By R Babb, AmeriCorps Public Science Event Specialist<\/em><\/p>\n 1. Longest<\/a> | 2. Coolest<\/a> | 3. Heaviest<\/a> | 4. Fastest<\/a> | 5. Hottest<\/a> | 6. Smallest<\/a> | 7. The Most<\/a><\/p>\n Do you know the loooooooongest reptile?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a hint: it can usually be found slithering across the rainforests, grasslands and seas of Southeast Asia, in pet shops across the world, or even in a science museum near you!<\/p>\n According to Guinness World Records, the longest reptile ever recorded was a Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus<\/em>) specimen from Indonesia in 1912 that measured 32 ft, 9.5 in long (~10 meters)! That\u2019s more than half the length of a bowling lane! Most Reticulated Pythons don\u2019t become record-setting giants, but given the right environment with enough time (and food), they can grow to be one of the largest reptile species in the world!<\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n The coolest herp award goes to the Siberian Salamander, the only salamander species to live in the Arctic Circle!<\/p>\n While many amphibians overwinter by hiding underground, underwater or under thick vegetation, Salamandrella keyserlingii<\/em> takes it to another level. Being covered by soil, water, or plant matter provides insulation from the cold, but it doesn\u2019t stop the water in their bodies from freezing. Many frogs and other salamanders can survive frozen for months without harm, however, scientists found Siberian Salamanders can hibernate in the permafrost for years like a popsicle! They produce a special chemical called glycerol to prevent ice crystals from damaging their bodies\u2019 cells during prolonged sub-freezing conditions. Even at temperatures as low as -67 \u00b0F (-55 \u00b0C), these amazing animals will thaw and walk away come spring. How cool!<\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n The world\u2019s most massive living reptile award goes to\u2026 the Saltwater Crocodile! Crikey!<\/p>\n Lolong, a \u201csaltie\u201d now preserved at the National Museum of Natural History, Manila, has the Guinness World Record for largest crocodile in captivity. Even though he weighed 2,370 lbs (1,075 kg), he\u2019s likely not the heftiest croc out there. Crocodilians\u2019 weight increases sharply as length increases, but eventually, their increase in weight outstrips their growth in length. The wild nature of this species makes it hard to capture and measure, but regular sightings of 20-foot-long and longer Saltwater Crocodiles means there are plenty of supersized lizards roaming the swamps, river deltas and seas. If you\u2019re ever sailing the coasts of Australia or Southeast Asia, keep your eyes open for these beauties!<\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n Who would win a foot race: the fastest man in the world or a lizard?<\/p>\n Usain Bolt broke world records when he ran 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, sprinting across the finish line at 23.4 mph (37.6 km\/h), but the Perentie (Varanus giganteus<\/em>) of Australia, one of the largest and fastest living lizards in the world, can run up to 25 mph (40.23 km\/h)! The Perentie can chase down prey as large as kangaroos, maintaining top speed for over half a mile (more than 800 meters). With incredible neck muscles that act as air bellows, powerful hind legs, and sharp claws for traction \u2014 plus a recently discovered adaption of anticoagulant venom \u2014 they are voracious predators. Small mammals, reptiles, insects and birds make up the bulk of the menu of this super speedy lizard!<\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n The Desert Iguana sure can handle the heat! <\/p>\n Native to the desert scrublands of the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico, Dipsosaurus dorsalis<\/em> can remain active at up to 115\u00b0 F (46\u00b0 C), well past the threshold of other lizards. Like other ectotherms (cold-blooded animals), their body temperature depends on their environment. Desert Iguanas change color based on their environment, darkest in the mornings to soak up the sun\u2019s rays while basking on rocks and sandy streambeds, then gradually fading to white in the early afternoon to reflect light and prevent overheating. On the most sweltering of days, they can be found lying in the shade of creosote bushes or deep in sandy burrows. Even underground, they still need the heat \u2013 their eggs only hatch between 82-100\u00b0 F (28-38\u00b0 C), officially making them one of the hottest lizards around!<\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n Did you know your fingernail is bigger than the world\u2019s smallest known vertebrate?<\/p>\n Paedophryne amauensis<\/em> was first discovered in 2009 by scientists studying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea. These tiny frogs camouflage themselves on the low-lying rainforest floor, blending in so well that they were only spotted after putting handfuls of leaf litter in a bag and seeing them hop around.<\/p>\n Another fascinating fact about this super small species: unlike many other frogs, P. amauensis<\/em> lives entirely on land and does not have a tadpole stage \u2013 they hatch as mini versions of the adult stage. Adults measure only 0.30 in (7.7mm) so the juvenile frogs, called \u201choppers,\u201d don\u2019t have much growing to do.<\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot to love about North Carolina, but one especially awesome fact is that we are arguably the \u201cSalamander Capital of the World!\u201d The state is home to about 65 species of salamanders (commonly called \u201cspring lizards” in the Southern Appalachians), as well as 30 species of frogs and toads. Check out Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina’s salamanders (http:\/\/herpsofnc.org\/salamanders\/<\/a>) and frogs and toads (http:\/\/herpsofnc.org\/frogs-and-toads\/<\/a>) pages to learn more about the incredible diversity of amphibians here! <\/p>\n Top of page<\/a><\/p>\n For more information about our upcoming activities, conservation news and ground-breaking research, follow @NaturalSciences on<\/em>Instagram<\/a><\/em>,<\/em>Twitter<\/a><\/em>and<\/em>Facebook<\/a><\/em>.Join the conversation with #visitNCMNS.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":70209,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/70180"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/70180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n1. Longest<\/h2>\n
![\"Lavender](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/NIK_0132_800w.jpg\")
Lavender albino reticulated python at Reptile & Amphibian Day 2016. Photo: Karen Swain\/NCMNS.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n2. Coolest<\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.-Coolest-1024x683.jpg\")
The Siberian Salamander, which is able to survive extreme winter freezes.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n3. Heaviest<\/h2>\n
![\"Huge](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/GettyImages-520841540_800w.jpg\")
Huge Saltwater Crocodile shows its teeth.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n4. Fastest<\/h2>\n
![\"Perentie,](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/4.-Fastest_800w.jpg\")
Perentie, one of the largest and fastest living reptiles.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n5. Hottest<\/h2>\n
![\"Desert](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/5.-Hottest_800w.jpg\")
Desert Iguanas are one of the most common lizards of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n6. Smallest<\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6.-Smallest-cropped_800w.jpg\")
The smallest frog is smaller than a human fingernail.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n7. Salamander Capital of the World<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/spotted-salamander-on-moss-and-leaf-Mike_800w.jpg\")
A yellow-spotted salamander is one of many salamander species native to the western half of North Carolina. Photo: Mike Dunn.<\/em><\/p>\n
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