Reptiles
Reptiles are in a Class by themselves, literally—Class Reptilia. The Class comprises four Orders: Crocodylia (including Crocs, Gators, and Caimans), Snakes and Lizards, Turtles and Tortoises, and Rhynchocephalians. I had never heard of Rhynchocephalians. For a good reason, there is one extant species in the whole Order, the Tuatara, endemic to New Zealand. They look like lizards but have a distinct lineage. Now, of course, I have to see one.
It took me ten years, but I have finally stopped saying Alligator when seeing a Crocodile in Africa. I used not to pay much attention to lizards. Now I actively look for them when I’m in the bush. Turtles and tortoises are just seriously cool. Well, all reptiles are pretty cool.
Kenyan Rock Agama - Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
Kenyan Rock Igama - Lewa Conservancy, Kenya
Rainbow Skink - Liwonde, Malawi
Common Chuckwalla - Joshua Tree National Park, California
Northern Curly-tailed Lizard - Grand Bahama Island
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana - Ek' Balam, Mexico
Leopard Tortoise - Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
Pond Slider - Seattle, WA
Nile Monitor - Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo
Central African Slender-snouted Crocodile - Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo
Crocodile - South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Nile Crocodile - South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Nile Crocodile - Liwonde National Park, Malawi
Nile Crocodile - Liwonde National Park, Malawi