Dangerous Reptiles
Of the approximately 6,500 types of reptiles on earth, most are harmless. However, some are very dangerous animals capable of killing or severely injuring both other animals and humans.
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Crocodilia
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Reptiles like the alligator, crocodile and salt-water crocodile are carnivores, eating whatever they have the ability to catch in their aquatic environment. With powerful jaws and large teeth, these reptiles have the weapons to kill or inflict terrible wounds.
Constrictors
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Two groups of snakes, the constrictors and the boas, use their muscular bodies to wrap tightly around their prey, eventually causing it to suffocate. The largest of these, the reticulated python, can reach lengths of 33 feet, making it a formidable foe.
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Poisonous Snakes
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Other snakes kill their victims by use of toxic venom that they inject with a bite. In the United States, poisonous snake species include several types of rattlesnakes, the copperhead, the coral snake and the water moccasin.
Lizards
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A lizard found in the North American deserts called a Gila monster has a venomous bite, but it is hardly ever fatal. However, the Komodo dragon of the Indonesian islands, a meat-eating lizard, is large enough at 10 feet long to be a very real threat to a person.
Turtles
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The snapping turtle, a large reptile that possesses strong jaws and a longish neck, is a dangerous turtle to handle. While it will retreat when confronted in the water, on land it is often aggressive when faced with a threat.
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