Reptiles of Sierra Leone    Bibliography of the reptiles of Sierra Leone Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Sierra Leone Introduced species

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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:

	Worm Lizards (Amphisbaenia)
	= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct Species References  Family Amphisbaenidae (Typical Worm Lizards) Genus Cynisca (West African Round-headed Worm Lizards)   * Cynisca degrysi Sierra Leone Worm Lizard Gans 1987 Gans 2005   Cynisca liberiensis Liberian Worm Lizard Gans 1987 Gans 2005

	Crocodilians (Crocodylia)
	= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct Species References  Family Crocodylidae (Crocodiles) Genus Crocodylus (Typical Crocodiles)   Crocodylus suchus West African Crocodile King & Burke 1989 [as niloticus] Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Zug 1987 [as niloticus] Genus Mecistops (African Slender-snouted Crocodiles)   Mecistops cataphractus West African Slender-snouted Crocodile King & Burke 1989 Shirley, Carr, Nestler, Vliet & Brochu 2018 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Zug 1987 Genus Osteolaemus (Dwarf Crocodiles)   Osteolaemus tetraspis West African Dwarf Crocodile King & Burke 1989 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012

	Lizards (Sauria)
	= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct Species References  Family Agamidae (Agamas and Dragons) Genus Agama (Typical Agamas)   Agama africana West African Rainbow Agama Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 [as agama] Zug 1987 [as agama]  Family Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) Genus Chamaeleo (Typical Chameleons)   Chamaeleo gracilis Graceful Chameleon Glaw 2015 Grandison 1956 Klaver & Boehme 1997 Tilbury 2010 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012   Chamaeleo senegalensis Senegal Chameleon Grandison 1956 Mertens 1966 Zug 1987  Family Gekkonidae (Typical Geckos) Genus Ancylodactylus (African Rock and Forest Geckos)   Ancylodactylus occidentalis West African Rock Gecko Malonza & Bauer 2022 Penner & Roedel 2013 Perret 1986 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Genus Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos)   Hemidactylus angulatus West African House Gecko Cansdale 1955 [as brookii] Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] [as brooki] Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012   Hemidactylus mabouia Cosmopolitan House Gecko Broadley 1977 Genus Lygodactylus (African-Neotropical Dwarf Geckos)   Lygodactylus conraui Cameroon Dwarf Gecko Bauer, Tchibozo, Pauwels & Lenglet 2006 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012   Lygodactylus fischeri Sierra Leone Dwarf Gecko Loveridge 1947 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Wermuth 1965  Family Lacertidae (Typical Lizards) Genus Holaspis (Blue-tailed Gliding Lizards)   Holaspis guentheri Western Blue-tailed Gliding Lizard Arnold 1989 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012  Family Phyllodactylidae (Leaf-toed Geckos) Genus Tarentola (Wall Geckos)   Tarentola parvicarinata Small-keeled Gecko Joger & Lambert 1996 Joger 1984   Tarentola pastoria Guinean Wall Gecko Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012  Family Scincidae (Skinks) Genus Cophoscincopus (West African Keeled Water Skinks)   Cophoscincopus durus Liberian Keeled Water Skink Boehme, Schmitz & Ziegler 2000 Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012   Cophoscincopus greeri Guinean Keeled Water Skink Boehme, Schmitz & Ziegler 2000 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012   Cophoscincopus simulans Ghanese Keeled Water Skink Boehme, Schmitz & Ziegler 2000 Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Genus Mochlus (African Supple Skinks)   Mochlus fernandi Western Red-flanked Skink Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Wagner, Boehme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009 Zug 1987 Genus Trachylepis (African-American Grass and Forest Skinks)   Trachylepis affinis Lesser Brown-flanked Skink Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] Hoogmoed 1974 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Zug 1987   Trachylepis paucisquamis Western Forest Skink Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010]   Trachylepis perrotetii Orange-flanked Skink Cansdale 1955 Chirio & LeBreton 2007 Zug 1987   Trachylepis quinquetaeniata African Five-lined Skink Chirio & LeBreton 2007  Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards) Genus Varanus (Monitor Lizards)   Varanus exanthematicus Western Savanna Monitor Bayless 2002 Bennett in Pianka, King & King (eds.) 2004 Chirio & LeBreton 2007 Zug 1987   Varanus niloticus Nile Monitor Bayless 2002 Boehme & Ziegler 1997 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Zug 1987   Varanus stellatus African Forest Monitor Bayless 2002 [as V. ornatus] Boehme & Ziegler 1997 [as V. ornatus] Boehme & Ziegler in Pianka, King & King (eds.) 2004 [as V. ornatus] Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] [as V. ornatus] Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 [as V. ornatus]

