Reptiles are a various group of animals, and a few of them have really weird and engaging traits – listed below are a number of of the weirdest reptiles on the planet.
Weirdest reptiles on the earth
Inexperienced basilisk
A lizard that may run on water? Meet the Inexperienced basilisk – also referred to as the ‘Jesus Christ lizard’ – which might run throughout water at speeds of 5 ft per second. That’s fairly nippy.
They stay in Central American rainforests and assume nothing of dropping from a tree into the water and sprinting away if threatened.
Flying dragon
Thought flying dragons solely existed in Harry Potter? Suppose once more! Meet the Draco volan. These quirky lizards, which stay in Southeast Asian forests, have elongated ribs that assist wing-like flaps of pores and skin, permitting them to glide between bushes.
Flying snake
Talking of flying reptiles, have you ever heard of the flying snake? They do exist however, just like the lizard, it’s extra of a glider than flyer.
There are 5 species of flying snake (absolutely one of many world’s weirdest snakes) in Asia, which might glide for about 100 metres. They’re the one identified limbless vertebrates that may glide although the air.
Armadillo girdled lizard
Suppose rolling right into a ball is exclusive to species reminiscent of armadillos, pangolins and hedgehogs? Suppose once more, for the spiny (appropriately named) armadillo girdled lizard also can roll itself right into a ball to guard itself from predators. It lives within the South African deserts and has a life expectancy of 20-25 years.
Thorny satan
Who doesn’t want a second head? Coated in spikes, the desert-living thorny satan has a false head on the again of its neck to confuse predators. However that’s not its solely bizarre adaptation – its ridged scales act as water collectors!
By making the slightest contact with a supply of water, reminiscent of dew, soil moisture and rain, the reptile can draw it in direction of its mouth alongside the channels between the scales. The water strikes towards gravity by capillary motion.
Leaf-tailed gecko
The necessity to camouflage has produced a wide selection of bizarre creatures, and the leaf-tailed gecko of the Madagascan rainforests isn’t any exception. Its distinctive camouflaging skills makes it look identical to leaves.
Komodo dragon
One of many world’s most venomous animals, the komodo dragon has a pair of venom glands in its decrease jaws, containing poison as potent as that of the deadliest terrestrial snakes. However that’s not the one factor that’s bizarre about them.
Identified for his or her razor-sharp tooth, it has now been found that these tooth are coated with iron. This protecting layer retains the serrated edges of their tooth sharp, which means the 80kg lizards can tear shortly and effectively by way of the flesh of their prey.
Matamata turtle
As turtles go, the Matamata turtle, of the slow-moving rivers and swamps of South America, is fairly weird-looking – its look mimics particles on the underside of a river.
North American horned lizard
And at last, we meet the world’s weirdest lizard and one of many weirdest animals within the on Earth, the North American horned lizard. This quirky creature has particular powers that enables it to wield superiority over potential predators. It boasts glorious camouflage; has armoured, spiky pores and skin; and may inflate its physique to double its measurement.
However their actual super-power is their skill to shoot blood – loaded with foul toxins gleaned from a food regimen of venomous ants – from their eyes, to a distance of as much as 9 instances their physique size.
So exact is their goal that these little lizards can see off wolves and coyotes many instances their measurement, blasting the predators sq. within the face.
This article by Debbie Graham was first revealed by Uncover Wildlife on 5 June 2026.
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