The Boidae , commonly known as boas or boids ,[3] are a family of nonvenomous snakes primarily found in the Americas, as well as Africa, Europe, Asia, and some Pacific islands. Boas include some of the world’s largest snakes, with the green anaconda of South America being the heaviest and second-longest snake known; in general, adults are medium to large in size, with females usually larger than the males. Six subfamilies comprising 14-15 genera and 54-67 species are currently recognized.[3]
Like the pythons, boas have elongated supratemporal bones. The quadrate bones are also elongated, but not as much, while both are capable of moving freely so when they swing sideways to their maximum extent, the distance between the hinges of the lower jaw is greatly increased.[4]
Both families share a number of primitive characteristics. Nearly all have a relatively rigid lower jaw with a coronoid element, as well as a vestigial pelvic girdle with hind limbs that are partially visible as a pair of spurs, one on either side of the vent. In males, these anal spurs are larger and more conspicuous than in females. A long row of palatal teeth is present, and most species have a functional left lung that can be up to 75% as large as the right lung.[4][5]

​Welcome to the Vivarium Vault, your definitive, centralized resource for species-specific reptile and amphibian husbandry.

New rules on the sale or supply of pet animals came into effect on 1st February 2020. They are the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or supply of pet animals) Regulations 2019 (No. 681 of 2019)

Create topics here that don’t fit into any other reptile existing category.

Gekkonidae (the common geckos ) is the largest family of geckos, containing over 950 described species in 62 genera.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The Gekkonidae contain many of the most widespread gecko species, including house geckos (Hemidactylus ), the tokay gecko (Gekko ), day geckos (Phelsuma ), the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus ), and dtellas (Gehyra ). Gekkonid geckos occur globally and are particularly diverse in tropical areas. Many species of these geckos exhibit an adhering ability to surfaces through Van der Waals forces utilizing intermolecular forces between molecules of their setae (foot hair) and molecules of the surface they are on.

This is the place to talk, discuss about reptile feeding, questions about feeders,
Please note ‘live feeding’ is not a topic to discuss on reptile community as on a public site could and may be classed as animal cruelty, and posts on the subject Reptile Community and the moderators will / may remove without notice.

Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWA) in the UK, certain species of reptiles are classified as “dangerous wild animals” and require a license to be kept. These include various venomous snakes, crocodiles, and other potentially dangerous reptiles.

Discussion about Reptile Community, how it works, and how we can improve it.

All information concerning ‘Reptile Expo Ireland’ will be posted on this Category.

This the place to first post and meet the reptile community.
Let everyone know where your from & reptiles you own or wish to own, what experience with reptiles have you and the community loves pictures, showing off your reptiles a great way to introduce yourself

Amphibians are ectothermic, anamniotic, four-limbed vertebrate animals that constitute the class Amphibia . In its broadest sense, it is a paraphyletic group encompassing all tetrapods, but excluding the amniotes (tetrapods with an amniotic membrane, such as modern reptiles, birds and mammals). All extant (living) amphibians belong to the monophyletic subclass Lissamphibia, with three living orders: Anura (frogs and toads), Urodela (salamanders), and Gymnophiona (caecilians). Evolved to be mostly semiaquatic, amphibians have adapted to inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living in freshwater, wetland or terrestrial ecosystems (such as riparian woodland, fossorial and even arboreal habitats). Their life cycle typically starts out as aquatic larvae with gills known as tadpoles, but some species have developed behavioural adaptations to bypass this.
Young amphibians generally undergo metamorphosis from an aquatic larval form with gills to an air-breathing adult form with lungs. Amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory interface, and some small terrestrial salamanders and frogs even lack lungs and rely entirely on their skin. They are superficially similar to reptiles like lizards, but unlike reptiles and other amniotes, require access to water bodies to breed. With their complex reproductive needs and permeable skins, amphibians are often ecological indicators to habitat conditions; in recent decades there has been a dramatic decline in amphibian populations for many species around the globe.

The Pythonidae , commonly known as pythons , are a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Ten genera and 39 species are currently recognized. Being naturally non-venomous, pythons must constrict their prey to induce cardiac arrest prior to consumption. Pythons will typically strike at and bite their prey of choice to gain hold of it; they then must use physical strength to constrict their prey, by coiling their muscular bodies around the animal, effectively suffocating it before swallowing whole. This is in stark contrast to venomous snakes such as the rattlesnake, for example, which delivers a swift, venomous bite but releases, waiting as the prey succumbs to envenomation before being consumed. Collectively, the pythons are well-documented and studied as constrictors, much like other non-venomous snakes, including the boas and even kingsnakes of the New World.[2]

Colubridae (/kəˈluːbrɪdiː/, commonly known as colubrids /ˈkɒljʊbrɪdz/, from Latin: coluber , ‘snake’) is a family of snakes. With 249 genera,[2] it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected.[1] Colubrid snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica.[3]
Colubrids are a very diverse group of snakes. They can exhibit many different body styles, body sizes, colors, and patterns. They can also live in many different types of habitats including aquatic, terrestrial, semi-arboreal, arboreal, desert, mountainous forests, semi-fossorial, and brackish waters.[4]: 622–623 A primarily shy and harmless group of snakes, the vast majority of colubrids are not venomous, nor do most colubrids produce venom that is medically significant to mammals. However, the bites of some can escalate quickly to emergency situations. Furthermore, within the Colubridae, the South African boomslang and twig snakes, as well as the Asian keelback snakes (Rhabdophis sp.) have long been notorious for inflicting the worst bites on humans, with the most confirmed fatalities.[3][5][6]

Reptile genetics explores the inherited traits of reptiles, focusing on how genes determine characteristics like coloration, patterns, and even sex determination. Understanding these genetic principles is crucial for reptile breeding, allowing enthusiasts to predict offspring outcomes and create desired morphs.

Invertebrates are animals that neither develop nor retain a vertebral column (commonly known as a spine or backbone ), which evolved from the notochord. It is a paraphyletic grouping including all animals excluding the chordate subphylum Vertebrata, i.e. vertebrates. Well-known phyla of invertebrates include arthropods, molluscs, annelids, echinoderms, flatworms, cnidarians, and sponges.
The majority of animal species are invertebrates; one estimate puts the figure at 97%.[1] Many invertebrate taxa have a greater number and diversity of species than the entire subphylum of Vertebrata.[2] Invertebrates vary widely in size, from 10 μm (0.0004 in)[3] myxozoans to the 9–10 m (30–33 ft) colossal squid.[4]

Reptiles: turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. Testudines is the scientific order name, while Chelonia is an older name for the same group, and Chelonian is the adjective form used to describe members of this order. Essentially, they are synonyms within the context of reptile classification.