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Herpetology
the study of amphibians and reptiles
Reptiles
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Kingdom: Animalia |
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Subkingdom: Metazoa |
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Phylum: Chordata |
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Subphylum: Vertebrata |
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Class: Reptilia |
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Order: Squamata |
The first dinosaur fossils were recognized in the nineteenth century
Reptile Characteristics
| Circulatory System | Nearly all reptiles have three-chambered hearts; the exceptions are crocodilians, which have four-chambered hearts. |
| Respiration |
All reptiles breathe with lungs, and unlike amphibians, reptiles never pass through an embryonic stage involving gills. |
| Skeletal Features | All reptiles have backbones or spinal columns. Except for snakes, reptiles have paired limbs that typically end in five-clawed fingers or toes. Most reptiles have a pelvis that is associated with at least two spinal bones. |
| Reproduction | Most reptiles reproduce by laying eggs, although some give birth to live young that have hatched from eggs inside the mother's body. Most reptiles produce amniote eggs, which are able to survive outside of water. These eggs have complex membrane systems and protective shells that are permeable to oxygen and other gases. |
| Temperature Regulation | Reptiles are cold-blooded. Their internal temperature of their bodies varies depending on the environment. |
| Skin | Reptiles have tough, dry skin covered with scales that serves as a barrier to moisture and prevents water from leaving the body. |
| Sense Organs | With the exception of blind snakes, reptiles rely more heavily on vision than on any other sense to detect objects in their surroundings. Most reptiles lack external ears and instead have an eardrum that is positioned near the eyes, close to the surface of the skin. |
| Development | Reptiles possess most of their adult characteristics at the time of hatching. Unlike most amphibians, they do not undergo a larval stage or experience metamorphosis. |
Above Data from MSN Encantra Learning and Research
Groups of Reptiles
Lizards and Snakes
Crocodilians
Turtles and Tortoises
Tuataras
Bearded Dragon
Family Agamidae
Pogona vitticeps
Juvenile Bearded Dragon Sub-adult Bearded Dragon
The "Dragon King" Relaxing at his Summer Home
The dragons are in the classroom with Mrs. King all year,
but during the summer they reside pool-side in sunny Florida.
| Agamids | Dragon Gross Anatomy | |
| Anatomy | Dragon Photos | Higher Taxa |
| Animal Planet |
Dragons in the Classroom (Research) |
New Born Photos |
Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Great back yard shots
Iguana
Family Iguanidae
Iguana iguana
Jackson's Chameleon
Family Chamaeleonidae
Chameleo jacksonii xantholophus
Our chameleons are from Madagascar.
These photos were taken the first day we got them.
Tokay Gecko
Gekko gecko
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Chordata |
| Class: Reptilia |
| Order: Squamata |
| Family: Gekonidae |
| Genus Gekko |
| Species: Gekko gecko |
Savannah Monitor
Lacerta exanthematicus
Monitor hatchling 2 weeks old
My newest addition 3/07
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Savannah Care Sheet |
Lizard Skeleton
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
American Crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
Ecosystems at the Brevard Zoo
Pantherophis guttatus
formally known as Elaphe guttata
Hold mouse on photo for phenotype
click on thumbnail for larger photo.
"Mating occurs from March to May.
Eggs are laid in June and July. From 7 - 31 eggs are laid under logs, old
sawmill dust piles, or in chambers in the soil. After incubation for about 70
days, the young hatch in August and September. Sexual maturity is reached when a
female is at least 68 cm (26.8 in) in snout-vent length. The male is probably
somewhat smaller at sexual maturity (The
Georgia Museum of Natural History and Georgia Department of Natural
Resources
June 2000)" .
Mendelism through Corn Snake Genetics article published in NSTA's journal, The Science Teacher, January 2004
This snake hatched right in my hand
The possibilities are endless
Generalized Arrangement of Internal Anatomy (Male)
In a female snake, the testes are replaced by ovaries positioned in the same area of the body.
Snake Skeleton
Freaks of Nature
Dicephlopods
Photo taken at Tampa Reptile Expo 2004
Non-Venomous Snakes
Ball Python
Python regius
Reticulated Python
Python reticulatus
King Snake
ORDER: Squamata
FAMILY: Colubridae
GENUS: Lampropeltis
King snakes are non-venomous constrictors. They are however cannibalistic, meaning they eat other King snakes... talk about watching your back (actually they eat head first)! They also eat rodents, lizards, birds, eggs and even frogs. These are interesting snakes because they are immune to rattlesnake venom, which makes King snakes a great specimen to study. Think about future studies with these snakes that would allow scientists to come up with anti-venom serum for rattle snake bites or how these snakes would be useful in the study of specific enzymes in blood that may make them immune to these bites.
California King Snake
Lampropeltis getulus californiae
Size: Adults are usually 0.9 meter long, rarely as long as 1.2 m.
Distribution: Western U.S. from Baha California, north to Oregon and Southern Utah and east to western Arizona.
Habitat: Lives in rock outcrops, semi-desert, brushy hillsides, or pine forests.
Florida King Snake
Lampropeltis getulus floridana
Size: 0.9 -2m
Habitat: Varied, usually in the vicinity of
canals, lakes or streams. They are commonly found in and around sugarcane fields
and farmland.
Apalachicola King Snake
Lampropeltis getulus ________
Endemic to the Panhandle of Florida
photo coming soon
Milk Snakes
Mexican Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum annulata
Pueblan Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli
Boa Constrictors
Order: Squamata
Family: Boidae
Red-Tail Boa
Boa constrictor constrictor
Peruvian Rainbow Boa
Epicrates cenchria gaigei
Amazon Tree Boa
Corallus enydris
Dumeril's Boa
Acrantophis dumerili
Native to Madagascar- ground dweller
Venomous Snakes
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus adamanteus
Front fanged
Eyelash Viper
Bothrops schlegelii
Green Viper
Rhino Viper
Cobra
Cobra
Turtles
Suborder Cryptodira
"Turtles make up the order Testudines in the class Reptilia. Hidden-necked turtles make up the suborder Cryptodira, and side-necked turtles comprise the suborder Pleurodira" (Turtle, Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004).
Turtles listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as either endangered or threatened:
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
Amphibians
Order Anura: Frogs and Toads
South American Ornate Horned Frog, aka Pac Man Frog
Ceratophrys ornata
This little guy was purchased at the Orlando FIRE Show on 7/19/08.
This photo shows the frog is in the 1 lb. deli container it was purchased in and will be housed in a 10 gal. tank in the classroom. Amazingly, an adult Pac Man frog reaches the size of a dinner plate, however, since they are not very active the 10 gallon tank should be sufficient.
Cuban Treefrog
Osteopilus septentrionalis
This treefrog was in my pool cage in a palm tree.
This treefrog is a non-native species, first seen in the Florida Keys in the early 1930's and is now immigrating up the Florida East Coast. It's diet consists of other small frogs and crickets. This is particularly important because the Cuban treefrog could cause a decline the population of smaller frogs, and/or wiping out populations of native species. This species is currently the largest treefrog in the United States, with females reaching up to 5 inches in length.
Frog Skeleton
Mr. & Mrs. King
Reptile Lovers