About the Reptile & Amphibian House

See some of the world’s most venomous snakes and exotic amphibians in the Reptile & Amphibian House! Frogs, newts, lizards and snakes from around the world are on display here. You can also learn about snakes in Texas and see some locals up close, like the Cottonmouth (also known as a Water Moccasin.) And you surely won’t be able to miss some of the world’s largest, like the Komodo dragon. The dart frogs also aren’t hard to find, colored with beautiful, bright jewel tones. There are over 900 animals representing more than 140 species of reptiles and 40 species of amphibians – can you find them all?

Behind the Scenes

Champion of Local Snakes
In addition to caring for a ride range of resident reptiles here since 1991, Judith hosts local snake events to educate guests on the myths and benefits of snakes.

Turtle Conservation with Chris
Chris Bednarski has been a voice for turtle conservation for 20 years. He’s part of numerous conservation efforts across the globe and is our resident expert on freshwater turtles.

Saving Galapagos Tortoises
One of our distinguished Zoo Veterinarians, Dr. Joe Flanagan, travels to the Galapagos often to help save these giant tortoises.

Boga the Komodo Dragon

On an outside corner of our Reptile & Amphibian House is a glass-walled habitat that is home to one enormous and impressive dragon. Boga is a native Texan, hatched at the San Antonio Zoo in 2007. He is the nephew of our dearly departed dragon Smaug. He’s named after the large lizard from Star Wars Episode III that Obi Wan Kenobi rode in battle.

Find out more about Komodo dragons and come visit soon!

Did You Know?

The words “frog” and “toad” are not strict definitions. In general, frogs have smooth skin and are more likely to stay close to water, while toads usually have dry bumpy skin and can be found further from water. Also, frogs jump and toads do cute little hops. But both are amphibians!