Reptiles, Episode 6, Season 2, 05282022

This is a special birthday edition of Backyard Bugs with Brody. Brody turns seven and to celebrate he had a special guest at his birthday part. Reptiles by Rick brought some special friends. Brody and his friends get hands on with some amazing reptiles.

The first reptile Brody and his friends met was a Red-Footed Tortoise. (Chelonoidis carbonarius) The tortoise can be found across several regions of Central and South America. It is named after the brightly colored scales on their legs. It's easy-going temperament, low maintenance, and active daytime lifestyle have made this reptile a popular pet. The tortoise can live to 30-50 years in captivity and grow to about 30 pounds.

Reptile Rick also introduced Brody and his friends to turtle, a red-eared slider. (Trachemys scripta elegans) Red-Eared Sliders are native to Missouri and can be found across Central and Southern US and Mexico. The turtle is a common pet and is traded world-wide. Unfortunately, because people have released their pets, the turtle is considered an invasive species in other areas of the world where they are not native.

Brody also got to hold a Corn Snake. (Pantherophis guttatus) This snake is native to North America, found across the southeast and central US, and is a species of rat snake. Corn Snakes are non-venomous and eat pray by constriction. It is named after its regular presence near grain stores, where it hunts mice and rats. These snakes are very beneficial, helping to control populations of wild rodent pets that damage crops and spread disease.

The fourth reptile that Brody met for his birthday was the Sand Boa. (Eryx colubrinus) There are three species of this non-venomous snake that are found in Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The Sand Boa has a thick body and a small head, perfect for burrowing in the sand. The snake's scales are rough and bumpy allowing them to move easily through the sand. Sand Boa's are ambush predators, hiding under the sand and waiting for rats, mice, lizards and other small animals to walk by. They quickly strike, grabbing the prey and using constriction to cut off blood flow.

Brody was also able to hold a Crested Gecko. (Correlophus ciliatus) This lizard is native to southern New Caledonia, in the Pacific Ocean near Australia and New Zealand. At one time the species was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994. Crested Geckos are among the largest gecko species and has several distinctive features including two rows of spines that run around the sides of their edge-shaped head to the base of their tail and hair-like projections above the eyes that resemble eyelashes. One amazing fact is that the Crested Gecko doesn't have eyelids. Instead, they keep their eyes clean and moist by licking them with their tongue.

Perhaps one of Brody's favorite lizards is the Blue-Tongued Skink. (Tiliqua scincoides) This large lizard is one of the largest members of the skink family and are found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. As its name explains, the most prominent characteristic of this lizard is its blue tongue. When threatened or attacked, it will display its tongue to scare off potential enemies.

It took a lot of courage for Brody to meet the next animal, a Curlyhair Tarantula. (Tliltocatl albopilosus) Native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, these spiders live near rivers, cleared rainforests, and tropical scrublands. They are largely terrestrial, burrowing to ambush prey. The spider gets its name from the long bristles covering its body, giving them a unique look. The hairs are particularly dense on the back legs, and for good reason. The hairs serve a defense mechanism. If threatened, the Curlyhair Tarantula will lift their back legs, "kicking" the hairs off their abdomen. The hairs will irritate the skin of the predator and can even cause damage if they get in the eyes.

One of the last animals Brody and his friends met was a Hedgehog. (Atelerix albiventris) There are 16 species of the spiny mammal that are found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are usually brown, but the one Brody met was an albino, with white hair and red eyes. Hedgehogs have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws, helping them burrow. They can also climb, swim, and can sprint a surprisingly fast six miles per hour.

The final animal Brody met during his birthday party was a Burmese python. (Python bivittatus) One of the largest species of snakes, it is native to Southeast Asia. It is also considered an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade and people releasing their snakes into the wild. The Burmese Python is non-venomous, constricting its prey. The python is an excellent climber and swimmer. The snake Brody and his friends got to hold was an albino, with yellow markings and red eyes.

If you are new to the channel, Brody is fascinated by bugs and animals. He does all his own research, looking up facts on the animals and bugs he catches and shares them.