Around the World

Australian Blue Tongue Skink (Tiligua spp.)

Range: Australia

Eats slugs and snails, and uses its bright blue tongue to “taste” the air when feeding. Found in gardens and sometimes seen sunning themselves during the day. The Australian Blue Tongue Skink sheds its skin annually and gives birth to between 8–12 live young.

 

Plecostomus, also known as Sucker Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus)

Size: between 15–25cm

Range: South America and Bolivia tributaries

Takes the name from sucking algae from surface of objects. The plecostomus can often seen at the National Aquarium “cleaning” the crocodile enclosure but is hardly noticed as because the fish barely moves.

 

Tortoises generally live on land and have legs for walking whereas turtles are fully aquatic and have flippers for swimming. A Terrapin has legs adopted for swimming and walking on land. River turtles and terrapins soak up oxygen through their skin and can stay under water for days if not active and will hibernate under water during cold periods.

 

Turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles and can swim long distances in a short time. Very sensitive to sound. Females return to land to lay eggs. Lay as many as 200 eggs but only a handful will survive. They have an excellent sense of smell, hear better at low frequencies, and have good underwater vision but are short sighted on land. Turtles do not have teeth but a modified jaw.

 

Tortoises belong to the same family as crocodiles, alligators and lizards, and can live for more than 100 years.

 

Size: ave 130–150mm

Range: China, Ryukyu Island

Now an endangered species because they were previously caught and sold as a food speciality. They can live at reasonably high altitudes, preferring ponds and flooded rice fields, eating frogs and juvenile snakes. In captivity they eat worms and petfood. This snake eating twin hinged tortoise can seal itself within the shell for protection from predators. The bottom shell has a hinge which is able to close the front and back sections. It doesn’t swim but can live in shallow water.

 

Fresh Water Australian Terrapins, snake-necked or long-necked) (Chelodina longicollis)

Size: 12–24 cm

Range: native to Australia

These have a long neck and live mainly in dirty water, keeping their nostrils and eyes just above the surface, feeding mainly on small fish. They are also good climbers. Fresh water Australian terrapins are inquisitive and make great pets because of their quirky personalities. They tuck themselves up, pulling their neck in sideways for protection against predators.

 

Salt Water Crocodile (Crocodilus porosus)

Size: up to 8m

Range: native to Northern Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia

A salt water crocodile has a long triangular snout and its lower teeth can be seen when its mouth is closed, whereas an alligator has an oval snout, is broad, flat and rounded.

 

Deceptively fast, a fully grown crocodile can be docile, lying in the sun one minute but outpace almost anything over the first 30 metres the next. Frequents river estuaries in brackish, fresh, or salt water. These man-eating species are the meanest of all crocodiles and can never be tamed.

 

The Guinness “Book of World Records” states they are the world’s largest reptile

and have been measured up to 8.36 metres. Salt water crocodiles are cold blooded with a four-chamber heart and well developed senses. The jaws are weak when opening, which makes them easy to hold closed but so powerful in closing they can crush small animals. Crocodiles will hiss and let out a fearsome roar. They travel big distances and were becoming endangered until the Australian Government banned hunting of them.