Chapter VIII: Section III: The Reptiles and Amphibians

THE REPTILE HOUSE, No. 34.

The Reptile House was the first large building erected in the Zoological Park. It represents an earnest effort to present carefully selected examples of the reptilian Orders, in a manner which may afford the visitor and the student a general view of the important groups of living reptiles.

The length of the Reptile House, over all, is 146 feet, and its greatest width is 100 feet. It is constructed of buff mottled brick, combined with granite and Indiana limestone. In the ornamental cornice of terra cotta, reptilian forms modelled by Mr. A. Phimister Proctor, the well-known animal sculptor, constitute an important feature. The building is roofed with slate, heated by hot water, and cost, with its cages, about $50,000. It is beautifully situated on the edge of a forest of primeval oaks, very near the geographical center of the Park.

The great center hall is unbroken by a single column, and at one end it opens across the Crocodile Pool and its sandbanks, through three huge arches, into the green, jungly mass of the conservatory. Of the tropical vegetation massed behind the pool—palmettoes, bayonet cacti, yuccas, and the like, and the tillandsias, Spanish moss, resurrection ferns, and butterfly orchids,—nearly the whole came from Florida, along with five alligators which were the first occupants of the pool.

In effect, the central hall appears to be 115 feet in length, by 40 feet wide, exclusive of the cages. But, large as this building is, it would be an easy matter to fill all its available space with the reptiles of North America alone, choosing only the handsome and showy forms. As we contemplate the great number of species in our own reptilian fauna, the thought occurs, what can we do with the reptiles of the Old World? Manifestly, the only proper course is to choose from the reptiles of the world the forms which will make for our visitors and students the most instructive and attractive series of important types.

SYNOPSIS OF THE CLASS REPTILIA.

On April 1, 1913, all these examples are on exhibition in the Reptile House:

ORDERS. CONSPICUOUS EXAMPLES. LOCALITY.

LIVING REPTILES.
Turtles, or _Chelonia_.
Aligator Turtle Louisiana.
Snapping Turtle Zoological Park.
Box Turtle Zoological Park.
Giant Tortoise Galapagos Island.
Gopher Tortoise Florida.
Painted Turtle New York.
Green Turtle (marine) New York.
Soft-shelled Turtle Indiana.
Saurians, or _Crocodilia_.
Alligator Florida.
Florida Crocodile Southern Florida.
Broad-nosed Crocodile Africa.
Lizards, or _Lacertilia_.
Iguana (_I. tuberculata_) West Indies.
Horned “Toad” Arizona.
Green Lizard (_L. viridis_) Europe.
Monitor Ceylon.
“Glass Snake” Florida.
Gila Monster Arizona.
Chameleon Africa.
Serpents, or _Ophidia_.
Harmless.
Regal Python Malay Peninsula.
Anaconda British Guiana.
Black Snake (_B. constrictor_) Zoological Garden.
Garter Snake Zoological Park.
Hog-Nosed Snake Zoological Park.
Venomous.
Coral Snake Florida.
Cobra de Capello India.
Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake Florida.
Water Moccasin Florida.

THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES.

The Order of Turtles, (_Chelonia_), is so large that it has been found necessary to devote to its representatives the whole central space of the main hall of the Reptile House, and also a specially designed Tortoise House of glass in the eastern end of the building. In the main hall are two features—one, a large square tank for large turtles; the other, a pool of running water between banks of earth, sand, and living plants. This tank is 35 feet in length, and by means of low, plate-glass partitions it is divided into ten cross sections, each of which can very comfortably provide for the wants of at least three species of turtles of medium size. With a wonderfully rich Chelonian fauna on the western continent to provide for, there is little room to spare for Old World forms, and the temptation to make this collection strictly Occidental, is almost too great to be resisted. For the sake of brevity and clearness, only six types have been chosen for special mention.

The following species taken together fairly represent the different forms of Chelonians, from the highest to the lowest:

The Alligator Turtle, (_Macrochelys lacertina_), is the largest fresh-water chelonian in North America. In form and temper it resembles the common snapping turtle of the North, and its home is in the Gulf States. The largest of the two Louisiana specimens on exhibition weighs 115 pounds.

