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They may not be slimy, but they sure do slither, and scurry, and crawl. Reptiles: Their very name can send spines a shivering with fear and apprehension.
But maybe these animals have been given a bum rap.
That's the premise, anyway, at The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, which is presenting the "Hissss-terical Reptile Show: A Fassscinating Class of Creatures" at its new outdoor riverside stage through Labor Day. The goal of this light-hearted family nature show, according to Aquarium spokesman Tim Gagne, is to dispel a lot of the myths and folklore surrounding snakes and other reptiles. Never mind that snakes and the like have been used to symbolize evil, danger and temptation by civilizations through the ages. Those are just silly superstitions.
For the real story, the Aquarium says to check out "Hissss-terical" and by show's end, "these cold-blooded ambassadors [will] slither their way into your heart and mind, leaving behind a hard shell of knowledge and giving you a really fun time."
Sponsored by Bank of America, the show is presented by herpetologist Zach Marchetti from Clyde Peeling's Reptiland of Allenwood, Pa.
"We try to make this a lot of fun for the kids, but it's really very educational. And adults seem to love the show as much as the kids," Marchetti said, after the recent opening-day performance.
The script was prepared with a target audience of
Maritime Aquarium President Jennifer Herring, who was on hand for the debut, said that "a real connection to the natural world begins with understanding and appreciation," which her facility strives to promote. Sitting in bleachers that hug the outdoor stage, visitors are treated to up-close views of a number of animals that are rarely seen in New England.
Marchetti begins the presentation with a visit by a yellow-footed tortoise, a denizen of the humid rainforests of South America. The animal is primarily a vegetarian because, as Marchetti pointed out, it moves terribly slowly on its clubfeet, which makes catching other animals nearly impossible.
Marchetti pointed out that the description of reptiles has changed over the years.
"Now we say that a reptile is any animal that has ancestors with dry, horny scales on the skin — and that includes birds."
Other animals in the show include:
* A young American alligator; when this reptile hatches from its egg, it is about 8 inches long . It grows about a foot a year until it reaches about six feet. Alligators, by nature, do not eat animals as large as humans; however, when people feed wild alligators, they lose their fear of humans and can become aggressive.
* A green iguana, sometimes called "chicken of the tree" because they are eaten by indigenous peoples in Central and South America; these reptiles are "showoffs" with spines on their body, jowls on their cheeks and horns on their nose for "decoration to advertise strength." l A rat snake, considered a friend to farmers because they can eat more than 300 mice or small rats per year.
* A Florida king snake, which eats mice, rats, frogs, lizards and other snakes.
* A Western Diamondback rattlesnake, which has a series of loose segments of dry skin on its tail; every time the snake sheds its skin, a new segment is created. Its distinctive sound is caused when the snake shakes its tail and the segments "click against each other."
A visit by a 10-foot-long Burmese python was the finale of our show. It's described as a giant tropical snake that belongs to a group, called "boids," which includes boas and anacondas. In the wild, Marchetti noted, constrictors generally want nothing to do with humans; in captivity, however, they can be dangerous pets.
In the United States, he added, most snakes are small — and harmless.
"But if you're in the forest and you get a snake bite, remember this: The best snake-bite kit is a cell phone and car keys. Call ahead and get to a hospital." And what did a few of the opening-day "reviewers" have to say at show's end?
For Brandon Gasparino, 9, of New Fairfield: "It was the coolest thing I've ever seen. . . . You usually don't get to see animals this close."
His pal, Edward Hopkins, 8, also of New Fairfield, agreed: "Awesome, really awesome."
-Another jaw-dropper . . .
And while at the Maritime Aquarium, consider taking in its new IMAX theater offering, "Greece: Secrets of the Past." The 45-minute film, which will run through Oct. 4, takes viewers back in time — with archeologist Dr. Christos Doumas as guide — to ancient Greece, the "birthplace of Western civilization." Along the way, Doumas examines ancient Greece's lasting contributions to art, culture and nation-building based on democratic principals.
Sweeping vistas of modern-day Athens, Santorini and Mykonos — shown on a screen six stories high — give moviegoers a thrilling sensation akin to observing it all from the open-air cockpit of a biplane. It is shown daily at 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 3 p.m. Additional presentations are: Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m., and Friday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $9.50 for evening performances; $9 all other times.
WHEN YOU GO
What & where: "HisssSterical Reptile Show" is at The Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St. in Norwalk through Labor Day. Photography is permitted.
Showtimes: The live reptile show, which runs about 35 minutes, is presented at the aquarium's outdoor riverside stage three times daily, weather permitting: at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. weekdays; at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. weekends. Seating is on bleachers, with a 300-person capacity. Tickets: Show admission is $5.50 per person, in addition to general admission, which is $11; $10 for senior citizens 65 years of age and older; $9 for children 2 to 12. These tickets include admission to the special exhibit, "Adventure Under the Sea," also on view through Labor Day, which features the real creatures that inspired the popular cartoon, "SpongeBob SquarePants." Combination tickets, which include the reptile show and entry to the IMAX theater feature, "Greece: Secrets of the Past," are $22, $21 for seniors; $20 for children. More info: For aquarium hours, directions and other information, visit www.maritimeaquarium.org or call 852-0700.
