Reptiles, features and articles | Educational Science

Aug 31, 2009

Scientists See Rare Turtle for First Time in the Wild

Known only by museum specimens and a few captive individuals, one of the world’s rarest turtle species – the Arakan forest turtle – has been observed for the first time in the wild. A Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) team discovered five of the critically endangered turtles in a wildlife sanctuary...

Jul 31, 2009

'Two-Headed' Snake Fakes Predators

One species of venomous sea snake shows the advantages of being two-faced. This slithering reptile twists its tail so its hind end appears to predators as a second head. The clever sea snake, called the yellow-lipped sea krait (Laticauda colubrine), relies on the ruse to keep it safe from sharks...

May 31, 2009

Study Shows How Snakes Slither

Snakes can slither across flat surfaces without legs, but not entirely without help. That's because snake scales act as friction hooks which catch in rough points on surfaces, a new study shows. Strangely, the finding could eventually lead to robotic snakes that move more naturally. When I first started studying...

Oct 31, 2010

Amazon River Welcomes 180,000 Baby Turtles

An army of tiny baby turtles recently made a determined crawl to the Amazon River, after their release by a conservation group. The adorable creatures, called Arrau River turtles, had been nursed through the most dangerous part of their lives the time just after they hatched before being released into...

Feb 28, 2010

Ancient Blind Snakes Hitched Ride on Drifting Continents

Blind snakes are small worm-like creatures that likely feel their way through underground homes by sensing chemicals through their skin. It turns out, these organisms have been around since 150 million years ago, when the supercontinent called Gondwana was just breaking up, according to new genetic research. The study suggests...

Jan 31, 2010

Ancient Human Ancestors Faced Fearsome Horned Crocodile

A newfound horned crocodile may have been the largest predator encountered by our ancestors in Africa, researchers now suggest. Scientists have even found bones from members of the human lineage bearing tooth marks from this reptile, whose scientific name, Crocodylus anthropophagus, means man-eating crocodile. This predator, which lived some 1.84...

Apr 30, 2011

Cannibalism Weeds Out Baby Alligators

Baby alligators can't depend on their elders for a helping hand. In fact, young gators are a perfect bite to eat for large gator adults. Now, a new study finds that between 6 percent and 7 percent of young alligators fall victim to the cruel fate of cannibalism. On the...

Sep 30, 2012

Snail Sacrifices Foot to Survive Snake Attacks

Better to lose your foot than your life, at least if you're a snail. In a move reminiscent of certain lizards that can voluntarily detach their tails, young Satsuma caliginosa snails self-amputate their foot when attacked by their nemesis, the Pareas iwasakii snake, a new study finds. As they age,...

May 31, 2012

Snakes' Scales Propel Them Up Tree Trunks

Without legs, snakes must get creative to slither up trees, and new research suggests they use the scales covering their bodies to make such climbs. Their scales and body muscles work together to push against the bark on the tree as they inch upward, the researchers said. An important and...

Jan 31, 2012

World's Tiniest Chameleon Discovered

A species of chameleon small enough to easily perch on a match head has been discovered on a tiny island off Madagascar, a group of scientists has announced. In addition to the discovery of Brookesia micra, now the tiniest chameleon ever discovered, the researchers also announced the discovery of three...

Jan 31, 2012

New Colorful Lizard Surprises Scientists in Andes

Researchers have discovered a new species of lizard in a strange place. The brightly colored, water-loving lizards live in the Andes Mountains in southern Peru — an odd place to find them, scientists say, because of the chilly conditions. The semi-aquatic reptiles, dubbed Potamites montanicola, grow to about 2.5 inches...

Sep 30, 2013

As Constrictor Attacks Continue, Look to the Snake Trade (Op-Ed)

Wayne Pacelle is the president and chief executive officer of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). This Op-Ed is adapted from a post on the blog A Humane Nation, where the content ran before appearing in LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. A New York area animal control...

Jul 31, 2014

Get a Death Grip! Why Snakes Don't Slip When Climbing Trees

Some snakes seem to be little scaredy-cats, as new research finds when climbing trees, they hold on for dear life. The study researchers found snakes use a much greater force to grip tree trunks and other surfaces they're climbing than is necessary. The finding suggests the reptiles prefer to play...

Jul 31, 2014

Can a Severed Snake Head Still Kill? It's Possible

Venomous snakes are scary when they're alive, but there's also reason to fear these fanged creatures after they're dead, a recent news report suggests. The tale of a chef in China who was preparing a rare delicacy known as cobra soup and was fatally bitten by the decapitated head of...

Jul 31, 2015

Snake in the Grass! Huge Everglades Python Shows Invasive Issue

A giant python — about as long as a shipping container — that was captured in Everglades National Park in Florida earlier this month has now been euthanized, authorities say. The accidental finding of this snake shows how easily even huge pythons can remain hidden in Florida's swampy south, experts...