-Hi, friends.

My name is Liz, and we're here at the Memphis Zoo.

Today, we're going to learn that by exploring how we're alike and different, we can understand everyone's importance in the world around us.

To help us out, we're going to be joined by Dudley, the blue-tongued skink, and the Komodo dragons that call the Memphis Zoo home.

Komodo dragons and blue-tongued skinks are both types of lizards.

So what exactly makes a lizard?

Lizards are covered in scales that act as an armor to protect them from predators.

They are all cold-blooded, which means their body temperatures change with the environment around them.

If we get cold, we can just throw on a jacket.

But when a lizard is cold, they have to find a nice sunny spot to lay in to warm up.

We call that basking.

Unlike snakes, lizards have eyelids.

Never get in a staring contest with a snake.

Although Komodo dragons and blue-tongued skinks have similarities, they have adapted to live different lifestyles.

Blue tongued skinks are found mostly in the western portion of Australia.

They have little legs that aren't very good for climbing or running but come in handy when digging.

Blue-tongued skinks are omnivores, which means they can eat both plants and animals.

Their favorites are bugs.

Like their name suggests, they have a blue tongue.

That blue tongue helps scare away predators that might try to eat them.

In the wild, bright colors, warn predators that eating them could mean trouble.

Komodo dragons are found in Indonesia, mainly on the island of Komodo.

Now they are the largest living lizards in the world, averaging about 150 pounds, which is the same as 600 sticks of butter.

Wow!

Komodo dragons are carnivores, which means they eat meat, and they have unique adaptations that make them excellent hunters.

Unlike the blue-tongued skink, the Komodo dragon is very fast, running up to 11 miles per hour after their prey.

They also have excellent vision and a perfect sense of smell, thanks to their forked tongues, that help them locate their next meal.

Can you imagine smelling with your tongue?

The Komodo dragon helps keep a balance in the ecosystem by eating the animals that otherwise would take over an environment.

Although blue-tongued skinks and Komodo dragons look very different from each other and live different lifestyles, they are both very important and have jobs to do.

Blue-tongued skinks help us out by eating the bugs that can get into our gardens or homes.

The best way to help animals all around the world and even in our own backyard is to leave wildlife wild.

If you see a lizard or any animal in the wild, make sure you give them plenty of space and enjoy watching them in their natural home.

They're probably doing a very important job.

I hope you enjoyed learning about a couple of my favorite lizards as much as I did.

Today, we learned that by exploring how we are alike and different, we can understand everybody's importance in the world.

For me and my friends here at the Memphis Zoo, bye!