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

Common name : Monitor lizard Scientific name : Varanus sp. Family : Varanidae Native to : Australia and some parts of South-East Asia Interesting fact : Like snakes, goannas can flick their tongues in the air to sense their prey. Conservation status : Least Concern With about 30 species, goannas are found in a variety

Scientific name : Heloderma suspectum Family : Helodermatidae Native to : United states Interesting fact : The venom of the gila monster has been approved by the FDA to be used in a drug to treat type 2 diabetes. Conservation status : Near Threatened The gila monster is one of two species of venomous lizards.

Scientific name : Thamnophis gigas Family : Colubridae Native to : Western United States Conservation status : Vulnerable It is the largest of the garter snakes. It loves slow-moving water bodies and you can hardly find them out of water. Its olive brown body has two typical yellow stripes. They eat fish and frogs and

Scientific name : Thamnophis Family : Colubridae Native to : North America Interesting fact : The official reptile of Massachusetts, United States Conservation status : Least Concern The most common snake in North America is the garter snake with 28 different species. They are active in the day and prey upon insects, frogs, fish and

Common name : Mole salamander Scientific name : Ambystoma cingulatum Family : Ambystomatidae Native to : South-Eastern coastal plains of United States Conservation status : Vulnerable The frosted flatwoods salamander definitely looks frosted with silvery net-like patterns on a dark body. They are long, slender, and possess gills. They are specifically found only near cypress

Scientific name : Anaxyrus fowleri/Bufo fowleri Family : Bufonidae Native to : West Virginia, United States Interesting fact : When attacked by predators, they sometimes lie still on their backs and act dead. Conservation status : Least Concern The fowler’s toad is a rusty brown frog covered in spots and warts living in freshwaters. They

Scientific name : Plethodon fourchensis Family : Plethodontidae Native to : Ouachita mountains in central United States Conservation status : Vulnerable Active in the night, its body is also the colour of the night with grey spots. These land-dwellers love a mountainous environment. They hide under logs and rocks and feed on worms, insects and

Common name : Sand skink Scientific name : Neoseps reynoldsi Family : Scincidae Native to : Florida, United States Interesting fact : They do not have any ear openings. Conservation status : Vulnerable The sand skink is actually a lizard that looks more like a snake. Their reduced limbs that are well hidden, wedge-shaped heads

Scientific name : Sternotherus depressus Family : Kinosternidae Native to : Northern Alabama, United States Interesting fact : Most turtles are quite shy and will release a pungent yellow fluid called musk when stressed. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Feeding predominantly on clams and snails are these flattened musk turtles. Their webbed feet and tails

Common name : European fire salamander Scientific name : Salamandra salamandra Family : Salamandridae Native to : Europe. Also found in Northern Africa and the Middle East Interesting fact : It is the only species of salamanders that give birth to larvae instead of laying eggs. Conservation status : Least Concern Apt to their name,

Scientific name : Macroprotodon cucullatus Family : Colubridae Native to : Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Israel and Egypt Interesting fact : It is a look-alike of the southern smooth snake and hence named the false smooth snake to differentiate from it. Conservation status : Least Concern These small and slender snakes are only 55 cm long.