California is home to an incredibly wide range of wildlife, including its reptile population! In fact, the Golden State has more than 50 unique species of colorful, visually striking lizards… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Hailey "Lex" Pruett is a nonbinary writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering reptiles and amphibians. They have over five years of professional content writing experience. Additionally, they grew up on a hobby farm and have volunteered at animal shelters to gain further experience in animal care.
A longtime resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, Hailey has owned and cared extensively for a wide variety of animals in their lifetime, including cats, dogs, lizards, turtles, frogs and toads, fish, chickens, ducks, horses, llamas, rabbits, goats, and more!
California is home to an incredibly wide range of wildlife, including its reptile population! In fact, the Golden State has more than 50 unique species of colorful, visually striking lizards… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Arizona’s hot, arid climate makes it the perfect environment for a stunning range of reptiles! Its lizard population is especially rich and diverse, with around 50 unique species calling the… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Thanks to its uniquely warm, humid, borderline tropical climate, Florida is home to a wide range of animals that would normally not thrive in the United States' more temperate regions.… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
From fearsome snakes to gentle tortoises, reptiles are a diverse and fascinating group of animals that have existed for hundreds of millions of years! Learning about our planet’s scaly inhabitants… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Florida has some of the most vibrant, diverse, and stunning wildlife–not just in the United States but the entire world! This is largely thanks to Florida's semi-tropical climate, which provides… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Hawaii is home to a unique variety of reptiles ranging from tiny skinks to massive sea turtles and iguanas. Interestingly, none of the geckos in Hawaii are native–all have been… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Having plenty of ways to classify and organize animals based on their physical traits and ancestry has made studying them much easier for scientists. However, sometimes things get tricky, especially… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Geckos are a pretty unusual bunch of reptiles, with perhaps their most bizarre and noteworthy trait being their massive, bulging eyes. If you own one of these unique lizards or… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Many animals must undergo a period of dormancy or significantly lessened activity to save energy during a particular time of the year (typically the cold, harsh winter months). Depending on… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
If you own a leopard gecko or have ever handled one, you may have realized they’re surprisingly chatty lizards. Perhaps you’ve heard one chirp or “bark” at you upon getting… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
The Lone Star State is home to a wide range of incredible animal species! This includes lots of reptiles who are right at home in its warm, sunny climate. Even… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
With so many amazing reptiles now integrated into the pet trade, choosing which particular one will suit you best can be tricky and confusing! If you’re an aspiring reptile owner… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
All animals have to maintain their core body temperature somehow for their bodily processes like digestion, growth, and respiration to run smoothly. You've likely heard at some point that all… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Quick Answer Reptiles differ from amphibians in that they breathe oxygen through their lungs, and their skin is protected by dry scales to prevent drying out. Turtles, including all tortoises… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Snakes are unique animals with truly bizarre anatomy. In fact, they're so bizarre that just by looking at them, it's hard to tell what they are and how we even… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
As the longest venomous snake in the world, the king cobra is a force to be reckoned with. Its average length is anywhere from 10 to 13 feet! Not only… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Key Points: The green anaconda not only beats out the Komodo dragon in length but it also is considered the heaviest snake in the world. There are a few reports… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Key Points There are five species of snake that can leap from branch to branch, appearing to fly through the air. Many of the weirdest snakes in the world live… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Lizards are certainly a colorful bunch of reptiles, but what's the most colorful lizard of them all? Could it perhaps be the panther chameleon or the jeweled lacerta? It's actually… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Key Points Snakes can be quite fascinating and beautiful creatures but are often misunderstood. Half of our choices for the most beautiful snakes are venomous, so should be admired from… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Despite its fearsome reputation, many find the honey badger strangely adorable. Its unique appearance, along with its sudden internet fame thanks to the Honey Badger Don't Care viral video and… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
If you love exotic pets, you may have wondered at some point if the adorably bizarre bushbaby pet, also known as the Galago, could be reasonably kept in captivity. After… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
From their striking fur coloration to their smelly yet effective defense mechanism, skunks are unique and fascinating animals. Do skunks make good pets? There are several different species of skunks,… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Turkeys have long been useful livestock animals, but in recent years, they’ve also become popular pets! They’ve been domesticated and living alongside humans for thousands of years, and they’re highly… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
