The matamata is a South American turtle with a striking appearance. Its carapace, or shell, is rough and knobby, and its long neck has skin fringes, bumps and ridges. The matamata turtle’s large, flat head features a wide mouth and a long, snorkel-like snout.
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Small, strikingly colored songbirds, magnolia warblers can be found across the Eastern United States as they migrate to and from their breeding grounds in the spring and fall.
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Asian water dragons are bright green lizards found in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and southern China. They are adept climbers and strong swimmers. If necessary, they can remain submerged for up to 25 minutes.
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The eastern hellbender is the largest salamander in the Americas. They live in clean, swift-running rivers across the eastern United States and spend their entire lives in the water. This near-threatened species is protected in several states.
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Binturongs, also known as bearcats, are found in South and Southeast Asia. They have shaggy, dark brown coats, sharp teeth and claws. They spend most of their time climbing and perching in trees.
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Cuban crocodiles are one of the most endangered species of crocodile and are found only in Cuba. These small crocodiles are strong swimmers. They walk and leap with ease and are equally at home in water and on land.
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By Stephen Schulze, Keeper at the National Zoo’s Small Mammal House
the mesh from acacia thorns than we do on anything else
The ruddy turnstone is a short legged, chunky sandpiper with an extensive wintering range. Turnstones are known for sticking their bills under stones, pebbles and shells, and flipping them over to find food.
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Despite its name, the short-billed dowitcher has a bill twice the size of its head. It’s a short bill only compared to its relative, the long-billed dowitcher. The two species were, until recently, considered one species. The main difference between them is the slight difference in beak length and the dramatic difference in their songs and calls.
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These handsome diving ducks are a common sight in the northern prairies of the United States and Canada, where they fly each year to breed among semi-permanent ponds and wetlands. As pochards, or diving ducks, they are specially adapted for propelling themselves underwater in search of aquatic plants, small gastropods and mollusks to eat.
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