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14 stunning pictures of reptiles in the wild - from frilled lizards to Komodo dragons
14 stunning pictures of reptiles in the wild - from frilled lizards to Komodo dragons
Canela LópezOct 15, 2019, 20:30 IST
A chameleon catches a bug with its tongue, taken in Madagascar, Africa, November 2016 A little chameleon appears very pleased with itself, as it manages to catch its lunch in a split second. Known for their unique characteristics, a chameleon can reach its prey within 0.07 seconds by projecting their tongue more than twice their body length. The sticky tip of the tongue then attaches to the doomed insect, and recoils back into the chameleons hungry mouth.Barcroft Media / Getty Images
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There are 10,000 species of reptiles worldwide, according to the Reptile Database.
Before the dinosaurs went extinct, reptiles were the dominant species to walk the planet for over 270 million years.
Here are 14 breathtaking images of reptiles in the wild.
Komodo dragons and vipers and alligators, oh my! Some reptiles may have a scary reputation, and it's no wonder that these ancient creatures have captivated public imagery for decades - from "Crocodile Dundee" to "Anaconda."
But there's much more to reptiles than fangs and fury. These scaly beings rained supreme for over 270 million years until the extinction of the dinosaurs. Since then, this ancient class of creatures has evolved into all shapes and sizes, with over 10,000 known species to date.
From adorable tiny turtles to those that look like miniature dinosaurs, here are 14 breathtaking images of reptiles in the wild.
A chameleon catching its prey in Madagascar. These little lizards can camouflage themselves to their surroundings, making them stealthy hunters.
Iguanas can grow to be over 6 feet long. But despite their length, they manage to blend in well with their surroundings, like this iguana hiding in the trees.
A gharial at water's edge in India. The world's gharial population has decreased nearly 98% since the mid-1900s due to hunting for traditional medicine and changes to its environment.
