For many egg laying reptiles, temperature of the eggs during incubation determines the sex of the hatchling. For example, a 2017 study of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings on Australia’s Reine Island found that 99 percent of the sea…
Researchers have discovered a new marsupial frog species in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest that is part of the Gastrotheca genus. The frog, Gastrotheca gemma, is green in coloration with a coarse, granular and patternless dorsal skin. Its irises are turquoise…
Guinevere, a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) in British Columbia, Canada is in need of some funds to help pay for her ovariectomy, which is the surgical removal of her ovaries, and her keepers are seeking a bit of love from…
Someone stole Calypso, a yellow-footed tortoise (Geochelone denticulata) from the Riverland Nursery in Fort Myers, Florida, and the folks at the nursery would like her back. The tortoise has been at Riverland for many years and even has her own…
The habitat of the Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris illinoensis) in the state is threatened by a proposed 30,000-acre wind farm project in Mason County, Illinois, that scientists say could change the way the frogs sense and capture their prey buried…
A video of an Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) climbing up a shelf in a 7-11 in Bangkok, Thailand has gone viral. The video opens with the giant lizard seemingly trying to open the cold case with his nose, (perhaps…
Chinese and German researchers have discovered a new to science venomous snake that was confirmed to have killed renowned herpetologist Joseph B. Slowinski in 2001. The snake, Suzhen's krait (Bungarus suzhenae) is named after Bai Su Zhen, the snake goddess…
The most critically endangered crocodile species in the world, the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) can climb steep hills, a behavior that was unknown by researchers studying the species until now. The reptile, which has seen steady declines that now there…
The United States Department of Justice has charged a South Carolina man with violating the Lacey Act for allegedly trafficking in spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata), eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), and 15 Gaboon vipers (Bitis gabonica). Ashtyn Michael Rance, 35,…
The Galapagos tortoise is captive bred in many countries around the world to ensure the survival of these species, yet some smugglers tried to smuggle 185 baby tortoises out of the Galapagos Islands. The babies, wrapped in plastic wrap ostensibly…
I have been keeping herps since I was 10 years old. I explored the canals near my childhood home for introduced African clawed frogs and American bullfrogs and the fields behind my home for fence lizards and alligator skinks. I…
The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is the most popular herp kept by reptile keepers, according to a study based off Google Trends research published this month by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research. Researcher Jose Valdez looked at the…
At the Reptilian Nation Expo in San Diego this past weekend, attendance was so large on Saturday, the expo staff had to limit those coming in to the main building to avoid large crowds inside. The line to get…
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation announced March 23 that Susan (Su) Jewell is the recipient of PARC's 2021 Alison Haskell Award, for her contributions to herpetofaunal conservation. Jewell spent nearly her entire career with the US Fish and…
Please click here to save on REPTILES magazine
Someone apparently abandoned or lost a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) on a hiking trail on Taylor Mountain in Sonoma County, CA and if it weren’t for two hikers on the trail who spotted it March 21, the pet lizard may…
Researchers with the Sydney School of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in Australia and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia were trying to determine why five endemic reptile species on Australia's Christmas Island were experiencing declines. Two of those…
University researchers in Hong Kong have discovered that the Lau's leaf litter toad (Leptobrachella laui) mates in an unusual way... with the female on top. Most frogs and toads mate with the male on top and from behind, but the…
If you live in the state of Arizona and are considering a tortoise, the Arizona Game & Fish department announced it will hold an adoption event for Sonoran desert tortoises (Gopherus morafkai) it has in its possession. Register for a…
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Georgia DNR Law Enforcement is looking for the person or persons who poached and killed an endangered Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) that was part of the DNR's research on this species. Rocky was…
When it snows what do you do? Build a snowman? For a family in Denver, CO, a snowman was too quaint, so they set out and built a snow snake. That's right, a 77 foot (23 meters) Colorado snow snake…
A Central American milksnake (Lampropeltis abnorma) was spotted in the Everglades National Park the week of February 25 and was safely captured by USGS biologist, Jillian Josimovich and biological science technician, Gretchen Anderson. The snake, which is popular amongst reptile…
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted today to ban the commercial breeding and keeping of several invasive species of reptiles in the state, including tegus, iguanas, and several python species. This is not good news for the industry.…
An extinct skink species that lived in what is now South Australia more than 25 million years ago has been discovered and described by researchers with the University of West Australia. The skink, Proegernia mikebulli, belongs to the family Scincidae…
