Zoo Atlanta is home to a new reptile palace, and these cold-blooded beasts are ready to play this summer.
We’ve picked out a few stars on the reptilian (and amphibian) roster whose trading cards you’ll want to keep.
The heavy hitter of the group, and the star of this rotisserie league team, is Zoo Atlanta’s new Cuban crocodile, which can grow to 7 feet in length.
If our scaly creatures were actually playing ball, this Cuban croc would probably make a good base-runner: He has the unnerving ability to get up on his toes and gallop.
His new dugout will be in a man-made river at the floridly named Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience.
Zoo CEO and President Raymond King said the old reptile house represented a “postage stamp collection” philosophy, in which dozens of small terraria were lined up, side by side, to show as many species as possible.
The new attraction features fewer species in bigger habitats, with the goal of prompting more natural behavior in the animals, and creating a more spacious, relaxed experience for the visitor.
For the time being, the old reptile house will continue to provide shelter for the many reptiles and amphibians that are off-exhibit.
GREEN BASILISK
Length: about 2 feet
Range: Central America
Status: stable
Skills: can run on water
Range: Zapata swamp in Cuba
CUBAN CROCODILE
Size: 6.9 to 7.5 feet
Skills: can gallop on land
Status: critically endangered
EMERALD TREE BOA
Size: can reach up to 6 feet
Range: South America
Skills: longest front teeth of all non-venomous snakes
Status: stable
BLACK THROATED MONITOR
Size: up to 7 feet
Range: Grasslands and dry forests in southern Africa
Status: stable
Skills: unlike most animals, the monitor knows math and can count
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