In this post, you will learn 100 common reptiles names in English with pictures. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with scaly skin, and they live on land and in water. This post is great for beginners who want to understand reptile types like lizards, snakes, turtles, and more. We have shared a huge list of reptiles with their names and pictures in English for better understanding. So learn about these reptiles to build your English vocabulary about animals.
What Are Reptiles?
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with scaly skin. Most of them lay eggs and breathe through their lungs. They live on land or in water. Common reptiles include snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and tortoises.
100 Names of Reptiles List in English
| Green Iguana | King Cobra | Red-Eared Slider | Nile Crocodile |
| Komodo Dragon | Ball Python | Box Turtle | American Alligator |
| Gila Monster | Coral Snake | Sea Turtle | Spectacled Caiman |
| Bearded Dragon | Rattlesnake | Softshell Turtle | Indian Gharial |
| Monitor Lizard | Milk Snake | Snapping Turtle | Chinese Alligator |
| Chameleon | Anaconda | Painted Turtle | Black Caiman |
| Skink | Boa Constrictor | Galápagos Tortoise | False Gharial |
| Leopard Gecko | Viper | Desert Tortoise | Dwarf Caiman |
| Tokay Gecko | Hognose Snake | African Spurred Tortoise | Saltwater Crocodile |
| Blue-Tongue Skink | Corn Snake | Radiated Tortoise | Morelet’s Crocodile |
| Frilled Lizard | Bush Viper | Red-Footed Tortoise | Mugger Crocodile |
| Basilisk Lizard | Tiger Snake | Indian Star Tortoise | Philippine Crocodile |
| Armadillo Lizard | Green Tree Python | Yellow-Bellied Slider | Cuban Crocodile |
| Flying Dragon | Sidewinder Snake | Loggerhead Turtle | Orinoco Crocodile |
| Thorny Devil | Sand Boa | Kemp’s Ridley Turtle | Siamese Crocodile |
| Horned Lizard | Indigo Snake | Mata Mata Turtle | Gharial |
| Spiny Lizard | Boomslang | Snake-Necked Turtle | Alligator Snapping Turtle |
| Glass Lizard | Keelback Snake | Wood Turtle | African Dwarf Crocodile |
| Anole | Night Snake | Big-Headed Turtle | Australian Freshwater Crocodile |
| Brown Basilisk | Vine Snake | Olive Ridley Turtle | Narrow-snouted Caiman |
| Water Monitor | Rough Green Snake | Eastern Box Turtle | Broad-snouted Caiman |
| Desert Monitor | Green Anaconda | Spotted Turtle | Yacare Caiman |
| Bengal Monitor | Ringneck Snake | Yellow-Margined Box Turtle | Johnston’s Crocodile |
| Savannah Monitor | King Rat Snake | Pig-Nosed Turtle | Paleosuchus |
| Nile Monitor | Tree Boa | Reeve’s Turtle | Slender-snouted Crocodile |
20 Reptiles Names in English with Pictures
Komodo Dragon
This giant lizard lives in Indonesia and is known for its power and hunting skills.
King Cobra
Famous for its hood, it’s one of the largest venomous snakes in the world.
Green Iguana
A peaceful, plant-eating reptile is often kept as a pet in warm areas.
Leopard Gecko
Recognized by its spotted skin, it’s a small and friendly house lizard.
Red-Eared Slider
You can spot this turtle by the red marks near its ears; it lives in water.
Ball Python
When scared, it curls into a ball. This snake is calm and safe to handle.
Gila Monster
Found in deserts, this fat, slow-moving lizard has venom in its bite.
Nile Crocodile
Native to Africa, it’s one of the strongest reptiles with sharp teeth.
American Alligator
Common in the USA, it has a wide snout and lives in rivers and swamps.
Tokay Gecko
Loud and colorful, this gecko can climb walls and ceilings easily.
Box Turtle
Its shell closes like a box, helping it hide safely from danger.
Indian Star Tortoise
Named for the star-like patterns on its shell, it’s found in dry regions.
Panther Chameleon
This lizard is known for its bright colors and ability to change shades.
Black Caiman
Found in South America, it’s a large, dark-colored crocodilian.
Desert Tortoise
Living in dry lands, it survives by storing water in its body.
Corn Snake
A harmless and colorful snake, often kept as a pet by beginners.
Veiled Chameleon
Its tall head looks like a helmet, and it loves climbing in trees.
Saltwater Crocodile
The largest living reptile can swim in both rivers and seas.
Five-Lined Skink
A shiny lizard with five stripes and often a bright blue tail.
