Here you’ll find 18 reptiles beginning with the letter V, from “Variable Coral Snake” to “Volcan de Fuego Alligator Lizard”. These reptiles are mainly snakes and lizards across tropical and temperate regions, helpful for identification and conservation study.
Reptiles that start with V are species whose English common names begin with the letter V. Many have cultural roles or notable traits, such as the Variable Coral Snake’s striking bands and potent venom.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Average adult size (cm).
Common name: The familiar English name used in field guides; you use it to recognize species and compare local reports.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial that uniquely identifies each species; you can trace taxonomy and reliable literature using it.
Habitat: The typical environment where the species lives; you use this to infer range, behavior, and suitable observation spots.
Average adult size (cm): Average adult length reported in centimeters, with measurement type noted; you use it to compare species and judge age class.
Reptiles that start with V
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Average adult size (cm – measurement) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viper Boa | Candoia aspera | Rainforest floor, swamps | 75 cm (TL) |
| Viper Gecko | Hemidactylus imbricatus | Arid rocky areas | 8 cm (TL) |
| Viperine Water Snake | Natrix maura | Freshwater streams, ponds | 85 cm (TL) |
| Variable Coral Snake | Micrurus diastema | Tropical forest | 65 cm (TL) |
| Variable Groundsnake | Sonora semiannulata | Arid scrubland, desert | 30 cm (TL) |
| Variable Kingsnake | Lampropeltis leonis | Arid scrubland, rocky hillsides | 90 cm (TL) |
| Variable Skink | Trachylepis varia | Grassland, savanna | 6 cm (SVL) |
| Variegated Lizard | Trapelus variegatus | Arid plains, desert | 10 cm (SVL) |
| Velvet-bellied Skink | Eroticoscincus graciloides | Rainforest leaf litter | 5 cm (SVL) |
| Velvety Swamp Snake | Erythrolamprus typhlus | Tropical forest, swamps | 60 cm (TL) |
| Veracruz Arboreal Alligator Lizard | Abronia graminea | Montane cloud forest | 13 cm (SVL) |
| Victorian Stone Gecko | Diplodactylus victoriensis | Dry woodlands, rocky areas | 5 cm (SVL) |
| Vietnamese Box Turtle | Cuora galbinifrons | Montane forest | 18 cm (CL) |
| Vietnamese Pond Turtle | Mauremys annamensis | Lowland marshes, ponds | 20 cm (CL) |
| Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle | Cuora cyclornata | Freshwater streams, marshes | 25 cm (CL) |
| Voi Wedge-snouted Worm Lizard | Geocalamus acutus | Dry savanna, thornscrub | 20 cm (TL) |
| Volcan de Fuego Alligator Lizard | Abronia vasconcelosii | Montane cloud forest | 13 cm (SVL) |
| Volcan Tacana Arboreal Alligator Lizard | Abronia tacanae | Montane cloud forest | 10 cm (SVL) |
Descriptions
Viper Boa
A stout, non-venomous snake from New Guinea that mimics the look of a venomous viper. It often ambushes prey from the leaf litter using its keeled scales for camouflage.
Viper Gecko
A small, terrestrial gecko from Pakistan with large, overlapping scales that give it a viper-like appearance. It’s a popular pet due to its small size and docile nature.
Viperine Water Snake
This non-venomous European snake has a zig-zag pattern and flattened head, making it look strikingly like a viper to deter predators. It is an excellent swimmer that preys on fish.
Variable Coral Snake
A venomous elapid from Central America whose ring patterns can vary significantly, sometimes making it difficult to distinguish from non-venomous mimics like milk snakes.
Variable Groundsnake
This small North American snake is famous for its extreme polymorphism, exhibiting a wide array of color patterns, including striped, banded, and solid forms, often within the same population.
Variable Kingsnake
Named for its highly variable color patterns of red, black, and white bands, this beautiful kingsnake from Mexico is a popular pet. No two individuals look exactly alike.
Variable Skink
A common and widespread lizard in sub-Saharan Africa, known for its incredible color and pattern variation between different populations, perfectly living up to its name.
Variegated Lizard
An agamid lizard found in parts of the Middle East, its mottled, sandy coloration provides excellent camouflage in its arid, rocky environment. It can change its color intensity based on temperature.
Velvet-bellied Skink
This tiny, secretive skink from eastern Australia has a distinctively soft, velvety texture on its belly and is rarely seen as it burrows through loose soil and leaf litter.
Velvety Swamp Snake
A semi-aquatic snake from South America with a velvety skin texture. It often changes color dramatically from juvenile to adult, losing its bright patterns for more subtle hues.
Veracruz Arboreal Alligator Lizard
A vibrant green, prehensile-tailed lizard from the mountains of Veracruz, Mexico. This tree-dwelling species is unfortunately threatened by habitat destruction and illegal collection.
Victorian Stone Gecko
A small, nocturnal gecko from southeastern Australia that shelters under rocks and bark during the day. Like many geckos, it can vocalize with chirps and drop its tail to escape predators.
Vietnamese Box Turtle
This critically endangered turtle has a highly domed, colorful shell and a hinged plastron that allows it to completely close up for protection from predators.
Vietnamese Pond Turtle
A critically endangered turtle native to a tiny area in central Vietnam. Conservation efforts, including captive breeding programs, are underway to save it from extinction.
Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle
This critically endangered turtle is highly sought after for food and traditional medicine, which has pushed it to the absolute brink of extinction in the wild.
Voi Wedge-snouted Worm Lizard
A legless, burrowing amphisbaenian from East Africa. It spends nearly its entire life underground, using its reinforced snout to tunnel through the soil in search of insects.
Volcan de Fuego Alligator Lizard
A stunning, prehensile-tailed lizard that lives high in the trees of Guatemalan cloud forests. It is critically endangered due to habitat loss and collection for the pet trade.
Volcan Tacana Arboreal Alligator Lizard
An elusive and endangered tree-dwelling lizard found only on the slopes of the Tacaná Volcano on the Mexico-Guatemala border. It is known for its bright green coloration.