Category Reptiles

What’s a frilled lizard?

A type of reptile found in Australia and New Guinea, the frilled lizards or “frillnecks,” are members of the dragon family

Remember Dilophosaurus? That dinosaur in the first Jurassic Park movie which would unfurl its extendible neck frill and spit venom when intimidated?

Well, in reality, there is no evidence that the dinosaur had the neck frill. But meet Australian frilled lizard, the closest you will ever get to watching something as bizarre as the Dilophosaurus’ defence strategy.

Any time the frilled lizard feels threatened, it puts on the greatest show in the wild. It is also perhaps the most dramatic sight you will ever witness in the animal kingdom.

When the lizard feels intimidated, the first response is to scare the other creature away. So it will stand on its hind legs, open its mouth wide, and hiss. But this is not all. A bright-red neck frill, a pleated skin flap around its head, would unfurl as it strikes the intimidating pose, giving the creature a very grotesque appearance. This is a potential gimmick to scare off the opponent. (When unopened, the scaly neck frill lies as a cape over the shoulders of the lizard.)

If this stunt fails, and the attacker doesn’t flinch, the lizard has another trick up its sleeve. It will quickly turn, and bolt, running on its hind legs, its yellow mouth wide open, legs flailing, and will not stop until it ambles up a tree for safety.

The frilled lizards or “frillnecks,” are members of the dragon family. It is a type of reptile found in Australia and New Guinea. its size and color may vary from region to region. This creature spends a large part of its life on the trees. It is seen to descend to feed on lizards, small mammals, and ants.

These lizards can be classified into three different genetic groups. The main predators include birds of prey, larger lizards, snakes, and so on. The lizard lives in the tropical and warm temperate forests and savanna woodlands of northern Australia.

The eggs are laid in underground nests and hatchlings are independent, able to hunt as they emerge and adept at using the neck frill. The color of the frill of the lizard varies and is a result of carotenoids, which it acquires from the insect diet.

Picture: Credit Google

Invasive species

Invasive species are those that get introduced to a new ecosystem, where they end up replacing or affecting the native fauna or flora. These are mostly introduced by humans. Let's read up on a few of the invasive species.

WILD PIGS

The wild pigs are native to Eurasia and parts of North Africa. Also called wild boar or feral hogs, the wild pigs arrived in the 1500s in the U.S. and are one of the most invasive species in North America. They were shipped in by Spanish colonisers as a mobile meat source. Over time, they populated the forests of the southeastern U.S., where their genes got mixed with escaped domestic pigs. They are such a threat as they can live anywhere, eat anything, and have a very high reproductive rate. They destroy crops, landscapes and spread diseases.

MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE     

A small bark insect, the mountain pine beetle depends on a host tree to feed and lay its eggs. They may seem inconspicuous, with just about one-fourth of an inch in length but they are one of the worst invasive species. They have had a massive impact on the pine forests, boring holes in the tree's bark. They lay eggs in these holes under the bark and deposit a fungus that eventually kills the tree. In fact, in 1995, an outbreak of this pest in the western United States and Canada led to the destruction of millions of acres pine forest.

BURMESE PYTHON

The Burmese python is one of the most concerning invasive species in South Florida where they have established a breeding population. They have even replaced alligators as the apex predator in Florida and have led to the decline of many native species, with the population of small animals dropping at alarming rates. Populations of raccoons, opossums, bobcats, marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and foxes have all been on an alarming decline. These pythons got introduced as a result of the exotic pet trade after they escaped from their owners or got intentionally released into the wild by their owners.

BROWN TREE SNAKE

The brown tree snake was introduced to the Pacific island of Guam in the 1950s. And ever since its introduction, it led to the decimation of the native bird and animal populations on the island. It is believed to have been introduced via cargo ships or aircraft. The snakes which easily spread across the island also cause power outages when they climb electrical wires! Among the 11 native bird species in Guam, nine species went extinct after the snake's introduction.

EUROPEAN STARLING

European starlings are an invasive species in the United States. Interestingly enough, its arrival was the result of a plan to introduce all the species referred to in the works of English playwright William Shakespeare. These birds are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa but easily took to the landscape of the U.S. and spread quickly across the country, affecting the population of native bird species.

LANTANA CAMARA

One of the worst invasive species in the world, Lantana camara was introduced in India by the British in the 1800s. It came in as an ornamental plant but ended up taking over several ecosystems as an invasive plant. Its ability to spread on the forest floor, climb over trees as a creeper or entangle with other native plants aided it in establishing itself. It continues to spread in India even as methodologies are being adopted to weed it out.

Picture Credit : Google 

HOW DO CROCODILES HUNT?

They usually lie and wait in shallow water until animals come to drink. Then they make a sudden lunge, grab the victim with their massive, snapping jaws, drag it into the water and drown it.  Many species are able to kill and eat large mammals such as zebras, wildebeests and humans. Once it has caught its prey, a crocodile will then drag it into the water and drown it. It eats its prey by biting off large chunks of meat and swallows them whole. Other species, such as the Chinese alligator and gharial, feed primarily on fish or invertebrates.

