Agama, Redheaded
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Genus and species: Agama agama
Habitat and Range: They live in deserts, savannas, grasslands, rain forests, scrub
forests and mountains in sub-Saharan Africa. They have also been introduced in
Florida.
Diet: Insects, small mammals, fruits and plants.
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years.
Did you know?
They lay eggs. Females dig a hole and lay 5 to 7 eggs.
The boys do push-ups to attract girls.
They have very long tails that they use to fight and defend themselves.
Length: about 10 inches
They live in groups which are led by a dominant male.
About our Redheaded Agama:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
1
Agama, Taylor’s Shield Tailed
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Genus and species: Xenagama taylori
Habitat and Range: Found in Somalia and Ethiopia. It lives on arid flat land,
sometimes on hilly landscapes, sandy but also hard grounds where they dig deep
burrows.
Diet: Insects, plants, and fruits.
Lifespan: as much as 15 years in captivity.
Did you know?
As such size makes it vulnerable to even small predators; it uses its spiny tail to block
its burrows at night. This small lizard is essentially insectivorous, but has been observed
eating vegetable matter (grass, fruits, berries). The species is sexually dimorphic, with
males being the smaller sex. When the males are excited their chin turns a vibrant blue
color. Males have larger anal pores enclosed by a waxy yellow substance.
About our Taylor’s Shield Tailed Agama Lizard:
Exhibited at Wee Play.
2
Chameleon, Madagascar Giant
Order: Squamata
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus and species: Furcifer oustaleti
Habitat and Range: Open forests and forest edges, mountainous savannas, cities
and farms in Madagascar, but have been introduced into Nairobi, Kenya and southern
Florida.
Diet: Mostly invertebrates, but also small lizards and birds.
Lifespan: They certainly live longer in captivity, with proper care, and can reach ages
of 7 to 10 for males, and 5 to 7 for females.
Did you know?
They lay eggs.
Maximum length: 27 inches
Their eyes can look in different directions at the same time. This helps them look for
food while watching for predators.
Their toes point in opposite directions. This helps them grip tree branches to climb and
to steady themselves when catching insects.
About our Madagascar Giant Chameleon:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
3
Chameleon, Plated Leaf
Order: Squamata
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus and species: Brookesia stumpffi
Habitat and Range: They live in dry forests and rain forests in Northwestern
Madagascar.
Diet: Mostly small vertebrates.
Lifespan: At least 3 years.
Did you know?
They lay eggs.
Their maximum length is about 3.5 inches.
They look for food on the ground during the day, but to be safe, they sleep on tree
branches about 1-3 feet of the ground at night.
Their skin has a strange shape. This helps them look more like a leaf so they can hide
from predators.
About our Plated Leaf Chameleon:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
4
Chuckwalla, San Esteban
SSP
Order: Squamata
Family: Iguanidae
Genus and species: Sauromalus varius
Habitat and Range: Desert islands in the islands of San Esteban, Roco Lobos and
Pelicanos in the Gulf of California.
Diet: Mostly plants, but sometimes insects.
Longevity: 25 years (or more); currently there is a male at the Sonoran Desert
Museum that is 36 years of age.
Did you know?
They lay eggs. Females lay 5-15 eggs.
They can crawl into a crack in a rock and take a deep breath to wedge themselves in so
predators can’t pull them out.
Their sandy and blotchy colors give them great camouflage.
Sometimes people mistake them for Gila Monsters.
Length: about 21-23 inches.
About our San Esteban Chuckwalla:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
5
Gecko, Lined Leaf-tailed
SSP
Order: Squamata
Family: Geckonidae
Genus and species: Uroplatus lineatus
Habitat and Range: Found in low-altitude bamboo forests and sleeps exposed on tree
trunks and bamboo canes during the day. They are in a number of locations in
northeast Madagascar.
Diet: Insects: crickets, meal worms and wax worms.
Lifespan: About seven years.
Did you know?
They can reach 10 to 11 inches in length. Males have an aberrant linear pattern along
the dorsal, whereas females have a very neat, linear pattern which is sometimes made
up of dashed lines and sometimes solid lines.
This Gecko is a unique species with there being no other species like them. They have
no dermal fringe and are very long and slender. The coloration and pattern resembles
bamboo, which they are commonly found on in their natural habitat.
They demonstrate some interesting flight behaviors. When jumping and attempting
evasion, they will sometimes land with their back legs straightened out and tucked
under their tail and the front legs tucked under their jaw. This results in them appearing
as if they are a falling twig or piece of bamboo.
About our Lined Leaf-tailed Gecko:
We have a pair located at the Reptile Exhibit. (On Exhibit in the main area)
6
Gecko, Neon Day
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus and species: Phelsuma klemmeri
Habitat and Range:
They live in bamboo patches in dry forests and rain forests in Northwestern
Madagascar.
