Amphibian & ReptileManagement

Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D.

March 19, 2012

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

REPTILES• Taxinomic class defined by:

– Air breathing– Egg laying of shelled eggs– Scaled or scute covered skin/bodies

• Four orders– Crocodiles– Sphenodontia (tuataras)– Sqamata

• Lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians (worm lizards)

– Chelonia or Testuidines

REPTILES

• chelonians

• lizards

• snakes

• amphisbaenians – worm lizards

• tuataras

• crocodiles

Chelonians

• Turtles

• Tortoises

• Terrapins

• Salmonella risks– Not just turtles, etc.

TURTLES

• spend most or all of their time in water• leatherback turtle – Dermochelys coriacea– largest turtle, endangered

TORTOISE

• spend most or all of their time on land• Aldabra tortoise – Geochelone gigantia – 2nd largest tortoise, CITES protected

TERRAPINS

• Spend significant time on land and in water

• American Indian word

TERRAPINS - Red-Eared Slider

• Southern U.S.

• omnivorous

• 75° F

Red-Eared slider – Trachemys scripta elegans

LIZARDS• habitats - desert to marshes

• diets - herbivorous, omnivorous, carnivorous, insectivorous

• temperature requirements - widely varied

• bottom line - do your homework

Iguanas• Green iguana

• Calcium

• Vit D– Lights

• Central and South Am

• Up to ~ 7 feet• Related

– Chuckwalla

– Desert Iguana

Anoles

• Small new world lizard

• False chamelions

• Green Anole– Native to USA– Cuban brown

• Now in Florida

– Knight Anole• 18 inches

Skinks

• Small lizards

• Five lined skink– North America native

• Blue tongued skink– Australian– Pet trade

• Solomon Island giant skink– Arboreal– Largest species of skink; 28”

Geckos

• Desert to tropical

• Lamellated feet– Climbers

• Nocturnal and vocal

• Leopard gecko– India native

– Pest control

– Popular pet species

• Tokay gecko– Aggressive

Chameleons

• Experienced owner only

• Africa, southern Europe, Near East to south asia

• Change color

• Turret eyes

horned toad (a lizard - really!)

Phrynosoma platyrhinos –

TUATARAS

• habitat - small islands around New Zealand

• diet - carnivorous• temperature

– ~54° F

• 50-80 cm; up to 1 kg• living fossils

AMPHISBAENIANS worm lizards

• Florida worm lizard – Rhineura floridana