Veiled Chameleon
- Common Name:
- Chameleon
- Habitat:
- Forests and shrublands of Yemen and Saudi Arabia
- Diet:
- Omnivore — insects, leaves, flowers
- Fun Fact:
- Chameleons change color to communicate mood and temperature, not just for camouflage.
Reptiles
Ancient survivors roaming Earth for over 300 million years
Komodo Dragon
- Common Name:
- Komodo Dragon
- Habitat:
- Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Flores
- Diet:
- Carnivore — deer, pigs, goats, smaller Komodo dragons
- Fun Fact:
- Komodo dragons can detect carrion from up to 9.5 km (6 miles) away using their forked tongue.
Green Sea Turtle
- Common Name:
- Sea Turtle
- Habitat:
- Tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide
- Diet:
- Herbivore — seagrass, algae
- Fun Fact:
- Sea turtles return to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs.
Saltwater Crocodile
- Common Name:
- Saltwater Croc
- Habitat:
- Estuaries and coastal areas of Southeast Asia and Australia
- Diet:
- Carnivore — fish, birds, mammals, other reptiles
- Fun Fact:
- The saltwater crocodile has the strongest bite force of any living animal — 3,700 psi.
Giant Day Gecko
- Common Name:
- Tokay Gecko
- Habitat:
- Rainforests and human settlements of Southeast Asia
- Diet:
- Carnivore — insects, small lizards, small mice
- Fun Fact:
- Geckos can walk upside down on glass using millions of microscopic hairs on their feet.
Green Anaconda
- Common Name:
- Anaconda
- Habitat:
- Swamps and rivers of South America
- Diet:
- Carnivore — fish, birds, mammals, caimans
- Fun Fact:
- The green anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world, weighing up to 227 kg (500 lbs).
Boomslang
- Common Name:
- Boomslang
- Habitat:
- Savannas, woodlands, and bushveld of sub-Saharan Africa
- Diet:
- Carnivore — chameleons, lizards, frogs, small birds, eggs
- Fun Fact:
- The boomslang is rear-fanged and its venom is hemotoxic — it prevents blood from clotting, but the snake is shy and rarely bites humans.
Leopard Gecko
- Common Name:
- Leopard Gecko
- Habitat:
- Arid grasslands and rocky deserts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India
- Diet:
- Carnivore — crickets, mealworms, waxworms, small insects
- Fun Fact:
- Unlike most geckos, the leopard gecko has movable eyelids — and it uses its tongue to clean its own eyes.
Egyptian Cobra
- Common Name:
- Egyptian Cobra
- Habitat:
- Deserts, grasslands, and agricultural areas of North Africa and the Middle East
- Diet:
- Carnivore — toads, lizards, small mammals, birds, eggs
- Fun Fact:
- The Egyptian cobra is believed to be the asp of ancient Egypt — Cleopatra reportedly used one in her legendary death.
Gila Monster
- Common Name:
- Gila Monster
- Habitat:
- Deserts and semi-arid scrublands of the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico
- Diet:
- Carnivore — eggs, small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs
- Fun Fact:
- The Gila monster is one of only two venomous lizards native to North America, and a compound in its saliva inspired a diabetes medication.