Houston Zoo announces new arrivals of rare reptiles

The Houston Zoo has announced the arrival of several new reptile species, including some that represent firsts for the facility. The new arrivals include Hosmer’s spiny-tailed skinks, marking the zoo’s first-ever birth of this live-bearing species.

Other notable arrivals include five eyelash vipers, which are born with fully functional fangs and venom. The zoo also reported the hatching of star tortoises, marking their return to the collection after several years, and the arrival of Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos. The gecko births resulted from pairings recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to support managed populations.