Photos from Cal Academy of Sciences Snakes & Lizards (DUW)

[AbsoluteApril]

I wanted to share some photos from my recent trip to the California Academy of Sciences on 8/21/11. They are doing a special exhibit through labor day called ‘Snakes & Lizards: The Summer of Slither’. It was really well done with a good variety of animals! http://www.calacademy.org/

Took my best friend, Beverly, who is in town; she lives in Australia… yeah, she’s a lucky lady! As I am a snake lady, she is a bird lady, so we appreciate each other’s love for critters. Here she is in front of Lemondrop’s enclosure, a decent sized albino retic:

This is my favorite photo.

At the entrance was one of the animatronic snakes used in the movie Anaconda, this thing was huge and awesome to see!

Ok, no more commentary, on with the photos! If I have anything labeled wrong, please let me know.

Green Tree Monitor

Emerald Tree Boa

Green Mamba

Gaboon Viper

Spitting Cobra (deep in shed)

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Australian Water Dragon (Bev has these and BTskinks wild in her backyard)

Swimming and showing off his awesome red belly:

Collared lizards

Day Geckos

Frilled Dragon:

“Take my picture!”

Knight anole

unhappy Chameleon

Tons of vine snakes:

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Big Rhino Iggy

Burmese, with a snack being rolled in from the left… *evil laugh*

Carpets and BHP

Frogs (dumpy? edit - Waxy Monkey Frogs)

Gila or Beaded? (edit - BEADED)

Leaf tail gecko

5-lined gecko

awesome tiny super fast blue lizard (edit - lygodactylus williamsii)

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Basilisk

some kind of skink?

Albino Gator

Short video of a cuttlefish flashing colors, they were tiny, maybe 1.5-2”


Hope you enjoyed the virtual tour!
-April

 

[MDC_Ophiuchus]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I remember visiting this place many years ago. Their reptile exhibit was pretty small, but it had a sizable king cobra, so I was happy!

 

[stolenheron]

great pics, i know that is not a dumpy frog but I cannot remember the species or common name. I know it is in one of my books though.

 

[lovin2act]

Awesome pics!! I coulda swore I read somewhere that BHP's eat other snakes? With those Carpets in there with them, I guess I am mistaken!

 

[justindh1]

Thanks for posting some great pics! Looks like a heck of a place to visit.

 

[AbsoluteApril]

I'm glad people are enjoying the photos!

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I remember visiting this place many years ago. Their reptile exhibit was pretty small, but it had a sizable king cobra, so I was happy!

Cool! Yeah, I hadn't been there in about 10 years, back when it was Steinhart's Aquarium. Their nomal reptile area is quite small but this is a special exhibit for the summer. Too bad it wasn't like this all the time! Wish they still had that king cobra.

Awesome pics!! I coulda swore I read somewhere that BHP's eat other snakes? With those Carpets in there with them, I guess I am mistaken!

Yes, actually BHPs do eat other snakes (including venomous snakes) - I suspect they must just keep everything well fed. The mamba was in with the gaboon and there was an ATB in with the ETB as well.

 

[lovin2act]

Yes, actually BHPs do eat other snakes (including venomous snakes) - I suspect they must just keep everything well fed. The mamba was in with the gaboon and there was an ATB in with the ETB as well.

Oh ok so I am not losing my mind

Yes they would obviously have to keep them veeeery well fed and happy

 

[Utta]

I think those bredli are a little too big for that BHP to eat too.

great pics! to bad that emerald was shedding

 

[lovin2act]

I think those bredli are a little too big for that BHP to eat too.

great pics! to bad that emerald was shedding

Yeah I noticed their being similar in size, just wasn't sure if BHP's were like mussy's or indigo's where you see pics of them eating other snakes even bigger than themselves.

 

[lylwhitetiger]

HAHA- I love the pic of the Berm and the "snack."

 

[AbsoluteApril]

BHPs will eat very large critters, the one I saw eatting a, I think.. brown snake (venomous) on a discovery show, they were about the same size. This is a classic pic:

 

[lovin2act]

BHPs will eat very large critters, the one I saw eatting a, I think.. brown snake (venomous) on a discovery show, they were about the same size. This is a classic pic:

Awesome shot! Wow so yeah that BHP could probably make one of those Carpets disappear if it had a stirring in it's belly to have a big feast! Hopefully they keep a close watch on them and keep it fed veeeeery well

 

[SirenSanJose]

"awesome tiny blue" dudes are "electric blue day geckos", lygodactylus williamsii

Looks like they've even added a few critters since that exhibit's opening weekend, I don't remember seeing everyone you posted pictures of, when I went. Might be worth a re-visit!

 

[Shadera]

Beautiful shots of some amazing animals. The gaboon's my favorite. I love those cryptic patterns.

 

[AbsoluteApril]

"awesome tiny blue" dudes are "electric blue day geckos", lygodactylus williamsii

haha thanks! He was just so cute and SO fast, I must have taken about 20 pics of him and those were the only ones where he was sort of in focus, just zipping all over the place!

If you go again (you may already know) make sure to buy the tickets online and will call at the door, it saves $5 over the price buying when you get there.

 

[SirenSanJose]

haha thanks! He was just so cute and SO fast, I must have taken about 20 pics of him and those were the only ones where he was sort of in focus, just zipping all over the place!

If you go again (you may already know) make sure to buy the tickets online and will call at the door, it saves $5 over the price buying when you get there.

Yeah, I love those guys. I've got a pair at home, actually

I usually go up for the Nightlife events, rarely go during the day (too many small children for me to really enjoy it), which has its own set price. But I actually didn't know about the online price, thanks!

(Also, was great meeting you at teh SJ show -- sorry we didn't have more time to chat!)