Snakes, lizards, turtles

Snake and lizard identifier

A reptile is identified from afar, and that suits everyone.

The recurring question — harmless or venomous — turns on pupil shape and head outline, two details nobody should check up close. A photo taken from three metres is enough for SafaRoll. A reminder: identification is a statistical model, not a substitute for caution.

81 species4 min read
Download on theApp Store
In brief

How do you tell a harmless snake from a venomous one in a photo?

The classic criteria — round or slit pupil, head scales, snout shape — assume a close look nobody should attempt. Image identification sidesteps the problem: a photo taken from three metres is enough for SafaRoll to return the species. An identification is a statistical estimate: it exists to name and to explain, not to decide whether the animal can be handled. The answer to that question is always no. SafaRoll's catalogue holds 81 reptiles — snakes, lizards and turtles combined — each with its rarity tier and its card.

When to use it
  • 01.

    On a snake met on a trail, without stepping closer.

  • 02.

    On a lizard basking on a wall.

  • 03.

    On a turtle spotted in a pond.

81 species · reptiles

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Common

Western Fence Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Common

Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta

Common

Common Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Common

Common Wall Lizard

Podarcis muralis

Common

Common Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

Common

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Common

Common Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon

Common

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

Common

Common Side-blotched Lizard

Uta stansburiana

Common

Gopher Snake

Pituophis catenifer

Common

DeKay's Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi

Common

North American Racer

Coluber constrictor

Common

Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus

Common

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Common

Common Slowworm

Anguis fragilis

Common

grass snake

Natrix natrix

Common

Blanding's Turtle

Emydoidea blandingii

Common

Tokay Gecko

Gekko gecko

Common

Northwestern Garter Snake

Thamnophis ordinoides

Common

Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Common

Six-lined Racerunner

Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Common

Barred Grass Snake

Natrix helvetica

Common

Eastern Slowworm

Anguis colchica

Common

Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Crotalus molossus

Common

Balkan Green Lizard

Lacerta trilineata

Common

Radiated Tortoise

Astrochelys radiata

Common

Lézard des murailles

Podarcis muralis nigriventris

Common

Sand Lizard

Lacerta agilis

Uncommon

Viviparous Lizard

Zootoca vivipara

Uncommon

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

Thamnophis elegans

Uncommon

Australian Water Dragon

Intellagama lesueurii

Uncommon

Italian Wall Lizard

Podarcis siculus

Uncommon

Western Ratsnake

Pantherophis obsoletus

Uncommon

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

Uncommon

Eastern Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum

Uncommon

Three-toed Box Turtle

Terrapene triunguis

Uncommon

Spiny Softshell

Apalone spinifera

Uncommon

Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

Uncommon

Western Green Lizard

Lacerta bilineata

Uncommon

Rough Greensnake

Opheodrys aestivus

Uncommon

Adder

Vipera berus

Uncommon

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard

Leiocephalus carinatus

Uncommon

Northern Map Turtle

Graptemys geographica

Uncommon

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

Uncommon

Florida Softshell Turtle

Apalone ferox

Uncommon

Lace Monitor

Varanus varius

Uncommon

California King Snake

Lampropeltis californiae

Uncommon

Zebra-tailed Lizard

Callisaurus draconoides

Uncommon

Red Cornsnake

Pantherophis guttatus

Uncommon

Hermann's Tortoise

Testudo hermanni

Uncommon

Ocellated Lizard

Timon lepidus

Uncommon

Asp Viper

Vipera aspis

Uncommon

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

Uncommon

Common Four-clawed Gecko

Gehyra mutilata

Uncommon

Green Anaconda

Eunectes murinus

Uncommon

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Macrochelys temminckii

Uncommon

Green Whip Snake

Hierophis viridiflavus

Rare

Green Lizard

Lacerta viridis

Rare

Eastern Hognose Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Rare

Texas Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum

Rare

Gold Dust Day Gecko

Phelsuma laticauda

Rare

Common Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis saurita

Rare

Spectacled Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Rare

Carpet Python

Morelia spilota

Rare

Greater Short-horned Lizard

Phrynosoma hernandesi

Rare

Common Sagebrush Lizard

Sceloporus graciosus

Rare

Ornate Box Turtle

Terrapene ornata

Rare

Eastern Collared Lizard

Crotaphytus collaris

Rare

Aesculapian Snake

Zamenis longissimus

Rare

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Rare

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Caretta caretta

Rare

Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor

Rare

Reticulated Python

Malayopython reticulatus

Rare

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Rare

Northern Alligator Lizard

Elgaria coerulea

Very rare

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

Very rare

Cape Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion pumilum

Very rare

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis niger

Very rare

Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

Legendary

Northern King Cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

Legendary
Frequently asked

What people often ask

Three metres is plenty, and it is also the distance at which a snake does not feel cornered. Zooming with the camera beats stepping closer: the quality lost to zoom costs less than a defensive bite.

The SafaRoll app — iOS

Identify reptiles from one photo.

SafaRoll names the species in a second and turns it into a collectible card. Free, unlimited identification, no ads.

Download on theApp Store

Free · iPhone · Unlimited identification