The Snapping Turtle, (_Chelydra serpentina_), which is the most courageous and pugnacious of all turtles, is rather poorly protected by its shell, and must therefore fight for its place in nature.

The Painted Turtle, (_Chrysemys picta_), is a species of wide and common distribution, and fairly representative of the host of fresh water terrapins and turtles so common throughout the United States in ponds and streams of all sorts.

The Box Tortoise, (_Cistudo carolina_), lives on land, and as a means of perfect protection has been enabled by nature completely to withdraw its head and legs within its shell, and by means of a hinge across the middle of the plastron, or lower shell, to close it tightly.

The Tortoise and Lizard Yards.—At the eastern end of the Reptile House is a commodious glass-roofed hall, opening into a series of sandy yards. This installation is occupied by the collection of tortoises and the larger tropical lizards. These reptiles do better in captivity, and show to best advantage, if given outdoor sunlight and plenty of room for exercise.

The Giant Tortoises are among the most interesting of living reptiles. There are fourteen distinct species, all belonging to the genus _Testudo_. These creatures appear to be survivors of the reptilian ages when reptiles attained colossal proportions. Fossil remains of the great tortoises show these creatures to have formerly inhabited the continents, but the survivors are restricted to isolated groups of small islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Six species inhabit the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Four are found in the Aldabra Islands in the Indian Ocean, and four inhabit the Mauritius-Rodriguez group of Islands. All the species are rapidly becoming extinct. Recent expeditions to the Galapagos Islands have reported that very few Giant Tortoises now survive in those islands.

The Giant Tortoises are entirely herbivorous. The specimens exhibited consume great quantities of green food, which varies in kind according to the season’s supply. During the summer months they feed largely upon melons.

Among the species exhibited is _Testudo vicina_, represented by our largest specimen, captured in the Galapagos Islands. It weighs slightly over two hundred and twenty-five pounds. Another example from the same islands represents _Testudo nigrita_, a smaller and flatter species. _Testudo elephantina_, the Elephant Tortoise, is represented by a large specimen from the Aldabra Islands, which is growing rapidly. The latter tortoise has a very high shell, and proportionately small head.

The Gopher Tortoises, (_Testudo carolina_), are large, thick-shelled, clumsy creatures, which burrow in holes in the sandy southern regions where they live. Once they were common in southern Florida, but their edibility has resulted in a great decrease in their abundance.

The South American Tortoise, (_Testudo tabulata_), is a good representative of the smaller tortoises from various parts of the world. It is common throughout tropical South America and attains a maximum length of shell of about 14 inches. The shell is elongated and blackish, each of the shields having a yellowish center. Like all of the tortoises, this is a herbivorous reptile.

The Marine Turtles.—At the New York Aquarium, situated in Battery Park, and managed by the New York Zoological Society, will be found a fine collection of such large sea-turtles as the Loggerhead, Green Turtle and Hawksbill, which require salt water.

The Soft-Shelled Turtle, (_Aspidonectes ferox_).—As to living relatives, this strange genus seems apropos of nothing. Like some of the marine turtles its shell is greatly reduced in weight, so that it can float more readily; instead of being solid bone, it terminates in a wide, thin edge of cartilage, which is so soft that when properly boiled it constitutes palatable food.

THE CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS.

The Order of Crocodilians.—This important Order, the members of which are widely distributed throughout the tropics and sub-tropics of the world, contains nineteen species. At this point it is well to correct certain very general misapprehensions regarding crocodilians.

Crocodiles are _not_ confined to the Old World; at least three species being found abundantly in tropical America.

The “movement” of a crocodile’s jaw differs in no manner whatever from that of an alligator.

Only a few species of crocodiles are dangerous to man.

There is no authentic record of the loss of a human life through our common alligator.

The Alligator genus embraces the American Alligator, (_A. mississippiensis_), of the southern United States and a small species found in China! The head of the Alligator is very flat and its sides are nearly parallel, while the head of a typical crocodile is nearly triangular.

