Uncle Monty's reptile collection

In Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, the character Dr. Montgomery Montgomery (or simply Uncle Monty) was the caretaker of an enormous reptile collection which belonged to the good side of the V.F.D. These reptiles were trained to "sniff-out" arson. However, it was shipped off by Bruce after Dr. Montgomery's death. The reptiles were presumably sold or donated to various entities (as asserted in the Autobiography). Count Olaf sent one of his associates, disguised as a cow, to reclaim them (albeit for Olaf's own uses). This associate was apparently successful, as (in The Slippery Slope) Olaf claims to be in possession of all the reptiles but one. The Mamba du Mal was purchased at the In Auction by the Esmé Squalor Fan Club, and the owners of the ship Prospero, in correspondence with Lemony Snicket, claim to have assisted in the protection of the Incredibly Deadly Viper (implying that this is the one reptile that Olaf does not possess).

A few of the reptiles

The following are some reptiles mentioned in the book:

• The Incredibly Deadly Viper

A very very large snake which is, in fact, not deadly at all. A special friend of Sunny's, it was named this way to prank Uncle Monty's peers for making fun of his name. Kit Snicket nicknamed the snake "Ink" while it kept her company on her raft of books. It saved the island's inhabitants by bringing them an apple/horseradish hybrid to get rid of the Medusoid Mycelium in their systems. The image of a snake offering an apple is a reference to Satan in the form of a snake tempting Eve with an apple in the Garden of Eden. It was said that the snake went on to live a series of unfortunate events itself, often avoiding and committing treachery, much like the orphans themselves.

• The Mamba du Mal

See separate article Mamba du Mal.

• The Barbary Chewer

A snake that is difficult to keep in captivity due to its unusual habit of always needing sustenance (if it does not get food, it eats its own mouth).

• The Androgynous Cobra
• The Alaskan Cow Lizard

A long, green snake that produces delectable milk.

• The Dissonant Toad

Can imitate human speech (in a gravelly voice).

• The Inky Newt

Is covered in black dye.

• The Irascible Python

Is grumpy and best left alone.

• The Green Gimlet Toad

Should not be given too much water.

• The Virginian Wolfsnake

Should never, ever be allowed in the vicinity of a typewriter.

• The Mongolian Meansnake

Smiles cruelly when about to eat white mice.

• The Hungarian Sloth Snake

Top speed is half an inch per hour.

• The Tibetan Third-Eye Toad (only in the film)

Has a third eye between the others, probably a reference to the Buddhist conception of 3 being the most powerful number.

The following are some reptiles described but not named that appear in The Reptile Room.

• Toad #1

Is very fat and has two wings sprouting from its back.

• Toad #2

Resembles a church, with stained-glass eyes

• Lizard #1

Has two heads and two yellow stripes running across its underside.

• Lizard #2

Looks exactly like an owl (with wide eyes and all).

• Snake #1

Has three mouths, each on top of the other.

• Snake #2

Has no mouth.

See also

• Lachrymose Leeches
• V.F.D. Crows
• Mortmain Mountain Lions
• V.F.D. Eagles
• Other V.F.D. Animals
• Medusoid Mycelium
• The Sugar Bowl