User:The Transhumanist/Sandbox143
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Introduction
Selected reptile type
The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) is a species of reptile endemic to New Zealand. Despite its close resemblance to lizards, it is part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia. The name tuatara is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back".
The single extant species of tuatara is the only surviving member of its order, which was highly diverse during the Mesozoic era. Rhynchocephalians first appeared in the fossil record during the Triassic, around 240 million years ago, and reached worldwide distribution and peak diversity during the Jurassic, when they represented the worlds dominant group of small reptiles. Rhynchocephalians underwent a great decline during the Cretaceous with their youngest records outside New Zealand dating to the Paleocene. Their closest living relatives are squamates (lizards and snakes). Tuatara are of interest for studying the evolution of reptiles.
Tuatara are greenish brown and grey, and measure up to 80 cm (31 in) from head to tail-tip and weigh up to 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) with a spiny crest along the back, especially pronounced in males. They have two rows of teeth in the upper jaw overlapping one row on the lower jaw, which is unique among living species. They are able to hear, although no external ear is present, and have unique features in their skeleton. (Full article...)
Selected Crocodilia article
The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is a medium-sized freshwater crocodile native to Indonesia (Borneo and possibly Java), Brunei, East Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The species is critically endangered and already extirpated from many regions. Its other common names include Siamese freshwater crocodile, Singapore small-grain, and soft-belly. (Full article...)
Selected lizard article
The Transvaal dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion transvaalense) is a chameleon native to South Africa, where it is found in forested areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. It is also known as the Wolkberg dwarf chameleon, after the Wolkberg range. (Full article...)
Selected turtle article
The Malayan snail-eating turtle (Malayemys macrocephala) is a species of turtle in Malayemys genus of the family Geoemydidae. (Full article...)
Picture slideshow
- Image 1Steneosaurus
- Image 2Gold dust day gecko
- Image 3Green sea turtle
- Image 4Leiocephalus personatus
- Image 5Rough chameleon
- Image 6Anole at Polychrotinae
- Image 7Eastern bearded dragon
- Image 9Indian chameleon
- Image 10Gold dust day gecko
- Image 11Australian water dragon
- Image 12Bothriechis schlegelii
- Image 13Italian wall lizard
- Image 14Jackson's chameleon
- Image 15Phelsuma grandis
- Image 16Eastern long-necked turtle
- Image 17Red-headed Amazon River turtles
- Image 18Namaqua chameleon
- Image 19Vipera xanthina
- Image 20Common collared lizard
- Image 22Carolina anole
- Image 23Aldabra giant tortoise
- Image 24Cerastes cerastes
- Image 25Marginated tortoise hatchling
- Image 26Trachylepis striata
- Image 27Bosc's fringe-toed lizards during courtship
- Image 28White-headed dwarf gecko
- Image 29Dwarf yellow-headed gecko
- Image 30Sicilian wall lizard
- Image 31Marine iguana
- Image 32Green sea turtle
- Image 33Yacare caiman
- Image 34Ladder snake
- Image 35Barracudasauroides
- Image 36Morelia spilota
- Image 37Namaqua chameleon
- Image 38Leiocephalus carinatus
- Image 39Vipera dinniki
- Image 40Plumed basilisk
- Image 41Niveoscincus metallicus
- Image 42Mexican beaded lizard
- Image 43Thamnophis elegans terrestris at Western terrestrial garter snake
- Image 44Gold dust day gecko close-up
- Image 45Sinai agama
- Image 46Species of Ceratopsia dinosaurs
- Image 47Plestiodon fasciatus
- Image 48Common box turtle
- Image 49Green sea turtle
- Image 50Asian vine snake Ahaetulla prasina. This snake has a wide distribution in Asia. It feeds on small reptiles and amphibians, particularly lizards and tree frogs. Adults may attain 1.8 m (6 feet) in total length, with a tail 0.6 m (2 feet) long. Its appearance is very much like those of South American vine snakes. It is a rear-fanged species and is mildly venomous but is not considered a threat to humans.
- Image 51A green sea turtle swimming above a coral reef.
- Image 52Cape skink - Trachylepis capensis. Close-up on purple Aster flowers.
- Image 53Trachylepis maculilabris mating
Selected snake article
Ribbon snake may refer to:
- Thamnophis saurita, also known as the eastern or common ribbon snake
- Thamnophis proximus, also known as the western ribbon snake (Full article...)
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