The word Herpetophile stands for someone who loves reptiles. Of course, if you already knew that, chances are you’re a fan of scaly vertebrates like lizards, snakes, turtles, and other members of the reptilia family. If the term herpetophile describes you, chances are you’ll love LEGO builder legotruman’s submission to the LEGO Ideas forum. legotruman’s reptile collection showcases with three animals – the Veiled Chameleon, the Leopard Gecko, and the Box Turtle. These reptiles are made entirely from LEGO pieces, celebrating the unique colors, textures, and patterns of these animals, and are built to 1:1 scale, making them perfect for any serious collector who shares a love for, well, unconventional pets!
Designer: legotruman
Indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabian chameleon, scientifically referred to as Chamaeleo calyptratus, boasts captivating hues and is distinguished by its distinctive casque that extends from its head. Contrary to common misconceptions, the chameleon’s remarkable color changes are not for camouflage but rather serve as a visual display of its emotions, stress levels, and social standing. legotruman recreated the chameleon using a myriad of tiles, perching the animal delicately on a LEGO branch too. Points if you noticed the use of a brick from the LEGO Scooby Doo Mystery Machine for the chameleon’s eyes!
The adorable-looking Leopard Gecko, native to desert habitats, has garnered worldwide popularity as a beloved pet reptile. One of the frequently encountered morphs showcases a striking pattern of dark spots on a vibrant yellow or orange skin, reminiscent of leopards. Often dubbed as the pioneers of domesticated lizards, they are cherished for their endearing large eyes, charming smiles, and their iconic plump tails. Adult females can reach a length of up to 20 cm, while males can attain an impressive 28 cm in size. The lizard, made entirely out of LEGO bricks, gets perched on a slanted branch, allowing it to display the gecko’s elegant stance.
Highly favored as pets, the Box Turtles are known for their dome-shaped shells. Some showcase remarkable radiating patterns on their shells, adorned with vibrant shades of yellow and orange. Despite their tortoise-like appearance, it’s important to note that they belong to the terrapin family, similar to other aquatic turtles like the red-eared slider. Remarkably, box turtles can enjoy a lifespan of up to 40-50 years! To recreate their stunning shells, legotruman utilized black and orange slope Lego elements, quarter tiles for the leg scales pattern, and gold ring elements to craft their eyes.
The LEGO Reptiles are a submission to LEGO’s Ideas forum, where creators and enthusiasts can design their own LEGO sculptures and share them with the global community. The entries with the highest votes get considered by LEGO’s internal team to be turned into retail box-sets. legotruman’s LEGO Reptiles has collected 2240 votes as of writing this article, and is gradually on its way to hit the coveted 10,000 vote mark that qualifies it for an official LEGO review. Click here to vote for the entry!