False Gharial
Has a long, thin snout and lives in Southeast Asian rivers, like real gharials.
Types of Reptiles with Their Names and Pictures
Here, you will learn about the main types of lizards, such as geckos, iguanas, and chameleons, with simple introductions to help you understand them easily.
Lizards
Lizards are reptiles with scaly skin and long bodies. They can move quickly on land. Lizards come in many sizes and shapes. Some can change color, like the chameleon. Others, like the bearded dragon and Komodo dragon, are well known. Lizards live in many parts of the world.
Snakes
With long, flexible bodies and no legs, snakes are reptiles that move by sliding on the ground. They use their tongues to sense the world around them. Some, like the king cobra and anaconda, grow very large. Others, such as the corn snake and ball python, are smaller and not dangerous.
Turtles
Turtles have hard shells that protect their soft bodies. They live in water and sometimes on land. Some common turtles are the red-eared slider, box turtle, and sea turtle. Turtles use their flippers or legs to swim and walk slowly.
Tortoises
Tortoises are land-living reptiles with dome-shaped shells. They walk slowly and can live for many years. Some examples are the Galápagos tortoise, desert tortoise, and Indian star tortoise. Tortoises eat plants and stay mostly on dry land.
Crocodiles
Known for their strength, crocodiles are large reptiles with strong jaws, long tails, and powerful bodies. They live in rivers and lakes. Common types include the Nile crocodile, saltwater crocodile, and mugger crocodile. These animals are fast swimmers and very strong in water.
Alligators
Alligators look like crocodiles but have a wide snout. They live mostly in the USA and China. Two common kinds are the American alligator and Chinese alligator. They are good swimmers and live in freshwater.
Caimans
Smaller than alligators, caimans are reptiles found in Central and South America. They have a strong bite and swim quickly in water. Common types include the spectacled caiman, black caiman, and dwarf caiman. They feed on fish, birds, and small animals.
Gharials
With long, thin snouts, gharials are reptiles that live in rivers in India. They are known for eating mostly fish and are great swimmers. Types include the Indian gharial and false gharial. Gharials are not dangerous to humans.
Tuatara
Tuataras are rare reptiles found only in New Zealand. They look like lizards but are from a different group. These animals grow slowly and can live a very long time. Tuataras come out at night and eat insects, worms, and small animals.
Geckos
Geckos are small reptiles with sticky feet that help them climb walls and ceilings. They are often found in homes. Common types include the leopard gecko, tokay gecko, and house gecko. Most geckos are harmless and eat insects.
Iguanas
Iguanas are large, plant-eating lizards with long tails and strong legs. They are calm and often kept as pets. Some types are the green iguana, Lesser Antillean iguana, and Fiji banded iguana. Iguanas like warm places and eat leaves and fruits.
Skinks
Skinks are smooth-bodied lizards with shiny scales and short legs. They are often found under rocks and logs. Common types include the blue-tongue skink, five-lined skink, and sandfish skink. Skinks eat insects and move quickly.
Chameleons
Chameleons are special lizards that can change their skin color. They have long tongues and can move their eyes in different directions. Common types include the veiled chameleon, panther chameleon, and Jackson’s chameleon.
Monitor Lizards
Monitor lizards are large and powerful reptiles. Some can grow up to 10 feet long. Common types include the Komodo dragon, Nile monitor, and Savannah monitor. They eat meat and live in forests, deserts, and near rivers.
Gila Monsters
Gila monsters are heavy lizards that live in deserts. They are one of the few venomous lizards in the world. Common types include the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard. They move slowly and store fat in their tails.
Facts About Reptiles
- Some reptiles can live a very long time – Tortoises can live over 100 years!
- Chameleons can move their eyes in two directions – They can look forward and backward at the same time.
- Geckos can climb walls – Their sticky feet help them walk on walls and even ceilings.
- Snakes smell with their tongue – They use their tongue to “taste” the air and find food.
FAQs About Reptiles
What are the 5 main types of reptiles?
Lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, and crocodiles are the main types of reptiles.
What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?
Turtles live in water and have flat shells, while tortoises live on land and have rounder, heavier shells.
Are all snakes poisonous?
No, most snakes are non-poisonous. Only some like the cobra or viper are venomous.
What reptile lives the longest?
The Galápagos Tortoise can live over 100 years, making it one of the longest-living reptiles.
Are reptiles dangerous to humans?
Most reptiles are harmless to humans. Only a few, like large snakes or crocodiles, can be dangerous if provoked.
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