The American Alligator is well represented in the Pool in the Reptile House, by several lusty specimens, all of which eat voraciously, are growing rapidly, and undoubtedly enjoying life. The largest specimen, a burly monster over twelve feet in length, has grown nearly five feet in length since its arrival here in 1899.

In summer, the Alligator Pool on the hill, southeast of the Reptile House, is well stocked with alligators of various sizes, and it is there that visitors can secure most realistic impressions of the appearance of this species in a state of nature, and in abundant numbers.

Under favorable conditions,—warm water and air, good light, plenty of room, and abundant food,—the Alligator grows rapidly. A specimen hatched in our Reptile House in October, 1900, was in January, 1911, 8 feet 3 inches long, and weighed 75 pounds.

The Crocodile genus is widely represented throughout the world. Of the whole eleven species, the American continent contains four—the Florida Crocodile, (_Crocodilus acutus floridanus_), attaining a length of 14 feet, which was discovered at the head of Biscayne Bay, in 1875, by W. T. Hornaday; the American Crocodile, (_C. acutus_); the Sharp-nosed Orinoco Crocodile (_Crocodilus intermedius_), found in South America; and the small _Crocodilus rhombifer_, which is found only in Cuba and the West Indies.

Of the seven remaining species, Asia contains four, and Africa three. Of the Asiatic species, one frequents salt water.

The Florida Crocodile is now represented by two specimens nearly 9 feet long, from Madina Creek, southern Florida, presented by Mr. Julian A. Dimock. It is to be recognized at a glance by its dark olive color and sharp-pointed head. This is the only species of crocodile found in the United States. Its maximum length is 14 feet 2 inches.

The Broad-Nosed Crocodile, (_Osteolaemus tetraspis_), of Africa, is represented by two specimens. This species is characterized by the broad, bony-looking head. It is one of the smaller crocodilians attaining a maximum length of five feet.

THE LIZARDS.

The Tropical Lizards.—Several families of lizards are represented among the specimens occupying the Reptile House, the Tortoise room and outside runways. Among these are the Iguanas, Tegus and Monitors.

Among the Iguanas are several large and interesting lizards. The largest of these is the Rhinoceros Iguana, (_Cyclura cornuta_), found in Hayti. Contrary to the general belief, but like all the Iguanas, it is partly carnivorous, though it feeds largely upon vegetables and fruit. This species receives its name from the presence of three well-defined horns upon the snout.

The Mexican Iguana, (_Ctenosaura acanthura_), looks unique in the possession of rings of sharp spines about the tail. Most specimens are jet black when adult, but very young examples are pale green.

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.

The Chameleon of the Old World, (_Chamaeleo vulgaris_), because of its color phases and its remarkable form, is truly a great “curiosity”; but it should not be confused with our so-called American Chameleon, which belongs to another Family, and is also less interesting.

THE SERPENTS.

The Order of Serpents, (_Ophidia_).—The large glazed cases along the northern side of the main hall of the Reptile House are devoted to the larger serpents, while the smaller species are provided for along the south wall, and in the adjoining room. One serious difficulty in the management of a collection of living serpents lies in the fact that often the most valuable specimens are so nervous and shy in their feeding habits it is impossible to cage several together.

Out of the many species of serpents exhibited in the Reptile House, ten are chosen as fairly representing the principal groups.

The Regal Python, (_Python reticulatus_), here represented by a fine specimen, 22 feet in length, weighing 170 pounds, is the best representative of the rock pythons of Asia and Africa. The island of Borneo is its center of distribution. None of the constrictors is venomous, but their crushing power is almost beyond belief.

The Rock Python, (_Python sebae_), of Africa, is a light-colored species with a very small head, and is frequently seen in the hands and around the necks of snake-charmers.

The Anaconda, (_Eunectes murinus_), is one of the largest constrictors of tropical America, and is noted for its aquatic habits. It is a handsome serpent, being of a rich green color, marked with large black spots.

The Black Snake, (_Bascanium constrictor_), a common species in the eastern United States, is probably the highest type of the harmless snakes. It is a serpent of great vigor and activity in running, climbing, and swimming; it possesses great courage, and seeks prey of many kinds in all kinds of situations.

