Reptiles

Reptiles are air-breathing, cold-blooded vertebrates that are covered in scales, soft bony plates or a mix of the two. Reptiles live on land and all shed the outer layer of skin.

Crocodiles, alligators, turtles, snakes, lizards and slow worms are all reptiles. The metabolism of all reptile species is controlled by temperature with reptiles preferring a warm, dry climate. Environment temperature also dictates how active they are and affects reproduction.

UK species

There are six native species of reptile in the UK: three snakes (grass, smooth and adder) and three lizards (common, sand and slow worm). There are also a few introduced non-native species.

Smooth snake in Dorset. © David Tipling/Universal Images Group/Getty

Smooth snake guide: how to identify, and why they are rare in the UK

Grass snake on the woodland floor during the summer. © Jamie Hall/Getty

Grass snake guide: species facts, how to identify, and where to see

Adder coiled up in moss. © Mark Smith/Getty

9 things you never knew about the adder

A male sand lizard. © Alfred Trunk/McPhoto/ullstein bild/Getty

Sand lizard guide: how to identify, where they’re found and the threats they face

Sand lizard, RSPB

A brighter future for rare reptiles

Snake, Mihai Leu

Deadly snake disease found in UK

Other snake species and news

Amazon tree boa. © Jeff Chandler/Getty

New findings reveal the origins of modern day snakes

A male adder warming itself in the spring sunshine. © Sandra Standbridge/Getty

Adders could be facing a risk of extinction across Britain

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New identity for UK grass snake

Snake, Mihai Leu

Deadly snake disease found in UK

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Racer snakes may face development threat

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What’s the world’s fastest snake?

Crocodilians

Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) world's largest living reptile, cooling himself with open mouth, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. © Australian Scenics/Getty

Saltwater crocodile guide: diet and where they live in the wild

Siamese crocodile baby_FFI

Largest number of baby Siamese crocodiles spotted by conservationists in Cambodia

Gavialis_hatchling_(c) Rikki Gumbs_ZSL

10 amazing facts about gharials

A close up portrait of the gharial hatchling in the Babai river at Dhanuse in the Bardia National Park

Hope for gharials in Nepal

Mother and daughter reading in a park.

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Blackberry pud. © Sanjida O'Connell

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Tortoises, turtles and terrapins

Diamondback terrapin. © USD/Jenny Mastanuono via Wikimedia

8 interesting facts about diamondback terrapins

Big headed turtle. © ZSL London Zoo

Unusual turtles find a new home after smuggling ordeal

Sea turtle © Rich Carey / iStock

How do sea turtles find their way home?

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Endangered turtles return to the wild

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UK appetite for prawns is a death sentence for thousands of turtles

Sea turtle/Emond Leung

Where do sea turtles spend their ‘lost’ years?

Iguanas

Bojer's skink is endemic to Mauritius, but while it was once widespread across the islands, it is now critically endangered. © Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Threatened Mauritian reptiles rescued from disastrous oil spill

Land iguanas are an endemic species to the Galápagos Islands. © Island Conservation

Iguanas reintroduced to island after 180 years absence

Racer snakes watch and wait for hatching marine iguanas to emerge from their burrows, Credit: Elizabeth White

Racer snakes versus iguana wins BAFTA

Other reptile species and news

Calumma uetzi is a newly described species of chameleon/Frank Glaw (ZSM/LMU)

Madagascar’s reptile list grows following discoveries

The Mary river turtle is rank 30 in the list, Credit Chris Van Wyk

New list reveals incredible species at threat of extinction

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Chameleons put on a glow show

When grasped by a predator, fish-scale geckos lose not just their scales but also a layer of skin. © Frank Glaw

New gecko species resembles a chicken breast