Lizards

• Komodo dragons are found on only four islands in Indonesia with a total area approximately the size of Rhode Island!
• After hatching, the young immediately climb trees to avoid being eaten by their cannibalistic elders.
• Komodos are opportunistic carnivores whose saliva contains several strains of virulent bacteria which in turn causes severe infection that can lead to blood poisoning and death in 1-5 days.
• Their sense of smell is so keen they can detect the scent of carrion 5 miles away! They have also been known to hunt in large packs and bring down large prey.
• They are excellent swimmers and can cross great distances and strong ocean currents just to raid neighboring islands where the only available food source is domestic animals.
• Larger dragons eat first, while smaller dragons get what's left over. They have been known to eat up to 80% of their body weight in one meal.
• They communicate through body language: hissing loudly and inflating their throat. At times, their tails are used to swipe the feet out from under prey.
• Fat stored in their tail can provide dragons with metabolic water in times of drought, enabling them to go for 1 to 1½ months without eating or drinking.
• These members of the lizard family Varanus, have a forked tongue that collects scent molecules for analysis. Molecular analysis is conducted by the Jacobson's Organ in the top of the mouth.

Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis) face several threats that have led to their classification as a vulnerable species. Habitat loss, primarily due to human activities such as deforestation and land conversion, poses a significant risk to their survival. Additionally, climate change impacts, such as rising temperatures and sea levels, threaten the delicate balance of their island habitats.

Human-wildlife conflict and poaching also contribute to their vulnerability. Conservation efforts are critical to ensuring the survival of these remarkable lizards. The Indonesian government, along with various conservation organizations, has established protected areas and national parks to safeguard the Komodo Dragon’s habitat and promote sustainable tourism.

Ongoing research and monitoring programs are vital for understanding the needs of Komodo Dragons and implementing effective conservation strategies. By supporting these efforts, we can help ensure that future generations will continue to marvel at the majesty of the Komodo Dragon and appreciate its unique role in the ecosystem.

• Sailfin Dragons are excellent swimmers and can often be seen diving into rivers or streams to escape predators or search for food.
• These lizards are named for the distinctive sail-like crest on their back and tail, which is especially prominent in males and plays a role in mating displays and thermoregulation.
• Found only in the Philippines, Sailfin Dragons are a unique symbol of the region’s incredible biodiversity.
• Hatchlings and juveniles are more arboreal than adults, spending much of their time in trees to avoid predators and foraging for food.
• Sailfin Dragons are omnivores, enjoying a varied diet of fruits, flowers, leaves, and small insects or other invertebrates.
• When threatened, Sailfin Dragons can run on their hind legs for short bursts to escape danger, a behavior similar to that of the famous "Jesus lizard."
• The vibrant coloration of these reptiles becomes more pronounced as they mature, especially in males, whose blues, greens, and purples can dazzle in the sunlight.
• They are incredibly shy and elusive in the wild, relying on their camouflage to avoid predators and human encounters.
• Sailfin Dragons’ tails are not only used for swimming but also serve as a balance when climbing and a potential defense tool if threatened.

Sailfin Dragons (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) face growing threats that have placed them under pressure in their natural habitat. Habitat destruction caused by deforestation, agriculture, and urban expansion significantly reduces the availability of the rivers, streams, and forested areas they depend on. The pet trade further exacerbates their vulnerability, as these striking reptiles are often captured illegally and sold around the world.

Climate change presents an additional challenge, altering the delicate ecosystems where Sailfin Dragons thrive. Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns could disrupt the availability of food and shelter, putting further strain on their populations.

Conservation efforts are essential to protect Sailfin Dragons and their habitats. Local and international organizations are working to combat illegal wildlife trade and promote sustainable practices that preserve the ecosystems of the Philippines. Education and awareness programs also play a key role in encouraging communities to value and protect these remarkable reptiles.

By supporting these initiatives and advocating for habitat preservation, we can help ensure the survival of Sailfin Dragons and their role in maintaining the balance of their unique ecosystems for generations to come.

