Reptiles | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/reptiles/RSS feed for ReptilesenWed, 14 Oct 2026 20:50:00 +0000See the Stunning Winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest, Capturing the Splendor and Drama of Naturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-stunning-winners-of-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-contest-capturing-the-splendor-and-drama-of-nature-180989681/These 19 recognized images highlight the diversity across our planet and the value in appreciating and protecting the natural worldWed, 14 Oct 2026 20:50:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-stunning-winners-of-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-contest-capturing-the-splendor-and-drama-of-nature-180989681/Scientists Took a Cheek Swab From the World's Oldest Tortoise. His DNA Could Reveal Hints to Longevityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-took-a-cheek-swab-from-the-worlds-oldest-tortoise-his-dna-could-reveal-hints-to-longevity-180989663/Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is about 194 years old and the oldest land animal alive today. Discoveries about his genetics could provide clues to extending lifespan in humansFri, 09 Oct 2026 17:28:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-took-a-cheek-swab-from-the-worlds-oldest-tortoise-his-dna-could-reveal-hints-to-longevity-180989663/A Century Ago, an Extinct Crocodilian's Skull Was Found in the Rocks That Built the Sphinx. Turns Out, It Belonged to a New Specieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-century-ago-an-extinct-crocidilians-skull-was-found-in-the-rocks-that-built-the-sphinx-turns-out-it-belonged-to-a-new-species-180989641/The specimen was long mislabeled, according to a new study. Paleontologists identified it as a previously undescribed genus and species of gavial—a cousin of crocodiles and alligators—which they named after the ancient Egyptian god HorusFri, 09 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-century-ago-an-extinct-crocidilians-skull-was-found-in-the-rocks-that-built-the-sphinx-turns-out-it-belonged-to-a-new-species-180989641/Five Discoveries That Changed Our Understanding of T. Rex Forever, From Warm Blood to Lipshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-discoveries-that-changed-our-understanding-of-t-rex-forever-from-warm-blood-to-lips-180989634/Paleontologists are still unraveling the secrets of the world’s most famous dinosaur, such as its outward appearance or the way that it hunted. With each new finding, our view of the “tyrant lizard king” has gotten a little clearer—and sometimes has radically shiftedWed, 07 Oct 2026 17:15:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-discoveries-that-changed-our-understanding-of-t-rex-forever-from-warm-blood-to-lips-180989634/Two Heads Are Better Than One: Rare, Double-Headed Turtle Hatchling Discovered on Cape Codhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-heads-are-better-than-one-rare-double-headed-turtle-hatchling-discovered-on-cape-cod-180989579/The tiny diamondback terrapin was brought to a wildlife center on September 17. At the time, the creature weighed about as much as a nickelTue, 29 Sep 2026 13:33:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-heads-are-better-than-one-rare-double-headed-turtle-hatchling-discovered-on-cape-cod-180989579/In a First, Sea Turtles Were Spotted Nesting on the U.S. West Coast. Scientists Say the 'Super' El Niño Could Have Brought Them Therehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-sea-turtles-were-spotted-nesting-on-the-us-west-coast-scientists-say-the-super-el-nino-could-have-brought-them-there-180989574/Two olive ridley turtles were found laying eggs on beaches in Southern California in September. In the Pacific Ocean, these reptiles normally nest farther south, often in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and PanamaFri, 25 Sep 2026 20:24:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-sea-turtles-were-spotted-nesting-on-the-us-west-coast-scientists-say-the-super-el-nino-could-have-brought-them-there-180989574/Tyrannosaurus Rex Was a Warm-Blooded Dinosaur, With a Body Temperature Similar to That of Humans, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tyrannosaurus-rex-was-a-warm-blooded-dinosaur-with-a-body-temperature-similar-to-that-of-humans-study-suggests-180989519/A tooth analysis hints that the fearsome predator ran at a toasty 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining that internal temperature may have allowed it to inhabit a range stretching from modern-day Alaska to Mexico during the Cretaceous periodFri, 18 Sep 2026 15:59:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tyrannosaurus-rex-was-a-warm-blooded-dinosaur-with-a-body-temperature-similar-to-that-of-humans-study-suggests-180989519/Five Ways the World of the Dinosaurs Looked Different From Ours, Beyond the Presence of the 'Terrible Lizards'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-ways-the-world-of-the-dinosaurs-looked-different-from-ours-beyond-the-presence-of-the-terrible-lizards-180989521/Earth has changed dramatically since the Age of Dinosaurs, from its climate to geography and animal lifeFri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-ways-the-world-of-the-dinosaurs-looked-different-from-ours-beyond-the-presence-of-the-terrible-lizards-180989521/The Tip of This Snake's Tail Looks Like a Spider. But Inside, Its Bones Are 'Bizarrely Normal'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tip-of-this-snakes-tail-looks-like-a-spider-but-inside-its-bones-are-bizarrely-normal-180989478/High-tech scans reveal the first detailed look at the internal anatomy of the spider-tailed horned viper. The findings shed light on little-known snake vertebrae and highlight the difficulty of predicting what an animal looks like from its skeletonThu, 10 Sep 2026 16:06:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tip-of-this-snakes-tail-looks-like-a-spider-but-inside-its-bones-are-bizarrely-normal-180989478/Reptiles Make a Surprising Amount of Noise. Here's What Those Sounds Might Mean, From Pops to Hoots to Bellowshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/reptiles-make-a-surprising-amount-of-noise-heres-what-those-sounds-might-mean-from-pops-to-hoots-to-bellows-180989422/Scientists are realizing that turtles, lizards and crocodilians communicate vocally more than they once thoughtWed, 02 Sep 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/reptiles-make-a-surprising-amount-of-noise-heres-what-those-sounds-might-mean-from-pops-to-hoots-to-bellows-180989422/See 16 Stunning Animal Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awardshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-16-stunning-animal-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180989397/Now in its 62nd year, the famed competition has released a sneak peek of the entries from this contest ahead of announcing the winners in OctoberWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:28:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-16-stunning-animal-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180989397/This 15-Foot Python Is the First Known Snake to Receive Electrochemotherapy for Cancer. Now, She's Officially Free of the Diseasehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-15-foot-python-is-the-first-known-snake-to-receive-electrochemotherapy-for-cancer-now-shes-officially-free-of-the-disease-180989385/The pioneering treatment makes it easier for traditional chemotherapy drugs to penetrate cancer cells. After the procedure, the reptile, named Jodie Foster, made a speedy recoveryMon, 24 Aug 2026 17:31:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-15-foot-python-is-the-first-known-snake-to-receive-electrochemotherapy-for-cancer-now-shes-officially-free-of-the-disease-180989385/