California Academy of Sciences, Rainforest Gallery

The Boa constrictor is a species of large, heavy-bodied snake. It is a member of the family Boidae found in North, Central, and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Ten subspecies are currently recognized, although some of these are controversial. This article focuses on the species Boa constrictor as a whole, but also specifically on the... less ↑

Eunectes murinus (derived from the Greek ευνήκτης meaning "good swimmer" and the Latin murinus meaning "of mice" for being thought to prey on mice), commonly known as the green anaconda, is a non-venomous boa species found in South America. It is the largest, heaviest, and second longest (behind the reticulated python) known extant snake species. The term anaconda (without further qualification) often refers to this species, though the term could also apply to other members of... less ↑

The Arrau River turtle, South American river turtle, or Giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa), also known as the Charapa turtle, Arrau turtle, Tartaruga-da-amazônia, or Araú, is the largest of the side-neck turtles (Pleurodira). It is found in the Amazon Basin (Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and so on). Adults often reach 1 m in length. Females have wide flattened shells and are larger and more numerous than the males. Adult Arraus feed entirely on plant food. The... less ↑

Kuhl's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli) is a species of gecko which has adaptations to its skin, including flaps on either side of its body, webbed feet, and a flattened tail to allow it to glide over short distances. These geckos have a remarkable camouflage. The flaps of skin along their sides help them blend with tree bark. Often, the eyes are the only way to see them. less ↑

Paradise Tree Snake or Paradise Flying Snake Chrysopelea paradisi is a species of snake found in Asia. It can, like all species of its genus Chrysopelea, glide by stretching the body into a flattened strip using its ribs. It is mostly found in moist forests and can cover a horizontal distance of about 100 metres in a glide from the top of a tree. Slow motion photography shows an undulation of the snake's body in flight... less ↑

Langaha madagascariensis (commonly known as the Madagascar or Malagasy leaf-nosed snake) is a medium-sized highly cryptic arboreal species. It is endemic to Madagascar and found in deciduous dry forests and rain forests. There is considerable sexual dimorphism within the species; the males are dorsally brown and ventrally yellow with a long tapering snout while the females are mottled grey with a leaf shaped snout. less ↑

The Oustalet's or Malagasy giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) is a very large species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar, but also has been introduced near Nairobi in Kenya (though its current status there is unclear). It occurs in a wide range of habitats, even among degraded vegetation within villages, but is relatively rare in primary forest. With a maximum length of 68.5 cm (27 in), it is often considered the largest species of chameleon, though some suggest... less ↑

Brookesia is a genus of chameleons found in Madagascar, that range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons (though this name also commonly is used for species in the genera Rieppeleon and Rhampholeon). It includes the species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. They are largely brown and most are essentially terrestrial. A significant percentage of the species in the genus... less ↑

Phelsuma grandis Gray, 1870, is a diurnal arboreal species of day gecko (Phelsuma spp.). These geckos are part of the Phelsuma group, which consists of in excess of 70 species and subspecies. They are commonly referred to as the Madagascar giant day gecko, due to their large size. They are found in areas of tropical and subtropical forest in northern Madagascar. P. grandis feeds on various invertebrates, very small vertebrates, and nectars. less ↑

Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli), is a gecko that is found on the island Nosy Bé near Madagascar, as well as on the mainland Madagascar itself, in the region of Ankaranafantsika. These geckos live an arboreal lifestyle, often venturing down to the ground only to lay eggs in soft soil and leaflitter. There are two different morphs of these geckos; the Nosy Bé form, and the mainland Madagascar form, and they can be distinguished by their... less ↑