Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth EditionHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
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Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth Edition
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
New York Zoological Park
The South American Iguana, (_Iguana tuberculata_), may be readily
distinguished by the very pronounced fringe of erect spines which rise
along the back-bone of male specimens, and also by the presence of a
rounded tubercle or plate on each side of the head. This is a brightly
colored Iguana, having bars of green, gray and black. It is strictly
arboreal, and evinces stronger herbivorous habits than species of the
allied genera. A large male specimen is seven feet long, but much of
this length is taken up by the gradually tapering tail. In South
America—on the Orinoco, at least—this species is considered edible, and
the writer can testify that to a hungry man its flesh is excellent.
The very popular Horned “Toad”, (_Phrynosoma_), of the southwestern
states, of which there are eight or nine species, should be mentioned if
for no other reason than to place it where it belongs—with the lizards,
and not with the toads.
The Tegus, (genus _Tupinambis_), are powerful lizards, growing to a
length of four feet, and inhabiting tropical South America. They are
fleet of foot, mainly carnivorous and very quarrelsome. It is impossible
to keep any but the larger lizards in the yard with them. Tegus are fond
of eggs, breaking the shell at one end and lapping up the contents by
means of the very broad, forked tongue. They will also eat raw beef.
The Australian Monitor, (_Varanus gouldii_), is a good representative of
a genus of large and powerful lizards confined to the Old World, where
they occur in India, Malaysia, Africa and Australia. Monitors grow to a
length of eight feet. They are swift runners, entirely carnivorous, and
usually dwell in thick jungles. They are able to swallow entire an
animal as large as a half-grown rabbit. All are fond of eggs, swallowing
them without breaking the shell, which is soon dissolved by the powerful
gastric juices.
Other Lizards.—Within the main halls of the Reptile House will be found
various representatives of the smaller Lizards, a few of which may be
mentioned.
The beautiful, emerald-colored Green Lizard, (_Lacerta viridis_), of
Europe, is not only a handsome species, but it is also one of the most
satisfactory to keep in a vivarium—a good feeder and always posing.
The famous Glass “Snake,” (_Ophiosauris ventralis_), is important
because its resemblance to a snake is so perfect it is generally
mistaken for one, although a true lizard. It is not, however, a
“connecting link” between the lizards and the serpents.
Our well-known Gila Monster, (pronounced _He_-la) (_Heloderma
suspectum_), is a stupid, slow-moving creature from the southwestern
deserts, thick-set and stumpy in body, and it has the appearance of
being covered all over with dark-brown-black, and yellow beads, such as
Indians use in their bead industry. Its bite is sufficiently venomous
that it inflicts a painful wound, but it is not necessarily fatal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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