Reptile & Amphibian Encyclopedia

Popular ground-dwelling gecko alongside leopard geckos. Prefers higher humidity and slightly shy but calms with handling.

An arboreal boa from South America. Rich color variation including garden phase and colored phases.

Large lizard with beautiful black and white mosaic pattern. Highly intelligent — reportedly toilet trainable. Some individuals bond like dogs. Gets very large, requires investment.

Large lizard from South America. Highly intelligent and can bond like dogs. Omnivorous and adaptable but grows large.

Fascinating amphibian that reaches maturity in larval form. Charming face and external gills are popular. Amazing regeneration ability.

The world's most popular pet snake. Docile, balls up when stressed, and available in 7000+ morphs.

Friendly, expressive lizard. Requires UVB lighting but well-established husbandry makes them beginner-friendly. Omnivorous diet.

One of Africa's largest monitors. Many individuals are gentle, relatively manageable among large monitors.

Large python with distinctively thick short body. Reddish coloring gives it its name. Imposing appearance with devoted fans.

Desert beetle with bluish body that plays dead. Also used as reptile feeder but popular as pet too. Nearly maintenance-free and super easy. Can be kept in groups.

Large skink named for its distinctive blue tongue. Docile, easy to handle, and omnivorous with varied diet. Hardy and long-lived.

Large boa from Central/South America. Grows larger than ball pythons but relatively docile. Morph variety increasing. Colombian boa recommended for beginners.

A large semi-aquatic lizard with crocodile-like scales and vivid orange head. Crushes snails with jaws.

Medium-sized python from Australia. Beautiful patterns and manageable size. Color varies greatly among subspecies.

Beautiful cave-dwelling gecko with black body and red or yellow bands. Similar care to leopard geckos but prefers cooler, more humid conditions. Nocturnal rock-hider.

Bright green semi-aquatic lizard. Prefers waterside habitat and is an excellent swimmer. Some individuals approach owners.

The most popular beginner snake. Docile temperament and rarely bites. Over 200 color morphs available.

Arboreal gecko with distinctive eyelash-like crests. Can be kept at room temperature and fed entirely on prepared diets.

A small New Caledonian gecko with crocodile-like scales. Related to crested gecko.

Diurnal bright green gecko from Madagascar. Entertaining active behavior. Best kept as display animal.

World's smallest crocodilian. Small at max 1.5m, offering special crocodilian keeping experience for experts.

A box turtle that can completely close its shell. Hardy North American species adapted to temperate climate.

A Central American lizard with beautiful emerald green males. Unusual viviparous species giving live birth.

A stunning arboreal boa with vivid emerald green coloration. Inhabits South American rainforests.

Green-brown back but vivid red-orange warning coloration on belly. Small semi-aquatic toad ideal for paludariums. Can be kept in groups.

A gecko with body flaps enabling gliding. Characterized by flat body mimicking tree bark.

Famous Australian lizard that spreads frill-like collar. Spectacular appearance when displaying threat posture.

Popular arboreal gecko after crested geckos. Distinctive head bumps. Can be fed commercial diet and can regenerate tails.

North America's only venomous lizard. Beautiful beaded black-orange scales, for experts due to venom.

Large lizard reaching up to 180cm. Herbivorous diet of vegetables. Juveniles bright green. Can bond with owners but requires significant space.

Stunningly green arboreal python. Distinctive coiled posture on branches. Juveniles change from yellow/brick to green.

Small to medium tortoise from temperate regions. Adapts relatively well to Japanese climate. Active and curious personality.

Round body and huge mouth like Pac-Man. Ambush predator that lunges at food. Can be kept in small space.

A beautiful Indian tortoise with radial star patterns on shell. Small and manageable but needs high humidity.

An Indonesian blue tongue skink. Often smaller and darker than Australian species.

A chameleon with three horns. From East Africa, relatively easy to keep as a beginner chameleon.

Japans most common frog. Vivid green body and charming face. Calling on rainy days is a Japanese tradition. Familiar amphibian.

Europe's largest lacertid lizard. Vivid green body with jewel-like blue spots. Active and requires spacious enclosure. Prefers dry Mediterranean climate.

