Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with backbones and scaly skin. They breathe through lungs and usually lay eggs. The types of reptiles in English with pictures help us learn how different they are in shape, size, and movement. Some crawl on land, some swim in water, and some climb trees. In this post, you’ll learn 100+ types of reptiles in English with their pictures and names. This can help in nature classes, animal books, or while talking about wildlife.
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Different Types of Reptiles Animals in English
Reptiles are grouped by their body types, where they live, and how they move. They all have dry skin and breathe air. Below is a list of reptile types with pictures and names that help you understand them better.
Lizards and Their Names in English
Lizards have long tails, small claws, and dry, scaly skin. Some live in trees, others on rocks or sand. Let’s look at common ones and those with special looks.
Common Lizards Found Around the World
• Green Iguana
• Bearded Dragon
• Fence Lizard
• Wall Lizard
• Blue-Tongued Skink
• Leopard Gecko
• Anole
• House Gecko
• Monitor Lizard
• Sand Lizard
• Racerunner
• Skink
• Day Gecko
• Chameleon
• Agama
• Tegu
• Gila Monster
• Water Dragon
• Basilisk
• Spiny Lizard
Unique Lizards with Special Body Features
• Thorny Devil
• Frilled Lizard
• Flying Dragon
• Glass Lizard
• Legless Lizard
• Armadillo Lizard
• Mexican Mole Lizard
• Horned Lizard
• Girdled Lizard
Snake Types and Their English Names
Snakes do not have legs. They slide across the ground and use their tongue to smell things. Some are harmless, and others are dangerous.
Non-Venomous Snakes in English
• Ball Python
• Corn Snake
• Garter Snake
• King Snake
• Milk Snake
• Rat Snake
• Rosy Boa
• Green Tree Python
• Sand Boa
• Indigo Snake
• African House Snake
Venomous Snakes Commonly Known
• Cobra
• Rattlesnake
• Viper
• Mamba
• Coral Snake
• Krait
• Bush Viper
• Sea Snake
• Fer-de-lance
• Boomslang
Turtle and Tortoise Types in English
Turtles have hard shells and live mostly in water. Tortoises also have shells but stay on land. Their names tell us what kind they are and where they live.
Freshwater Turtles and Land Tortoises
• Box Turtle
• Red-Eared Slider
• Painted Turtle
• Snapping Turtle
• Map Turtle
• Wood Turtle
• Desert Tortoise
• Russian Tortoise
• Sulcata Tortoise
• Hermann’s Tortoise
• Leopard Tortoise
• Yellow-Footed Tortoise
• Pancake Tortoise
Sea Turtles Known by Name
• Green Sea Turtle
• Loggerhead
• Leatherback
• Hawksbill Turtle
• Olive Ridley Turtle
• Flatback Turtle
• Kemp’s Ridley Turtle
Crocodile and Alligator Types
These big reptiles have long bodies, strong jaws, and sharp teeth. They spend most of their time near water.
Common Crocodile Species in English
• Nile Crocodile
• Saltwater Crocodile
• Mugger Crocodile
• Dwarf Crocodile
• Orinoco Crocodile
• Cuban Crocodile
• Philippine Crocodile
• Slender-Snouted Crocodile
• Siamese Crocodile
Types of Alligators and Caimans
• American Alligator
• Chinese Alligator
• Black Caiman
• Spectacled Caiman
• Broad-Snouted Caiman
• Yacare Caiman
• Smooth-Fronted Caiman
Rare Reptiles with Unique Features
Some reptiles look very different or come from ancient times. They are not as common as others.
Ancient and Primitive Reptiles Still Alive
• Tuatara
• Gharial
• New Guinea Crocodile
• Australian Freshwater Crocodile
Reptiles Without Legs or Eyelids
• Glass Lizard
• Legless Lizard
• Mexican Mole Lizard
Desert Reptiles and Their Names
These reptiles live in hot, dry places. Their bodies are made to survive without much water.
• Horned Lizard
• Gila Monster
• Desert Iguana
• Sand Boa
• Sidewinder
• Leopard Gecko
• Spiny Lizard
• Tegu
• Chuckwalla
• Thorny Devil
Forest-Dwelling Reptile Types
These reptiles live in trees or under leaves in forests. They climb well and hide easily.