Observing crocodile hunting behaviour is very tricky. These animals hunt by ambush, they eat infrequently because their metabolism is slow, and nearly all hunting occurs at night and/or in muddy waters. Vladimir Dinets, a researcher working at the University of Tennessee, took a new approach. Beyond more than 3000 hours of his own observations, he utilised Facebook and other social media to collect the findings of nature lovers and crocodile researchers, and also reports of spontaneous encounters with crocodiles. Dinets also searched the old notebooks of other scientists. Although this search yielded just a few handfuls of observations, some of which went back as far as the 19th century, all of the observations described the coordination and collaboration between crocodiles for hunting purposes. As numerous people on different continents all described this behaviour in the same way, Dinets found the information dependable. For instance, the crocodiles swam together to drive a school of fish into a tight group, and then took turns grabbing fish from this ‘bait ball’. Another observation involved a large saltwater crocodile that scared a pig, causing it to run into a lagoon where two smaller crocs were hiding and waiting. It is assumed that the large crocodile knew about the two others, even though they were not visible.

All in all, Dinets concludes that crocodiles are – perhaps right behind humans – some of the most expert hunters. At the same time, the scientist admits that we still have much to learn about their behaviour.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS A TAIPAN?

The taipan is a poisonous snake from Australia. It can grow up to three metres long, which is huge for a venomous snake. It belongs to the same family as the cobra, and has venom in its front fangs.

Where do Taipans Live?

Two of the three taipan species are endemic to Australia, specifically in northern and eastern coastal and central Australia. The coastal taipan, however, also occurs in southern Papua New Guinea. They primarily live in deserts, floodplains, grasslands, oil palm plantations, cane fields, dry forests, and savanna woodlands.

There are three species of taipans: (1) the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus); (2) the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) or Papua New Guinean taipan; and (3) the western desert taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis). Table 1 below shows the general characteristics and behavior of each taipan species.

What do Taipans Eat?

Taipan snakes’ diet is primarily composed of mammals such as mice, rats, and bandicoots, with minor variations between inland and coastal taipans. Their hunting strategy also varies. The western desert taipan, however, is not yet fully understood and experts have limited data on its hunting behavior.

Inland taipans feed exclusively on mammals such as long-haired rats and house mice. Those in captivity have been observed to eat one-day-old chicks. When hunting, inland taipans corner their prey in narrow crevices such as soil cracks, then bite them several times in quick succession. Their venom’s high potency allows them to hold their prey while waiting for it to die. This strategy is challenging for some snakes because the prey may retaliate while the venom takes its effect.

Coastal taipans feed on small mammals such as rodents, bandicoots, and quolls. There are also instances where they take birds as food. They begin their hunt by scanning their surroundings for prey using their well-developed sight. Once they have seen their target, they “freeze” for a while, launch forward, then administer their bites once or several times. After the attack, they release their prey and allow it to move away while the venom takes its effect, avoiding any lethal retaliation. The coastal taipan then tracks its dying prey using its tongue.

How Dangerous are Taipans?

The venom of taipans, specifically that of the inland taipan, is the most potent among the snake venoms based on laboratory studies on mice. The inland taipan can produce enough venom to kill 250,000 mice in one bite. However, there has been no record of human fatality related to inland taipan, which can be attributed to its shy and placid nature. In contrast, the coastal taipan has been associated with fatal bites in Australia and Torres Strait in New Guinea.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CROCODILE AND AN ALLIGATOR?

If you’ve ever visited the Sunshine State, you can’t miss them. No, we’re not talking about people in flipflops, we’re talking about alligators! They’re big, they’re exciting to watch, and they’re everywhere you look in the Everglades. In fact, as Floridians, we’re used to sharing our gorgeous state with them, and we respect the contribution they’ve made to our home. But what about crocodiles? There are distinct differences between alligators and crocodiles. If you’ve found yourself on an Everglades airboat tour and in a situation where you can’t tell if the animal in front of you is an alligator or a crocodile, here are a few tips to help you differentiate the two.

The Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles

To most people, alligators and crocodiles look similar. While they do share many of the same features, they couldn’t be any more different to a trained professional. Typically, crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators, which makes crocodiles more dangerous than alligators. Alligators are opportunistic feeders, meaning that they’re not likely to chase you down unless they’re provoked. However, that certainly doesn’t mean that you should swim with them. Caution and common sense should be exercised at all times near and around both alligators and crocodiles on an Everglades excursion.

Physical Differences

The snout shape and jawline are probably the easiest ways to distinguish alligators vs. crocodiles on Miami airboat tours.

Snout Shape: Alligators have a wide, rounded, u-shaped snout, while crocodiles have long, pointed, v-shaped snouts. Believe it or not, the difference in shape means that alligators can exert more strength from their mouths, which is useful in cracking open hard-shelled vertebrates, like turtles.

Jawline: Alligators have a wide upper jaw, which allows for the teeth to remain hidden in the mouth. Crocodiles are different from alligators in this sense, where both the upper and lower jaws of a crocodile are the same size, exposing their teeth as they interlock, creating the look of a toothy grin. From a distance, it’s not too difficult to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile when looking at the shape of the snout and visibility of the teeth.

