Happy Little Mayor

New Zealand, an isolated island country, often has endemic creatures that are not found in other countries and regions.

At present, every country likes to give some of its species a living fossil identity, such as the Chinese national treasure giant panda, such as the Australian six-gill shark, and the American metasequoia.

In this case, New Zealand cannot fall behind. They also have living fossils, that is, crocodile lizards.

The crocodile lizard is one of the most endangered protected species in New Zealand. Its English name is r, which comes from Maori, which means "mountain peaks on its back." Its Chinese name is beak-headed lizard because of its special structure of teeth. It is called a wedge-toothed lizard, but New Zealanders like to call it a New Zealand crocodile.

This name is not simply grounded, but it can clearly reflect where it belongs.

The New Zealand crocodile is a unique species of New Zealand. It has not evolved from the Triassic to the present. It belongs to the more primitive lizard and is a living fossil-like reptile.

On today's earth, New Zealand crocodiles have no relatives, but 200 million years ago, they had many relatives and friends. Unfortunately, only one of them can survive to this day.

Wang Bo has only seen this creature in the TV introduction, and has not seen it in reality. After receiving a call from Professor Sandra, he hurried over.

The campus of the University of Lincoln is under intense preparation. Now many buildings are laying foundations, and the experimental area is mainly farming crops. Therefore, there are no high-rise buildings and foundations are not needed. This was the first to be built.

The so-called experimental area is a piece of grass surrounded by colored steel tile houses and board houses, which are very simple.

On the way to the car, Wang Bo remembered an academic heart he had previously drawn. This heart has never been used. He doesn't know how to use it. Now that there is a school in the town, is it used in the school?

Thinking about this, he opened the sandbox to find the location of Lincoln University, and put his academic heart on it.

As a result, this pale green crystal heart, which could not be used elsewhere, suddenly merged into it.

This heart was prepared for the school, but Wang Bo had never thought of elementary and middle school before, so it has been useless.

At the experimental area, this area was closed and blocked by an electric iron fence door. The security guard came out to check his identity before opening the door for him to enter.

Professor Sandra waited for him in a large flat steel tile house of two hundred square meters, and waved when he saw him.

Wang Bo entered the house and saw that many places of this color steel tile house were remodeled, imitating the appearance of an island reef. Many reefs were scattered on the ground, and some crocodiles were crawling.

The appearance of these crocodiles is similar to that of ordinary lizards, but their mouths are relatively long, and their heads are a little crocodiles. Obviously this is the source of their names.

The crocodile lizards on the reef have different body colors, showing gray, brown, green, etc., and their body sizes are different. The large ones can be 80 cm from the head to the tip of the tail.

However, compared to the mighty umbrella lizards in the animal farm, they are still relatively small, and even the large ones may not weigh more than 1 kg.

When they saw Wang Bo, these crocodile lizards were immediately vigilant, and then they ran to the nearby reef crevice to avoid them, and some couldn't find a place to evade, as if they were breaking a jar and breaking their heads.

But slowly, something interesting happened. The skin color of these crocodile lizards changed, and they became more and more similar to the surrounding rocks. There was also a color similar to the kelp around them, which turned into green-brown.

Seeing this, Wang Bo was surprised: "They will change color?"

Professor Sandra smiled: "So many people think that chameleons are their brothers. They can also match their colors according to the environment, but the rate of change is far behind the chameleons."

Looking at these little guys with great interest, Wang Bo asked, "Will you call me?"

Professor Sandra was refreshed and said, "Yes, these crocodiles are from Thompson Island. The island is being rattled, which seriously threatens the lives of these poor little guys, so we need to find them again. Family."

Crocodile lizards currently live on many islands in New Zealand because they are far away from humans and natural enemies, but because some New Zealand crocodiles are invaded by rodents, mainly rodents, their survival conditions are worrying.

Since the end of the 19th century, they have been included in the New Zealand government's list of protected animals, showing how precious they are. At that time, many countries were not even protected by law.

Wang Bo smirked: "They are still afraid of mice? Their names carry crocodiles."

Speaking of which, crocodile lizards are indeed not good at all. When they bully something smaller than their own, it is called capable.

The food of crocodile lizards includes young birds, bird eggs, beetles, tadpoles, spiders, frogs, and even cubs of the same kind, so many small crocodile lizards do not dare to appear next to adult individuals when they are young, but they hide quietly. Stone cracks or shelters to avoid being eaten by other crocodiles.

However, if you encounter an opponent that is bigger or more fierce than yourself, you will be blind, the mouse moves too fast, the teeth are too sharp, and you often like to move out of the group. The crocodile lizard will join its luxurious lunch and dinner.

Professor Sandra introduced him and said, "Many old crocodiles in this group of crocodile lizards can't even escape from mice, so they need to be protected."

Wang Bo asked, "I said on TV that the life of a crocodile is longer, right?"

Professor Sandra nodded and said, "Yes, it takes about 20 years for them to reach maturity, which is later than humans."

"In addition, they can grow taller, stronger and stronger under the age of 40. Their average life expectancy is at least 60 years, and in this group, according to our research, at least five live to more than 100 years old."

"So old?" Wang Bo exclaimed.

Professor Sandra nodded: "Yes, this is not uncommon. If it is not threatened by natural enemies and food shortages in captivity, the crocodile lizard may live 200 years."

Adult New Zealand crocodile lizards molt at least once a year. Like other cold-blooded animals, crocodile lizards will grow a little once.

Professor Sandra told Wang Bo that, unfortunately, the growth genes of crocodile lizards were restricted, otherwise they could grow into Godzilla.

Of course, if they can grow so big, they can't live now, and the crocodile lizards can be preserved to this day, which is inseparable from their small meals.

Wang Bo heard the meaning of what he said and laughed, "I don't care how much they can eat, but I don't know where the sunset town is suitable for raising them."

To be continued.