Reptiles of
Palestine  (Palestinian Territories)

Related checklists:  Israel

Bibliography of the reptiles of Palestine Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Palestine Introduced species
Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates
Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. www.repfocus.dk (Compilation date: 14th April, 2023).

Checklist
General remarks: The list includes only formally described species. Newly discovered, but still unnamed species are excluded. However, unnamed species or species unassigned to species level are included, if they are the only representatives of their genus in the region. Species counts exclude extinct and introduced species. Doubtful records, typically older voucher specimens of uncertain origin, have been excluded if considered questionable, as are records based on sources considered unreliable or controversial.
Note: Your comments to the checklist (omissions, errors, etc.) are welcomed, preferably if they are provided with reliable references. If possible, please attach a pdf file of the relevant reference to an email addressed to:
Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Agamidae (Agamas and Dragons)
Genus Laudakia (Asian Rock Agamas)
 
Laudakia vulgaris

Eastern Starred Agama

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Pseudotrapelus (Afro-Arabian Desert Agamas)
 
Pseudotrapelus sinaitus

Sinai Desert Agama

Albaba 2016
Genus Uromastyx (Western Spiny-tailed Agamas)
 
Uromastyx aegyptia

Egyptian Spiny-tailed Agama

Wilms, Boehme, Wagner, Lutzmann & Schmitz 2009
 
Uromastyx ornata

Ornate Spiny-tailed Agama

Arnold 1986
 Family Anguidae (Slowworms, etc.)
Genus Pseudopus (Eurasian Glass Lizard)
 
Pseudopus apodus

Eurasian Glass Lizard

Albaba 2016
 Family Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons)
Genus Chamaeleo (Typical Chameleons)
 
Chamaeleo chamaeleon

Mediterranean Chameleon

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 Family Gekkonidae (Typical Geckos)
Genus Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos)
 
Hemidactylus turcicus

Turkish Half-toed Gecko

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Stenodactylus (Afro-Asian Thin-toed Geckos)
 
Stenodactylus petrii

North African Thin-toed Gecko

Albaba 2016
 
Stenodactylus sthenodactylus

Elegant Thin-toed Gecko

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Tropiocolotes (Afro-Asian Desert Dwarf Geckos)
 
Tropiocolotes nattereri

Sinai Dwarf Gecko

Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Tropiocolotes yomtovi

Eilat Dwarf Gecko

Ribeiro Junior, Tamar, Maza, Flecks, Wagner, Shacham, Calvo, Geniez, Crochet, Koch & Meiri 2022
 Family Lacertidae (Typical Lizards)
Genus Acanthodactylus (Fringe-toed Lizards)
 
Acanthodactylus boskianus

Afro-Arabian Fringe-toed Lizard

Albaba 2016
Genus Lacerta (Eurasian Green Lizards)
 
Lacerta media

Levant Emerald Lizard

Albaba 2016
Genus Mesalina (Afro-Asian Desert Lizards)
 
Mesalina olivieri

Egyptian Small-spotted Desert Lizard

Albaba 2016
Genus Ophisops (Snake-eyed Lizards)
 
Ophisops elegans

Elegant Snake-eyed Lizard

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Phoenicolacerta (Phoenician Lizards)
 
Phoenicolacerta laevis

Lebanese Smooth-scaled Lizard

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 Family Phyllodactylidae (Leaf-toed Geckos)
Genus Ptyodactylus (Fan-toed Geckos)
 
Ptyodactylus guttatus

Spotted Fan-toed Gecko

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Ablepharus (Eurasian Snake-eyed Skinks)
 
Ablepharus rueppellii

South Levant Snake-eyed Skink

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Chalcides (Cylindrical Skinks)
 
Chalcides guentheri

Levant Cylindrical Skink

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Chalcides ocellatus

Mediterranean Ocellated Skink

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Chalcides sepsoides

Wedge-snouted Cylindrical Skink

Albaba 2016
Genus Eumeces (Afro-Asian Long-legged Skinks)
 
Eumeces schneiderii

Golden Long-legged Skink

Albaba 2016
Genus Heremites (Western Palearctic Grass Skinks)
 
Heremites vittatus

Bridled Skink

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Ophiomorus (South West Asian Snake Skinks)
 
Ophiomorus latastii

Striped Snake Skink

Albaba 2016
 Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
 
Varanus griseus

Desert Monitor

Albaba 2016

Snakes (Serpentes)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Boidae (Typical Boas)
Genus Eryx (Sand Boas)
 
