Take some time to learn about scaly friends

Scaly, leathery or smooth and slimy, reptiles are one of those critters whose mere presence can strike terror in some folks and send them into uncontrollable panic.

In some cases, fear of reptiles is not only well-deserved, it’s downright instinctual particularly when it comes to the venomous varieties because they are more than capable of killing or severely injuring humans and other animals.

While many dangerous reptiles do exist, however, there are thousands of members of the family that pose no risk and sometimes even have pleasant dispositions.

And though it may be hard to imagine — especially if you’re of the terrified or icked-out mindset where reptiles are concerned — there are people who are absolutely crazy about snakes, lizards, and turtles.

Saturday is a special day for reptile lovers because it’s Reptile Awareness Day, a day created to celebrate and bring attention to critters that can be subject to unfair stereotypes, misinformation and a lack of understanding.

In honor of this special day, here are a few tidbits of reptile info to mull:

• Cold-blooded — Reptiles don’t regulate their body temperature internally and rely on exterior sources of heat such as the sun or warm rocks to maintain temperature. Bees and dragonflies and some fish are other examples of cold-blooded creatures.

• Broad appetites — Though the word “reptile” may bring images of snakes swallowing whole rodents, alligators snatching deer from river banks or a chameleon catching flies with its tongue, there are reptiles that opt for salads.

Though ferocious-looking with some varieties exceeding 30 pounds, complete with intimidating claws and spines, the iguana is a strict herbivore. Other herbivore reptiles include: the chuckwalla, a large Southwest lizard, the uromastyx, a spiky but gentle lizard from the Middle East and Asia, and tortoises.

• Eggs and infants — Some reptiles are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young, while others lay eggs. Most common among snakes, boas, pit vipers and spitting cobras and garter snakes are some that give birth to live young.

A small number of lizards do both — in cold mountain areas, the Australian yellow-bellied three-toed skink gives birth to live young, but in warmer southern locations, the same species lays eggs.

And a third option is ovoviviparity, when young develop in eggs inside the mother, hatch and are then born, as in the case of the antenatal anaconda, native to swamps in Argentina.

• Don’t look up — There are several reptiles capable of air travel, though technically they don’t actually fly, it’s more like falling with style. Gliding, as it’s officially known, is common among tree-dwelling animal species and reptiles are no exception.

To name a few, Asian draco lizards can glide for up to 200 feet, flying geckos in Southeast Asia have flaps of skin along their bodies that allow them to glide, and the paradise tree snake can not only glide 300 feet, it can make 90 degree turns in mid-air.

Suffice it to say, the reptile world is filled with lots of quirky traits and characteristics, no doubt many of which have yet to be discovered. With more than 10,000 known species — Curious? Check out maps and browse species at http://www.reptile-database.org — and new discoveries still taking place, there’s plenty of room for reptile awareness.

This Saturday, square your shoulders and take the kids to the reptile house at the zoo, watch a documentary or browse the internet for facts and photos of our scaled neighbors.

And don’t worry; they don’t all bite.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. Contact her at: [email protected]