Tagged With Aquatic Reptiles

Artistic image of a painted turtle's shell submerged in a calm pond, showcasing the intricate pattern and individual scutes that make up its protective armor

Turtle Scales or Scutes? Understanding the Unique Armor of These Reptiles

18 May 2024

Turtles' shells are made of scutes, which are bony and have adapted to protect turtles over millions of years.

Close-up of a baby red-eared slider turtle with a red stripe on its head, perched on a rock in a pond

Do Turtles Poop? Understanding a Turtle's Digestive System

17 May 2024

This article explains everything you need to know about turtle poop, including the turtle's digestive system, what normal poop should look like, and how to check your turtle's poop for signs of a problem.

Close-up of a green sea turtle with large, glowing eyes peering out from the dark underwater scene

Do Turtles Have Night Vision? Understanding Their Nocturnal Abilities

17 May 2024

Turtles can see in the dark, but their ability to do so is somewhat limited. That said, sea turtles and other types of turtles have developed special ways to see better in low-light conditions.

Iguana with large orange eyes and a spiky crest standing on a branch, mouth open in a hissing display, surrounded by lush jungle foliage

From Hisses to Barks: A Look at the Vocal Talents of Lizards

15 May 2024

Lizards are more vocal than you might think, and they make a variety of sounds to communicate, attract mates, and interact with other lizards.

Gila monster crawling over a rocky desert landscape, alert and ready to defend itself

Do Lizards Have Poison? The Science of Lizard Toxins

10 May 2024

While there are no poisonous lizards, some, such as the Gila monster, have venom glands and can deliver a venomous bite, although it's not particularly harmful to people.

Detailed image of a black rat snake slithering towards a coiled copperhead snake, with a rocky, wooded hillside in the background

Can Black Snakes Kill Copperheads? The Fascinating Predator-Prey Relationship

10 May 2024

Black snakes, which include rat snakes and racers, are known to search for and consume copperheads, which helps keep the ecosystem in check.

Realistic image of a black racer snake winding up a tree towards a bird's nest

Snakes Eating Birds: A Coevolutionary Arms Race

10 May 2024

The ways in which snakes have adapted to be better bird hunters, including how they hunt and the ways in which birds have evolved to avoid predation.

A large, adult ball python partially hidden under a rock cave in a glass terrarium, showcasing its muscular build and rich, brown coloration

Should You Get a Ball Python? Here's Everything You Need to Know

10 May 2024

Pros and cons of ball pythons as pets, such as their needs, behavior, and whether or not they are a good choice for people who have never had a pet reptile before.

A painted turtle swimming in a pond and feeding on aquatic plants

From Algae to Carrion: The Many Different Diets of Wild Turtles

4 May 2024

Wild turtles eat a variety of things, such as aquatic plants, insects, and fish, and there are even more specialized diets for sea turtles like green turtles and leatherbacks.

Photorealistic image of a brown and tan leopard frog crouched low, ready to attack a goldfish swimming in a backyard pond

What Do Frogs Eat? The Predatory Behavior of Amphibians

3 May 2024

Frog species that eat fish, the ways they've evolved to hunt, and what this means for managing frog-fish interactions in ponds.

Three turtles with different colored shells resting on a fallen log by a pond

The Rainbow of Turtles: What Do Their Colors Mean?

29 April 2024

The many different colors of turtle shells, such as green and brown, are a form of camouflage that helps them hide and avoid predators.

A small box turtle with its head and legs extended, revealing its unprotected body without the shell

What Would a Turtle Look Like Without a Shell? A Fascinating Investigation

28 April 2024

What a turtle would look like without its shell, which is actually part of the turtle's skeleton and necessary for its protection.