10 Fascinating Hybrid Reptiles You Need To See

Hybrid reptiles can emerge through deliberate human breeding and naturally occurring processes in the wild. Interspecific hybridization, where two different species interbreed, can happen due to factors such as species introduction, habitat changes, fragmentation, destruction, or population declines. While humans may intentionally create hybrids in captivity, approximately 25% of plant species and 10% of animal species, including reptiles, undergo natural hybridization (Mallet, 2005). This phenomenon can drive the evolution of new species, but it also comes with potential drawbacks. These include reduced fitness, lower fertility, genetic erosion of the parent species, and other health issues. Read on to discover the ten intriguing hybrid reptiles we have found.

Banner Photo: Source

Top 10 List – Hybrid Reptiles

1. Cresthoua Gecko

Scientific Name: Correlophus ciliatus x Rhacodactylus chahoua
Where It Happens: Captivity

First on our list of hybrid reptiles is the Cresthoua gecko, a fascinating blend of crested gecko and chahoua gecko. According to the website LyonessandCub, typically, this hybrid results from breeding a male chahoua gecko with a female crested gecko. This practice is often influenced by the higher cost of chahoua geckos compared to their crested counterparts. By using one male chahoua gecko to mate with multiple female crested geckos, breeders can produce numerous Cresthoua hybrid offspring.

These hybrids inherit distinctive traits from both parents, such as prehensile tails, sticky feet, and veiny-looking eyes. Some Cresthoua geckos can even coil their tails like their chahoua parent. Size-wise, they usually fall between the crested gecko and the chahoua gecko, larger than a crested gecko but smaller than a chahoua gecko. Their coloration often features a striking mix of bright oranges or reds blended with greens and browns. Various patterns may also appear on their bodies, like the one pictured above with vibrant stripes.

2. Loggerhead x Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Scientific Name: Eretmochelys imbricata x Caretta caretta
Where It Happens: Bahia state, Brazil

Natural hybridization between hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles has been observed in the wild, particularly along the coast of Bahia, Brazil, where the nesting activities of these two species overlap. This overlap creates opportunities for interbreeding, leading to the emergence of hybrid offspring.

Research has confirmed that these hybrid sea turtles can reproduce, though it remains unclear whether second-generation hybrids can also reproduce. Scientists are uncertain whether the absence of adult second-generation or hatchling third-generation hybrids is due to the time needed for them to reach maturity or due to potential infertility. Evidence suggests that these hybrids may face reproductive challenges, as only about a quarter of their eggs successfully hatch, compared to over half for pure loggerheads or hawksbills. Although hybridization has been documented in various sea turtle species, hawksbill and loggerhead hybrids are among the most frequently observed.

If you want to learn more about this hybrid, you can check out the informative article “Hawksbill × loggerhead sea turtle hybrids at Bahia, Brazil: where do their offspring go?”

3. Emerald Tree Boa x Amazon Tree Boa  

Scientific Name: Corallus caninus x Corallus hortulana
Where It Happens: Captivity, South America

Next on our list of hybrid reptiles is the hybrid between the emerald tree boa and the Amazon tree boa. The Amazon tree boa is known for its stunning array of colors and patterns, a trait likely passed on to the hybrid, making these snakes visually striking. This aesthetic appeal may be one reason some breeders intentionally create these hybrids in captivity.

However, hybridization between these two species isn’t limited to captive breeding; it has also been reported in the wild. During our research, we encountered stories of imported gravid (pregnant) female emerald tree boas surprising their new owners by giving birth to hybrid offspring. Since both species share a common habitat in South America and belong to the same genus, it’s unsurprising that this natural hybridization occasionally occurs.

4. Hybrid Iguana 

Scientific Name: Amblyrhynchus cristatus x Conolophus subcristatus
Where It Happens: South Plaza Island in the Galápagos Islands

Hybrid iguanas are first-generation hybrids resulting from the mating of a male marine iguana and a female Galápagos land iguana. These unique hybrids have been observed on South Plaza Island since the early 1980s and are believed to exist only on this small island in the Galápagos archipelago. The close proximity of land and marine iguanas on South Plaza likely facilitates this rare interbreeding. In contrast, on other Galápagos islands, land iguanas typically inhabit more inland areas, reducing their interactions with marine iguanas.

Hybrid iguanas are exceedingly rare, partly because they are sterile and unable to reproduce. They are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, and primarily terrestrial, inhabiting the dry grasslands and rocky outcrops where they coexist with both land and marine iguanas. Their diet resembles that of the land iguana, including herbs, shrubs, flowers, and the giant prickly pear cactus. However, like their marine iguana fathers, they have also been seen eating seaweed from the rocks.

Physically, hybrid iguanas inherit sharp claws and a laterally compressed tail from their marine iguana parent, though they have not been observed swimming. They are dark in color with distinctive bands along their bodies—an interesting contrast, as marine iguanas are typically black (with some subspecies showing more vibrant colors), and land iguanas are usually yellow or yellow-red. Neither parent species has banding, making this feature particularly notable in the hybrids.

