Sunday 19 May
Reptiles
An extremely diverse and successful group, reptiles are well adapted to the hot, arid environments of the United Arab Emirates. Over 54 terrestrial species are known to occur in the UAE, including many desert-dwelling lizards, snakes and a single species of worm lizard. The UAE is also home to significant populations of marine turtles and a number of poisonous sea snakes.
Learn about UAE habitats & speciesReptiles found in the UAE
Species 1 - 50 of 51 [ next ]Sort all by common name | Sort all by scientific name
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Annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus)
Sea snakes are amongst the most venomous of the world’s snakes, and are highly adapted to life at sea, being the most completely marine of…
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Arabian cat snake (Telescopus dhara)
A highly distinctive species, the Arabian cat snake possesses a large head relative to its body, with striking reddish brown or…
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Arabian Gulf sea snake (Hydrophis lapemoides)
The Arabian Gulf sea snake (Hydrophis lapemoides) can be identified by its striking patterning, comprising 33 to 35 dark bands along the…
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Arabian horned viper (Cerastes gasperettii)
The Arabian horned viper is one of three currently recognised species of horned viper, a group which is recognisable for the distinctive…
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Arabian sand boa (Eryx jayakari)
One of the smallest boa species, the Arabian sand boa is the only boa found in south-east Arabia, and one of the most common snakes in the…
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Arabian sand gecko (Stenodactylus arabicus)
A small and attractively marked gecko, the Arabian sand gecko is unusual for its webbed feet, which increase the surface area for burrowing…
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Arabian toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus)
The Arabian toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus) is a member of the Agamidae family, also known as the chisel-teeth lizards due…
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Asian snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus pannonicus)
A small and rather secretive skink, the Asian snake-eyed skink has a slender, elongated body, a small head, short, slender limbs, and smooth…
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Awl-headed snake (Lytorhynchus diadema)
A little-known, burrow-dwelling reptile, the most distinctive feature of the awl-headed snake is its shovel-shaped, projecting snout which…
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Baluch ground gecko (Bunopus tuberculatus)
The Baluch ground gecko (Bunopus tuberculatus) is a small, ground-dwelling gecko with rather short, straight toes, a long tail, and…
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Bar-tailed semaphore gecko (Pristurus celerrimus)
A small gecko with a long, conspicuously banded tail, the bar-tailed semaphore gecko (Pristurus celerrimus), like other members of the genus…
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Beaked sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa)
The beaked sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa) gains its common name from the distinctive downturned, beak-like projection on the snout, at…
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Bosk’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus)
In common with other lacertids, Bosk’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus) has a long, cylindrical body and well developed legs…
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Brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)
Not only is the Brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) the most widespread terrestrial snake in the world, but this tiny…
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Common fan-footed gecko (Ptyodactylus hasselquistii)
With distinctive flared toe tips, fan-footed geckos of the genus Pytodactylus are instantly recognisable. There is varied opinion about…
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Common sandfish (Scincus scincus)
Among the world’s most accomplished burrowers are a genus of desert-dwelling skinks (Scincus sp.) commonly known as the sandfish. As the…
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Desert monitor (Varanus griseus)
The desert monitor is the most northerly distributed monitor species and one of the largest reptiles in its expansive range. The body is…
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Diadem snake (Spalerosophis diadema)
The diadem snake (Spalerosophis diadema) is named for its distinctive head markings, consisting of a dark band, which runs across the head…
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East sand gecko (Stenodactylus leptocosymbotus)
The east sand gecko is a slender, rather delicate looking gecko with long, thin legs, rounded toes, a thin tail and a relatively large head…
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Eastern sandfish (Scincus mitranus)
Owing to their remarkable ability to seemingly ‘swim’ through sand, species in the skink genus Scincus are appropriately known as sandfish…
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Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia)
The largest member of its genus, the Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard is easily recognised by the relatively short and heavily spined tail that…
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Gallagher’s leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus gallagheri)
Gallagher’s leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus gallagheri) is a relatively small, delicately-built gecko with a slender tail, slender limbs, large…
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Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is one of the largest and most widespread of all the marine turtles. The oval carapace varies from olive…
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Gulf sand gecko (Stenodactylus khobarensis)
The Gulf sand gecko is a small, rather delicate-looking gecko with long, thin legs, rounded toes and a relatively narrow tail. Like other…
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Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
The Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of…
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Hooded malpolon (Malpolon moilensis)
The hooded malpolon is named for its unusual, cobra-like defensive behaviour, in which it lifts the front of the body off the ground, holds…
