Until today there are 379 known kinds of reptiles, more than 200 kinds of snakes among them. The nearly extinct anaconda, up to 9 m long lives in the swamps of the Amazon-valley. Just like the boa constrictor the Anaconda is not venomous but chokes its victims to death. The beautiful black-white-red coral snake, however, is an extremely venomous example of her species. Crocodiles (cocodrilo) and Caimans live in the River-regions of the rainforest.

Adding to these various kinds of birds, reptiles and mammals there are some 400 different kinds of frogs and a numberless multitude of insects like leaf cutting ants, praying mantis, giant dragon flies, moths and butterflies as well as many kinds of spiders (bird-eating spider and tarantula).

The Galapagos-Isles offer a fauna unique in the world that is caused by their remote geographical position. About 60% of the kinds of birds and 90% of the reptile-types live only on these isles. Since only some species with widely differing populations live on the isles they are also considered to be a disharmony of fauna.

Among the reptiles are different types of turtles, best-known of which is the Galapagos-turtle (Geochelone elephantopus). They share their living space with the land iguanas, that defend their territory with their back-comb and the characteristic nodding with the head. Other reptiles are the lava-saurian and five endemic types of geckos.