What Do Reptiles See? - National Zoo| FONZ

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Reptile Discovery Center

Related Resources

What Do Reptiles See?

Pupil shape and eye position provide some clues to what reptiles see, and when they hunt. Reptiles with round pupils are usually active during the day, and probably see in color. Slit-like pupils are common in nighttime predators, which see in black and white.

Basilisk eyes
The green crested basilisk has round pupils.

Copperhead eyes
The copperhead has slit-like pupils.

Chameleon eyes
A chameleon's eyes move independently, allowing it to see two different views at once. When it spots a meal, both eyes focus on the prey.

Alligator eyes
An alligator's eyes are high on its head, enabling it to see above water while most of its body stays submerged.

African pancake tortoise: African pancake tortoise
Malacochersus tornieri
Aldabra tortoise: Aldabra tortoise
Geochelone gigantea
Alligator snapping turtle: Alligator snapping turtle
Macroclemys temminckii
Australian snake-necked turtle: Australian snake-necked turtle
Chelodina longicollis
Black ratsnake: Black ratsnake
Elaphe obsoleta (obsoleta)
Boa constrictor: Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
Brazilian rainbow boa: Brazilian rainbow boa
Epicrates cenchria (cenchria)
Burmese python: Burmese python
Python molurus (bivittatus)
Cottonmouth: Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Cuban crocodile: Cuban crocodile
Crocodylus rhombifer
Eastern box turtle: Eastern box turtle
Terrapene carolina
Emerald tree boa: Emerald tree boa
Corallus caninus
Emperor newt: Emperor newt
Tylototriton shanjing
European glass lizard: European glass lizard
Ophisaurus apodus
Everglades ratsnake: Everglades ratsnake
Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni
Eyelash palm pitviper: Eyelash palm pitviper
Bothriechis schlegelii
Florida softshell turtle: Florida softshell turtle
Apalone ferox
Gaboon viper: Gaboon viper
Bitis gabonica
Gharial (Gavial): Gharial (Gavial)
Gavialus gangeticus
Gila monster: Gila monster
Heloderma suspectum
Grand Cayman iguana: Grand Cayman iguana
Cyclura lewisi
Greater siren: Greater siren
Siren lacertina
Green anaconda: Green anaconda
Eunectes murinus
Green iguana: Green iguana
Iguana iguana
Green tree python: Green tree python
Morelia viridis
Inland bearded dragon: Inland bearded dragon
Pogona vitticeps
King cobra: King cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
Leopard gecko: Leopard gecko
Eublepharis macularius
Mangrove snake: Mangrove snake
Boiga dendrophila
Matamata turtle: Matamata turtle
Chelus fimbriatus
Northern blue-tongued skink: Northern blue-tongued skink
Tiliqua scincoides
Northern pine snake: Northern pine snake
Pituophis melanoleucus
Oriental fire-bellied toad: Oriental fire-bellied toad
Bombina orientalis
Red-tailed ratsnake: Red-tailed ratsnake
Gonyosoma oxycephala
Timber rattlesnake: Timber rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Tokay gecko: Tokay gecko
Gekko gecko
Veiled chameleon: Veiled chameleon
Chamaeleo calyptratus
White's tree frog: White's tree frog
Pelodryas caerulea
?: Snake Habitat
?: Lizard Defense
?: Snake Skin
?: Reptile Diet
?: Crocodilian
?: Reptile Moves
?: Gharial Conservation
?: Zoo Breeding
?: Crocodile Conservation
?: Reptile Vision
?: Boas
?: Iguana Conservation
?: Constriction
?: Reptile Conservation
?: Venom
?: Turtle Conservation
?: Amphibian Conservation
?: Aldabra Tortoise
?: Water Quality
?: Quiz

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Question marks link to more on reptiles and amphibians.

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