Reptiles of
Tonga 

Related checklists:  Tongatapu

Bibliography of the reptiles of Tonga Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Tonga Introduced species
Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates
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:
Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Gekkonidae (Typical Geckos)
Genus Gehyra (Four-clawed Geckos)
 
Gehyra mutilata

Common Four-clawed Gecko

Bauer 1994 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 [as insulensis] Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012 [as insulensis]
 
Gehyra oceanica

Oceanic Gecko

Bauer 1994 Burt & Burt 1932 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos)
 
Hemidactylus garnotii

Fox Gecko

Bauer 1994 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Hemiphyllodactylus (Slender Geckos)
 
Hemiphyllodactylus typus

Indo-Pacific Slender Gecko

Bauer 1994 Zug 2010 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Lepidodactylus (Scaly-toed Geckos)
  *
Lepidodactylus euaensis

Eua Scaly-toed Gecko

Bauer 1994 Gibbons & Brown 1988 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
 
Lepidodactylus lugubris

Common Mourning Gecko

Bauer 1994 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Nactus (Hook-toed Geckos)
 
Nactus pelagicus

Pacific Hook-toed Gecko

Bauer 1994 Burt & Burt 1932 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug 2020 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Cryptoblepharus (Indo-Pacific Snake-eyed Skinks)
 
Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus

Oceanic Snake-eyed Skink

Gill & Rinke 1990 [as eximius] Horner 2007 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Emoia (Emo Skinks)
 
Emoia adspersa

Micronesian Striped Skink

Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
 
Emoia cyanura

White-bellied Copper-striped Skink

Brown 1991 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
 
Emoia impar

Dark-bellied Copper-striped Skink

Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
  *
Emoia mokolahi

Tongan Barred Tree Skink

Brown 1991 [as trossula] Gill & Rinke 1990 [as trossula] Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
 
Emoia nigra

South Pacific Black Skink

Brown 1991 Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
 
Emoia tongana

Tongan Slender Skink

Brown 1991 [as murphyi] Gill & Rinke 1990 [as murphyi] Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Ornithuroscincus (Smooth-eared Skinks)
 
Ornithuroscincus noctua

Moth Skink

Gill & Rinke 1990 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012
Genus Tachygyia (Tonga Ground Skink)
  EX
Tachygyia microlepis

Tonga Ground Skink

Gill & Rinke 1990 Greer 1974 Zug 2013 Zug, Ineich, Pregill & Hamilton 2012

Snakes (Serpentes)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Elapidae [part 2: marine species] (Sea Snakes)
Genus Hydrophis (Typical Sea Snakes)
 
Hydrophis platurus

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Cogger in Dunson (ed.) 1975 David & Ineich 1999
Genus Laticauda (Sea Kraits)
 
Laticauda colubrina

Yellow-lipped Sea Krait

Burt & Burt 1932 Cogger in Dunson (ed.) 1975 Gherghel, Papes, Brischoux, Sahlean & Strugariu 2016 Heatwole, Busack & Cogger 2005 Kharin, Roedel & Hallermann 2010 McCarthy 1986 Zug 2013
 
Laticauda frontalis

Vanuatu Sea Krait

Kharin, Roedel & Hallermann 2010
 
Laticauda laticaudata

Blue-lipped Sea Krait

Bosch 1985 Cogger in Dunson (ed.) 1975 Smith 1926 Stejneger 1907
 
Laticauda schistorhynchus

Flat-tailed Sea Krait

Haas 1950 Kharin, Roedel & Hallermann 2010 McCarthy 1986 Smith 1926 Stejneger 1907 [as L. semifasciata]

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

Pritchard in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Zug 2013
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

King & Burke 1989 Pritchard 1979 Pritchard in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Zug 2013
Genus Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle)
 
Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

King & Burke 1989 Pritchard in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Zug 2013
Genus Lepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles)
 
Lepidochelys olivacea

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Zug 2013
 Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
Genus Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
 
Dermochelys coriacea

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Zug 2013