Reptiles
Reptiles
A group of ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates who usually have scales and lay eggs on land.

Snakes

Common European Adder

Vipera berus

  • Also known as the common European viper or common adder, this venomous snake is native to eastern Europe and western Asia.
  • Individuals can look very different, but most have a zig-zag pattern down their backs.
  • They have a huge range and are the northern-most species of snake in the world, living as far north as the Arctic Circle!
  • These vipers will brumate during the cold winters.
  • Like other adders, common adders are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live offspring that sometimes stay with their mom for a few days.
  • They are the only venomous snake found in Great Britain!

Gaboon Viper

Bitis gabonica

  • Gaboon vipers have the largest fangs of any venomous snake in the world, reaching up to 2 inches!
  • These vipers can produce more venom in one bite than almost any other snake.
  • Gaboon vipers can reach 6 feet long and weigh up to 45lbs!
  • They are native to sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Their pattern helps them camouflage perfectly in leaf litter!
  • They do not lay eggs like most other snakes, which is common in other pit vipers, like rattlesnakes.

Hognose Snake

Heterodon ssp., Leioheterodon ssp., Lystrophis ssp.

  • Hognose snakes are the common name for many different snakes that are not all closely related!
  • All hognose snakes live in the Americas and on the island of Madagascar.
  • They are named for their upturned nose scales which help them dig burrows and disrupt reptiles and amphibians who make up most of their diet!
  • When threatened, hognose snakes will raise their heads and flatten their neck to appear larger.
  • Some species will even play dead by flipping over onto their backs and letting their tongues hang out of their open mouths to deter a predator.
  • Hognose snakes are very common pets!

Mangrove Pit Viper

Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus

  • Mangrove pit vipers, also known as shore pit vipers, belong to a group of roughly 50 vipers native to Asia.
  • Mangrove vipers can have many different colors ranging from a nearly solid black to a blotched olive-green color. 
  • Mangrove vipers get their name because of their preferred habitat, which is mangroves and other swampy areas.
  • These vipers are primarily arboreal and blend in well with tree branches and other vegetation. 
  • Mangrove pit vipers use their heat-sensing pits to find prey like lizards, frogs, and birds, which they kill with a venomous bite. 
  • Though it doesn't have a rattle, mangrove vipers will shake their tail against vegetation to make a warning sound. 

Mexican Vine Snake

Oxybelis aeneus

  • Also known as the brown vine snake or pike-headed tree snake, this arboreal (tree-dwelling) snake can be found from southern Arizona to northern South America.
  • They are incredibly long and thin, reaching up to 6-ft long. 
  • Mexican vine snakes live in wooded areas where they feed on lizards, frogs, and birds.
  • Their brown color helps them camouflage into branches and vines. 
  • Mexican vine snakes are mildly venomous, but cannot cause real harm to humans. 
  • When threatened, Mexican vine snakes will open their dark mouths to startled their predators.

Night Adders

Causus ssp.

  • Night adders are a group of 7 closely-related species of venomous vipers that are all native to Africa. 
  • All species are relatively small, the largest averaging around 2 to 3-ft. 
  • Though they are called night adders, they are active at both day and night time.
  • When threatened, night adders will lift their heads, puff up their necks, and hiss.
  • Their diet is almost exclusively frogs and toads; they have been known to eat in excess when food is abundant.
  • Like most reptiles but unlike most vipers, night adders lay eggs instead of having live-birth. 

Saharan Horned Viper

Cerastes cerastes

  • The Saharan horned viper is a venomous snake native to northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • They are named for the large scale over their eyes which look like horns and fold back as they move through burrows.
  • They shimmy their small bodies under the sand to camouflage themselves while they sit and wait for prey.
  • Horned vipers can detect prey using heat-sensing, vibrations in the sand, or sight.
  • They will strike and inject venom into their prey using their fangs
  • Saharan horned vipers share many physical and behavioral adaptations with the sidewinder of the Sonoran Desert. This is thought to be a result of convergent evolution.

