Taxonomic Class

Reptiles Encyclopedia

Air-breathing vertebrates with special skin made up of scales or bony plates. Showing 81 species cataloged in this class.

Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates

ReptiliaLC

African Fat-Tailed Gecko

Hemitheconyx caudicinctus

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in responsible captive care; wild longevity is poorly measured

ReptiliaVU

Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Aldabrachelys gigantea

Diet: Primarily herbivorous grazer and browser
Wild lifespan: Commonly more than 100 years and potentially around 150 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Alligator

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ReptiliaLC

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Diet: Carnivore and opportunistic predator
Wild lifespan: Often 30–50 years in the wild

ReptiliaLC

Arizona Black Rattlesnake

Crotalus cerberus

Diet: Venomous ambush predator
Wild lifespan: Potentially two decades or more in the wild; exact maximum is uncertain

ReptiliaLC

Arizona Coral Snake

Micruroides euryxanthus

Diet: Specialized predator of small reptiles and snakes
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented; likely several years or more

ReptiliaNT

Armadillo Girdled Lizard

Ouroborus cataphractus

Diet: Specialized insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly quantified; cordylids can be long-lived for their size

ReptiliaCR

Aruba Island Rattlesnake

Crotalus unicolor

Diet: Ambush predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is uncertain; managed rattlesnakes may live well over a decade

ReptiliaLC

Asian Vine Snake

Ahaetulla prasina

Diet: Visual hunter of small arboreal vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented; managed individuals may live roughly 8–12 years

ReptiliaLC

Baird's Rat Snake

Pantherophis bairdi

Diet: Constricting predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is uncertain; managed rat snakes may live 15–20 years or more

ReptiliaLC

Bearded Dragon

Pogona vitticeps

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 5–8 years in the wild and 10–15 years with excellent captive care

ReptiliaNE

Beauty Rat Snake

Elaphe taeniura

Diet: Active nonvenomous predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 12–18 years in managed care; wild lifespan is poorly documented

ReptiliaLC

Bismarck Ringed Python

Bothrochilus boa

Diet: Ground-level ambush predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Managed individuals may live 15–20 years; wild longevity is uncertain

ReptiliaLC

Black Caiman

Melanosuchus niger

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Several decades; precise maximum in the wild is uncertain

ReptiliaLC

Black Mamba

Dendroaspis polylepis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 10–15 years in the wild

ReptiliaLC

Black Rat Snake

Pantherophis obsoletus

Diet: Carnivorous constrictor of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; managed individuals may exceed 20 years

ReptiliaLC

Black-Headed Python

Aspidites melanocephalus

Diet: Reptile-specialist constrictor
Wild lifespan: Often 20 years or more; managed animals may reach 20–30 years

ReptiliaNE

Black-Throated Monitor

Varanus albigularis microstictus

Diet: Opportunistic predator and scavenger
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years in managed care; wild longevity is uncertain

ReptiliaLC

Blood Python

Python brongersmai

Diet: Ambush predator of warm-blooded vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years in managed care; wild longevity is less certain

ReptiliaLC

Blue Belly Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Diet: Active hunter of terrestrial invertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often about 4–7 years in the wild, with many young lost earlier

ReptiliaLC

Bredl’s Python

Morelia bredli

Diet: Ambush constrictor of birds and mammals
Wild lifespan: Often 15–25 years in managed care; wild longevity is poorly quantified

ReptiliaLC

Brown Tree Snake

Boiga irregularis

Diet: Opportunistic predator of vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Likely 10–15 years; precise wild longevity is uncertain

ReptiliaLC

Bullsnake

Pituophis catenifer sayi

Diet: Carnivorous constrictor specializing in small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 12–15 years; individuals in managed care may live longer

ReptiliaAnimal group

Caiman

Caimaninae

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ReptiliaLC

California Kingsnake

Lampropeltis californiae

Diet: Generalist constrictor and snake predator
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; managed individuals may exceed 20 years

ReptiliaLC

Children's Python

Antaresia childreni

Diet: Small-vertebrate constrictor
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is uncertain; managed individuals can live 15–20 years or longer

ReptiliaCR

Chinese Alligator

Alligator sinensis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Not reliably established here

ReptiliaLC

Common European Adder

Vipera berus

Diet: Venomous predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years; some individuals live longer

ReptiliaAnimal group

Crocodile

Crocodylidae

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ReptiliaLC

Diamondback Water Snake

Nerodia rhombifer

Diet: Aquatic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus undulatus

Diet: Primarily insectivorous
Wild lifespan: Average around 4 years; some individuals may live more than 5 years

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus ventralis

Diet: Carnivore of invertebrates and small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly known; 4–15 years recorded in managed care

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Hognose Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Diet: Specialist predator of toads and other small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at 8–12 years in the wild; longer lives occur in managed care

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Indigo Snake

Drymarchon couperi

Diet: Generalist vertebrate predator with a strong preference for other snakes
Wild lifespan: About 8–12 years in the wild; up to 25 years in managed care

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Tiger Snake

Telescopus semiannulatus

Diet: Small-vertebrate predator specializing in lizards
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is poorly known; related cat snakes can live more than a decade in managed care

ReptiliaLC

Egyptian Cobra

Naja haje

Diet: Opportunistic predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years in managed care; wild lifespan is poorly documented