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
Common name : Smiling turtle Scientific name : Chelus fimbriata Family : Chelidae Native to : South America Interesting fact : They catch fish by opening their mouths wide and creating a suction. Conservation status : Least Concern The mata mata turtle has a very unique appearance suited to blend in with the leaf litter
Common name : Galápagos marine iguana Scientific name : Amblyrhynchus cristatus Family : Iguanidae Native to : Galápagos Islands Interesting fact : Marine iguana sneezes out excess salt from its body through glands near its nose. This encrusted salt forms a white patch on its head. Conservation status : Vulnerable The marine iguana is the
Scientific name : Excidobates mysteriosus Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Peru Interesting fact : Habitat loss and an increased interest in them as pets have caused these species to become endangered. Conservation status : Endangered If you look closely inside bromeliad plants, you might encounter red baby frogs with white polka dots. The Excidobates
Common name : Baron’s mantella, Variegated golden frog, Madagascar poison frog Scientific name : Mantella Baroni Family : Mantellidae Native to : Madagascar Conservation status : Least Concern Mantella Baroni is a beautifully coloured frog where the colours serve to stop their predators from eating them as their skins contain toxins. It is black with