This list includes 32 Reptiles that start with R, from “Racer” to “Russian Rat Snake”. They range from small geckos to large snakes and turtles, with varied habitats worldwide. You can use this list for field identification, pet care reference, or classroom study.
Reptiles that start with R are species whose common names begin with the letter R. Notable examples include the Racer and the Russian Rat Snake, familiar to naturalists and pet keepers.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Average adult size (cm), and Measurement type.
Common name: The everyday name used in guides and pet listings, helping you find and recognize species quickly.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial lets you identify species precisely and search technical resources easily without ambiguity.
Habitat: A concise habitat note (for example “tropical forest”) that tells you where the species typically occurs.
Average adult size (cm): Typical adult length or size in centimeters, so you can compare relative body sizes across species.
Measurement type: Clarifies whether size is total length (TL), snout–vent length (SVL), or carapace length (CL) for accuracy.
Sources: The Reptile Database; IUCN Red List. Last updated: 2025-12-01.
Reptiles that start with R
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Average adult size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racer | Coluber constrictor | Open grasslands, prairies, woodlands, and forest edges across North America. | 90–150 cm (TL) |
| Radiated Rat Snake | Coelognathus radiatus | Forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas, often near water sources in South and Southeast Asia. | 150–210 cm (TL) |
| Rainbow Boa | Epicrates cenchria | Humid tropical forests and open savannas of Central and South America. | 150–200 cm (TL) |
| Rainbow Lizard | Agama agama | Rocky outcrops, savannas, and human-disturbed areas in sub-Saharan Africa. | 30–40 cm (TL) |
| Razor-backed Musk Turtle | Sternotherus carinatus | Slow-moving rivers, swamps, and lakes in the southern United States. | 12–16 cm (CL) |
| Red-bellied Black Snake | Pseudechis porphyriacus | Swamps, forests, and woodlands, typically near streams or rivers in eastern Australia. | 125–200 cm (TL) |
| Red-bellied Cooter | Pseudemys rubriventris | Freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds of the eastern United States. | 25–40 cm (CL) |
| Red Diamond Rattlesnake | Crotalus ruber | Coastal sage scrub, rocky canyons, and desert habitats in Southern California and Baja California. | 100–165 cm (TL) |
| Red-eared Slider | Trachemys scripta elegans | Ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers with soft, muddy bottoms. | 20–30 cm (CL) |
| Red-headed Krait | Bungarus flaviceps | Lowland and submontane forests, often near water, in Southeast Asia. | 150–210 cm (TL) |
| Red-necked Keelback | Rhabdophis subminiatus | Marshes, ponds, and forested areas near water throughout South and Southeast Asia. | 70–90 cm (TL) |
| Red Spitting Cobra | Naja pallida | Dry savanna and semi-desert regions of East Africa. | 75–120 cm (TL) |
| Red-tailed Green Ratsnake | Gonyosoma oxycephalum | Tropical rainforests and mangrove swamps in Southeast Asia, almost exclusively in trees. | 180–240 cm (TL) |
| Reeves’s Turtle | Mauremys reevesii | Ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams in East Asia. | 15–23 cm (CL) |
| Reticulated Python | Malayopython reticulatus | Rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands, often near water, in South and Southeast Asia. | 300–600 cm (TL) |
| Rhinoceros Iguana | Cyclura cornuta | Arid, rocky areas, dry forests, and coastal scrublands on the island of Hispaniola. | 60–136 cm (TL) |
| Rhinoceros Viper | Bitis nasicornis | Wet, forested regions of West and Central Africa, typically near water. | 70–120 cm (TL) |
| Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake | Crotalus willardi | Mountainous pine-oak forests and rocky canyons in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. | 40–65 cm (TL) |
| Ring-necked Snake | Diadophis punctatus | Moist, wooded habitats across North America, often found under rocks or logs. | 25–45 cm (TL) |
| Rinkhals | Hemachatus haemachatus | Grasslands and moist savannas of southern Africa. | 90–120 cm (TL) |
| River Cooter | Pseudemys concinna | Rivers, streams, and reservoirs with moderate current throughout the central and eastern U.S. | 23–40 cm (CL) |
| Rock Monitor | Varanus albigularis | Savannas, grasslands, and rocky outcrops in sub-Saharan Africa. | 85–170 cm (TL) |
| Rock Rattlesnake | Crotalus lepidus | Rocky, mountainous terrain and canyons in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. | 50–80 cm (TL) |
| Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle | Chelodina mccordi | Swamps, lakes, and rice paddies on the small island of Roti, Indonesia. | 18–24 cm (CL) |
| Rosy Boa | Lichanura trivirgata | Arid scrublands and rocky deserts in the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. | 60–110 cm (TL) |
| Rough Green Snake | Opheodrys aestivus | Dense vegetation near water, such as forests and marshes, in the southeastern U.S. | 55–85 cm (TL) |
| Rough-scaled Python | Morelia carinata | Monsoonal rainforests and sandstone escarpments in a small area of northwestern Australia. | 150–200 cm (TL) |
| Roughtail Rock Agama | Laudakia stellio | Rocky, arid, and semi-arid environments from Greece to the Middle East. | 25–35 cm (TL) |
| Rubber Boa | Charina bottae | Forests, woodlands, and grasslands in the western United States and Canada. | 35–85 cm (TL) |
| Rufous Beaked Snake | Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus | Dry savanna and scrubland across much of sub-Saharan Africa. | 100–160 cm (TL) |
| Russell’s Viper | Daboia russelii | Open grasslands, scrub jungles, and agricultural areas throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. | 120–165 cm (TL) |
| Russian Rat Snake | Elaphe schrenckii | Open forests, scrublands, and river valleys in East Asia, including Russia and Korea. | 140–180 cm (TL) |
Descriptions
Racer
A fast-moving, nonvenomous snake known for its smooth scales and plain coloration. It actively hunts lizards, insects, and other snakes during the day and is not a constrictor despite its name.