Sidewinder

Crotalus cerastes

  • Native to the deserts of the Southwest, the sidewinder is one of 36 rattlesnake species native to the Americas.
  • Sidewinders move across the sand in a sideways motion where only a few parts of their body touch the hot sand at once.
  • Because of their unique locomotion strategy, they are faster than other rattlesnakes reaching speeds of 18 mph!
  • They will shimmy under the sand and leave their eyes exposed so they can avoid the hot sun but stay alert awaiting prey or potential predators
  • Horns above the eyes protect from blowing sand and block some of the harsh sun.

Sri Lankan Green Vine Snake

Ahaetulla nasuta

  • The Sri Lankan green vine snake is endemic to (only found in) Sri Lanka. 
  • They are often found in shrubs and low-hanging trees of wooded areas.
  • Sri Lankan green vines snakes have live babies instead of laying eggs!
  • During the day, they hunt for frogs and lizards up in the trees.
  • These snakes have been known to use delayed implantation, meaning they can breed and wait to have their babies during the best conditions. 
  • They have a very weak venom they use to subdue prey.
  • When threatened, they expand their bodies to look larger.
  • Their green bodies help them camouflage with leaves and vines. 

White-Lipped Snake

Drysdalia coronoides

  • White-lipped snakes are endemic to a small portion of Australia and Tasmania.
  • There are only three species of snakes native to Tasmania, the white-lipped snake being the smallest at about 16-inches in length.
  • White-lipped snakes are named for the white markings along their face and can display several colors, like green, gray, or dark brown.
  • They are venomous, which helps them capture their diet, which is mostly skinks.
  • They are often referred to as a whip snake, but they are not a true whip snake.
  • White-lipped snakes can often be seen basking in in the sun near grasslands and woodlands. 

Lizards

Agama Lizards

Agama ssp.

  • Also known as rainbow lizards, agama lizards are native to a large portion of Africa.
  • There are more than 30 species of agama lizards.
  • Agama lizards are insectivores and have been observed jumping across sleeping lions to catch flies!
  • Males are known for their bright colors that can change based on mood and are they are usually much bright than the females.
  • African redheaded agamas were accidentally introduced to Florida in the 1970s and now have a huge population.

Bahamian Rock Iguana

Cyclura cychlura

  • This species of herbivorous lizard is endemic to several islands in the Bahamas.
  • Bahamian rock iguanas are one of the largest lizards in the New World, weighing more than 15-lbs!
  • These iguanas inhabit areas with thick vegetation as well as mangrove and beach areas. 
  • While the species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, each subspecies is listed as Endangered.
  • Scientists are still trying to learn if there are two or three subspecies!
  • Feeding these iguanas is a popular tourism activity that often leads to improper diet and becoming too comfortable around humans!
  • The population is also threatened by feral animals, fires, and human development.
Shedd Aquarium Conservation

Basilisk Lizards

Basiliscus ssp.

  • There are four living species of basilisk lizards found in humid rainforests of Central and South America.
  • Basilisk lizards are best known for their ability to run on water, earning them the name 'Jesus Christ lizard.'
  • They can run across water on their hind legs at speeds of almost 5-ft/sec for around 15-feet.
  • They have specialized flaps between their toes which act like snowshoes and allow them to stay on top of the water.
  • Once they fall in, they can hold their breath for up to 10 minutes.
  • Basilisk lizards have a large crest on their head, back, and tail; males usually have a larger crest than females!
Jesus Christ Lizard

Common Wall Lizard

Podarcis muralis

  • Common wall lizards are native to Europe but have been introduced to the Ohio area in the United States.
  • They live in rocky areas where they can seek protection but are common in developed and residential areas.
  • They get their name because they are often seen on walls or rock faces.
  • These carnivorous lizards feed on grasshoppers, crickets, and spiders.
  • They are known to be quite athletic and have been observed jumping to catch flying prey. 
  • There are several morphs of wall lizards with different colors and patterns.
  • Wall lizards have very long tails that are usually longer than their body. 

