LECTURES AND HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS SPOTLIGHT THE WORLD OF SQUAMATES

The American Museum of Natural History has developed a variety of public programs in conjunction with the captivating new exhibition Lizards and Snakes: Alive! which features more than 60 live animals representing 26 species from around the world. On view at the Museum from May 24, 2008, through January 4, 2009, the exhibition introduces visitors to a diversity of legged and legless lizards, including snakes—a group known as squamates. Grounded in the evolutionary history of the group, Lizards & Snakes showcases live animals and their remarkable adaptations, including projectile tongues, deadly venom, amazing camouflage, and sometimes surprising modes of locomotion. Informal presentations introduce visitors to the curators of Lizards and Snakes: Alive! with colorful tales of how they pursued the field of herpetology. Lectures focus on the medical uses of snake venoms and the challenges of iguana conservation efforts. A series of children's workshops encourages youngsters to get an up-close look at lizards, including how they move, what they eat, and the myths that surround them, from the stony stare of the basilisk lizard to the voodoo snake god. Live creatures will be part of many of the programs. To register for programs, the public should call 212-769-5200 or visit www.amnh.org/programs.