On the 1st of May, the exhibition of rare reptiles “The World of Reptiles: From Desert to Tropics” was opened at the Primate House.  For the first time in several years the most impressive and typical representatives of all important geographical zones of our planet – deserts, steppes and savannahs, temperate forests and tropical rain forests, mountains and foothills are presented at the exhibition.  The majority of biotopes are represented by the most rare and impressive species of fauna.  Among dwellers of deserts there are the spiny tailed monitors and black headed pythons from distant Australia, horned rattlesnakes from America and common adders from Northern Africa, deadly venomous snakes (Echis) and desert sand boas from Middle Asia and Arabia.  Among inhabitants of the forest zone are the common vipers and colubrid snakes from Middle Russia and Russian Far East, whip-snake and most rare vipers from South-Eastern Asia, bright red tomato frogs from Madagascar and basilisk lizards from Amazonia.  The steppe species are represented by the reptiles of African savannah and Argentinean pampas.  There are different species of American rattlesnakes and unique Mangshan vipers found in central China`s Hunan province among the inhabitants of the mountains.  They were discovered and described just several years ago by Russian scientists.  A number of related species are also exhibited with some of them not even having been described so far. 

The exhibition is open from 10.30am till 7pm.  Please note that ticket sales cease one hour before closing time.  Monday is the day off. 

Admission prices:
Adults over 18 – 80 rubles
Children under 18, internal students, disabled people, pensioners, parents of three and more children, service men – free admission.

Photo: Sergey Mamet