This document provides information on the reptiles found in the Nearctic region, which includes North America and surrounding areas. It describes several endemic reptile species, including the gila monster, gopher tortoise, California legless lizard, garter snakes, horned lizards, and box turtles. For each species, it provides details on physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, diet, and life cycle. The document serves as a reference for the key reptile species native to the Nearctic region.

2. Reptiles of Nearctic region
Presented By:-
Maryam Riasat
Roll no:-
26237
BS Zoology (7th Semester – Morning)

4. Nearctic Region:-
 NorthAmerica,theplanet's3rdlargestcontinent
 Madeupof23differentcountries
 Contains all Caribbean and Central America countries, Bermuda,
Canada, Mexico, the United States of America, as well as Greenland (the
world'slargestisland)
 NorthAmericancontinentuptothemiddleofMexico
 Climateistemperate
 Therearegrasslandsinthemiddleofthecontinent
 Westernpartisaridwithmountainsandconiferousforests

5.  TheisthmusofpanamaconnectsNorthAmerica&SouthAmerica
Separatesthecaribbeansea&thepacificocean

6. TheNearcticRegionisdividedintofoursubregions:-
 Arctic
 Circumboreal
 WesternAmerican
 EasternAmerican
 The first two are common to the Palearctic
thelasttwoareoftenunitedintheSonoransubregion

8. Nearctic
Region
fauna:-
Nearcticregionincludes
Fishes,Amphibians,
Reptiles,Birdsand
Mammals

9. Reptiles of Nearctic region:-
RichnumberofReptileslike:-
 Muskturtle
 Snappingturtles
 Boxturtle
 Gophertortoises
 Gartersnakes
 Geckos
 Hornedlizards
 Leglesslizard
 Gilamonster

10. Endemic Reptiles:-
 Gilamonster
 Gophertortoises
 Leglesslizard
 Gartersnakes
 Hornedlizards/Hornedtoads

11. Gila monster:-

12. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Helodermatidae
Genus Heloderma
Species H.suspectum

13. Characteristics:-
 Heavybodiedlizards
 Osteoderms–scalesorplates (blackandyelloworpink)
 Burrows
 Avoidopenareas
 Carnivores
 Donothaveverygoodeyesight
 Forhuntingusetheirsensesoftasteandsmell.
 Prey includes bird’s eggs, rodents, frogs, lizards, insects, centipedes and
worms

14.  BreedingseasonforGilamonstersisusuallyinearlysummer
Female digs a hole lays a clutch of large eggs in the hole and
coversthem.
 Venomous
 Venomismadebyarowofglandsinthelizard’slowerjaw
 Biteispainfultohumansbutitrarelycausesdeath

15. Gopher tortoises:-

16. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Testudines
Family Testudinidae
Genus Gopherus
Species G.polyphemus

17. Characteristics:-
 Coldbloodedreptile averages25cmlongand4kginweight.
 Extremelylonglivedanimals
 Wildtortoises(40-60years)
 Limbs verystoutandstrong
 Claws wideflat
 Frontlegsareprotectedwithsmallscales

18.  Female’splastrons perfectlyflat.
 Male plastron concave
 Oraprojectiononthefrontoftheplastronunderneaththe
chin.
 Reproductivematurity 10to20years
 Averageof6eggsbutcanlayfrom3to14eggsdependingon
theirbodysize
 Incubationperiod 90days

20.  Herbivorous
 Eatbonesfromdeadanimalspresumablytogetcalcium
 Temperature-dependentsexdetermination
 Females above30°C
 Males below30°C
Ecosystem Engineers:-
 Floridapanhandle 65feetlongand26feetdeep

21. California Legless Lizard:-

22. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordate
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Anniellidae
Genus Anniella
Species A.pulchra

23. Characteristics:-
 Burrowsinloosesoil
 Mistakenforsnakes
 Lackexternalearopeningsandhaveunreducedeyeswithmoveable
lids.
 Snouttoventlength 90to170mm
 Totallength 200mm.
 Femalesareslightlylargerthanmalesbyupto10%
 Sexesarenearlyimpossibletodistinguishwithoutdissection.

