This list includes 37 Reptiles that start with A, from “Ackie’s Monitor” to “Australian Freshwater Crocodile”. They range across lizards, snakes and crocodilians and are found in tropical and temperate regions worldwide.
Reptiles that start with A are species whose common names begin with the letter A. They include familiar pets like Ackie’s monitor and wild species such as the Australian freshwater crocodile.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat and Average adult size (cm).
Common name: You see the widely used English name for each species, so you can quickly locate familiar reptiles.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives the exact species identity and helps you match entries across field guides and databases.
Habitat: Brief habitat notes tell you where the reptile lives, useful for field study, care, or conservation interest.
Average adult size (cm): Average adult size lists typical lengths in centimeters and notes the measurement type, so you know what to expect.
Sources: The Reptile Database, IUCN Red List and primary literature. Last updated: 2025-12-01.
Reptiles that start with A
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Average adult size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adder | Vipera berus | Heathland, woodland, moorland | 65 cm (total length) |
| African Bush Viper | Atheris squamigera | Tropical rainforest canopy | 60 cm (total length) |
| African Egg-eating Snake | Dasypeltis scabra | Savanna and semi-desert | 90 cm (total length) |
| African House Snake | Boaedon fuliginosus | Savanna, woodland, human dwellings | 90 cm (total length) |
| African Rock Python | Python sebae | Savanna and forest near water | 350 cm (total length) |
| African Spurred Tortoise | Centrochelys sulcata | Semi-arid grassland and savanna | 75 cm (carapace length) |
| Ackie’s Monitor | Varanus acanthurus | Arid rocky regions | 60 cm (total length) |
| Aesculapian Snake | Zamenis longissimus | Warm woodlands and meadows | 150 cm (total length) |
| Albany Adder | Bitis albanica | Coastal forest and thicket | 30 cm (total length) |
| Aldabra Giant Tortoise | Aldabrachelys gigantea | Coastal scrub and grassland | 120 cm (carapace length) |
| Alligator Lizard | Elgaria multicarinata | Woodland, chaparral, grassland | 15 cm (SVL) |
| Alligator Snapping Turtle | Macrochelys temminckii | Deep freshwater rivers and swamps | 70 cm (carapace length) |
| Allison’s Anole | Anolis allisoni | Tropical gardens and palm trees | 10 cm (SVL) |
| Amazon Puffing Snake | Spilotes sulphureus | Tropical rainforest canopy | 250 cm (total length) |
| Amazon River Turtle | Podocnemis expansa | Large freshwater rivers | 75 cm (carapace length) |
| Amazon Tree Boa | Corallus hortulana | Rainforest, often near water | 180 cm (total length) |
| American Alligator | Alligator mississippiensis | Freshwater wetlands, rivers, marshes | 350 cm (total length) |
| American Crocodile | Crocodylus acutus | Coastal, brackish, and saltwater habitats | 400 cm (total length) |
| Amethystine Python | Simalia amethistina | Rainforest, woodland, scrubland | 350 cm (total length) |
| Anchieta’s Dwarf Python | Python anchietae | Rocky outcrops in arid regions | 120 cm (total length) |
| Angle-headed Dragon | Gonocephalus boydii | Tropical rainforest | 15 cm (SVL) |
| Angulate Tortoise | Chersina angulata | Coastal scrub (fynbos) | 20 cm (carapace length) |
| Antiguan Racer | Alsophis aniguae | Offshore island scrubland | 100 cm (total length) |
| Arafura File Snake | Acrochordus arafurae | Freshwater rivers and billabongs | 150 cm (total length) |
| Arabian Horned Viper | Cerastes gasperettii | Sandy desert and gravel plains | 50 cm (total length) |
| Arabian Sand Boa | Eryx jayakari | Desert sand dunes | 40 cm (total length) |
| Argentine Black and White Tegu | Salvator merianae | Savanna and forest edges | 120 cm (total length) |
| Arizona Black Rattlesnake | Crotalus cerberus | Mountain pine-oak woodland | 90 cm (total length) |
| Arizona Coral Snake | Micruroides euryxanthus | Desert scrub and woodland | 50 cm (total length) |
| Armadillo Girdled Lizard | Ouroborus cataphractus | Desert and rocky scrubland | 10 cm (SVL) |
| Armenian Viper | Montivipera raddei | Mountainous rocky slopes | 75 cm (total length) |
| Asian Leaf Turtle | Cyclemys dentata | Shallow streams in evergreen forests | 20 cm (carapace length) |
| Asian Vine Snake | Ahaetulla prasina | Rainforests and gardens | 180 cm (total length) |
| Asian Water Monitor | Varanus salvator | Mangroves, swamps, near water | 180 cm (total length) |
| Asp Viper | Vipera aspis | Dry, sunny hillsides and scrubland | 65 cm (total length) |
| Augrabies Flat Lizard | Platysaurus broadleyi | Rocky outcrops near rivers | 8 cm (SVL) |
| Australian Freshwater Crocodile | Crocodylus johnsoni | Inland freshwater rivers and wetlands | 250 cm (total length) |
Descriptions
Adder
The UK’s only venomous snake, recognized by its dark zigzag dorsal pattern. Despite its reputation, it is a shy species that prefers to avoid human contact.
African Bush Viper
A small, arboreal viper from Central and West Africa. Its strongly keeled scales give it a unique bristly or “hairy” look, and its color can vary dramatically.
