Types of Reptiles: Complete Guide with Baby Names

Every type of reptile — lizards, turtles, crocodilians — with baby names and facts.

🥚 What Are Baby Reptiles Called?

Most baby reptiles are called hatchlings because they emerge from eggs. Unlike mammals, most reptile hatchlings are fully independent from birth — no parental feeding or care (with notable exceptions like crocodilians and some skinks).

Lizard baby: Hatchling
Turtle baby: Hatchling
Snake baby: Hatchling / Neonate
Crocodile baby: Hatchling

🦎 Lizards

Bearded Dragon

Baby: Hatchling

Most popular pet reptile — waves its arm to say hello

Leopard Gecko

Baby: Hatchling

Smiles when eating — one of the easiest lizards to keep

Green Iguana

Baby: Hatchling

Can grow to 6 feet — falls from trees when it freezes in Florida

Chameleon

Baby: Hatchling

Eyes move independently — sees 360° at once

Komodo Dragon

Baby: Hatchling

Largest lizard — babies live in trees to avoid being eaten by adults

Crested Gecko

Baby: Hatchling

Thought extinct until 1994 — now a top pet

Blue-Tongued Skink

Baby: Hatchling/Live-born

Sticks out bright blue tongue to scare predators

Gila Monster

Baby: Hatchling

One of only 2 venomous lizards — moves slowly but bites hard

🐢 Turtles & Tortoises

Box Turtle

Baby: Hatchling

Can live 100+ years — babies are the size of a quarter

Red-Eared Slider

Baby: Hatchling

Most popular pet turtle — babies have vivid green shells

Snapping Turtle

Baby: Hatchling

Babies already have powerful jaws — finger-sized at birth

Sea Turtle

Baby: Hatchling

Only 1 in 1,000 survives to adulthood

Painted Turtle

Baby: Hatchling

Most common turtle in North America

Gopher Tortoise (Florida)

Baby: Hatchling

Keystone species — 350+ other species use their burrows

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Baby: Hatchling

Heaviest freshwater turtle — uses worm-like tongue to fish

Softshell Turtle (Florida)

Baby: Hatchling

Flat, leathery shell — surprisingly fast on land

🐊 Crocodilians

American Alligator

Baby: Hatchling

Babies have yellow stripes that fade with age

Nile Crocodile

Baby: Hatchling

Mother carries babies in her mouth to water

Saltwater Crocodile

Baby: Hatchling

Largest reptile — grows to 20+ feet

Caiman

Baby: Hatchling

Smallest crocodilian — some species under 5 feet