Ziems Conservatory

Welcome to the Ziems Conservatory. This is one of the Toledo Zoo’s most beautiful and historic spaces. Built in 1904, the conservatory is named after T.J. Ziems, the Zoo's first official keeper. It was created as a plant exhibit filled with tropical plants, ferns, orchids and palms. Its tall, curved roof has a white-painted metal framework made almost entirely of glass, allowing the sun to shine in, which helps desert plants and reptiles. It is also the winter home for our larger tortoises, giving them a warm habitat during the colder months.

As you enter, you’ll see the building divided into two areas. On one side, behind the glass, is the Australian desert with native plants and reptiles from that habitat. On the open side, you’re walking through the American Southwest exhibit. Be sure to watch your step—our lizards sometimes like to sun themselves right on the pathway.

As you explore this warm, dry space, take a moment to see how plants and animals survive in extreme heat. Lizards thrive here, using camouflage to hide, dropping their tails for protection and hunting for food with ease. Want to learn more about these reptiles? Keep listening.

While lizards and snakes are close cousins, there are some key differences. Most lizards have ear openings and visible eyelids—features snakes don’t have. And while most lizards have legs, not all do. Legless lizards, also called glass lizards, are often mistaken for snakes but have ear openings and eyelids.

Lizards have amazing survival skills. Some drop their tails to escape predators, others rely on camouflage, spines, venom or even loud sounds. With over 7,000 species worldwide—including four native to Ohio—lizards show incredible variety.

In the Australian section behind the glass, you’ll meet several fascinating reptiles:

Bearded dragon – Known for its calm personality and the “beard” of spiky scales under its chin, which puffs up when threatened.

Frilled dragon – Famous for the neck frill it opens like an umbrella when scared. Usually gray or brown, blending into tree trunks.

Cunningham skink – A short-bodied lizard with stacked scales and a short, spiky tail.

Blue-tongued skinks – Flash their bright blue tongues to warn predators.

Central blue-tongued skink – Wide body, short legs, tan-and-brown stripes.

Blotched blue-tongued skink – Chunkier body, large dark blotches and warmer orange or red tones.

Kimberly rock monitor – An active climber with a long neck and tail, growing up to two and a half feet long, about the size of a baseball bat.

As you continue into the American Southwest section, look for:

Chuckwalla – The largest lizard here, chunky with loose skin around the neck and sides.

Spiny lizard – Wide-bodied with rough, spiny scales.

Zebra-tailed lizard – Slim-bodied with a very long tail marked by bold black-and-white stripes.

Whiptails – Small, fast lizards with long tails.

Tiger whiptail – Brown or black with yellow or cream stripes and spots.

Desert grassland whiptail – Dark brown or black with pale stripes and a bluish tail.

Both whiptail species are quick and often hiding, but they play an important role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and serving as prey for larger animals.

Finally, you may spot the desert iguana, a heat-loving species often found under the warmest lamps. Its light-colored body is patterned with brown spots or stripes, especially along the tail.

Thank you for visiting the Ziems Conservatory. If you want to learn more about reptiles, head over to the ProMedica Museum of Natural History to see powerful predators like the Komodo dragon and Gila monster. On warm days, don’t miss the native turtle exhibit near the gardens or the Galápagos tortoises soaking up the sun. There’s always something new to discover in the world of reptiles.