Home | Breeding (page 7)

Category Archives: Breeding

Feed Subscription

African Rainbow Skinks Now Breeding in Florida – Giant Ameivas Spreading

Rainbow SkinkA breeding population of African Five-Lined or Rainbow Skinks, Trachylepis (formerly Mabuya) quinquetaeniata, has been discovered in Port St. Lucia, Florida, bringing the total number of exotic herps known to be established in the USA to 66.  The Giant or Green Ameiva, or Jungle-Runner (Ameiva ameiva), known to the state since 1954, seems to be expanding its range.

Florida’s Newest Exotic

Rainbow Skinks, which are native to a broad belt of Sub-Saharan Africa stretching from Senegal to Kenya, are the newest of Florida’s many exotic animals.  Well-known in the US pet trade, the recently discovered population seems limited to a weedy lot near a now-defunct reptile importing business.  Past reports of dead and dying skinks found on the importer’s property point towards the all-too-common source of the new arrivals.  Read More »

The Natural History and Captive Care of the Rhinoceros Iguana

Male Rhino IguanaRhinoceros Iguanas (Cyclura cornuta cornuta) rank among the most “personable” of the lizards I’ve worked with.  However, due to their size, unique needs and powerful jaws (please see below), the decision to keep these magnificent animals must not be made lightly.

Description

The “bulldog-like” body is stoutly-built and colored uniform gray, brown, olive-brown or nearly-black.  Rhinoceros Iguanas reach 4 feet in length, but appear larger due to their bulk.

The massive head of the male is topped by 3 horn-like tubercles and a thick adipose (fat) pad.  The head and horns of females are smaller. Both sexes have large throat pouches and crests of pointed scales along the spine and tail.  Read More »

Snake Surprise – “Virgin” Female Boa Constrictor Gives Birth

coiled boaA female Boa (Boa constrictor) shocked herpetologists by giving birth to live young that she produced by cloning rather than mating.  What’s more, the process used to create the young is new to the animal world – it has not been seen in any other vertebrate.

Asexual Births in other Species

Asexual reproduction or parthenogenesis – producing young without mating – is well known among insects and certain fishes (including Hammerhead Sharks), some of which can even switch sexes several times.  It has also been recorded in a small number of reptiles, such as the Brahminy Blind Snake, American Whiptail Lizards and the Komodo Dragon.  Read More »

Kihansi Spray Toads, Extinct in the Wild, Return to Africa

Kihansi Spray Toad
In the year 2000 I had the good fortune to work with the world’s sole surviving group of Kihansi Spray Toads (Nectophrynoides asperginis).  Last seen in the wild in 2004, and declared extinct in nature soon after, the 499 individuals sent to the Bronx and Toledo Zoos represented the species’ last chance.  Recently (August, 2010), I received the pleasant news that a group was sent back to Tanzania for possible reintroduction. Read More »

US Government Seeks Comments on Proposed Amphibian Trade Restrictions

Clawed Frog FemaleSome time ago I posted an article concerning possible new Federal regulations that could limit the trade in live amphibians (read it here), and promised to notify folks when the government asked for public comments.  That time is now upon us.

The Proposal – History and Intent

The proposed regulations stem from concerns that the trade in live frogs and salamanders (and frog legs) is aiding the spread of 2 deadly amphibian diseases, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (“Chytrid fungus” or Bd) and Ranavirus (please see the article mentioned earlier for details).   Read More »

Scroll To Top