Radiated Rat Snake
A nonvenomous snake, also known as the copperhead ratsnake. It is known for its impressive defensive display, where it inflates its neck and forms an ‘S’ shape to strike.
Rainbow Boa
Named for its stunning iridescent sheen, which refracts light into a rainbow of colors. This nonvenomous constrictor is popular in the pet trade but requires high humidity.
Rainbow Lizard
Also called the Red-headed Agama. Dominant males are brightly colored with a red or orange head and a blue body, while females and subordinates are drab brown.
Razor-backed Musk Turtle
A small aquatic turtle distinguished by a sharp, high keel running down the center of its shell, giving it a razor-like appearance. It spends most of its life in water.
Red-bellied Black Snake
A venomous elapid snake with a glossy black back and a bright red or pink belly. Though its bite can be serious, it is generally shy and prefers to avoid confrontation.
Red-bellied Cooter
A large freshwater turtle with a dark shell and a distinctive reddish or orange plastron (bottom shell). This species is a strong swimmer and an avid basker.
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
A large, heavy-bodied venomous pit viper. It has a distinctive reddish-brown color, a diamond pattern, and a relatively mild temperament for a rattlesnake, but its bite is dangerous.
Red-eared Slider
One of the world’s most common pet turtles, recognizable by the red stripe behind its eye. Native to the southern U.S., it is now an invasive species in many countries.
Red-headed Krait
A highly venomous snake with a striking bright red head and tail that contrast with its dark blue or black body. It is a reclusive, nocturnal hunter of other snakes.
Red-necked Keelback
A semi-aquatic snake with a unique defense. It is venomous and also sequesters toxins from its toad prey in glands on its neck, making it poisonous to touch or eat.
Red Spitting Cobra
A medium-sized cobra known for its beautiful salmon-red or pinkish color. It can accurately spit venom up to 2.5 meters, aiming for the eyes of a perceived threat.
Red-tailed Green Ratsnake
A slender, arboreal snake with vibrant green scales and a reddish-brown tail. It is nonvenomous but has a feisty temperament, often inflating its neck when threatened.
Reeves’s Turtle
A small, hardy turtle popular in the pet trade. It has a rough shell with three distinct keels (ridges). Wild populations are threatened by over-collection for food and traditional medicine.
Reticulated Python
One of the world’s longest snakes, famous for its intricate geometric color pattern. It is a powerful nonvenomous constrictor capable of eating very large prey.
Rhinoceros Iguana
A large, powerful lizard named for the bony, horn-like protuberance on its snout. This threatened species is primarily herbivorous and faces threats from habitat loss and invasive predators.
Rhinoceros Viper
A stout, beautifully colored venomous viper with two or three prominent horn-like scales on its nose. Its vibrant geometric pattern provides excellent camouflage on the forest floor.
Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake
A small rattlesnake distinguished by a prominent, upturned scale on the tip of its snout. It is secretive and primarily preys on lizards and centipedes.
Ring-necked Snake
A small, secretive snake with a gray or black body and a distinct yellow or orange ring around its neck. When threatened, it coils its tail to flash its brightly colored underside.
Rinkhals
Not a true cobra, but a related elapid known for its ability to spit venom. It often feigns death convincingly when threatened, rolling onto its back with its mouth agape.
River Cooter
A large, herbivorous freshwater turtle that loves to bask on logs. Its shell markings can be highly variable and ornate, especially in younger individuals.
Rock Monitor
Also known as the white-throated monitor, it is Africa’s heaviest lizard. This powerful predator has a varied diet and is known for its intelligence and curious nature.
Rock Rattlesnake
A small, variably colored rattlesnake whose pattern provides excellent camouflage among the lichen-covered rocks of its habitat. It is generally less aggressive than larger rattlesnakes.
Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle
A critically endangered turtle with an extremely long neck that cannot be fully retracted into its shell. It is a victim of over-collection for the international pet trade.
Rosy Boa
A small, heavy-bodied boa known for its gentle temperament and beautiful striped pattern, often with pink or orange hues. It spends much of its time in rock crevices or burrows.
Rough Green Snake
A slender, bright green snake that is an excellent climber. It is nonvenomous and primarily eats insects and spiders, relying on its camouflage to hunt and hide.
Rough-scaled Python
One of the world’s rarest and most unusual pythons, known for the prominent keel on each of its scales, giving it a rough, file-like texture. Very little is known about its biology.
Roughtail Rock Agama
A spiny, robust lizard also known as the starred agama. It exhibits complex social behaviors, including head-bobbing displays to communicate territory and dominance.
Rubber Boa
A primitive snake with smooth, wrinkled skin that feels rubbery to the touch. It has a blunt tail that resembles its head, which it uses to distract predators.
Rufous Beaked Snake
A fast-moving snake named for its hooked, beak-like snout, which it uses to dig for prey in loose soil. It is mildly venomous but not considered dangerous to humans.
Russell’s Viper
A highly venomous viper responsible for more snakebite fatalities than any other species. Its potent venom causes severe pain, swelling, and blood clotting disorders.
Russian Rat Snake
A large, nonvenomous snake with a striking yellow-and-black banded pattern. It is an excellent climber and is often found near human dwellings, where it preys on rodents.