Stump-tailed Chameleon - Cameroon

Cameroon is one of two African countries once held as a colony by Germany, France, and Great Britain. Foreign domination began in 1884, when Germany gained control. After World War I, the colony was divided between French and British mandates. In 1962, the two regions were combined to form an independent Cameroon.

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Brookesia spectrum - The stump-tailed chameleon is common in the wet mountain regions of Cameroon. Chameleons can change colors, but generally stay within the subtle shades of tan and grey. The stump-tailed chameleon is smaller than most chameleons and can rotate its eyes sockets independently. It has opposable digits on front and rear legs and a projectile tongue for snatching up insects. The stump-tailed chameleon is not a threatened species, but numbers are in decline through habitat loss caused by extensive logging.

Namib Sand Gecko - Namibia

The Skeleton Coast is a narrow band of coastline on the Northern Namib Desert extending from the Kunene River in the north to the Swakop River in the south. Annual rainfall rarely exceeds 10 milliliters. The region derives its name from the many animal skeletons and wrecked sailing vessels scattered along the shores.

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Pachydactylus rangei - The Namib sand gecko, also known as the web-footed gecko, is found south of the Sahara Desert, mainly in Namibia. It has webbed toes to assist in carrying it across the sandy surface and for digging burrows to escape the heat. The underside of their toes have rows of plates called lamellae. These plates are covered with microscopic hooks similar to Velcro material. The Namib sand gecko lacks eyelids and must lick its eyeballs to keep them clean and moist. The sand gecko prefers foraging in the cooler nights.

Lizards of South Africa

Wahlberg’s velvet gecko is 1 of 950 species in the Gekkonidae family. As the name suggests, the skin of a velvet gecko has the appearance and texture of velvet and is typically grey to greyish brown in color. Considered a large gecko, adults grow to 21 centimeters in length. There is little dimorphism between the sexes. The velvet gecko is nocturnal and survives on a diet of beetles, butterflies, and millipedes.

The blue-tailed skink is a medium-sized lizard growing to a length of 20 centimeters. Body color variation depends on sex and age, but usually ranges from olive to dark brown and features a prominent blue tail. Breeding occurs during the summer and results in females depositing a clutch of  6 to 10 eggs which hatch after 60 days.

Western sandveld lizards are native to the west coast of Southern Africa and can be found as far inland as Botswana. It has a slender body measuring 25 centimeters with a whip tail taking up two-thirds of the animal’s length. The long tail serves as a balance rudder when the elusive lizard is making a speedy escape from potential danger. The sandveld lizard is active in early morning and late afternoon hours as it forages for scorpions, grasshoppers, spiders, termites, and beetles.

The lizards depicted are Wahlberg’s velvet gecko, Homopholis wahlbergii, the blue-tailed skink, Trachylepis quinquetaeniata, and the western sandveld lizard, Nucras tessellata.

Dwarf-keeled Tegus - Barbados

Barbados, meaning “bearded men,” was named by Portugese sailors arriving on the islands during the early 1600’s. The lush tropical trees gave the island a “bearded” appearance. Britain gained control of Barbados in 1627 and held the area until Barbados became independent in 1966.

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Kentropyx borckianus - The Barbados dwarf-keeled tegus is an unusual animal. It is an animal able to reproduce through a process known as parthenogenesis. There are no males existing within this species; each individual is a female. Parthenogenesis is of Greek origin and translates as “virgin birth.” This form of reproduction does not require a male for the fertilization of the embryo. It is a common trait found in plant reproduction and there are some invertebrate using the same process, but it is rarely found in vertebrates.

Jamaican Giant Anole - Jamaica

Cristóbal Colón visited Jamaica on his second and fourth voyage to the Americas and had named the island Santiago. The Arawak people, the first known inhabitants of the island, referred to their homeland as “Xamayca,” meaning “Island of Springs.” Jamaica is the third largest island in the West Indies.

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Anolis garmani - The Jamaican giant anole is an arboreal lizard. It grows to lengths of 30 centimeters with 2/3’s consisting of tail length; females tend to be slightly smaller. The giant anole is bright green in color, but can turn brown during the process of metachrosis, a camouflage process to blend in with its surrounding. Both sexes have large dewlaps, a fold of skin under the chin. When threatened, the lizard can extend this flap; it provides the animal with a larger appearance. Males sport a dorsal crest of high pointed scales.

