#herpetology!!!!

[herpsandbirds]

Namib Web-footed Gecko (Pachydactylus rangei), family Gekkonidae, found in the deserts of SW Africa

photograph by Jadene Chapman

[squishyfauna]

Hognoses are truly the most relatable snakes

Patreon | Etsy

[typhlonectes]

Komodo dragons have iron-tipped teeth, new study shows

Komodo dragons, the world’s largest species of lizard, have iron-tipped teeth that help them to rip their prey apart, according to new research. The metal is concentrated in the cutting edge and tips of their curved, serrated teeth, staining them orange, scientists wrote in a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Komodo dragons are native to Indonesia and weigh around 80 kilograms (176 pounds) on average. They eat almost any kind of meat and are known as deadly predators...

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/24/science/komodo-dragons-iron-teeth-scli-intl/index.html

[stickyfrogs]

Today’s Friend from Borneo is the Bornean Tree-hole Frog (Metaphrynella sundana)! He is singing his Beautiful Song from his hole in the middle of a tree! (Bonus Crested Toad (Ingerophrynus divergens)!)

[indoraptorgirlwind]

[egress-ahead]

give him a smooch

[kness]

A crocodile mom and her little ones

Porcelain figurine

[thagomizersshow]

Most lizards already have wild-looking skulls, but worm lizards elevated it to an artform

Leposternon microcephalum, Smallhead Worm Lizard

Bipes biporus, Baja Worm Lizard

Rhineura floridana, Florida Worm Lizard

Anops kingii, Keel-headed Worm Lizard

Skull images from digimorph.com

For reference, in life, most of these guys are a variation on this look:

[arminreindl]

[giulliadella]

This is dice snake (Natrix tesselata) probably the dumbest looking snake in Europe. It feeds primarily on fish, it’s a great swimmer, it produces very stinky musk in self defense, it sometimes plays dead and it never bites. The photo was taken by my herpetology teacher and I need the entire internet to see it.

@snake-spotted

[herpsandbirds]

Elephant Trunk Snake aka Javan File Snake (Acrochordus javanicus), family Acrochordidae, Malaysia

photograph by Bryce Trevett

[squishyfauna]

Protect them ✨🪲🐍🐸🪱🐝🐛🦋🐌🐞🐜🐢🕷️🪰🪳🦟🦗🦎✨

Patreon | Etsy

@onenicebugperday

[typhlonectes]

Vintage newspaper article

[markscherz]

BOOPHIS SNOOT!

Specifically, an undescribed Boophis from the B. goudotii species group that I discovered in 2015/2016.

[amnhnyc]

Sunshine State residents, do you recognize this little neighbor? It’s the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox)! Unlike many turtles, you might find this critter darting about on land or swimming rapidly in water. Its hydrodynamic, flattened shell, and four strongly-webbed feet help it to move swiftly. Softshells stick mostly to water and have long necks and snouts that they poke above the surface, like a snorkel, to breathe. Juveniles have more contrasting color patterns than adults: their carapace, or shell, can be olive, tan, or light brown with spots and a yellow rim.

Photo: kimberry, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

[musiclovingmoth]

and when i say "specimens" i don't mean taxidermied mounts made to look lifelike for exhibit, i'm talking about the thousands to millions of specimens lying in drawers and shelves like this:

asking because i didn't know this until i was in high school. reblogs greatly appreciated, i want to reach as far out of science nerd tumblr as possible!