	Snakes (Serpentes)
	= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct Species References  Family Boidae (Typical Boas) Genus Calabaria (Calabar Boa)   Calabaria reinhardtii Calabar Boa Aylmer 1922 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Trape & Balde 2014  Family Colubridae (Typical Snakes or Colubrids) Genus Afronatrix (West African Brown Water Snake)   Afronatrix anoscopus West African Brown Water Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Genus Crotaphopeltis (Herald Snakes)   Crotaphopeltis hippocrepis West African Herald Snake Rasmussen, Chirio & Ineich 2000 Trape & Balde 2014   Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia Common Herald Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987 Genus Dasypeltis (African Egg Eaters)   Dasypeltis confusa Diamondback Egg Eater Chirio & LeBreton 2007 Trape & Balde 2014   Dasypeltis fasciata Central African Egg Eater Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Chirio & LeBreton 2007 Gans 1959 Trape & Balde 2014 Trape, Mediannikov & Trape 2012 Genus Dipsadoboa (Nocturnal Tree Snakes)   Dipsadoboa guineensis Guinean Nocturnal Tree Snake Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] [as brevirostris] Menzies 1966 [as D. duchesnii] Rasmussen 1989 [as brevirostris] Trape & Balde 2014   Dipsadoboa underwoodi Cameroon Nocturnal Tree Snake Rasmussen 1993 Trape & Balde 2014   Dipsadoboa unicolor Unicoloured Nocturnal Tree Snake Rasmussen 1993 Genus Dispholidus (Boomslangs)   Dispholidus sp. (Boomslang) David & Ineich 1999 [as D. typus] Hughes 1983 [as D. typus] Menzies 1966 [as D. typus] Spawls & Branch 1995 [as D. typus] Trape & Balde 2014 [as D. typus] Zug 1987 [as D. typus] Genus Grayia (Equatorial African Water Snakes)   Grayia smythii Equatorial Water Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Hapsidophrys (Emerald Snakes)   Hapsidophrys lineatus Black-lined Green Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014   Hapsidophrys smaragdinus Common Emerald Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Meizodon (African Smooth Snakes)   Meizodon coronatus West African Crowned Smooth Snake Aylmer 1922 Hughes 1983   Meizodon regularis East African Crowned Smooth Snake Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Natriciteres (African Marsh Snakes)   Natriciteres fuliginoides Collared Marsh Snake Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014   Natriciteres olivacea Olive Marsh Snake Trape & Balde 2014   Natriciteres variegata Variable Marsh Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Philothamnus (African Green Snakes)   Philothamnus bellii Sierra Leonean Green Snake Gunther 1866 Trape & Balde 2014   Philothamnus brunneus Brown Bush Snake Trape, Hughes, Collet & Mediannikov 2021   Philothamnus heterodermus Emerald Green Snake Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987   Philothamnus heterolepidotus Slender Green Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Hughes 1983 Largen & Rasmussen 1993 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014   Philothamnus irregularis Irregular Green Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014   Philothamnus nitidus Cameroon Green Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Chirio & LeBreton 2007 Trape & Balde 2014   Philothamnus semivariegatus Variegated Bush Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966   Philothamnus smithii Smith's Bush Snake Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Rhamnophis (Dagger-tooth Tree Snakes)   Rhamnophis aethiopissa Large-eyed Green Tree Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Telescopus (Afro-Asian Cat Snakes)   Telescopus variegatus Variable Cat Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Thelotornis (African Vine Snakes)   Thelotornis kirtlandii Northern Vine Snake Broadley 2001 Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Thrasops (Black Tree Snakes)   Thrasops occidentalis Western Black Tree Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Toxicodryas (African Tree Cat Snakes)   Toxicodryas blandingii Western Black-and-Yellow Tree Snake