Western Fence Lizard

Reptiles > Lizards

The Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), universally known throughout the American West by the affectionate vernacular moniker ‘blue-belly’, is one of the most familiar, charismatic, and abundant squamates native to the Pacific coast and Great...

Black Rat Snake

Reptiles > Snakes

The Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus), often designated taxonomically as the western rat snake, is one of the largest, most ecologically beneficial, and most widespread non-venomous colubrid snakes native to North America. Reaching lengths that can exceed seven...

Brown Anole

Reptiles > Lizards

The Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei), widely recognized across North America and the Caribbean as the Bahaman Anole or Cuban Brown Anole, is a small, extraordinarily agile, and hyper-abundant dactyloid lizard belonging to the anole family Dactyloidae. Native to the...

Wood Turtle

Reptiles > Turtles & Tortoises

The Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), celebrated historically by early American naturalists as the ‘Sculptured Tortoise,’ is a medium-sized, exceptionally handsome semi-aquatic chelonian belonging to the pond turtle family Emydidae. Indigenous to the...

Spectacled Caiman

Reptiles > Crocodilians

The Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also celebrated throughout Central and South America as the White Caiman, Common Caiman, or Babilla, is a medium-sized, exceptionally adaptable crocodilian belonging to the alligator family Alligatoridae. Widely distributed...

Spotted Turtle

Reptiles > Turtles & Tortoises

The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata), celebrated affectionately by naturalists as the ‘polka-dot turtle,’ is a diminutive, extraordinarily beautiful semi-aquatic chelonian belonging to the pond turtle family Emydidae. The sole living member of the genus...

Eastern Kingsnake

Reptiles > Snakes

The Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula), celebrated colloquially across the American South as the ‘Chain Kingsnake’ or ‘Chain Snake,’ is a powerful, non-venomous colubrid snake renowned as the undisputed king of North American serpent...

Gopher Tortoise

Reptiles > Turtles & Tortoises

The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is an ancient, terrestrial chelonian belonging to the tortoise family Testudinidae, celebrated as the quintessential ecological keystone species of the southeastern United States. Native exclusively to the xeric upland...

Mugger Crocodile

Reptiles > Crocodilians

The Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), also celebrated historically as the Marsh Crocodile, Broad-snouted Crocodile, or simply ‘mugger’—derived from the Hindi word magar meaning water monster—is a heavy-set, armored apex reptile indigenous to the...

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Reptiles > Turtles & Tortoises

The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is the rarest, smallest, and most critically imperiled sea turtle species on Earth. Belonging to the family Cheloniidae, this ancient marine reptile represents a specialized evolutionary lineage restricted...