If you come across a Venomous Reptile
Snakes will get defensive, but are not looking to chase you. Just give them a respectful amount of space.
If you hear a rattlesnake stop, locate, and take two steps back. This is great advice from Wildman Dan who has a great program you should check out.
Watch the video to the left.
Venomous or Non-Venomous
How are you supposed to Know?
If you aren’t sure just give the animal space. In the United states it is a short list. Rattlesnakes, Gila monster, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Coral snakes.
Anywhere in the world if you aren’t sure giving the animal space will help keep you and the animal safe.
Some snake species are venomous so snake leg guards can be used in situations where you may be traveling through risky terrain. In the US this would mean arid habitat that may have a large amount of thick grass that makes it difficult to see exactly where you are putting your feet.
There are many good guide books that can help you identify species. These are typically organized by body morphology snake, lizard, turtle etc.
Documentary
Living Zoology is a great YouTube Channel of two zoologists, a couple from the Czech Republic. They make some of the highest quality videos about understanding and admiring venomous reptiles.
Reptile Tip
The fact that they are ectothermic is key to catching sightings. They can be found trying to soak up the heat energy from warm surfaces or sunlight.
Reptiles
Reptiles are less sensitive to humidity and water availabiliy than amphibians. Reptiles are found in deserts and tropical rain forests.
Squamata
Lizards
Snakes
Worm lizards (Amphisbaenia)
Crocodilia
Crocodiles
Alligators
Caimans
Gharials
Testudines
Turtles
Sea Turtles
Tortoise
Rhynchocephalia
Tuatara
Rhynchocephalia is a very old order of lizard like reptiles that has existed since the middle of the Triassic about 244 million years ago. see the extinct species page for the life on earth slider
Amphibians
Amphibians are very water dependent. Their skin is much more permeable. They can get small amounts oxygen through their skin. Their eggs need to stay in water until they hatch. Organisms like toads and salamanders are slightly more tolerant to drier environments.
Frogs
Lithobates catesbeianus
Oophaga granulifera
Frogs generally have longer legs and have smooth moist skin and need to live near bodies of fresh water. While toads tend to have shorter legs, have dry bumpy skin preferring dry land, but will return to fresh bodies of water to breed.
Toads
Anaxyrus woodhousii
Rhinella horribilis
Newts and Salamanders
All newts are salamanders but not all salamanders are newts. Newts are semiaquatic with rough skin and usually have three life stages water to land to water. While salamanders tend to be more land based and return to water to breed.
Rough-skinned Newt
Rough-skinned Newt (Aquatic life stage)
Fire Salamander
Notophthalmus viridescens (Newt)
Mexican Mushroomtongue Salamander
Caecilians
Nguyen's Caecilian
Interesting that both reptiles and and amphibians have groups that represent a much simpler body structure like that of a worm see Amphisbaenia above.