Reptiles have been around some 300 million years, and our planet has seen its fair share of gigantic scaled beasts during its history. That said, only a few behemoths from the golden age of reptiles still exist today.
Here we present the five largest reptiles on Earth; the biggest in the four commonly recognized reptilian orders.
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile in the world, growing to a length of over 6 meters (20 ft). These mean-toothed giants are able to crush the skulls of cows between their jaws and, should the mood take them, can easily eat a human.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Leatherback sea turtles can measure over 2 meters (7 ft) in length, with a flipper span of almost 3 meters (8 ft), and are unique among turtles thanks to their lack of a hard, bony shell. Instead, their ridged, leathery carapace is built for speed, making them the fastest reptiles on Earth — as well as among the most humungous.
Reticulated Python
Is a species of python found in Southeast Asia. Adults can grow to 6.95 metres (22.8 ft) in length but normally grow to an average of 3-6 meters (10–20 feet). They are the world’s longest snakes and longest reptile, but are not the most heavily built.
Komodo Dragon
Technically, lizards and snakes belong to the same order, but most lizards have legs, while snakes don’t, so we’re representing the four-legged Squamata too! This king of lizards is a deadly hunter reaching lengths up to 3 meters (10 ft). Enter the komodo dragon.
Tuatara
The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand which, though it resembles most lizards, is actually part of a distinct lineage, order Sphenodontia.The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago.
- Are Cameron Diaz and Jude Law a Couple
- Manny Pacquiao's Stubbornness Preventing a Fight vs. Floyd Mayweather
- Smiling Animals 26 pics
- Log Cabin Republicans Support House GOP Budget Plan
- Big Surprise: Broncos Tim Tebow vs. Patriots Tom Brady was a Ratings
- Understanding Personalized Medicine
- Spiking Gas Prices: GOP Sides with Big Oil Again
- How Long Will it Take Manny Pacquiao to Knock Out Marquez
- 30,000 Expected for Tim Tebow's Easter Sermon
- The Autism Intervention Mandate; Show Me Angry
- Fan Take: Most Interesting Miami Hurricanes Storyline Heading into Next
- Are Broncos, Titans Really Peyton Mannings Top Two Teams
- John Elway Lied to Tim Tebow About Being Starting Quarterback, Staying
- Glenn Beck to Unemployed: Work at McDonald's