Chicago is home to the country’s largest educational reptile and amphibian show. The annual Reptile Fest is this Saturday and Sunday at Northeastern Illinois University’s Physical Education building in the North Park neighborhood (also home to WTTW).

“What separates us from other shows is that the people who work with us are hobbyists,” said Frank Sladek of the Chicago Herpetological Society. “They’re not breeders, so we don’t do live animal sales or trading at our show. We focus more on education and conservation.

(Courtesy of Reptile Fest)

(Courtesy of Reptile Fest)

(Courtesy of Reptile Fest)

(Courtesy of Reptile Fest)

(Courtesy of Reptile Fest)

(Courtesy of Reptile Fest)

A common musk turtle (Colin Osborn / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Among the animals at this year’s event:

• A musk turtle, also known as a stinkpot, which comes from Southern states like Alabama and Texas.

•An amphiuma, a weird-looking 4-foot long salamander that resembles an eel and lives in the Southeastern U.S.

•A Russian legless lizard that look like snake.

• A leopard tortoise (not aquatic), weighing about 10 lbs. (from Africa).

•Water skink (from Madagascar).

•Argentine Tegu.

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