Reptiles

amphibians

Common Snapping turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Section 2-A-O

Range & Habitat: Wetlands of Alberta and Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico

Eggs and hatchlings may be eaten by other large turtles, herons, crows, raccoons, skunks, bullfrogs, water snakes, and large predatory fish. In turn, adult snapping turtles have non-discriminating palettes and will eat nearly anything it can get its jaws around. Snapping turtles are solitary and very territorial creatures. They have been known to kill other turtles by “snapping off” their heads. -- T. Jeske

The common Tortoise

Testudo graeca

3-A-I

It is also known as Greek tortoise, or spur-thighed tortoise. The common tortoise is a very long-lived animal, achieving a lifespan of upwards of 125 years, with some unverified reports of up to 200 years. The common tortoise's habitat is North Africa, southern Europe, and southwest Asia

-J. Del Toro

Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

3-B-I

Alligators are solitary creatures. They hunt alone, and they even leave their children to fend for themselves. Once a Baby Alligator is born they stay in or near the nest for close to a year. Once that they have outgrown their nest they will leave and never return. Each in turn becoming a solitary hunter. - H. McEwen

King Cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

3-B-O

The King Cobra, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. While also known for being deadly, it is also known for being one of the longest snakes too. One King Cobra was recorded to be a little over 13 Feet long. Thankfully this snake is more commonly found in India and East Asia. - H. McEwen

DRACO LIZARD

Draco dussumieri

Section 4-B-I

Turns out flying reptiles are a real thing after all. Well, sort of. Draco lizards are gliders. They extend their ribs and special membrane connected to them to create their "wings" and then they take off. The gliding ability of these lizards is quite considerable, as 60-meter glides have been recorded. Draco lizards are fairly common in Southeast Asia and prefer to live in forests and jungles. -D. Tribe

Chuckwalla

Sauromalius ater

6-B-I

These little lizards can be found in California, Utah, Nevada, and Mexico. They can reach a length of 20 inches long, and weigh 2 pounds. Their colors may vary depending on male or female, as well as adult or juvenile. Chuckwallas are harmless to humans but are still known to be very territorial. Believe it or not, they are primarily herbivores who love to munch on flowers, leaves, and fruit, with only the occasional insect. Watch out for your house plants Mom! - I. Trent

East Texas rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus atricaudatus

6-B-O

Also known as the Canebrake, Timber or Velvet-tail, Rattlesnake, these snakes are highly venomous and nothing you would want to touch even with a 10 foot pole. Although highly venomous, they try to avoid confrontation and escape instead of attacking. They can weigh up to 2 pounds and stretch as long as 40 inches. -G. Pirtle

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox

6-B-O

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes are the leading cause of snake bites in the United States and Mexico. They normally grow around four feet tall, and they can grow up to seven feet tall. They live here in the United States from Arkansas to California. They are commonly seen basking in the sun in the summer and hibernating in the winter. If you run across one, remember they can't climb! -G. Pirtle

Idaho great basin rattle snake

Crotalus oreganus

5-B-O

This venomous pit viper species is part of the crotalus oreganus species that has seven subspecies. The size of these species varies, with some populations being stunted and others becoming very large. Some mainland species will reach 39 inches in length. It uses its heat-sensing facial pits to locate prey. It eats Birds, birds eggs, and small mamals like mice or as large as rabbits. They also eat small repites and amphibians and insects when they are at a younger age. They can bear live young in broods of as many as 25. - J. Manderscheid

Idaho Bull Snake

Pituophis catenifer sayi

5-B-O

This large non-venomous snake thanks its name to the American naturalist Thomas Say. Bullsnakes also live in Mexico where they are called cincuate. Adults size can range from 4 to 6 feet, likely the largest gopher snake on average. They are very powerful constrictors. They will eat small mamals, such as mice, moles, rats, pocket gophers, ground squirrels, rabbits, ground nesting birds, bird eggs, and lizards. They can climb trees and eat the eggs from the nest including the sitting mother bird. Bullsnakes can be docile and accustomed to handling, but most are very defensive and known for their "bad attitude". - J. Manderscheid