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Hooked thread snake (Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus)
One of the smallest snakes in the world, the hooked thread snake is a rarely seen, predominately subterranean species of North Africa and…
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Jayakar’s Oman lizard (Omanosaura jayakari)
One of only two Omanosaura species, Jayakar’s Oman lizard (Omanosaura jayakari) is a large, slender lizard which is endemic to the Hajar…
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Middle Eastern short-fingered gecko (Stenodactylus doriae)
The Middle Eastern short-fingered gecko is the largest of the desert-dwelling sand geckos (genus Stenodactylus) found in the United Arab…
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Musandam leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus)
Described as a particularly colourful species, the Musandam leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus) is a slender, medium-sized gecko with a…
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Ocellated skink (Chalcides ocellatus)
Named for the numerous black and white eyespots, or ‘ocelli’, on its back, the ocellated skink (Chalcides ocellatus) is a typical skink in…
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Oman saw-scaled viper (Echis omanensis)
Only recently recognised as a distinct species, variations in the scales on the head led to the Oman saw-scaled viper (Echis omanensis)…
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Persian horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus)
A medium-sized, thick-bodied snake with a relatively short tail, the Persian horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus) is named for the pair of…
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Persian leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus persicus)
The Persian leaf-toed gecko is a member of a species-rich group of reptiles possessing unique, leaf-like adhesive pads that do not reach to…
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Rock semaphore gecko (Pristurus rupestris)
The rock semaphore gecko (Pristurus rupestris) is a tiny gecko which, like other members of the genus Pristurus, is notable for being active…
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Rough-tailed bowfoot gecko (Cyrtopodion scabrum)
Belonging to one of the most diverse families of lizards, the rough-tailed bowfoot gecko is a small, nocturnal ground gecko, with…
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Saudi fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus gongrorhynchatus)
The Saudi fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus gongorhynchatus) has remarkable ‘fringes’ of elongated scales on each toe, and a long…
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Schmidt’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti)
Named after Karl Patterson Schmidt (an American herpetologist), Schmidt’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti) is one of the more…
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Schokari sand racer (Psammophis schokari)
One of the fastest snakes in the Middle East, the Schokari sand racer has a thin body with variable colouration and patterning and an…
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Sinai agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus)
Although drab and inconspicuous throughout much of the year, during the breeding season the male Sinai agama becomes instantly recognisable…
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Sind saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki)
Despite its relatively small size, the Sind saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) is considered a dangerous snake, with an aggressive…
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Slevin’s sand gecko (Stenodactylus slevini)
Slevin’s sand gecko is a small gecko with a large head, a tapering tail, and relatively slender, rounded toes. As in other gecko species…
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Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus opheodurus)
Owing to its superficial similarity to its larger congener, Acanthodactylus boskianus, the snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard was only…
More about the Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard »
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Spotted toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus maculatus)
The spotted toad-headed agama is a member of the Agamidae family, also known as the chameleons of the Old World due to their striking…
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Tessellated skink (Trachylepis tessellata)
The tessellated skink (Trachylepis tessellata) is a rather poorly-known lizard endemic to the southern Arabian Peninsula. Like other skinks…
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Turkish gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
The Turkish gecko is a pale reptile, with a slightly pink translucence to its skin. Its body, which is covered in numerous small bumps, is…
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Wadi racer (Platyceps rhodorachis)
The wadi racer (Platyceps rhodorachis) is a long, slender and fast-moving snake, with a narrow head and long, tapering tail. The eyes are…
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Yellow sea snake (Hydrophis spiralis)
The longest of the true sea snakes (Hydrophiids), the yellow sea snake (Hydrophis spiralis) has a striking yellow or yellowish-green…
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Yellow-bellied house gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis)
A relatively large lizard, the yellow-bellied house gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis) is an unusual species which demonstrates distinct…
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Yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platura)
Information on the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platura) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
Species 1 - 50 of 51 [ next ]
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
EAD is committed to protecting and conserving Abu Dhabi's biodiversity. More
Arabian oryx
Watch the tale of one of conservation's greatest success stories, how the Arabian oryx was brought back from extinction. View
Coastal Atlas
Want to know about the species that inhabit Abu Dhabi's coast? Explore EAD's award-winning online Coastal Atlas. More
Teaching resources for 7-11 year olds:
What is an Endangered Species? »
Teaching resources for 11-14 year olds:
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