It’s been a very busy holiday season for new arrivals at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
First we saw the births of two giraffes in November, followed by two tiger cubs and now the zoo is announcing its baby boom is continuing with eleven itty-bitty lizards.
The Taylor’s shield-tailed agamas are native to the Horn of Africa, according to the zoo.
They have different mothers but the same father. The first clutch of six agamas hatched in late November and the second clutch of five hatched between December 8 and 11.
Related: Live Video of Sumatran Tiger Cubs
The mother of the second clutch of eggs was not able to lay her eggs and required intervention by the zoo's animal hospital staff.
The tiny lizards will live behind-the-scenes for now where they will be doted on by their adopted “Agama Mama,” senior herpetology keeper Emily Fyfe, the zoo said in a news release to WJCT News.
An adult Taylor’s shield-tailed agama can be viewed in the African herp house.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