Horned Lizard - Texas

Texas is the second largest state in the American Union in area and population; Alaska and California are larger respectively. Texas has been part of or under the administration of six sovereign governments, more than any other state: Spain, France, Mexico, the Texas Republic, the United States, and the Confederate States.

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Phrynosoma cornutum - Horned lizards are named for the horned spines protruding from the head and the flanks of the body. They are diurnal, active during the day, and can often be found waiting patiently near ant mounds; ants being their favorite food. The horned lizard’s color and skin pattern serves as an ideal camouflage against predators, but if confronted, a horned lizard can squirt a stream of blood from the corner of its eyes or mouth to confuse or detour an aggressor; the blood contains a foul tasting chemical.

Common Monkey Lizard - Venezuela

Angel Falls is located in the Guiana highlands of Southeastern Venezuela. It has the longest single drop of any waterfall in the world, but it is not the tallest waterfall, a distinction belonging to Tugela Falls in South Africa. Angel Falls is named for aviator Jimmie Angel, the first person to fly over the site. 

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Polychrus marmoratus - The common monkey lizard, also called the many-colored bush anole, can be found in the lower rainforests of Northern South America to as far south as Brazil. They are arboreal lizards able to use their strong claws for moving from branch to branch, with the long tail adding balance. The genus Polychrus translates as “many colors” and is a reference to the lizard’s ability to alter colors as a means of providing camouflage. They are diurnal, a term describing an animal active during daylight hours.

Flying Dragon - Cambodia

The Cambodian flag is the only national flag incorporating a building into its design. Ankor Wat is spread over 200 hectares and is the largest temple structure in the world. It is constructed from sandstone blocks and was built from 1113 to 1150. The structure has been in continuous use since its completion.

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Draco volans - The flying dragon is an arboreal lizard and can be found in the rainforests of India and Southeast Asia. The lizard does not have the ability to fly, but can achieve gliding distances of 8 meters by spreading skin flaps attached to elongated ribs acting as struts. This ability to glide from tree to tree is not a means of escaping predators, but an easier method for moving from one feeding area to another. When threatened, the lizard will extend the skin flaps and puff out its bright yellow dewlap to appear larger.

Fan-footed Gecko - Israel

Ptyodactylus puiseuxi - The Levante fan-fingered gecko is native to the Middle East. It grows to an average length of 6.5 centimeters and features a tail of about 5 centimeters. The coloration is light brown with white spotting on the upper body and white stripes along the tail. The fan-fingered gecko is active during the cooler nights. It has been observed feeding on the extremely venomous scorpion known as the deathstalker, Leiurus quinquestriatus, without suffering from the toxin.

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The area of the present state of Israel had consisted of two independent states: the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. Geographically, it had been incorporated into some of the most renown empires of the world; Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Macedonian, Seleucidian, Roman, Byzantium, Egyptian, and the Ottoman Empire. Great Britain was granted a mandate over the area following World War I. In May of 1948, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed.

Common Fan-footed Gecko - Oman

Ptyodactylus hasselquistii - The common fan-footed gecko is found throughout Northern Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is well-suited for living in arid climates. The tip of each toe is flared and serves as an aid in providing an extra grip when climbing or as snowshoes to prevent the gecko from sinking into the loose sand when running across the desert. The fan-footed gecko is a nocturnal animal; it prefers to forge for insects and spiders in the cooler night temperatures. 

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Oman had endured periods of foreign domination: the Portuguese, the Ottoman Turks, and a brief invasion and occupation by the Persians, but it had been primarily self-governing since the mid 1700’s. The British managed to extract concessions from the ruling dynasties by helping to resolve a question of succession between the two sons of Sa'id ibn Sultan. The agreement resulted in the sultanate being divided into two entities; one son received Muscat and Oman, the other took Zanzibar.

Leaf-nosed Lizard - Sri Lanka

The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, centered in the city Polonnaruwa, experienced a golden age during the reign of Parakramabahu the Great, 1153 to 1186. Known for his many construction projects and skills as a military leader, he consolidated the three lesser kingdoms on the island of Sri Lanka into one powerful state.

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Certophora tennentii - The leaf-nosed lizard is an arboreal reptile endemic to Sri Lank and specifically to the Knuckles Mountains of Central Sri Lanka. Including the tail, the leaf-nose averages about 18 centimeters in length; females are smaller. The rostal appendage, a leaf shaped projectile at the end of the snout, is used for sifting through debris when searching for insects. The male leaf-nosed lizard has a vivid green coloration; the females are slightly paler. Both sexes can change colors to camouflage themselves against predators.