If you want to learn more about the iguanas that make up the hybrid iguana, you can check out our marine iguana and land iguana articles!

5. Golden Crocodile

Scientific Name: Crocodylus porosus x Crocodylus siamensis
Where It Happens: Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, United States

Golden crocodiles are hybrids between the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and the critically endangered Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis). These striking hybrids likely earned their name from their distinctive yellow coloration. One of the few places where golden crocodiles are displayed is the Shark Reef Aquarium in the United States.

According to a report by the Las Vegas Sun, golden crocodiles can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh nearly one ton, a size more typical of the saltwater crocodile. While these hybrids are undeniably impressive, their creation raises conservation concerns. Given the critical status of Siamese crocodiles, it is crucial that efforts focus on preserving and increasing their population rather than producing hybrids for display.

6. Ball Python x Green Tree Python

Scientific Name: Python regius x Morelia viridis
Where it Happens: Captivity

Ball pythons are highly popular in the pet trade, with hundreds of different morphs available to enthusiasts. Given their popularity, it’s no surprise that ball pythons are often used to create hybrids. One particularly intriguing hybrid is the ball python x green tree python, as seen in the image above.

Although there is limited information on the behavior of this hybrid, it undoubtedly presents a fascinating blend of characteristics. As their name suggests, green tree pythons are arboreal and prefer life in the trees, while ball pythons are more terrestrial, typically staying close to the ground. This unique combination makes the ball python x green tree python hybrid an especially interesting subject for reptile enthusiasts.

7. Varanus cumingi x Varanus salvator Hybrid

Scientific Name: Varanus cumingi x Varanus salvator Hybrid
Where It Happens: Captivity

The hybrid yellow-headed monitor x water monitor is a stunning example of a monitor lizard hybrid. Thanks to the wonderful people at NERD, we can see the specimen pictured above, which showcases a striking light yellow coloration. Unlike other reptile hybrids on this list, the parent species—the yellow-headed monitor and the water monitor—belong to the same genus, Varanus. However, this doesn’t diminish the uniqueness of this hybrid.

Although detailed information on this hybrid is limited, it’s reasonable to assume that it has an affinity for water, given that both species of the parent monitor lizards enjoy the water. This hybrid is visually captivating and highlights the fascinating possibilities within the Varanus genus.

8. Redcata 

Scientific Name: Chelonoidis carbonaria x Centrochelys sulcata
Where It Happens: Captivity

The hybrid between a red-footed tortoise and a sulcata tortoise, often called a ‘redcata,’ is a unique reptile. The redcata pictured above showcases a vivid red coloration inherited from its red-footed parent, making it a visually stunning hybrid. These tortoises are occasionally bred in captivity to appeal to collectors and pet owners seeking something unique.

In the wild, such hybrids are unlikely to occur, as red-footed tortoises are native to northern South America, while sulcata tortoises hail from Africa. Consequently, this vibrant hybrid is typically only found in captivity.

9. Neaves’s Whiptail Lizard

Scientific Name: Aspidoscelis neavesi
Where It Happens: In A Lab

Neave’s whiptail lizard, a hybrid produced in the laboratory by breeding the Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis) with the little striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis inornatus), was initially created to investigate what hybrid whiptails might look like in the wild. Unlike many hybrids, which are often sterile, Neave’s whiptail lizard exhibited a remarkable trait: it reproduces through parthenogenesis. This form of asexual reproduction allows females to produce offspring without the need for males.

Parthenogenesis enables Neave’s whiptail lizard to clone itself, continuously producing new individuals without male involvement. Additionally, this hybrid is notable for having four sets of chromosomes, which is a unique trait.

10. Gabino Viper

Scientific Name: Bitis gabonica x Bitis nasicornis
Where It Happens: Captivity, Africa

Last but not least on our list of hybrid reptiles is the Gabino viper. The gabino viper can be made from at least two different pairings (that we were able to find). The first pairing for the hybrid results from mating between the Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) and the rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). The second pair is the West African Gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros) and a rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). The Gabino viper hybrid seems to include the rhinoceros viper as one of the parents in the Gabino hybrid. In the wild, where their habitats overlap, Gabino vipers have been observed naturally occurring. Additionally, enthusiasts sometimes breed these venomous species in captivity to produce Gabino vipers.

Although research on Gabino vipers is limited, some information is available. It is believed that similar to both parents, Gabino vipers are terrestrial snakes that spend much of their time hidden in leaf litter, burrows, or under fallen logs. Since these hybrids occur in regions where their parent species’ habitats intersect, they are also found in the tropical forests and swamps of Central and Western Africa.

—

We hope you enjoyed exploring the fascinating world of hybrid reptiles with us! If you found this article intriguing, please share it with your friends using the links below. We’d also love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think. Thank you for reading!