African Egg-eating Snake
This non-venomous specialist feeds only on bird eggs, which it can swallow whole thanks to an incredibly flexible jaw and neck. It is harmless to humans.
African House Snake
A common and harmless constrictor in sub-Saharan Africa. It is often found near homes, where it provides excellent pest control by preying on rodents.
African Rock Python
Africa’s largest snake, a powerful constrictor capable of taking large prey like antelopes. It is a non-venomous ambush predator, often found near water sources.
African Spurred Tortoise
The third-largest tortoise species in the world, native to the southern edge of the Sahara. Also known as the Sulcata Tortoise, it is a prolific burrower.
Ackie’s Monitor
A small Australian monitor lizard, also called the Spiny-tailed Monitor. It is known for its inquisitive and active nature, making it a popular pet reptile.
Aesculapian Snake
A large, non-venomous snake from Europe. It is the species featured on the Rod of Asclepius, the ancient symbol of medicine and healing.
Albany Adder
One of the world’s rarest and smallest vipers, this critically endangered species is found in a tiny area of South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
One of the largest land tortoises on Earth, native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. These gentle giants can live for well over 150 years.
Alligator Lizard
A slender lizard from western North America with a long, prehensile tail that can be twice its body length. It is known for its strong defensive bite.
Alligator Snapping Turtle
A huge, prehistoric-looking turtle from the southeastern US. It has a powerful bite and uses a unique worm-like lure on its tongue to attract fish.
Allison’s Anole
A stunning lizard from Cuba and surrounding islands. Males are known for their brilliant turquoise head, green body, and pink throat fan (dewlap) used in displays.
Amazon Puffing Snake
A large, non-venomous snake from the Amazon basin. When threatened, it inflates the front of its body to appear much larger, a bluff to deter predators.
Amazon River Turtle
Also known as the Arrau turtle, this is the largest side-necked turtle in Latin America. Females gather in massive groups on sandy banks to nest communally.
Amazon Tree Boa
A non-venomous, arboreal boa from South America that comes in a stunning variety of colors, from bright yellow and orange to gray and brown.
American Alligator
An iconic apex predator of the southeastern US. Easily identified by its broad, rounded snout, it plays a key role in its ecosystem by creating alligator holes.
American Crocodile
Found from Florida to Peru, this crocodilian prefers saltwater habitats. It has a narrower, more pointed snout than the American Alligator and is generally more reclusive.
Amethystine Python
Also known as the Scrub Python, this is Australia’s largest snake. It gets its name from the striking iridescent sheen of its scales under light.
Anchieta’s Dwarf Python
A rare non-venomous python from Angola and Namibia. Its striking pattern of reddish-brown blotches on a cream background provides excellent camouflage.
Angle-headed Dragon
A camouflaged lizard from Queensland, Australia’s rainforests. With its triangular head, body crest, and lichen-like colors, it blends perfectly into mossy tree trunks.
Angulate Tortoise
A small tortoise from South Africa, uniquely identified by a single large scale projecting from under its chin, which males use for jousting.
Antiguan Racer
Once the world’s rarest snake, this harmless species was saved from extinction. It now lives safely on a few predator-free islands off the coast of Antigua.
Arafura File Snake
A fully aquatic, non-venomous snake from Australia and New Guinea. Its skin is exceptionally loose and baggy with a rough, file-like texture for gripping slippery fish.
Arabian Horned Viper
A venomous viper known for the distinctive horn-like scales above its eyes. It moves across hot sand using a sideways motion called sidewinding.
Arabian Sand Boa
A small boa that spends its life buried in the sand of the Arabian Peninsula. It ambushes prey from below, with only its eyes positioned on top of its head.
Argentine Black and White Tegu
A large, intelligent lizard native to South America. It is an omnivore known for its powerful build and has become an invasive species in some parts of the world.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake
A venomous pit viper from the southwestern US. It can change its skin color, becoming darker in cool temperatures and lighter when warm to regulate its body heat.
Arizona Coral Snake
A small, secretive, and highly venomous snake of the Sonoran Desert. It has the classic “red on yellow, kill a fellow” warning coloration of North American coral snakes.
Armadillo Girdled Lizard
This unique lizard from South Africa defends itself by rolling into a ball and biting its tail, creating an armored, spiky ring that protects its soft belly.
Armenian Viper
A venomous viper found in Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. This beautifully patterned snake is threatened by habitat loss and illegal collection for the pet trade.
Asian Leaf Turtle
A semi-aquatic turtle from Southeast Asia. Its keeled, brownish carapace looks like a fallen leaf, providing excellent camouflage on the forest floor.
Asian Vine Snake
A remarkably slender, bright green arboreal snake from Southeast Asia. It has unique horizontal pupils and binocular vision for accurately judging distances to prey.
Asian Water Monitor
One of the world’s largest lizards, this highly adaptable predator is found across South and Southeast Asia. It is an excellent swimmer and an intelligent opportunist.
Asp Viper
A venomous viper found across southwestern Europe. It is characterized by its slightly upturned snout and highly variable color and pattern.
Augrabies Flat Lizard
A spectacular lizard from South Africa. Males display an iridescent rainbow of colors to attract mates, while their extremely flat bodies allow them to escape into rock crevices.
Australian Freshwater Crocodile
A relatively small crocodilian from northern Australia. It has a very long, slender snout for catching fish and is considered less dangerous to humans than its saltwater relative.