Herp Files: Red-eyed Crocodile Skink

These guys are seriously unique in appearance… I’ve never seen anything like them! The Red-eyed Crocodile Skink, Tribolonotus gracilis, is from the forests of New Guinea and is one of the few known lizard species that vocalises when in distress.

Interestingly, females of the species only have a single working ovary (the right ovary), and can only lay a single egg at a time. They also apparently exhibit mother-child family group tendencies. They have some frickin’ awesome armour on their backs as well!

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Herp Files: Gekko Eye

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Herp Files: Atheris hispida (Hairy Bush Viper)

This is a species of viper, a venomous snake, found in Central Africa. Scientific name is Atheris hispida, common names include rough-scaled bush viper, hairy bush viper or spiny bush viper (for obvious reasons). It has some impressive keeled scales that almost give it a bristly appearance. They probably help a great deal with camouflage in vegetation, by breaking up the outline of the animal as well as giving it a leafy appearance.

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Herp Files: World’s Tiniest Chameleon Discovered

This little guy, Brookesia micra, was recently discovered on an a Madagascan island, with adults of both sexes reaching a maximum length of a mere 30mm making them one of the world’s smallest vertebrates as well! They’re so small in fact, that they can easily perch themselves on the tip of a match stick…! Making it most likely the easiest lizard species to loose, or better yet inhale.

See the full article here for more info and pictures.

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Herp Files: Copperhead Snake

This rare photo was taken of two Copperhead Snakes, Austrelaps ramsayi (I believe), today when they were spotted on the side of the road, either a male and female mating or two males battling for a female nearby. Found via r/Australia on reddit.com.

Funny coincidence, I actually stumbled across a dead one of these today on the side of the road that looked a great deal similar to the brown and yellow snake below. Probably the first one of this species I’ve seen in 10 years. A lot of these poor snakes get hit by cars when they’re warming themselves up on the roads. Luckily these two pulled off for a shag or wrestle.

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