poorly documented in the wild, mostly due to its small population. It is thought to have a more piscivorous diet with an opportunistic nature, resulting in generalist predatory behaviour. The Orinoco crocodile is an apex predator, and will take the opportunity to prey on a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles, including caimans on occasion. The prey base is mostly made up of large predatory fish, challenging the general view by locals complaining about crocodiles hunting local fish to very low numbers. Despite its large size, the Orinoco crocodile rarely poses a threat to humans, despite several reports. Reproduction takes place in the dry season when the water level is lower. Orinoco crocodiles are hole nesters, just like the related Nile and freshwater, and they dig holes in the sand to lay their eggs. The females guard the nests and young for several years. (Full article...)
Selected lizard article
Draco sumatranus, the common gliding lizard, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Southeast Asia. It has elongated ribs and skin flaps on the sides of its body. When opened, these skin flaps allow it to glide between tree trunks. (Full article...)
Selected turtle article
The black softshell turtle or Bostami turtle (Nilssonia nigricans), previously placed in genus Aspideretes, is a species of freshwater turtle found in India (Assam and Tripura) and Bangladesh (Chittagong and Sylhet). It was long believed to consist of inbred individuals of the Indian softshell turtle (A. gangeticus or N. gangeticus) or the Indian peacock softshell turtle (A. hurum or N. hurum), but while it is a close relative of the latter, it is a distinct species. In the 1800s it was believed these turtles were brought from Iran to Chittagong shrine pond by Hazrat Bayezid Bostami. His turtles he had brought to this pond were treated as sacred and respected by the public. Previously declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2002, these turtles were found still to exist in a temple's pond called the Hayagriva Madhava Temple located in Assam, and in Kalyan Sagar lake in Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Tripura, India. Through conservation methods and protection of the species, some of these turtles can be found today throughout the wild, and scientists and environmental biologists are continuing to work hard to preserve this endangered species and their natural habitat. Their mitogenome represents relatedness to 19 other species of the Testudines. When looking at the phylogenetic tree, Nilssonia nigricans is a sister group to Nilssonia formosa. (Full article...)
Picture slideshow
- Image 1Niveoscincus metallicus
- Image 2Trachylepis striata
- Image 3Cape skink - Trachylepis capensis. Close-up on purple Aster flowers.
- Image 4Italian wall lizard
- Image 5Australian water dragon
- Image 6Morelia spilota
- Image 7Thamnophis elegans terrestris at Western terrestrial garter snake
- Image 8Gold dust day gecko
- Image 9Steneosaurus
- Image 10Green sea turtle
- Image 11Dwarf yellow-headed gecko
- Image 12Vipera xanthina
- Image 13Marginated tortoise hatchling
- Image 14Species of Ceratopsia dinosaurs
- Image 15Marine iguana
- Image 16Namaqua chameleon
- Image 17Green sea turtle
- Image 18Sicilian wall lizard
- Image 19Eastern bearded dragon
- Image 20Indian chameleon
- Image 21Leiocephalus personatus
- Image 22Bothriechis schlegelii
- Image 23A green sea turtle swimming above a coral reef.
- Image 24Jackson's chameleon
- Image 25Common collared lizard
- Image 26Bosc's fringe-toed lizards during courtship
- Image 27Eastern long-necked turtle
- Image 28Anole at Polychrotinae
- Image 29Yacare caiman
- Image 30Cerastes cerastes
- Image 31Plumed basilisk
- Image 32White-headed dwarf gecko
- Image 33Green sea turtle
- Image 34Plestiodon fasciatus
- Image 35Gold dust day gecko
- Image 36Gold dust day gecko close-up
- Image 37Mexican beaded lizard
- Image 38Carolina anole
- Image 39Ladder snake
- Image 41Aldabra giant tortoise
- Image 42Red-headed Amazon River turtles
- Image 43Leiocephalus carinatus
- Image 44Rough chameleon
- Image 45Barracudasauroides
- Image 46Asian 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 47Mwanza flat-headed rock agama
- Image 48Trachylepis maculilabris mating
- Image 49Namaqua chameleon
- Image 50Common box turtle
- Image 51Phelsuma grandis
- Image 52Vipera dinniki
- Image 53Sinai agama
Selected snake article
Fox snake or foxsnake is the common name given to some North American rat snakes of the genus Pantherophis. It is generally agreed that there are two such species, but three candidate species names have arisen for them:
- Pantherophis gloydi (eastern fox snake), originally described by Conant in 1940, merged with P. vulpinus in 2011
- Pantherophis vulpinus (foxsnake or western fox snake or eastern fox snake), originally described by Baird and Girard in 1853
- Pantherophis ramspotti (western fox snake), originally described by Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham and Gardner in 2011 (Full article...)
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