24.  Colorvarieswithsubspecies.
 Anniellapulchra newborn silverydrabcoloron
theirdorsalsideandvariousshadesofyellowontheventralside.
 Adults frombrown todarkbrownto
completelyblack.
 Heterothermic (21°Cand28°C)
 Breedingseason betweenthespringmonths
 Ovoviviparous,matureat 2(males)&3 years(females)ofage.

25. Abletolosetheirtail
Regenerateofaboutoneyearbutwillbemuchshorter,darker,
andmorebluntthantheoriginal.

26. Garter snakes:-

27. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordate
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Colubridae
Genus Thamnophis
Species T.sirtalis

28.  longslendersnakewithacolorfulandextremelyvariableappearance.
 Upper stripesrangefromblack,brownorgreytogreen,oliveorred
 Male smallerandslenderwithlongertail
 Diurnal
 Venomous
 Saliva slightlytoxic.
 Bite harmlesstohumans.
Characteristics:-

29.  Preyincludes:-
(fish, amphibians and their tadpoles, earthworms, leeches, and
otheraquaticandterrestrialInvertebratessuchasinsects,slugs)
Pheromonalcommunication
 Ovoviviparous (able to store the sperms for years before
fertilization)
 Gestationperiod twotothreemonths few
 3<80 snakesareborninasinglelitter.

30. Horned lizards / Horned toads:-

31. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Lguanidae
Genus Phrynosoma
Species P.hernandesi
P.platyrhinos

32. Distribution:-
Most widely distributed lizard in North America and occurs in
thewidestrangeofhabitats
WestintocentralNevada - EastintoNorthandSouthDakota
 SouthintotheTexasandintocentralMexico

33. Characteristics:-
 Size 2.5to6inches
 Crownofhornsonhead&numerousspinesacrosstheirback
 Coloring yellowish,gray,orreddish-brown
 Tailisshortbutbroadatthebase
 Feed slow-movinginsects (ants,
grasshoppers,beetles, &spiders

34.  Environments hot,dry,sandy
 Inthefall,theyhibernatebyburyingthemselvesinthesand
 MatingoccursinlateAprilpeaksinJuneandstopsabruptlyin
July
 Young are called hatchlings 7 to 8 inches long
 Lifespan 5to8years

35. Defensive mechanisms:-
 Inflatingtheirbodiesuptotwicetheirsize,
resemblingaspinyballoon
 Shootbloodfromtheireyesupto3feet

36. Geckos:-

40. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordate
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Gekkonidae
Genus Hemidactylus
Species H.frenatus

41. Distribution:-
GeckosarefoundoneverycontinentexceptAntarctica,
andliveinalmosteveryhabitat,includingrainforests,
desertsandmountains
 IntheUnitedStatescanbefoundinGeorgia,Florida,
California,Mississippi,andTexas

42. Characteristics:-
 1500to2000species
 Widerangeofsizes
 Smallestgecko 0.6inches
 Weighs 120milligrams
 Largestgecko 14to17inches
 Weighs 212to279grams

44.  Widevarietyofcolorswithmarkingsontheirbodies
(Tan,Black,Brown,White,Green,Blue,Orange,Yellow)
 Detachtheirtails
 Lack movable eyelids and have characteristic pads on the
undersidesoftheirfeet
 Microscopicbackward-projectinghairs
 LifeSpan 2-9years
 Lifestyle Solitary

47.  Nocturnal
 Diet fruits,insectsandflowernectar.
 Gecko'stail savesfat
 Oviparous
 Layshereggsinleavesandbark
 Hatching 1 to3months
 Incubationperiod dependentonthespecies
 Hatchlingscanbe3to4inches long

48. Facts:-
 Geckoseyesare350timesmoresensitivetolightthanhuman
eyes.
 Geckosareabletoproducevarioussoundsfor
communication,includingbarks,chirpsandclicks.
 Somespeciesofgeckoshavenolegsandlookmorelikesnakes
 Somegeckospeciescanfly
 Mostspeciesofgeckodon’thaveeyelids,sotheylicktheir
eyestocleanthem

