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Beautiful Photos of Exotic Animals

Owen Maercks, owner of the East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley, California, cares for these unique creatures—and he loves it.

A bearded dragon. A tarantula. A scorpion. These exotic animals aren’t for everyone, but Owen Maercks, owner of the East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley, California, looks after slimy, slithering creatures—and he loves it. Whether or not you’d like to bring one of these creatures home, enjoy these photos of animals you don’t get to see every day.

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If you enjoy this story, check out All Creatures magazine, where you’ll see stories all about the animals who share our lives.—Kristin Hauge

Black-Throated Monitor

1 of 7 Black-Throated Monitor

Too close for comfort? Maercks knows how to handle this lizard, whose species can weigh over 50 pounds.


African Burrowing Bull Frog

2 of 7 African Burrowing Bull Frog

Though this amphibian may look harmless, male bullfrogs can be very aggressive towards one another during breeding season. Sometimes a larger male will eat a smaller one. 

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African Spurred Tortoise

3 of 7 African Spurred Tortoise

Native to the Sahara Desert, this tortoise digs dens up to 10 feet deep to shield itself from the extreme heat.


Rose-Hair Tarantula

4 of 7 Rose-Hair Tarantula

The hairs on this tarantula allow it to sense outside stimuli, such as smells or vibrations.


Bearded Dragon

5 of 7 Bearded Dragon

When kept as pets, bearded dragons require UVB light from black lights—if they can’t access direct sunlight—to absorb vitamin D from their food.

Asian Forest Scorpion

6 of 7 Asian Forest Scorpion

This scorpion species uses venom to paralyze its prey; if it feels threatened by a human, it will sting, but the effects aren’t usually serious.

Reticulated Python

7 of 7 Reticulated Python

The world’s longest snake, a reticulated python can be up to 21 feet long.

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