Reptiles
Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates that include snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and other fascinating animals. Found in deserts, forests, wetlands, grasslands, and waterways throughout North America, they are adapted to an extraordinary variety of environments. Body shape, scales or shells, coloration, habitat, and range provide important clues for identifying different species.
Alligators and Crocodiles
Crocodilians are large, powerful reptiles adapted to life in wetlands, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways. North America is home to the American Alligator and American Crocodile, which differ in snout shape, coloration, habitat, and range. These formidable predators play an important role in maintaining healthy wetland ecosystems.
Lizards
Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles found in deserts, forests, grasslands, rocky areas, and even backyards throughout North America. They range from tiny geckos and skinks to larger iguanas and are often identified by their body shape, coloration, scales, habitat, and behavior. Most feed on insects and other small animals, although some species also eat plants.
Venomous Snakes
Venomous snakes are specialized predators that use venom to subdue prey and defend themselves when threatened. North America is home to rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes, each with distinctive markings, habitats, and geographic ranges. Learning to identify these snakes accurately can help people observe and enjoy wildlife while staying a safe distance away.
Non-Venomous Snakes
Non-venomous snakes are a diverse group of reptiles found in forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, and backyards throughout North America. They include familiar groups such as garter snakes, rat snakes, kingsnakes, racers, and water snakes, with species varying widely in size, color, and behavior. Most are harmless to people and play an important role in controlling rodents, insects, and other small animals.
Turtles
Turtles are distinctive reptiles protected by hard shells and found in ponds, lakes, rivers, wetlands, forests, grasslands, and coastal waters throughout North America. Different species are adapted to life in freshwater, on land, or in the ocean and vary greatly in size, appearance, and behavior. Shell shape and markings, habitat, and geographic range are especially useful clues for identification.
