Leopard Gecko – Eublepharis macularius
Leopard geckos are one of the most notable reptiles in today’s exotic pet trade as they make ideal pets and breeding projects, they are easy to breed and care for making them great for a novice reptile enthusiast – there are about 900 species distributed around the world (Arnold and Ovenden, 2004, Hamper, 2004, Mattison, 2004 and Martinez, 2016). They are also one of the most easily recognisable geckos due to their functional eyelids, claw’s, and lack of toe pads with lamellae – some people believe the use of eyelids in geckos is a primitive characteristic (Coborn, 1993, Woods, 2001 and Bergman, 2006). There are over 100 gecko morphs available ranging in colours (see figures 9-13) and patterns due to selective breeding and a large amount of genetic diversity, this was caused by the breeding of leopard geckos with several subspecies and the fact that geckos have been commercially bred since the 1970’s (Coote, 1993 and The Bearded Dragon, 2016a).
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog – Oophaga pumilio
The strawberry poison dart frog is one the most extensively studied species of poison frog due to their large range, odd colour variations and abundance; specimens from Isla Colon, Isla Shepard, Isla Bastimentos and other Panamanian areas are particularly sought after by collectors and scientists as they differ from the typical colouration (see figure 14-18) (Walls, 1994). Many frogs are kept purely for their aesthetics but some are easy and safe to handle, unlike in the wild poison dart frogs are not poisonous in captivity as their diet is completely different (Manning, 2008). Native South Americans will coat their arrow heads in the poison of these frogs by rubbing the tip across the skin of the frog, the secreted neurotoxin is only deadly once it enters the bloodstream and can kill a large ape (Bruins, 2006).