Lunch in Hawaii

Enjoy this green sea turtle grazing at Mother Nature's all-natural buffet!

Doggy BFFs

World Turtle Day is May 23

Let's support our hard-shelled mud and corn-loving friends this week!

Click here for more information.

It's Hans Season!

That's right, folks. Even though Hans never leaves, he's BACK! My leiderhosen'd friend has a permanent post as my BFF.

Underwater Smooch

No tongue!

Working It, Bicycle Style

Speedo season is right around the corner. Gotta work it.

Rest for the Weary

Been a long, strange, exhausting winter. Must rest before gearing up for summer action. Like running wild on the porch, or letting the wind blow off a scute. I know the warmth is out there.

Adventure Aquarium - Camden

Go visit the Adventure Aquarium this summer!

1 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103
856.365.3300 

My Cousin: The Madagascar Spider Tortoise

The Madagascar Spider Tortoise is a small reptile, with an oblong shell that is highly curved and widens towards the rear. The shell is decorated with five to eight yellow lines radiating out from a yellow centre, against a dark brown or black background. The shell on the underside of the tortoise, known as the plastron, is yellow. This species are estimated to live for up to 70 years.

The spider tortoise is endemic  to  the arid regions of the coastal areas of south-western Madagascar. The spider tortoise is most active during the wet season, between November and April, when the vegetation is relatively lush, and the tortoise can feed on grasses, young leaves, the roots of succulents, and insects attracted to the flourishing plants.

Many spider tortoises bury themselves deep into the sand and aestivate for the duration of the colder and drier weather, understood to be an energy and moisture-saving tactic for when vegetation is sparse.



NOTE: 26 April 2010: The Madagascar spider tortoise, one of southern Madagascar’s endemic and iconic species was recently upgraded to ‘Critically Endangered’ status on the IUCN-World Conservation Union’s Red List for Threatened Species. This small and intricately patterned tortoise has faced risks to its long term survival as a result of habitat destruction and poaching for local consumption as food, in addition to being illegally exported to support the exotic pet trade.

I'm Coming for You

happy birthday, Reggie!

Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary

The Turtle Islands is part of the Sulu Archipelago which is composed of approximately 400 islands of varying shapes and sizes. It is located at the southwestern tip of the Philippines.

 Part of the UNESCO and World Heritage Convention, the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is regarded as the only major nesting ground with more than 1,000 nesters annually of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the whole region. There are only 10 remaining nesting sites worldwide. Around Great Bakkungan Island, the Malay Box Turtle which was never seen at other islands has been observed visiting its shores. Presence of sea snakes and terrestial snakes have also been recorded in the island.

Click here for more information

 

Kitty BFFs