Greenbaum, Allen, Vaughan, Pauwels, Wallach, Kusamba, Muninga, Aristote, Mali, Badjedjea, Penner, Roedel, Rivera, Sterkhova, Johnson, Tapondjou Nkonmeneck & Brown 2021 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014   Toxicodryas pulverulenta Western Powdered Cat Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Greenbaum, Allen, Vaughan, Pauwels, Wallach, Kusamba, Muninga, Aristote, Mali, Badjedjea, Penner, Roedel, Rivera, Sterkhova, Johnson, Tapondjou Nkonmeneck & Brown 2021 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014  Family Elapidae [part 1: terrestrial species] (Cobras, Mambas, etc.) Genus Dendroaspis (Mambas)   Dendroaspis viridis Western Green Mamba David & Ineich 1999 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Elapsoidea (African Garter Snakes)   Elapsoidea semiannulata Half-banded Garter Snake David & Ineich 1999 Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Spawls & Branch 1995 Genus Naja (Typical Cobras)   Naja guineensis Black Forest Cobra David & Ineich 1999 [as N. melanoleuca] Menzies 1966 [as N. melanoleuca] Spawls & Branch 1995 [as N. melanoleuca] Trape & Balde 2014 [as "N. cf. melanoleuca sp forest (blackish dorsum)"] Wuster, Chirio, Trape, Ineich, Jackson, Greenbaum, Barron, Kusamba, Nagy, Storey, Hall, Wuster, Barlow & Broadley 2018 Zug 1987 [as N. melanoleuca]   Naja nigricollis Black-necked Spitting Cobra Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Zug 1987 Genus Pseudohaje (Tree Cobras)   Pseudohaje nigra Black Tree Cobra Chippaux & Jackson 2019 David & Ineich 1999 Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Villiers 1975  Family Lamprophiidae (House Snakes, etc.) Genus Amblyodipsas (Purple-glossed Snakes and Quill-snouted Snakes)   Amblyodipsas unicolor Equatorial Purple-glossed Snake Aylmer 1922 Broadley 1971 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Genus Aparallactus (African Centipede Eaters)   Aparallactus modestus Western Forest Centipede Eater Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014   Aparallactus niger West African Black Centipede Eater Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Genus Atractaspis (Stiletto Snakes)   Atractaspis aterrima Western Forest Stiletto Snake David & Ineich 1999 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014   Atractaspis corpulenta Fat Stiletto Snake Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014   Atractaspis irregularis Variable Stiletto Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 David & Ineich 1999 Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Laurent 1950 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Genus Boaedon (Afro-Arabian House Snakes)   Boaedon fuliginosus Common African House Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014   Boaedon lineatus Lined House Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987   Boaedon olivaceus Olive House Snake Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014   Boaedon virgatus West African House Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Bothrophthalmus (Red-and-Black Striped Snakes)   Bothrophthalmus lineatus Red-and-Black Striped Snake Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Chamaelycus (African Banded Snakes)   Chamaelycus fasciatus Ituri Banded Snake Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Dromophis (Olympic Snakes)   Dromophis lineatus Lined Olympic Snake Hughes 1983 Hughes 2004 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Hormonotus (Yellow Forest Snake)   Hormonotus modestus Yellow Forest Snake Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Limaformosa (Venus File Snakes)   Limaformosa crossi Savanna File Snake Howell & Broadley 2014   Limaformosa guirali White-speckled Forest File Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Hughes & Barry 1969 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Lycophidion (African Wolf Snakes)   Lycophidion albomaculatum White-spotted Wolf Snake Hughes 1983 [as L. semicinctum] Menzies 1966 [as L. semicinctum] Trape & Balde 2014 Verburght, Clark, Cauldwell & Branch 2013   Lycophidion irroratum Western Forest Wolf Snake Laurent 1968 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014   Lycophidion semicinctum Semi-annulated Wolf Snake Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Mehelya (Greater File Snakes)   Mehelya poensis Western Forest File Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Polemon (African Snake Eaters)   Polemon acanthias Five-striped Snake Eater Aylmer 1922 Trape & Balde 2014 Villiers 1975 Genus Prosymna (Shovel-snout Snakes)   Prosymna meleagris Speckled Shovel-snout Aylmer 1922 Broadley 1980 Chirio, Ineich, Schmitz & Trape 2011 Hughes 