Reptile Pictures
Welcome to the Reptile photo gallery at Shetzers.com. Here, you’ll find images of rare reptiles like the Marine Iguana, Green Parrot Snake, Galapagos Tortoise, and more. Our reptile images are close-up and vivid, conveying the full power of these astonishing creatures. Find your perfect reptile picture today.

Galapagos Islands Marine IguanaA marine iguana regards the photographer in the Galapagos Islands. “Make sure you get my wig in the shot,” it seems to say.
Marine iguanas are herbivores. They’re adapted to swim through salty water and feed on algae. Special glands filter the salt out of their bloodstreams and secrete it above their noses, forming their recognizable salty wigs.
Stock Image #20200224-06175606
Marine iguanas are herbivores. They’re adapted to swim through salty water and feed on algae. Special glands filter the salt out of their bloodstreams and secrete it above their noses, forming their recognizable salty wigs.
Stock Image #20200224-06175606

Galapagos Marine Iguana On Green BackgroundA Galápagos marine iguana poses on a rock. It has darker scales than some of its cousins on other islands, reflecting how this species has evolved in different ways to suit the many environments of the Galápagos.
Marine iguanas are the only lizard in the world that’s adapted for swimming. Naturalists theorize that they all descend from common ancestors who drifted away from the mainland on floating logs.
Stock Image #20200224-07275837
Marine iguanas are the only lizard in the world that’s adapted for swimming. Naturalists theorize that they all descend from common ancestors who drifted away from the mainland on floating logs.
Stock Image #20200224-07275837

Green Parrot Snake PhotographThe green parrot snake is also called the green tree snake; locals sometimes call it a lora. It can grow up to six and a half feet long.
While that might sound intimidating, green parrot snakes are actually harmless to humans. Their main defense mechanism is to mimic other snakes, like the Forest Pit Viper, which have strong venom. If you were a predator, would you take the chance?
Stock Image #20190406-14290904
While that might sound intimidating, green parrot snakes are actually harmless to humans. Their main defense mechanism is to mimic other snakes, like the Forest Pit Viper, which have strong venom. If you were a predator, would you take the chance?
Stock Image #20190406-14290904

Large Colony Of Marine IguanasMarine iguanas get along well with others, but compared to birds and mammals who live in similarly large groups, they’re not as expressive of their friendship. You’re more likely to see them lying around having a nap than grooming each other.
Stock Image #20200225-15142015
Stock Image #20200225-15142015

Coiled Western Diamondback Rattlesnake PictureIn an attack posture, this closeup rattlesnake picture shows this serpent's rattle alerting all of danger. Whipping its tongue about to sense the surroundings, we get a view of its camouflaged scales. Snake picture taken on our South Texas Photo Tour.
Stock Image #20170327-102058
Stock Image #20170327-102058

Galapagos Tortoise On Santa Cruz IslandClose-up on a venerable Galápagos tortoise. This one’s ability to raise its head high is more than just a good photo pose -- it also gives us a clue about its habitat.
Tortoises who live on greener islands with lots of shallow water have broader shell brims that keep their heads closer to the ground. This tortoise, who can lift its head to browse for a wider range of leaves, likely lives on a drier part of Santa Cruz island.
Stock Image #20200305-07264179
Tortoises who live on greener islands with lots of shallow water have broader shell brims that keep their heads closer to the ground. This tortoise, who can lift its head to browse for a wider range of leaves, likely lives on a drier part of Santa Cruz island.
Stock Image #20200305-07264179

Sally Lightfoot Crab Close UpSally Lightfoot crabs are one of the symbols of the Galapagos Islands, seen in great numbers on almost any shoreline in the archipelago. As scavengers, they’ll eat just about anything they can get their claws on, from ticks and algae to the young of other species.
The Sally Lightfoot crab’s willingness to eat almost anything makes it a great cleaner. It’s often seen picking bugs off the skin of other shoreline dwellers. On the mainland, Sally Lightfoots are popular as “janitors” for reef tanks.
Stock Image #20200223-15101013
The Sally Lightfoot crab’s willingness to eat almost anything makes it a great cleaner. It’s often seen picking bugs off the skin of other shoreline dwellers. On the mainland, Sally Lightfoots are popular as “janitors” for reef tanks.
Stock Image #20200223-15101013

Sally Lightfoot Crab Molting And Shedding ShellWhen a Sally Lightfoot crabs grows too big for its shell, it molts and grows a new one. The foam you can see in this picture is a secretion that helps loosen the old shell.
Once it’s free, the soft crab opens the top of its shell like a hinged lid, and crawls out to start growing a new one. Many discarded shells of these colorful crustaceans litter the beaches of the Galápagos Islands.
Stock Image #20200302-07181826
Once it’s free, the soft crab opens the top of its shell like a hinged lid, and crawls out to start growing a new one. Many discarded shells of these colorful crustaceans litter the beaches of the Galápagos Islands.
Stock Image #20200302-07181826

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake In South TexasA western diamondback rattlesnake rears up in South Texas, sticking out its forked tongue.
Western diamondbacks spend most of the day asleep, curled up on sunny rocks to warm their cold blood. They can “smell” heat with a special organ in their nose, which they use to find their prey.
Stock Image #20170327-101437
Western diamondbacks spend most of the day asleep, curled up on sunny rocks to warm their cold blood. They can “smell” heat with a special organ in their nose, which they use to find their prey.
Stock Image #20170327-101437

Galapagos Giant TortoiseThe endemic Galápagos giant tortoise, the species that gave the Galápagos Islands their name. In Spanish, “galápago" refers to a type of saddle, of which their shells reminded the early colonists.
These giant tortoises are famous for their long lifespans, with 152 being the current record. It’s not impossible that a tortoise hatched when Darwin arrived in 1835 could still be alive.
Stock Image #20200228-13252676
These giant tortoises are famous for their long lifespans, with 152 being the current record. It’s not impossible that a tortoise hatched when Darwin arrived in 1835 could still be alive.
Stock Image #20200228-13252676

