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Posted by Desiree on April 27, 2002 at 17:05:09:

Scaly beauties stalk catwalk
Fri Apr 26,11:37 PM ET
By Raffaella Malaguti

ROME (Reuters) - The hottest beauty parade in Italy this weekend won't feature long-legged Mediterranean beauties but more exotic creatures, with Grisu the green iguana high in the running.

Three years old and half a metre of scaly skin, Grisu and his short, squat legs will face off against horny frogs and poisonous snakes in Italy's first reptilian beauty contest, part of a huge exhibit that began Friday.

For three days, a Rome hotel will be overrun by lizards, snakes, giant turtles and tropical frogs as organisers put on Europe's biggest reptile show, not only to promote the quirky beasts, but to show off their beauty.

Instead of the normal beauty-contest jury of actors, models and fashion designers, these cold-blooded "beauty" will be judged by a team of biologists and veterinarians.

"It's dedicated to all those who like amphibians, reptiles and frogs. It's a cultural and informative event," said Dino Schiff, organiser of the 5,000-square-metre show.

"We want people to understand these animals are not toys."

Most of the animals in the exhibit were born in captivity, according to Schiff, who owns dozens of chameleons and poisonous Brazilian (news - web sites) frogs, many of them originally seized by Italian authorities as there were being smuggled into the country.

The exhibit, called "Reptilia", includes a trade and reptile exchange corner for some of the estimated one million reptile enthusiasts in Italy and a show of 40 dangerous snakes including green mambas, cobras and rattle snakes.

One of the most fearsome is the green mamba, whose charms include the ability to kill a victim within 30 minutes with its nervous-system-numbing white venom, not something which appeared to bother handler Fabrizio.

"You just need a lot of concentration," he says cooly, adding that snakes are his life. "It's simply something I feel inside me. If I did not like it, I would never be able to handle poisonous snakes."

SPECIAL BEAUTY

While Fabrizio puts the poisonous serpent away in its glass case, others are focusing on the beauty contest, or merely comparing their creatures to works of art.

"I have dedicated my life to amphibians," said breeder Stefano Gozzo, gesturing proudly towards his Axolotariums, strange Mexican amphibians that look like a prehistoric catfish.

"For me they are a synthesis between poetry and science."

A few metres away, Grisu the iguana is staring competitively at his beauty challengers from his owner's shoulder.

He may not rank up there with traditional beauty contestants, but proud owner Luca Mazzarella, 18, is quick to play up his other, more tender qualities.

"He's like a puppy...but my dog is scared of him," he says.

"I had wanted an iguana since I was very young but my mother always said no," says Mazzarella, by way of explaining how he came by his preening companion.

"One day, I brought home a python instead, so my mum finally said 'Okay, you can have the iguana'!"

Scaly beauties stalk catwalk

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: Scaly beauties stalk catwalk : Fri Apr 26,11:37 PM ET : By Raffaella Malaguti : ROME (Reuters) - The hottest beauty parade in Italy this weekend won't feature long-legged Mediterranean beauties but more exotic creatures, with Grisu the green iguana high in the running. : : Three years old and half a metre of scaly skin, Grisu and his short, squat legs will face off against horny frogs and poisonous snakes in Italy's first reptilian beauty contest, part of a huge exhibit that began Friday. : For three days, a Rome hotel will be overrun by lizards, snakes, giant turtles and tropical frogs as organisers put on Europe's biggest reptile show, not only to promote the quirky beasts, but to show off their beauty. : Instead of the normal beauty-contest jury of actors, models and fashion designers, these cold-blooded "beauty" will be judged by a team of biologists and veterinarians. : "It's dedicated to all those who like amphibians, reptiles and frogs. It's a cultural and informative event," said Dino Schiff, organiser of the 5,000-square-metre show. : "We want people to understand these animals are not toys." : Most of the animals in the exhibit were born in captivity, according to Schiff, who owns dozens of chameleons and poisonous Brazilian (news - web sites) frogs, many of them originally seized by Italian authorities as there were being smuggled into the country. : The exhibit, called "Reptilia", includes a trade and reptile exchange corner for some of the estimated one million reptile enthusiasts in Italy and a show of 40 dangerous snakes including green mambas, cobras and rattle snakes. : One of the most fearsome is the green mamba, whose charms include the ability to kill a victim within 30 minutes with its nervous-system-numbing white venom, not something which appeared to bother handler Fabrizio. : "You just need a lot of concentration," he says cooly, adding that snakes are his life. "It's simply something I feel inside me. If I did not like it, I would never be able to handle poisonous snakes." : SPECIAL BEAUTY : While Fabrizio puts the poisonous serpent away in its glass case, others are focusing on the beauty contest, or merely comparing their creatures to works of art. : "I have dedicated my life to amphibians," said breeder Stefano Gozzo, gesturing proudly towards his Axolotariums, strange Mexican amphibians that look like a prehistoric catfish. : "For me they are a synthesis between poetry and science." : A few metres away, Grisu the iguana is staring competitively at his beauty challengers from his owner's shoulder. : He may not rank up there with traditional beauty contestants, but proud owner Luca Mazzarella, 18, is quick to play up his other, more tender qualities. : "He's like a puppy...but my dog is scared of him," he says. : "I had wanted an iguana since I was very young but my mother always said no," says Mazzarella, by way of explaining how he came by his preening companion. : "One day, I brought home a python instead, so my mum finally said 'Okay, you can have the iguana'!"

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