Some Interesting Lizards:
Lizards are the most common reptiles found on the  planet today. As reptiles,
they are related to snakes, crocodilians, turtles and tatuaras (only found
in New Zealand). In addition to (usually) having legs, lizards are differentiated
from snakes by having ear holes, eyelids that can open and close, and less
flexible jaws.
Lizards are generally egg layers, but one group, the horned lizards give
birth to live babies. Lizards are cold-blooded and hibernate during winter
months. Lizards are incredibly susceptible to stress from a variety of factors.
Species of lizards native to small islands are especially at risk of extinction.
Geckos
Geckos can be commonly found in tropical regions worldwide and range in size
from one inch to one foot long. They're generally nocturnal and feed on insects.
Geckos may be best known for their climbing ablity and have small hair-like
fibers on their feet that let them stick to almost any surface, including
glass. Geckos have great hearing, and unlike many other lizards can make
vocalizations by chirping. If detached, Gekkos can regrow their tails and
are known as good luck charms in many parts of the World.
Geckos make up about 1/6th of all reptile species and come in a wide variety
of patterns and colors. Geckos can live as long as 15 years in nature, but
not as long as pets.
Geckos have many unusual characteristics:
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They are the only lizards that use vocalizations and make more than a hiss.
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They live in lower temperature than other lizards.
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They can rapidly change their color for camouflage.
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Geckos have large eyes and a very wide-opening pupil for excellent nocturnal
vision.
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They posses both genetic sex determination
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They often lick their own eyes
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Geckos can't walk backwards
Horned Lizards (Horney Toads)
Horned lizards, also called horney toads or horned toads, are closely related
to iguanas and chameleons, but look much different, having sharp spines on
their heads and backs which they use as protection. While most lizards lay
eggs, horned lizards are rare in that they give birth to live young. Horned
lizards are unique to the western portions of the United States and Mexico.
Horned Lizards hard to keep because they only eat a very limited species
of ants, eating a few hundred ants a day. Their numbers continue to decline
throughout the southwest despite laws passed to protect them.
Iguanas
Iguanas are a large family of lizards with over 700 species found through
much of the temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. Iguanas are possibly
the most popular reptiles purchased from pet stores today. Unfortunately,
they are also the most abondoned reptiles, often being dumped in the Wild.
As herbivores, they and should only be fed a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Iguana Articles - Everything you need to know about keeping an
iguana as a pet: - Reptiles - Help
Protect The Species: Buy Farm-Raised Iguanas
- 6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Getting
An Iguana
- 10 Tips for Choosing The Best Green Iguana
- Looking For An Iguana? Here Are 6 Great
Places To Look
- Owning Iguanas - The Good and Bad
- Learn Why Iguanas Are Ideal Pets For Some
People
Gila Monsters
Gila monsters are one of only two venomous lizards in the world, the other
being the closely related beaded lizards. Gila monsters lay eggs, also known
as oviparous. They are a protected species under Arizona state law in the
United States, and may not be killed, or kept in captivity without a license
in AZ. Gila monsters are solitary creatures who are inactive most of the
time.
Gila Monsters are from 18 to 24 inches long and weigh about 2 lbs., with
big heads and powerful jaws. When they bite, thye are famous for their tendency
to "hang on like a bulldog". They have beaded skin of orange or pink and
black beads. Gila monsters are known to live for more than 20 years in the
wild, and are desert dwellers, living near washes (dry river beds) of the
South West US and Mexico. They spend as much as 98% of their life underground
in burrows. Because they are venomous, Gila monsters have been villanized
and persecuted .
Monitor Lizards
Monitor lizards are the family Varanidae, which includes the largest living
lizard, the Komodo Dragon. Monitor lizards possess a high metabolic rate
for reptiles and several sensory adaptations that benefit the hunting of
live prey. Monitor Lizards hunt during the day. Legend has it that monitor
lizards give their particular magical virtues to their owner.
Common Lizards Kept as Pets:
Bearded Dragons
The Bearded dragons are a popular reptile and a good lizard for children and adults. They tend to be gentle and get quite accustomed to being handled. They like variety when they eat as they are considered an omnivore. A dragon will eat, insects, flowers, fruit, vegetables, small creatures and such. They come from the desert habitat.
Leopard geckos
This is one of the most widely kept of the reptile lizard family. They like to sleep during the day because they come from a desert habitat where it is quite hot in the daylight. This type of lizard requires mainly insects so you would have to feed them things from like crickets or which you can buy from a mail or purchase at a bait store or pet shop etc. But they will eat other insects too and wax worms.
Fun Fact:
Some lizards have a tongue that is longer than its entire body.
Ok, so we covered some basics on the food for the gecko and dragon but there are still more considerations when it comes to the food you must give to your lizard. Most food you give your lizards will not have enough nutrients for a balanced diet. So you will have to give your pet vitamins mixed in the food.
For the gecko since it eats bugs you will have to learn how to feed the bugs with very nutritious food about 48 hours prior to feeding the insect to the lizard. Many insects purchased from a shop have not been fed enough nutritious food to pass on to the waiting lizard. If you don't feed the nutritious food to the insects first then your lizard will likely have poor health after about a month.
For the Bearded Dragon you should sprinkle the food with a suitable vitamin powder to help complete its meal.
Well, now you have learned a little bit of information about to popular lizards that are good for beginners and advanced. There are other lizards that are quite nice pets to start with too, such as a Blue Tongued Skink and a Green Anole. There are also a few more geckos, like the fat tailed gecko, that might be just what you are looking for in a lizard reptile.
All you have to do is a little research.
Reptiles in the Newz:
The saliva of the gila monster has led to one of two exciting new drugs to fight type 2 diabetes
Both reptiles are endangered species and there is a danger that they will disappear from the planet. Fortunately, some bright scientists decided that before this happened we should discover how it was that reptiles were able to digest their meals so slowly that they could go for months without eating.
10-foot alligator found in yard
Check out this 10-foot alligator found in a residential backyard in eastern Leon County. The photo was submitted by Lora Wiggins...This alligator was becoming too familiar and too big to be in a residential area, so we called the state certified alligator trapper for this area.
Students watch turtle project grow
ELIZABETHTOWN Fourth-graders at Bladen Lakes Primary School are getting a lesson on animal conservation. For the past year, the children have raised Vietnam pond turtles as part of a project to help replenish the turtle population.
Plunging into mysteries of Deep Hole (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Word is that Deep Hole is to alligators what lightbulbs are to insects. The numbers fluctuate wildly, but as many as 120 of the reptiles have been counted in one sitting.
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