Snakes, turtles, frogs, and their kin.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Aztec legend ties the axolotl's name to which deity, a twin of Quetzalcoatl?
In that Aztec story, the god Xolotl escaped sacrifice by changing form until he hid in the water as an axolotl.
What forms the cone-shaped cover around each chameleon eye?
Only a tiny peephole stays open in each cover, letting the eye swivel like a turret.
Wild axolotls survive only in the canals and lake remnants around which major city?
Mexico City's growth drained most of the wild axolotl's lake home, and introduced fish now eat the eggs left in its remaining canals.
Pet axolotls are often pink, but what color are most wild ones?
Pale pink and white axolotls are color variants raised in captivity; dark coloring helps wild ones hide in muddy water.
Chameleons change color by adjusting the spacing of what in their skin?
The crystals form a mirror-like lattice, and shifting them closer or farther apart changes which colors bounce back.
Which ability are axolotls famous for?
Axolotls can also regrow optic nerves and retinas, helping researchers study how damaged eyes might heal.
Relative to its body, how far can a chameleon extend its tongue?
The tongue fires in less than a tenth of a second and ends in a sticky club that grabs insects.
Why does a chameleon point both eyes at its prey before striking?
Chameleons judge distance by focusing their eyes; coordinating both eyes sharpens that focus before the tongue fires.
What recurring event adds a new segment to a rattlesnake's rattle?
A new interlocking button forms with each shed, and worn segments can snap off, so counting them does not reveal age.
Wild axolotls live naturally in which Mexican lake?
Lake Xochimilco is a canal-crossed remnant lake near Mexico City where wild axolotls still live.