Warning Coloration

In nature, animals will use bright colors to warn other organisms that they are distasteful or potentially dangerous (Like the Gila Monster pictured above). Bright colors like red, yellow, or orange are typically seen. In something called Mullerian mimicry, venomous or poisonous animals that are unrelated share warning coloration. An example of this is wasps and hornets or butterflies.

Interestingly, another type of mimicry is Batesian mimicry, where a harmless animal mimics the coloration of a dangerous animal. A great example of this is the Coral Snake and the Milk Snake. Both have red, black, and yellow coloration though only 1 is venomous.

The adage used to determine the difference between the two is:

If red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow
If red touches black, you're okay, Jack

This means if the red coloration touches a black band of coloration the snake isn't venomous, but if the red coloration touches a band of yellow coloration the snake is.

Which of these 2 snakes would you expect to be venomous?

A)
B)

Dinosaurs with feathers?

Birds are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs, the reptiles that lived over a 100 million years ago. But did you know that some early dinosaurs also had feathers?

It is now believed that the Velociraptor*, made famous by Jurassic Park, may not have been only been feathered, but also may have been venomous. They had long rear facing fangs with grooves in them that closely resemble fangs seen today in venomous snakes and lizards. Link here.

*Interestingly, the Velociraptor on screen was modeled on the species Deinonychus

ReptileBlog

Over the course of the next 2 weeks, I'll be updating this page with interesting facts and information about reptiles, such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, etc. Though "reptiles" is no longer a valid taxonomic term (since it is paraphyletic), it is highly unlikely that the term will ever go away.

There are 4 living orders of reptiles:

Crocodilia: Includes crocodiles, alligators, gavials and caimans

Sphenodontia: Tuataras

Squamata: Snakes and Lizards

Testudines: Turtles and Tortoises