Republic of South Africa

Checklist of Endemic Reptile Species

This list of reptile species found exclusively in the Republic of South Africa is based on the taxonomy used in Uetz, Freed & Hošek as of 14 November 2018. For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
Uetz, P. & Jirí Hošek (eds.), The Reptile Database, htUetz, P. & Jirí Hošek (e
Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.) (2018), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 14 November 2018.Reptile Database, ://www.reptile-database.org,d Jan 8, ww.reptile-database.org,http
The current version of this database is at http://www.reptile-database.org/

Additional species described since the 14 November 2018 version of The Reptile Database are listed at the bottom of the page.

EX = Extinct

Bradypodion atromontanum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Swartberg Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion caeruleogula (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Umlalazi Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion caffrum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Pondo Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion damaranum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Knysna Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion dracomontanum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion gutturale (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Little Karoo Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion kentanicum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Kentani Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion melanocephalum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Kwazulu Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion nemorale (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Qudeni Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion ngomeense (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Ngome Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion occidentale (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Western Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion pumilum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Cape Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion taeniabronchum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Elandsberg Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion thamnobates (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Midlands Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion ventrale (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Eastern Cape Dwarf Chameleon

Cordylus aridus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Eastern Dwarf Girdled Lizard

Cordylus cloetei (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Cloete’s Girdled Lizard

Cordylus imkeae (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Rooiberg Girdled Lizard

Cordylus macropholis (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Large-scaled Girdled Lizard

Cordylus mclachlani (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) McLachlan’s Girdled Lizard

Cordylus minor (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Western Dwarf Girdled Lizard

Cordylus niger (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Black Girdled Lizard

Cordylus oelofseni (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Oelofsen’s Girdled Lizard

Hemicordylus capensis (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Cape Cliff Lizard

Hemicordylus nebulosus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Dwarf Cliff Lizard

Namazonurus lawrenci (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Lawrence's Nama Lizard

Namazonurus peersi (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Peers' Nama Lizard

Ninurta coeruleopunctatus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Blue-spotted Lizard

Ouroborus cataphractus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Armadillo Lizard

Platysaurus broadleyi (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Augrabies Flat Lizard

Platysaurus guttatus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Dwarf Flat Lizard

Platysaurus minor (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Waterberg Flat Lizard

Platysaurus monotropis (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Orange-throated Flat Lizard

Platysaurus orientalis (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Sekhukhune Flat Lizard

Platysaurus relictus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Soutpansberg Flat Lizard

Pseudocordylus microlepidotus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Cape Crag Lizard

Pseudocordylus spinosus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Spiny Crag Lizard

Pseudocordylus transvaalensis (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Northern Crag Lizard

Smaug breyeri (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Waterberg Dragon Lizard

Smaug depressus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Flat Dragon Lizard

Smaug giganteus (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Giant Dragon Lizard

Smaug vandami (Squamata Sauria - Cordylidae) Van Dam’s Dragon Lizard

Afroedura amatolica (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Amatola Flat Gecko

Afroedura broadleyi (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Broadley’s Flat Gecko

Afroedura granitica (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Granite Flat Gecko

Afroedura haackei (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Haacke's Flat Gecko

Afroedura hawequensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Hawequa Flat Gecko

Afroedura karroica (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Karoo Flat Gecko

Afroedura leoloensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Leolo Flat Gecko

Afroedura maripi (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Maripi Flat Gecko

Afroedura multiporis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Woodbush Flat Gecko

Afroedura namaquensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Namaqua Flat Gecko

Afroedura nivaria (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Drakensberg Flat Gecko

Afroedura pienaari (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Pienaar’s Flat Gecko

Afroedura pondolia (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Pondo Flat Gecko

Afroedura pongola (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Pongola Flat Gecko

Afroedura rondavelica (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Rondavels Flat Gecko

Afroedura rupestris (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Abel Erasmus Flat Gecko

Afroedura tembulica (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Tembu Flat Gecko

Afroedura waterbergensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Waterberg Flat Gecko

Afrogecko porphyreus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko

Cryptactites peringueyi (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Salt Marsh Gecko

Goggia braacki (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Braack's Pygmy Gecko

Goggia essexi (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Essex’s Pygmy Gecko

Goggia hewitti (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Hewitt's Pygmy Gecko

Goggia hexapora (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Cedarberg Pygmy Gecko

Goggia incognita (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Striped Pygmy Gecko

Goggia matzikamaensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Matzikama Pygmy Gecko

Goggia microlepidota (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Saw-scaled Pygmy Gecko

Goggia rupicola (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Namaqua Pygmy Gecko

Homopholis mulleri (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Muller's Velvet Gecko

Lygodactylus graniticolus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Granite Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus methueni (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Methuen's Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus nigropunctatus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Black-spotted Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus waterbergensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Waterberg Dwarf Gecko

Pachydactylus affinis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Transvaal Gecko

Pachydactylus amoenus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Namaqua Banded Gecko

Pachydactylus austeni (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Austen's Gecko

Pachydactylus barnardi (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Barnard's Rough Gecko

Pachydactylus formosus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Southern Rough Gecko

Pachydactylus geitje (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Ocellated Gecko

Pachydactylus kladaroderma (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Thin-skinned Gecko

Pachydactylus labialis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Western Cape Gecko