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

  • Common water monitors, also known as Asian water monitors, are large, carnivorous lizards found in southern Asia.
  • They are commonly found near rivers and swamps and are exceptional swimmers!
  • They will hunt aquatic prey, like fish, turtles, and crabs, and can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes.
  • Water monitors are opportunistic hunters and will attack anything they can catch, such as rodents, turtles, and young crocodiles.
  • Scientists think their range is so large because they can cross bodies of water that restrict many other species. 
  • When threatened, water monitors will flee up a tree using their long claws and strong leg muscles. They will even drop from treetops into a body of water to escape, similar to green iguanas!
  • Like other monitor lizards, water monitors will inflate their throats and hiss to deter threats.

Copper Skink

Oligosoma aeneum

  • Along with more than 50 skink species, copper skinks are endemic to (only found on) the North Island of New Zealand.
  • They are the smallest skink native to New Zealand, only measuring about 4 inches!
  • Unlike most reptiles, the copper skink (and several other skinks) give birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs!
  • They are usually found hiding under some form of cover on the forest floor.
  • Copper skinks are mostly solitary.
  • Copper skinks have a long tail and very short legs, preventing them from moving quickly.

Frill-Necked Lizard

Chlamydosaurus kingii

  • Also known as frilled lizards or frilled dragons, the frill-necked lizard is native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
  • Frilled dragons are named for the flaps around their head that normally lay flat but can be lifted in a startle display when threatened. 
  • They can run on their hind legs to escape predators or other threats.
  • Frill-necked lizards are known to have different colorations based on their environment to help them camouflage more efficiently!
  • Filled lizards are arboreal and will hunt small mammals and a wide variety of invertebrates, like cicadas and butterflies.
  • They are in the same family as agama lizards.
Frilled Dragon Display

Giant Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma asio

  • While there are currently more than 20 known species of horned lizards found in North America, the giant horned lizard is one of the largest!
  • They measure about 6-inches and are covered by hard, spiny scales that help protect them from predators.
  • When threatened, horned lizards rely on their camouflage to help them remain unnoticed.
  • If they are detected, this species will inflate with air to appear larger and use its armored body for protection.
  • If the threat is more immediate, the giant horned lizard can shoot blood from their eyes nearly 5-ft!
  • Horned lizards are commonly referred to as horny toads, though they are actually lizards.
Blood Squirting Lizard

Gila Monster

Heloderma suspectum

  • One of the few venomous lizards that exist today.
  • Instead of having fangs like a venomous snake, they have venom glands in their lower jaw which release venom when they bite down.
  • They often clamp down on their victim to make sure the venom seeps into the bite.
  • Their venom is currently being researched to help those with type 2 diabetes!
  • They spend so much time underground that scientists have trouble estimating how many exist!
  • These lizards can store fat in their tails to survive the long desert droughts.

Green Anole

Anolis carolinensis

  • Green anoles are a small lizard native to the southeastern United States but have been introduced to other regions.
  • They have green, sometimes brown, bodies and a pointed snout.
  • They are sexually dimorphic with males being larger than females and having a large, pink throat flap (called a dewlap!).
  • Green anoles are able to change their green intensity based on mood, stress, or in a dominance display.
  • Sometimes called "American chameleons," green anoles are actually more closely related to iguanas.
  • Green anoles are the only species of anole native to the United States, though many non-native species have been introduced.

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

  • Green iguanas are one of more than 30 species of iguanas which are all found in the tropical Americas.
  • Green iguanas are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their lives up in the trees where there are fewer predators and a lot of food! 
  • They are not always green! They can have a blue, red, or yellow hew to their scales.
  • A large male iguana can reach 6-feet in length, while females are usually a little bit smaller.
  • The boys also have a large flap under their chin called a dewlap which can be used as a warning to other males.
  • Iguanas have a "parietal eye" on top of their head which helps them detect light and UV!

