Reptiles
Reptiles are cold-blooded, usually egg-laying vertebrates (animals with backbones). Their skin is covered with scales or plates. Unlike mammal young, which are dependent upon their mothers for some time after birth, most reptiles are independent from day one.
There are more than 6,500 reptile species. Below is the list of reptiles on regular view at the Zoo or shown through Animals & You presentations.
The Aldabra is the second largest species of tortoise, being only slightly smaller than the tortoise found on the Galapagos Islands.
Alligators spend much of the day laying in the sun on the banks of rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water, often hiding in the vegetation.
Until its rediscovery in the 1980s, the butaan was believed to be extinct.
Not only do they slither across the ground, but California kingsnakes are also excellent at climbing trees and swimming.
Like many lizards without prehensile tails, the desert iguana can drop their tail–meaning they can detach their tail and grow a new one.
The desert tortoise is a shy, land-dwelling reptile, native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. They can live up to one hundred years.
One of the world’s largest and heaviest vipers, the Gaboon viper also has the longest fangs of any venomous snake.
Gila monsters have remained essentially unchanged since dinosaurs roamed the world.
These non-venomous snakes are popular with farmers because they consume crop-damaging rodents.
Green mambas are primarily solitary creatures, and like the other three mambas species are arboreal.
The green tree python’s similarities to the emerald tree boa are an example of convergent evolution.
The gharial is the only surviving member of a group of animals that arose in the Cretaceous period, about 144–65 million years ago.
The intensity of the gecko’s colors varies by region, with some geckos appearing dull while others are dazzling and glittering in the tropical sun.
Discovered for the first time in October 1989 in the Mangshan Mountains of the Hunan province of China.
Matamatas will sometimes herd fish into more shallow waters where the matamata can easily seize them.The matamata’s snorkel-like nose allows it to lie in shallow water and reach the surface to respire without frightening its prey.
The Mexican beaded lizard, along with its relative the Gila monster, are the world’s only two dangerously venomous lizards.
Rattlesnakes are easily identified by their broad, triangular heads and the rattles at the ends of their tails.
Rosy boas are excellent climbers, stretching their body from a fixed point, then drawing together before pushing out again.
This slow-moving skink looks like it’s traveling in both directions at once.
With a max length of about 12 feet, the bushmaster is the longest viper in the world and the largest of all venomous snakes in the western hemisphere.
This crocodilian from Southeast Asia has a long narrow snout with up to 84 interlocking teeth, an adaptation for catching fish.