A small boa living buried in sand. Gentle and space-efficient beginner snake.

Named King for preying on other snakes. California Kingsnake is the most common. Hardy and easy to keep.

A nocturnal gecko from Madagascar with leaf-like tail and body perfectly mimicking tree bark.

Perfect entry-level gecko with a docile temperament, minimal space requirements, and extensive morph variety.

Large African tortoise with beautiful leopard-patterned shell. Adults exceed 40cm. Prefers warm, dry environments. Herbivorous. Adequate space is essential.

Medium monitor with black body dotted in yellow spots. Semi-aquatic with excellent swimming. Slim and agile among monitors. Often feisty even CB — intermediate to advanced.

A South American aquatic turtle with unique leaf-mimicking appearance. Catches fish by suction with large mouth.

Beautiful snake with vivid red, black, and white/yellow banding. Related to kingsnakes, docile and easy to keep.

A lizard from Southeast Asian mountains. Rising in popularity for horn-like projections and calm nature.

A gecko that reproduces by parthenogenesis (females only). Ultra-small, surging in popularity for terrariums.

Popular frog with round body and large mouth resembling Pac-Man. Ambush predator that burrows and waits. Colorful with many morphs. Barely moves — very space-efficient.

An African tortoise with extremely flat shell. Unique defense of squeezing into rock crevices.

Madagascar-endemic chameleon with dramatically different colors by locality. Ambilobe red, Nosy Be blue — color variations so distinct they look like different species.

A ground gecko with panther-like spotted pattern on small body. Hardy and can be kept in small space.

A ball python morph with beautiful white-brown patchwork pattern. One of most popular color mutations.

An African lizard covered in plate-like large scales. Hardy, tames easily, and easy to keep.

An ultra-small chameleon that fits in your palm. Lives on African forest floors, mimicking leaf litter.

A tortoise with beautiful radiated patterns from Madagascar. Shell's geometric patterns are artistic.

A beautiful boa with rainbow iridescence. Body shimmers in seven colors at different light angles, from Brazil.

Close relative of bearded dragon, one size smaller — 'mini bearded dragon'. Equally docile and tames easily. Appealing space-efficient keeping.

A large tegu with reddish body color from Argentina. Highly intelligent, bonds like a dog.

Mini dragon with red eye rings and crocodilian scales. Compact size needs small space, but shy and hides often. Forest species requiring high humidity.

A vivid green slender snake. Insectivorous with gentle nature, a beautiful small arboreal species.

Also called Horsfields tortoise. Small, hardy tortoise tolerant of dry conditions. Ideal starter tortoise species.

A Saharan spiny-tailed agama colored vivid yellow or orange. Herbivorous and gentle, popular.

A semi-aquatic lizard with distinctive sail-like dorsal crest. Impressive large species from Philippines.

Most accessible large monitor lizard. Juveniles are inexpensive but adults exceed 1m. Can bond with owners but powerful.

A medium skink from Middle East to North Africa. Beautiful orange spots, hardy and easy to keep.

A unique aquatic turtle folding its neck sideways into the shell. Distributed in Australia and Africa.

Third-largest tortoise species, exceeding 70cm. Fast-growing — cute as hatchlings but housing adults is the biggest challenge.

Largest gecko in Southeast Asia. Beautiful blue body with red spots, but notorious for aggressive biting. Distinctive call.

Large gecko with blue-gray body and orange spots. Named for its distinctive 'Tokay!' call. WC specimens are feisty but CB are calmer. Walks on walls and ceilings.

Desert lizard with spiny tail. Herbivorous and gentle. Prefers hot dry environment. Many colorful species.

Chameleon distinguished by its large head casque (helmet). Hardiest chameleon species, relatively recommended for beginners. Vivid green with yellow bands.

Small snake with distinctive upturned snout. Charming threat display — spreads neck like a cobra. Rear-fanged with mild venom, virtually harmless to humans.

Chubby body and smile-like expression make this tree frog popular worldwide. Very hardy and easy to keep, tolerates handling. Beautiful vivid green coloration.

A gentle python from Australia. Beautiful banded pattern and calm temperament make it popular.