thingsonmydragon

[thingsonmydragon]

Galapagos Lava Lizard (Microlophus albemarlensis), family Tropiduridae, sitting on a Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), family Iguanidae, Fernandina Island, Galapagos

photographs by Rachelle Mackintosh

[thingsonmydragon]

[thingsonmydragon]

Conservationists release largest group of zoo-bred Bellinger River snapping turtles after virus wipe-out

Nearly a decade after a virus nearly wiped out a population of turtles unique to northern New South Wales, researchers say its origins remain a mystery as a project to repopulate the species hits a major milestone. Now identified as the Bellinger River Virus, it triggered a mass mortality event in 2015 that decimated 90 per cent of the river's snapping turtle population within six weeks. At the time, the state government placed 16 healthy turtles into a zoo-based breeding program led by Taronga Zoo as part of the NSW government's Saving our Species program. Some 179 Bellinger River snapping turtles have since been released after the program started in 2018, with 97 turtles reintroduced into the river during December marking the largest group yet...

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-09/bellinger-river-snapping-turtle-conservation-release-zoo-bred/103681974

[thingsonmydragon]

She likes to curl up in my lap and then peek out by propping her face on my knee.

[thingsonmydragon]

Broad-snouted caiman baby in mother mouth being carried from the nest, Sante Fe, Argentina, 2013 - by Mark MacEwen, English

#parent mouth good place for baby very safe happy baby

[thingsonmydragon]

Elephant Trunk Snake aka Javan File Snake (Acrochordus javanicus), family Acrochordidae, Malaysia

photograph by Bryce Trevett

[thingsonmydragon]

[thingsonmydragon]

American Woodcock demonstrates "distal rhynchokinesis," the ability to flex the end of its bill. This allows it to grab earthworms it encounters when probing in soil. Other shorebirds, including Dunlins & Sanderlings, can bend their bills in this way. 😃

[thingsonmydragon]

You will look at my alligators

[thingsonmydragon]

saving some hibiscus for later

#reptile #bearded dragon #lizard #beardie

[thingsonmydragon]

Atlas got to try his first egg yesterday for Easter! 😁

[thingsonmydragon]

Anyone who works with wildlife will tell you it’s a good thing for wild patients to show hostility towards humans even after a long stay in the hospital, and honestly I think snapping turtles might be the best at this. We surgically repaired this little dude’s broken mandible and provided care in hospital for a few months but bless his heart he never stopped hating my fucking guts. Even with a broken jaw he’d snap at me so viciously whenever I had to give him meds and I love him like a son

This feisty creature’s implant was removed once he’d healed and he was successfully released back into the wild near where he was found. Good luck out there bud, I sincerely hope every wildlife patient I ever see going forward has your disdain for humans!

(These photos were taken while the patient’s enclosure was being cleaned, and he was never handled without medical or husbandry cause)

[thingsonmydragon]

Atlas is growing so fast, this is crazy 😭🤎

[thingsonmydragon]

The amount of interesting research about placoderms in recent years gives me life.

They are such goobers.

Dunkleostes, Amazichthys, Alienacanthus and Entelognathus

[thingsonmydragon]

check out this dekay's brownsnake! a tiny beast with a crazy long tongue :p

#I sometimes find these little guys while gardening

[thingsonmydragon]

[thingsonmydragon]

HIGH NOON