• Blue-Tongue Skinks are named for their distinctive blue tongues, which they use as a warning signal to predators.
• These reptiles are native to Australia and can also be found in parts of New Guinea and Indonesia.
• Despite their name, Blue-Tongue Skinks are not venomous and are known for their docile nature.
• These fascinating reptiles play important roles in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators of pests such as snails and insects.

This species has not been evaluated for the IUCN Red List. They are popular in the pet trade. Australia prohibits commercial exporting of most wildlife, including this species.

• This is the largest lizard species found in Arkansas
• This species is also known as a Mountain Boomer, perhaps because early settlers mistook the sound of wind blowing through canyons.
• Eastern collared lizards are very alert—and very fast! They’re well adapted to running around their rocky habitats and jump among rocks easily. At top speeds, they run using only their back legs!

This species is considered rare by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and has been identified as a species of greatest conservation need by the Wildlife Conservation Strategy group. The biggest concern for this species is habitat degradation. Fire suppression has allowed the slow encroachment of trees (especially cedars) into this species' open, rocky habitat and controlled burns are a likely conservation measure. Other concerns include overzealous collection of specimens for the pet trade.

In collaboration with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the University of Arkansas, the University of Central Arkansas, and the Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the Little Rock Zoo has been instrumental in the conservation of the Eastern Collared Lizard. Through joint habitat restoration initiatives and reintroduction programs, we have contributed to the revitalization of this species in its native range, the scenic Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas. A significant achievement was reached in June 2023 when the Zoo, along with its partners, successfully released 43 yearling Eastern Collared Lizards, marking the first reintroduction of its kind in the state's history. This collaborative effort highlights the critical role of habitat protection and restoration in ensuring the survival of this iconic Arkansas species. You can support our ongoing conservation efforts by making a donation to collared lizard conservation.

• Chinese crocodile lizards frequently enter into a metabolic pause, where they remain motionless and unresponsive to stimuli for several hours at a time. As a result this reptile is sometimes referred to as the "lizard of great sleepiness" by indigenous people.
• This lizard's ability to dive into the water and remain submerged for extended periods of time is useful for escaping predators but also aids in hunting. It primarily eats invertebrates, including snails, tadpoles, insects, worms and larvae.
• Chinese crocodile lizards are viviparous, giving birth to live young, and the newborn lizards are precocial, meaning they are born in an advanced state and can feed themselves almost immediately after birth. 

As of a 2014 analysis, Chinese crocodile lizards are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. They are also protected under CITES Appendix II and managed under a Species Survival Plan in North America.

They are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to logging, mining, damming and land encroachment driven by tourism. A decrease in forest cover results in fewer perch sites and the degradation of streams, which this species relies on. 

• Gila monsters are one of only two venomous lizards in the world. However, this venom is not used to kill prey like a snake might, but as a defensive measure instead.
• Gila monsters can for months go without food. They will rely on fat stored in their tails to sustain them.
• Contrary to popular myth, the Gila monster is unable to jump.

IUCN lists as a near threatened species. It is legally protected in all states where it is found. Gila monsters are often killed due to the fact that they are venomous. They also face threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, predation by feral dogs and cats, and the pet trade. The collection of Gila Monsters is prohibited by law throughout their range. Listed as CITES Appendix II.

• They have long toes on their rear feet with fringes which allows them to walk on water to escape predators.
• They are also called plumed or double-crested basilisk due to the crests on their head and back.

Least Concern. They are threatened by habitat loss, and are a part of the pet trade (although many in the trade are captive bred).

• Kuhl's flying gecko is named for its ability to leap between trees. To aid this they have flaps on either side of their body, webbing between the toes and a flattened tail which all assist them to glide for short distances.
• Sporting a mottled pattern of grays and browns, Kuhl's Flying Gecko can easily blend into the bark of trees, providing excellent camouflage against predators. This nocturnal species emerges at night to hunt for insects and other small invertebrates, relying on its excellent climbing skills and sharp eyesight.
• In addition to its gliding prowess, Kuhl's Flying Gecko has other fascinating adaptations, such as adhesive toe pads that allow it to stick to smooth surfaces, making it a skilled climber.

