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Introduction

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Selected reptile type

Clockwise from top left: veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus), rock monitor (Varanus albigularis), common blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides), Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula), giant leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), and legless lizard (Anelytropsis papillosus)

Lizard is the common name used for all squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The grouping is paraphyletic as some lizards are more closely related to snakes than they are to other lizards. Lizards range in size from chameleons and geckos a few centimeters long to the 3-meter-long Komodo dragon.

Most lizards are quadrupedal, running with a strong side-to-side motion. Some lineages (known as "legless lizards") have secondarily lost their legs, and have long snake-like bodies. Some lizards, such as the forest-dwelling Draco, are able to glide. They are often territorial, the males fighting off other males and signalling, often with bright colours, to attract mates and to intimidate rivals. Lizards are mainly carnivorous, often being sit-and-wait predators; many smaller species eat insects, while the Komodo eats mammals as big as water buffalo.

Lizards make use of a variety of antipredator adaptations, including venom, camouflage, reflex bleeding, and the ability to sacrifice and regrow their tails. (Full article...)

Selected Crocodilia article

The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is a crocodilian native to saltwater habitats, brackish wetlands and freshwater rivers from India's east coast across Southeast Asia and the Sundaic region to northern Australia and Micronesia. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 1996. It was hunted for its skin throughout its range up to the 1970s, and is threatened by illegal killing and habitat loss. It is regarded as dangerous to humans.

The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile. Males can grow up to a weight of 1,000–1,500 kg (2,200–3,300 lb) and a length of 6 m (20 ft), rarely exceeding 6.3 m (21 ft). Females are much smaller and rarely surpass 3 m (9.8 ft). It is also called the estuarine crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile, marine crocodile, sea crocodile, and, informally, the saltie. A large and opportunistic hypercarnivorous apex predator, they ambush most of their prey and then drown or swallow it whole. They will prey on almost any animal that enters their territory, including other predators such as sharks, varieties of freshwater and saltwater fish including pelagic species, invertebrates such as crustaceans, various amphibians, other reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans. (Full article...)

Selected lizard article

The Ngome dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion ngomeense) is a species of chameleon found in South Africa. (Full article...)

Selected turtle article

Indian roofed turtle in KNP Bharatpur

The Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tecta) is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It can be distinguished by the distinct "roof" at the topmost part of the shell. It is found in the major rivers of South Asia. It is a common pet in the Indian Subcontinent. (Full article...)

Picture slideshow

Image 1Plestiodon fasciatus
Image 2Steneosaurus
Image 3Gold dust day gecko close-up
Image 4Anole at Polychrotinae
Image 5Jackson's chameleon
Image 6Thamnophis elegans terrestris at Western terrestrial garter snake
Image 7Gold dust day gecko
Image 8Species of Ceratopsia dinosaurs
Image 9Eastern long-necked turtle
Image 10Marine iguana
Image 11White-headed dwarf gecko
Image 12Australian water dragon
Image 13Bosc's fringe-toed lizards during courtship
Image 14Dwarf yellow-headed gecko
Image 15Marginated tortoise hatchling
Image 16Cerastes cerastes
Image 17Vipera dinniki
Image 18Yacare caiman
Image 19Trachylepis striata
Image 20Mwanza flat-headed rock agama
Image 21Barracudasauroides
Image 22Plumed basilisk
Image 23Indian chameleon
Image 24Morelia spilota
Image 25Sicilian wall lizard
Image 26Vipera xanthina
Image 27Carolina anole
Image 28Gold dust day gecko
Image 29A green sea turtle swimming above a coral reef.
Image 30Leiocephalus personatus
Image 31Green sea turtle
Image 32Cape skink - Trachylepis capensis. Close-up on purple Aster flowers.
Image 33Eastern bearded dragon
Image 34Asian vine snake Ahaetulla prasina. This snake has a wide distribution in Asia. It feeds on small reptiles and amphibians, particularly lizards and tree frogs. Adults may attain 1.8 m (6 feet) in total length, with a tail 0.6 m (2 feet) long. Its appearance is very much like those of South American vine snakes. It is a rear-fanged species and is mildly venomous but is not considered a threat to humans.
Image 35Trachylepis maculilabris mating
Image 36Ladder snake
Image 37Italian wall lizard
Image 38Bothriechis schlegelii
Image 39Phelsuma grandis
Image 40Common box turtle
Image 41Niveoscincus metallicus
Image 42Aldabra giant tortoise
Image 43Namaqua chameleon
Image 44 Albino alligator
Image 45Leiocephalus carinatus
Image 46Namaqua chameleon
Image 47Green sea turtle
Image 48Rough chameleon
Image 49Sinai agama
Image 50Common collared lizard
Image 51Mexican beaded lizard
Image 52Green sea turtle
Image 53Red-headed Amazon River turtles

Selected snake article

The Indochinese spitting cobra (Naja siamensis) (Thai: งูเห่า, pronounced: nguu hao) also called the Thai spitting cobra, black and white spitting cobra, Siamese spitting cobra, is a species of spitting cobra found in Southeast Asia. (Full article...)