reptiles

Garter snakes are small, diurnal colubrids found across North America and into Central America, and they are most often identified by contrasting stripes, longitudinal lines, an...

Collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) commonly live 5 to 8 years in the wild, with well-cared-for captive individuals often reaching 10 to 12 years. Maximum longevity in capti...

Snakes drink water using coordinated mouth movements and capillary action along their jaws, where surface tension and groove lined tongues help draw water into the mouth before...

A collared gecko refers to a group of small to medium-sized lizards in the family Gekkonidae characterized by a distinctive band or collar-like marking behind the head. These ge...

In South Carolina, several small brown snakes are commonly encountered in backyards, gardens, and wooded edges. Most are nonvenomous, secretive, and beneficial, but safe identif...

Black water snakes in Indiana are commonly encountered by residents and visitors near rivers, streams, wetlands, and ponds, and accurate identification is important for safety a...

A burrowing boa refers to snakes within the boid family that exhibit fossorial or semi-fossorial habits, spending significant time underground or within concealed retreats. Thes...

Louisiana's wetlands, bottomlands, and suburban edges host many brown and black snakes, some harmless and a few venomous. Correct identification reduces unnecessary fear and hel...

Wetlands host a diverse assemblage of reptiles, including turtles, snakes, lizards, and crocodilians that depend on aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats for feeding, breeding, and...

The common box turtle is an omnivore, and a healthy diet reflects both plant and animal matter. In the wild, it eats a shifting mix of leafy vegetation, berries, mushrooms, inse...