Bright side of the night – 2.2.4

Reptiles

Reptiles, like all invertebrates, fishes, and amphibians, are completely dependent on the environmental temperature for their body temperature. Many reptiles regulate their body temperature through behavior such as sunbathing. In Central Europe, there are reptiles that are active during the day and in some cases at dusk, such as the European pond turtle, various species of snakes and lizards. Lacertid and iguanid lizards are even strongly diurnal. Geckos, in turn, are nocturnal. Reptiles can also perceive in the UV range, which is invisible to us, and some snake species can even perceive in the infrared range (which is also invisible to humans). Reptile species are disappearing at an alarming rate and deserve acute attention and protection.

Geckos

Three of four gecko species are crepuscular and nocturnal. They have large eyes. At least one species is known to recognize colors at night. Many geckos are found in urban areas and hunt the insects drawn to sources of artificial light at dusk or at night, while spending the day hiding in buildings, or holes. The crepuscular and nocturnal wall gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) occurs extensively in the coastal regions of the Mediterranean area. The European half-fingered gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is also found in the Mediterranean region. Two special facts about geckos are that the female can store sperm for a whole year, and that they live in colonies with a communal toilet.

Loggerhead sea turtles

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a well-known and relatively common member of the sea turtle family, found in tropical and subtropical seas, including the Mediterranean. It is known today that these turtles possess a magnetic sense. The diet of sea turtles consists mainly of crustaceans, cephalopods, jellyfish, sea urchins and other animals, but they also eat sea grass.

Sea turtles live in the ocean but hatch on beaches. Light pollution has severe negative impacts on the orientation of hatchlings. They are distracted by artificial lights and often do not find their way back to the ocean.

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*Grass snake (Natrix natrix) – Image by* *rihaij* – *Pixabay*

*Gecko – Image by Roland Steinmann – Pixabay*

*Turtle heading towards the sea – Image by* *Kanenori* – *Pixabay*

Further resources

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Images

A vast number of photos of reptiles can be accessed at Pixabay.