From their truly bizarre biology to their impressive intelligence and critical thinking skills, octopuses are incredible animals. If you find them as interesting as we do, you’ve probably wondered at… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
The quokka is a peculiar yet adorable little creature that instantly captured the hearts of millions when it went viral for its seemingly permanent smile. It’s often referred to as… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Cuddly, adorable, and super-soft, the domestic chinchilla is a fairly popular exotic pet. Like many other domesticated rodents commonly kept as pets, chinchillas are fairly low-maintenance and fascinating to observe… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
If you’ve ever found a lizard in your home or perhaps trapped somewhere in your garden, you may have considered catching it so you can transport it to safety. However,… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Have you ever seen a frilled lizard? If you have, you’re probably wondering why they look like something straight out of Jurassic Park! What even is a frilled lizard, anyway,… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Tegu lizards are remarkable animals, and they’ve become increasingly popular in the pet trade! This is largely thanks to their adorable, almost dog-like appearance, high intelligence, and playful temperaments. But… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
From geckos’ bizarrely bulging eyeballs and slit-shaped pupils to the downright alien-looking peepers of chameleons, lizard eyes are incredibly unique. There are more than 5,000 distinct types of lizards, and… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Naming any pet can be tricky, especially when it comes to exotic pets like lizards! However, the naming process doesn't have to be stressful or something you necessarily have to… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Poop: every animal produces it in some form or another, even our scaly friends like snakes and lizards! But what does lizard poop look like? Perhaps you’re trying to identify… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Despite their obvious dangers, poisonous and venomous animals have always fascinated humans. From fearsome snakes and toxic frogs to more unusual animals like scorpions and cone snails with powerful stingers,… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Whether they’re hanging around in your garden eating your plants or leaving their unpleasant droppings around your home, lizards can be quite destructive, unwelcome guests. If you’re looking for ways… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Depending on where you live, your backyard is likely home to a diverse array of many unique types of plants, fungi, and animals. Some of the most common visitors you’ve… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Everyone’s encountered it before: some kind of unwelcome critter invading your space, whether it’s rodents, a colony of insects, or, in some cases, a bunch of reptiles or amphibians. Maybe… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Spend enough time around a lizard, and you’ll find they’re actually quite social animals with lots of surprisingly intricate methods of communicating— not just with one another but also with… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Key Points: Five infraorders loosely categorize all types of lizards based on traits like their body plans, how they’ve evolved over time, and other physical characteristics they may share. The… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Also known as the banded bullfrog, the adorable chubby frog has become quite popular in the pet trade. Hardy and surprisingly low-maintenance, these little amphibians make good pets for beginner… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
With more than 6,000 known species of incredible-looking frogs and more being discovered all the time, it can be tricky narrowing down the most adorable of the bunch. Still, we’ve… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Quick Answer For many years, researchers believed garter snakes were non-venomous. Studies in the past few decades have shown that some species actually produce a small amount of mild neurotoxic… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
One of the most bizarre members of the Amphibia class is the axolotl. This strange animal looks more like a fish from science fiction than an actual amphibian! Native to… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Hairy frogs sound like something out of a horror movie, but in reality, their unique adaptations are far more fascinating than scary! From its bizarre bony claws and the brutal… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Naming any pet can be challenging, but naming exotic pets like reptiles and amphibians can be even harder. Thankfully, we’ve got plenty of inspiration when it comes to names for… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Key Points The Axolotl pet can make great pets, but they aren’t ideal for beginner pet owners who have no experience with keeping amphibians. Due to pet axolotls’ rarity and… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Having a bunch of frogs take up residence in your yard, garden, or even your home can be incredibly frustrating, even for people who love these little amphibians! How can… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
African clawed frogs are tongueless and toothless. While basically all frogs are semi-aquatic to some degree, some species spend nearly all of their lives underwater! Though they are quite rare,… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Frogs are notable for having some pretty unusual and remarkable anatomy, from their elongated bones and webbed feet to their wide mouths and highly permeable skin. But their massive, protruding… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago
Have you ever heard of ‘see-through’ or ‘invisible’ frogs? Well, the truth is a little more mundane, but glass frogs are still a fascinating species! But how did this unusual… Read More
By Hailey Pruett 2 years ago