North America // Vulnerable // Squamata // image source
The southern hog-nosed snake is one of several species of hog-nosed snakes. They are known not only for their upturned nose, but also for their ability to dramatically play dead when a predator is near.
North America // Conservation Status Unknown // Osteicthyes // photo source
The Alligator Gar can live to be over 50 years old, but the average lifespan in the wild is closer to 20 years. Unusually for a fish, it can survive out of water for up to two hours.
North America // Late Cretaceous (80 million years ago) // Hesperornithiformes // image source
Despite its resemblance to the loon, hesperornis has no living descendants. It was about 5 feet long and had actual teeth (not just a serrated bill) to grasp fish easily.
Eastern North America // Least Concern // Caudata // photo source
Fun Fact: Sirens are closely related to salamanders. They have no hind legs, and their tiny forelegs are barely visible behind their gills.
(fossils found in) North America, Europe // Early Carboniferous (360 million years ago) // Cartilaginous Fish // image source
Fun Fact: Stethacanthus had enlarged denticles (small spikes found on all shark skin, akin to scales) on its head and unique, flat-topped dorsal fin.
North America // Conservation Status Unknown // Arthropoda // image source
Fun Fact: They are called hangingflies because they often hang from surfaces by their front legs. The scorpion-tail-like appendage is actually the male reproductive organ.
Southwest North America // Conservation Status Unknown // Squamata // image source
Fun Fact: Like many whiptail lizards, the grassland whiptail is an all-female species. After engaging in “pseudocopulation” with other females, they lay unfertilized eggs which hatch into exact clones of the mother.
Central America // Endangered // Soricomorpha // image source
Fun Fact: Solenodons are some of the few venomous mammals. The others are the platypus, European mole, slow loris, and several species of shrew.
