Lichtenstein's short-fingered gecko (ישימונית מצויה), Stenodactylus sthenodactylus, with a newly-grown tail after having lost the previous one to a predator.

The juvenile Black Whip Snake (Dolichophis jugularis)― זעמן שחור―is not black, but has a patterned skin. It is not poisonous, but eats rodents and even poisonous snakes.

Red whip snake or collared dwarf racer (Platyceps collaris, also Coluber rubriceps)―זעמן זיתני―is native to the eastern Mediterranean from Bulgaria into the Levant. It feeds mostly on lizards and large insects.

A Turkish or house gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus (known as שממית הבתים).

The Lebanon Lizard, Lacerta laevis or Phoenicolacerta laevis (לטאה זריזה); this one, despite shedding its tail to escape our cat, was still killed, and became blue-greenish as it died.

Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca), צב יבשה מצוי, mating. The male circles the female, often nodding his head and biting at her legs and the edges of her carapace aggressively, and crashing the front of his shell into the side of the female’s shell (just withdrawing his head in time), before mounting her, “leering” with his orange tongue, and letting go and leaning backwards as he climaxes. Both male and female can be aggressive, but the female usually gives in eventually.

This little snake, Roth's Dwarf Racer (Eirenis rothi - שלוון טלוא-ראש) is about 15 cm long, and not venomous. It lived up to its name on speed as I jumped to avoid it going for my bare toes!

There are two sub-species of the common chameleon (זיקית מצויה) in Israel: this one is the Mediterranean chameleon (זיקית ים-תיכונית) (chamaeleo chamaeleon recticrista), found in central and northern Israel (the Sinai chameleon (chamaeleo chamaeleon musae) is found in southern desert regions). [Credit: Riva]

The Mediterranean chameleon (זיקית ים-תיכונית) (chamaeleo chamaeleon recticrista), Sadly chameleons are less commonly seen today, in part due to urbanisation, and in part because their charm and slow gate which makes them easy prey for curious children who trap them and try to raise them as pets. The chameleon changes its body colour according to its mood. It is usually green whilst relaxed or satiated. [Credit: Riva]

Rüppell's snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus rueppellii) - חומט גמד - is found throughout north and central Israel, western Jordan, and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. In Israel the species is common and can be found in cities. They shed their tails - which is exactly what this one did when a cat started pawing him - but they can regenerate them. This is a baby and is only an inch long (without the tail).

Roughtail Rock Agama (Laudakia stellio), Heb. hardon matzuy, at Ba'aram.

Bowfoot Gecko (Cyrtopodion katschyi), Heb. smamit batim, Eshchar