Reptiles – North American Nature

There are hundreds of species of reptiles in North America. Reptiles are adaptable but they thrive in warmer climates. They are found throughout almost all of North America except the far northern regions of Canada and Alaska. Reptiles are a very diverse group. They include snakes, turtles, crocodiles, and more. Whether you measure in length or weight, there's no denying that some reptiles here surpass the rest. Although four of the reptiles on this list are not native to North America, they are probably here to stay and are impressive creatures. We are going to countdown the 10 largest reptiles in North America based on a few different factors. Read on to learn about the biggest reptiles in North America! 10. Bolson Tortoise Photo by mbtrap CC3.0 The Bolson tortoise is the largest tortoise in North America. Their shells can reach almost two feet and they can weigh nearly 40 pounds. They are critically endangered and their numbers continue to decline. The range of a Bolson tortoise is currently restricted to a small area of northern Mexico. They primarily eat grass and shrubs. Efforts are currently underway to establish captive breeding programs with future goals of reintroducing individuals to their former range. 9. Eastern Indigo Snake FFW Flickr CC2.0 The eastern indigo snake is the longest snake native to the United States. They can reach nearly 8 feet long as adults. The habitat of eastern indigo snakes is restricted to Florida and southern areas of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. They are often observed sharing burrows with gopher tortoises in pine-oak sandhills. During the summer they can often be seen on the edges of wetlands. Eastern indigo snakes regularly feed on mammals, birds, and frogs. They have even been known to eat other snakes, including rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. It is believed that they are immune to the venom from these snakes. The eastern indigo snake is listed as a federally threatened species due to habitat loss. 8. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Brian Garrett Flickr CC2.0 The Eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. They can reach 8 feet long and weigh up to 10 pounds. These snakes are pit vipers, meaning they have visible sensory pits on their heads which they can use to detect heat emitted by their prey. They generally live in the dry, pine flat woods, sandy woodlands, and coastal scrub habitats from southern North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana. The diet of an Eastern diamondback rattlesnake is made up of rats, mice, squirrels, and birds. They can accurately strike distances up to a third of their body length. This means an eight-foot snake can accurately bite something nearly three feet away. Though they are feared as deadly and aggressive, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are actually highly averse to human contact and only attack in defense. Most bites occur when humans taunt or try to capture or kill a rattlesnake. A bite from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake is extremely painful and can be fatal to humans. However, bites can be treated with antivenom so they rarely result in death. 7. Nile Monitor Lizard Bernard Dupont Flickr CC2.0 The Nile monitor lizard is the biggest lizard in North America. Nile monitors can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh nearly 20 pounds. It is believed that they were introduced to North America as part of the pet trade in the 1990s. These lizards wander over large areas, growing quickly, and breed at an early age, laying up to 60 eggs at a time. Nile monitor lizards now number in the thousands in North America with several breeding populations in Florida. They feed on fish, snails, frogs, snakes, birds, small mammals, insects, and carrion. They also feed on alligator and crocodile eggs and young. This raises the concern that they can decimate populations of native wildlife in Florida. However, their population has not yet grown large enough to cause significant damage. The Nile Monitor is an impressive reptile and the biggest lizard in the world. 6. Spectacled Caiman Gail Hampshire Flickr CC2.0 The caiman is small compared to many other crocodilians, but it is still a very large reptile. They can grow to over 8 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. They are native to southern Mexico and regions of South America. However, in the United States, spectacled caimans have been introduced to Florida through intentionally released or escaped pets. There are now several established breeding populations in Florida. Spectacled caimans are highly adaptable, they prey on any animals they can get. Smaller caimans tend to feed on snails and insects while larger ones will regularly eat crabs and mammals. 5. Alligator Snapping Turtle Peter Paplanus Flickr CC2.0 The alligator snapping turtle is the largest species of freshwater turtle in North America. Males have been known to grow to 250 pounds and live to be 100 years old. They have massive heads and jaws with a bite force of 1,000 pounds. They live almost exclusively in the rivers, canals, and lakes of the southeastern United States. Their tongues have a unique pink lure which they use to bait fish into swimming into their mouths. Adult alligator snapping turtles have no natural predators. However, due to pressures of hunting and the pet trade, their numbers have severely reduced. They are now protected throughout most of their range. 4. African Rock Python Dick Culbert Flickr CC2.0 The African rock python regularly grows over 11 feet long. African rock pythons are native to south and western Africa, although they now have established populations in south Florida. These snakes are among the most aggressive reptiles. It is believed that they were introduced by pet owners who released snakes that they could no longer handle. African rock pythons have a voracious appetite. In their natural range in Africa, they will prey on small antelope, warthogs, dogs, monkeys, goats, and crocodiles. In North America, they will prey on alligators, deer, and other mammals. It is believed that these pythons are only established in a small area near Miami, Florida. Hopefully, these large reptiles do not spread much further. 3. Burmese Python Allan Hack Flickr CCAD2.0 Burmese pythons are extremely large snakes. They can grow to 23 feet and 200 pounds. Although they are not native to North America, like so many others on this list, they have been introduced to the Everglades. Scientists believe that the snakes in the Everglades either escaped or were intentionally released from the pet trade. They pose a great threat to native wildlife. Burmese pythons eat anything they can overpower including birds, mammals, and even alligators. These massive snakes have been established in North America since the 1990s. 2. American Crocodile Brandon Trentler Flickr CC2.0 The American crocodile is a massive reptile. Males can grow to over 14 feet and nearly 1,000 pounds. The populations in central and South America feature even bigger individuals but animals of that size have not been recorded in North America. A crocodile will eat almost anything that moves. Hatchlings and young crocodiles eat small fish, snails, crustaceans, and insects, while adults feed mostly at night on fish, crabs, turtles, snakes, and small mammals. They thrive in brackish or saltwater areas. Their habitat of choice is the fresh or brackish water of river estuaries, coastal lagoons, and mangrove swamps. In the Florida Everglades, their range overlaps with American alligators. This is the only place in the world that alligators and crocodiles live together. They can be distinguished from American alligators based on their longer pointed snouts. American alligators have rounder, shorter snouts. Illegal hunting and habitat depletion have reduced their numbers. American crocodiles are considered a vulnerable species but their numbers are currently rising. 1. American Alligator Judy Gallagher Flickr CC2.0 American alligators are the largest reptiles in North America. They can grow to amazing sizes. An adult male American alligator can easily reach 15 feet long and weigh 1,000 pounds. The largest alligator ever recorded was said to be 17 feet 5 inches long. Alligators are carnivorous opportunists. They will eat anything that they are big enough to overpower. Their diet consists of fish, amphibians, birds, mammals, and crustaceans. In rare cases, American alligators have been known to eat humans. In areas where American alligators are common, people are advised to stay away from the edge of the water. They live in the wetlands of the southeastern United States. The largest population of American alligators is in Gainesville, Florida where they live in freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes. American alligators were placed on the endangered species list in 1967. Since then, the population has rebounded with over 1 million American alligators alive today. As the population continues to grow, we may soon see an alligator that breaks the current 17-foot 5 inch record. North America has some truly amazing reptiles. These modern-day monsters can grow to astonishing sizes. With the American alligator coming in at number one on the list at 17 feet and 1,000 pounds, North America clearly has the ecosystems to allow reptiles to flourish. The next time you are outdoors, be sure to look for a reptile. They can be harder to spot than other animals due to their secretive nature and silent ways but you just might spot one of the giant reptiles on this list!