Reptiles of the
Cook Islands 

Related checklists:  Southern Cook Islands

Bibliography of the reptiles of the Cook Islands Taxonomic history of the reptiles of the Cook Islands 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:
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 Burt & Burt 1932 Crombie & Steadman 1986 Wermuth 1965 Zug 2013 [as insulensis] Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011 [as insulensis]
 
Gehyra oceanica

Oceanic Gecko

Bauer 1994 Clapp 1977 Crombie & Steadman 1986 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
Genus Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos)
 
Hemidactylus garnotii

Fox Gecko

Bauer 1994 Crombie & Steadman 1986 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
Genus Hemiphyllodactylus (Slender Geckos)
 
Hemiphyllodactylus typus

Indo-Pacific Slender Gecko

Fisher, Uili, Enoka & Zug 2013 Zug 2010 Zug 2013
Genus Lepidodactylus (Scaly-toed Geckos)
 
Lepidodactylus lugubris

Common Mourning Gecko

Bauer 1994 Burt & Burt 1932 Crombie & Steadman 1986 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
Genus Nactus (Hook-toed Geckos)
 
Nactus pelagicus

Pacific Hook-toed Gecko

Bauer 1994 Burt & Burt 1932 Zug 2013 Zug 2020 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Cryptoblepharus (Indo-Pacific Snake-eyed Skinks)
 
Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus

Oceanic Snake-eyed Skink

Horner 2007 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
Genus Emoia (Emo Skinks)
 
Emoia adspersa

Micronesian Striped Skink

Brown 1991 Zug 2013
 
Emoia cyanura

White-bellied Copper-striped Skink

Brown 1991 Bruna, Fisher & Case 1995 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
 
Emoia impar

Dark-bellied Copper-striped Skink

Bruna, Fisher & Case 1995 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
  *
Emoia tuitarere

Rarotonga Slender Skink

Brown 1991 [as trossula] Crombie & Steadman 1986 [as trossula] Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011
Genus Ornithuroscincus (Smooth-eared Skinks)
 
Ornithuroscincus noctua

Moth Skink

Burt & Burt 1932 Crombie & Steadman 1986 Zug 2013 Zug, Hamilton & Austin 2011

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

David & Ineich 1999 Zug 2013

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

Balazs in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Zug 2013
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

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

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Balazs in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 King & Burke 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White 2013 Zug 2013
 Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
Genus Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
 
Dermochelys coriacea

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Balazs in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Zug 2013