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© Rune Midtgaard


Biodiversity of the reptile genera of
Nigeria
excl. introduced, extinct, unconfirmed, and unnamed species
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Worm Lizards (Amphisbaenia)
Family Amphisbaenidae
(Typical Worm Lizards)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Baikia (Nigerian Worm Lizard) 1 1 100.0 % 0.5 %
Cynisca (West African Round-headed Worm Lizards) 4 3 75.0 % 1.8 %
Crocodilians (Crocodylia)
Family Crocodylidae
(Crocodiles)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Crocodylus (Typical Crocodiles) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Mecistops (African Slender-snouted Crocodile) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Osteolaemus (Dwarf Crocodiles) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Lizards (Sauria)
Family Agamidae
(Agamas and Dragons)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Agama (Typical Agamas) 8 0 0.0 % 3.6 %
Family Chamaeleonidae
(Chameleons)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Chamaeleo (Typical Chameleons) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Rhampholeon (African Leaf Chameleons) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Trioceros (Equatorial Chameleons) 5 0 0.0 % 2.3 %
Family Eublepharidae
(Eyelid Geckos)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Hemitheconyx (African Fat-tailed Geckos) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Gekkonidae
(Typical Geckos)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Cnemaspis (Afro-Asian Rock and Forest Geckos) 3 2 66.7 % 1.4 %
Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos) 9 0 0.0 % 4.1 %
Lygodactylus (African-Neotropical Dwarf Geckos) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Stenodactylus (Afro-Asian Thin-toed Geckos) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Tropiocolotes (Afro-Asian Desert Dwarf Geckos) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Gerrhosauridae
(Plated Lizards)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Broadleysaurus (Rough-scaled Plated Lizard) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Lacertidae
(Typical Lizards)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Acanthodactylus (Fringe-toed Lizards) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Heliobolus (Bushveld Lizards) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Holaspis (Blue-tailed Gliding Lizards) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Latastia (African Long-tailed Lizards) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Phyllodactylidae
(Leaf-toed Geckos)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Ptyodactylus (Fan-toed Geckos) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Tarentola (Wall Geckos) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Scincidae
(Skinks)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Chalcides (Cylindrical Skinks) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Feylinia (African Snake Skinks) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Lepidothyris (Red-flanked Skinks) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Leptosiaphos (Slender Leaf-litter Skinks) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Lygosoma (Supple Skinks) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Melanoseps (Black Limbless Skinks) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Panaspis (African Snake-eyed Skinks) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Scincopus (Tiger Skinks) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Scincus (Sand Fish) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Trachylepis (African-American Grass and Forest Skinks) 6 0 0.0 % 2.7 %
Family Varanidae
(Monitor Lizards)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Varanus (Monitor Lizards) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Snakes (Serpentes)
Family Boidae
(Typical Boas)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Calabaria (Calabar Boa) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Eryx (Sand Boas) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Colubridae
(Typical Snakes)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Afronatrix (West African Brown Water Snake) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Crotaphopeltis (Herald Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Dasypeltis (African Egg Eaters) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Dipsadoboa (Nocturnal Tree Snakes) 5 0 0.0 % 2.3 %
Dispholidus (Boomslang) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Grayia (Equatorial African Water Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Hapsidophrys (Emerald Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Meizodon (African Smooth Snakes) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Natriciteres (African Marsh Snakes) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Philothamnus (African Green Snakes) 6 0 0.0 % 2.7 %
Platyceps (Flat-headed Whip Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Rhamnophis (Dagger-tooth Tree Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Scaphiophis (African Hook-nosed Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Telescopus (Cat Snakes & Tiger Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Thelotornis (African Vine Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Thrasops (Black Tree Snakes) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Toxicodryas (African Tree Cat Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Family Elapidae_1
(Cobras. Mambas. etc.)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Dendroaspis (Mambas) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Elapsoidea (African Garter Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Naja (Typical Cobras) 7 0 0.0 % 3.2 %
Pseudohaje (Tree Cobras) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Family Lamprophiidae
(House Snakes. etc.)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Amblyodipsas (Purple-glossed Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Aparallactus (African Centipede Eaters) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Atractaspis (Stiletto Snakes) 7 0 0.0 % 3.2 %
Boaedon (Afro-Arabian House Snakes) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Bothrophthalmus (Red-and-Black Striped Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Chamaelycus (African Banded Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Dendrolycus (Central African Banded Snake) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Dromophis (Olympic Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Gonionotophis (Lesser File Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Hormonotus (Yellow Forest Snake) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Limaformosa (Venus File Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Lycophidion (African Wolf Snakes) 6 0 0.0 % 2.7 %
Mehelya (Greater File Snakes) 3 1 33.3 % 1.4 %
Polemon (African Snake Eaters) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Prosymna (Shovel-snout Snakes) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Psammophis (Old World Sand Snakes and Grass Snakes) 5 0 0.0 % 2.3 %
Rhamphiophis (Beaked Snakes) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Leptotyphlopidae
(Thread Snakes)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Myriopholis (Many-scaled Thread Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Tricheilostoma (West African Thread Snakes) 3 1 33.3 % 1.4 %
Family Pythonidae
(Pythons)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Python (Typical Pythons) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Family Typhlopidae
(Typical Blind Snakes)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Afrotyphlops (African Giant Blind Snakes) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Letheobia (African Gracile Blind Snakes) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Family Viperidae
(Vipers)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Atheris (African Bush Vipers) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Bitis (African Adders) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Causus (Night Adders) 4 0 0.0 % 1.8 %
Echis (Carpet Vipers) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Turtles (Testudines)
Family Cheloniidae
(Hard-shelled Sea Turtles)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Lepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Dermochelyidae
(Leatherback Sea Turtle)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Family Pelomedusidae
(African Side-necked Turtles)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Pelomedusa (African Helmeted Turtles) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Pelusios (African Mud Turtles) 5 0 0.0 % 2.3 %
Family Testudinidae
(Tortoises)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Centrochelys (African Spurred Tortoise) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %
Kinixys (Hinge-back Tortoises) 3 0 0.0 % 1.4 %
Family Trionychidae
(Softshell Turtles)
Species Endemic
species
Endemism
(species)
Species in % of all
reptile species in
Nigeria
Cyclanorbis (SubSaharan Flapshell Turtles) 2 0 0.0 % 0.9 %
Trionyx (African Softshell Turtle) 1 0 0.0 % 0.5 %