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  • Popular reptiles

Reptiles

Reptiles are cold-blooded, scaly-skinned vertebrates. Most reptiles reproduce by laying leathery eggs, although many lizards and snakes give birth to live young. Reptiles are often dominant in inhospitable habitats such as deserts, but are completely absent from Antarctica. A third of the world’s reptiles are currently threatened with extinction.

Eastern ribbon snake
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Popular reptiles View all reptiles »

  • Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

    Varanus komodoensis (Komodo dragon)

    The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest lizard in the world, and with its ancient appearance and evocative name, the Komodo…

    More about the komodo dragon »

    42 photos

    9 videos

  • Arabian horned viper (Cerastes gasperettii)

    Cerastes gasperettii (Arabian horned viper)

    The Arabian horned viper is one of three currently recognised species of horned viper, a group which is recognisable for the distinctive…

    More about the arabian horned viper »

    7 photos

    3 videos

  • Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger)

    Melanosuchus niger (Black caiman)

    This impressive aquatic hunter is the largest of all alligator species, with reports of individuals measuring six metres. The black caiman…

    More about the black caiman »

    17 photo

    1 video

  • Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

    Amblyrhynchus cristatus (Galapagos marine iguana)

    Galapagos marine iguanas are the world’s only marine lizards. They inhabit the Galapagos Islands and, in the absence of mammalian predators…

    More about the galapagos marine iguana »

    68 photos

    19 videos

  • Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

    Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle)

    The Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of…

    More about the hawksbill turtle »

    39 photos

    10 videos

  • Parson’s chameleon (Calumma parsonii)

    Calumma parsonii (Parson’s chameleon)

    The largest chameleon in the world, Parson’s chameleon belongs to a unique family of lizards exhibiting some bizarre traits. With a large…

    More about the parson’s chameleon »

    40 photos

    5 videos

  • Western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

    Crotalus atrox (Western diamond-backed rattlesnake)

    An iconic reptile, the rattle of the western diamondback rattlesnake is one of the most evocative sounds of the arid southern United States…

    More about the western diamond-backed rattlesnake »

    31 photos

    8 videos

  • Green iguana (Iguana iguana)

    Iguana iguana (Green iguana)

    The green iguana is one of the best-known reptiles due to its popularity in zoos and with private reptile keepers. It has a very…

    More about the green iguana »

    26 photos

    6 videos

  • Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

    Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle)

    The loggerhead is one of the most widespread of all the marine turtles and also the most highly migratory, with individuals known to cross…

    More about the loggerhead turtle »

    46 photos

    24 videos

  • Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

    Astrochelys radiata (Radiated tortoise)

    The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) of Madagascar is one of the most attractive of all the tortoises. The high-domed, dark carapace…

    More about the radiated tortoise »

    23 photos

    4 videos

  • Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

    Crocodylus niloticus (Nile crocodile)

    One of the largest of all crocodilians, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a supremely adapted aquatic predator, with a…

    More about the nile crocodile »

    66 photos

    22 videos

  • Short-horned chameleon (Calumma brevicorne)

    Calumma brevicorne (Short-horned chameleon)

    The most striking and distinctive features of the short-horned chameleon are its large, ear-like occipital lobes, and the short bony…

    More about the short-horned chameleon »

    19 photo

    1 video

  • Adder (Vipera berus)

    Vipera berus (Adder)

    The adder (Vipera berus) is an extremely widespread reptile, and is the UK’s only venomous snake. As a result of its venomous bite, the…

    More about the adder »

    16 photos

    12 videos

  • Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea)

    Geochelone gigantea (Aldabra giant tortoise)

    The Aldabra giant tortoise is indeed a giant, with individuals reaching over one metre in length. The thick, domed carapace is dark grey to…

    More about the aldabra giant tortoise »

    33 photos

    11 videos

  • Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)

    Lacerta agilis (Sand lizard)

    The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is larger than the common lizard, and somewhat stockier. Sand lizards have an attractive pattern of dark…

    More about the sand lizard »

    31 photos

    7 videos

  • American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

    Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator)

    The largest reptile in North America, the iconic American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is considered to be a living fossil, having…

    More about the american alligator »

