The prehensile tailed skink (Prasinohaema prehensicauda) from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Credit score: Christopher Austin
Immediately is Reptile Consciousness Day! We reached out to our lizard-loving scientist buddies to be taught their favorite reptile information to deliver them to you to have a good time the day.
1. Huge and venomous
The Komodo dragon is venomous! And the extinct large relative Megalania was the biggest venomous animal to have ever lived.
Brian Fry, College of Queensland
2. Et tu, Brutus?
Most reptiles have indeterminate development. This implies they develop quickly from delivery after which proceed to develop even after reaching maturity, whereas people mainly cease rising upon reaching maturity. Because of this each on occasion, a large snake or crocodile is discovered.
Dane Trembath, Australian Museum
Brutus, a 5.5-metre croc within the Adelaide River in Northern Territory. Credit score: Inventive Commons.
3. Digging screens
Get an replace of science tales delivered straight to your inbox.
A monitor lizard right here in Australia has the deepest nests of any recognized vertebrate on Earth, burrowing down (via backfilled sand) to as much as 4 metres or extra! Additionally they dig these loopy helical burrows that have been solely recognized from extinct animals from the fossil report earlier than this discovery.
Simon Clulow, College of Canberra
Yellow-spotted monitor lizard (Varanus panoptes). Credit score: Reg Morrison/Auscape
4. Duel placentas
Dwell-bearing lizards have a placenta (as mammals do) – however most have two totally different placentas for every child! There’s a mammal-like placenta that gives the embryo with oxygen, sugars and proteins, and a placenta for the yolk sac that almost all reptile embryos nonetheless retain, that tops up the fats reserves.
Mark Hutchinson, College of Adelaide and South Australian Museum
Extraembryonic membranes of a viviparous lizard, the southern grass skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii). Reproduced from Griffith, et al., 2016.Â
5. Sturdy reptiles
Sea snakes can breath via their pores and skin! As much as 30% of their oxygen necessities may be exchanged underwater, permitting them to dive deep. One sea snake even has an enlarged vein that passes over the mind to extend oxygen provide to the pinnacle whereas diving.
Jenna Crowe-Riddell, College of Adelaide
A female and male turtle-headed sea snake underwater. Credit score: Jenna Cowe-Riddell.
Cosmos
Curated content material from the editorial employees at Cosmos Journal.
Learn science information, not fiction…
There’s by no means been a extra necessary time to clarify the information, cherish evidence-based data and to showcase the most recent scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is printed by The Royal Establishment of Australia, a charity devoted to connecting folks with the world of science. Monetary contributions, nevertheless huge or small, assist us present entry to trusted science info at a time when the world wants it most. Please help us by making a donation or buying a subscription as we speak.