Pachydactylus macrolepis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Large-scaled Banded Gecko

Pachydactylus mariquensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Common Banded Gecko

Pachydactylus oculatus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Golden Spotted Gecko

Ramigekko swartbergensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Swartberg Leaf-toed Gecko

Rhoptropella ocellata (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Namaqua Day Gecko

Gerrhosaurus typicus (Squamata Sauria - Gerrhosauridae) Karoo Plated Lizard

Tetradactylus breyeri (Squamata Sauria - Gerrhosauridae) Breyer's Long-tailed Seps

Tetradactylus eastwoodae  EX (Squamata Sauria - Gerrhosauridae) Eastwood's Long-tailed Seps

Tetradactylus seps (Squamata Sauria - Gerrhosauridae) Short-legged Seps

Tetradactylus tetradactylus (Squamata Sauria - Gerrhosauridae) Cape Long-tailed Seps

Australolacerta australis (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Southern Rock Lizard

Nucras livida (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Karoo Sandveld Lizard

Nucras taeniolata (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Albany Sandveld Lizard

Tropidosaura gularis (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Cape Mountain Lizard

Tropidosaura montana (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Common Mountain Lizard

Vhembelacerta rupicola (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Soutpansberg Rock Lizard

Acontias albigularis (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) White-throated Legless Skink

Acontias breviceps (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Short-headed Legless Skink

Acontias cregoi (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Cregoe's Legless Skink

Acontias fitzsimonsi (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Fitzsimons' Legless Skink

Acontias litoralis (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Coastal Dwarf Legless Skink

Acontias meleagris (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Cape Legless Skink

Acontias namaquensis (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Namaqualand Legless Skink

Acontias orientalis (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Eastern Cape Legless Skink

Acontias richardi (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Richard’s Legless Skink

Acontias rieppeli (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Woodbush Legless Skink

Acontias tristis (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Namaqualand Dwarf Legless Skink

Acontias wakkerstroomensis (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Wakkerstroom Legless Skink

Scelotes anguinus (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Algoa Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes bipes (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Silvery Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes bourquini (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Bourquin’s Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes caffer (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Cape Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes fitzsimonsi (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Fitzsimons’ Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes gronovii (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Gronovius’ Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes guentheri (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Günther's Dwarf BurrowingSkink

Scelotes inornatus (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Durban Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes kasneri (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Kasner's Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes montispectus (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Bloubergstrand Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Scelotes sexlineatus (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Striped Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Typhlosaurus caecus (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Southern Blind Legless Skink

Typhlosaurus lomiae (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Lomi’s Blind Legless Skink

Lamprophis fiskii (Squamata Serpentes - Lamprophiidae) Fisk's House Snake

Macrelaps microlepidotus (Squamata Serpentes - Lamprophiidae) Kwazulu-Natal Black Snake

Montaspis gilvomaculata (Squamata Serpentes - Lamprophiidae) Cream-spotted Mountain Snake

Psammophis leightoni (Squamata Serpentes - Lamprophiidae) Cape Sand Snake

Leptotyphlops jacobseni (Squamata Serpentes - Leptotyphlopidae) Jacobsen’s Thread Snake

Leptotyphlops nigricans (Squamata Serpentes - Leptotyphlopidae) Black Thread Snake

Leptotyphlops sylvicolus (Squamata Serpentes - Leptotyphlopidae) Forest Thread Snake

Bitis albanica (Squamata Serpentes - Viperidae) Albany Adder

Bitis armata (Squamata Serpentes - Viperidae) Southern Adder

Bitis inornata (Squamata Serpentes - Viperidae) Plain Mountain Adder

Bitis rubida (Squamata Serpentes - Viperidae) Red Adder

Chersobius boulengeri (Testudines  - Testudinidae) Karoo Dwarf Tortoise

Chersobius signatus (Testudines  - Testudinidae) Speckled Dwarf Tortoise

Homopus areolatus (Testudines  - Testudinidae) Parrot-beaked Dwarf Tortoise

Homopus femoralis (Testudines  - Testudinidae) Greater Dwarf Tortoise

Psammobates geometricus (Testudines  - Testudinidae) Geometric Tortoise

Recently described or resurrected species not included in the 14 November 2018 version of The Reptile Database are listed below. These 12 species added to the 141 listed above total 153 endemic reptile species for the Republic of South Africa.

Zygaspis vandami (Squamata Amphisbaenia - Amphisbaenidae) Van Dam's Dwarf Worm Lizard

Bradypodion barbatulum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Beardless Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion baviaanense (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae)

Bradypodion venustum (Squamata Sauria - Chameleonidae) Grootvasdersbosch Dwarf Chameleon

Lygodactylus incognitus (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Cryptic Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus montiscaeruli (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Makgabeng Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis (Squamata Sauria - Gekkonidae) Soutpansberg Dwarf Gecko

Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi (Squamata Sauria - Gerrhosauridae) Fitzsimon's Long-tailed Seps

Nucras aurantiaca (Squamata Sauria - Lacertidae) Lambert's Bay Sandveld Lizard

Acontias grayi (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Gray's Dwarf Legless Skink

Acontias lineicauda (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Algoa Legless Skink

Scelotes farquharsoni (Squamata Sauria - Scincidae) Qudeni Dwarf Burrowing Skink