Marine reptiles

Marine reptiles are reptiles that have adapted to life in saltwater or brackish ocean environments. Unlike most marine animals, they retain key reptilian traits: air-breathing lungs, scaled skin, and the ability to regulate body temperature, though imperfectly in cold waters.

The group includes several distinct lineages. Sea turtles are ancient navigators, some migrating thousands of kilometers across the planet. Sea snakes, predominantly from Indo-Pacific waters, evolved flattened tails and modified breathing to hunt among coral reefs. Marine iguanas of the Galápagos are unique herbivores grazing on underwater algae. Crocodilians—particularly saltwater crocodiles—occupy estuaries and coastal regions, blurring boundaries between marine and freshwater life.

All marine reptiles face mounting pressure from climate change, which alters ocean chemistry and nesting temperatures. Entanglement in fishing gear and habitat loss threaten populations globally. Their presence signals ocean health; these ancient survivors have persisted through mass extinctions, yet now depend on human stewardship for their future.

Related

Ocean ecosystems Reptile evolution Sea turtles Saltwater adaptation Marine biodiversity Conservation biology