Note: This post is part of our series, "Netflix Academy: The best educational videos available for streaming." Be sure to check out our previous Netflix Academy posts on dinosaurs; aquatic life; insects; frogs and other amphibians; Ancient Asian Cultures; the early American civilizations; Ancient Greece; Native American cultures; Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery; Colonial America and the Revolutionary War; the American founders; movie adaptations of classic children’s books; and American folk heroes.
If you’ve got little kids, you won’t take much convincing that reptiles are just plain cool. Alligators! Crocodiles! Snakes! And cute turtles, to boot! Not only are these animals an important part of our biological heritage (been in touch with your reptilian brain lately?), but they are also major players in our cultural heritage, from the Garden of Eden to Aesop’s fables and classic children’s literature. So enjoy these videos with your kids, which help our reptile cousins come alive. (Note: videos about dinosaurs are available here.)
The Best Streaming Videos on Reptiles
1. Nature Adventures: Behind the Scenes at Reptile Gardens
Terri and Todd visit the Reptile Gardens, where they go behind the scenes and get “hands on” with various reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, a timber rattlesnake, and more!
Length: 27 minutes
Rating: NR
2. Wildlife Journal Junior: Tracking Blanding’s Turtle
The elusive, yellow-necked Blanding's turtle is one of New Hampshire's rarest, oldest, and best-traveled reptiles. The turtles continue to survive in a valuable wetland habitat that is constantly changing—and often at risk.
Length: 8 minutes
Rating: NR
3. National Geographic: Super Croc
In the parched Sahara desert, Dr. Paul Sereno joins with reptile expert Dr. Brady Barr for an around-the-globe, adventure-packed quest to flesh out this ancient forty-foot crocodile.
Length: 95 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
4. The Jeff Corwin Experience: Season, 1 Episode 15: ‘Snake-tacular’
In this popular Animal Planet series, animal and nature conservationist Jeff Corwin gets up close and personal with some of the world's most interesting animals. This episode is dedicated to Jeff’s favorite Animal: snakes!
Length: 43 minutes
Rating: TV-G
5. Turtle: The Incredible Journey
Attempting a perilous odyssey its ancestors have undertaken for millions of years, one loggerhead turtle swims from a beach in Florida across the Atlantic Ocean, encountering stunning sea creatures as well as serious hazards created by modern man.
Length: 79 minutes
Rating: NR
6. Dangerous Encounters with Brady Barr
Join reptile expert Brady Barr as he travels the planet in search of elusive—and often dangerous—endangered species. Season 1 of this National Geographic series takes Barr to Borneo, the Philippines, and China on a quest for rare crocodilians. He also tracks down seven of the world's most dangerous snakes, goes face-to-face with the Komodo dragon, tries to obtain sweat from a wild hippo, and wrestles a twelve-foot python in Indonesia.
Length: Eleven 45-minute episodes
Rating: TV-PG
7. Jeff Corwin: Desert Tortoise
Jeff Corwin Catches up with a desert tortoise in the southwestern of California. These creatures are built almost like ancient Greek temple.
Length: 2 minutes
Rating: TV-G
8. Jeff Corwin: Green Rattle Snake
Jeff Corwin and Bryan Cranston run into a southern Pacific Green rattlesnake in California.
Length: 3 minutes
Rating: TV-G
