Reptiles, DIM-ORI
Turtles, tuatara, lizards and snakes, and crocodiles make up the major groups of living reptiles today, and they collectively account for over 8,700 species. Plesiosaurs, pliosaurs, ichthyosaurs, and dinosaurs are part of the diverse group of now-extinct reptiles that were once found on Earth but that we are now unlikely to encounter.
Reptiles Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Dimetrodon
Dimetrodon, (genus Dimetrodon), extinct relative of primitive mammals that is characterized by a large, upright,......
Dimorphodon
Dimorphodon, (genus Dimorphodon), primitive flying reptiles found as fossils in European deposits from the Early......
dinosaur
dinosaur, (clade Dinosauria), the common name given to a group of reptiles, often very large, that first appeared......
- Introduction
- Evolution, Classification, Extinction
- Archosaurs, Reptiles, Triassic
- Extinction Causes, Evidence, & Theory
- Asteroid Theory, Extinction, Fossils
- Extinction, Fossils, Evolution
- Herding, Socialization, Adaptation
- Endothermic, Thermoregulation, Homeothermy
- Reptiles, Extinction, Fossils
- Sauropods, Herbivores, Quadrupeds
- Theropods, Extinction, Fossils
- Tetanurae, Reptiles, Extinction
- Ornithischia, Herbivore, Reptile
- Pachycephalosaurs, Head-Butting, Herbivores
- Armored, Herbivorous, Ornithischians
- Armored, Herbivorous, Extinct
dinosauromorph
dinosauromorph, any of a group of archosaurian reptiles that includes dinosaurs and all other reptiles bearing......
Diplodocus
Diplodocus, (genus Diplodocus), gigantic dinosaurs found in North America as fossils from the Late Jurassic Period......
Do snakes sleep?
Snakes do sleep, but their sleep patterns are significantly different from those of mammals and birds. Snakes,......
Draco
Draco, genus of the lizard family Agamidae. Members of the genus are commonly referred to as flying lizards, because......
Dreadnoughtus
Dreadnoughtus, a genus of large sauropod dinosaurs, one of the largest land animals that ever lived. It had a total......
dromaeosaur
dromaeosaur, (family Dromaeosauridae), any of a group of small to medium-sized carnivorous dinosaurs that flourished......
dwarf crocodile
dwarf crocodile, (Osteolaemus tetraspis), the world’s smallest living crocodile species, growing to a maximum length......
eastern diamondback rattlesnake
eastern diamondback rattlesnake, (Crotalus adamanteus), large venomous pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae, family......
Edaphosaurus
Edaphosaurus, (genus Edaphosaurus), primitive herbivorous relative of mammals that is found in fossil deposits......
egg-eating snake
egg-eating snake, any of the five species of the genus Dasypeltis of sub-Saharan Africa and Elachistodon westermanni......
Egyptian cobra
Egyptian cobra, (Naja haje), large, extremely venomous snake of the cobra family (Elapidae), widespread in semiarid......
elapid
elapid, any of about 300 venomous species of the snake family Elapidae, characterized by short fangs fixed in the......
Emydidae
Emydidae, family of hard-shelled turtles native to both the Old and New Worlds, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.......
estuarine crocodile
estuarine crocodile, (Crocodylus porosus), crocodile species inhabiting brackish waters of wetlands and marine......
Euoplocephalus
Euoplocephalus, (genus Euoplocephalus), armoured North American dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period (99.6 million......
Euparkeria
Euparkeria, extinct genus of reptile very closely related to the ancestral archosaurs (a group containing present-day......
Europasaurus
Europasaurus, genus representing one of the smallest known sauropod dinosaurs, characterized by a distinctive arched......
false gharial
false gharial, (Tomistoma schlegelii), large species of freshwater crocodile that inhabits swamps, rivers, and......
feathered dinosaur
feathered dinosaur, any of a group of theropod (carnivorous) dinosaurs, including birds, that evolved feathers......
fer-de-lance
fer-de-lance, any of several extremely venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) found in diverse habitats......
file snake
file snake, (genus Gonionotophis), any of about 15 species of nonvenomous African snakes classified within the......
flap-footed lizard
flap-footed lizard, (family Pygopodidae), any of approximately 40 species of lizards that make up the seven genera......
Florida worm lizard
Florida worm lizard, (Rhineura floridana), pale or pinkish wormlike lizard characterized by the absence of limbs,......
flying snake
flying snake, (genus Chrysopelea), any of five species of nonvenomous snakes constituting the genus Chrysopelea......
forest cobra
forest cobra, (Naja melanoleuca), large, agile, venomous snake of the cobra family (Elapidae), native to humid......
freshwater crocodile
freshwater crocodile, (Crocodylus johnsoni), moderately large species of crocodile inhabiting inland swamps, rivers,......
frilled lizard
frilled lizard, (Chlamydosaurus kingii), type of reptile found in Australia and New Guinea that can run standing......
