Creeping, Crawling Snakes & Lizards Come to the Academy of Sciences Next Week

While we're not dying to snuggle with pythons or iguanas, we can learn a thing or two about survival from them–they've only been around for, oh, 200 million years. Next week, more than 60 new creepy, crawly, scaly, exotic reptiles from around the world will take up residence at the Academy of Sciences' latest wildlife spectacular, Snakes & Lizards: The Summer of Slither, which opens May 9.

At the museum, you'll be greeted by Lemondrop, a gorgeous, 15-foot long albino python (you might want to stick around for feeding time, too), and learn about what makes these squamates so special–projectile tongues, venom, scales, hinged jaws, keen senses of sight and smell, camouflage and the ways they get around, even without feet!–and their importance in the world's ecosystem.

In addition to the kinds of creatures you've only seen on late-night reruns of Planet Earth, the museum will have two very real dragons: The Gila Monster (a lizard whose venom is used to treat Diabetes and Alzheimer's) and the Eastern Water Dragon (which can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes). And all around you, they'll have a ton of fossils and fossil casts of ancient, giant and downright weird reptiles that roamed the earth long before humans came along. What better way to face some of those deep-seated fears you've carried around for far too long?

California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, 415-379-8000. The exhibit runs through September 5, 2011.

View the discussion thread.

How about not referring to other life forms as "creepy"? That is like encouraging racial slurs against vulnerable minorities. That said, get those animals out of the damn zoo and back in their native habitats. Let the kiddies watch a video instead, unless the parents would like to volunteer to put their children in a zoo for a few weeks so they know how it feels.

By Judith Shipstad (not verified) on May 09, 2011

Tell Melissa and her boys!

By Saerie (not verified) on May 09, 2011

Well as the article mentions the exhibit opens on Monday May 9th, not Sunday May 8th. So they most likely allowed members to get a sneak peak before the exhibit opens.

Maybe next time you will read an ad more carefully.

By Anonymous (not verified) on May 09, 2011

In response to the first anonymous post, California Academy's website clearly indicates that May 6-8 were part of a member's preview weekend and that the exhibit opens to the public today.

Its not unusual or unfair for museums to give their members first access to a special exhibit. I look forward to taking my kids to see Lemondrop this summer.

By Chris (not verified) on May 09, 2011

I had won free tickets to the California Academy of Sciences. So we decided it would be a great idea to go on Mother's day because I had seen the ad for the Snakes & Lizards exhibit. There was only one problem when we arrived, to see the exhibit you have to be a member. To me this is completely unfair, we still had a somewhat good time although very disappointing. The biggest highlight, and he has always been a great thing to see, was the albino alligator who has been on exhibit for many years now. As much as I would like to become a member, in these hard times who has that in their budget. As I said our tickets were free otherwise we would not have gone.

By Anonymous (not verified) on May 09, 2011