Least Concern. They are threatened by habitat loss.

• The prehensile-tailed skink is the largest of all skinks.
• It is the only known species of skink with a grasping, or prehensile, tail.
• Prehensile-Tailed Skinks are also known as monkey-tailed skinks due to their long, muscular tails, which they use for grasping and climbing
• Female Prehensile-Tailed Skinks give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, with litters typically consisting of one to three offspring.
• Both parents help protect their offspring for the first several months. Baby skinks will stay with their family groups indefinitely, until moving on to form their own new family groups.
• Prehensile-Tailed Skinks are important seed dispersers, helping to maintain the diversity of plant species in their habitat.

This species has not been evaluated for the IUCN Red List. They are threatened due to the pet trade and deforestation.

• Philippine Tree Skinks are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They have strong limbs and sharp claws that enable them to climb and navigate through the forest canopy with ease. Their diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates, which they hunt with keen precision.
• These skinks are also known for their remarkable ability to shed their tails as a defense mechanism against predators, a process known as autotomy. The tail will eventually regenerate, allowing the skink to escape and survive another day.

The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) lists this species as a species of Least Concern due to their currently stable population. 

• These geckos are nocturnal, becoming active at night to hunt insects and other small invertebrates. Their wide mouths and large eyes enhance their night vision and hunting efficiency. During the day, they remain motionless, blending seamlessly with their surroundings to avoid predators.
• Fringed flaps on the leaf-tailed gecko's sides and lower jaws flatten against a surface, obscuring their outline. The increased surface area reflects and refracts light, aiding their camouflage capabilities.
• If disturbed, the leaf-tailed gecko opens its jaws wide, exposing a bright red mouth and emitting a loud distress call that resembles a child's scream. 

Giant leaf-tailed geckos are considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but scientists suspect that their fragmented populations are on the decline. 

• Like many lizard species, European legless lizards can engage in caudal autotomy, which is a fancy way of saying they can drop their tails. Sometimes known as a “glass lizards,” it was once thought that they would shatter into pieces if touched. Once the tail is gone, the legless lizard will grow one back, albeit it won’t look the same.
• European legless lizards are indeed lizards and not snakes.  Unlike snakes, legless lizards have visible earholes and eyelids.

This species is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),

• Their vibrant blue hue serves not only as a visual display during mating rituals but also as camouflage among the blue and gray rocks of their environment.
• Like most lizard species native to rocky habitats, the Baja blue rock lizard makes use of small caves and crevices in rocks to hide from predators.

This species is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),

• Kimberly Rock Monitors are highly adept climbers, using their sharp claws and prehensile tails to scale rocky surfaces with ease.
• There are very few zoos worldwide that care for Kimberley rock monitors. In 2019, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo became the first U.S. zoo to successfully hatch a Kimberley rock monitor.

This species' population is stable thanks in part to protections for their home region.

• This is one of the largest geckos in Madagascar and the largest living species of day gecko!
• Day geckos do not have eyelids but a clear, protective plate-like covering over their eyes. They use their tongues to clean and moisten their eyes! 
• Due to their diurnal nature, these geckos have round pupils instead of vertical slotted ones!

Although they are thought to have stable populations in most of their range, loss of habitat is a serious concern. 

• Some species of geckos do not have eyelids. Instead, they have to lick their eyes with their tongue to keep them clean.
• The Geico gecko seems to most likely resemble this species.

IUCN lists as a species of least concern. There are no known major threats. This species is legally exported for the pet trade.

Due to their auditory structure, when looking at the ear from the side of their head you can see clear to the other side!

Not evaluated. They make popular pets and are believed to be captive bred from Palestinian ancestry.

• When threatened, Girdled Lizards can display their defensive behavior by flattening their bodies and puffing up, making them appear larger and more intimidating

This species is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).