Name: Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) Range: From southern Mexico, through Central America and down into tropical South America as far south as Corrientes, close to the Paraguay-Argentina border. Diet: Carnivorous Conservation Status: IUCN – Least Concern The Spectacled caiman is a medium sized crocodilian (~1.8 – 2.5meters) from the family Alligatoridae, which is comprised of … More Species Profile: Spectacled Caiman
The last glacial maximum in Ireland made the island inhospitable to the common frog (Rana temporaria). As the ice retreated about 12,000 years ago, a population of common frogs was able to slowly recolonise the island from ice-free refugia to the south. This pattern of distribution shift, typifies the model applied to most reptiles and … More Salamander Expansion On Ice, As Climate Heats Up
The typical life cycle of an amphibian is often exemplified by that employed by Ireland’s native Common Frog (Rana temporaria). A large number of eggs are laid in a lentic water body and externally fertilized. The young undergo an aquatic larval stage before emerging on land as froglets. Once the eggs have been laid, the … More Amphibian Reproductive Strategies
I have recently finished my undergraduate degree in Zoology at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. I was given the opportunity to go out to Borneo with the University for a Field Course that is run for masters students studying relevant post-graduate courses. The trip would see me spend 10 days in Sabah with the rest of … More Photographic Diary: Borneo Field Trip
Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) Caresheet Sexing and characteristics. Caterpillars are green, with long, soft, blue protrusions coming out of their bodies, a red spot on the side of their last feet (prolegs), and are covered in white pruinescence (a waxy substance that resembles powder). The adult moths have comb-like antennae and a rusty brown, fuzzy thorax. The heavy-bodied abdomen alternates between … More Atlas Moth Care
Name: African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) Range: Sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Diet: Opportunistic predators, consuming both live and dead matter. Conservation Status: IUCN – Least Concern The African clawed frog is an aquatic species that is … More Species Profile: African Clawed Frog
If there is one aspect of snake anatomy and physiology that everybody is familiar with, it is probably their ability to consume prey many times larger than their own skull. One of the most bizarre feats one can witness in nature, is an egg-eating snake ingesting a massive egg. Even more amazing, and perhaps a … More Biting Off More Than They Can Chew: How Snakes Swallow Large Prey
Giant African Train Millipede Care. Other Names: Giant Millipede, African Black Millipede, and Tanzanian Giant Black Millipede. *Please note that ALL millipedes can secrete a liquid that may be dangerous to some people. Although most people are not affected by this species, some people may be allergic to the liquid, or just more sensitive, making … More Giant African Train Millipede Care
Name: Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) Range: Northeast India to South China and as far southeast as Timor. Habitats are typically tropical rainforests, but will thrive in a variety of habitats including human settlements. Diet: Insects and small vertebrates Conservation Status: IUCN – Not yet assessed The Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) is one of the largest … More Species Profile: Tokay Gecko
On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Cork city, my partner-in-crime, Seán, and I decided to head out in search of sunshine. After loading up the car with binoculars, cameras, and flasks of tea, we drove east to Ballycotton. The beautiful cliff walk in Ballycotton, East Cork, is popular with walkers, photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. … More Photographic Diary: Lizards of the Irish Coast
The Herpetological Society of Ireland 