This list includes 24 Reptiles that start with K, from “Banded Krait” to “Scarlet Kingsnake”. Most entries are snakes and lizards, with sizes from tiny geckos to large serpents. You can use this list for identification, learning, and basic pet or field reference.
Reptiles that start with K are species whose common names begin with the letter K. Many, like kraits, appear in South Asian folklore and local names.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Average size.
Common name: The familiar name helps you quickly recognize species and match field guides or pet labels.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial identifies the species precisely so you can find reliable research and range information.
Habitat: Short habitat notes tell you where the species lives, helping you plan field searches or care.
Average size: Typical adult size (with measurement type) gives quick expectations for identification and housing needs.
Sources: The Reptile Database, IUCN Red List — Last updated: 2025-12-01
Reptiles that start with K
| Name | Scientific name | Habitat | Average adult size (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Cobra | Ophiophagus hannah | Forests, mangrove swamps | 370 (TL) | The world’s longest venomous snake, it primarily preys on other snakes. It is famous for its intimidating threat display, where it raises its body and spreads its narrow hood. |
| Komodo Dragon | Varanus komodoensis | Tropical savanna, forest | 250 (TL) | The largest lizard in the world, found on a few Indonesian islands. It is a powerful apex predator with a venomous bite, capable of taking down very large prey. |
| Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle | Lepidochelys kempii | Shallow coastal waters | 65 (CL) | The smallest and most critically endangered sea turtle. Famous for its unique mass nesting behavior called an “arribada,” where thousands of females lay eggs on the same beach at the same time. |
| California Kingsnake | Lampropeltis californiae | Desert, woodland, grassland | 90 (TL) | A popular pet snake known for its variable patterns of black/brown and white/yellow bands. This powerful constrictor is immune to rattlesnake venom and often preys on them. |
| Common Krait | Bungarus caeruleus | Fields, scrubland, near human settlements | 100 (TL) | A highly venomous snake from the Indian subcontinent, part of the “Big Four” that cause the most snakebites in the region. It is nocturnal and often secretive. |
| Banded Krait | Bungarus fasciatus | Forests, agricultural lands | 180 (TL) | A large, venomous krait with distinctive black and yellow bands. It is primarily nocturnal and generally not aggressive, feeding mainly on other snakes. |
| Knight Anole | Anolis equestris | Tree canopies in forests and urban areas | 18 (SVL) | The largest species of anole, native to Cuba but now established in Florida. These large, bright green lizards are territorial and have a surprisingly strong bite. |
| Kenyan Sand Boa | Eryx colubrinus | Arid scrubland, sandy soil | 50 (TL) | A small boa from East Africa that spends most of its life burrowed in sand. It ambushes small rodents from below, striking quickly and constricting them. |
| Keeled Rat Snake | Ptyas carinata | Forests, plantations, near water | 250 (TL) | One of the longest snakes in Asia, this non-venomous colubrid is a powerful constrictor. It is named for the prominent keels on its dorsal scales, giving it a rough texture. |
| Checkered Keelback | Fowlea piscator | Freshwater lakes, rivers, rice paddies | 120 (TL) | A common non-venomous water snake from Asia, named for the checkerboard pattern on its back. It is an excellent swimmer and primarily feeds on fish and frogs. |
| Red-necked Keelback | Rhabdophis subminiatus | Forests, wetlands, agricultural areas | 90 (TL) | A rear-fanged venomous snake known for its bright red neck patch. It uniquely sequesters toxins from poisonous toads it eats and can secrete them from its neck glands for defense. |
| Kirtland’s Snake | Clonophis kirtlandii | Wet prairies, marsh edges | 45 (TL) | A small, rare, and secretive snake of the American Midwest. It has a bright reddish belly and a unique defensive behavior where it flattens its entire body when threatened. |
| Scarlet Kingsnake | Lampropeltis elapsoides | Pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks | 50 (TL) | A small, non-venomous snake that mimics the highly venomous coral snake with its red, black, and yellow rings. It is a secretive, burrowing species often found under logs or bark. |
| Kuhl’s Flying Gecko | Gekko kuhli | Tropical rainforest canopy | 10 (SVL) | A master of camouflage from Southeast Asia, this gecko has flaps of skin along its body, limbs, and tail that allow it to glide from tree to tree to escape predators. |
| Rough Knob-tailed Gecko | Nephrurus amyae | Arid rocky areas | 10 (SVL) | A large, spiky gecko from central Australia with a distinctive short, thick tail ending in a knob. This nocturnal, ground-dwelling lizard preys on large invertebrates like spiders and scorpions. |
| Kimberley Rock Monitor | Varanus glauerti | Rocky escarpments and outcrops | 80 (TL) | A slender and strikingly patterned monitor lizard from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is an agile climber, using its long tail for balance as it hunts. |
| King’s Skink | Egernia kingii | Coastal dunes, granite outcrops | 25 (SVL) | A large, robust skink from southwestern Australia. They are omnivorous and known to live in social family groups, often occupying the same burrow for many years. |
| Knob-scaled Lizard | Xenosaurus grandis | Humid rock crevices in forests | 12 (SVL) | A unique, flattened lizard from Mexico and Guatemala that lives in tight rock crevices. It has distinctive knob-like scales and gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. |
| Kirk’s Rock Agama | Agama kirkii | Rocky outcrops (kopjes) | 12 (SVL) | A colorful lizard found in southern and eastern Africa. Dominant males display a striking blue body and yellow-orange head during the breeding season to attract mates and defend territory. |
| Kimberley Crevice Skink | Egernia douglasi | Sandstone rock crevices | 16 (SVL) | A social skink from Australia that lives in family groups within deep rock fissures. They use their spiny tails to wedge themselves into cracks for defense against predators. |
| Keeled Box Turtle | Cuora mouhotii | Montane forests | 18 (CL) | A terrestrial turtle from Southeast Asia named for the three prominent keels running down its carapace. It has a hinged plastron that allows it to fully enclose itself in its shell. |
| Karoo Padloper Tortoise | Chersobius boulengeri | Arid Karoo shrubland | 10 (CL) | A very small tortoise species native to the Karoo region of South Africa. Its flattened shell helps it seek refuge from predators and extreme temperatures in narrow rock crevices. |
| Kalahari Tented Tortoise | Psammobates oculifer | Arid savanna, Kalahari Desert | 14 (CL) | A small tortoise from southern Africa, named for the beautiful star-like radiating patterns on its shell. This pattern provides excellent camouflage in its dry, grassy habitat. |
| Korean Skink | Plestiodon coreensis | Forest floors, grasslands | 8 (SVL) | A skink native to the Korean Peninsula. Juveniles are known for their vibrant blue tails, which likely serve to distract predators, a feature that fades as they mature. |
Descriptions
King Cobra
Komodo Dragon
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
California Kingsnake
Common Krait
Banded Krait
Knight Anole
Kenyan Sand Boa
Keeled Rat Snake
Checkered Keelback
Red-necked Keelback
Kirtland’s Snake
Scarlet Kingsnake
Kuhl’s Flying Gecko
Rough Knob-tailed Gecko
Kimberley Rock Monitor
King’s Skink
Knob-scaled Lizard
Kirk’s Rock Agama
Kimberley Crevice Skink
Keeled Box Turtle
Karoo Padloper Tortoise
Kalahari Tented Tortoise
Korean Skink