Tuesday 21 May
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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 latin name
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Ablepharus pannonicus (Asian snake-eyed skink)
A small and rather secretive skink, the Asian snake-eyed skink has a slender, elongated body, a small head, short, slender limbs, and smooth…
More about the Asian snake-eyed skink »
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Acanthodactylus boskianus (Bosk’s fringe-toed lizard)
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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Acanthodactylus gongrorhynchatus (Saudi fringe-fingered lizard)
The Saudi fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus gongorhynchatus) has remarkable ‘fringes’ of elongated scales on each toe, and a long…
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Acanthodactylus opheodurus (Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard)
Owing to its superficial similarity to its larger congener, Acanthodactylus boskianus, the snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard was only…
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Acanthodactylus schmidti (Schmidt’s fringe-toed lizard)
Named after Karl Patterson Schmidt (an American herpetologist), Schmidt’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti) is one of the more…
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Asaccus caudivolvulus (Musandam leaf-toed gecko)
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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Asaccus gallagheri (Gallagher’s leaf-toed gecko)
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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Bunopus tuberculatus (Baluch ground gecko)
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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Cerastes gasperettii (Arabian horned viper)
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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Chalcides ocellatus (Ocellated skink)
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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Chelonia mydas (Green turtle)
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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Cyrtopodion scabrum (Rough-tailed bowfoot gecko)
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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Echis carinatus sochureki (Sind saw-scaled viper)
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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Echis omanensis (Oman saw-scaled viper)
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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Enhydrina schistosa (Beaked sea snake)
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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Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle)
The Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of…
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Eryx jayakari (Arabian sand boa)
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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Hemidactylus flaviviridis (Yellow-bellied house gecko)
A relatively large lizard, the yellow-bellied house gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis) is an unusual species which demonstrates distinct…
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Hemidactylus persicus (Persian leaf-toed gecko)
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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Hemidactylus turcicus (Turkish gecko)
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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Hydrophis cyanocinctus (Annulated sea snake)
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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Hydrophis lapemoides (Arabian Gulf sea snake)
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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Hydrophis spiralis (Yellow sea snake)
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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Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus (Hooked thread snake)
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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Lytorhynchus diadema (Awl-headed snake)
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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Malpolon moilensis (Hooded malpolon)
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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Omanosaura jayakari (Jayakar’s Oman lizard)
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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Pelamis platura (Yellow-bellied sea snake)
Information on the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platura) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Phrynocephalus arabicus (Arabian toad-headed agama)
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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Phrynocephalus maculatus (Spotted toad-headed agama)
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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Platyceps rhodorachis (Wadi racer)
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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Pristurus celerrimus (Bar-tailed semaphore gecko)
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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Pristurus rupestris (Rock semaphore gecko)
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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Psammophis schokari (Schokari sand racer)
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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Pseudocerastes persicus (Persian horned viper)
A medium-sized, thick-bodied snake with a relatively short tail, the Persian horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus) is named for the pair of…
More about the Persian horned viper »
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Pseudotrapelus sinaitus (Sinai agama)
Although drab and inconspicuous throughout much of the year, during the breeding season the male Sinai agama becomes instantly recognisable…
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Ptyodactylus hasselquistii (Common fan-footed gecko)
With distinctive flared toe tips, fan-footed geckos of the genus Pytodactylus are instantly recognisable. There is varied opinion about…
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Ramphotyphlops braminus (Brahminy blind snake)
Not only is the Brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) the most widespread terrestrial snake in the world, but this tiny…
More about the Brahminy blind snake »
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Scincus mitranus (Eastern sandfish)
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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Scincus scincus (Common sandfish)
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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Spalerosophis diadema (Diadem snake)
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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Stenodactylus arabicus (Arabian sand gecko)
A small and attractively marked gecko, the Arabian sand gecko is unusual for its webbed feet, which increase the surface area for burrowing…
More about the Arabian sand gecko »
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Stenodactylus doriae (Middle Eastern short-fingered gecko)
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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Stenodactylus khobarensis (Gulf sand gecko)
The Gulf sand gecko is a small, rather delicate-looking gecko with long, thin legs, rounded toes and a relatively narrow tail. Like other…
More about the Gulf sand gecko »
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Stenodactylus leptocosymbotus (East sand gecko)
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…
More about the East sand gecko »
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Stenodactylus slevini (Slevin’s sand gecko)
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…
More about the Slevin’s sand gecko »
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Telescopus dhara (Arabian cat snake)
A highly distinctive species, the Arabian cat snake possesses a large head relative to its body, with striking reddish brown or…
More about the Arabian cat snake »
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Trachylepis tessellata (Tessellated skink)
The tessellated skink (Trachylepis tessellata) is a rather poorly-known lizard endemic to the southern Arabian Peninsula. Like other skinks…
More about the Tessellated skink »
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Trapelus flavimaculatus (Yellow-spotted agama)
Information on the yellow-spotted agama is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Yellow-spotted agama »
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Uromastyx aegyptia (Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard)
The largest member of its genus, the Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard is easily recognised by the relatively short and heavily spined tail that…
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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