Diet: Mostly insects, nectar and fruit.
Lifespan: 10 years or more.
Did you know?
They lay eggs in bamboo cracks to hide them from predators. Eggs hatch between 37
and 52 days.
They have special toes. The fine “hairs” (called setae) on the pads help them stick to
bamboo and just about anything else, including glass. And, they are self- cleaning!
Length: Up to 4 inches
It is currently endangered in the wild.
About our Neon Day Gecko:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
7
Gecko, New Caledonia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus and species: Rhacodactylus leachianus
Habitat and Range: They are arboreal, making their homes in the highest treetops
and are found in the forests of New Caledonia, an island 1000 miles off the eastern
coast of Australia.
Diet: They are an omnivorous species, which in they wild eat insects, lizards, small
mammals, and fruits and flowers.
Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
Did you know?
This is one of the largest geckos, reaching a body length of up to 15 inches. It spends
all of its time in the treetops. Males usually stay on the trunk and lower branches of
trees, while the females generally remain in the higher forest canopy. These lizards live
primarily in the mountainous portion of southern New Caledonia. They also occur
throughout the east coast of the island.
Many of the locals in New Caledonia call this gecko “the devil in the trees” because of
the growling noises they make. Its skin appears too loose for its body and it has small,
stumpy tail. Females lay two eggs, which hatch 60 – 90 days after they are laid.
About our New Caledonia Gecko:
We have one female; the exhibit is located in the reptile department.
8
Gila Monster
Venomous
Order: Squamata
Family: Helodermatidae
Genus and species: Heloderma suspectum
Habitat and Range: Deserts of the southwestern United States down into northern
Mexico.
Diet: mostly nestling mammals and birds. Their diet at the Zoo is mice.
Lifespan: been known to live over 25 years in captivity.
Did you know?
The Gila monster gets its name from the Gila River in S.W. Mexico and Arizona. The Gila
monster and its close relative, the Mexican bearded lizard, are two of the most wellknown venomous lizards. The beaded appearance of both lizards is due to the hard,
bony scales that cover their backs, and is protection against the arid conditions in which
they live. The Gila monster is primarily nocturnal, despite its bright warning coloration.
It searches for food by constantly flicking its tongue, using its Jacobson's organ to pick
up scent molecules of prey in the air. It is able to store fat reserves in its tail, and can,
therefore, survive the long fasting periods that are inevitable in the desert. Gila
monsters are egg layers.
Bites from Gila monsters are rarely fatal in humans, but are said to be extremely
painful. Most cases of Gila monster envenomation in humans are a result of careless
handling of the animals.
About our Gila Monsters:
They are located in an outdoor exhibit during the warmer months of the year. The
enclosure was spruced up in 1996 by AAZK.
9
Order: Squamata
Komodo Dragon
SSP
Family: Varanidae
Genus and species: Varanus komodoensis
Habitat and Range: Komodo Island as well as several nearby islands.
Diet: In the wild, komodos are apex predators, top of their food chain and prey mainly on wild
deer and boar, but also target other live prey. They can consume an amazing 80% of their body
weight in one meal. They eat by ripping away meat and swallowing it whole. When they eat,
they eat everything…flesh, bone, fur, and hooves. In captivity their primary diet is mice for
juvenile dragons, older dragons diet ranges from rats, rabbits to deer carcasses.
Lifespan: 30 to 50 years.
Did you know?
The Komodo Dragon wins the prize for being the biggest living lizard in the world! They can
weigh up to 150 pounds; however females are noticeably smaller. Males can grow up to 10 feet
long, while females only reach 8 feet. They reach maturity within 5 to 10 years. Inside a
dragon’s mouth are about 60 short, sharp teeth designed to cut and tear flesh. A dragon will
go through four or five sets of teeth in a lifetime. The Komodo Dragon is a type of monitor
lizard, an ancient species of reptile with ancestors that date back more than 100 million years.
Despite their long life and the fact that it is an efficient predator, Komodo dragons are listed as
endangered species. The reasons behind this plight of the mighty lizard are hunters and the
destruction of their natural habitat. One of the interesting facts about Komodo dragons is that
they have slow metabolism. For this reason, they can survive on just 12 meals per year. The
Komodo has a long, forked tongue like a snake and, like a snake, can follow a scent trail with
its tongue. Mating takes place sometime between May and August. A female lays eggs in the
month of September. A female can lay up to 20 eggs at a time.
