Rice fields help threatened California snakes
Federally threatened garter snakes in California are using flooded rice paddies as refuges, but irregular management practices may limit the help these agricultural ...
reptiles
Bronx River turtles persist, despite pollution
Hundreds of years ago, the Bronx River was rife with aquatic reptiles like common snapping turtles, musk turtles and painted turtles. But only a few species have ...
Satellite images can track remote sea turtle nests
When tracking the nesting habits of turtles that circumnavigate the globe, it’s sometimes necessary to take the long view. Researchers are tapping into satellite ...
Watch: Female serpents sacrifice it all for sea turtle eggs
Taiwanese snakes will risk a lot for fresh turtle eggs. Female Formosa kukri snakes (Oligodon formosanus) feed almost entirely on reptile eggs, but they have a ...
‘Bearded lady’ lizards raise stronger offspring
Typical female fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) sport drab brown colors, but a few of them display the shiny blue neck patches more commonly found on males. ...
Watch: Kangaroo rats use high speed kick flips to elude vipers
Crafty kangaroo rats really put the kick into their jump when attacked by venomous vipers. According to new research conducted with the help of high speed video ...
Florida investigates mass softshell turtle die-off
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating why softshell turtle species are dying off in droves in the state. Approximately 100 dead ...
Midland painted turtle considered a species at risk
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has declared the Midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) a species of special concern under ...
Smithsonian set to take over USGS Biological Survey Unit
The Smithsonian Institution is poised to take over the U.S. Geological Survey’s Biological Survey Unit after federal funding for the 108-year-old unit ends this ...
Reptile atlas highlights more biodiversity hotspots
Compared to other vertebrates, reptiles have been a mystery to science, and their distribution has been less understood than that of mammals, birds and amphibians. ...