Their ancestors may have a historically fearsome reputation but today’s reptiles are smaller, less likely to eat you and lend themselves to striking wildlife portraits. We take a look at the best reptile photography on Photocrowd.

‘In the Rain’ by Irawan Subingar, Olympus E-M1, 25mm, 1/350sec at f/2.8, ISO 800

‘Lizard (Chameleon)’ by Ray Lambourn, Panasonic DMC-LX100, 29.3, 1/125sec at f/8, ISO 800

‘Running Lizard’ by Juraj Bencik, Nikon D5, 200mm, 1/2500 at f/4, ISO 320

‘Blue Crested Lizard’ by Phil Tomlinson, CanoN EOS 750D, 100mm, 1/125 at f/2.8, ISO 200

‘The Battle’ by Chelsea, exposure unknown

‘Phantom of Lizard’ by Leka Huie, exposure unknown

‘Green Little One’ by Xavier Berlioux, Nikon D300S, 18-105mm, 1/250sec at f/8, ISO 200

‘The Chameleon’ by Barry Quatermass, exposure unknown

‘Iguana BW’ by Nikon D750, 70-300mm, 1/25 at f/4.5, ISO 400

‘Hidden Jewel’ by Gabor Dvornik, Nikon D700, 28-300mm, 1/400sec at f/8, ISO 400

‘Komodo Dragon’ by Bill Hansell, exposure unknown

‘Clearance’ by Conny Müller, Canon EOS 1D X Mark II, 70-200mm, 1/640sec at f/5.6, ISO 1250

‘Day Gecko 9Phelsuma)’ by Pete Riley, Canon EOS 7D, 100mm, 1/2000sec at f/8, ISO 640

‘Ginat Green Iguana’ by David, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 421mm, 1/500sec at f/6.3, ISO 1250

‘I Walk Slowly (Jacksons Chameleon)’ by Alena Bednarova, Nikon 4DS, 70-200mm, 1/4000sec at f/4, ISO 1000