Lizards: Listen Up, We Have Ears
Ackie Monitor
Varanus acanthurus (large)
My name is “Irwin” after the late great Steve Irwin that also hailed from Australia. I am a beautiful lizard that is part of the monitor lizard group. We are all active hunters and Randy has to hold me so I don’t get away during a presentation. “Crikey!” as Steve used to say. I might calm down with time, but participants only get to touch me until I do. People should always remember that it takes time for monitor lizards to get used to people.
Bearded Dragon (two total)
Pogona vitticeps (large)
My name is “Star Fire” and I was rescued from a box in a basement by tenants moving into a new home. My natural habitat in Australia gets up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit which helps me digest plant matter. Consequently, I used to be quite skinny, but I am a voracious eater, and now I am a healthy lizard. Thank you Party Safari! (The staff will pick a well-rested lizard for your presentation.)
Indonesian Blue-Tongue Skink
Tiliqua gigas (large)
My name is “Mr. Slithers” because I like to fold my legs against my sides and move really quickly (like a snake). My ancestors are from Indonesia, and I have a blue tongue. Scientists are still trying to figure out the purpose of my blue tongue. Some hypothesize that it is for anti-predator defense, others think it might be for displaying territoriality, still others thought it was to indicate that we are poisonous (which we aren’t). Maybe you can help figure out my awesome features when you get older.
Fire Skink
Lepidothyris Fernandi (medium)
I am a stunning, secretive, fire skink from western Africa (how about that for alliteration). I do not yet have a name because I am brand new to Party Safari and I am still waiting for somebody to give me a good one. Perhaps it will indicate my bright red/orange colors which might let other animals think I am poisonous…but I am not. None of my Scincidae family members are, though we do have some bright colors don’t we? If you put the blue-tongue of the Indonesian Skink with the orange body of my African relatives then you would think we like the Denver Broncos, but we don’t.
Spiny Tailed Lizard (Uromastyx)
genus Uromastyx (medium)
My name is “Spike” due to my spiny tail. I am an awesome lizard from Northern Africa. Do you know what is up there? The Sahara Desert! My primary diet is plants and seeds so I am a great lizard for people who don’t like dealing with insects as feeder food. I am still a bit skittish, so Randy holds me while participants touch my back and compare it to my tail. I defend myself with those spikes. Watch out!
Sudanese Plated Lizard
Gerrhosaurus major (medium)
My name is “Quasi” and I was given to Randy from a friend who moved to Canada. I am a beautiful adult male lizard that originated in Africa. People often think I look like “a skink with armor” but I am much cheaper than my friend the blue-tongue skink.
Chinese Water Dragon
Physignathus cocincinus (medium)
My name is yet to be determined. I am a beautiful new lizard of Party Safari and Randy has been getting me used to being touched, but really, he thinks I will make a good sit-on-someone’s-head type of animal. I do not do outside presentations because I am so quick and I like to jump. Another thing I love is to do is splash in my water space. Please make sure you do research before you buy a lizard as awesome as me, because I have to have clean water so I don’t get sick.
Leopard Gecko (four total)
Eublepharis macularius (small)
My name is “Sandstorm” and I am an awesome desert gecko. Desert geckos are lizards with eyelids whereas rainforest geckos are lizards without eyelids! (Maybe we have eyelids to keep sand out of our eyes?) Another difference between the two groups of lizards is that desert geckos do not stick on walls or trees. We just walk around on the ground. Rainforest geckos have special adaptations for “sticking” onto things. Ask Randy about other differences, or better yet, suggest both so you can see them for yourself! (The staff will pick a well-rested lizard for your presentation.)
Crested Gecko (two total)
Correlophus ciliates (small)
My name is “Smoke” because my species was once thought to be extinct (1994). Fortunately, we were found on New Caledonia, an island northeast of Australia, and since then we have made a huge comeback via the pet industry. One neat thing about my lizard species is that we like to hop. Another neat thing is we do not regrow our tails like a lot of other lizard species. We have just one chance for escape! My wife, Callie (named after New Caledonia; thank you Lisa Neill) has a beautiful tail, but I dropped mine before joining Party Safari. Randy will bring whichever one of us is most rested if you request us for a presentation.
Flying Gecko
Ptychozoon kuhli (small)
My name is “Houdini” because I am really hard to find in my enclosure. Yes, I am a “flying” lizard, but what that really means is that I am a good “falling” lizard. (Flaps of skin allow me to guide where I’m falling; just like flying squirrels.) Guess what, there are flying snakes and flying frogs too!
Argentine Black and White Tegu
Salvator merianae (giant)
My name is “Franky” and I love to eat. I am from South America and though I look like a monitor lizard, I am not one of them. I am an omnivore and a healthy diet for me consists of 60% protein (lots of insects), 30% vegetables, and 10% fruits. It is so important for my owners to have appropriate space for me as I grow. I am definitely not a creature you should buy without planning first. I’d like to give a shout out to Scales n’tails in Lakewood for holding me while Randy had my enclosure built properly. Thank you!
Experience lizards! Experience the unusual!