The Garter Snake, (_Eutaenia sirtalis_), is more frequently seen in the eastern United States than any other serpent. Although the warfare waged against it is perpetual, regardless of the fact that it is as harmless as a fly, its numbers do not sensibly diminish.

The Hog-Nosed Snake, “Puff Adder,” or “Sand-Viper,” (_Heterodon platyrhinus_), represents a large and important Family, and, despite its dangerous appearance and terrifying names, it is quite harmless. It represents one of Nature’s methods for protecting harmless and inactive creatures, by making them resemble others which are dangerous.

Venomous Reptiles.—Because of the number of species of rattlesnakes which have found lodgment in the United States, and the trouble they have caused in a few localities, we are specially interested in all serpents which are dangerous to man. The species named below represents the deadly genera which civilized man has most cause to fear.

The Harlequin Snake, or Coral Snake, (_Elaps fulvius_), represents a genus which contains many species, though but few of them occur in America.

The King Cobra, (_Naja bungaris_), from the Malay Peninsula, often called Snake-Eating Cobra, is the most dangerous of all serpents, because it is the largest and the most athletic of the venomous species, and for its bite there is no effective antidote. It feeds only on living snakes. The fine specimen exhibited is about ten feet in length.

The Cobra-de-Capello, (_Naja tripudians_), of which some fine specimens are shown, is the terror of India, where it kills between 18,000 and 20,000 people annually! This is the most deadly of all serpents. For its bite, science has thus far been powerless to find an antidote, although Dr. Albert Calmette, of Lille, France, experimenting extensively in this direction, has secured partially successful results.

The most vicious snake in North America, and one of the ugliest in appearance, is the Water Moccasin, (_Ancistrodon piscivorus_),—closely related to the beautiful Copperhead, (_A. contortrix_). It is more dreaded in the South than the rattler, because it strikes on the slightest provocation, and without the rattler’s timely warning. Its colors are dull, its scales rough, its body ill-shaped and clumsy, its temper is vicious, and for every reason it is a serpent to be disliked.

The Diamond-Back Rattlesnake, (_Crotalus adamanteus_), is too handsome, too showy, and too large to be chosen as the best average type of the genus _Crotalus_; but he is king of his kind, and cannot be ignored. Three species shown side by side in our Reptile House afford striking examples of protective coloration. The Diamond-Back Rattler of Florida and the South is yellow, brown, and black, to match the checkers of sunbeam and shadow that fall upon the sands under the palmetto leaves.

THE BATRACHIANS, OR AMPHIBIANS.

Among the many wonders of Nature, none is more interesting than those forms which serve to connect the great groups of vertebrate animals, by bridging over what otherwise would seem like impassable chasms.

Between the birds and the reptiles there is a fossil bird, called the Archæopteryx, with a long, vertebrated, lizard-like tail, which is covered with feathers, and the Hesperornis, a water bird with teeth, but no wings, which inhabited the shores of the great western lake which has already yielded to American paleontologists a great number of most remarkable fossil forms.

Between the reptiles and the fishes, stretches a wonderful chain of living links by which those two Classes of vertebrates are so closely and unbrokenly united, and by such an array of forms, that they constitute an independent Class, the Batrachia, or Amphibia. In the transition from water to land, from fins and gills to legs and lungs, Nature has made some strange combinations. In some instances the fins, legs, lungs and gills have become so mixed that several notable misfits have resulted, and in some cases we see gills and legs going together, while in other lungs and fins are associated.

The Reptile House contains about two dozen species of Amphibians, and it is reasonably certain that this number will be maintained and increased. They are to be found in small aquarium cases, ranged along the south side and eastern end of the Main Hall.

The Bullfrog, (_Rana catesbiana_), is a fair representative of the Batrachians which stand nearest to the true land-going reptiles. During the early stages of its existence it is in turn, a fin-tailed tadpole with no legs, a short-tailed tadpole with a pair of front legs, a shorter-tailed tadpole with four legs, and finally a fully-developed, land-going frog with a voice like a small bull, and no tail whatever. Of the genus _Rana_, there are five species in the eastern United States, several of which inhabit the Zoological Park.

