Tagged With Reptiles

A ball python curled up and partially buried in wood chips, appearing dormant

Do Snakes Sleep? Exploring Their Resting Behaviors

6 May 2024

Snakes do not sleep in the same way that humans do, but they do have special ways of resting that help them save energy while still being aware of their surroundings.

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.

A large, brown garden snail crawling on a mossy rock, its spiral shell prominently displayed

How Long Do Snails Live? The Science of a Slow Life Span

3 May 2024

There are a number of things that impact how long snails live, such as the type of snail, the environment, and whether or not they reproduce, and the longest living snails can live up to 20 years.

Close-up of a tan snake slithering cautiously on a tree branch, with a vibrant green grasshopper unaware on a nearby leaf

What Do Snakes Eat? A Look at Snakes That Eat Grasshoppers

3 May 2024

Snakes primarily consume grasshoppers and other bugs, and they have special ways of finding and catching these fast-moving animals.

Corn snake with mouth open, slithering through a grassy field

The Teeth of Corn Snakes: An Evolutionary Marvel

2 May 2024

Corn snakes have lots of small, sharp teeth that they use to catch and hold their prey, but their bites are usually too weak to even puncture human skin.

Sleek black mamba snake slithering rapidly across a sandy desert floor

How Fast Are Snakes? The Top Speeds of 10 Different Species

2 May 2024

Snakes are fast, and some, like the black mamba, can go over 12 miles per hour, but they are typically only fast for short distances.

Vibrant Martinique pink toe tarantula launching itself into the air from a branch

Can Tarantulas Jump? Exploring the Locomotion Constraints of These Mythical Spiders

2 May 2024

Tarantulas can jump, but their jumping ability is limited, with some tree-dwelling species only able to jump a few inches when in danger.

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.

Two koi fish, one with fully intact fins and another with a regenerating fin stub

Fish Fin Regeneration: Can They Regrow After Amputation?

28 April 2024

Fish fins are able to regrow as a result of epimorphic regeneration, which requires signaling pathways that control blastema formation and patterning.

A large corn snake coiled around a rabbit, with its jaws open, in a natural forest setting

What Do Snakes Eat? An In-Depth Look at Predator-Prey Relationships

27 April 2024

For example, rat snakes and pythons are both snakes that have been observed hunting rabbits, and this is largely due to their physical characteristics that make them better suited to hunting and eating larger animals.

A large brown rat cautiously approaching a cockroach on a kitchen floor, with a predatory expression

Do Rats Eat Cockroaches? Uncovering Nature's Surprising Symbiosis

27 April 2024

Rats are opportunistic omnivores and will consume cockroaches, which has implications for both public health and pest control efforts.