Rubber Boa

Charina bottae

5-B-O

Also found in Idaho, this animal gets its name Charina from the Greek word for graceful or delightful and they are very beautiful to look at. This nonvenomous snake is one of the smaller boa species. Adults can be anywhere from 1.25 to 2.76 ft long. Newborns are typically 7.5 to 9.1 inches long. They are one of the most docile boa species and are often used to help people overcome their fear of snakes. They are known to never strike at or bite a human under any circumstances but will release a potent musk from their vent if they feel threatened. When prayed upon they will curl up in a ball, and bury their head inside, while exposing their tail to mimic their head. - J. Manderscheid

arizona king snake

Lampropeltis getulas

6-C-I

Arizona King Snakes are long, harmless snakes. Their average height are three and a half feet, and they live from coast to coast in the United States. They are found in deserts, forests, woodlands, and farm land areas. If seen the kingsnake may hiss, strike, and rattle its tail or releases a distinct smell. -G. Pirtle

Reinwardt's Flying Frog

Rhacophorus reinwardtii

6-C-O

This type of frog is a medium/large frog with a large head. They have smooth skin, and webbed feet and hands. Their calls are said to sound like a low cackling chuckle, and they eat canopy insects. They live in a lowland rainforest. Come see this cute frog at the Mammoth Museum today! -G. Pirtle

alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Building 2- Contact Mr. Olsen to see it

Alligators are millions of years old, and also known as living fossils. Their are two different types of alligators, American Alligators and Chinese Alligators. Both types live in warm and wet areas. These powerful animals have a very strong bite, but very weak jaw muscles. A human could grab and hold their jaws shut, although I don't recommend it! Their sex depends on the temperature the eggs are held at, warmer temperatures create males and colder temperatures create females! -G. Pirtle

Frog Band

Building 2 - Contact Mr. Olsen to see it!

I don't think you really need words to describe this perfect symphony. These may be little frogs, but it's one great big band! Some say that they sound like a mix of Nirvana, Adele, One Direction, and Johnny Cash. Not much can top this. If you want front row tickets to this band contact Mr. Olsen to see his other building fill of cool artifacts like this! -G. Pirtle

Iguana

Iguana iguana

5-A-O

Iguanas are found natively in most parts of Northern South America and about half-way up Mexico. The species was first described by the Swedish Scientist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Iguana iguana is very adept at moving about its environment being able to climb and swim. If an iguana happens to fall, it will use its back claws to grab onto branches or anything else to catch itself. When an iguana swims, it does not use its legs, which remain limp at its sides. Instead it uses powerful tail strokes to glide through the water. -Alex

Horned Lizard

Genus: Phrynosoma

6-B-I

Horned Lizards, also known as Horny Toads, are native to the western areas of the United States and Mexico. Their name clearly derives from their appearance—wide, flattened bodies with an assortment of spikes decorating their skin. But that isn’t the alarming attribute of this lizard. In accounts of protection, the horny toad can and will spurt blood out of its eyes as a defense mechanism; sounds to me a little more dramatic than throwing hands. --E. Sharp

Anaconda

Eunectes murinus

5-A-O

There are other types of anacondas, but the name anaconda most typically is used in reference to Eunectes murinus. It is the heaviest known snake species in existence and one of the longest as well. It is difficult to determine just how big an anaconda can get because of a lack of reliable reports and because an anaconda's skin can stretch to be 150% its original size during the tanning process! -Alex

tokay GECKOS

Gekko gecko

6-C-O

Naturally located in the rain forests of northeast India and the Indo-Australian archipelago, these geckos frequently use their color adaptability to blend in with the trees and cliffs they live in in order to be less noticeable to other animals. This camouflage also includes the miraculous ability to not cast a shadow. Certain folds of skin, when opened, allow the gecko to blend in completely with a tree. Seeing that these creatures are suitable as pets, you better not start a game of hide-and-go-seek with this tricky fellow! --E. Sharp