Galapagos Islands Land IguanaA close up photo of a Galápagos land iguana, showing off its colorful scales and long, powerful claws. Land iguanas can live for up to 50 years, and this one definitely looks like it has some stories to tell.
The Galápagos land iguana’s population dropped alarmingly on some islands due to introduced predators like dogs. However, the tireless efforts of the Charles Darwin Research Station led to thousands of captive-bred land iguanas being introduced to the wild in 2019.
Stock Image #20200226-07482828
The Galápagos land iguana’s population dropped alarmingly on some islands due to introduced predators like dogs. However, the tireless efforts of the Charles Darwin Research Station led to thousands of captive-bred land iguanas being introduced to the wild in 2019.
Stock Image #20200226-07482828

Galapagos Land Iguana And Prickly Pear CactusThe Galápagos land iguana is one of three iguana species found nowhere in the world except the Galápagos Islands.
This one is using its strong arms and long claws to gather its favorite food source, the prickly pear cactus. Due to the tough coating inside its mouth, it can eat both the leaves and fruit of the prickly pear without worrying about the spines.
Stock Image #20200301-14003566
This one is using its strong arms and long claws to gather its favorite food source, the prickly pear cactus. Due to the tough coating inside its mouth, it can eat both the leaves and fruit of the prickly pear without worrying about the spines.
Stock Image #20200301-14003566

Galapagos Tortoise Hiding In ShellYou might have heard that the Galápagos tortoise is extinct, but it’s not quite so. The famous Lonesome George was a Pinta Island Tortoise, the last of a species distinct from this one.
However, Galápagos tortoises are still vulnerable to human hunters and feral introduced animals. Strict government protections, and conservation efforts led by the Charles Darwin Research Center, are helping reverse that trend.
Stock Image #20200306-06571908
However, Galápagos tortoises are still vulnerable to human hunters and feral introduced animals. Strict government protections, and conservation efforts led by the Charles Darwin Research Center, are helping reverse that trend.
Stock Image #20200306-06571908

Greater Flamingo And Marine IguanaGreater flamingos have an odd feeding method. They can only eat with their heads upside down, so before dipping their heads in the water, they use one of their legs to kick up a slurry of small crustaceans, plants, and insects. Then they scoop it all up in their beaks.
The marine iguana is scooting on by so it doesn’t get caught up in the disturbance. Photo taken at Bacha Beach in the Galapagos Islands.
Stock Image #20200223-14470504
The marine iguana is scooting on by so it doesn’t get caught up in the disturbance. Photo taken at Bacha Beach in the Galapagos Islands.
Stock Image #20200223-14470504

Male Green Basilisk Or Jesus Christ LizardPhoto of a green basilisk, a Central American lizard that can grow up to two feet long. The crests on this lizard’s head, back, and tail indicate that he’s male.
The green basilisk is nicknamed the Jesus Christ Lizard, due to its long toes that let it run across the surface of water for over 15 feet at a time. This adaptation is their main way of escaping predators.
Stock Image #20190408-15253251
The green basilisk is nicknamed the Jesus Christ Lizard, due to its long toes that let it run across the surface of water for over 15 feet at a time. This adaptation is their main way of escaping predators.
Stock Image #20190408-15253251

Marine Iguana In ProfileScientists believe that the marine iguana is descended from mainland iguanas who clung to pieces of driftwood and floated out to sea. These great voyagers have loved the water ever since, and are perfectly adapted to feed on algae and seaweed.
That’s right: they might look like they’re ready to play the Game of Thrones, but these dragons are herbivores. They eat a lot of salt along with their veggies, and secrete it on top of their heads into crystalline white hats.
Stock Image #20200304-06450508
That’s right: they might look like they’re ready to play the Game of Thrones, but these dragons are herbivores. They eat a lot of salt along with their veggies, and secrete it on top of their heads into crystalline white hats.
Stock Image #20200304-06450508

Sally Lightfoot Crab Shell And CameraAfter coming across one of the most intact Sally Lightfoot crab shells we’ve ever seen, we decided to have a bit of fun. While it’s not the most effective photographer, it sure does look cool.
If this was a real crab and not a molted shell, it would probably skitter away before we had a chance to set up this tableau. Like their namesake, said to have been a Caribbean dancer, these crustaceans are exceptionally nimble.
Stock Image #20200304-07425177
If this was a real crab and not a molted shell, it would probably skitter away before we had a chance to set up this tableau. Like their namesake, said to have been a Caribbean dancer, these crustaceans are exceptionally nimble.
Stock Image #20200304-07425177

Galapagos Tortoise In A Grassy FieldThis Galápagos tortoise’s life isn’t too difficult. It’s probably going to spend all day wandering around this field, munching on the grass, and napping in the sun.
However, if times do get tough, this tortoise is prepared. Its metabolism is slow enough that it can go without food or water for a whole year, subsisting entirely on stored fat.
Stock Image #20200306-07140506
However, if times do get tough, this tortoise is prepared. Its metabolism is slow enough that it can go without food or water for a whole year, subsisting entirely on stored fat.
Stock Image #20200306-07140506

Large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake ImageAn aggressive rattlesnake image of a large Western Diamondback. See in detail how the coloring of the scales gives a notable "diamond" patterning. Coiled in a ready position with its sensitive tongue out, we gave this one plenty of room during this photo session. Snake picture from South Texas.
Stock Image #20170327-084928
Stock Image #20170327-084928
Reptiles was last modified: May 27th, 2022 by