In this blog post, you will learn reptiles names in English with pictures, lists, and examples. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals that usually live on land but some also live in water. They are covered with scales or hard skin and most of them lay eggs. Reptiles are found all over the world and play an important role in nature and the environment.
What are Reptiles?
Reptiles are vertebrate animals that breathe air, have dry scaly skin, and most of them lay eggs on land. The word “reptile” comes from the Latin word repere which means to creep or crawl.
Examples:
- A lizard creeps on walls.
- A turtle walks slowly on land.
Main Features of Reptiles
- Cold-blooded: Their body temperature changes with the weather.
- Scaly skin: Covered with hard scales.
- Egg laying: Most reptiles lay eggs.
- Creeping movement: They crawl or creep on land.
Categories of Reptiles
Reptiles are mainly divided into four groups:
Lizards and Snakes (Order: Squamata)
These are the most common reptiles.
Examples → Lizard, Snake, Iguana, Gecko
Turtles and Tortoises (Order: Testudines)
They have hard shells on their body.
Examples → Turtle, Tortoise, Terrapin
Crocodiles and Alligators (Order: Crocodylia)
They are large reptiles found near rivers and lakes.
Examples → Crocodile, Alligator, Gharial
Tuatara (Order: Rhynchocephalia)
This is a rare reptile found only in New Zealand.
Example → Tuatara
Reptile Names with Examples
Here is a table of common reptiles with simple categories:
Category | Reptile Names |
---|---|
Lizards | Gecko, Iguana, Komodo Dragon, Chameleon, Monitor Lizard |
Snakes | Cobra, Python, Rattlesnake, Viper, Anaconda |
Turtles/Tortoises | Sea Turtle, Box Turtle, Galápagos Tortoise, Terrapin |
Crocodilians | Crocodile, Alligator, Caiman, Gharial |
Rare Reptiles | Tuatara |
A–Z List of Reptile Names in English
Here is an A–Z list of reptiles:
A → Alligator, Anaconda
B → Box Turtle, Basilisk Lizard
C → Chameleon, Cobra, Crocodile, Caiman
D → Desert Tortoise, Dragon Snake
E → Egyptian Cobra
F → Frilled Lizard
G → Gecko, Gharial, Green Iguana, Galápagos Tortoise
H → Horned Lizard
I → Iguana
J → Jackson’s Chameleon
K → Komodo Dragon, King Cobra
L → Lizard, Leatherback Turtle
M → Monitor Lizard, Marine Iguana
N → Nile Crocodile
O → Olive Ridley Turtle
P → Python
Q → Queensland Lungfish (often linked with reptiles in older texts)
R → Rattlesnake, Rock Iguana
S → Snake, Sea Turtle, Softshell Turtle
T → Tortoise, Tuatara, Terrapin
U → Uromastyx (Spiny-tailed Lizard)
V → Viper
W → Water Snake
X → Xenodon Snake
Y → Yellow Anaconda
Z → Zebra-tailed Lizard
FAQs
What are reptiles in simple words?
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with scaly skin that mostly lay eggs and creep on land.
How many types of reptiles are there?
There are four main types: Lizards & Snakes, Turtles & Tortoises, Crocodiles & Alligators, and Tuatara.
Is a frog a reptile?
No, a frog is an amphibian, not a reptile.
Which is the largest reptile in the world?
The Saltwater Crocodile is the largest reptile.
What is the rarest reptile?
The Tuatara of New Zealand is one of the rarest reptiles.
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