
Skip Navigation

10.15: Importance of Reptiles

Created by: CK-12

What good are reptiles?

There is a lot of fear surrounding snakes and other reptiles. What you might not realize is that reptiles do a lot of good. For example, snakes eat rats and other small animals. Rats can carry diseases to people, so keeping their population under control is very important.

Importance of Reptiles

Reptiles play an important role in the life of humans. In addition to playing an important role in many food chains, which keep the populations of small animals under control, reptiles serve as food, pets, and have played roles in art and culture for thousands of years.

Reptiles as Food

Reptiles are important as food sources for people:

  • Green iguanas, a type of large lizard, are eaten in Central America.
  • The tribals of Irulas from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India are known to eat some of the snakes they catch.
  • Cantonese snake soup is consumed by local people in the fall to prevent colds.
  • Cooked rattlesnake meat is commonly consumed in parts of the Midwestern United States.
  • Turtle soup is consumed throughout the world.

Reptiles as Pets

Reptiles also make good pets. In the Western world, some snakes, especially less aggressive species, like the ball python or corn snake, are kept as pets. Turtles, particularly small land-dwelling and freshwater turtles, are also common pets. Among the most popular are Russian tortoises, Greek spur-thighed tortoises, and terrapins.

Reptiles in Art and Culture

Finally, reptiles play a significant role in folklore, religion, and popular culture. The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped reptiles and often put lizards in their art. Snakes or serpents are connected to healing and to the Devil. Since snake's shed and then heal again, they are a symbol of healing and medicine, as shown in the Rod of Asclepius (Figure below). In Egyptian history, the Nile cobra is found on the crown of the pharaoh. This snake was worshiped as one of the gods.

The Rod of Asclepius, where the snake is a symbol of healing and medicine.


  • iguana: Large lizard native to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
  • Rod of Asclepius: Symbol of healing and medicine featuring a serpent-entwined rod.


  • Reptiles are eaten as food and kept as pets.
  • Reptiles have served as symbols in folklore, religion, and popular culture.


Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.

  1. Explain how gecko lizards can climb walls and walk across ceiling?
  2. What do you find on the tips of the hairs on geckos' feet? Why are these important to their climbing ability?
  3. What is gecko tape? Why is it unique? Think carefully, and give as many reason as you can.
  4. What uses can you imagine for gecko tape?


  1. What would be the downside if you exterminated all snakes?
  2. What reptiles are kept as pets?

Image Attributions


Difficulty Level:



6 , 7 , 8

Date Created:

Nov 29, 2012

Last Modified:

Dec 13, 2013
Files can only be attached to the latest version of Modality


Please wait...
Please wait...
Image Detail
Sizes: Medium | Original

Original text