Gaboon viper
Gaboon viper, (Bitis gabonica), extremely venomous but usually docile ground-dwelling snake found in tropical forests......
garter snake
garter snake, (genus Thamnophis), any of about 35 species of nonvenomous North American snakes having a striped......
gavial
gavial, (Gavialis gangeticus), large species of crocodile known for its exceptionally long and narrow snout. The......
gecko
gecko, (suborder Gekkota), any of more than 1,000 species of lizards making up six families of the suborder Gekkota.......
Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus, (Giganotosaurus carolinii), genus of a large theropod dinosaur in the family Carcharodontosauridae......
Gila monster
Gila monster, (Heloderma suspectum), one of two species of North American venomous lizards in the genus Heloderma......
girdle-tailed lizard
girdle-tailed lizard, any of various south and east African and Madagascan lizards belonging to the family Cordylidae.......
glass lizard
glass lizard, any lizard of the genus Ophisaurus in the family Anguidae, so named because the tail is easily broken......
green anaconda
green anaconda, common name for what are generally considered to be two species of nonvenomous semiaquatic boa......
green snake
green snake, any of several species belonging to the family Colubridae, named for their colour. The North American......
Has a complete skeleton been discovered?
A complete skeleton of the Spinosaurus has not yet been discovered. What we know about this giant theropod dinosaur......
herpetology
herpetology, scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. Like most other fields of vertebrate biology (e.g., ichthyology,......
Herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus, (genus Herrerasaurus), primitive carnivorous dinosaur or close relative of dinosaurs found as fossils......
hognose snake
hognose snake, (genus Heterodon), any of up to five species of North American nonvenomous snakes belonging to the......
horned toad
horned toad, (genus Phrynosoma), any of about 14 species of lizards belonging to the family Iguanidae that are......
house snake
house snake, any of several nonvenomous snake species that live in or around dwellings. In the United States this......
How big can tortoises get?
Tortoises as a group vary significantly in size. Giant tortoises, specifically those found on the Aldabra Islands......
How Big Was the Asteroid That Contributed to Dinosaur Extinction?
Many scientists believe an asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago may have significantly contributed to......
How Do Chameleons Change Colour?
Chameleons change colour by dispersing or concentrating pigment granules (melanophore cells) in the cells that......
How do snakes swallow large prey?
Snakes have a unique and fascinating way of swallowing prey that is much larger than their own heads and even bodies.......
How Do We Know That Dinosaurs May Have Had Feathers?
Modern birds are living dinosaurs, having evolved from a line of theropod dinosaurs more than 150 million years......
How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Sounded Like?
All animals make sounds. Many sounds are made as an animal moves through its environment, such as the thud or patter......
How fast are alligators?
In the water, alligators can reach swimming speeds of up to 32.2 kilometers per hour (20 miles per hour), using......
How long can alligators live?
Alligators can live for about 50 years in the wild and even longer in captivity, often surpassing the 70-year mark.......
How long did dinosaurs live?
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for an impressive span of about 165 to 180 million years. They first appeared about......
How long do tortoises live?
Tortoises are renowned for their impressive life spans, as some species live for more than 60 years. This longevity......
How tall was T. rex?
If the Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex)—the largest member of a group of theropod dinosaurs called tyrannosaurs—had stood......
Hypsilophodon
Hypsilophodon, (genus Hypsilophodon), small to medium-sized herbivorous dinosaurs that flourished about 115 million......
ichthyosaur
ichthyosaur, any member of an extinct group of aquatic reptiles, most of which were very similar to porpoises in......
iguana
iguana, any of nine genera and more than 40 species of the larger members of the lizard family Iguanidae. The name......
iguanid
iguanid, any of about 700 species of lizards in more than 40 genera that constitute the family Iguanidae. Iguanids......
Iguanodon
Iguanodon, (genus Iguanodon), large herbivorous dinosaurs found as fossils from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous......
Indian cobra
Indian cobra, (Naja naja), species of highly venomous snake in the cobra family (Elapidae). It is one of the so-called......
indigo snake
indigo snake, (Drymarchon corais), docile, nonvenomous member of the family Colubridae found from the southeastern......
Is an alligator a reptile?
