If you keep up with the news in herpetology (we're sure you already knew this, but herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians), you might learn, every so often, about the discovery of a new ...

Australian major skinks possess a remarkable natural immunity to potent snake neurotoxins, achieved through a mutation in their nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This genetic adaptation, mirroring ...

Some lizards have evolved to be resistant to the venom of snakes, entering into a sort of evolutionary arms race with their limbless cousins. A family of lizards known as varanids has evolved ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. That long, scaly thing slithering on the ground is probably a snake. But there’s a chance it’s not. The News & Observer spoke with ...

David Kizirian's boot protected him when a deadly snake struck. And the expert in snakes and lizards honored fellow scientist Joseph B. Slowinski's memory by naming for him a species found in Vietnam.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A rare and legless lizard known for snapping off its tail to distract predators may soon get federal protection as an endangered ...

Scientists generally accept that, millions of years ago, snakes evolved from lizards. What isn’t as clear, however, is exactly how these reptiles wiggled their way into a legless, elongated form.

That long, scaly thing slithering on the ground is probably a snake. But there’s a chance it’s not. The News & Observer spoke with local wildlife experts to learn about these reptiles — where they ...