Topic: Reptiles and Amphibians

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'John Carter': 11 other adaptations of Edgar Rice Burroughs novels

As the movie 'John Carter' arrives in theaters, here are 11 of the most well-known adaptations of other Edgar Rice Burroughs books.
Five hotbeds of biodiversity

Here are five flora- and fauna-rich ecologies that Conservation International, a nonprofit organization in Arlington, Va., says are more than 70 percent intact.
2011 fiction quiz: Can you recognize the opening line?

Can you match the opening lines to the titles of the best novels of 2011?
Herman Cain speaks out: His seven most memorable one-liners

Herman Cain's ascension in the Republican presidential campaign has been rich with zingers. Here are seven of Mr. Cain's most memorable quotes.
In Pictures: Giant reptiles

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Was ancient crocodile world's largest?

Researchers have recently unearthed what they think may have been the biggest crocodile ever to have lived on Earth.
Color-changing artificial muscles make the wearer disappear

Artificial muscles can make the wearer disappear, according to new research. Scientists have mimicked the processes used by zebrafish to create these visual effects.
Fungus kills frogs by dehydration

Research shows that the chytrid fungus, which has drastically reduced global frog populations, kills by disrupting the amphibians' electrolyte balance.
Bumblebee gecko species a 'striking surprise,' say scientists

Bumblebee gecko: A new species of gecko, dubbed the 'bumblebee gecko,' after its yellow and black markings, has been discovered in Papua New Guinea.
Titanoboa: How did a snake ever get so big?

Titanoboa: The new Smithsonian exhibit in Grand Central Station displays a replica of the largest snake in history, the 48-foot titanoboa. Why don't huge snakes exist today?
New frog species calls New York City home

The Big Apple is home to a newly discovered species of frog. It doesn't have a name yet, but its distinct DNA and unusual croak distinguish it from other frogs.
'John Carter': 11 other adaptations of Edgar Rice Burroughs novels

As the movie 'John Carter' arrives in theaters, here are 11 of the most well-known adaptations of other Edgar Rice Burroughs books.
Five hotbeds of biodiversity

Here are five flora- and fauna-rich ecologies that Conservation International, a nonprofit organization in Arlington, Va., says are more than 70 percent intact.
Hawk-eyed scientists spot world's smallest chameleon

A chameleon that could rest on the head of a match has been discovered by scientists on a island off Madagascar. The scientists also announced the discovery of three more species of tiny chameleons.
Snakes in the grass: Is the Burmese Python wiping out Everglades mammals?

Burmese Python pets that escaped or were released have proliferated in the Everglades. A recent study suggests they are behind the sharp drop in the population of raccoons and other mammals.
Huge pythons annihilating Everglades wildlife, report scientists (+video)

Pythons that have entered the Everglades after escaping or being released by pet owners are destroying the parks native mammal populations, a new report has found.
Rare turtle back in the wild with fancy new satellite tracking device

Only about 200 Southern River terrapins still exist in the wild, and on Monday one of them plodded into the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia wearing a satellite tag as a crowd of officials and well-wishers cheered it on.
Everglades snakes problematic, so non-native species banned

Everglades snakes have been around for a long time. But recently, giant snakes not native to the Everglades have been invading the Florida landmark. Now, these giant snake species have been banned.
Newly discovered frog is smallest known vertebrate

The tropical forest of Papua New Guinea is home to the smallest animal with a backbone, a frog dubbed Paedophryne amanuensis.
'Extinct' humongous Galapagos tortoise could be making a comeback

A genetic analysis of a Galapagos tortoise revealed DNA from a related species thought to have gone extinct 150 years ago, suggesting that the two species are mating and producing hybrid offspring.
Should we design robots to be more like velociraptors?

Adding a long tails to a robot to stabilize its body could lead to far more agile search-and-rescue machines, a new study reveals.
Snakes on a plane (almost) in Argentina

Authorities in Argentina caught a man trying to board a plane with almost 250 poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles.
2011 fiction quiz: Can you recognize the opening line?

Can you match the opening lines to the titles of the best novels of 2011?
Penny-sized frogs are world's smallest

The frogs are so small they seem to have hit the lower limit of body size for frogs and toads, so it's unlikely that researchers will find anything much smaller.
Did walking evolve underwater? 'Walking fish' suggests that it did.

A study of the African lungfish suggests that our evolutionary ancestors first started walking before they migrated onto land.
South Florida python swallows 76-pound adult deer

South Florida python: A 16-foot Burmese python was spotted in a tree island in Florida's Everglades and shot dead. An autopsy revealed that it had devoured a 76-pound deer.
Clean energy 'gold rush' in Mojave spurs backlash

Clean energy projects in California are thriving. But environmentalists worry about impact of clean energy companies on Mojave Desert.
Herman Cain speaks out: His seven most memorable one-liners

Herman Cain's ascension in the Republican presidential campaign has been rich with zingers. Here are seven of Mr. Cain's most memorable quotes.
Does global warming cause animals to shrink?

A study of copepods found that the growth rates of the tiny marine crustaceans is highly sensitive to temperature, with implications for the entire food chain.
Rare crocodile found by Florida woman

Rare crocodile: The shy and reclusive animals are so rare in central or northern Florida that a wildlife official didn't initially believe Shondra Farner when she called to report the crocodile on the bank of a lake in a gated community in St. Petersburg.