Eryx jaculus

Western Sand Boa

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 Family Colubridae (Typical Snakes or Colubrids)
Genus Dolichophis (Greater Whip Snakes)
 
Dolichophis jugularis

Large Whip Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Eirenis (Middle Eastern Dwarf Snakes)
 
Eirenis coronelloides

Sinai Dwarf Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Eirenis decemlineatus

Narrow-striped Dwarf Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Eirenis lineomaculatus

Spotted-line Dwarf Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Eirenis rothii

Israeli Dwarf Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Hemorrhois (Palearctic Whip Snakes)
 
Hemorrhois nummifer

Coin-marked Whip Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Lytorhynchus (Awl-headed Snakes)
 
Lytorhynchus diadema

Crowned Awl-headed Snake

Albaba 2016
Genus Macroprotodon (False Smooth Snakes)
 
Macroprotodon cucullatus

Eastern False Smooth Snake

Albaba 2016
Genus Natrix (Eurasian Keelbacks)
 
Natrix tessellata

Dice Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Platyceps (Flat-headed Whip Snakes)
 
Platyceps collaris

Red Whip Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 
Platyceps rogersi

Helwan Desert Whip Snake

Albaba 2016 Schatti 2004
 
Platyceps saharicus

Saharan Cliff Racer

Albaba 2016 [as rhodorachis] Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016 [as rhodorachis] Perry 2012 [as tesselata] Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013
Genus Rhynchocalamus (Middle East Black-headed Snakes)
 
Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus

Palestine Black-headed Snake

Albaba 2016 Amr & Disi 2011 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Spalerosophis (Diadem Snakes)
 
Spalerosophis diadema

Common Diadem Snake

Albaba 2016
Genus Telescopus (Afro-Asian Cat Snakes)
 
Telescopus dhara

Arabian Cat Snake

Albaba 2016 Els, Al-Johany, Amr, Baha-el-Din, Disi, Boehme, Geniez & Werner 2021
 
Telescopus fallax

European Cat Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016 [as nigriceps]
 Family Elapidae [part 1: terrestrial species] (Cobras, Mambas, etc.)
Genus Walterinnesia (Black Desert Cobras)
 
Walterinnesia aegyptia

Western Black Desert Cobra

Albaba 2016
 Family Lamprophiidae (House Snakes, etc.)
Genus Atractaspis (Stiletto Snakes)
 
Atractaspis engaddensis

Palestine Stiletto Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Malpolon (Montpellier Snakes)
 
Malpolon insignitus

Eastern Montpellier Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Psammophis (Old World Sand Snakes and Grass Snakes)
 
Psammophis schokari

Arabian Sand Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 Family Leptotyphlopidae (Thread Snakes)
Genus Myriopholis (Many-scaled Thread Snakes)
 
Myriopholis macrorhyncha

Large-snouted Thread Snake

Albaba 2016
 Family Micrelapidae (Short-jawed Rear-fanged Snakes)
Genus Micrelaps (Afro-Asian Black-headed Snakes)
 
Micrelaps muelleri

Israeli Black-headed Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
 Family Typhlopidae (Typical Blind Snakes)
Genus Letheobia (African Gracile Blind Snakes)
 
Letheobia simoni

Israelian Blind Snake

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013
Genus Xerotyphlops (Desert Blind Snakes)
 
Xerotyphlops syriacus

Syrian Worm Snake

Albaba 2016 [as vermicularis] Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016 [as vermicularis]
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Daboia (Daboias)
 
Daboia palaestinae

Palestinian Viper

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Echis (Carpet Vipers)
 
Echis coloratus

Painted Carpet Viper

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016
Genus Pseudocerastes (False Horned Vipers)
 
Pseudocerastes fieldi

Western False Horned Viper

Gasperetti 1988

Turtles (Testudines)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Cheloniidae (Hard-shelled Sea Turtles)
Genus Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle)
 
Caretta caretta

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Albaba 2016
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Albaba 2016
 Family Geoemydidae (Eastern Pond Turtles)
Genus Mauremys (Stripe-necked Turtles)
 
Mauremys rivulata

Balkan Pond Turtle

Albaba 2016 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016 Mantziou & Rifai 2014 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Testudinidae (Tortoises)
Genus Testudo (Palearctic Tortoises)
 
Testudo graeca

Spur-thighed Tortoise

Albaba 2016 Fritz & Havas 2006 Handal, Amr & Qumsiyeh 2016 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021