
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.
Pond Slider - Seattle
Pond Slider - Seattle
Nile Crocodile - South Luangwa NP, Zambia
Nile Crocodile - South Luangwa NP, Zambia
Nile Crocodile - South Luangwa NP, Zambia
Nile Crocodile - Liwonde NP, Malawi
Nile Crocodile - Liwonde NP, Malawi
Nile Crocodile - Liwonde NP, Malawi
Central African Slender-snouted Crocodile - Odzala NP, Republic of Congo
Monitor - Odzala NP, Republic of Congo
Black Mamba - Gonarezhou NP, Zimbabwe
Serrated Hinged Terrapin - Liwonde NP, Malawi
Leopard Tortoise - Borana Conservancy, Kenya
Kenyan Rock Agama - Samburu NR, Kenya
Kenyan Rock Agama - Lewa Conservancy, Kenya
Erhard's Wall Lizard - San Torini, Greece
Northern curly-tailed Lizard - Grand Bahamas Island
Black spiny-tailed Iguana - Ek Balam, Mexico
Warty toad - Atacama Desert, Chile
Common Chuckwalla - Joshua Tree NP, California