I need facts people....facts!!

[Jamie]

I'm going to be doing talks in 'bug world' at Shepreth Wildlife Park through the summer. I know a bit about the animals we have in there and I'l be doing more research online.

But I thought I'd ask you guys if you have any interesting facts about the following animals.....

bearded dragons
geckos
blue tongued skink
spiney tailed lizard
black and white tegu
emperor scorpion
T's - chile rose, red knee, zebra and goliath
giant mombassan millipedes
madagascan hissing cockroaches
assain bugs

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[HadesDragons]

Have a look at http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...n-bearded.html - I don't know what level you want to pitch your talk at, but bearded dragons than can change from Male to Female might be an interesting fact to slip in...

Otherwise, see if you can find a BD skull / picture of a skull to show people what proportion of the head is brain, and what is jaw muscle. Then compare it to a human skull...

I'm sure info on gecko tail regeneration would be interesting if you kept it fairly simple - there aren't many animals that can lose a body part and just grow a new one.

[Jamie]

Cheers Andy, I was hoping you would step forward with some beardie facts!!

I like the idea of comparing beardie and human skulls, what are the differences by the way? just one question tho....where would I find a beardie skull??

[Sarracenia]

You could possibly mention that geckos (and Crocodile Skinks) are the only reptiles to vocalise. For the 'Roaches, you could maybe talk about how, when kept together, they form caring, family groups in which the young are protected from danger. With the Blue Tongue, I'm sure the story about the Pygmy Blue Tongue discovery could be interesting.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Sarracenia

You could possibly mention that geckos (and Crocodile Skinks) are the only reptiles to vocalise.

hmmm this sounds very interesting, could you explain a bit further please?

[freekygeeky]

fan footed geckos make an amazing noise!!
cresties sound liek ducks!!!
and somthgin i find amazing is when a leo mates, the male wags his tail, and wow, for any leo breeeders out there, isnt that noise amazing?!!! amazing!¬

[brittone05]

Agree FG - the noise from a male leos tail is fab

You can go on gekkota.com and listen to the noises of some gecko species

You could also talk about how geckos eat thier shed skin as opposed to discarding it like a snake does and then talk about the geckos which can climb using lamellae (sp) on thier feet which I beleive is actually hairs

[skimsa]

roaches hiss out of spirricles on the sides of their body its not a vocal nosie. Because of these air holes they can breathe without their heads wich is how they survive.

millipedes legs are controlled subconciously

[Jamie]

Cheers guys! Keep em coming!!

[skimsa]

emp scorps have between 2-5 pairs of eyes. their pincers are called pedipalps and are not counted as joints like a leg or an arm the are solely there as feeding instruments which is why the aren't classed as crustateons