wiki wednesday

It's time for Wiki Wednesday!

1. Go to wikipedia.
2. Click on "random article" on the left-hand sidebar.
3. Post it.

It's been a summer of firsts for me. So it should stand to reason that the "random article" function should deal me my first animal entry. Although this entry lacks references and sources and needs some cleaning up to satisfy wikipedia standards, it's very interesting. My boys would love this lizard. Read more about the gusteris.

Gusteris (Gustéris, Gustera*) is a rare amphibian lizard

This incredibly rare lizard species is living in the Western Macedonia, a part of northern Greece (Lefkopigi, Polyphitos Lake, Kozani, West Macedonia, Greece). It is believed that this strange creature is surviving in this specific place from prehistoric times. There are two different types of this creature, the one is a small horned lizard and the other one is reaching enormous sizes with the female being the cock of the walk (1-2 meters long). Both types are amphibian and they tend to live in marshy environments. They have strange procreation circle, they breed once in two years only if the conditions correspond to their needs. It's the only lizard species that doesn't hibernate and breeds in winter time (10-30 January). It lays its eggs (about 6-23) in soft waterlogged soil nearby marshes or lakes. Hatching time varies depending on weather conditions (ground moisture and temperature) but can be from 2-9 months. Gusteris lizards usually are omnivores feeding on vegetation, insects, smaller lizards and rats. Those living in lakes can enjoy hunting fish. They tend to be more carnivorous when young and tend to become more herbivorous as they age. They produce saliva; therefore they can eat while out or in the water. The lifespan of this rare lizard fluctuates approximately 25-30 years.