Gavial — The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), sometimes called the Indian gharial or gavial, is one of two surviving members of the family Gavialidae, a long-established group of crocodile-like reptiles with long, narrow jaws. The gharial is the second-longest of all living crocodilians: a large male can approach 6 meters in length. Northern Indian subcontinent: Bhutan (almost extinct), Bangladesh (close to …

Girdle-tailed Lizard — Cordylidae is a family of mid-sized lizards that inhabits Madagascar and eastern Africa. The family is mostly terrestrial and insectivorous. They have rows of plated or spiny scales which cover their body. They are commonly known as the Spinytail lizards or Girdletailed lizards. Their name is derived from the rings of spiny scales that encircle the tail, …

Iguana — The Iguana is a large, arboreal herbivorous species of lizard of the genus iguana native to Central and South America. The Green iguana ranges over a large geographic area, from southern Brazil and Paraguay to as far north as Mexico, the Caribbean Islands; and in the United States as feral populations in Florida, Hawaii and the Rio Grande …

Gila Monster — The Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum, is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a heavy, slow moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2 feet) long, and is the most venomous lizard native to the USA. Its skin has the appearance of black, pink, orange, and yellow beads, laid …

Garter Snake — A garter snake is any species of North American snake within the genus Thamnophis. Because of the similarity in sound of the words, combined with where people often see them, they are sometimes called garden snakes or gardner snakes. They are not venomous. Garter snakes are common across North America, from Canada to Central America. They are …

Coral Snake — The coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, New World coral snakes and Old World coral snakes. There are three genera among New World coral snakes that consist of over 65 recognized species. Coral snakes are most notable for their red, yellow/white, and black colored banding. Several …

Crocodile — A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the subfamily Crocodylinae). The term can also be used more loosely to include all members of the order Crocodilia: i.e. the true crocodiles, the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae) and the gharials (family Gavialidae), or even the Crocodylomorpha which includes prehistoric crocodile relatives and …

Copperhead — The Copperhead is the most common venomous snake found in the eastern US. It is also known by the name “Highland Moccasin.” As a species, it belongs to the genus “Agkistrodon” which also includes the Cottonmouth, also known as the “Water Moccasin”. Copperheads are usually colorful and strikingly patterned snakes. They derive their name from the copper-like coloring …

Colubrid — A Colubrid (from Latin coluber, snake) is a snake that is a member of the Colubridae family. It is a broad classification of snakes that includes well over half of all snake species on earth. A colubrid’s body is almost completely covered in scales. While most colubrids are non-venomous (or have venom that isn’t known to be harmful …

Adder — Adder Poisonous snake of the viper family. In Great Britain the only venomous snake is the adder. Adult can usually recover from the effects of its bite. In Africa are found the related puff and night adder. The names puff adder and spreading adder are sometimes applied to the harmless hog-nosed snake of North America . The death …