About our Komodo Dragon:
“Khaleesi” came to us from the Zoo Atlanta in December 2011 and is on exhibit where
Buttercup was housed. She was born August 10, 2010 at the LA Zoo where she was sold to
Zoo Atlanta fairly quickly after that. Atlanta decided to place her on exhibit loan with us due to
some compatibility problems with their other dragons.
Drogo came from the Memphis Zoo in early summer of 2013. This young male hatched in
January, 2013, and seems to be getting bigger each day.
Khaleesi and Drago are currently on exhibit in Wee Play.
10
Lizard, Baja Blue-rock
Order: Squamata
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus and species: Petrosaurus thalassinus
Habitat and Range: Sierra la Laguna and Sierra la Trinidad of the Cape region of
Baja California. Also found on Islas Espiritu Santo and Partida Sur in the Gulf of
California.
They can be found near large trees and other vegetation in rock canyons, boulderstrewn hillsides and arroyos.
Diet: Insects, small lizards, blossoms, leaves, seeds and small fruit. Occasional
cannibalism of smaller individuals has been observed.
Longevity: 20 years.
Did you know?
It lays egs, usually 20 to 30 eggs, which hatch between 85 and 88 days.
Length: 18 inches.
It prefers temperatures above 90 degrees F and basks on rocks in direct sunlight.
It is able to drop its tail when caught.
About our Baja Blue-rock Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
11
Lizard, Beaded
Venomous
Order: Squamata
Family: Helodermatidae
Genus and species: Heloderma horridum horridum
Habitat and Range: Dry, open forest areas with abundant rocks and sparse
vegetation. They burrow to avoid mid-day heat, spending 70% of their life
underground. Can be found in southern Sonora, Mexico to southwestern Guatemala.
Diet: In the wild they eat reptile and bird eggs and occasionally small mammals.
Lifespan: Up to 30 years, with speculation they might live to be 50.
Did you know?
The Beaded Lizard is one of only two venomous lizards in the world, the other being the
Gila Monster. Both lizards are egg-layers. Incubation period ranges from 165 to 215
days. It may take two or three days for them to come all the way out of the shell.
Males weigh between 5 and 6 pounds and about 36 inches long. Females range
between 3 1/5 to 5 pounds and about 30 inches long.
About our Beaded Lizard:
We have one female on display during the warmer months; the exhibit is located in the
reptile department.
12
Lizard, Chinese Crocodile
SSP
Order: Squamata
Family: Shinosasuridae
Genus and species: Shinisaurus crocodilurus
Habitat and Range: Near slow-moving streams in bamboo forestsin the Davao Shan
Mountains of Guangxi, China and Quang Ninh Vietnam.
Diet: Tadpoles, insects and small fish.
Lifespan: 10 years (average)
Did you know?
They bear live young.
Length: 8 to 16 inches; males larger than females.
Their crocodile-like tail helps them swim.
The locals call them “the lizard of great sleepiness” because they can stay still for
hours, and hold their breath underwater for a long time.
The wild population is decreasing and is considered endangered.
About our Chinese Crocodile Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
13
Lizard, Desert Spiny
Order: Squamata
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus and species: Sceloporus magister
Habitat and Range: desert and semi-desert in California, Arizona, and New Mexico,
U.S.; Baha; Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico
Diet: Mostly insects, but sometimes lizards and plants
Longevity: 5.9 years (max.-in captivity)
Did you know?
They lay eggs.
They grow to a length of 31 cm (about 1-1/4 inches).
The boys turn blue on their bellies to attract girls.
They have great camouflage. They can also change color, getting darker or lighter to
absorb more or less heat from the sun to help them control their temperature.
About our Desert Spiny Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
14
Lizard, Gorongosa Girdled
Order: Squamata
Family: Cordylidae
Genus and species: Cordylus mossambicus
Habitat and Range: Rocky outcrops in grasslands and dry, wooded mountain slopes
in the Gorongosa Mountains in Mozambique and Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe.
Diet: Mostly insects, but sometimes grasses
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years minimum possibly longer at least in captivity.
Did you know?
They bear live young.
The babies’ combined weight is about half of their mother’s weight.
They have thick, tough scales called osteoderms (bone skin) that protect them from
predators.
About our Gorongosa Girdled Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
15
Lizard, Granite Spiny
Order: Squamata
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus and species: Sceloporus orcutti
Habitat and Range:
Southern California on granite outcrops in chaparral and oak covered slopes on the
coastal side of the mountains. On the desert side it lives in rocky canyons.
Baja California in pinyon-juniper woodland and subtropical thornforest.
It can be found from sea level to 7,000 feet.
Diet: small invertebrates, small lizards, occasionally fruits and flowers.
Lifespan: Estimated to be 5 to 10 years of age in captivity, probably shorter in the
wild.
Did you know?
It lays eggs. The female lays 6-15 eggs between May and July, which hatch between
July and October.
