Kids Encyclopedia

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 …

Chicken Turtle — The Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) is an uncommon freshwater turtle found in the southeast of the United States. They are similar in appearance to the Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta), but have an unusually long, striped neck with a yellow stripe on both the forelegs and rear legs. It has a distinguishable net-like pattern on its …

Chameleon — Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are squamates that belong to one of the best-known lizard families. The name “chameleon” means “Earth lion” and is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) and leon (lion). Chameleons vary greatly in size and body structure, with total length from approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Brookesia minima, to …

Caiman — The Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) is a crocodilian reptile found in much of Central and South America. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverine habitat types and can tolerate salt water as well as fresh; due in part to this adaptabilty it is the most common of all crocodilian species. Males of the species are …

Bushmaster — Lachesis (Bushmaster) is a genus of venomous pit vipers found in the remote, forested areas in Central and South America. The generic name refers to one of the Three Fates in Greek mythology; Lachesis determined the length of the thread of life. Three species are currently recognized. Adults vary in length from 2 to 2.5 m, although and …

Boomslang — A boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is a relatively small, venomous colubrid snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is currently the only species in its genus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past. Its name means “tree snake” in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is thought to be closely related to members of the genera Thelotornis, Thrasops, …

Boa — Boa is a common name for non poisonous snake of boa and python family. Boa and python family contains some 70 species. Like pythons boa too kill their prey by constricting them to death and then swallowing it whole. They can stretch their jaws wide appart more than the size of their head to swallow a large animal. …