51. American Alligator:-

52. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Crocodilia
Family Alligatoridae
Genus Alligator
Species A.mississipiensis

53. Distribution:-
 AlligatorsarenativetoonlytheUnited
StatesandChina
 AmericanalligatorsarefoundinthesoutheastUnited
StatesallofFloridaandLouisiana
 ThesouthernpartsofGeorgia,Alabama,
andMississippicoastalSouthandNorthAlabama East
Texas

54. Characteristics:-
 Livesinfreshwaterenvironments
 (slow-movingrivers,marshesandlakes)
 Theyhavefourshortlegs
 Frontlegs fivetoes
 Backlegs fourtoes
 Long,roundedsnout (nostrilsattheend)
 Youngtails brightyellowstripes
 Adults tails darkstripes

55.  Teeth 74to80
 Lifespan 50years
 Malealligatorsarelargerthanfemalealligators
 Female 8.2feet
 Male 11.2feet
 Carnivorous
(fish,snailsandotherinvertebrates,birds,frogsandmammals
thatcometothewater'sedge)

56.  Sexualmaturity 6feetlong(10to12years)
 AroundlateJuneandearlyJuly,thefemalelays35to50eggs
somefemalescanlayupto90eggs
 Incubationperiod 65days
 Sexdeterminedbythetemperatureofthenest
 Female 31orbelow
 Males 32orabove

57. Musk turtle:-

58. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Testudines
Family Kinosternidae
Genus Sternotherus
Species S.odoratus

59. Characteristics:-
 Smallturtleswithdarkbrownorblackshells
 Twodistinctstripesonthehead
 Maleshavethickertailsthanfemales
 Malestailsalwaysendsinaspineandtheanalventextendsbeyond
theedgeofthecarapace
 Nocturnal
 Foraginginshallowwaterintheevening

60.  Omnivorous
(seeds,insects,snails,tadpoles,algae)
 Breeding springandfall
 Laytwoclutchesaseasonof1-9eggsunderinloamy
soils

61. Snapping turtle:-

62. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordate
Class Reptilia
Order Testudines
Family Chelydridae
Genus Chelydra
Species C.serpentine

63. Distribution:-
NorthAmerica,CentralAmerica,andSouth
AmericatosouthernCanadaandarenativeto
theNearcticregion

64. Characteristics:-
 Mainly permanentwaterbodies (freshwater)
 Goonlandtolaytheireggsinsandysoil
 Liveupto30years.
 Large,unfriendlyturtles
 Strongclawedlegs
 Webbedfeet
 Powerful bite
 Longneck

65.  Carapace 8and18incheslong
 Color darkbrowntoblack.
 Plastron coversthestomach
 Cannotpulltheirheadandlegsintotheirshell
 Strongtailwitharowofridges
 Males are larger than females
 Femalesweigh 4.4to5.5pounds
 Malesweigh 249pounds

66.  Sexualmaturity 200mmcarapacelength
 Activeatnight
 Omnivorous(worms,insects,snails,andlargeritems
suchasotherturtles,ducklings,andsmallmammals)

67. Box turtle:-

68. Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordate
Class Reptilia
Order Testudines
Family Emydidae
Genus Terrapene
Species T.sp

69. Distribution:-
 EasternUnitedStatesfromMaineandMichiganto
EasternTexas
 FoundinCanada&inMexico
 Inhabitsopenwoodlands,marshymeadows,forests
andbrushygrasslands

70. Characteristics:-
 Gets its name from the structure of its shell which high domed
carapace(uppershell)andlargehingedplastron(lowershell)
 Carapace brown with variable pattern of orange or
yellowspots
 Adultmale redirises
 Adultfemale yellowish-brown

71.  Males shorter and more curved claws on their hind
feetandlongerandthickertails
 Predominantly terrestrial reptiles (often seen early in the day or after
rain)
 Diet animal and plant matter (earthworms, slugs,
insects,wildberries)
 Courtship spring
 Canstorespermforuptofouryearsaftermating
 Layaclutchof1to11eggs