Hesse, a state in the heart of Germany, is characterized by a diverse biocultural landscape. From the wooded low mountain ranges like the Taunus and the Vogelsberg to the fertile valleys along the Rhine, Hesse offers a wide range of habitats for a variety of plant and animal species. The flora is marked by deciduous and coniferous trees in the forests, as well as typical Central European plants such as beeches, oaks, and chestnuts. The fauna includes a variety of species, including deer, wild boar, foxes, badgers, and various bird species like woodpeckers and owls. The people of Hesse have developed a close relationship with nature over the centuries, reflected in traditions such as the preservation of orchards and the protection of nature reserves. Despite challenges from land use, urbanization, and climate change, the protection and preservation of this biocultural diversity remain crucial for the future of Hesse and the well-being of its residents.
That's my nevus flammeus🔥, better known as port-wine stain🍷. It's a harmless capillary malfunction in the skin. The fine blood vessels that run below the epidermis are increased and widened, which causes the reddish color. It's already present at birth. In most cases, it's linked to a somatic mosaic mutation with exchange of a base pair in the GNAQ gene🧬. Mosaicism is a condition in which a single organism possesses more than one genetic line. Getting rid of it wouldn't be a problem these days. But I like the feature!✌️
A reptile that hugs you is only looking for your warmth or tries to eat you.
Kleptothermy, theft of warmth, is a form of thermoregulation. It occurs in a wide variety of animal species, including human. For example when we cuddle up because it's cold.
Reptiles* cannot create body heat themselves. Their metabolism is dependent on external heat sources.
When your reptile hugs it body against you, it certainly feels safe. But it doesn't do it out of affection, but because you are warm.
It's still a nice feeling.
You should always keep in mind, that it's better for the animal not to take it out of the terrarium.
My leopard geckos are about to winter rest. I initiate a near-natural rest at a temperature of around 12°C. It's important to get an accurate picture of the animals health beforehand. This includes taking fecal samples, scanning the body for abnormalities and assessing the strength of the animal.
*From a cladistic point of view, which is the scientific standard today, the reptiles as a monophyletic taxon, i.e. as a natural (complete) descent group (Reptilia as clade), should at least also contain the birds, which are warm-blooded.
Desert locusts (Shistocerca gregaria) only do two things 🤷♂️
I feed them alive to my animals. I have also tried freeze-dried grasshoppers myself. Tasted a little like sunflower seeds. Did you ever eat insects and did you like it? 😋
When I do something with the terrarium, Dakota always has to watch what's going on. He's very headstrong and likes to design himself. No idea where he got this from. 🤷♂️
It's a big big world for a tiny baby lizard, less than two centimeters tall. 🥺
Native to the Bahamas and Cuba, this iguanian species has widely been introduced to other places like the United States, Mexico and Taiwan. Their eggs often travel via the soil of plant pots. Like other anole, it can change color. In this case from brown to black. The coloration depends on their mood and activity. Brown anole are very communicative in visual ways.