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR

Alligator mississippiensis

Front entrance

An alligator is easy to tell apart from a crocodile: just take a good look at the snout. Whereas the crocodile has a pointy, V-shaped snout with teeth sticking out from both the top and bottom jaws, alligators have shorter, rounder, U-shaped snout with only teeth showing from the top jaw. American alligators can be found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. They like fresh water, particularly slow-moving rivers. Other bodies of water you may find these guys include swamps, marshes, bayous, and lakes. The can tolerate saltwater for a short time only due to the lack of a sweat gland. They can live up to fifty years in the wild, and once they reach a length of four feet they are safe from all predators except humans and other alligators. -D. Tribe

Rattlesnake

Crotalus adamanteus

Section 2-B-O

Range & Habitat: semi-arid regions of the Americas

Diet: mice, rabbits, other small animals

There are 32 different species of Crotalus, 15 of which live in the US. This pit viper uses heat-seeking pits between its eyes that to detect the warm body of its next meal. The characteristic rattler sound is not necessarily indicative of impending strike, rather a notification of presence; if unheeded, however, one might become victim to the dreaded hemotoxic bite. As it ages, worn and broken pieces of the snake's namesake rattle are replaced with each molt. -- T. Jeske

King Cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

Section 2-B-O

Range &Habitat: Forrested and swampy areas of south/southeast Asia

18 ft long with 2 teaspoons of available venom, behold the King Cobra. Able to support 1/3 of its body weight vertically, the largest of this species can stare a 6 ft tall man in the eye! His foreboding hooded crown and bone-chilling hiss are used to intimidate predators. Menacing only to intruders, a King Cobra is a spectacular parent, and the only snake to build a nest for its young – how ssssweet! -- T. Jeske

Note: Item depicted is a wooden representation, not an actually preserved specimen.

Python

Python species

Section 2-C-I

Range & Habitat: Tropics of Africa, Asia, and Australia

Contrary to popular belief pythons cannot unhinge their jaws, rather both jaws lie along a multi-hinged joint [purple] that allows an incredible range of motion. Combining that with the elastic band [pink] of the lower jaw, these champion eaters can swallow prey at least 2-3 times the width of its head. Long bodies, constricting capabilities, and skulls optimized for devouring large prey are enough to strike fear and awe in the hearts of those who dare tread upon python territory. -- T. Jeske

Southern Flying Lizard

Draco dussumieri

Located in East Building - Contact Mr. Olsen for access

These interesting little lizards have the ability to glide from one tree or another. It is found in the Western Ghats and other forested places in southern India. During breeding season, they can get ferociously territorial with other male lizards when courting a female. While they live nearly their entire lives in the trees, females will drop to the ground to lay approximately four eggs in the soil below. These eggs will then hatch about 50 days later and crawl their way up the trees. These lizards will forage around to munch on any insects they find. - I. Trent

Monitor Lizard

Varanus

1-C-O

The monitor lizard is native to Oceania, Asia, and Africa. They have recently been found in America as an invasive species. There is about 80 species that are currently recognized. Monitor lizards are long necked lizards. They have powerful claws and tails, with well developed arms and legs. These lizards can be as small as 8 inches, and can get as big as 10 feet. -C. Boettcher

Bullsnake

Pituophis catenifer sayi

5-C-O

Just like real bulls, the bull snake is big and nonvenomous. Here in the Western United States, they are sometimes called gopher snakes. This is a scientifically accurate term because Pituophis catenifer sayi is a subspecies of the gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer). Bullsnakes are usually more active during the day, but if it gets especially hot they switch their active hours to the nighttime. The longest bullsnake specimens have been 8 feet long! -Alex

Scorpions 2-C-I

Scorpions are arthropods, they have eight legs, two pedipalps, and a tail with a venom-injecting barb. Scorpions have two venom glands that produce venom used in hunting and self defense. Scorpions do not have bones instead they have an exoskeleton made of chitin, which is similar to the shell of a shrimp. Scorpions are found all across the world. There are over 2,000 different species found on six of the seven continents. They prey on insects, arthropods and in some cases small vertebrates. All scorpions are venomous, they use their venom to paralyze and kill their prey and in self defense. Even small young scorpions can inject you with the same amount of venom as adults. M Caldera

