Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website! From tortoises to lizards, this week we got an inside look at the San Diego Zoo’s Reptile House with Reptile Keeper, Rachael Walton.These reptiles may resemble living dinosaurs due to their scaly bodies or clawed feet, but they are just as susceptible to the habitat loss and climate change occurring worldwide. Hopefully from seeing these reptiles, you can learn a few facts about these amazing creatures and understand that the fight for these living dinosaurs is very much real. [caption id="attachment_127279" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Throughout our day at the Reptile House, Ms. Walton brought us to various corridors that housed animals of different environments. Some corridors were extremely hot and humid to mimic a tropical atmosphere, while others were cooler and drier to mimic a desert atmosphere. The corridor pictured above was hot and humid and housed tropical lizards and snakes.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127280" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Not only do the moisture and temperature of the corridors mimic the reptile’s environment, the structures within the enclosure are also meant to mimic the reptile’s habitat. The caiman lizard pictured above is resting on a piece of cloth meant to simulate the treetop habitat it would live in in the wild. Although the San Diego Zoo may not be able to mimic an exact replica of an animal’s habitat, they try their best to make an animal feel at home![/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127281" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured above is the woma python, an endangered species from the arid regions of Australia. This woma python is used as an animal ambassador. An animal ambassador is when certain animals are brought to interact with the public through presentations or even school programs. By using animal ambassadors, people are given the opportunity to connect with real-live animals and feel compelled to take action towards saving these species.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127282" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Bright and colorful, the caiman lizard is a tropical South American lizard. Although some organisms are colorful to warn others of their venom, the caiman lizard is not venomous, but rather sexually dimorphic. Sexually dimorphic means the females and males of the same species have different appearances. Similar to crocodiles in appearance, the caiman lizard is a carnivore with no sharp teeth that relies on jaw strength to break down apple snails, a very large species of snail. Martin, the caiman lizard pictured above, also serves as an animal ambassador to educate the public about the importance of animals and conservation.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127283" align="aligncenter" width="768"] But reptiles don’t only consist of lizards and snakes, this Burmese star tortoise is also a reptile! At the current moment, Burmese star tortoises are critically endangered due to habitat destruction, invasive species, and low offspring survival. Organizations such as the Turtle Survival Alliance and Turtle Conservancy work to protect this tortoise and others of its species. The pictured tortoise above is a baby Burmese star tortoise roughly two years of age. Another critically endangered tortoise species, the radiated tortoise, is simultaneously being rehabilitated by the San Diego Zoo and reintroduced into its natural habitat in Madagascar.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127284" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Did you know that a tortoise’s shell is actually a modified rib cage used for protection? The two baby Burmese star tortoises pictured above are being cared for by Ms. Walton and her team. The baby tortoise pictured closest to the lens is a little under a year old and the baby tortoise pictured further away is a little over a year old. While you may not be able to see this in the photo above, the pattern on the younger baby’s shell is less developed than the pattern on the older baby. Regardless, both are equally cute![/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127285" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Bright green, this Mang Mountain pit viper from China is a critically endangered species of venomous snake that uses a technique called caudal luring to attract prey. Caudal luring is where the snake’s tail is colored differently from the rest of the body to attract prey to its tail and allow the snake to grab a hold of its prey. The Mang Mountain pit viper is housed in the cooler, misted corridor since its natural habitat is near the peaks of mountains in Southern China. The San Diego Zoo was the first zoo to hatch the Mang Mountain viper, leading the conservation effort for this species.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127286" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] What happens when a keeper needs to handle a venomous reptile? In most cases, the animal will not be physically handled. But when the situation calls for it, tongs are used to ensure keeper and animal safety. The eyelash pit viper pictured above is kept in a semi-tropical corridor along with other venomous reptiles. At times when a venomous or endangered species is confiscated, the San Diego Zoo is obliged to bring it in, a testament to its efforts in conservation.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127288" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Aspiring model, this baby crocodile practices showing off his teeth! As Ms. Walton removed this baby crocodile from his enclosure, he began calling for his mom with a distinct cry. In the wild, his mom would come to care for her baby upon hearing his cry. However, as crocodiles grow up, their call changes slightly and their mom stops responding. The baby crocodiles kept in the reptile house live without their mother in a controlled environment with intensive care from keepers to ensure maximum survival. Many other species kept in the reptile house are not exhibited or kept with their original groups for the same reason.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_127290" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Crocodiles have a very delicate social system, if an individual is removed from and/or reintroduced into the community, the crocodiles may start fighting one another and their social balance is broken. In order to avoid disrupting this balance, keepers at the San Diego Zoo must take all of the crocodiles in a community out for treatment rather than taking them out one-by-one, even if only one crocodile is seeking treatment. From years of conservation efforts, the San Diego Zoo develops protocols in the special handling of animals to ensure the health and survival of these animals.[/caption] As evidenced by the critically endangered Mang Mountain pit viper and Burmese star tortoise, the survival of these living dinosaurs is threatened by habitat loss and climate change. By seeing and learning about these animals, I hope you have a better understanding of the importance of the San Diego Zoo’s efforts to protect reptilian species. Nerissa, Photojournalist Team Week Three, Fall Session 2018