In total 370 reptiles and amphibians occur in the region -- an estimated 4,6% of the global diversity of reptile species., 21 are threatened and six of these are endangered. In terms of the number of mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species which are endemic (occur in South Africa and nowhere else on earth!), South Africa is the 24th-richest country in the world and the fifth-richest in Africa.
The fearsome Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus - is most probably the most well known of South Africa's reptiles.
Endangered Reptiles:
Species - English common name
Bradypodion caffer - Transkei Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion damaranum - Knysna Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion dracomontanum - Drakensberg Chameleon
Bradypodion gutturale - Robertson's Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion karroicum - Karoo Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion melanocephalum - Black-headed Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion nemorale - Zululand Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion pumilum - Cape Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion setaroi - Setaro's Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion taeniabronchum - Smith's Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion thamnobates - Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion transvaalense - Transvaal Dwarf Chameleon
Bradypodion ventrale - Southern Dwarf Chameleon
Caretta caretta - Loggerhead Turtle
Chamaeleo dilepis - Flap-necked Chameleon
Chamaeleo namaquensis - Namaqua Chameleon
Chelonia mydas - Green Turtle
Chersina angulata - Angulate Tortoise
Cordylus cataphractus - Armadillo Girdled Lizard
Cordylus coeruleopunctatus - Blue-spotted Girdled Lizard
Cordylus cordylus - Cape Girdled Lizard
Cordylus giganteus - Gaint Girdled Lizard
Cordylus lawrencei - Lawrence's Girdled Lizard
Cordylus macropholis - Coastal Spiny-tailed Lizard
Cordylus mclachlani - McLachlan's Girdled Lizard
Cordylus minor - Dwarf Girdled Lizard
Cordylus niger - Black Girdled Lizard
Cordylus oelofseni - Oelofsen's Girdled Lizard
Cordylus peersi - Peer's Girdled Lizard
Cordylus polyzonus - Karoo Girdled Lizard
Cordylus tasmani - Tasman's Girdled Lizard
Cordylus tropidosternum - Tropical Girdled Lizard
Cordylus vittifer - Transvaal Girdled Lizard
Cordylus warrenis - Warren's Girdled Lizard
Crocodylus niloticus - Nile crocodile
Dermochelys coriacea - Leatherback Turtle
Eretomochelys imbricata - Hawksbill Turtle
Geochelone pardalis - Leopard Tortoise
Homopus areolatus - Parrot-beaked Tortoise
Homopus boulengeri - Boulenger's Cape Tortoise
Homopus femoralis - Greater Padloper
Homopus signatus - Speckled Cape Tortoise
Kinixys belliana - Bell's Hinged Tortoise
Kinixys natalensis - Natal Hinged Tortoise
Lepidochelys olivacea - Olive Ridley Turtle
Pelomedusa subrufa - Marsh Terrapin
Phelsuma ocellata - Namaqua Day Gecko
Psammobates geometricus - Geometric Tortoise
Psammobates oculiferus - Serrated Tortoise
Psammobates tentorius - Tent Tortoise
Pseudocordylus capensis - Graceful Crag Lizard
Pseudocordylus langi - Lang's Crag Lizard
Pseudocordylus melatonus - Drakensberg Crag Lizard
Pseudocordylus microlepidotus - Cape Crag Lizard
Pseudocordylus spinosus - Prickley Girdled Lizard
Python sebae - African Rock Python
Varanus albigularis - Rock monitor
Varanus niloticus - Water monitor |
