SAVANNAH MONITOR
Chelsea is shown monitoring a monitor. A medium-
sized lizard native to much of sub-Saharan Africa,
this species (Varanus exanthematicus) is a popular
pet. According to CITES (the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora), the USA is the largest importer
of savannah monitors, with 642,500 specimens
to 2010. The species’ global population is not
currently considered to be at risk.In^ the^ wild,
Galápagos giant
tortoises may live
for a century or more.
The oldest tortoise
recorded, however, was
a Madagascar radiated
tortoise (Astrochelys
radiata) that lived
for 188 years.BRACHYLOPHUS
BULABULA
Until 2008, only two
species of iguana were
known to exist in the Fijian
islands. But that year, a
research paper revealed a
third species, found in the
central regions of Fiji. Still
lacking a common name, the
newest Fijian iguana was
formally titled Brachylophus
bulabula (“bulabula” is the
Fijian word for “healthy”
or “flourishing”). Katherine
holds a specimen here.YEMEN VEILED CHAMELEON
Confined to Yemen and Saudi Arabia, this
lizard (Chamaeleo calyptratus calcarifer)
sometimes grows to just 43 cm (1 ft
4.9 in) long, making it the smallest veiled
chameleon subspecies. Above, Virginia
from Reptile Gardens provides a perch for
one member of this colourful family.KING COBRA
Also known as
the hamadryad
(Ophiophagus
hannah), this serpent
averages 3–4 m (9 ft
10 in–13 ft 1 in) long,
making it the longest
venomous snake.
Terry from Reptile
Gardens is seen here
confidently handling
one lengthy specimen,
but it’s far from the
longest ever. That
honour goes to a king
cobra captured in
Apr 1937 near Port
Dickson in Negeri
Sembilan, Malaysia, and
displayed at London
Zoo, UK; by autumn
1939, it had grown to
5.71 m (18 ft 8 in).FRESHWATER
CROCODILE
Above, Lance carefully
handles a young
Crocodylus johnstoni
specimen. Native to
Australia, this species is
the fastest crocodile
on land. It can reach
speeds of 17 km/h
(10.56 mph) at full gallop- a mode of terrestrial
locomotion of which
only a few crocodile
species are capable.
Reptiles
ANIMALS
Since last year’s GWR came out, we’ve visited the record-breaking Reptile Gardens in
qouĐh aÞoĐaŞ qA. 6ere are some of Đhe sĐaĵŞ along ģiĐh a feģ of Đhe inhaªiĐanĐs.
LARGEST REPTILE ZOO
As of 28 Feb 2017, Reptile Gardens, located outside Rapid City
in South Dakota, housed more than 225 different reptilian
species and subspecies – more than any other zoo
or wildlife park.