Yes, an alligator is a reptile. This classification is because of its key reptilian traits, such as being cold-blooded,......
king cobra
king cobra, (genus Ophiophagus), reptile genus containing the world’s largest venomous snakes. King cobras are......
king snake
king snake, (genus Lampropeltis), any of a group of moderate-sized to large terrestrial snakes found from southeastern......
Komodo dragon
Komodo dragon, (Varanus komodoensis), world’s largest living lizard species. The Komodo dragon is a monitor lizard......
krait
krait, (genus Bungarus), any of 12 species of highly venomous snakes belonging to the cobra family (Elapidae).......
kukri snake
kukri snake, (genus Oligodon), any of 50 to 60 species of snakes of the family Colubridae. The snakes are named......
Lacerta
Lacerta, (family Lacertidae), genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae that includes among its nearly 50 species......
Lambeosaurus
Lambeosaurus, (genus Lambeosaurus), duck-billed dinosaur (hadrosaur) notable for the hatchet-shaped hollow bony......
leaf-nosed snake
leaf-nosed snake, any of four species of small burrowing snakes of the family Colubridae that have the nose shield......
leatherback sea turtle
leatherback sea turtle, (Dermochelys coriacea), species of sea turtle notable because it lacks scales and a hard......
leopard lizard
leopard lizard, any of three species of Gambelia in the lizard family Crotaphytidae. The long-nosed leopard lizard......
Limnoscelis
Limnoscelis, extinct genus of tetrapod that appeared very close to the origin of amniotes (mammals, birds, or reptiles).......
lizard
lizard, (suborder Sauria), any of more than 5,500 species of reptiles belonging in the order Squamata (which also......
Lystrosaurus
Lystrosaurus, extinct genus of about seven species of medium-sized heavily built animals that lived from the middle......
Maiasaura
Maiasaura, (genus Maiasaura), duck-billed dinosaurs (hadrosaurs) found as fossils from the Late Cretaceous Period......
mamba
mamba, (genus Dendroaspis), any of four species of large, arboreal, venomous snakes that live throughout sub-Saharan......
mangrove snake
mangrove snake, (genus Boiga), any of about 30 species (family Colubridae) of weakly venomous, rear-fanged snakes,......
Marasuchus
Marasuchus, genus of archosaurian reptiles that inhabited part of present-day South America during the Ladinian......
massasauga
massasauga, (Sistrurus catenatus), small North American rattlesnake of the family Viperidae, found in prairies,......
Megalosaurus
Megalosaurus, (genus Megalosaurus), carnivorous dinosaur and the subject of the first scientific description of......
Mesosaurus
Mesosaurus, (genus Mesosaurus), early aquatic relative of reptiles, found as fossils from the Early Permian Period......
Mexican west coast rattlesnake
Mexican west coast rattlesnake, (Crotalus basiliscus), large, stout, highly venomous pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae,......
moccasin
moccasin, (genus Agkistrodon), either of two venomous aquatic New World snakes of the viper family (Viperidae):......
moloch
moloch, small (20-centimetre- [8-inch-] long), squat, orange and brown Australian lizard of the Old World family......
monitor
monitor, (family Varanidae), any lizard of the genera Varanus or Lanthanotus in the family Varanidae. About 50......
Morelet’s crocodile
Morelet’s crocodile, (Crocodylus moreletii), medium-sized crocodile species inhabiting forests and wetlands and......
mosasaur
mosasaur, (family Mosasauridae), extinct group of aquatic lizards that attained a high degree of adaptation to......
Moschops
Moschops, extinct genus of mammal-like reptiles (Therapsida) found as fossils in rocks of Permian age (299 million......
mud turtle
mud turtle, (genus Kinosternon), any of about 18 species of semiterrestrial freshwater turtles belonging to the......
mugger
mugger, (Crocodylus palustris), species of freshwater crocodile known for its broad head and snout, robust body......
musk turtle
musk turtle, (genus Sternotherus), any of four species of small freshwater turtles belonging to the family Kinosternidae.......
mussurana
mussurana, tropical American rear-fanged snake of the family Colubridae. The mussurana preys on both rodents, which......
night lizard
night lizard, (family Xantusiidae), any of 26 species of small, secretive New World lizards that live under rocks......
Nile crocodile
Nile crocodile, (Crocodylus niloticus), species of crocodile inhabiting freshwater lakes, rivers, and swamps and......
Nodosaurus
Nodosaurus, (genus Nodosaurus), armoured dinosaurs found as fossils in North America dating from 95 million to......
Orinoco crocodile
Orinoco crocodile, (Crocodylus intermedius), large species of crocodile native to grasslands, forests, swamps,......