Hood Lava Lizard

Microlophus delanonis

  • Hood lava lizards are one of 22 species of lizards found on the Galapagos Islands and coastal South America.
  • The lizards found on the mainland are sometimes referred to as Pacific iguanas, as lava lizards are closely related to iguanas!
  • The hood lava lizard is only found on Espanola Island in the Galapagos.
  • Hood lava lizards, like other lava lizards, are commonly observed basking in shrubland and near shore. 
  • Lava lizards have been known to feed on other lava lizards!
  • Only females have a bright orange/red face and chest!
  • No humans live on Espanola Island, so the hood lava lizard's main threat is natural events like drought or hurricanes. 

Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

  • The largest lizard in the world, averaging more than 150-lbs!
  • Komodo dragons are native to only 5 islands off the coast of SE Asia.
  • New research has led many scientists to believe that Komodo dragons are one of a few species of venomous lizards.
  • Komodo dragons have 3-inch long claws and powerful tails that they use to attack prey and defend themselves from other dragons!
  • They are incredible predators and can consume 80% of their body weight in one meal, causing some dragons to weigh upwards of 300lbs while they digest!
  • While breeding the old fashion way is most common, these dragons can reproduce through parthenogenesis, meaning a female can have offspring without ever having a mate!
A Dragon Hunt

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

  • Marine iguanas are a species of iguana that is endemic to (only found on) the Galapagos Islands.
  • Marine iguanas are the only species of iguana that feed aquatically!
  • They will dive more than 60-ft to scrape algae off rocks using their small, sharp teeth.
  • They can hold their breath for up to 10-minutes and use their long claws to cling to rocks while they feed.
  • Their long, paddle-like tail makes them powerful swimmers.
  • Marine iguanas can look very different based on the island they live on!
  • Scientists think that marine iguanas got to the Galapagos Islands by drifting on floating material from South America. 
Keep Learning

Shingleback Skink

Tiliqua rugosa

  • Shingleback skinks are one of 8 species of blue-tongue skinks!
  • Blue-tongue skinks flash their bright blue tongues at predators to startle and hopefully deter them.
  • They are very common throughout most of Australia and are often seen basking on roadways!
  • Large, rough scales give this skink the appearance of a pinecone.
  • Offspring are quite large, weighing up to a quarter of mom's body weight.
  • Their tails resemble their heads, which makes it tougher for a predator to decide which end to attack.
  • Their fat tails also supply them when nutrients while they brumate during the winter.
The Shingleback Skink

Veiled Chameleon

Chamaeleo calyptratus

  • Veiled chameleons, also known as cone-head or Yamen chameleons, are found in a small region of the Arabian Peninsula.
  • They have a large crest on their heads that can measure up to 2 inches tall!
  • Like other chameleons, veiled chameleons are arboreal, meaning they live in the trees.
  • They are a relatively large chameleon; males can measure up to 2 feet.
  • Colors are often green with white and orange markings but can change based on stress, season, or social status!
  • Veiled chameleons use their long, sticky tongue to capture insects but they will also eat plants!

Turtles and Tortoises

Box Turtle

Terrapene ssp.

  • Box turtles are a group of North American turtles with several species and subspecies.
  • All box turtle species have a tall shell with a special scute (shell scale) under their head which can flip up and fully close the turtle inside!
  • Some species of box turtles can live more than 100 years, but average much less.
  • Unlike most turtles, box turtles spend most of their time on land.
  • Their common predators are skunks, raccoons, dogs, and some birds!
  • Box turtles are a very common pet but should only be adopted from a reputable pet rescue.

Desert Tortoise

Gopherus agassizii

  • Two species of desert tortoises live in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in the American southwest.
  • They are very long-lived; some can live to be more than 80 years old!
  • Desert tortoises are most active when it rains. Otherwise, they are usually in their burrows where the temperature is more stable and they are hidden from danger.
  • They will 'brumate' during the winter, meaning they decrease their metabolism and go into a long period of inactivity (like hibernating!).
  • They have long claws and flat front feet that help them dig their burrows.

