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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 mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) is a medium-sized broad-snouted crocodile, also known as mugger and marsh crocodile. It is native to freshwater habitats from southern Iran to the Indian subcontinent, where it inhabits marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds. It rarely reaches a body length of 5 m (16 ft 5 in) and is a powerful swimmer, but also walks on land in search of suitable waterbodies during the hot season. Both young and adult mugger crocodiles dig burrows to which they retreat when the ambient temperature drops below 5 °C (41 °F) or exceeds 38 °C (100 °F). Females dig holes in the sand as nesting sites and lay up to 46 eggs during the dry season. The sex of hatchlings depends on temperature during incubation. Both parents protect the young for up to one year. They feed on insects, and adults prey on fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.

The mugger crocodile evolved at least 4.19 million years ago and has been a symbol for the fructifying and destructive powers of the rivers since the Vedic period. It was first scientifically described in 1831 and is protected by law in Iran, India and Sri Lanka. Since 1982, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Outside protected areas, it is threatened by conversion of natural habitats, gets entangled in fishing nets and is killed in human–wildlife conflict situations and in traffic accidents. (Full article...)

Selected lizard article

The Drakensberg dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion dracomontanum) occurs in the Drakensberg, South Africa, between the latitudes of 27°45′ and 29°15′. Bright green dwarf chameleons (emerald dwarf chameleon) found in the Drakensberg south of 29°15′ are now known to be more closely related to the Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion thamnobates) and may yet be described as a separate species. (Full article...)

Selected turtle article

The Guadalupe spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera guadalupensis) is a subspecies of soft-shelled turtle native to the United States, in the state of Texas. Their range is limited only to the Nueces and Guadalupe rivers, and their immediate tributaries. (Full article...)

Picture slideshow

Image 1Jackson's chameleon
Image 2Barracudasauroides
Image 3Dwarf yellow-headed gecko
Image 4Carolina anole
Image 5 Albino alligator
Image 6Indian chameleon
Image 7Ladder snake
Image 8Trachylepis striata
Image 9A green sea turtle swimming above a coral reef.
Image 10Common collared lizard
Image 11Asian 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 12Gold dust day gecko
Image 13White-headed dwarf gecko
Image 14Namaqua chameleon
Image 15Sicilian wall lizard
Image 16Red-headed Amazon River turtles
Image 17Leiocephalus carinatus
Image 18Leiocephalus personatus
Image 19Thamnophis elegans terrestris at Western terrestrial garter snake
Image 20Cerastes cerastes
Image 21Morelia spilota
Image 22Namaqua chameleon
Image 23Bothriechis schlegelii
Image 24Steneosaurus
Image 25Niveoscincus metallicus
Image 26Green sea turtle
Image 27Plumed basilisk
Image 28Vipera dinniki
Image 29Plestiodon fasciatus
Image 30Gold dust day gecko
Image 31Green sea turtle
Image 32Cape skink - Trachylepis capensis. Close-up on purple Aster flowers.
Image 33Marginated tortoise hatchling
Image 34Species of Ceratopsia dinosaurs
Image 35Vipera xanthina
Image 36Gold dust day gecko close-up
Image 37Eastern long-necked turtle
Image 38Green sea turtle
Image 39Italian wall lizard
Image 40Common box turtle
Image 41Aldabra giant tortoise
Image 42Phelsuma grandis
Image 43Rough chameleon
Image 44Anole at Polychrotinae
Image 45Trachylepis maculilabris mating
Image 46Australian water dragon
Image 47Bosc's fringe-toed lizards during courtship
Image 48Sinai agama
Image 49Mwanza flat-headed rock agama
Image 50Eastern bearded dragon
Image 51Mexican beaded lizard
Image 52Marine iguana
Image 53Yacare caiman

Selected snake article

Morelia spilota variegata, commonly known as Torresian carpet python, Darwin carpet python or northwestern carpet python, is a subspecies of python found in New Guinea and Australia, smaller than the nominate subspecies Morelia spilota spilota and has a more restricted geographic range. (Full article...)