The Wood Frog, (_Rana sylvatica_), is frequently seen in moist valleys in the Zoological Park, where its chocolate brown back so closely matches the color of the dead leaves and moist earth; it is difficult to find, save when it takes one of its flying leaps. The specimens shown were taken near the Beaver Pond.

The Tree Frog, (_Hyla pickeringi_), is the commonest of the queer little tree-loving species which are so easy to hear, and so difficult to find. In spring their voices are the first to be heard in the swamps. The Zoological Park is full of _Hylas_, and their cheerful piping is heard at all seasons, especially in dry midsummer, when dark storm-clouds gather and promise rain.

The Common Toad, (_Bufo lentiginosus_), is found in the Zoological Park, though not in such abundance as the two preceding species.

Among the most remarkable creatures in the Reptile House are the specimens of Smooth-Clawed Frog, (_Xenopus laevis_), from Africa and The Surinam Toad, (_Pipa americana_). Both of these species are strictly aquatic and have broadly palmated hind feet. The Surinam Toad comes from Dutch Guiana. It is unique in its breeding habits. The male collects the eggs and places them on the female’s back where they are engulfed in large folds of the skin, which form cells in which the metamorphosis occurs.

The Spotted Salamander, (_Salamandra maculosa_), because of its broad, bright yellow bands and blotches, laid on a rich, dark-brown body color, is one of the most showy of all Amphibians. It comes from Europe, and being much prized in collections, it frequently passes through the hands of dealers in reptiles. Its skin is very moist and clammy, which gives the creature the appearance of having been varnished. This is the creature which is supposed to be able to withstand fire—a belief which is purely imaginative.

The Tiger Salamander or Axolotl, (_Amblystoma tigrinum_), is a widely different creature from the preceding. It is found throughout the greater portion of the North American continent, and as far south as Central Mexico. Thirteen other species of the genus _Amblystoma_ are found in North America and Mexico. In the matter of “harmonizing with environment,” the _Amblystoma_ is one of the most remarkable creatures in existence. In its larval stage (corresponding with the tadpole stage of a frog), this animal possesses external gills, red and sponge-like in appearance, and its tail has a fin-like edge above and below, like the tail of an eel.

So long as this larval creature remains in water, its external gills remain and do duty, and the larval stage continues indefinitely. Remove it from water, or let its home pool dry up, and, presto! its gills dry up, its tail loses its fin-like edges, and the creature goes about on land, breathing air instead of water, with lungs instead of gills.

The “Water-Dog” or “Hellbender,” (_Cryptobranchus allegheniensis_), is a salamander-like amphibian, from 18 to 22 inches long when adult, found more frequently in Pennsylvania than elsewhere. They are said to be very tenacious of life, and voracious in their food habits, feeding on worms, minnows and crayfish, and often taking the hook of the fisherman in quest of that most repulsive of all American fishes, the cat-fish. Between cat-fish and water-dog there would seem to be small choice. Mr. William Frear offers this testimony in regard to the tenacity of life of this creature:

“One specimen, about 18 inches in length, which had lain on the ground exposed to a summer sun for 48 hours, was brought to the museum, and left lying a day longer before it was placed in alcohol. The day following, desiring to note a few points of structure, I removed it from the alcohol in which it had been completely submerged for at least 20 hours, and had no sooner placed in on the table than it began to open its big mouth, vigorously sway its tail to and fro, and give other undoubted signs of vitality.”

The Congo Snake, or Amphiuma, (_Amphiuma means_), is a creature which closely resembles a thick-tailed snake. A close examination, however, discloses a tiny pair of front legs; and far back, well toward the end of the tail, a small pair of hind legs appear. These are about as valuable to the animal as the tiger’s clavicle is to him. There are but two species belonging to this strange genus, both of which are found in the stagnant waters of our southeastern states. Still lower than the amphiuma, is The Mud Eel, (_Siren lacertina_), of the southeastern quarter of the United States, which possesses small external gills, and only one pair of legs, which are in front.

The Menobranchus, or Mud Puppy, (_Necturus maculatus_), possesses external gills and four legs, and inhabits many of the rivers of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, the great lakes and also the lakes of northern New York. It is often taken in fisherman’s nets.