Spanish sailors thought the alligator to be a large lizard and so named it "el lagarto," meaning "the lizard."  English sailors took the name as allagarter and in time it has become alliagtor.

The ball python go its name because it rolls up into a ball when it feels threatened.

Burmese pythons are excellent swimmers and can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes before resurfacing for air.

 Considering its mass and length, the green anaconda is the largest snake in the world.

The grey rat snake is also called the oak snake because of its patterned markings that resemble oak bark.

The eyes and nostrils of the sand boa are on top of their head so it can breathe and search for prey while the rest of its body lies hidden beneath the sand.

Its hard, impenetrable shell makes it practically impossible for any predator to pose a threat.

Boas have special pits on their heads which allow them to detect heat to help them find warmblooded prey at night.

During breeding season, males will battle, attempting to turn one another over.

 The monitor's eating habits revolve around the weather. It feasts during the wet season when the food is plentiful and lives off its fat reserves during the dry season.

Sulcata tortoises are one of the largest tortoise species in the world.

After a female gives birth to her fully developed young, she leaves them to defend themselves.