Reptile Awareness: Did You Know...?

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

20 Oct 2007 12:31 PM

Special note: gator photo by Elvis Santana

For starters, did you know that today is Reptile Awareness Day? Did you know there even was such a day? (I only recently learned about it myself.)

I admit I don't know much about reptiles. I've never had one as a pet. About all I know is that frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, gators and crocs are all part of the reptilian family and are cold-blooded. (And that Murph takes delight in chasing lizards and frogs whenever possible.)

Well, since I don't know much I had to do some research. Here's some things I found interesting and am wondering:

Did You Know That...?

• The Families.com Pets section has categories dedicated to Fish/Aquarium pets (you'll find newts, salamanders, and frogs under here), Lizards, Snakes (& Spiders), and Turtles. (Just in case you haven't explored the listings lately.)

• If you're like me and don't know much about reptiles but might want one for a pet that my fellow Pets Blogger, Aimee Amodio, has got you covered with articles such as Reptile Basics, Turtle Care Basics, Snake Basics, Frogs as Pets, and Preparing Your Turtle Tank. (Just to name a few. She's written extensively about preparing for them, supplies you'll need, health concerns, and needs to take into consideration for various breeds.)

• Turtles have a day of their own: World Turtle Day.

• Reptiles inhabit every continent except Antarctica.

• There are nearly 8,000 species.

• There are four reptile orders: (1) Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators), (2) Squamata (lizards, snakes, and such), (3) Testudines (turtles), (4) Rhynchocephalia (contains only two species, tuataras, which are New Zealand natives).

• What's a good habitat for one might not be such an ideal habitat for another. (They've all adapted to different climates and have different dietary needs, so this stands to reason they couldn't all have the same kind of home.)

• There are currently 17 reptile species on the endangered list. (Aimee and I have written about some. See the World Turtle Day link above as well as Endangered Bog Turtles in NJ and Small Steps Can Save Giant Sea Turtles.)

• You can adopt endangered reptiles like snakes and crocs via the World Wildlife Fund's adoption program.

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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