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  Reptiles and Amphibians    
 
 

Zoo Atlanta’s World of Reptiles is home to hundreds of species from around the globe. Highlights include endangered turtles and tortoises, snakes, amphibians and Guatemalan beaded lizards (one of the world’s rarest reptiles, with fewer than 200 thought to remain in the wild). The World of Reptiles also features an extensive collection of native species.

The Zoo’s Herpetology Department is a world leader in conservation and research, playing critical roles in combating global amphibian extinction and preserving endangered turtles and tortoises. Our efforts extend to field work in Panama, Southeast Asia, China, Mexico, Ecuador and Brazil. Zoo staff also work closely with state officials on local conservation issues. Here on grounds, our facility houses many breeding colonies of endangered species, with hopes of assuring that these will exist for future generations.

In the News
Information on the Panama Amphibian Crisis (PDF document)
In response to the global crisis of amphibian extinctions, Zoo Atlanta and Atlanta Botanical Garden have formed a progressive collaborative program in amphibian conservation. To learn more about our various projects, please visit: www.saveafrog.org
   

 

Bog turtle

Bog Turtle  
   

The bog turtle is North America’s smallest turtle species, with the average adult measuring just under four inches in length. Although they are protected throughout their range, bog turtles are seriously threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for the international traditional medicinal market. Zoo Atlanta works with the Department of Natural Resources to propagate this native reptile and re-introduce animals to their native habitats.

 

 

Did you know?

Some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic animals live among us every day – INSECTS! Insects make up 50 percent of the planet’s animal species. Insects appeared on Earth 390 million years ago; that’s almost 200 million years before the first dinosaurs. Scientists have identified at least 800,000 species of insects, and experts estimate that up to 50 million new species are yet undiscovered. Insects play important roles in their ecosystems, too, primarily as pollinators. Some plants can only be pollinated by insects.
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