1983 Trape & Balde 2014 Genus Psammophis (Old World Sand Snakes and Grass Snakes)   Psammophis afroccidentalis West African Sand Snake Menzies 1966 [as P. sibilans]   Psammophis elegans Elegant Sand Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014   Psammophis phillipsii West African Olive Grass Snake Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Trape, Crochet, Broadley, Sourouille, Mane, Burger, Boehme, Saleh, Karan, Lanza & Mediannikov 2019  Family Pythonidae (Pythons) Genus Python (Typical Pythons)   Python regius Ball Python Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] Hughes 1983 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987   Python sebae Northern Rock Python Broadley 1984 Hughes 1983 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987  Family Typhlopidae (Typical Blind Snakes) Genus Afrotyphlops (African Giant Blind Snakes)   Afrotyphlops liberiensis Liberian Blind Snake Chippaux & Jackson 2019 Hahn 1980 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014   Afrotyphlops lineolatus Lineolate Blind Snake Hahn 1980 Hughes 1983 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014   Afrotyphlops punctatus Spotted Blind Snake Menzies 1966 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014  Family Viperidae (Vipers) Genus Atheris (African Bush Vipers)   Atheris chlorechis West African Green Bush Viper David & Ineich 1999 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Genus Bitis (African Adders)   Bitis arietans Common Puff Adder David & Ineich 1999 Hughes 1983 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Menzies 1966 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987   Bitis nasicornis African Nose-horned Viper David & Ineich 1999 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014   Bitis rhinoceros Rhinoceros Viper Hillers [undated, probably 2009 or 2010] [as gabonica] Menzies 1966 [as gabonica] Spawls & Branch 1995 [as gabonica] Trape & Balde 2014 Zug 1987 [as gabonica] Genus Causus (Night Adders)   Causus maculatus West African Night Adder David & Ineich 1999 Hughes 1983 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape & Balde 2014   Causus rhombeatus Rhombic Night Adder Menzies 1966

	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 Brongersma in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)   Chelonia mydas Green Sea Turtle Brongersma in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 King & Burke 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Genus Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle)   Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Sea Turtle Brongersma in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 King & Burke 1989 Pritchard 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Genus Lepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles)   Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley Sea Turtle King & Burke 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012  Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle) Genus Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle)   Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Sea Turtle Fretey & Malaussena 1991 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012  Family Pelomedusidae (African Side-necked Turtles) Genus Pelomedusa (African Helmeted Turtles)   Pelomedusa olivacea Sahelian Helmeted Turtle Boycott & Bourquin 2008 [as subrufa] King & Burke 1989 [as subrufa] Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Genus Pelusios (African Mud Turtles)   Pelusios castaneus Chestnut Mud Turtle Bour, Luiselli, Petrozzi, Segniabeto & Chirio 2016 King & Burke 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Zug 1987   Pelusios cupulatta Ivorian Mud Turtle Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021  Family Testudinidae (Tortoises) Genus Kinixys (Hinge-back Tortoises)   Kinixys erosa Forest Hinge-back Tortoise King & Burke 1989 Luiselli & Diagne 2014 McCord, Joseph-Ouni & Tabaka 2005 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012   Kinixys nogueyi Western Savanna Hinge-back Tortoise Chirio & LeBreton 2007 King & Burke 1989 [as belliana] Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 [as belliana]  Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles) Genus Cyclanorbis (SubSaharan Flapshell Turtles)   Cyclanorbis senegalensis Senegal Flapshell Turtle Chirio & LeBreton 2007 McGovern, Diagne, Diagne, Luiselli & Meylan 2021 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Genus Trionyx (African Softshell Turtle)   Trionyx triunguis African Softshell Turtle King & Burke 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012