Scientific name: Tiliqua scincoides scincoides IUCN status: Not evaluated Threats: No major threats Where they live: Eastern Australia Habitat: Semi-desert to agricultural areas Lifespan: Up to 30 years Diet: Small animals and plants Activity: Diurnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: Their blue tongue is still a bit of a mystery as to its purpose. Some believe it's used as a lure to catch prey, others think that they flash their tongue at predators in an attempt to confuse them briefly, giving them a chance to escape

Scientific name: Archispirostreptus gigas IUCN status: Not evaluated Threats: No major threats Where they live: Eastern Africa Habitat: Warm, dark places on the rainforest floor Lifespan: Up to 7 years Diet: Dead and decaying organic matter Activity: Nocturnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: Instead of breathing with lungs like mammals, millipedes breathe through tiny pores along their body

Scientific Name: Phyllium giganteum IUCN status: Not evaluated Threats: No major threats Where they live: Malaysia Habitat: Tropical forests Lifespan: Up to 1 year Diet: Leaves Activity: Nocturnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: This species consists of all females!

Scientific name: Stigmochelys pardalis IUCN status: Least concern Threats: In some areas, unsustainable harvest for the pet trade Where they live: Eastern and Southern Africa Habitat: Varies over large areas Lifespan: Up to 100 years Diet: Wide variety of plants Activity: Diurnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: The shell markings are unique to each individual tortoise

Scientific name: Gromphadorhina portentosa IUCN status: Not evaluated Threats: No major threats Where they live: Madagascar Habitat: Tropical lowland rainforests Lifespan: Up to 5 years Diet: Decaying plant material, smaller insects and animal carcasses Activity: Nocturnal Sociability: Found in colonies Interesting fact: Hissing cockroaches hiss by exhaling air through breathing holes, a unique trait among insects

Scientific name: Suricata suricatta IUCN status: Least concern Threats: No major threats Where they live: Southern Africa Habitat: Arid, open country, with short grasses and woody growths Lifespan: Up to 14 years Diet: Small animals, lizards, birds, insects, fruit. Activity: Diurnal Sociability: Found in colonies of up to 40 individuals Interesting fact: While digging, meerkats can close their ears, and also have a second eyelid to prevent dirt getting in

Scientific Name: Rattus norvegicus domesticus IUCN status: Least concern Threats: No major threats Where they live: All continents except Antarctica

Scientific name: Python regius IUCN status: Least concern Threats: Their biggest threat is the international pet trade. In West Africa, many thousands are captured and exported annually Where they live: Western to Central Africa Habitat: Dry areas, from grassland to open forests Lifespan: Up to 40 years in captivity Diet: Rodents such as rats, gerbils and jerboas Activity: Crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: In Southeast Nigeria, they are treated with great care. If one is accidentally killed, many communities will build a coffin for the snake, and even give it a short funeral!

Scientific name: Mephitis mephitis IUCN status: Least concern Threats: Predation, disease, severe winters or droughts Where they live: North America Habitat: Varied, but they prefer open or forest-edge areas Lifespan: Up to 10 years Diet: Insects, small mammals, birds and vegetation Activity: Nocturnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: Skunks can spray up to 10 feet, and the odour can be detected 1.5 miles away!

Availability: All events Scientific name: Ptilopsis granti IUCN status: Least concern Threats: Pesticides inside the mice they eat Where they live: Southern Africa Habitat: Savannah, woodlands & forests Lifespan: Up to 30 years Diet: Small mammals & large insects Activity: Nocturnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: They can turn their heads around almost a full 360 degrees!

Scientific Name: Heterodon nasicus IUCN status: Least concern Threats: No major threats Where they live: Central America Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, desert and savanna Lifespan: Up to 20 years Diet: Small rodents Activity: Diurnal Sociability: Solitary Interesting fact: When threatened, they can imitate a cobra, by flattening their neck to look like a hood