    52 photos

    6 videos

  • Yellow sea snake (Hydrophis spiralis)

    Hydrophis spiralis (Yellow sea snake)

    The longest of the true sea snakes (Hydrophiids), the yellow sea snake (Hydrophis spiralis) has a striking yellow or yellowish-green…

    More about the yellow sea snake »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Western swamp turtle (Pseudemydura umbrina)

    Pseudemydura umbrina (Western swamp turtle)

    This small freshwater turtle is the most endangered Australian reptile. The flattened carapace appears square from above and varies in…

    More about the western swamp turtle »

    14 photos

    0 videos

  • Sail-fin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)

    Hydrosaurus pustulatus (Sail-fin lizard)

    The sail-fin lizard is notable not only for its impressive size of up to a metre in length, but also for its rather spectacular appearance…

    More about the sail-fin lizard »

    9 photos

    0 videos

  • Grass snake (Natrix natrix)

    Natrix natrix (Grass snake)

    The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is Britain's largest terrestrial reptile. This snake is typically olive-green, brown or greyish in colour…

    More about the grass snake »

    38 photos

    10 videos

  • Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)

    Crocodylus rhombifer (Cuban crocodile)

    The Cuban crocodile is one of the most threatened New World crocodilians (a group that includes alligators, caimans and the gharial). It is…

    More about the cuban crocodile »

    20 photos

    0 videos

  • Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia)

    Uromastyx aegyptia (Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard)

    The largest member of its genus, the Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard is easily recognised by the relatively short and heavily spined tail that…

    More about the egyptian spiny-tailed lizard »

    14 photos

    3 videos

  • Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

    Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator snapping turtle)

    One of the largest freshwater turtles in the world, the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a prehistoric-looking species…

    More about the alligator snapping turtle »

    14 photos

    3 videos

  • Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)

    Chelonoidis nigra (Galapagos giant tortoise)

    The enormous Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) was once so numerous that Spanish explorers of the region named the Galapagos…

    More about the galapagos giant tortoise »

    60 photos

    24 videos

  • Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

    Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle)

    The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world's largest turtle; the largest recorded individual weighed a massive 916 kilograms…

    More about the leatherback turtle »

    37 photos

    10 videos

  • Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

    Anguis fragilis (Slow worm)

    Being a legless lizard, the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) is often mistaken for a snake. However, there are certain features that separate the…

    More about the slow worm »

    24 photos

    4 videos

  • Tiger chameleon (Archaius tigris)

    Archaius tigris (Tiger chameleon)

    With a length of just 16 centimetres, this enchanting species is relatively small for a chameleon. Body colour varies from inconspicuous…

    More about the tiger chameleon »

    24 photo

    1 video

  • King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

    Ophiophagus hannah (King cobra)

    The longest of all living venomous snakes, the magnificent king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has been the inspiration for a variety of…

    More about the king cobra »

    16 photos

    7 videos

  • Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus)

    Caiman crocodilus (Spectacled caiman)

    A relatively small to medium sized crocodilian, the spectacled caiman is named for the bony ridge between the front of the eyes, which…

    More about the spectacled caiman »

    33 photos

    6 videos

  • Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor)

    Crotalus unicolor (Aruba Island rattlesnake)

    The Aruba Island rattlesnake is one of the rarest rattlesnakes in the world. Its short and stocky looking body has an overall brown colour…

    More about the aruba island rattlesnake »

    11 photos

    0 videos

  • African rock python (Python sebae)

    Python sebae (African rock python)

    Africa’s largest snake, the African rock python (Python sebae) has a long, stout body, patterned with blotches that vary in colour between…

    More about the african rock python »

    17 photos

    6 videos

  • Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

    Gavialis gangeticus (Gharial)

    The gharial is one of the largest crocodilians (a group that also includes crocodiles, alligators and caimans) with the narrowest snout of…

    More about the gharial »

    34 photos

    11 videos

  • Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis)

    Sanzinia madagascariensis (Madagascar tree boa)

    This medium-sized constrictor occurs in two colour variations. Prevalent mainly in the eastern half of the range is the green to…

    More about the madagascar tree boa »

    22 photos

    3 videos

  • Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

    Crocodylus porosus (Saltwater crocodile)