Length: 3 to 4.25 inches.
It is an excellent climber and typically seen basking on granite boulders.
About our Granite Spiny Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play
16
Lizard, Mexican Alligator
Order: Squamata
Family: Anguidae
Genus and species: Abronia graminea
Habitat and Range: Found in the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain
range in Mexico. The Mexican alligator lizard ranges from south Hidalgo, northeast
Veracruz and Puebla, northwards to Queretaro and southern Tamaulipas
Diet: Mainly arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates
Longevity: 10 to 15 years.
Did you know? These lizards are arboreal (live in trees) and can be found as much as
130 feet above ground. Breeding is believed to occur from May to June. The female
alligator lizard gives birth to between 2 and 15 live young following a gestation period
of 8 to 12 weeks. During the cold portions of the year, the lizards have been found to
den together in hollow trees full of rotting mulch, where the temps are likely around 50
degrees. Their tail can be up to twice the body length, which can be about seven
inches. They fall prey to snakes, hawks, and even domestic cats.
About our Mexican Alligator Lizard:
On exhibit in the Reptile Department.
17
Lizard, Northern Caiman
SSP
Order: Squamata
Family: Teiidae
Genus and species: Dracaena guianensis
Habitat and Range: Swamps, edges of streams and other areas that flood in the
Amazon River Basin.
Diet: Snails
Longevity: 16 years (possibly more in captivity)
Did you know?
They lay eggs.
Length: Up to 4 feet.
They have very powerful jaws so they can crush the shells of snails.
They have ridged scales on their backs.
They are called Caiman Lizards because these scales are similar to the scales of
caimans, a relative of alligators.
They have been heavily hunted for their hides.
About our Northern Caiman Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
18
Lizard, Tropical Girdled
Order: Squamata
Family: Cordylidae
Genus and species: Cordylus tropidosternum
Habitat and Range: Rocky areas in the savanna in Kenya, eastern Zimbabwe and
central Mozambique.
Diet: Mostly insects, fruit and plants.
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years minimum; possibly longer, at least in captivity.
Did you know?
They bear live young.
They can store fat to help get them through the dry season.
They have strong claws. They’re great diggers so they can hide under rocks for
protection.
About our Tropical Girdled Lizard:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
19
Monitor, Emerald Tree
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus and species: Varanus prasinus
Habitat and Range: They live in tropical lowland forests in New Guinea and several
surrounding islands.
Diet: Large invertebrates, insects, small mammals. They can eat animals up to onethird their size.
Longevity: 14.2 years (maximum in captivity)
Did you know?
They lay eggs, up to 5. They hatch between 160 and 190 days.
They have a long tail they can wrap around tree branches to help them climb. They
also have enlarged scales on the soles of their feet, which aid in climbing.
Length: 30-39 inches.
It is one of the few social monitors, living in groups containing a dominant male,
females, a few other males and juveniles.
About our Emerald Tree Monitor:
On exhibit at Wee Play.
20
Skink, New Guinea Blue-Tongued
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus and species: Tiliqua gigas
Habitat and Range: Open woodlands, semi-desert, tropical or agricultural areas and
are ground-dwelling, prefer to live under logs. This species is found in New Guinea
Diet: Fruits and vegetables, insects, and small rodents.
Lifespan: The adult animals in our collection were born here in the late 1980s.
Did you know?
Nearly all species of blue-tongued skinks are found in the region of Australia. T. gigas;
however, originates in Papua, New Guinea. As their name suggests, these lizards have a
cobalt blue tongue. Skinks are considered, by some, to be the evolutionary link between
lizards and snakes, generally having more elongated bodies, shorter legs, and shorter
tails. The previous sentence is incorrect and should be removed. Adults may reach a
length of 2 feet. These animals can be very docile in captivity.
Females only reproduce every second year and give birth to an average of six live
young. The animal expands its ribcage and turns on side its order to appear larger. At
the same time, it opens its mouth wide to hiss and display its startling blue tongue and
pink mouth
About our New Guinea Blue Tongue Skink:
Exhibit is at the reptile complex.
21
Skink, Prehensile-Tailed
SSP
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus and species: Corucia zebrata
Habitat and Range: Lives in tropical forest trees in the Solomon Islands (east of New
Guinea) in the South Pacific.
Diet: Plants, flowers, and fruits.
Lifespan: as much as 25 years in captivity.
Did you know?
The prehensile tail skink gets its name from its ability to hold on to branches with its
tail. They can reach 2 feet in length, and are the largest member of their family. Most
North American species of skink are only a few inches long. Usually, the female gives
birth to one or sometimes two babies are born annually.
About our Prehensile Tail Skink:
Exhibited at the Reptile Complex.
22