Reptile Rooms

Getting a tail up on conservation? New method for measuring lizard weight from size
A researcher in Israel has developed an improved tool for translating lizard body lengths to weights. The new equations calculate this valuable morphological feature to estimate the weight of a lizard species in a variety of different ecosystems.

Scientists bring new species of turtle out of its shell
When scientists announce the discovery of a new animal species, we often imagine exotic, difficult to reach locations -- the untouched shore of a distant island, the forests of the rain-drenched Amazon or the darkest depths of the Arctic Ocean. But the recent announcement of a new species of turtle in the southeastern United States proves that even in a country considered to be well-explored, perhaps more awaits discovery.

Frog skin may provide 'kiss of death' for antibiotic-resistant germs
Kissing a frog won't turn it into a prince -- except in fairy-tales -- but frogs may be hopping toward a real-world transformation into princely allies in humanity's battle with antibiotic-resistant infections that threaten millions of people. Scientists reported that frog skin contains substances that could be the basis for a new genre of antibiotics.

Irish lizards threatened by agriculture
A new ecological network is urgently needed in Northern Ireland to ensure the continued survival of its precious lizard population, according to researchers. Lizards are found in coastal areas, heath and boglands around Northern Ireland, but a new study has found their natural habitats may have been replaced through agricultural intensification.

Tiny, new, pea-sized frog is old world's smallest
The smallest frog in the Old World (Asia, Africa and Europe) and one of the world's tiniest was discovered inside and around pitcher plants in the heath forests of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. The pea-sized amphibian is a species of microhylid, which, as the name suggests, is composed of miniature frogs under 15 millimeters.

Kihansi spray toads make historic return to Tanzania
In a bold effort to save one of the world's rarest amphibians from extinction, one hundred Kihansi spray toads have been flown home to Tanzania after being painstakingly reared at the Bronx Zoo and the Toledo Zoo.

Frogs evolution tracks rise of Himalayas and rearrangement of Southeast Asia
Asian spiny frogs are named for the nubby spines on their chests and arms, which they use to grasp females during mating in swift streams. Biologists have conducted a genetic analysis of 24 species of spiny frogs and correlated their diversification with the rise of the Himalayas and Tibet. The findings support a theory that India not only uplifted the mountains, but shoved Southeast Asia toward the Pacific.

Stress hormones help lizards escape from fire ants
When some fence lizards are attacked by fire ants they "stress out" with elevated levels of stress hormones -- a response that helps the species to flee quickly and survive. The discovery is helping scientists to understand the impact of invasive species on native populations.

'Ribbit Radio' shows frog population estimates are likely flawed
Scientists track amphibian populations because these animals are sensitive to changes in their environment and can serve as "canaries in the coal mine" to give researchers early warnings about pollution or other ecological problems. But new research shows that data from the largest amphibian monitoring program in the United States may have flaws that, if uncorrected, could result in overestimates of frog populations.

Ancient reptiles 'make tracks': Discovery of fossilized footprints reveals when reptiles first conquered dry land
A discovery of fossilized footprints reveals when reptiles first conquered dry land. The 318-million-year-old reptile footprints were found in sea-cliffs on the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada. They show that reptiles were the first vertebrates (animals with a backbone) to conquer dry continental interiors.