Category Reptiles

Madagascar Tree Boa

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The Madagascar Tree Boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) is a non-venomous, colubrid, arboreal reptile in the boa species of snakes. It is a boid (pronounced bow-id). It is also known as the Malagasy Tree Boa.

The Madagascar Tree Boa is greenish, such as olive-green or bright green, depending upon the colour of the rain forest leaves and trees. In dry areas, it can be orange-brown. It has patterned scales of dark markings with whitish inner markings. It has dark eyes. 

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Ladder Snake

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The Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris orZamenis scalaris) is a medium-sized reptile and a colubrid (non-venomous) snake. It is related to the Ratsnake.

The Ladder Snake has yellowish to dark brown scales with two dark brown stripes running down the length of its body from neck to tail. It has a dark stripe at the back of its eye, angling down to its jaw. Its underbelly is pale, such as slivery-grey to whitish. It has a pointed snout (nose). It has dark eyes.

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Radiated Tortoise

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The Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is a reptile in the Testudinidae family of tortoises. 

The Radiated Tortoise has a high-domed shell, called a carapace. Its shell is brown with yellow radiating lines from the centre of each plate. Each pattern looks like a star or sea shell. It has a blunt head and thick, stumpy feet. Its legs, feet, and head are yellow, except for a patch of black on its head.

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Asp Viper

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The Asp Viper (Vipera aspis aspis) is a venomous snake in the viper family. It is also known as the European Asp. 

The Asp Viper has a long, slim body with a broad, triangular head, and a distinctive neck. It has an upturned snout (nose). Generally, the male is grey with markings, and the female is grey or brown with markings. The markings are dark-brown to blackish bands with a brown line running down its spine. It has a postocular (below the eye) stripe, more visible on the male.

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Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise

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The Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni peloponnesica) is a small to medium-sized land chelonian reptile. It is related to the Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca). 

The Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise has a slightly domed, rounded shell, called a carapace. The carapace is black and yellow with markings, but the colour fades with age, and becomes grey or straw-coloured. Its underbelly is creamy-beige. It has no teeth, but it has a strong, short beak. It has scaly brownish-grey, stumpy legs with five claws. Its back legs are thicker than its front legs. The tip of its tail has a spur (a horny, short spike). 

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Rhinoceros Ratsnake

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The Rhinoceros Ratsnake (Gonyosoma boulengeri) is a non-venomous colubrid reptile in the Colubridae family. It is also known as the Vietnamese Longnose Snake.

The Rhinoceros Ratsnake is green with a prominent, distinctive protrusion of the front of its nose. The pointy protrusion—which looks like a rhinoceros horn—has scales like the rest of its body. It has 19 rows of dorsal (back) scales to its mid-body.

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What’s the difference between the Emerald Tree Boa and the Green Tree Python?

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What is the difference between the Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus) and the Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)?

The Emerald Tree Boa and the Green Tree Python are both non-venomous arboreal (tree) reptiles and snakes.

The Emerald Tree Boa and the Green Tree Python are bright green with yellowish underbellies. 

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Knight Anole Lizard

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The Knight Anole Lizard (Anolis equestris) is a reptile in the Dactyloidae family of lizards. It is also known as the Cuban Giant Anole.

The Knight Anole Lizard is bright green with a yellow stripe on the side of its head and shoulder. It can change colour according to its environment. It has a pinkish-white dewlap (loose skin under its chin). It has a very long tail. It has many sharp teeth. Its feet have five toes with long, sharp claws. 

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Tree Skink

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The Tree Skink (Egernia striolata) is a reptile in the Scincidae family of skink lizards. It is also known as the Tree-Crevice Skink.  

The Tree Skink has a bulky, flattened, elongated body with a small head and small eyes. It has smooth scales on its brownish-grey body. It has a creamy-white underbelly. Its eyes are the same colour as its scales. Its tongue is dark-coloured. It very short legs have five toes on each foot.

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