Centipede 2-C-I

Centipedes are known to be highly venomous, and often inject paralyzing venom. Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs, ranging from 30 to 354. Centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs. Therefore, no centipede has exactly 100 legs. An estimated 8,000 species of centipedes are thought to exist. They are found in an array of terrestrial habitats from tropical rain forests deserts. M caldera

Pomponia Cicada 2-C-I

Megapomponia is a genus of cicadas from Southeast Asia containing the world's largest cicadas species. There are 48 species that belong to the genus Pomponia. -M Caldera

Python Skin 2-B-O

The Burmese python is natively found in Southern and Southeast Asia. One of the largest snake species in the world, Burmese pythons. They range from 2.5 to 6 meters long, and 25 to 60 cm wide at their widest point. The average size of Burmese python hides found on the market tends to be around 3.25 meters long and 28 cm wide at the center. The natural markings on the Burmese python are more random than other python species, and a little more rounded in shape. The hide of the Burmese python are also very thin. M caldera

Backbone Of Python

Pythonidae

5-B-O

A snakes backbone is made up of many vertebrae attached to ribs. Snakes have between 200 and 400 vertebrae with as many ribs attached. That is what makes them so flexible and helps them move along. All those bones and the strong muscles protect the internal organs. - J. Manderscheid

Chalcosoma Caucasus 2-C-I

These are a species of beetle. Chalcosoma caucasus can reach a length of 90–120 millimeters (3.5–4.7 in), but only males can reach the maximum length.It is the largest of the genus Chalcosoma and one of Asia's largest beetles.This species can be found from Malaysia south into Indonesia and Thailand in East Region. M Caldera

Tortoise Shell 2-B-I

The tortoise shell is a highly complicated shield for the ventral and dorsal parts of turtles completely enclosing all the vital organs of the turtle and in some cases even the head. It is constructed of modified bony elements such as the ribs, parts of the pelvis and other bones found in most reptiles. The bone of the shell consists of both skeletal and dermal bone showing that the complete enclosure of the shell probably evolved by including dermal armor into the rib cage. Tortoises are land animals. Their feet are round and stumpy, adapted for walking on land. They also dig burrows with their strong forelimbs, and slip underground when the sun gets too hot. M Caldera

Sea Turtle Shell 2-B-I

There are seven existing species of sea turtles. The turtle's shell is divided into two sections: the carapace (the dorsal portion) and the plastron (the ventral portion). The shell is made up of smaller plates called scute. The leather back is the only sea turtle that does not have a hard shell. Instead, it bears a mosaic of bony plates beneath its leathery skin. Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the water. M Caldera

Sea Turtle Skulls 2-B-I

Sea turtles are reptiles fully adapted to aquatic life. Their large size and physical characteristics make them less vulnerable to marine predators, but on the other hand, these same characteristics put them in significant disadvantage against the most ruthless predator they have ever face in its long evolution. M Caldera

Burmese Python

Python bivitattus

Located in East Building - Contact Mr. Olsen for Access

Among the largest snakes on earth, these pythons have a rapid growth rate in which they end up weighing up to 200 pounds and being 16 to 23 feet in length. Although when they are young they spend much of their time up in the trees of Southeast Asia, they tend to live on the ground as they mature. Their chemical receptors make up for their deficient eye sight—which they use to track down their prey of small mammals. The Burmese is most widely known for its method of suffocating its victims and its flexible jaw. --E. Sharp

Cobra

1-C-O

Cobras, members of the genus Naja, are characterized by rearing behavior and the ability to produce a “hood”, or flatten the upper part of their body to make themselves appear larger. The forest cobra, Naja melanoleuca, is the longest, reaching lengths of up to 10ft. -Z. McMurry

Turtle

Testudines

1-C-O

Pictured is a turtle. Turtles are characterized by a hard shell, egg laying, and the fact that they are endotherms (cold-blooded). The word “turtle” can be used to describe the entire order of Testudines, however, there is actually three main types. A turtle is generally a land-dwelling, smaller variety. A tortoise is generally also non-aquatic, while usually being quite a bit larger than a turtle. A sea turtle lives in an aquatic habitat, and has flippers rather than feet. -Z. McMurry

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