You might even see them sitting on a rock or log, soaking up the sun to get warm. Most kinds of lizards, such as geckos and iguanas, eat insects. Chameleons, on the other hand, only like to eat plants, which makes them herbivores. They like to climb high up into trees and eat the berries, fruits, and leaves that grow there. The Komodo dragon, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over pounds, is a carnivore, which means that it eats meat. Komodo dragons are usually pretty ferocious and they like to hunt animals that are very big in size.
Komodo dragons like to hunt animals such as deer , pigs, and water buffalo. While most lizards are harmless to humans and do not cause a threat, there are a few that are poisonous or are extremely dangerous and should be avoided.
The Gila monster , who lives in Nevada , Utah , and parts of Mexico , is one of the most poisonous lizards. It preys on small mammals, birds, and eggs , and uses its sharp teeth and powerful jaws to do so. It also lets out a venom when it bites and this goes into the animal. While Gila monster bites are extremely rare, it is best to stay far away from them! This poisonous saliva plays a role in killing the animal that it has hunted.
The common house gecko , while not exactly poisonous can cause health concerns as they carry harmful bacteria which can get transmitted through their droppings and urine. Like all reptiles, the species in Galapagos have life cycles of mating, nesting, marking territory, etc. If you want to see your favorite species, follow this helpful guide! There are no large land mammals native to the Galapagos: herbivores such as goats were introduced later.
The Galapagos Tortoise found that with such a ready supply of food and no predators, they could grow, and they evolved into the massive, lumbering creatures visitors see on the Islands today. They are perfectly adapted to the cool highlands where there is plenty of lush vegetation and lots of mud for them to wallow in.
The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is perhaps the most famous of all Galapagos species, the animal that most visitors want to see! These gentle giants were once abundant on several islands, but early whaling ships and pirates often carried them off because they can survive for a long time at sea without food or water, providing fresh meat for sailors who have been away from land for a while.
The Floreana subspecies, for example, was still abundant when Charles Darwin visited in , but by it was extinct. Although pirates and sailors hunted these astounding creatures, negatively impacting their populations, recent conservation efforts for the remaining Galapagos Giant Tortoise subspecies have been very successful.
There are now more of them living now in the wild since before passing ships started capturing them hundreds of years ago. The best places to see them are at any one of the three breeding stations: there is one each on San Cristobal , Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands. It's also possible to see the Giant Tortoises in their native habitat, the island highlands generally on Santa Cruz.
There are usually some there year-round, but the best time to see them is from June to December, when most of them have come up from the lowlands. The Galapagos Marine Iguana is truly one of the most striking animals in the Islands. These dark colored iguanas feed underwater, gnawing algae off of rocks that are sometimes as deep as 15 meters 50 feet! Its body temperature can drop several degrees while feeding, so they are commonly seen soaking up sunshine on lava rocks, bringing their temperature back to a normal level.
They are common throughout the islands and a favorite among visitors. A most remarkable animal, the marine iguana can be seen year-round at many Galapagos visitor sites. Males can often be seen in December "fighting" one another by butting heads: this is to establish dominance. Lizards are reptiles. There are over 4, species of lizard, according to the San Diego Zoo. Others sources say there are about 6, species. Included in this large number are lizards with four legs, some with two legs and some with no legs at all; lizards with frills, horns or wings; and lizards in nearly every color imaginable.
Lizards generally have small heads, long bodies and long tails. With so many species of lizard, it's understandable that they come in a wide variety of sizes. The largest lizard is the Komodo dragon. It grows up to 10 feet 3 meters long and weighs up to lbs. The smallest lizard is the tiny dwarf gecko, which grows to 0. Lizards are found all over the world in almost every type of terrain.
Some live in trees; others prefer to live in vegetation on the ground, while others live in deserts among rocks. For example, the Texas horned lizard is found in the warm areas with little plant cover in southern North America. The northern fence lizard, on the other hand, likes to live in cool pine forests in northern North America.
In many species, the tail is fragile and can break easily. It can regenerate, although the new growth may look different. Lizards are adapted to many different environments. Some are good swimmers, and others spend most of their time in trees. Many have clawed feet that help them climb and cling. Like snakes, lizards use their tongues to help them smell. The tongue captures particles of air and brings them into the mouth, where a specialized organ can detect various smells.
Lizards have external ears and appear to be able to hear better than snakes. Most lizards have eyelids that clean and protect their eyes when they blink.
A few, however, have fixed eyecaps like snakes. Some lizards have developed special features to help them survive. Chameleons and some other species such as anoles can change the color of their scales to blend in with their surroundings. The males of some species have a loose flap of skin called the dewlap that can be extended to either intimidate a predator or to help attract a mate. Turtles and tortoises belong to a group of reptiles known as chelonians. They are easily distinguished by their hard shells that protect their upper and lower bodies.
The upper covering is known as the carapace, and the bottom portion is called the plastron. The word "turtle" can refer to any chelonian or specifically to chelonian species that live mostly in water including sea turtles and those found in ponds or rivers. Tortoises live only on land and do not swim. Chelonians range in size from small shells 3 to 4 inches in length to very large shell length of up to 8 feet.
Many chelonians can be quite long-lived. Some species of tortoises have been known to survive for up to years, and some aquatic turtles may live for 70 years.
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