    The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all crocodilians, and the largest reptile in the world, with unconfirmed…

    More about the saltwater crocodile »

    36 photos

    11 videos

  • Fiji banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)

    Brachylophus fasciatus (Fiji banded iguana)

    The Fiji banded iguana is a spectacularly beautiful, large, emerald-green lizard named for the highly distinctive, broad, vertical blue to…

    More about the fiji banded iguana »

    20 photos

    5 videos

  • Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

    Uroplatus phantasticus (Satanic leaf-tailed gecko)

    The incredible satanic leaf-tailed gecko is a master of disguise, with a body that superbly mimics a dead leaf. Its twisted body, veined…

    More about the satanic leaf-tailed gecko »

    17 photos

    0 videos

  • Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)

    Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster)

    The Gila monster is the largest lizard in the United States, and one of the few species of venomous lizard in the world. It has a stocky…

    More about the gila monster »

    28 photos

    15 videos

  • Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

    Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley turtle)

    The olive ridley turtle is the smallest of the marine turtles. The carapace of this turtle is olive coloured and relatively heart-shaped…

    More about the olive ridley turtle »

    50 photos

    11 videos

  • Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)

    Crocodylus mindorensis (Philippine crocodile)

    The Philippine crocodile is one of the most endangered freshwater crocodiles. It is small with a relatively broad snout and thick bony…

    More about the philippine crocodile »

    21 photos

    0 videos

  • Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

    Zootoca vivipara (Viviparous lizard)

    The viviparous or common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is extremely variable in colour. Typically, the upperparts of the lizard are brownish…

    More about the viviparous lizard »

    28 photos

    7 videos

  • Big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum)

    Platysternon megacephalum (Big-headed turtle)

    The most distinctive feature of the aptly named big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is its enormous, triangular head, which is so…

    More about the big-headed turtle »

    11 photo

    1 video

  • African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)

    Centrochelys sulcata (African spurred tortoise)

    The African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) is the largest tortoise of the African mainland, and is surpassed in size only by the…

    More about the african spurred tortoise »

    18 photos

    0 videos

  • Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

    Eunectes murinus (Green anaconda)

    While the anaconda may not hold the title of the worlds’ longest snake—coming second to the reticulated python—its huge girth means that it…

    More about the green anaconda »

    37 photos

    7 videos

  • Namaqua chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis)

    Chamaeleo namaquensis (Namaqua chameleon)

    A unique family of lizards, chameleons exhibit some bizarre traits. With a large, triangular head, conical, independently-moving eyes…

    More about the namaqua chameleon »

    21 photos

    5 videos

  • Afghan tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii)

    Testudo horsfieldii (Afghan tortoise)

    The Afghan tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) has a rounded upper shell, known as the carapace, which is almost as broad as it is long. The…

    More about the afghan tortoise »

    19 photo

    1 video

  • Beaked sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa)

    Enhydrina schistosa (Beaked sea snake)

    The beaked sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa) gains its common name from the distinctive downturned, beak-like projection on the snout, at…

    More about the beaked sea snake »

    6 photos

    0 videos

  • Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)

    Crocodylus intermedius (Orinoco crocodile)

    The Orinoco crocodile is one of the larger crocodilians (a group that also includes alligators, caimans and the gharial), with a relatively…

    More about the orinoco crocodile »

    26 photo

    1 video

  • Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

    Coronella austriaca (Smooth snake)

    This non-venomous snake is very rare in the UK, and is superficially similar in appearance to the adder (Vipera berus), but can be…

    More about the smooth snake »

    23 photos

    6 videos

  • African burrowing python (Calabaria reinhardtii)

    Calabaria reinhardtii (African burrowing python)

    This unusual and secretive snake closely resembles the sand boas (subfamily Erycinae), leading to controversy over whether it is in fact a…

    More about the african burrowing python »

    8 photos

    0 videos

  • Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)

    Crocodylus siamensis (Siamese crocodile)

    The Siamese crocodile is a small, freshwater crocodilian (a group that also includes alligators, caimans and the gharial), with a relatively…

    More about the siamese crocodile »

    20 photos

    2 videos

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