Reptiles
Reptiles are cold-blooded, scaly vertebrates: turtles and tortoises, crocodilians, snakes, lizards and the tuatara. A slow metabolism lets many of them live a very long time and go weeks or months between meals. Giant tortoises are among the longest-lived land animals, and the largest crocodiles and snakes keep growing for most of their lives. Most lay eggs, so the figure given is incubation time; a few, such as boas and anacondas, give birth to live young.
24 reptiles, grouped by taxonomic order. Tap an animal for full facts.
Crocodilia
| Animal | Lifespan | Weight | Top speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis |
35–50 years | 90–450 kg (200–1,000 lb) | 32 km/h (20 mph) | LC |
| Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus |
45–60 years (estimated) | 225–750 kg (500–1,650 lb) | 30–35 km/h (19–22 mph) | LC |
| Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus |
50–70 years (estimated) | males 400–1,000 kg (880–2,200 lb); females 80–150 kg (180–330 lb) | 24–29 km/h (15–18 mph) | LC |
Rhynchocephalia
| Animal | Lifespan | Weight | Top speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuatara Sphenodon punctatus |
60–100 years | 0.5–1 kg (1.1–2.2 lb) | — | LC |
Squamata
| Animal | Lifespan | Weight | Top speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball Python Python regius |
about 10 years | 1–2.5 kg (2.2–5.5 lb) | — | NT |
| Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis |
11 years or more | about 1–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb) | about 16 km/h (10 mph) | LC |
| Boa Constrictor Boa constrictor |
20–30 years | 10–27 kg (22–60 lb) | — | LC |
| Burmese Python Python bivittatus |
about 15–20 years | 30–90 kg (66–200 lb) | — | VU |
| Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps |
5–8 years | 300–500 g (11–18 oz) | — | LC |
| Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum |
about 20 years | 350–700 g (12–25 oz) | — | NT |
| Green Anaconda Eunectes murinus |
about 10 years | 30–80 kg (65–175 lb) | — | LC |
| Green Iguana Iguana iguana |
8–10 years | 4–8 kg (9–18 lb) | — | LC |
| Indian Cobra Naja naja |
about 15–25 years (estimated) | about 1–2.5 kg (2.2–5.5 lb) | — | LC |
| King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah |
about 15–20 years | 5–9 kg (11–20 lb) | — | VU |
| Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis |
about 30 years | 70–90 kg (154–200 lb) | 20 km/h (12 mph) | EN |
| Leopard Gecko Eublepharis macularius |
6–10 years | 45–80 g (1.6–2.8 oz) | — | LC |
| Reticulated Python Malayopython reticulatus |
about 15–20 years | 25–75 kg (55–165 lb) | — | LC |
| Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus |
4–8 years | 90–200 g (3–7 oz) | — | LC |
| Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox |
15–20 years | 1.8–2.7 kg (4–6 lb) | — | LC |
Testudines
| Animal | Lifespan | Weight | Top speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Spurred Tortoise Centrochelys sulcata |
50–70 years (estimated) | 35–90 kg (77–200 lb) | — | EN |
| Galápagos Tortoise Chelonoidis niger |
100–150 years (estimated) | 110–270 kg (250–600 lb) | about 0.3 km/h (0.2 mph) | VU |
| Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas |
60–70 years | 110–190 kg (240–420 lb) | 2.5–3 km/h (1.5–1.9 mph) cruising | LC |
| Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea |
about 45–50 years (estimated) | 250–700 kg (550–1,540 lb) | 2–10 km/h (1–6 mph) | VU |
| Red-Eared Slider Trachemys scripta |
20–30 years | 0.5–1.5 kg (1.1–3.3 lb) | — | LC |
Rankings
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