Viviparous Lizard - Estonia

Estonia is located along the Northern Baltic Sea and shares a common historical and cultural bond with the Nordic countries. The language of Estonia is part of the Finno-Ugric language group. It is different from the Scandinavian languages, but the people of Estonia are closely related to the Scandinavian people.

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Zootoca vivipara - The viviparous lizard retains the embryo inside her body to give live birth. This process, compared to the laying of eggs, reduces the number of offspring per cycle, but insures a better survival rate for those born; “viviparous” means “giving birth to live young.” The viviparous lizard is distributed throughout Central and Northern Eurasia and is the northern most ranging reptile in the world; it can be found in the Arctic circle. The length of the body is about 12 centimeters long and features a tail twice the length of the body.

Rock Iguana - Turks And Caicos Islands

Two island groups, with about 300 islands and islets, make up the Turks and Caicos chain. The small Turks Island Passage separates the two groups. Most of the islands are cays, low-level sandy formations. The sediment accumulation occurs when slow moving ocean currents deposit their sand on top of coral reefs.

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Cyclura carinata - The rock iguana found on the Turks and Caicos Islands measures about 36 centimeters in length; females are smaller. Males are territorial throughout the year, but share burrows on a temporary basis when escaping danger. Females protect their burrows only when a clutch of eggs is present and several days after the young hatch; the brooding cycle lasts for 90 days. The number of eggs produced is based on the age and health of the female; it ranges from 2 to 9. Rock iguanas have one breeding season each year.

Geckos of Australia

Geckos, lizards, anoles, salamanders, and newts are often confused. Geckos and anoles are lizards in the Squamata order of reptiles, the largest reptilian order. This order also includes chameleons. Salamanders and newts are in the Urodela order of the Amphibia class.

The Squamata order contains about 6,000 species. Geckos have the most species within this order. about 1,500. The 7 families of geckos are contained in the infraorder Gekkota.

Most geckos lack eyelids and rely on licking their eyeballs with their tongue to keep them moist and clean. Geckos are the only lizard able to vocalize; they use sound to communicate with potential mates and use hissing noises to deter threats. Most have the ability to “lose” they tail as a self-defense ploy in distracting predators. Geckos have excellent eyesight for forging at night; they are nocturnal feeders. 

Geckos shed their skin on a regular basis; juveniles shed more often than adults. The skin is not wasted, it is eaten by the animal. Adhesive toe pads are found on most geckos and assist in keeping a grip on slippery surface areas.

Depicted are the common knob-tailed gecko, Nephrurus levis, the marbled velvet gecko, Oedura marmorata and the wood gecko, Diplodactylus vittatus.

New Caledonia Giant Gecko - New Caledonia

In 1900, archaeologists investigated a site on Papua New Guinea containing ancient pottery. In 1917, another site, located on New Caledonia, Lapita, revealed a similar style of pottery. It was also found in Tonga, almost 5,000 kilometers away. The initial human migration into the Pacific region was rapid and widespread.

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Rhacodactylus leachianus - The New Caledonia giant gecko, with a  length of 36 centimeters, is the largest gecko in the world. The robust body and stumpy tail are odd features for an animal leading an arboreal life; it does have sharp claws for grip and a grasping pad on the underside of the tail. The gecko spends the day sheltering in tree holes or crevasses and emerges at night to forage in the canopy for insects, spiders, frogs, and small birds. Females produce two eggs per cycle and are able to securely “glue” them to the tree.

Solomon Island Skink - Solomon Islands

The Marovo Lagoon, located in the New Georgia Islands, covers an area of over 700 square kilometers and has the distinction of being the world’s largest saltwater lagoon. A true lagoon is defined as a small and shallow body of water separated from a larger and deeper body of water by barrier islands or coral reefs.

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Corucia zebrata - The Solomon Island skink is the world’s largest skink. Adults grow to lengths of 82 centimeters and feature a tail making up almost half of the total length. Despite its large size, the Solomon Islands skink is strictly an arboreal creature, staying within the upper canopy of the forests as it feasts on fruits and vegetables. It has a particular preference for the fruit of the strangler fig tree. The Solomon Island skink is a crepuscular animal, a term describing animals active during the twilight hours.