Size and Weight: Both alligators and crocodiles are massive reptiles. Gators can grow to be anywhere between 10 and 15 feet long as adults, weighing in at an average of 500 pounds. As far as crocs, they can reach an impressive 14 to 17 feet and can weigh as much as 2,200 pounds!

Skillset: Both gators and crocs can swim quite well, using their tail to maneuver through the water with ease. They can both also run about 11 miles per hour on land. When submerged in water, both reptiles can hold their breath for up to an hour. With eyes on the top of their heads, they’re tough to surprise. Both alligators and crocodiles are also excellent hunters after dark, as night vision is their forte.

Crocodylidae and Alligatoridae Families

The Crocodylidae family includes 15 species of “true” crocodiles, and the Alligatoridae family contains eight species of alligators and caimans.

Where Do Alligators and Crocodiles Live?

Water: These beautiful animals can be found all over the world – wherever slow-flowing rivers and grasslands dominate that you could see on an Everglades boat . Crocodiles tend to prefer salty waters, while alligators hang out in freshwater marshes.

Geographical Location: Alligators thrive in China and the southeastern portion of the United States, particularly Florida and the states along the Gulf Coast. Crocodiles are native to North, Central, and South America, Africa, Australia, and part of Asia. Interestingly, the Florida Everglades is the only place in the world where both alligators and crocodiles live together.

Meet the Alligators

Are you ready to come face to face with a living dinosaur? You can at Everglades Holiday Park! Our gator park is a premier destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and reptile aficionados alike. There’s no better place to experience exciting Everglades airboat tours, live alligator presentations, and Everglades animal encounters with the chance to pose with a baby alligator for a picture. Our park is South Florida’s best family fun locale for adventure.

As home to the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue, Everglades Holiday Park welcomes families, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone interested in Everglades sightseeing and journeying through the ‘Glades in search of alligators, wading birds, fish, snakes, and more!

Credit : Everglades holiday park 

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS A FRILLED-NECKED LIZARD?

This Australian lizard has an enormous frill. Normally the frill hangs limp, but when the lizard is threatened, it spreads out up to 25 cm, and makes the lizard look three times as large and twice as dangerous.

A frilled lizard has grayish-brown scales and is usually about 3 feet in length. Though it’s large in size, it weighs just over 1 pound. Line up two and a half bowling pins and you’re looking at the length of a 3-foot frilled lizard. A frilled lizard that weighs a little over 1 pound is about equal in weight to a can of soup.

This lizard has a long tail and claws made for hanging onto the trunk of a tree to climb it in quick fashion. The brown-gray scales of this lizard help to camouflage it in the trees.

5 Incredible Frilled Lizard Facts!

  • It’s sometimes called the bicycle lizard because of the way its hind legs move when it’s running
  • They are kept in some households as exotic pets that need special care
  • The female lays eggs up to 8 inches underground
  • These lizards are not poisonous
  • They can live up to 20 years

There are 420 species in the same family (Agamidae) as the frilled lizard, however no other lizards share its distinctive frill. The frilled dragon is solitary and remains alone most of the time except during breeding season. The frilled lizard lives in northern Australia and New Guinea. This reptile lives in a warm environment. Its habitat includes woodland savannas as well as temperate and tropical forests.

What eats frilled lizards?

Birds of prey such as eagles, owls and hawks, snakes, dingoes, larger lizards, and feral cats are predators of these lizards.

What does a frilled lizard eat?

Insects play a large role in the diet of the frilled agama aka the frilled lizard. Cicadas, spiders, beetles, ants, termites, moths, and butterflies are all on the menu. These reptiles also eat small mammals such as mice and rats. They’ve been known to eat smaller lizards as well.

Frilled Lizard Reproduction, Babies and Lifespan

The breeding season of these lizards runs from September to October. The male lizards compete for females by fighting and displaying their neck frills. Also, a male bobs his head up and down to get a female’s attention. Female lizards lay their eggs between the months of November to February. The eggs are laid from 1 to 8 inches below ground. These lizards usually choose to dig the hole in a sunny area, so the sunlight gives some warmth to their eggs. A female lays from 8 to 14 soft-shelled eggs in one clutch. The incubation period of the eggs is 2 to 3 months. Each egg weighs less than an ounce in size. Some females have 2 clutches of eggs per season.

Baby lizards are able to survive without any care from their parents after they hatch. Each baby is about as long as an adult’s pinkie finger! And, yes, baby lizards have full use of their neck frill. They can eat small insects including ants and termites. Generally, a lizard stays with its brothers and sisters for about 10 days before leaving to establish its own life.

The lifespan of this lizard can go as high as 20 years! In fact, a 20-year-old frilled lizard living in captivity holds the record as the oldest of its kind.

Frilled Lizard Population

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the exact population of this reptile is unknown. This is because these lizards are quick to hide making it difficult to record an accurate count. However, their official conservation status is Least Concern.

Credit : A-Z Animals 

Picture Credit : Google