Half of Israel's reptiles are endangered. But they can be saved: the Beer Sheva fringe fingered lizard and friends star in 'The Red Book of Reptiles', which began with surveys and marks the start of new conservation efforts
The Father Schmitz collection, on display at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. Credit: Itai Ron
Half of Israel's reptiles are endangered. But they can be saved: the Beer Sheva fringe fingered lizard and friends star in 'The Red Book of Reptiles', which began with surveys and marks the start of new conservation efforts
10:03 AM • April 09 2026 IDT
The Beer Sheva fringe fingered lizard is preserved in a jar, looking good. That is to say, it has been dead for quite some time, but its body is intact, its brownish colors clear; even its expression seems perky. Karin Tamar, evolution researcher and curator of mammals, reptiles and amphibians at Tel Aviv's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, is showing me a row of jars with lizards, and the view is mesmerizing.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also condemned Israel's "massive strikes" on Lebanon, stating that the country must be included in a ceasefire agreement.
The IDF added that overnight strikes targeted two key crossings used by Hezbollah operatives to move between areas north and south of the Litani River and transfer weapons.
This was adopted "in accordance with Costa Rica's international commitments in fighting terrorism and its financing," the Foreign Ministry wrote on X/Twitter.
The Artemis II crew, flying in their Orion capsule since launching from Florida last week, are due to splash down off the Southern California coast on Friday.