221 Amphibians and Reptiles Encyclopedia

Scientific name : Crotaphytus reticulatus Family : Crotaphytidae Native to : Texas and Mexico Interesting fact : The collared lizard is fast, running at 26 km/h. Conservation status : Vulnerable The reticulated collared lizard is found in the Rio Grande valley leaping from rock-to-rock with its long hind legs. Their net-like patterns give them their […]

Scientific name : Plethodon shermani Family : Plethodontidae Native to : South-Eastern United States Conservation status : Vulnerable Red-legged salamanders have moist grey skins with red colouration on the base of the legs. They are found high up in cool, moist forests, and hide under leaf litter, logs or rocks. They are active in the

Scientific name : Phaeognathus hubrichti Family : Plethodontidae Native to : Alabama, U.S.A Interesting fact : Red hills salamander is the state amphibian of Alabama. Conservation status : Endangered Named after its location, the Red hills salamander is dark with minimal spots. They are so fond of their burrows that they never leave them. Found

Common name : Red-eared terrapin, Yellow-bellied slider turtle Scientific name : Trachemys scripta elegans Family : Emydidae Native to : United States and Mexico Interesting fact : Sliders are known for their tendency to slide quickly into water from trees or logs where they bask. Conservation status : Near Threatened The most popular turtle pet

Common name : Summer’s poison frog Scientific name : Ranitomeya summersi Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Peru Interesting fact : Summer’s poison frogs breed in treeholes and dieffenbachia plants. Conservation status : Endangered The Summer’s poison frog is jet black with orange lines on its back outlining the head and limbs. The bright colouration

Scientific name : Ranitomeya amazonica Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Peru Interesting fact : They live in close association with the bromeliad plants and breed in the pools formed inside them. Conservation status : Data Deficient The ranitomeya amazonica is a poison dart frog that looks so much like the reticulated poison frog. They

Common name : Gold tegu, Common tegu, Black tegu, Columbian tegu, Tiger lizard Scientific name : Tupinambis teguixin Family : Teiidae Native to : South America and Panama Interesting fact : They are quite aggressive and quick to pounce so quickly that some pets may mistake their fingers for food. Conservation status : Least Concern

Common name : Pignose frog, Indian purple frog Scientific name : Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Family : Sooglossidae Native to : India Interesting fact : The purple frog is a living fossil as it is believed to survive the extinction of dinosaurs. Conservation status : Endangered A strange looking frog, the purple frog looks bloated and has

Common name : Western rattlesnake, Plains rattlesnake Scientific name : Crotalus viridis Family : Viperidae Native to : United States, Canada and Mexico Interesting fact : A rattle is added to its tail every time the snake sheds its skin which is one to two times a year. Conservation status : Least Concern Prairie rattlesnakes

Common name : Jesus Christ lizard Scientific name : Basiliscus plumifrons Family : Corytophanidae Native to : Central America Interesting fact : The basilisk is also a good swimmer and can stay under water for up to 30 minutes. Conservation status : Least Concern The plumed basilisk can walk on water by sprinting short distances.

Common name : Pygmy short-horned lizard, Horned toad, Horny toad Scientific name : Phrynosoma douglasii Family : Phrynosomatidae Native to : North-Western United States Interesting fact : The pigmy horned lizard will lie still to stay undetected but will puff up its body and gape when threatened. Conservation status : Least concern The pigmy horned

Scientific name : Plethodon petraeus Family : Plethodontidae Native to : United States Conservation status : Vulnerable Named after their location, pigeon mountain salamanders are shiny black with brassy spots and speckled brown stripes down their backs. They hide inside rock crevices with their flat bodies. They are lungless salamanders that respire through their skins.

Common name : Lagoon frog, Southern bullfrog Scientific name : Rana grylio/Lithobates grylio Family : Ranidae Native to : Southern United States Conservation status : Least Concern Pig frogs that grunt like pigs to attract their partners are green frogs with brown or black blotches. They have pointed noses, prominent eardrums and webbed feet. You

Scientific name : Hydrophis bituberculatus Family : Elapidae Native to : Indian Ocean Conservation status : Data Deficient Living in the marine waters of Thailand and Sri Lanka are the venomous Peter’s sea snakes that are 1 metre long. It is a bluish-grey snake covered in scales and has a tail with dark bands. A

Common name : Iberian water frog, Iberian green frog, Coruna frog Scientific name : Pelophylax perezi Family : Ranidae Native to : Southern France, Portugal and Spain Interesting fact : Traditionally, the Perez’s frog was hunted for food Conservation status : Least Concern Perez’s frog is green to brown with scattered dark brown warts. Its