221 Amphibians and Reptiles Encyclopedia

Scientific name : Iguana sp. Family : Iguanidae Native to : Mexico, Central America, Brazil and the Caribbean Island Interesting fact : In addition to excellent vision, a third eye on top of the head can sense predators above. Conservation status : Vulnerable Iguanas are large lizards, about 5 to 6 feet long, with typical […]

Scientific name : Dicamptodon aterrimus Family : Dicamptodontidae Native to : Idaho Interesting fact : It is the largest salamander in Idaho. Conservation status : Least Concern The idaho giant salamander has intricate dark patterns on a silvery tan to copper background. They can be found hiding under logs and barks of trees in coniferous

Scientific name : Podarcis hispanicus Family : Lacertidae Native to : Iberian peninsula, North-Western Africa and South France Conservation status : Least Concern Iberian wall lizards love to climb rocks, walls and cliffs. Smallest of the wall lizards, they are slender with very long tails. The back is brown or grey with three longitudinal stripes

Common name : Galapagos land Iguana Scientific name : Conolophus subcristatus Native to : Galapagos Islands Interesting fact : A high ocean temperature resulting in loss of seaweed beds forced the marine iguanas to search for food on land and ultimately they breed with the land iguanas. Conservation status : Least Concern The hybrid iguana

Common name : Bearded dragons Scientific name : Pogona sp. Family : Agamidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : It has beard under the neck that turns black and enlarges when stressed or in the presence of another male. Conservation status : Least Concern The hypo translucent leatherback is a genetic variant that is

Common name : Slender boa Scientific name : Epicrates cenchria Family : Boidae Native to : Central and South America Interesting fact : The scales of the snake show beautiful rainbow colours while reflecting light. Conservation status : Not Assessed The Het Hypo variant of the Brazilian rainbow boa snakes lacks genes for black pigments

Common name : Flatbread snake Scientific name : Oxybelis fulgidus Family : Colubridae Native to : Central America and Northern South America Interesting fact : It follows the prey to a distance, bites its head and lifts it off the ground to render it helpless. Conservation status : Not Assessed This brilliant green snake is

Common name : Common Iguana Scientific name : Iguana iguana Family : Iguanidae Native to : Central and South America and the Caribbean Island Interesting fact : Good at climbing, they can fall from 50 feet height without hurting themselves. Conservation status : Listed on Appendix II of CITES as they are popular as pets

Common name : Carolina anole, American anole, Red-throated anole Scientific name : Anolis carolinensis Family : Dactyloidae Native to : South-Eastern United States and a few Caribbean Islands Interesting fact : It is sometimes referred to as the American chameleon as it can change colour from various shades of brown to bright green. Conservation status

Common name : Thorny tree frog Scientific name : Gracixalus lumarius Family : Rhacophoridae Native to : Vietnam Interesting fact : The spikes on the back of a male become larger during the mating season. Conservation status : Not Assessed The thorny tree frog is a newly discovered species. It is yellow with a pink

Scientific name : Gopherus polyphemus Family : Testudinidae Native to : South-Eastern United States Interesting fact : It is the official reptile of Georgia and official tortoise of Florida. Conservation status : Vulnerable Many other animals depend on these tortoises that dig burrows and hence are called ‘keystone’ species. Their forefeet are scaled to adapt

Common name : Pacific gopher snake, Coast gopher snake, Western gopher snake Scientific name : Pituophis catenifer catenifer Family : Colubridae Native to : North America Interesting fact : When threatened, it puffs up its body and curls like a pit viper attempting to strike, but it strikes with a closed mouth. Conservation status :

Scientific name : Phyllobates vittatus Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Costa Rica Conservation status : Endangered With a shimmery black body and mottled blue legs, this poison frog is a visual treat but the colours serve as a warning to its predators of its  toxin. Their diet containing melyrid beetles is atributed to its

Common name : Monte Verde toad Scientific name : Incilius periglenes Family : Bufonidae Native to : Monte Verde, Coasta Rica Conservation status : Extinct Males were shiny and golden orange while females were olive with yellow rimmed red blotches. Females laid about 200 to 400 eggs at a time in temporary pools formed after

Scientific name : Mantella aurantiaca Family : Mantellidae Native to : Central Eastern Madagascar Interesting fact : They are the smallest of the mantella species and will attempt to eat anything even if it is repulsive. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Aptly named, the golden mantella is a vivid yellow, orange or red with black