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  Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis Komodos are the largest living lizard, up to 10 feet long and 300 pounds. They are powerful swimmers and are surprisingly quick runners.  Yemen Veiled Chameleon Chameaeleo calyptratus Chameleons can move their eyes independently of each other and can also change body color within a limited range.  Galapagos Tortoise Geochelone nigra The largest of the tortoise family, weighing up to 500 pounds, they are also the longest-lived animal on earth and can live well over 100 years. They eat most plant material.  Spitting Cobras Naja pallida pallida Instead of biting, these cobras "spit" their venom up to 12 feet, which is usually targeted at the eyes of their enemy, causing temporary blindness.  Albino Burmese Python Python molurus bivittatus Found in Southeast Asia, this species may grow to be 20 feet in length. Like all pythons,it is oviparous (egg laying). Its diet is made up of a variety of birds, mammals and some reptiles, and even some larger animals.  Caiman Lizard Dracaena guianensis The caiman lizard is a South American reptile found mainly in the Amazon Basin and in swampy areas rich in vegetation in Peru. Caiman lizards are both terrestrial and aquatic. A forked tongue enhances the sense of smell.  Ball Python Python regius The name ball python refers to the species propensity to coil into a tight ball as a defensive behavior. Ball pythons are primarily terrestrial snakes that inhabit open forests or savannah grasslands with scattered rocks and trees.  American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis The American alligator is semi-aquatic. Related to crocodiles. Almost black in color, with prominent eyes and nostrils. A long head with visible teeth along the edge of the jaws.  Panther Chameleon Furcifer pardalis The panther chameleon lives in Madagascar. Its sticky tongue is twice as long as its body. Their turret-like eyes can swivel to look in two directions at once.  Malagasy Leaf-tailed Gecko Uroplatus fimbriatus Geckos can easily navigate perpendicular tree trunks in the rain forests of Madagascar, thanks to their specially adapted toes.  Banded Iguanas Brachylophus fasciatus This male, Fiji Island resident, can change its color. The females, on the other hand, stay brilliant green most of the time. The iguanas use their long tails to balance in the treetops.  Mexican Beaded Lizard Heloderma h. horridum Found in the American Southwest and Mexico. The lizards do have an impressive, wide-mouthed hiss. They can transmit venom with a direct bite.  Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum Found in the American Southwest and Mexico, the lizards have been accused of everything from spitting venom to causing instant death with their poisonous breath. None of this is true. Gilas transmit venom with a direct bite.  Green Crested Basilisks Basiliscus plumifroms With their spectacular crests and fanciful long claws, the Central American lizards are positively striking. Basilisks can actually run on water. The animals grow to about 2.5 feet and live on vegetation near water.  Frilled Lizards Chlamydosaurus kingii These famous Indo-Australian reptiles live in trees. They often forage on the ground for insects and small lizards. There, should anything threaten them, they're known for running on their hind legs with frills extended.  Red Diamond Rattlesnake Crotalus exsul ruber These beautiful animals keep San Diego county's rodent population under control, and getting rid of them only creates problems with the balance of nature. If you should happen to see one, don't bother it, and you'll be fine.  Emerald Tree Boa Corallus caninus Though they sleep during the day, the snakes are usually overlooked by predators because their gorgeous markings are the perfect camouflage for their spectacular surroundings in the Amazon River basin.  Spurred Tortoise Geochelone sulcata Spurred tortoises are native to arid regions of Central Africa, and they can survive extended periods of drought by remaining in their burrows and entering a state of torpor.  Desert Tortoise Goperus agassizzi Native to the hot, dry deserts of the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico, these reptiles cope with the heat by digging deep underground burrows to rest. | |||||||||||||||
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