Trafalgar Law
Manila Ocean Park is the largest oceanarium in my beloved home country — Philippines. It is owned by China Oceanis Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of China Oceanis Inc., a Singaporean-registered firm. It is located behind Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park (Manila), or commonly known as Luneta Park, a national people’s park where our national hero named Jose Rizal was exiled. It was opened on March 1, 2008.
Aside from its Oceanarium that houses 14,000 sea creatures from about 277 species indigenous in Southeast Asia,The Jellies Exhibit showcasing myriads of jellyfishes on display, the Trails to Antarctica that is considered the country’s first penguin park facility that features Humboldt penguins, the Birds of Prey Kingdom that houses free eagles, the Fish Spa where you can let your feet enjoy massage and relaxation through their continuous smooches, and Yexel’s Toy Museum where you can take pictures on assorted display of movie and TV memorabilia, there’s this also called World of Creepy Crawlies that is considered to be one of their main tourist attractions.
What makes this section special? It exhibits frogs, insects, spiders, worms, snakes, turtles, etc. caged in a very thick fiberglass to be shown as display or exhibit, which can be educational for kids. That’s why many kids here mostly from field trips pay a visit almost everyday.
So I have here some of my 20 pictures that I took when me and my sister went there a year ago. Although I’ve got lots of them including snakes, but I’ll just share here my 20 favorite crawlies in random order. Try to scrutinize their exotic appearance and you can up-vote either 1 or more of them.
So are you ready?
Get to know them now.
Note:
All photos are my own original content.
Copyright by Trafalgar Law
#1 Giant Plated Lizard
Giant plated lizard is chiefly found in open, rocky, dry habitats in southern Africa. It has plate-like scales on the back that's why it is called as plated lizard. This lizard is very shy and when threatened it will hid itself into rocks and inflate with air.
It belongs to a genus called Gerrhosaurus. (hmm sounds like dinosaurs)
#2 Frilled Dragon
Frilled dragons are also called as frilled-neck lizards or frilled agama. They are mostly found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. They have large frills around their neck that usually stays folded against their bodies. Because of their unusual appearance, they are sometimes kept as an exotic pets and popular subjects in animation.
They belong to a genus called Chlamydosaurus.
#3 Phantasmal Poison Frogs
Phantasmal poison frog is also called as phantasmal poison-arrow frog. It is endemic to Ecuador and known from the slopes of Mt. Andes of the central Ecuador in Bolivar province. This species is considered endangered and only a few locations in the wild where they are known to live. They have radiant colors and have wide head and truncated snout with smooth skin. Its first finger is longer than the second, and all digits are partially webbed. The dorsal surface comes usually in green or yellow color with some longitudinal stripes.
#4 Bearded Dragon
The name bearded dragon refers to the lizard's beard found underside of its throat that turns black when it get stressed or when it engage before a fight.
These bearded dragons are adept climbers and basks on rocks and branches almost all of the day. They found mostly in Australia in deserts, shrub lands, or even at Eucalyptus trees.
They belong to a genus called Pogona.
#5 Veiled Chameleon
Veiled chameleon is a species of chameleon native to Arabian peninsula, mostly in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Also called cone-head chameleons or Yemen chameleon.
The female is shorter, no more than about 35 centimeters, but it has a thicker body. Both sexes have a casque on the head which grows larger as the chameleon matures, reaching about 5 centimeters in the largest adults.
#6 Collared Lizard
Collared lizards are found mostly in Madagascar. The name collared lizard comes from the lizard's distinct coloration, which includes bands of black around the neck and shoulders that look like a collar. In captivity if two males are placed in the same cage they will fight to the death. (So I guess these two here are of opposite sexes lol).
#7 Blue Tree Monitor Lizard
Blue tree monitor lizard is also called as blue-spotted tree monitor. It is found on the island of Batanta in Indonesia. It is named after herpetologist Duncan R. MacRae, the founder of the reptile park Rimba in Bali, Indonesia.
It belongs to a genus called Varanus.
#8 Tomato Frogs
Tomato frogs are endemic to Madagascar. Their body bloats when threatened. They secrete a thick substance on their skin that gums up the predator's eyes and mouth when being grabbed in the mouth by any predator. Females are larger than males and can reach 4 inches in length. The lifespan of the tomato frog can be from 6 to 8 years. When adult, the colors may vary from yellowish orange to deep red. (That's why they really look like tomatoes).
They belong to a genus called Dyscophus .
#9 Frog Eye Gecko
Frog eye gecko is also called as wonder gecko. It is found mostly from the Arabian peninsula, especially in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman. It can also be found in west across southern Asia in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Also in Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and even in China.
This gecko belongs to a genus called Teratoscincus that consists of 6 species.
#10 Knight Anole
Knight anole is mostly found in Cuba, but have been widely introduced into South Florida, where it rampantly spread. It cannot withstand freezing temperatures. During winter at South Florida, it drop semiconscious from tree canopies. In its native Cuba, it is called as chipojo. It is known to fiercely territorial and is very aggressive to anything that enters its territory.
It belongs to a genus called Anolis.
