various plastic tubs for hatchlings that
featured hinged lids (the frog one also
had a partly raised floor so that the
animals could sit in or out of water).
Finally, I asked Alen if we could handle
the large Pied Mexican Spiny-tailed
Iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata) that stood
guard in an enclosure at the entrance to
the shop. These also seem quite popular
in China, but as expected, often come
with serious attitude. Interestingly, the
babies are bright green, and later
undergo an ontogenic colour change, at
which point the Pied mutation shows up.
On a subsequent trip to the market, I
thought I spied some Pink-tongue Skinks
(Cyclodomorphus gerrardii) in the
window of another shop. But they didn’t
look quite right, and upon closer
inspection I realised they were actually
juvenile Indonesian Blue-tongues
(Tiliqua gigas) – the first I had seen in
the flesh, and truly beautiful animals.
The same place had a colony of Frilled
Lizards (Chlamydosaurus kingii) a large
European Legless Lizard (Pseudopus
apodus) and an absolutely gigantic
African Bullfrog.
Then I noticed another shop with some
Australian geckos on display. I was told
that these were rare in China, and this
was certainly reflected in the prices. A
Smooth Knob-tailed Gecko (Nephrurus
levis levis) would set you back AUD $780,
Above (slide show): Ada and Alen demonstrate the difference
between a juvenile and adult Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana. The
slideshow has more from their shop.
Left: Son of Jabba the Hutt? No, it’s just a monster African Bull-
frog.
Below: horned frogs come in a number of vivid colour variations,
and are also known as ‘pacman’ frogs due to their round body
and enormous mouth. Image by Eric Isselee.