Reptiles
Children’s Python
COMMON NAME: Children’s Python
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Antaresia childreni
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: Bed, Nest, Pit, Den
LIFESPAN: Wild - 20 yrs; Human Care - 25 - 30 yrs
SIZE: 36 - 40 in
WEIGHT: -
STATUS: Least concern
THREATS: None
FUN FACT: These snakes locate warm-blooded prey using heat-sensitive pits along their jaw
Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman
COMMON NAME: Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Paleosuchus palpebrosus
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: Congregation
LIFESPAN: 20 - 40 yrs
SIZE: Male - 4.6 ft. Female - 3.9 ft
WEIGHT: 13 - 15 lbs
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Loss of Habitat
FUN FACT: Smallest species of alligator family
Leopard Tortoise
COMMON NAME: Leopard Tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Stigmochelys pardalis
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Creep
LIFESPAN: 20 - 75 yrs
SIZE: 16 in
WEIGHT: 29 - 80 lbs
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Poaching and Pet Trade
FUN FACT: Second largest tortoise in Africa
Red-footed Tortoise
COMMON NAME: Red-footed Tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chelonoidis carbonaria
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: Creep
LIFESPAN: 30 yrs
SIZE: 12 - 18 inches, males larger than females
WEIGHT: 20 pounds, males can be larger
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Habitat Loss and Pet Trade
FUN FACT: The Red-footed Tortoise can survive up to six months without food or water
Sulcata Tortoise
COMMON NAME: Sulcata Tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Centrochelys sulcata
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Creep
LIFESPAN: 80 - 100 yrs
SIZE: 24 - 36 in
WEIGHT: 70 - 150 pounds, some males – 200 pounds
STATUS: Vulnerable
THREATS: Habitat Loss, Hunting, and Illegal Pet Trade.
FUN FACT: Shell has growth rings that indicate the tortoises age
Three-Toed Box Turtle
COMMON NAME: Three-Toed Box Turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Terrapene Carolina triunguis
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: Wild - 40 - 50 yrs; Human Care - 40 yrs
SIZE: 4 ½ - 6 in
WEIGHT: 1 lbs
STATUS: Vulnerable
THREATS: Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
FUN FACT: box turtles are able to digest poisonous mushrooms with no ill effects
Ornate Box Turtle
COMMON NAME: Ornate Box Turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Terrapene ornata ornata
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: Wild - 30 yrs; Human Care - 40 yrs
SIZE: 4 - 6 in
WEIGHT: -
STATUS: Near Threatened
THREATS: Illegal Pet Trade and Predators (snakes, birds of prey, skunks, raccoons, foxes)
FUN FACT: The Ornate Box Turtle is the official reptile for the state of Kansas!
Painted Turtle
COMMON NAME: Painted Turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chrysemys picta
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: Bale, Turn, Dole, Nest
LIFESPAN: Wild - 30 yrs; Human Care - 30 - 50 yrs
SIZE: Males - 5 in; Females - 7 in
WEIGHT: Males - 11 ounces; Females - 18 ounces
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Predators (raccoons, otters, mink, foxes, and humans)
FUN FACT: To swallow, this species must have its head submerged since their tongue does not move freely and they cannot manipulate food well on land
Prairie Kingsnake
COMMON NAME: Prairie Kingsnake
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lampropeltis calligaster
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: 20 - 30 yrs
SIZE: 30 - 40 in
WEIGHT: -
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Predators
FUN FACT: They are not typically prone to biting, and if handled will often excrete a foul-smelling musk
Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor
COMMON NAME: Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Boa constrictor constrictor
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: Wild - 20 yrs; Human Care - 40 yrs
SIZE: 6 - 12 ft
WEIGHT: 50 lbs
STATUS: Not Listed
THREATS: Hunting
FUN FACT: Even when presented with dead prey, a boa constrictor will constrict it before consuming it
Spiny Softshell Turtle
COMMON NAME: Spiny Softshell Turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Apalone spinifera
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: 50 yrs
SIZE: Male - 5 - 10 in; Female - 7 - 19 in
WEIGHT: -
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Humans
FUN FACT: They bury themselves under a layer of mud at the bottom of a lake, with only their head sticking out and catch prey as it passes by with a strike faster than the blink of an eye
Western Hinge-Back Tortoise
COMMON NAME: Western Hinge-Back Tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Kinixys belliana nogueyi
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: Wild - 50 yrs; Human Care - unknown
SIZE: 6 - 9 in
WEIGHT: 4 ½ lbs
STATUS: Threatened
THREATS: Illegal Pet Trade and Predators (large mammals and large birds)
FUN FACT: When threatened, the hinge-back tortoise will pull back into its shell, hiss, and will defecate if picked up
Western Hognose Snake
COMMON NAME: Western Hognose Snake
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Heterodon nasicus
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: -
LIFESPAN: Wild - 15 yrs; Human Care - 20 yrs
SIZE: 1 ½ - 2 ½ ft
WEIGHT: 2 - 5 ounces
STATUS: Least Concern
THREATS: Predators (birds of prey and medium-sized mammals)
FUN FACT: This snake rarely bites when it is threatened but it does “play dead” if an intruder persists in its advances
Red-Eared Slider
COMMON NAME: Red-Eared Slider
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Trachemys scripta elegans
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: Bale, Turn, Dole, Nest
LIFESPAN: 30 yrs
SIZE: Males - 7 - 9 in; Females - 10 - 12 in
WEIGHT: 2 - 5 ounces
STATUS: Not Listed
THREATS: None
FUN FACT: The red-eared slider turtle is the most commonly traded reptile, due to its relatively low price and usually low food price, small size, and easy maintenance
Yellow Spotted (Amazon) River Turtle
COMMON NAME: Yellow Spotted (Amazon) River Turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Podochemis unifillis
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Omnivore
GROUP NAME: Bale, Turn, Dole, Nest
LIFESPAN: 70 yrs
SIZE: 14 - 25 in; females larger than males
WEIGHT: 2.5 - 7 lbs
STATUS: Vulnerable
THREATS: Habitat Loss and Pet Trade
FUN FACT: The Yellow Spotted (Amazon) River Turtle cannot retract head into its shell