Galapagos Tortoise

Chelonoidis nigra

  • Galapagos tortoises are the largest species of tortoise in the world!
  • Males often weigh 500-lbs or more and females average around 250-lbs.
  • They are only found on the Galapagos Islands about 600 miles off the Ecuador coast.
  • Scientists think these tortoises floated from the mainland to the islands using their buoyant, honeycomb-structured shells.
  • A variety of subspecies inhabit different islands and have evolved to have longer or shorter necks based on the type of plants found on each island!
  • Galapagos tortoises can go up to a year with no food or water.
  • Their life can easily exceed 100 years, with some reported living past 150!

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

  • Green sea turtles are one of seven species of marine turtles.
  • These turtles spend their whole lives in water, only coming ashore to lay eggs!
  • Female green sea turtles will travel back to the beach they hatched on every 2 to 4 years to make their nest!
  • Green sea turtles will lay around 115 eggs in their nest and the sex of the offspring is dependent on the incubation temperature!
  • They can dive hundreds of feet and hold their breath for up to five hours when resting.
  • Unlike many land turtles, sea turtles cannot pull their arms or head inside their shell.
  • Adults dine mostly on seagrass and seaweed, while juveniles will also eat jellies and other invertebrates.

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

  • Leopard tortoises can be found in the dry savannas of Africa.
  • They are the fourth largest tortoise in the world, usually weighing more than 30-lbs!
  • They mainly feed on grasses, thistles, and cactus, which contain a lot of water.
  • These tortoises will also eat low-hanging or fallen fruit and are very important seed dispersers!
  • They can store large amounts of water in their abdomen, which is helpful in the dry climate.
  • Leopard tortoises are less active during the hot summers and cold winters and will hide in old fox or aardvark holes.
  • It is illegal to bring wild-caught leopard tortoises into the US because they have been known to carry ticks with heartwater disease, which is very harmful to livestock.

Pig-Nosed Turtle

Carettochelys insculpta

  • Also known as the fly river turtle, pig-nosed turtles are native to freshwater ecosystems in Australia.
  • They are the only living member of their family with their closest living relatives being soft-shelled turtles.
  • Pig-nosed turtles have webbed feet, just like their marine relatives!
  • While there are few studies about them in the wild, they are thought to be highly territorial.
  • Fly river turtles are not able to reproduce for at least 16 years, which is thought to be more than half of their lifespan!
  • Offspring can stay inside the egg for an extra 50 days if conditions are not optimal.
  • Fly river turtles are endangered due to heavy collection for food and the pet trade, along with destruction of freshwater ecosystems. 

Alligators and Crocodiles

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

  • American alligators are one of only two species of alligators exist today, the other being the critically endangered Chinese alligator.
  • Alligators have their eyes, ears, and nose on the top of their head so they can lurk in the water and stay alert.
  • Males will produce a deep bellow during the breeding season that rumbles so loud it makes the water above them dance.
  • They are found primarily in freshwater, unlike crocodiles.
  • Alligators are constantly losing and growing teeth, just like a shark. Some can go through more than 3,000 teeth in a lifetime.
  • American alligators are carnivores and will hunt animals both in the water, like fish and invertebrates, and above the water, like resting birds and mammals who venture too close to the water. 
Mating Display

Caiman

Caimaninae ssp.

  • Caimans and alligators are the two major groups in the alligator family, which belongs in the crocodile order.
  • There are six recognized species of caimans (with many more extinct) that live in both fresh and saltwater in Central and South America.
  • Most caiman species are smaller than their crocodilian cousins, only reaching 6-8 ft on average.
  • Caimans have few predators other than jaguars, anacondas, and humans, who hunt them for their meat and skin.
  • During the dry seasons, caimans will bury themselves in a burrow and go into a type of hibernation called 'aestivation.'
  • The sex of caiman offspring depends on the external temperature!

Keep Learning!

  • frog hiding in duckweed in pond
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