#herpetology

[herpsandbirds]

Earless Monitor Lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis), family Lanthanotidae, endemic to Borneo

ENDANGERED.

Semi-aquatic.

Closely related to true monitor lizards in the family Varanidae.

The only member of its family.

They do have inner ears, and are capable of hearing, despite the lack of ear openings and tympanae.

photographs by Tom Williams

[crispysnakes]

This is so cool! A new species of boa was discovered, Boa atlantica. Also great to see Argentines were elevated to species status.

[kness]

A crocodile mom and her little ones

Porcelain figurine

[coolestcrocodilian]

What a DORK❗️

[thagomizersshow]

Most lizards already have wild-looking skulls, but worm lizards elevated it to an artform

Leposternon microcephalum, Smallhead Worm Lizard

Bipes biporus, Baja Worm Lizard

Rhineura floridana, Florida Worm Lizard

Anops kingii, Keel-headed Worm Lizard

Skull images from digimorph.com

For reference, in life, most of these guys are a variation on this look:

[arminreindl]

[typhlonectes]

[markscherz]

Is there any frog species you have a grudge against?

Meet Gephyromantis (Phylacomantis) pseudoasper

Peak calling activity? Between 3 and 4 am 😡

Its preferred perch? The canvas of my tent 🙃

The decibels of its call? Jet-engine levels 🫨

The sound? Fuckin' Star Wars lasers.

[yaoiconnoisseur]

via

[musiclovingmoth]

and when i say "specimens" i don't mean taxidermied mounts made to look lifelike for exhibit, i'm talking about the thousands to millions of specimens lying in drawers and shelves like this:

asking because i didn't know this until i was in high school. reblogs greatly appreciated, i want to reach as far out of science nerd tumblr as possible!

[sleepy-bebby]

Sea turtle launches attacks on a scuba diver cleaning his tank only to be foiled time and time again.

[herpsandbirds]

Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus), family Colubridae, East Texas, USA

This snake is a subspecies of the Eastern Racer.

photograph by Stuart Fairbanks Willicombe

[indoraptorgirlwind]

[internetdruid]

Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone) on top of a Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) x.

[fresh-frogs]

BEEPS

[amnhnyc]

Sunshine State residents, do you recognize this little neighbor? It’s the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox)! Unlike many turtles, you might find this critter darting about on land or swimming rapidly in water. Its hydrodynamic, flattened shell, and four strongly-webbed feet help it to move swiftly. Softshells stick mostly to water and have long necks and snouts that they poke above the surface, like a snorkel, to breathe. Juveniles have more contrasting color patterns than adults: their carapace, or shell, can be olive, tan, or light brown with spots and a yellow rim.

Photo: kimberry, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist