221 Amphibians and Reptiles Encyclopedia

Common name : Eyed lizard, jeweled lacerta Scientific name : Timon lepidus Family : Lacertidae Native to : Spain, Portugal, France and Italy Interesting fact : Ocellated lizards were used in traditional Spanish cuisine but these lizards are now under protection in Spain. Conservation status : Near Threatened They are the largest lizards in Europe […]

Common name : Meadow frogs Scientific name : Lithobates pipiens Family : Ranidae Native to : Canada, United States Interesting fact : It is the official state amphibian of Vermont and Minnesota. Conservation status : Least Concern Leopard-like spots cover the backs of the green Northern leopard frogs giving them their name. Two distinct ridges

Common name : African small-grain lizard, Water leguaan, River leguaan Scientific name : Varanus niloticus Family : Varanidae Native to : Africa Interesting fact : They can remain submerged in water for up to an hour. Conservation status : Least Concern Nile monitors are fond of crocodiles’ eggs and can be found near their nests.

Scientific name : Crocodylus niloticus Family : Crocodylidae Native to : Africa and Madagascar Interesting fact : The female guards the eggs till they hatch and take care of young ones for up to two years which is very unusual of reptiles that move on after laying eggs. Conservation status : Least Concern Nile crocodiles

Common name : Secret tree toad, Uluguru forest toad Scientific name : Nectophrynoides cryptus Family : Bufonidae Native to : Tanzania Interesting fact : Its scientific name is derived from the word ‘kryptos’ meaning hidden. Conservation status : Endangered The secret tree toad is exclusively found in the Uluguru mountains. The brownish toad is small

Scientific name : Chamaeleo namaquensis Family : Chamaeleonidae Native to : Namibia and Southern Angola Conservation status : Least Concern The Namaqua chameleon has a triangular head with a protuberance at the back called a casque. The spines on the back and a short tail are adapted for its life in harsh desert conditions where

Common name : Waterdogs Scientific name : Necturus Family : Proteidae Native to : Eastern United States and Canada Interesting fact : They get their name from the squeaky sounds they make similar to a dog’s bark. Conservation status : Least Concern Mudpuppies are actually aquatic salamanders that are 11 to 16 cm long. You

Common name : Leach’s giant gecko, New Caledonian giant gecko Scientific name : Rhacodactylus leachianus Family : Diplodactylidae Native to : New Caledonia Interesting fact : The gecko can detach its tail if threatened and can regenerate it. Conservation status : Least Concern It is the largest species of the gecko in the world at

Common name : Mozambique spitting cobra, Pimpi Scientific name : Naja mossambica Family : Elapidae Native to : Africa Interesting fact : The spitting cobra sometimes plays dead when in danger and then bites when picked up. Conservation status : Not Assessed True to its name, the Mozambique spitting cobra can spit venom up to

Common name : Mexican crocodile Scientific name : Crocodylus moreletii Family : Crocodylidae Native to : Mexico, Belize and Guatemala Interesting fact : Adult crocodiles dig burrows during the dry seasons. Conservation status : Least Concern The morelet’s crocodile has a broad snout and can grow up to 9.8 feet long. They are dark with

Common name : Common lizard snake, Yaleh snake, Western montpellier snake Scientific name : Malpolon monspessulanus Family : Colubridae Native to : Mediterranean basin Interesting fact : When threatened, it raises its body like a cobra, hisses loudly, forms a hood and attempts to bite. Conservation status : Least Concern The montpellier snake looks quite

Scientific name : Varanus sp. Family : Varanidae Native to : Africa, Asia and Australia Interesting fact : It was believed that monitor lizards were a sign of crocodiles around as they stood on hind legs and monitored predators. Conservation status : Threatened With a whopping 76 different species, monitor lizards vary in size from

Scientific name : Lampropeltis triangulum Family : Colubridae Native to : Canada, United States, Mexico and Central America Interesting fact : The snake got its name due to a myth that it drank milk directly from a cow’s udder. Conservation status : Not Assessed Milksnakes have alternating bands of red, black and yellow or white

Common name : Axolotl, Mexican walking fish Scientific name : Ambystoma mexicanum Family : Ambystomatidae Native to : Mexico Interesting fact : The Mexican salamander is unable to metamorphose into an adult due to a lack of thyroid stimulating hormone. Conservation status : Endangered The axolotl can live both on land and in water but

Common name : Stripeless tree frog Scientific name : Hyla meridionalis Family : Hylidae Native to : Europe Interesting fact : They are able to withstand a certain degree of salinity and hence can be found in coastal waters. Conservation status : Least Concern The brilliant green Mediterranean tree frog has sticky toe pads on