encyclopedia

Scientific name : Anaxyrus fowleri/Bufo fowleri Family : Bufonidae Native to : West Virginia, United States Interesting fact : When attacked by predators, they sometimes lie still on their backs and act dead. Conservation status : Least Concern The fowler’s toad is a rusty brown frog covered in spots and warts living in freshwaters. They […]

Scientific name : Plethodon fourchensis Family : Plethodontidae Native to : Ouachita mountains in central United States Conservation status : Vulnerable Active in the night, its body is also the colour of the night with grey spots. These land-dwellers love a mountainous environment. They hide under logs and rocks and feed on worms, insects and

Common name : Sand skink Scientific name : Neoseps reynoldsi Family : Scincidae Native to : Florida, United States Interesting fact : They do not have any ear openings. Conservation status : Vulnerable The sand skink is actually a lizard that looks more like a snake. Their reduced limbs that are well hidden, wedge-shaped heads

Scientific name : Sternotherus depressus Family : Kinosternidae Native to : Northern Alabama, United States Interesting fact : Most turtles are quite shy and will release a pungent yellow fluid called musk when stressed. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Feeding predominantly on clams and snails are these flattened musk turtles. Their webbed feet and tails

Common name : European fire salamander Scientific name : Salamandra salamandra Family : Salamandridae Native to : Europe. Also found in Northern Africa and the Middle East Interesting fact : It is the only species of salamanders that give birth to larvae instead of laying eggs. Conservation status : Least Concern Apt to their name,

Scientific name : Macroprotodon cucullatus Family : Colubridae Native to : Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Israel and Egypt Interesting fact : It is a look-alike of the southern smooth snake and hence named the false smooth snake to differentiate from it. Conservation status : Least Concern These small and slender snakes are only 55 cm long.

Common name : Maranon poison frog Scientific name : Excidobates mysteriosus Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Peru Interesting fact : Habitat loss and an increased interest in them as pets have caused these species to become endangered. Conservation status : Endangered If you look closely inside bromeliad plants, you might encounter red baby frogs

Common name : Saltwater crocodile Scientific name : Crocodylus porosus Family : Crocodylidae Native to : Eastern India, South-East Asia and Northern Australia Interesting fact : They swallow pebbles and stones to help grind the food in their stomachs. Conservation status : Least Concern At 17 feet, estuarine crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the

Common name : Emerald tree boa Scientific name : Corallus caninus Family : Boidae Native to : Northern South America Interesting fact : It has a unique resting position with its head in the middle of a coiled body saddled on a branch. Conservation status : Least Concern Emerald green with white zig-zag markings and

Common name : Giant day gecko, Madagascar giant day gecko Scientific name : Phelsuma grandis Family : Gekkonidae Native to : Madagascar Interesting fact : They love to bask on treetops. Conservation status : Least Concern A species of gecko lizards, the elo handsome is bright green with red spots and a red stripe between

Common name : Javan wart snake, Javan file snake Scientific name : Acrochordus javanicus Family : Acrochordidae Native to : Northern Sumatra and west coast of Malaysia Interesting fact : Their meat is a delicacy in Asia. Conservation status : Least Concern The elephant trunk snake has a baggy skin making it look larger. It

Scientific name : Naja haje Family : Elapidae Native to : Africa Interesting fact : It will move away from danger at first but will strike if threatened. Conservation status : Least Concern It is the largest cobra in Africa. It has a flat head and rounded snout. They flare their hoods when threatened like

Common name : Dyeing poison frog Scientific name : Dendrobates tinctorius Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Guyana, French Guiana, Surinam and Brazil Interesting fact : The secretion from the frog was supposedly used by natives to dye green parrots’ feathers red. Conservation status : Least Concern They are brilliantly coloured in blue or black

Common name : Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, Musky caiman, Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman Scientific name : Paleosuchus palpebrosus Family : Alligatoridae Native to : Northern and Central South America Interesting fact : In some cultures, wearing the teeth of dwarf caimans is believed to protect people from snake bites. Conservation status : Least Concern They are very