• Chameleon
• Anole
• Basilisk
• Tree Boa
• Day Gecko
• Green Iguana
• Flying Dragon
• Frilled Lizard
• Monitor Lizard
• Green Tree Python
Aquatic Reptiles Common in English
These reptiles stay near or in water. They swim using strong legs or bodies.
• Sea Snake
• Green Sea Turtle
• Saltwater Crocodile
• American Alligator
• Leatherback Turtle
• Map Turtle
• Flatback Turtle
• Red-Eared Slider
• Snapping Turtle
Underground Reptiles and Their Names
Some reptiles like to live under the soil or sand. They dig or slide through tunnels.
• Glass Lizard
• Legless Lizard
• Sand Boa
• Mexican Mole Lizard
• Hognose Snake
• Desert Tortoise
Reptiles Commonly Kept as Pets
These reptiles are often kept in tanks at home. They eat fruits, bugs, or small animals.
• Bearded Dragon
• Leopard Gecko
• Corn Snake
• Ball Python
• Russian Tortoise
• Red-Eared Slider
• King Snake
• Crested Gecko
• Blue-Tongued Skink
• African Fat-Tailed Gecko
English Names of Reptiles Found in Homes
These reptiles may live near houses or in gardens, especially in warm weather.
• House Gecko
• Fence Lizard
• Wall Lizard
• Garter Snake
• Anole
• Racerunner
• Skink
Reptile Types Explained by Body Shape
Each reptile’s body shape helps it move and stay safe. Some shapes are easy to spot.
• Limbless Reptiles: Snakes, Legless Lizard, Glass Lizard
• Shell Reptiles: Turtles, Tortoises
• Flat-Bodied Reptiles: Skink, Chuckwalla
• Frilled or Crested: Frilled Lizard, Crested Gecko
• Long-Snouted: Gharial, Crocodile
List of Reptiles Sorted by Habitat Type
Different reptiles live in different places. Their bodies match the land, water, or trees they stay in.
• Land: Tortoises, Horned Lizard, Gila Monster
• Water: Sea Turtle, Crocodile, Alligator
• Trees: Chameleon, Gecko, Tree Boa
• Desert: Sidewinder, Sand Boa, Desert Iguana
• Forest: Anole, Flying Dragon
Reptile Families and Their Member Names
Scientists group reptiles into families. Each family has animals that share looks or actions.
• Family Testudinidae: Tortoises
• Family Crocodylidae: Crocodiles
• Family Boidae: Boas
• Family Viperidae: Vipers
• Family Iguanidae: Iguanas
• Family Gekkonidae: Geckos
• Family Elapidae: Cobras, Mambas
Types of Reptiles with Defensive Adaptations
Some reptiles stay safe using body tricks or weapons. Let’s look at how they defend themselves.
• Horned Lizard: Squirts blood from eyes to scare away danger
• Frilled Lizard: Lifts a big frill around its head to look bigger
• Gila Monster: Uses venom when biting
• Sidewinder: Moves in a strange way to confuse others
• Thorny Devil: Its spikes keep it safe
• Alligator: Uses its bite and tail to protect itself
• Sea Snake: Can bite underwater if it feels trapped
Cold-Blooded Vertebrates Categorized as Reptiles
All reptiles are cold-blooded. This means their body heat comes from outside. Below are main types.
• Lizards
• Snakes
• Turtles
• Tortoises
• Crocodiles
• Alligators
• Caimans
• Tuataras
FAQs about
Reptiles are commonly grouped into four main types: lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises, and crocodiles or alligators. Each group has unique body shapes and behaviors.
Lizards and snakes use their forked tongues to collect scent particles. These are sent to a special organ in the mouth called Jacobson’s organ to understand smells.
Some of the most popular pet reptiles are the leopard gecko, bearded dragon, corn snake, ball python, and Russian tortoise. They are small, easy to handle, and calm in nature.
Crocodiles are not dinosaurs, but they come from a group of reptiles that lived at the same time. They are considered one of the closest living relatives of ancient reptiles.
Turtles live mostly in water and have flat, smooth shells for swimming. Tortoises live on land and have round, heavy shells for protection on dry ground.
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